another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that Great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication REV. 16.19 And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the Fierceness of his Wrath. REV. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS or Fornications AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH REV. 18.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come down from Heaven And he cry'd mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every unclean Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird c. IN the handling of this great Subject it seems needful to give an Account of the various Opinions that have more or less prâ—sented themselves to the World about it which may be reduced to these four following Heads I. That it is Jerusalem and that for two Reasons 1. Because the Man of Sin or last Beast that is to head this Babylon is set forth by St. Paul to sit in the Temple of God shewing himself to be a God 2 Thess 2.4 Rev. 11.8 2. Because this City where the Beast reigns and shall slay the Witnesses is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified II. That it is the Turkish Empire or Power of the Saracens which Mr. Mede somewhat touches and in a brief way most learnedly argues against in his third Book pag. 644 645. III. That it is indeed Rome the Seat of the fourth or last Empire but Rome in its Heathen State under the idolatrous and persecuting Emperors So the Rhemists would have it if there be a Necessity to fix upon Rome to be this Apocalyptical or Mystery Babylon For this Opinion the present Romanists have no better Advocate than Dr. Hammond who hath done very worthily at other Turns See his Annotations upon the 17th Chapter of the Apocalypse IV. That it is the present Power and Church of Rome who under pretence of the most high and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth influence and govern the Secular Power and State of Kingdoms Of this last Opinion were the ancient Waldenses who felt the bloody Power of Rome venting it self in most horrid and barbarous Cruelties against them and that for a long Series of Time as appears by our most Authentick Ancient and Modern Writers who give a very ample Account of the great Persecution of Christians for many hundred Years last past in all Parts of the Christian World where they have had Power To which Opinion of the Waldenses most of our modern Protestant Divines agree of which we shall mention only Cartwright Fulk the worthily admired and Learned Mede not forgetting famous Du Moulin of France as may be seen in their Works at large But because we will not take Things upon Trust nor refer the Reader to many Quotations which he may want Books and Time to satisfy himself about it appears needful that we remove the Objections with as much Brevity as possible before we state the Metaphor and run the Parallel Now that Babylon in all these New-Testament Texts cannot be fairly applied to Jerusalem the Turks and Saracens nor terminate in the Heathenish State of Rome we offer these following Considerations or Arguments I. It cannot be meant the City Jerusalem 1. Because Jerusalem did not reign over the Kings of the Earth in St. John's time when he saw this Vision and wrote the Revelation which this City Babylon is expresly said to do Rev. 17.18 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Jerusalem having been not only under Captivity divers times before but were then entirely under the Power of the Roman Yoke as the whole History of the Gospel doth confirm and themselves did most plainly confess We have no King but Caesar John 19.15 2. Jerusalem was never in so high esteem with the Beast as to be capable to ride as Queen-Regent upon him as this Woman Whore or City is said to do And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 17.7 Rev. 17.7 compared with Vers 3. So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns For by the Woman sitting and Beast carrying is undoubtedly signified Influence Power and Dominion which Jerusalem was far remote from not only under the Roman Monarchy but also under the three Kingdoms that went before it viz. the Babylonian Grecian and Persian as might be largely illustrated both out of Sacred and Humane History 3. Jerusalem did not sit upon many Waters which is interpreted to be People Nations and Tongues that is had not Command or Dominion over them as this Woman Rev. 17.15 Whore or City is said to have And he saith The Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues The whole Land of Judea being under Tribute to the Roman Government at that time And it came to pass in those Days Luke 2.1 that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed Verse 4. and particularly Galilee Nazareth Judea and the City of David called Bethlehem 4. Jerusalem was not capable to enchant and bewitch all the Nations round about her either by her Religion and Doctrine or by great Gifts and Rewards 1. Because the Roman Power kept her under and much in awe on the one hand not owning nor subscribing to her Religion 2. The Christian Doctrine and Religion block'd up her Way on the other hand that she could not extend her Influence to either neighbouring or remote Nations as this Woman Whore or City is said to do For thy Merchants were the great Men of the Earth for by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived Rev. 18.23 5. Jerusalem tho she were guilty of much Blood from the beginning of her Excellency and Glory in Solomon's Time killing Prophets even all that were sent unto her murthered John Baptist and our Lord and Saviour as also the blessed Martyr St. Stephen yet in her could not be found that great Mass of Blood that was shed and Myriads of Christian Saints that have been barbarously murthered by Massacre and publick Martyrdom since they were ruined and destroyed by Titus Vespasian which we find positively charged upon this City Babylon Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great Admiration as indeed well he might as shall be shewn Rev. 19 24. And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of
Wickedness tho an Apostle he is not so far changed since to be fond of a wicked Pope as to make him immediate Deputy to Christ and to impose a Wolf as Shepherd upon the Universal Church 2. Who saith That he is an infallible Judg to determine Articles of Faith and impose them upon great Penalties so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith and Souls too which the Apostles disclaimed 3. Who saith The Church cannot err tho God and the World knows there are not such great Errors in Principles nor such villanous Enormities cursed Actions cruel and immoral Practices in the World besides which the poor Multitude believes and kill others that oppose it and venture Body and Soul upon it 4. That says that a Priest tho he be a treacherous Villain a Contriver of Murther an abominable Adulterer hath Power to absolve his equal and Fellow-Sinner from all his Offences if he come to Confession tho the pretended Penitent keep his old Habit of Wickedness still contrary to what God and Jesus Christ say That the Dauber with untempered Mortar and the Daubed the Layer of the Pillow under sinful Elbows and the Leaner thereon the blind Leader as well as the blind Follower shall all fall together 5. That saith There is a Purgatory that is no part of Heaven or Hell and that Men may be redeemed thence for Money Tho God saith The Redemption of Mens Souls is precious and ceaseth for ever after the Offering of the Body of Jesus once for all that Redemption is not with corruptible Things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as a Lamb slain without spot 6. That saith That the Hands and Mouth of a filthy unclean Priest can make not only the Bread and Wine sacred but turn both into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God make whole Christ of a pitiful Wafer-Cake that after it is eaten turns to Corruption and before it is earen is a fit Feast for Rats and Mice not only contrary to Reason but the full Verdict of all our Senses 7. That saith That no Person how good and pious soever he be can be saved out of the Pale of their polluted ungodly and devilish Church tho the Scripture plainly affirms That in every Nation he that fears God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him 8. That says 'T is no Sin to lie swear and forswear to kill slay and murther such as they call Hereticks tho never so good if it be for the Cause of the Church with a thousand Things of the like Import which the People do verily believe And as they dare not gainsay upon their Salvation so will they embrace and use all Opportunities to fight and make Wars overcome Cities and lay waste Countries and Kingdoms to kill and slay by Massacre and all manner of murthering ways all Ranks and Degrees of Men that oppose the horrid Principles and Practices of those cursed Children Nay they will go boldly to their own Death when convict and condemned for Villanies and deny that to day that they were convicted of but yesterday and tho never so notoriously guilty yet will take it upon their Death and Salvation that they are as innocent as the Child unborn What can this be tho they drink it down for most sweet and pleasant Wine but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poyson that the lowest Celler of the Bottomless Pit can afford the very Wine of Fornications and the most dangerous Drunkenness and Intoxication in the World Which is attended with this Aggravation that the best prepared Medicines of the wisest Physician will not recover them for Babylon having made the Multitude drunk with this sort of poysoned Wine how rare is it to have any come to themselves to their right Mind again And to shut up this Head take this Argument Argument If no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude or common Sort of People drunk corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine such as before-mentioned as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of But no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude or common Sort of People drunk corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine such as before-mentioned as Rome hath done Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of IX Mystery Babylon is such ill Company as to let Kings be dishonestly familiar with her and make the lower and ruder Sort of her Associates drunk She is said to sit drunk upon a Scarlet-colour'd Beast and this Beast is full of the Names of Blasphemy Rev. 17.3 And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of the Names of Blasphemy c. So that the Woman and the Beast are distinct the Woman the Church the Beast the Secular Power or Civil State This appears evident from divers Considerations arising 1. From other Prophecies relating to the same Thing 2. From the Letter of the Text. 3. From Arguments in Reason 4. From the Confession of the Woman Babylon or the Whore her self Dan. 2. 1. From many Prophecies the latter part of the Image is partly Iron and partly Clay two States really distinct that could never so incorporate as to become one 2. From the Letter of the Text I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast Rev. 17.3 full of the Names of Blasphemy The Colours of the Royal and Imperial Vestments the Angel in the next Words declares distinct and the Apostle in the Vision beheld them distinct 3. They appear to be distinct from Arguments in Reason For 1. The Beast is in the Masculine the Whore in the Feminine Gender Ver. 11 2 4 6 16. compared 2. The Whore else did sit and ride upon her self an high Absurdity 3. The Horns being of the Beast shall hate the Whore if not distinct the Whore must hate her self even to Ruine and Desolation which is nonsensical 4. The Beast shall abide tho in Captivity after the Whore is thrown down or destroyed 4. From the plain Confession of the Woman or Whore her self who saith I sit a Queen I am no Widow Ergo she hath a Head or Husband which is the Beast little Horn or Man of Sin that Paul declared should rise after the removal of the then present Power which did lett which the Primitive Fathers as Tertullian Cyprian Jerome and others understood to be the Imperial Power in its pure civil iron or unmixed State IX Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only been ill Company to the Kings and great Men of the Earth in drawing them into her Idolâ—try Abuse of God his blessed Son the Christian Religion and blessed Books of the Old and New Testament but she hath made the lower and ruder Sort of People drunk too And 't is no Wonder she thinks she may do any thing
having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the church-Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI
Proper and Metaphorical Notations thereof 2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it are 1. Great and vehement Thirst 2. Plenty of the thing thirsted after 3. The greedy taking their fill of it 3. The Signs of Drunkenness are 1. When the Faculties are so disordered that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them 2. When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect 3. When they have cast off all consideration of their own and others Good and forbear no Mischief but what they are restrained from by force 4. That these things are evident in the Church of Rome and cannot be so fairly fixed upon her Opposites or supposed Hereticks appears 1. Because she hath shed a Mass a very great Mass of Blood upon the account of Religion all which was unlawfully shed of this the whole Christian World is a Witness 2. To clear her supposed Hereticks from this red and bloody Crime 1. It is against their Principle to kill Men for Religion and this they do avowedly profess pleading for Liberty of Conscience in Matters purely Religious in all places 2. They have wanted Power to do it in case they had been for it in Principle all Power being in the Hands of Papists before the Reformation 3. Where there hath since been a Protestant Seate or Kingdom governed by Laws different from that of the Popish Countries yet they have not made use of their Power and Laws to take away the Lives of Papists meerly for Religion and if it hath happened at any time that some Ecclesiastical Persons have been put to Death by Protestants it has been but very rare and seldom and the Cause not for their Religion but for Sedition Rebellion and Treason otherwise they have lived peaceably under Protestant Governours enjoying their Civil Right in Common with other Men. And for the confirming of this we make a Challenge to all Christendom to come forth and make it appear Where England Scotland and Ireland the Vnited Provinces c. since the Reformation have by Massacres Murders or Martyrdom put one thousand nay one hundred to Death of Men Women and Children only because they professed the Romish Religion or any Religion different from theirs so far have they been from making themselves Drunk with the Blood of Saints and Religious Men. And if this cannot be done then having brought our Character within the Confines of the Christian World we must necessarily charge this Drunkenness by Blood upon the Church of Rome This Head we will conclude with the following Argument If no Sect of People in the Christian World be guilty of so much Blood drunk with Blood innocent Blood Blood of Saints as the Church of Rome is Then the Church of Rome is this Woman that St. John saw to his great astonishment Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus But there is no Sect of People c. guilty of so much Blood or Drunk with the Blood of Saints c. Ergo The Church of Rome is this Woman c. XIV Babylon is a Church or Body of People that sits upon a Beast that had seven Heads or seven sorts of Soveraign Governments 1. Kings of whom Romulus was the first Rev. 17.9 10 11. 2. Consuls See Mede Peter du Moulin c. 3. Military Tribunes 4. Decemvirs 5. Dictators 6. Heathen Emperors 7. Christian Emperors Rev. 17.9 10 11. And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth And there are sâ—ven Kings five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come but when he cometh he must continue a short space And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and of the seven and goeth into Perdition XIV Besides all that hath been said we hope to very good Purpose if we find not Rome here we will let her go for ever For 1. This is the place which hath had seven Soveraign Governments five of which were gone off the Stage and the sixth viz. the Heathen Empire was in Being in St. John's time 2. The seventh was to appear and to continue but a short space viz. the Christian Empire for it cannot be the Papal Power because that was not up in St. John's time so not the sixth Head and as the Papal Power for that Reason could not be the sixth Head so for a very good Reason it could not be the seventh Head because that whensoever that did appear it was to continue but a short space which respects not the Papal Power but answers the Christian Empire for the Papal Power has continued longer than any of the other Soveraignties that went before and if the Papal Power be neither the Sixth nor seventh Head then it must needs be the eighth which is of the seventh and goes into Perdition or else it must be no Head or Power at all But a Head and a Power it is a great Head and Power it hath been therefore it is the eighth Head which carries the Whore according to the express Leâ—ter of the Text and shall go into Perdition And that by the Woman City or Whore that sitteth upon the seven Mountains is meant Rome we have no cause to doubt because the great Sons of Rome themselves as Baronius Bellarmine and many others do confess it but would defend their Mother from being a Whore by putting it off to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State to which we have fully answered already And do say that Rome Papal is neither the sixth Head nor the seventh but the very last Beast or eighth Head in which there is a Secular and an Ecclesiastical Power joined together which makes up a Beast a most Blasphemous Beast and a Whore a most Devilish Drunken and Bloody Whore which hath her Seat upon seven Mountains on which this City of Rome was built as before This Paragraph we shall shut up with this Argument Arg. If Rome Papal or Church of Rome be born up by a Secular Power which had seven sovereign Governments seated upon seven Hills Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the very Mystery Babylon that the Apostle John saw in his Apocalyptical Vision But Rome Papal or Church of Rome is born up by a Secular Power which had seven Soveraign Governments and seated upon seven Hills Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the very Mystical Babylon c. This Argument shines so clear that unless our Adversaries can assign any Protestant State by them called Heretical that these Characters do better and more fully agree to it must pass for current Coin and which we shall be ready to receive from them So we proceed XV. Mystery Babylon is not only a Beastly Woman that has made her self Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus that sits upon a Beast that had seven Heads or seven sorts of Soveraign Governments and was seated upon
as clear Demonstrations that the Head of Rome Papal is the Head of Babylon and the Grand Impostor or the Capital Manager of this Mystery of Iniquity he having most sacrilegiously assumed to himself all Heavenly Power of damning or saving and all Earthly Power both Temporal or Civil and Ecclesiastical or Sacred 11. This wicked Babylonish State comes forth with a great Pretence of Miracles which are but false Signs and lying Wonders to deceive and cheat the People and by this means they conquer Nations and carry away their Kings to their wicked Interest This Rome Heathen did not do For tho the Heathenish Power of Rome did conquer Nations and Countries with their Kings yet it was by State-Policy and Force of Arms not by pretended Miracles false Signs and lying Wonders Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be this Mystery of Iniquity or Babylonish State 12. This wicked State under consideration is declared not only to depart from the Faith by a palpable Apostacy but to forbid Marriage and command a long Lent and many other Fast-Days whereon some Sorts of Meats are prohibited to be eaten which doth so fully agree to the Papal State of Rome that nothing can be more plain unless the Spirit had expresly told us This will be fulfilled by Rome Papal For these two things we have their Canons upon Record the which if none can shew the like of the Heathen State of Rome then Rome Papal shall carry the Title of this Mystery of Iniquity and Babylonish State 7. If the Babylon under consideration be only confined to the Power of Heathen Rome then there is a more evident and apparent Mystery upon the State or Power of Rome Heathen than upon any Power or State that went before it or should come after it for so the Text imports Rev. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT c. But there did no such Mystery appear upon the Power or State of Rome Heathen therefore this Babylon cannot terminate there What great Mystery appeared upon the Power and State of Rome Heathen more than appeared upon the Power and State of the three foregoing Monarchies 8. This Babylon cannot be confined to the Power of Rome only in its Heathen State because Babylon is to continue till the good People shall with the Horns that did support her which is the last Part of the wicked and persecuting Power answerable to the ten Toes in Daniel's great Image reward and destroy her for the Injury that she did unto them according to these three Texts of Scripture Rev. 18.4 Dan. 7.22 26 27. Rev. 17.16 And I heard another Voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my People that ye be not Partakâ—rs of her Sins c. Verse 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and deal unto her double according to her Works In the Cup that she hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Which the Power of Rome in its Heathen State felt not but ended its Course without being destroyed by good People and the ten Horns which is the last Part of the Image-Government And in the Days of these Kings Dan. 2.44 viz. ten Toes ten Horns ten Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Which could not be fulfilled in what Constantine did in the Time of Maxentius as Dr. Hammond would have us believe for these three Reasons 1. Because the ten Horns that afterwards the Roman Power fell into were not come up and so could not destroy the Power of Rome in its Heathen State 2. Because Babylon's Persecution Misery and Confusion did not utterly cease which it must have done so as to rise no more for ever if the Power of Rome Heathen destroyed by Constantine had been this Mystery Babylon 3. Because tho there might be a Body of good People with Constantine when he overthrew Maxentius yet the Power of the Kingdom was not so established in the hand of good People as not afterward to be left to others as the Text affirms And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People For as we shall anon shew the Kingdom or Power that ceased to be in the hands of Heathens and by a mighty and divine Providence came to be in the hands of a worthy and renowned Christian Emperor came afterwards into the hands of very Devils incarnate who acted all the Violence of the Heathen Power over again and indeed out-did them 9. Those that are for confining this Babylon to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State are not well aware what they do for if they do demand it their Opposites who hold it to be Rome Papal may grant it for Argument's sake But then the Remedy is worse than the Disease for they slip into such a Precipice as neither Baronius Bellarmine Dr. Hammond or the Rhemists can save or deliver them from The true State of the Case is this Rome Heathen is Mystery Babylon this say the Papists And the more willing they are to say so because it is a good Argument to prove that Peter was at Rome he subscribing his first Epistle from Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you c. But this being allowed the worst is to come This Babylon is destroyed when the Power of Rome Heathen is taken away so as to be no more for ever but then what Condition doth the State of Babylon fall into Doth it become the Throne of the Lamb the City of the Living God the Habitation of Holiness and Dwelling-place of Zion the true Church the Place of the holy Ones and Saints of the Most High O no! What then Hearken and an Angel from Heaven shall tell you Rev. 18.1 2. And after these Things of the Horns hating the Whore making of her naked and burning her Flesh with Fire I saw another Angel come down from Heaven having great Power and the Earth was lightned with his Glory and he cried mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. Now you Papists if you will needs have Babylon to be Rome Heathen take it and much Good do you with it but then make Rome Papal better than an Habitation of Devils if you can If it be not Rome Heathen then adieu to Dr. Hammond and the Rhemists we have what we desire If it be then Rome Papal is a far worse Place
before this Division was but low and small being confined to his Episcopal Power over the Church till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat and Power of the Temporal Sword which he managed with so much Craft and Policy that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions but is very rightfully in his Infancy stiled a little Prince Power or Horn arising up amongst or after the rest which began presently after the Death of Julian about the Year 365 in which Time was a most fearful Earthquake the like never known before betokening the Decay of the Fourth Kingdom in its Civil State or Power by a Division or falling of Nations who set themselves against the Power of Rome and harrassed wasted and destroyed the Provinces thereof for near forty five Years together See Mede lib. 3. p. 659. III. This little Horn after his Rise to Temporal Power plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots Dan. 7.8 Before whom there were three of the first Horns pluck'd up by the Roots III. The Papal Power having gained the Temporal Sword tho but a little Horn at his beginning did practise and prosper so that betwixt the Year 365 and the Year 456 or soon after when Rome was sack'd by Gensericus he gained such Enlargements that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman Dominions according to the Rules or Measure of the Compass as we find in Mr. Mede lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du-Moulin ubi suprà Upon which three Characters of the little Horn we frame this short Argument If the Pope of Rome did arise to Temporal Power upon the weakning of the Caesarean Dominion which before did hinder him in his aspiring Usurpation was but little in his first Rise and Appearance did enlarge and grow to a Possession of about a third part of the old Roman Dominion Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn the Wicked Power and vile Person set forth by the Prophet Daniel But the Antecedent is true Ergo so is the Consequent IV. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man c. IV. The Pope of Rome hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man the Resemblance of a humane Look but a Heart like the Dragon out of which foul Mouth he utters presumptuous Things His Predecessors had Eyes like a Leopard a Bear a Lion a Dragon but this hath Eyes like a Man In which there are three things to be noted 1. He looks higher 2. Sees further and 3. Is more enticing than those that went before him 1. He looks higher that is makes a pretence of Piety and Design for Heaven 2. Sees further that Deceit Flattery and Policy will do more than Strength 3. Is more enticing to Kings and People than the Eyes of a Leopard Lion or Dragon or the former Powers in their Heathen State V. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things above the rate of ordinary Men. Dan. 7.8 V. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things above the ordinary rate of Men. This is evident in many respects of which we shall give you but a few Instances out of many 1. That he is the highest Deputy of God above all the Kings of the Earth 2. That he is infallible and cannot err which is an incommunicable Attribute of the Most High 3. That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholick Church 4 He assumes the Attributes of his Holiness and holy Father such an Oracle that has Right or Power to give Laws to the World to which all ought to subscribe and yield obedience and none ought to dispute Greater and more loftily can no Man speak unless he will say I am the Supreme Being and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self which would be so highly ridiculous that every Ideot would be able to detect it VI. The little Horn had his Looks more stout than his Fellows Dan. 7.20 Whose Looks were more stout c. VI. The Pope of Rome has Looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him which appears in three things 1. In his terrible Bulls that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully 2. In his Power and Acts of deposing Princes 3. In asserting himself to be God's Vicegerent against whom no Person upon any Cause or Pretence whatsoever ought to lift up Hand or Tongue upon the Penalty of a total Ruine in this World and an eternal Ruine in the World to come VII The little Horn makes War with the Saints Dan. 7.21 I beheld and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and that for a long Time even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the Most High Verse 25. VII The Pope of Rome hath made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and that to their Ruine as to Liberty Estate and even Life it self as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countries in divers by-past Ages even for such a Series of Time that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the Most High for his Cruelty ended not in a Month or a Year but hath lasted for many hundred Years So that for Length of Time Numbers of Countries and Multitude of Persons there is no Power that ever reigned hath out-done or equalized this vile and bloody Monster upon which we frame this Argument If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man a Mouth speaking presumptuous Things and Looks more stout than his Fellows to have made War with the Saints to have prevailed against them and wore them out more than any other Power that ever yet reigned Then he is the little Horn or vile Person under Consideration But the former is true Ergo so is the latter VIII The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns Dan. 7.24 And he shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three Kings VIII The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects 1. The Manner of his Rise 2. His Pretensions to Power 3. In his progress to his Height of Dignity 4. In his Management of the Power he has usurped 1. He was small or little in his Rise but an ordinary Bishop before he came to be a Temporal Prince 2. He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance or Gift of the People as other Kings do but by a special and Divine Patent 3. In his progress to the Height of his Dignity by leaving his fixed Station as Pastor of a Church and by Deceit Treason and Violation of all Laws mounts the Throne of Imperial Grandure 4. He rules by a supreme Ecclesiastical Power as well as Temporal pretends to the Keys of Heaven as well as the Sword of Justice on Earth shewing himself to be the Beast that hath two Horns
Page 162 Saints the Salt of the Earth Page 166 Saints Merchants Page 168 Saints Pilgrims Page 170 Saints compared to Palm-Trees Page 175 Saints compared to Wheat Page 178 Saints compared to Light Page 180 Saints compared to Cedars Page 182 Saints compared to Myrtle-Trees Page 184 Saints compared to Willows Page 185 Saints why called Vessels Page 186 Saints why called Lions Page 188 Saints compared to Gold Page 190 Saints compared to Doves Page 192 Some Saints like Lambs in a large Place Page 193 The Heart of a Saint compared to an Heart of Flesh Page 194 Saints Stewards Page 195 Saints why called Jewels Page 196 Saints why called Kings Page 199 Saints called Priests Page 200 Concerning Wicked Men. Wicked Men Captives Page 201 Wicked Men why called Sluggards Page 209 Wicked Men Fools or Idiots Page 211 Some wicked Men like painted Sepulchres Page 215 Wicked Men compared to Swine Page 216 Wicked Men Debtors Page 219 Wicked Men why called the Red of God Page 221 Wicked Men compared to Tares Page 222 Wicked Men compared to Chaff Page 223 Wicked Men compared to Thorns Page 224 Wicked Men compared to Mountains Page 225 Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby Page 227 228 Wicked Men mad or besides themselves Page 231 Wicked Men called Dogs Page 232 Wicked Men called Bulls Page 235 Wicked Men called Lions Page 237 Wicked Men compared to Foxes Page 241 Wicked Men compared to Goats Page 243 Wicked Men compared to Thieves Page 245 Wicked Men naked Page 247 Wicked Men Vipers Page 248 Wicked Men poor and miserable Page 250 The Heart of a Wicked Man like a Rock Page 251 Wicked Men why called Eagles Page 253 Wicked Men why called Devils Page 254 The Ninth HEAD c. concerning True Ministers False Ministers and False Churches TRue Ministers why called Angels Page 256 True Ministers Stars why so called Page 258 Christ's Ministers called Labourers Page 259 Christ's Ministers called Watchmen Page 265 Christ's Ministers why called Trumpeters ibid Ministers Christ's Spokesmen Page 267 Christ's Ministers why called Clouds Page 269 Christ's Ministers why called Fathers Page 271 Christ's Ministers called Planters Page 273 Christ's Ministers called Shepherds Page 281 Christ's Ministers Ambassadors Page 282 Christ's Ministers called Rulers Page 287 Concerning False Teachers False Teachers why compared to Wolves Page 291 False-Teachers called Foxes Page 293 False-Teachers called Wells without Water Page 293 False-Teachers why called Clouds without Rain Page 294 False-Teachers called Deceivers Page 294 False Churches Mystery Babylon or the Great Whore proved to be the present State and Church of Rome Page 297 to 330 The Tenth HEAD of Metaphors concerning Sin and the Devil SIn why called a Thief Page 331 Sin a Debt Page 335 Sin an heavy Burthen Page 343 Sin a Sting Page 344 Sin a Wound Page 345 Sin a Plague Page 349 Sin compared to deadly Poyson Page 350 Sin a Sickness Page 352 Sin compared to an abominable Vomit Page 354 Sin an Vncleanness or nothing so loathsom as Sin Page 355 Sin compared to Gray-Hairs Page 357 Concerning the Devil The Devil why called the God of this World Page 359 The Devil why called a Prince Page 360 The Devil a Hunter Page 361 The Devil a Fowler Page 362 The Devil why called a Lion Page 363 The Devil why called a Dragon Page 364 The Devil a Serpent Page 365 The Eleventh HEAD c. concerning the Means of Grace and Providence THe Day of Grace what Page 367 Means of Grace compared to Summer Page 369 Means of Grace compared to Harvest Page 369 Godliness called a Trade largely opened Page 371 376 Of Providence and Afflictions Afflictions compared to Clouds Page 377 Afflictions compared to Fire Page 378 Afflictions why called a Rod Page 379 Afflictions compared to a Furnace Page 381 Afflictions compared to Winter ibid Afflictions compared to Darkness Page 383 Afflictions compared to Tempests Page 385 Afflictions compared to a Flood Page 386 Afflictions compared to great Heat Page 387 Afflictions compared to Wormwood and Gall Page 388 Afflictions called God's Arrows God hath many sharp Arrows Page 389 The Twelfth and Last HEAD concerning the World the Life of Man and the four last Things THe World compared to a Wilderness Page 391 THe World a Field Page 392 The End of the World why called an Harvest ibid Of the Life of Man The Life of Man compared to a swift Post Page 393 The Life of Man compared to a swift Ship ibid The Life of Man compared to an Eagle hastening to her Prey Page 394 The Life of Man compared To a Weaver's Shuttle Page 394 395 396 To the Wind Page 394 395 396 To a Cloud Page 394 395 396 To a Flower Page 394 395 396 To a Shadow Page 394 395 396 Of Death The Body of Man in the Grave compared to Seed sown Page 398 Death compared to Sleep Page 398 399 Death a Departure Page 400 Death a Rest ibid Of the Resurrection The Resurrection compared to the Morning Page 401 The Resurrection compared to an awaking out of Sleep Page 402 The Resurrection-Day a Man's Reaping-Day Page 403 Resurrection-Day a Saint's Coronation-Day Page 405 Of the Judgment-Day The Day of Judgment called an Assize Page 406 407 Of Heaven Heaven called Paradise Page 407 Heaven the Crown of Life Page 409 Of Hell Hell a Furnace of Fire Page 410 Hell utter Darkness Page 411 Moses's Vail removed OR A Treatise of TYPES ADam wherein a Type of Christ Page 413 Noah how a Type of Christ ibid Melchis deck a Type of Christ Page 414 Abraham a Type of Christ Page 415 Isaac a Type of Christ ibid Jacob how a Type of Christ Page 416 Jacob's Ladder a Tyye of Christ ibid Joseph in what respect a Type of Christ Page 416 417 Moses in how many things a Type of Christ ibid Sampson a Type of Christ Page 418 David in ten things a Type of Christ Page 418 419 Solomon in how many things a Type of Christ Page 420 Elisha a Type of Christ ibid Jonah wherein a Type of Christ ibid Zerubbabel a Type of Christ ibid Aaron a Type of Christ Page 421 The High-Priest a Type of Christ Page 421 422 423 What the Tabernacle was a Type of Page 423 424 The Vail of the Holiest what it was a Type of Page 424 The Ark a Type of Christ Page 425 The Mercy-Seat a Type of Christ ibid The Table of Shewbread what a Type of ibid The Candlestick what a Type of Page 426 The Altar of Perfume a Type of Christ ibid The Altar of Burnt Offering a Type of Christ Page 427 The Brazen Laver what it was a Type of ibid The Sacrifice of Beasts a Type of Christ Page 428 The Burnt-Offering of Fowls a Type of Christ Page 429 The Daily Sacrifice a Type of Christ ibid The Sin-Offering a Type of Christ ibid The Meat-Offering what it was a Type of Page 430 The Peace-Offering and what it was a Type of Page 431 The solemn yearly
corruptible things as Silver and Gold which perish FAith is a divine and precious Grace or a supernatural thing 't is from above wrought in the Soul by the Operation of the Spirit of God and therefore incorruptible an heavenly Principle or Seed that shall never fail till we receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls II. Tried Gold may make a Man renowned and great on Earth and adorn the Body or Habitation where he dwells but it avails not the Soul any thing it will not enrich or make honourable or beautify that c. II. Faith true Faith Faith tried in the Fire makes Believing Men and Women renowned in Grace and Godliness and adorns the Soul Church and People where it is None shine forth in that Beauty and Splendor as those do who have much Faith III. Tried Gold may be utterly lost a Man may have much of it to day and none to morrow Thieves may rob him of it c. III. True Faith cannot be utterly lost A Man may lose somewhat of the Strength of it he may decay in this Grace as well as in others but he can never lose the Habit the Seed or Truth of Faith it self I have prayed for thee Luk. 22.31 32. that thy Faith fail not Inferences FIrst Information How greatly are some mistaken about this precious and most noble Grace For we may infer from hence 1. That true Faith is not a simple or bare believing there is a God the Devils have this kind of Faith they also believe and tremble 2. That it is not a meer or bare believing the Truth of the holy Scriptures The Jews believed the Scriptures and thought by them to have eternal Life and yet were Enemies to Jesus Christ 3. That it is not a bare believing Christ died for Sinners most ungodly People in England believe that 4. That cannot be a true Faith which Swearers Drunkards Whoremongers and all other ungodly and prophane Persons have 5. That a Man may leave all gross Sins and assent to many Truths of the Gospel and yet have no true Faith 6. Nay that a Man may be baptized take upon him the Profession of the Gospel and suffer many things and yet not have one dram of saving Faith as appears by the foolish Virgins Judas and Simon the Sorcerer and many others 7. Nay a Man may seem to hear the Word with Joy and yet have no true Faith A temporary Faith is not the Faith of God's Elect or that Faith that is more precious than Gold c. Quest How may a Man know true Faith from that which is common and meer counterfeit Answ 1. There is in that Person who savingly believes in Christ a true Knowledg of God and of Jesus Christ the true Saviour it takes hold on the right Object Dost thou believe on the Son of God Joh. 9.24 9.35 Rom. 10.14 Who is he Lord c. How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard 2. There must be a true Knowledg of and a free and full Assent and Consent to the Truth of that which is contained in the Holy Scriptures concerning God Christ and Salvation and all other essential Principles of true Religion It is not enough to believe as the Church believes as some ignorantly teach and affirm 3. He that hath obtained true Faith hath had his Understanding enlightned to see what his State and Condition was by Nature Acts 2.37 2 Cor. 7. he hath been under Humiliation for Sin 4. He seeth also that all his own Righteousness will avail him nothing in point of Justification and Acceptation with God Without Christ his Prayers Tears Reading Hearing and Alms-deeds will not save him To trust to any of these he sees is the way to make Faith void Rom. 3.8 Rom. 10.2 3. The Jews built upon this Foundation and thereby missed of Salvation 5. There is in that Soul where true Faith is wrought or where the Seed of it is sowed a desire after Christ not simply after his Merits but also after Union and intimate Acquaintance with him Yea doubtless I account all things but Loss Phil. 3.8 for the Excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the Loss of all things and do account them but Dung that I may win Christ c. A true enlightned Soul looks first to Christ's Person as being affected with his Beauty and Sweetness of his Love and then to the Goods and Riches he possesseth As a Woman newly married looks first to her Husband and then to the Inheritance or else is little better than an Harlot 6. But did I say a Desire after Christ Be not mistaken to think that every Desire after him is a Sign of true Faith 1. It is a fervent Desire such desire him more than all the World That Soul pants after him and Union with him Psal 75.25 more than after Heaven and Glory It greatly endears Christ to the Soul He is the chiefest of Ten Thousand 2. 'T is such a Desire as in a hungry Man nothing will satisfy him but Bread so nothing will satisfy a true Believer but Christ the Bread of Life 7. If a Man hath true Faith he knoweth the Time when he was without it he knoweth he was once blind and without God and Christ I will not say he knows the very Instant when God wrought it in his Soul but he can say with the Man whose Eyes Christ opened Whereas I was blind I now see Jon. 9.25 8. And not only so but he knows the Way and Means by which he obtained it viz. either by Hearing or Reading or Meditating on the Word of God either in the free Tender of Christ to Sinners in general or to dejected burthened and heavy-laden Sinners in particular 9. Faith is usually obtained of God in a constant and laborious seeking and crying to him for it What Pains hath it cost you Sirs Precious Faith is not easily obtained to What Conflicts have you found within Satan ever makes strong Resistance there is nothing he strives to obstruct or hinder more 10. What Love to God hath thy Faith wrought in thee True Faith works by Love Mary believed and loved much 11. Hath thy Faith purified thy Heart Hast thou seen its horrid Filth and Pollution and dost thou long after Purity not only to have thy Sins pardoned but also purged away and the Power and Dominion thereof destroyed 12. What Alteration in the Course of thy Life hath Faith wrought Faith made Jordan go back There is a Turning the whole Man to God a glorious Change in every Faculty in Heart and also in Life Half my Goods saith Zacheus Luk. 19.8 Act. 19.19 I give to the Poor And in the Acts 't is said Those that used unlawful Arts burned their Books If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature 13. Faith leads the Soul to receive Christ in all his Offices not only as
destructive and amazing to their Enemies III. They are set out by red speckled and white Horses to note the different Work and Office they are set about whilst they are employed in the Workings of Providence in governing the World 1. Red signifies the Sufferings of the Church together with the Blood and Slaughter or dreadful Judgments that Jesus Christ hath to execute on the World by the Ministration of Angels or a severe Dispensation 2. Speckled shews a mixed State or Dispensation of God's Judgments mixed with Mercy 3. White notes Peace and Prosperity to the Saints and the whole World which will be produced by the Providence of God after the bloody and mixed State of the Church is gone The Soul of Man compared to a Ship Heb. 6.19 Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul c. HEre observe two Doctrines one implied the other expressed Doct. 1. The Soul of a Believer in the Judgment of some Divines is and may fitly be compared to a Ship Doct. 2. Hope that noble and precious Grace of the Spirit is and may fitly be compared to an Anchor Metaphor Parallel A Ship is a rare and curious Piece of Workmanship it shews forth the excellent Wit and Invention of Man THe Soul of a Believer is a very rare and curious Piece of God's Workmanship The Body and Face of a Man doth magnify the Wisdom and Glory of the Creator but what is the Body without the Soul it is but the Cabinet without the Jewel II. A Ship is a very costly thing a little will not build rigg and fit out a Ship to Sea especially if it be designed for a long and profitable Voyage as to the East-Indies or the like II. The Soul of a Believer is a very costly and chargeable thing God hath parted with much Treasure in building 1 Pet. 1.18 or rather rebuilding and fitting of it out to sail through the Ocean of this World to the Haven of eternal Happiness hath parted with his Son with his Spirit his Grace his Gospel c. III. Some Ships are built for noble and eminent Service and are very profitable to the Owners III. The Charge that God hath been at in building and rebuilding the Soul of a Believer is for renowned and eminent Service viz. the Glory of God and everlasting Happiness IV. He that builds and owns a Ship doth usually commit the Care and Charge of her to another who is to sail in her IV. So doth God Almighty commit the Charge and Care of our Souls to us We are employed but as Stewards Deut. 4 9. Prov. 4.23 or Deputy-Owners and must be accountable to God if our Souls are lost V. A gallant Ship that is bound for India or for some noble and eminent Service is richly fraighted hath divers rare Commodities in her c. V. So the Soul of a Believer that it may make a blessed and glorious Voyage is most richly stored and fraighted with the precious Gifts and Graces of God's holy Spirit c. VI. A Ship ought to have a good Bottom or the Danger is very great Whatever she seems to be above Deck tho never so stately and lovely to look upon yet if her Bottom be naught and defective she will never make the Voyage VI. So ought the Soul of a Christian to have a good Foundation If not built upon Christ if not sincere and firm at Heart what Profession he may make tho never so glorious will prove fruitless and vain the Soul is in danger and will for ever unavoidably be lost VII A Ship cannot sail without Wind or Tide VII The Soul of a Believer cannot sail Heavenwards in any Service Duty or Suffering without the sweet Movings and Gales of God's Spirit VIII A Ship ought to have a wise and skilful Pilot. VIII So ought the Soul of a Believer for if it hath not Christ to guide and steer its Course for it it is impossible to escape the Danger of the Sea of Trouble and Temptation IX A Ship needeth often to be repaired being very subject to spring a Leak IX So doth the Soul of a Christian need often to be repaired by Prayer and Repentance or else it will fall under sad and fearful Decays Heb. 2.1 The Soul is like pared to a leaking Vessel X. A Ship is tossed upon the rough and tempestuous Waves and has its Ups and Downs and seldom hath rest or quiet till she has made the Voyage X. Thus 't is with the Soul it is often tossed upon the boysterous and tempestuous Seas of Temptation sometimes transported up to Heaven Psal 107. v. 23 to 28. and then by and by down again to the Depths and all the Billows of God's Wrath seem to run over it XI A Ship is in danger of being lost and that many ways viz. by Rocks by Sands by the raging Waves and by springing of a Leak c. XI The Soul also is in great danger Never was Ship in more eminent hazard than the Soul of a Christian and that many ways Zech. 4.7 viz. by the Rocks and Mountains of great Opposition the Sands of Despair and raging Waves of Persecution besides the Leaks occasioned by indwelling Sin c. XII A Ship hath a Compass by which she is steered from place to place without which no Man can or dares go to Sea XII So likewise the Soul must have a Compass unto which we are with care and diligence to look and to be well-skilled in all the Points thereof viz. the Word and Spirit of God 2 Pet. 2.19 XIII A Ship is exposed to great Danger of being robbed by Pirates of all her Treasure XIII So is the Soul of a Believer by that cursed Pirate Satan who sometimes transforms himself into an Angel of Light and to trapan the Soul 2 Cor. 11.15 puts out false Colours pretends himself a Friend when his whole Design is Blood and Slaughter and treacherously to ruin and spoil the Soul 1 Pet. 2 1â— The Flesh is another secret Sea-Thief and the World yea and Sin is as arch a Pirat as any XIV A Ship often meets with sudden Storms and a good Mariner doth not only look for them but also provide and prepare for them XIV So must the Soul expect to meet with a dreadful Tempest or Hurricane The Winds will rise and a Storm will come upon the Ship where Christ is David was aware of these Dangers Psal 55.8 and saw how to prevent and escape sinking XV. 'T is a rare thing to see a Ship sail along before a fresh and prosperous Gale XV. 'T is a rare and lovely thing to see a Soul carried swiftly along in the Work and Service of God being under the powerful Influences a fresh and prosperous Gale or Wind of the Spirit XVI A Ship is sometimes becalmed XVI So alas it is too often with the Soul of a poor Christian XVII 'T is a Wonder to see a Ship to live in a
Scarcity better than weak or poor Christians will only God hath for their Comfort and Encouragement promised to supply their Wants Phil. 4.19 and will if sincere also relieve them Psal 84.11 that they shall not faint or perish in the Years of Famine XIX Some Cities tho rich yet are in a comparative sence but small but little Cities XIX The City of God in comparison of great Babylon is but a small City notwithstanding all her Glory Grandure Luke 12.32 Eccles 9.14 Rev. 17.18 and Greatness as you have heard she is but little There was a little City and few Men in it This City is the Church of God c. Babylon is a great City In comparison of the Wicked Christ's Flock is but a handful of People as it were XX. A City tho very strong yet is sometimes besieged and hath many Enemies XX. The City of God this little City is besieged Isa 1.8 The Daughter of Zion is left as a Cottage in a Vineyard as a Lodge in a Garden of Cucumers as a besieged City And marvellous it is so small a City should hold out so bravely unto this Day especially considering what mighty Enemies have and do besiege her Object But here it may be objected Hath it not been overcome is it not said The Holy City was trodden under foot Rev. 11.2 Answ It is only the outward Court God hath had his Church in all Ages tho forced for a time to flie into the Wilderness from the Face of the Dragon Rev. 12 6. Quest By whom is this City besieged Answ 1. By the Devil called a great King and the King of the Bottomless Pit Eccles 9.14 Rev. 12. 2. By Antichrist the First-born of Satan He hath for above twelve hundred Years laid Siege against it using all manner of Engines Craft and Cruelty to batter her down and finally to destroy her 3. She is besieged by the World by wicked Men Men of earthly and carnal Principles who abhor Zion and say Let her be defiled raze her Psal 137.7 even to the Foundation thereof 4. She is besieged by Sin and the Flesh a secret Enemy who fain in a clandestine way would betray her this Enemy doth her the most Mischief 5. She is besieged by a Multitude of false Teachers 2 Pet. 2.1 2. these likewise have done great Hurt and Dammage to the Church of God who labour by evil Doctrine to poyson all her Inhabitants 6. And besides all this there have been sad Divisions within her also she has been as a City divided and yet she stands 7. There have been sad Breaches made in her Walls so that many have been let in that way who should have been kept out 8. Many that seemed to be for her have deserted her and joined with the Enemy and yet still she holds out 9. And which is worst of all few of those who have been in the City have bravely acquitted themselves by Zeal and Holiness to defend her and yet she holds out still Quest From whence is it that she is helped to bear up against all these sore and grievous Assaults Batteries and Calamities Answ 1. This City as you have heard is built upon a Rock it has a sure Foundation which cannot be removed Mat. 16.18 2. The Lord of Hosts hath fought for her 't is he that hath been on her side he hath defended Mount Zion and the Hill thereof he hath took part with her Psal 125.2 Isa 31.4 5 and doth at this day 3. She holds out because God hath decreed her Standing Zech. 12.8 9. and that her Enemies shall not prevail 4. She is defended because she is the Place which the Lord loveth Psal 74 2. and hath purchased with the Blood of his own dear Son 5. Because it is the Place where God's Honour dwells Psal 26.8 I have loved the Habitation of thy House the Place where thy Honour dwells 6. Again she still remains because she is tho a little City yet a strong City We have a strong City She hath strong Fortifications strong Walls and Bulwarks Isa 26.1 Psal 31.21 135.21 Zech. 2.5 7. 'T is because God's own Habitation as you have heard is in her God is a Wall of Fire round about her and the Glory in the midst of her 8. She is defended by reason of the Strong-Tower she hath in her so long as her Tower stands how can she be battered down And her Tower is impregnable The Enemy may sooner pull the Sun out of the Firmament than undermine or batter down deface or demolish the Tower of Zion which is the Name of the Lord. Prov. 18.10 See Strong-Tower 9. She is defended because in her are the Laws Statutes Ordinances Isa 2.3 and holy Institutions of her King the Lord Jesus where he is worshipped and adored in Spirit and Truth Inferences HEnce all that dwell in Zion may be provoked to a diligent Improvement of their great Privileges to the end they may be enriched with all those spiritual Riches and dignified with that Honour that appertaineth to a true Denizen thereof 2. Take Comfort and Encouragement also whatever the Attempts of the Enemies are yet about all her Glory shall be a Defence All those whose Feet stand within her Gates may read Honour Safety Isa 4.5 and Salvation as it were written upon her Walls 3. Let it be your Delight to prefer her above your chiefest Joy as she is called the holy City so be ye also holy Psal 137.6 that you may declare your selves unto what City it is you do belong 4. How may this call home all those that are gone astray and invite all that profess good Will unto Sion to let their Feet stand within her Gates for the Lord hath desired it for his Habitation Holy David made this his one thing desirable Psal 27.4 viz. to dwell in God's House to be a Denizen of this City and why should not you 5. Let it be a Warning to all Sion's Enemies to take heed how they lift up their hands against her or reproach God and them that dwell in Heaven let them lay down their Arms and fight against her no more The Lord shall roar also out of Zion Joel 3.16 and utter his Voice from Jerusalem and the Heavens and Earth shall shake But the Lord will be the Hope of his People and the Strength of the Children of Israel So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy Mountain c. The Church compared to the Moon Cant. 6.10 She is fair as the Moon THe Moon is called in Hebrew Lebanah of her Whiteness and bright Shining The State of the Church all Expositors agree is signified hereby The Church may in many respects be compared to the Moon Simile Parallel NAturalists affirm the Moon receiveth her Light from the Sun THe Church hath all her Light from Christ the Sun of Righteousness
Mat. 4.2 II. The Moon receiving Light by the Beams at the Sun she shines forth and giveth Light to the World II. So the Church receiving Light from Christ she shines forth in Brightness and Glory The Sun gives Light but receives none the Moon both gives Light and receives Light So Christ as God hath his Light in himself but as Mediator hath his Light from the Father to communicate it to the Church that the Church may give Light to the World Ye are the Light of the World Mat. 5.14 III. The Moon giveth Light to the World only in the Night III. So the Church gives her Light forth to enlighten Sinners whilst the Night of this World lasteth IV. The Moon tho very fair and bright yet as Naturalists observe hath her Spots IV. So the Church tho pure and holy yet in her self is not without Spots of Sin No Saint is without Blemishes If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 V. The Moon hath her various Aspects sometimes she is in the Full and sometimes in the Wane sometimes she shines more glorious and sometimes less and yet still the same Moon She doth not saith an ancient Writer always shew her Light in her full Orb she sometimes so decreaseth that there seemeth to us not to be any Moon yet she is not then destitute of the Sun-Beams tho it seem otherwise to our Sight V. So the Church is under various States and Changes She doth not always shine as at Full Moon or send forth a full Brightness but is sometimes so obscured that she appears hardly visible she was forced into the Wilderness Rev. 12.6 from the Face of the Dragon and Romish Beast yet it is certain the Church is always in being Posse putes nobis persuadere eum esse Ecclesiae statum ut obscurari nequeat ut nil Perfidia nil Hostes nil Antichristus valeat Delere hi quidem Ecclesiam nunquam possunt sed in angustias compingere compellere in latebras possint saith Whitaker Thinkest thou that thou canst persuade us that the State of the Church is such that it cannot be obscured so that the Perfidiousness of Enemies and Antichrist can do nothing against it They cannot indeed destroy the Church but they can bring it into a narrower Compass and drive it into Holes The Church saith Augustin is like the Moon which sometimes shines wholly being enlightned with the Sun-beams and sometimes is deprived of a great part of her Light so the Church shines sometimes most gloriously and sometimes is so obscured that she hardly appears at all Inferences HEnce we may learn to look and earnestly expect to receive all our Light as well as Life from Christ the Light of the World and earnestly pray with David Psal 4.6 that he would lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us that forasmuch as we have no Light but what is communicated from him unto us he would dart continually his glorious Beams into our Hearts Mat. 5.16 that we may indeed be as shining Lights in this dark World 2. This may also humble the most glittering Saints to consider that they cannot shine so bright in this World but that their Spots may be discernible to themselves and others which may excite them to apply themselves daily to the Sun of Righteousness for cleansing Mal 4.2 3. To keep clear and shine as much as possible that the poor benighted dark World may obtain Benefit by them and confess it to the Glory of God Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine c. 4. Take Comfort from hence notwithstanding your various Changes Ebbings and Flowings in this World for that the Enemy may as soon change the Ordinances of the Moon as make an utter end of God's Church as you have heard 5. What a dreadful Doom will such be sure to have that love Darkness so as that they do not only contemn oppose and endeavour to pull the Moon viz. the Church out of her Orb but so wicked are they they slight and contemn the Sun from whence she receives all her shining Brightness Let such read Job 5.14 They meet with Darkness in the Day-time and grope in the Noon-day as in the Night To whom is reserved the Blackness of Darkness for evâ—â— 2 Pet. 2 17 except Grace prevent by giving them Repentance The Church the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God 2 Cor. 6.16 For ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them c. THe Church is the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple and we shall therefore run the Parallel with respect to that Type Parallel THe Temple was built with costly Stones well hewed squared and polished before they were laid into the Building SO the Church of God is built with spiritual Stones 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5 6. Acts 2.40 41. who are well hewed and polished by the Word and Spirit before added to or laid into the heavenly Building II. In the Building of the Temple there was no Noise heard of Hammer or Ax and the House when it was in building was built with Stones made ready before they were brought thither 1 King 6.7 so that there was neither Hammer nor Ax nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House whilst it was in building II. So in the building of the Church there should be no need of the Hammer or the Ax to square and hew by Repentance the Stones of this Building being every way prepared and made fit before Conversion is the polishing Work and those that receive unconverted Persons violate the holy Rule of God's Word for that maketh Work for the Hammer and Ax in the Temple Hence Solomon saith Prepare thy Work without Prov. 24.27 and make ready thy things in the Field and after build thy House III. Others besides Solomon were concerned in the building of the Temple as Hiram King of Tyrus and the Zidonians who hewed the Timber for it III. To shew that in the building of the Church of God the Gentiles as well as the Jews are concerned they all concur together Eph. 2. â—1 to build up a holy Temple in the Lord. IV. The Temple was a most rare and glorious Structure 1 Kings 6.21 it was overlaid with fine Gold upon carved Cedar IV. To shew the Beauty and Glory of the Church which is adorned with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit The Church is inwardly pure very rich and beautiful Hence the King's Daughter is said to be all glorious within Psal 45.17 V. In the Temple were many Windows 1 Kings 6.4 to let in Light abundantly V. So in the Church the Light of the Gospel and the blessed Spirit shines gloriously these let Light in in great abundance VI. In the Temple were several Degrees of Galleries or Lofts each one
above another and larger each than other VI. So in the Church God hath placed Degrees of Officers some greater and higher in Glory than others as Apostles Eph. 4.11 Pastors Teachers c. VII The Walls of the Temple were covered round about with Cherubims Palm-Trees and Flowers VII To note saith Mr. Guild the Protection of the Church by the Ministry of Angels tho they are not seen and its peaceable victorious and flourishing State under the same VII Solomon consecrated the Temple unto the Lord. VIII Joh. 17. So did Christ his Church unto the Father IX There was Musick used in the Temple IX Which signifies that Joy of Heart Eph. 5.19 and heavenly Melody that is in the Church amongst the faithful and sincere Converts thereof X. In the Temple was the Ark of the Testimony and in the midst of the House 't is said he set it X. So in the Church is God's Word and Covenant of Grace born by Christ and by his true Ministers by preaching and publishing the same XI The Glory of the Lord filled the Temple God promised to dwell therein and hear the Prayers that should be there made I have hallowed this House 2 Chron. 7.15 saith God that thou hast built to put my Name there for ever and mine Eyes and my Heart shall be there perpetually XI So the glorious Presence of Go is in his Church he dwelleth in Sion and from thence the Perfection of Beauty shines forth and the Promises of blessed Grace Peace Pardon and Acceptance is made to them who dwell therein His Eye is always upon the Righteous his Ears open to their Cry 1 Pet. 3.12 and his tender Compassion is ever toward them Type Disparity THe Temple was built with dead and senseless Stones THe Church is built with living 1 Pet. 2.5 sensible and lively Stones II. The Stones were polished and hewen by the hands of Men. II. These Stones are hewn and polished by the hand of the Spirit III. The Temple that was built by Solomon was utterly destroyed by the Babylonians III. The Church of God can never be destroyed the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it Mat. 16.18 so as utterly to overthrow it tho it is not denied but the outward Courts have been trodden down by the Popish Gentiles Rev. 11.2 A Parallel between the second Temple built in the Days of Nehemiah and the Church of God Built in the latter Days Metaphor Parallel THe Temple that was built in the Days of Nehemiah was first destroyed by the literal Babylonians SIgnifying the Church of God should be greatly defaced and spoiled and the outward Courts trodden down by the mystical Babylonians Rev. 11 2 3 and afterwards rebuilt or rather repaired again II. The Temple was built in a troublesom Time they wrought with one hand and held a Sword in the other II. Signifying that the Church of God should be rebuilt in a troublesom time and that great Opposition should be made against them III. The Temple was rebuilt by such as had been for many Years in the Babylonian Captivity Neh. 4.13 III. Signifying that the rebuilding of God's Church should be by such as had been a long time in spiritual Captivity under the mystical Babylonians or Mother of Harlots IV. The Builders of this second Temple were look'd upon as poor weak and contemptible Persons in comparison of Solomon Neh. 4.2 and those that built with him IV. Signifying that those whom God would raise up to repair the waste Places of Sion in the latter Days should be poor weak inconsiderable Persons very unlikely to perfect so great a Work as Reformation is What was Luther and others whom God employed to the holy Apostles who were the first Builders V. The Builders of this Temple were greatly mock'd and jeer'd There were Sanballat Gesham Tobiah and others who in reproachful manner said What will these feeble Jews do Neh. 4.2 3 4. will they make an end in a Day If a Fox go up he shall even break down their Stone-Wall V. So the Rebuilders in these latter Days have been greatly reproached and contemned by the Enemies of Christ those that are truly religious called feeble weak and foolish Ones c. nay Hereticks Schismaticks and many other reproachful Names have been and still are daily given to them and their Work much slighted and despised also VI. The Builders of this Temple had much Rubbish to remove Neh. 4.2 before they could go on with their Work VI. So the Builders of God's Church in these latter Days have had much Popish Rubbish to remove much Filth of humane Inventions and Traditions of that Church being in their way some Stones being almost quite lost amongst this Rubbish and others ready to mistake and instead of a Stone of Sion they take a Stone of Babylon VII The Builders of this Temple were hindred and for a time the Work ceased VII So the Builders of God's House or Reformers in Religion have often been hindred or obstructed in these latter Days VIII Many People were very backward about rebuilding the Temple Hag. 1.2 in the Days of Haggai and Nehemiah crying the Time was not come that the House of the Lord should be built VIII So have many Souls been very backward about the Work of Reformation or repairing the House of God they have dwelt in their cieled Houses and let the House of God as it were lie waste IX Tho many cruel Enemies endeavoured to hinder the rebuilding of the Temple yet the Work went on and was finished in some Time to the Joy of the Faithful IX So the Enemies now as in former Times strive to hinder the repairing of God's House yet the Work of Reformation shall in due time be perfected to the Joy of all sincere Christians X. That Work was carried on not by Might Zech 4 6. nor by Power but by the Spirit of the Lord. X. So the Work in these Days goes on not so much by the Power of Men or human Help as by the Power of God and his Spirit XI God promised that the Glory of the second House should exceed the Glory of the first Hag. 2.9 which some conceive was made good by Christ's coming whose personal Presence in the Temple greatly added to its Glory XI So the Church of God in the latter Day will be far more glorious than it was ever yet since the beginning of the World which will be accomplished as will be shewed in respect of these things following 1. God will destroy all the Enemies of his Church 1 Sam. 2.10 Psal 37.10 11. The Adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces out of Heaven God will thunder upon them for evil Doers shall be cut off Yet a little while and the Wicked shall not be but the Meek shall possess the Earth c. And all that lift up a hand against Zion shall be torn in pieces God will plead the
Truth Interest and People as they ought to do Inferences IS Christ's Church and so consequently every gracious Person compared to a Dove being meek humble harmless chast and single-hearted to the Lord Jesus Christ c. Then we may assure our selves that she that delights in Prey Rapine and Blood as doth the Romish Church is none of the Dove or Church of Jesus Christ 2. Are the Eyes of a Dove by the Rivers of Water do they delight in Springs Fountains and pure Rivers and in this are they an Emblem of the Godly who hate all filthy loathsom and detestable Traditions of Men and delight only in the pure unmixed and Chrystal Streams of God's holy Institutions Then all those who like Ravens and other foul and unclean Birds of Prey delight in Ditches and in long-standing stinking Pools of this false Church where they defile themselves in searching for the detestable Carrion of Idolatry are none of Christ's Dove-like People 3. And let those that are the People of God labour to be like the Dove who is neat and will not defile it self let them see they keep their Hearts chast to Christ and avoid all Pollution of Sin in their Conversation 2 Cor. 7.1 5. This also may inform the Godly that 't is no marvel if they are persecuted and molested by the Wicked 5. And in the midst of all their Afflictions Persecutions and Temptations this may comfort them God hath prepared for his poor Doves a strong Place of Defence and Shelter viz. the Rock Christ whither let us in all Times of Danger flie by Faith and Prayer The Church compared to a natural Body 1 Cor. 12.13 All baptized into one Body Eph. 2.16 Both unto God in one Body Eph. 4.12 For the edifying of the Body of Christ. Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church c. Verse 24. For his Body sake which is the Church c. THe Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soma is frequently put for the Church or People of God the Explication of which Trope is concisely opened in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel EVery natural Body hath a Head SO the Church of God hath a Head viz. the Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.22 He God the Father hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all And he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.17 18. Verse 17. And he is the Head of the Body the Church c. II. The natural Body hath many Members 1 Cor. 12.14 20. and tho many Members yet all make but one and the same Body II. The Chureh of Christ consists of divers Saints called the Members of his Body Now ye are the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 and Members in particular and tho many yet all make but one and the same mystical Body III. In the natural Body are Members different in Strength Usefulness and Honour as Arms Legs Eyes Feet Hands Fingers c. But the weakest and those that seem least honourable are very useful and the Body cannot be without them III. So in the Church the mystical Body of Christ are different Members both with respect to Honour and Usefulness as Apostles Prophets Teachers Eph 4.11 1 Jâ—h 2.13 14. or as the Apostle John hath it Fathers young Men and Children All are not Apostles all are not Prophets all are not Teachers c. But yet the weakest and most feeble Saints or Members are useful to the Church As in the Body natural 1 Cor. 12.20 21 22 23. tho the Eye is of greater use than some other Members yet the Eyes or Ministers who are as useful as Eyes to the Body cannot say to the Hand or such to whom God hath given the Riches of this World to distribute unto others We have no need of thee nor can the Head say to the Feet I have no need of you Nay and those Members of the Body which seem to be more feeble are necessary IV. In the natural Body if one Member suffer all suffer with it IV. So in Christ's mystical Body when one Saint suffereth all do sympathize and suffer with him If one suffer 1 Cor 12.26 all suffer and if one Member be honoured all the Members of the Body rejoyce with him V. All the Members of the Body natural take care of and seek the Good of the whole Body and of each Member in particular V. So in the Church of God every particular Saint doth and ought always to seek the Welfare of the whole mystical Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no Schism in the Body but that the Members should have the same care one of another VI. All the Members of the natural Body have their Nourishment from the Head VI. So all the Members of the mystical Body receive Nourishment from Christ who is the only Head thereof and from hence the Apostle condemneth those false Professors and counterfeit Christians who pretended to much Piety and Religion but did not receive their Doctrine and Principles from Christ nor were they united unto him by Evangelical Faith Not holding the Head Col. 2.18 19. from which all the Body by Joints and Bonds having Nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the Increase of God VII In the natural Body betwixt the Members and the Body there is a marvellous Nearness or blessed Union VII So there is a wonderful Nearness and blessed Union between Jesus Christ and every Member of his mystical Body For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh Eph. 5.30 and of his Bones VIII The Body natural encreases in Strength Bigness and Beauty according to the Age of the Body is the Perfection and Excellency of it VIII So the Church encreases in spiritual Strength Bigness and Glory The Church is but small and weak now in comparison of what she shall be when she is come to her full Growth and perfect State There will be a great Addition to the Church in the latter Day The Lord shall rise upon thee Isa 60.2 to 9. and his Glory shall be seen upon thee and the Gentiles shall come to thy Light and Kings to the Brightness of thy Rising Lift up thine Eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come unto thee thy Sons shall come from afar and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side c. to the end of the Chapter compared with chap. 66.8 9 10. where you may read of the Multitude that shall be added to her and of the Abundance of her Glory And as she shall grow in Bigness so likewise she shall encrease in spiritual Knowledg Faith and Godliness Hab. 2.14 For the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledg of the Glory of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea All the Officers and glorious Gifts
Fire Exod. 3.2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush and he looked and behold the Bush burned and was not consumed c. ACcording to Ainsworth and divers other Expositors by the Bush is meant the Church of God in great Affliction the severe Trials of God's People being often set forth in the holy Scriptures by Fire by a Flame of Fire and sometimes by a smoaking Furnace as in Abraham's Vision Gen. 15.17 And behold a smoaking Furnace and a burning Lamp that passed between the Pieces Gen. 15.17 By the smoaking Furnace was signified to Abraham Israel's great Affliction in Egypt and by the Lamp the Law of God that afterwards was given or as some understand it the Lamp of Deliverance or that Salvation God would work for them c. for that the Salvation of God is like to a Lamp that burneth Isa 52.1 Quest Why is the Church of God compared to a Bush to a burning Bush The Scripture usually sets out the Church by things whose Natures or Qualities are excellent things that are of great Worth c. And why should she be compared to a Bush to a Bramble-Bush for so Ainsworth and others read it Answ Some of the Reasons of it according to our weak Judgment are hinted in the following Parallels Metaphor Parallel A Bush is a thing of small worth and value few esteem or regard a Bramble-Bush stately Trees are viewed and prized and some of them valued highly but so is not a Bush SO likewise the Church of God was then and is now a thing of small value of little or no esteem in the eyes of wicked Men it was no more regarded by proud Pharaoh and many of the Egyptians than a sorry Bramble-Bush Hence the Apostle speaketh of the Church as being very contemptible in the sight of Men. We are made as the Filth of the World 1 Cor. 4.13 and are the Off-scouring of all things unto this day II. A Bramble-Bush as it is a thing of no Worth or Value so it is a thing that hath no Beauty in it in comparison of other Trees it is in no wise taking to the eye Some things that are of no great worth seem very glorious and beautiful but there is none of this in a Bramble II. So the true Church of God is not cloathed with outward Beauty not arrayed in Purple and Scarlet deck'd with Gold precious Stones and Pearls like the Mother of Harlots but seemeth low Rev. 17.4 base and contemptible to a carnal Eye her Beauty being all hidden The King's Daughter is glorious within Psal 45.13 And 't is from hence the World values her no more As Christ made himself of no Reputation Phil. 2.7 so the Church for a while remaineth among Men in a like State no carnal Eye that seeth her doth at all desire her III. A Bush is not only a thing of little worth in the esteem of Men but it is in it felf really of small value What is a Bramble worth what is it good for but to be cut down and cast into the Fire III. So the People of God considered abstractively as they are in themselves what are they what Worth or Excellency is in them All the Beauty and Glory of the Church is from Christ They are naturally vile Sinners Mich. 7.4 and are called Thorns Bryars and pricking Brambles and tho converted and changed by the Power of God's Grace yet there remaineth something still of the Old Man and evil Nature in them And God in other Places of Scripture where he compareth them to a Vine to Lillies to a Garden to Golden Candlesticks c. speaks of them with respect to what they are by his special Grace in Christ Jesus But here in comparing them to a Bush he hath respect as we conceive to what they are in themselves and by Nature to set forth their own Unworthiness that so he might thereby raise Moses his Wonder to see the mighty Condescension of the Blessed God in having regard to such a poor and undeserving People to dwell in them and in keeping and preserving them in the midst of such fierce and cruel Enemies when a small Spark might easily consume and destroy them in an instant but that he stretcheth forth his glorious Arms of Grace and Divine Power for their Succour and Relief IV. There is one thing more touching a Bush which for Illustration sake I shall here mention not that the Spirit of God had respect to it in this Vision viz. A Bush is a common Receptacle for Birds 't is the Place where they lodg make their Nests in and are secured from many Dangers that do attend them IV. The Church of God is the chief Place for the Saints of God to dwell or make their Abode in who in the Song of Songs are called Birds The time of the singing of Birds is come c. Cant. 2 12 Which saith Reverend Mr. Ainsworth signifies the Saints who feeling the Comforts of God's Word and Spirit do sing the Praises of God with Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs Isa 24.16 They shall lift up their Voice they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord and from the uttermost Parts of the Earth we have heard Songs even Glory to the Righteous And indeed in our Judgment the Godly are compared to Birds principally upon this Consideration i. e. in respect to their Singing which is laid down in several places of Scripture as an undoubted Duty I wish that Christians who are not in the practice thereof would consider of it But to proceed How safe is the Bird when she getteth into the Bush so are the Saints when they are got into the Church God being a Wall of Fire round about her Zeâ—h 2.5 and her Defence and Glory on every side V. It is a strange and marvellous thing to see a Bramble-Bush on fire and not consumed this made Moses to turn aside I will turn aside to see this great Sight V. So it is a strange Sight a Prodigy a Mercy to a Wonder enough to astonish all true thinking Christians to see the Church of God the unworthy frail polluted weak and declining Church as set on fire yea all on a Flame as it were many Fires being kindled on her by wicked Adversaries and yet she is not consumed How many Plots and Hellish Contrivances were there on foot against poor Israel in Egypt First They made a Law that the Midwives should kill all their Men-Children when they did their Office Secondly When that would not take because the Midwives feared God and saved the Men-Children alive Eâ—od 1.17 They feared God 't is said and did not as the King of Egypt commanded c. then they thought of another way another Plot was set on foot a new Fire as it were was kindled which was to cast all the Men-Children into the River And Pharaoh charged
all his People saying Every Son that is born ye shall cast into the River Eâ—od 1.22 and every Daughter ye shall save alive Hence poor Moses was cast into the Flags who afterwards was an Instrument in the hand of God by working many Signs and Wonders and appeared to help and deliver Israel one that Pharaoh little thought of Thirdly But this not taking so effectually neither they were most cruelly oppressed by hard Servitude and forced to make their full Tale of Bricks and yet Straw is denied them which made the Lives of God's People bitter unto them Fourthly and lastly When they desired liberty to go and worship God this was denied them by no means would Pharaoh consent to it but made his hands heavier and heavier upon them Thus were they in the Fire and Furnace of Affliction and yet graciously preserved notwithstanding their Enemies were so many so cruel and so mighty above them And this was that great Sight that God in a Figure shewed to Moses and this great Sight is to be seen at this Day in this and other Nations O what Hellish Plots and Contrivances have been on foot for many Years last past especially for the space of two or three Years How many Fires have been kindled to consume the poor Church of God in England and other adjacent Nations What Plots and Sham-Plots have the Popish Enemies set on foot since the Time that Dr. Oates first discovered the Grand and Hellish Intrigue And yet how wonderfully hath God wrought to save us to this Day notwithstanding we are an unworthy People and as little deserving this Divine Favour in our selves as ever any were who ever lived in any Age of the World The strange and perfidious Actings of the Enemy to destroy us and the strange and wonderful Workings of Divine Providence to preserve us have been so admirable that succeeding Ages who shall read the History of these Times will doubtless scarcely believe them but rather conclude they are meer Romances VI. Here I might note also for Illustration sake that a Bramble-Bush is attended with Thorns and often offends and wounds such as roughly and unadvisedly meddle with it VI. So such as roughly and unadvisedly touch and handle the Lord's People do but prick and wound themselves thereby as most plainly appeared in the Case of Pharaoh and the Egyptians What became of them Those that afflict God's People shall be afflicted nay wounded And I will undo all that afflict thee Zeph. 3.19 God knoweth how to make Jerusalem a burthensom Stone for all People All that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces Zech. 12.3 tho all the Earth should be gathered together against it Hence Christ gave persecuting Saul Warning of the Danger 'T is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks Acts 9.5 Those that kick against God's Church do but kick against the Pricks they do but hurt wound and undo themselves thereby As for Disparities they are many and so obvious to all that I shall pass them by for tho the Church of God is here represented by a Bramble-Bush yet she is in Christ's sight as a Lilly among Thorns and her Worth and Glory through the Lord Jesus is so great that she very far surpasseth all the People and Families of the Earth Nothing of all created Things doth Christ think good enough to set forth and illustrate the Beauty and Excellency of his Church and People by however unworthy she is in her own sight or in the eyes of the sinful World Inferences ADmire the Grace and Love of God the Almighty Jehovah that inhabiteth Eternity that he should out of his abundant Favour good Will and great Condescension dwell in a poor Bramble-Bush Who is able to conceive of this rich and undeserved Favour 2. It also informeth us how it comes to pass that the poor Saints and Church of God are preserved to this day 'T is because God is among them God dwelleth in the Bush The Lord dwelleth in Sion to comfort revive uphold save and deliver her in the Day of Trouble 3. It may serve to humble us and lay us low in our own eyes What are the best of God's People by Nature and in themselves but as a Bush Bryar or Thorny Hedg 'T is God who hath made us to differ from others 4. It may deter the Wicked and for ever be a Warning to them to forbear persecuting God's People for that it will prove at last to their utter Ruine they kick but against the Pricks 5. Remember the good Will of Him and seek his Blessing that dwelt in the Bush The Church compared to a Mother Cant. 8.1 O that thou wert as my Brother that sucked the Breasts of my Mother Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all BY Mother in these Scriptures is meant the Church of God or as some expound it the Universal Church As God is a Believer's Father so the Church is his Mother Metaphor Parallel A Mother is the Wife of an Husband it imports a marriage-Marriage-State Every godly Woman that is a Mother can shew who is or was her Husband THe Church is the Spouse and Wife of Christ Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name Wherefore my Brethren Rom. 7.4 ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the Dead that we should bring forth Fruit unto God II. A Mother is one that beareth and bringeth forth Children II. So the Church beareth and bringeth forth Children to Christ Psal 87.5 Of Zion it shall be said This and that Man was born in her Hence the Saints are called Sons Daughters and Children of Zion III. A Mother travails and is in great Pain in bringing forth Children III. So the Church is said to travail and be in pain in bringing forth of Children to Christ Isa 66.8 As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her Children The Church may be said to travail two manner of ways 1. By Preaching Prayer and by other godly Means and Endeavours to bring forth poor Sinners out of a State of Nature into a State of Grace Paul was said to travail in Pain till Christ was formed in those to whom he preached 2. She travaileth by Preaching Prayer Tears and Sufferings and other lawful Ways to bring forth her Children out of a State of Bondage and external Slavery and Captivity into a State of perfect Peace Joy and Prosperity free from all outward Violence and Thraldom according to the Promise of God Therefore will I give them up Mich. 5.3 until the Time which she that travaileth hath brought forth Then the Remnant of his Brethren shall return unto the Children of Israel She being with Child cried travailing in Birth and pained to be delivered Rev. 12.2 For I have heard a Voice as of a
to see every one behaving himself well living in sweet Concord Peace and Love together VII So it is a great Honour to the Church of God when it is well and wisely governed In this respect Solomon was a Type of Christ and his Family a Type of the Family of the Faithful or Church of God The Lord Jesus ought to be acknowledged as the Head and chief Governor and next to Him the Bishop or Pastor thereof must be obeyed and submitted to in all things in the Lord. Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Over-sight of you and subject your selves for they watch for your Souls There is nothing that doth more beautify the Church of God than good Order What is any Society of Men without Rule and good Government Strict Discipline must be kept up in Christ's Family Every Member ought to know his Place and to strive to behave himself well To this very end Paul wrote to Timothy 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest saith he know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God c. All the Saints should live in perfect Peace Unity and sweet Concord together as Children of the same Father and Heirs of the same Crown and Kingdom Hence the Apostle exhorteth the Saints Eph. 4.3 to endeavour to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Nothing is at this Day more grievous to a sincere Soul than to see the great Divisions and Want of Love that is amongst us nor doth any thing more encourage our Popish Adversaries Jovianus the Emperor was much troubled at the Divisions that were amongst Christians in his Time and shewed his Dislike at their Contentions in these Words I tell you truly I cannot bear with Contention but such as are for Concord and Unity I willingly honour and embrace and certain I am that such as strive for Truth and Peace Christ will embrace Discord amongst Brethren being one of those things he chiefly hates Prov. 6.16 VIII There is and ought to be some special Order and Discipline kept up in a Family that every one may know his Place Work and Business VIII So in the Church or spiritual Family there is a special Order and Discipline to be learned and kept up and every one is to know his Place Work and Business some of which we shall briefly hint in this place The first thing that I shall mind is the Choice of Officers viz. Elders and Deacons They should be chosen according to the Rules and Directions God hath left in his Word viz. Men fitly qualified A Bishop must not be soon angry 1 Tim. 3.2 to 8. T it 1 5 6 7. not given to Wine no Striker not self-willed not a Brawler not Covetous not a Novice He must be blameless one that rules well his own House apt to teach a Lover of good Men sober just temperate able by sound Doctrine to convince Gainsayers There are Directions also given about their Wives 2. Every Member hath his peculiar Vote in chusing of their Officers after Election they are to be ordained by Prayer and laying on of Hands Acts 6.6 13.3 3. The Pastor or Bishop is to feed the Flock to be faithful and laborious in preaching the Word of Life exhorting reproving comforting 1 Tim. 4.12 16. according as he finds occasion 4. It behoveth him together with the Church to be careful whom they receive into the Family viz. none but such as are converted true penitent and believing Persons as near as they can 5. They ought to know the State of the Flock Prov. 27.23 Heb. 13.17 and to watch over every Member thereof 6. The Members of the Church ought to study their Duty 1. To their Pastor to provide for him a sufficient Maintenance 1 Cor. 9.9 to 14. that he may not be encumbered with worldly Affairs and thereby made unfit for his great Work and Business he is called to See Planters Labourers c. 2. To pray for him and shew him all due Respect Eph. 6.19 as the Steward and Embassador of Christ 3. As to their Duties one to another as Fellow-Members of God's Church it is needful for them to know how they should carry and behave themselves towards their offending Brethren And as touching this it is necessary to consider 1. The Rule touching private Offences 2. Touching publick and scandalous Offences and Offenders 1. Touching private Offences Christ hath left us Directions in Mat. 18.15 16. If thy Brother offend thee tell him his Fault between thee and him alone but if he will not hear thee take one or two more c. But if he still neglect to hear them tell it to the Church But if he will not hear the Church then he is fit for Church-dealing or Excommunication Let all take heed they do not make publick any Evil or Offence of their Brethren that is private for this is an utter Fault and a Violation to the Law of Christ and Order of his House 2. Touching publick and scandalous Sins and Offenders such as expose the Name of God to a Reproach as Fornication Covetousness Idolatry Drunkenness Rioting c. these without thorow and unfeigned Repentance ought forthwith to be delivered up to Satan or put out of the Church into the Kingdom of Satan 1 Cor. 5.5 from whence they came And truly it cannot be known quickly who hath true Repentance that fall into such great Sins until there be some Time of Trial. Reformation of Life is the chief part of Repentance therefore to clear the Name of God from Reproach and the better to bring the Offender to the Sence of his Sin the Ordinance of Excommunication ought in my Judgment immediatly upon Conviction to pass against him 3. In the Administration of Justice and Judgment in the Church special Care ought to be taken that with all Wisdom and Impartiality Persons may be dealt withal Let the Church and Pastor see to it that the Rich be no more spared than the Poor Levi was not to know his Father in Judgment IX In a religious Family Devotion is carefully and duely performed Prayer reading the Word c. 'T is a Reproach to a Family especially to the Master or Governor and Governess to have this neglected and a Sin very provoking to God Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen that know thee not Jer. 20.25 and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name IX So the Church of God is the chief Place of Publick Devotion there the Word of God is and ought to be read And hence Paul saith to the Colossians When this Epistle is read amongst you Col. 4.16 17. cause it to be read also in the Church mark of the Laodiceans There the Word of God is truly and duely preached and the Sacraments administred Out of Zion the Perfection of Beauty Psal 50.2 Eph. 3.10 God hath shined To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in heavenly
you If you acknowledg a religious Respect and Reverence due to the Son of God exercise it in humble Obedience to his Word and if you love him and value his Gospel treat not his Ministers in an unworthy manner and forget not that He who gave his Life a Ransom for you well deserves a Return of the greatest Love from you and to be honoured by you not only with good Words but with your Substance and the First-Fruits of all your Increase Prov. 3.9 Secondly 'T is the Business of your Salvation and the Concern of your precious and immortal Souls that a Minister is employed in and therefore it is much more your own Interest than his that you should make Conscience of your Duty With this Argument the Apostle enforces his Exhortation Heb. 13.17 For they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account that they do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you The Ministry can never be effectual to the saving of your Souls if you be not sincere in Obedience under it And will you be less careful for your Souls and their eternal Welfare than you are for your Bodies and the Comforts of a temporal Life Can you be content to lay out your Strength and Substance to provide for these and neglect the other It is sad to consider how many there are among Professors that live in the World as if there were no Truth in the Report of that which is to come and have the meanest esteem of the most necessary Means of Salvation viz. the Word and Ordinances of Christ and a Gospel-Ministry Can expend perhaps an hundred Pound per annum more or less for the Convenience Ornament or Delight of a frail Carcase but will grudg half so much for the Poor or the support of Gospel-Worship Ministers compared to Watchmen Isa 62.6 I have set Watchmen upon thy Walls O Jerusalem Ezek. 3.17 I have made thee a Watchman c. Heb. 13.17 They watch for your Souls Ministers are called Watchmen Watchmen Parallel VVAtchmen have a Charge committed to them and they ought to take heed they do not betray their Trust MInisters have a great Charge committed to them which they ought to see to and so to behave themselves that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy For 1. They are entrusted with the Word the faithful Word and Doctrine of God is committed to them they must see they preach nothing for Doctrine but what is the direct and undeniable Truth and Mind of God they must not corrupt the Word nor intermix it with the Traditions of Men. I give thee charge in the sight of God 1 Tim. 6.13 who quickneth all things and before Christ who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. They have received the Charge of preaching God's Word they must preach whoever forbid them I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4.1 2. who shall judg the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrine 3. They have the Charge of God's Ordinances or the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper Go therefore teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 20. i. e. make Disciples baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost c. For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered unto you I had it in charge as if he should say from Christ himself that the same Night in which he was betrayed 1 Cor. 11.23 24. he took Bread and blessed it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner he took the Cup c. They must not corrupt the Ordinances nor administer them otherwise than the plain Rule left in the Word of God directeth 4. They have the Charge of the Church and Flock of God Acts 20.27 Take heed therefore unto your selves and unto the Flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood c. 5. They must know the State of the Flock be Examples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Feed the Flock of God which is amongst you not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock 6. Lastly They have the Charge of Mens Souls Watch for your Souls Heb. 13.17 as such that must give an account These things are part of these Watchmen's Charge II. Watchmen are not to sleep nor give way to slumber they must be awake when others sleep to see what Dangers are near c. II. So the Ministers of the Gospel must not be sleepy and slothful they are to be upon the Watch-Tower to see what Danger approacheth or is coming upon the Church and People of God III. Watchmen are to give warning if they see Evil coming hence they ought to have a good Eye-sight a blind Man is not fit to be a Watchman III. So Ministers or Christ's spiritual Watchmen must give warning when they see Danger approaching and therefore had need be Men of Knowledg They are called Seers if they have no Eyes they cannot be called Seers Ministers had need be like Argus whom Poets say had an hundred Eyes they should be full of Eyes like the living Creatures about the Throne to see before them and behind them that so they may perceive clearly every thing that is evil or hurtful to the Souls of Men or Church of God and give warning of it and not like those foolish Watchmen the Prophet speaks of His Watchmen are blind sleeping lying down Isa 56 10. Ezek. 33.6 7. loving to slumber If the Watchman seeth the Sword coming and blow not the Trumpet and the People be not warned if the Sword come and take away any Person from among them he is taken away in his Iniquity but his Blood will I require at the Watchman's hand They are to give warning to Sinners that they repent and be converted for Wrath is gone out against them from the Lord if they live in one Sin they must perish They are to warn them of the Danger of Unbelief to warn them of the Danger of the Hardness of their Hearts to warn them of the Danger of Pride Covetousness and all other Sins to give warning of the Danger of Idolatry and all false Worship and Heresy of the Danger of Apostacy the Danger of the inordinate Love of the World or of any thing short of Jesus Christ c. IV. Watchmen are made and constituted such by others and called forth to stand upon the Watch. IV. So Ministers are made or
Destruction oâ— Jerusalem For as the Guilt of all the Blood shed from righteous Abel to the Death of Zacharias is by our Saviour fix'd upon Jerusalem and cannot be removed to another People so the Blood of all the Martyrs and Followers of Jesus is by this Revelation â—â—x'd upon the last Babylon Râ—v 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the Blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of ALL that were slain upon the Earth But Rome Heathen was not guilty of all the Christian Blood that was shed upon Earth by Murthers Massacres and Martyrdom since the Destruction of Jerusalem For to look back but for six hundred Years last past in which Time we shall find Hundreds of Thousands of profest Christians most butcherly and barbarously put to Death for their Zeal and Love to the Christian Religion in the respective Nations of Europe before which the Heathenish State of Rome was gone off about the space of six hundred Years So that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about Myâ—â—ery Babylon we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome 6. Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon under Consideration because the Discoveries of other Prophecies relating to the same State no way agrees to the Power of Rome Heathen 1. This State of Babylon is called the Mystery of Iniquity This no way agrees to Rome Heathen but fully agrees to Rome Papal Compare 2 Thess 2.7 with Rev. 17.7 viz. For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work The Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and of the Beast that carrieth her 2. The Head of this State of Mystery Babylon is called the Man of Sin by way of Eminency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only beyond the common Rank of Men but beyond the highest Sons of Wickedness that went before him And there is a great Truth in this for if we consider the Pope in respect of Pride Hypocrisy Idolatry and Blood he is the most unparallel'd Man of Sin 3. This State or Mystery of Iniquity began to work in the Apostle's Days which is no ways applicable to the Power of Rome Heathen for that did not then begin it being at that time in the very Meridian of its Greatness and universal Sovereignty Luke 2.1 And it came to pass in those Days that there came out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed 4. This Man of Sin Mystery of Iniquity or Head of this Babylonish State is saie to be let or hindred in his Designs He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the Way 2 Thess 2.7 But now Rome Heathen had no Lett or Hindrance either from the Word of God for that declared it as it was a Civil Magistracy to be God's Ordinance nor from any opposite Power either Civil or Military they giving Laws to the greatest Part of the World and enjoying the Supreme Government of the best Kingdoms in the Universe none being able to cope with them at that Time 5. This Head of the Babylonish State is said to sit in the Temple of God which the Power of Rome Heathen did not do neither in the Temple of Jerusalem nor in the Church whâ—ch is more properly the Temple of God For the Jews kept the Possession of the Literal Temple till it was destroyed and for the Church of God the Heathen Emperors never loved it so well at to make their Residence in it But the Bishop of Rome before he shewed himself to be that wicked One viz. the Man of Sin dâ—d evidently sit in the Church or Temple of God and so fulfilled this Prophecy in the very Letter of it 6. He that is the Man of Sin or Head of this Babylonish State was to rise by Apostacy or falling away from the Christian Religion 2 Thess 2.3 There shall come a falling away first exactly agreeing with another Prophecy to the same purpose 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith c. But Rome Heathen did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion or a departing from the Faith which they never profess'd as is evident to the whole World Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 7. This Man of Sin or Head of Mystery Babylon lay hid in the Apostle's Time and was not revealed 2 Thess 2.3 Rev. 17.9 but the Power of Rome Heathen did not then lie hid or wanted to be revealed for it stood visible and high upon a Hill even upon seven Hills according to the Roman Poet Ovid who lived about the very Time of Christ's being on Earth in Lib. de Tristibus Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit Orbem Montibus Imperii Roma Deûmque Locus That is But Rome which from her seven Hills the whole Earth views around the Place of Gods and Rule c. Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 8. This Mystery of Iniquity is said to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped 2 Thess 2.4 But this the Power of Rome in its Heathen State did not do for they worshipped offered Sacrifices and bore a Reverence to their Gods which by Nature indeed were no Gods and 't is only the Head of Rome Pâ—pal that runs down all Gods but those of his own making Ergo Rome Papal and not Rome Heathen must of necessity be this Mystery of Iniquity 9. The Rise or Coming of this Mystery of Iniquity is after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 But the Rise of the Romish Greatness and Power when Heathen was not after the working of Satan Dan 7.2 3 but was said by Daniel to be produced by the Providence of God or the four Winds of Heaven and by the Apostle to be Powers ordained of God Rom. 13.1 Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be the Mystery of Iniquity c. here meant 10. This Mystery of Iniquity is not only said to come after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 but also with All Power c. But the Rise of Rome Heathen was not after that manner Ergo c. To illustrate the first Proposition note That the Term All Power marks out the Romish Pope so notoriously that whosoever runs may read it for if we do but impartially consider his impudent Usurpations upon Crowned Heads and his Pretences of Supremacy over the whole Christian World his proud imperious Decrees Bulls c. his Disposal of the Kingdoms of Princes and the Inheritances yea the very Lives of private Persons of any Rank that dare disobey him his Pretences to shut and open Heaven Hell and his feigned Purgatory his carrying a Symbol of that vast and God-like Power viz. a Brace of Keys hanging at his Girdle All these will appear
than Rome Heathen or Babylon ever was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the Place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce Trade and Human Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon the Place Seat and City is utterly ruined so as to be no more a Place of Trade Rev. 17.16 Commerce or human Society And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth for her Sins which God hath remembred Rev. 18.8 which have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Ver. 11 12 13. All Sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerce with humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before even all Things that were dainty and goodly are now departed from her and she shall find them no more at all vers 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no Craftsman of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane Society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present Consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of Years 11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon the City of Pride and Confusion that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse then neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen is or can be the same But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse Ergo neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen can be the same The last Proposition is thus proved If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record to prove Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal than to the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks or Rome Heathen Then Rome Papal and not any one of them is Mystery Babylon But the Marks and Characters left upon Divine Record to distinguish and know Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal Ergo Rome Papal and not the other is Mystery Babylon For the clearing up of this Argument we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal in this Method following 1. Babylon is a Woman which imports either a single Person rank'd in the Feminine Gender or a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person to whom she is joined in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam and therefore called Woman or as Judah and Israel who were joined in Covenant with God and therefore called a Woman or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way comport with it She must therefore be a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of Woman and in like manner Babylon before her Degeneracy were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession to the Son of God Metaphor Parallel BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a Woman And I saw a Woman sit c. And the Woman was arrayed c. And I saw the Woman Drunk c. Rev. 17.3 4 6. ROme Papal or the Church of Rome is a Body a great Body a famous Body of People and which were before their Apostacy a true Church by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God as her publiâ—k Head and Husband Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ To all that be in Rome Rom. 1.6 7. beloved of God called to be Saints Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ II. Babylon is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect Rev. 17.18 18.10 16 18 19 21. 1. In respect of Power 2. In respect of People 3 In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and People is seated Psal 121. Isa 14.31 Acts 19.28 City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances II. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect 1. In respect of Power which is twofold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical Reâ— 13.1 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People which are great in Number 3. In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and great People is seated and indeed it is as worthily called by way of Eminency a City as any Power People or Place in the Christian World because there is nothing so much spoken of or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of as Rome in respect of Power People and Place which shall be further cleared by Argument c. The Fame of this People as a Church was great before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it as appears Rom. 1.8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World III. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City but a bad Woman and a City of Confusion for so the Word Babel Gen. 11.1 to 10. or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion III. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not
learned Works makes out took their rise with Rome Papal upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its Civil State the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many Waters viz. Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues or People of several Languages which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Rome Papal as their being so which doth fully answer to the very Letter of the Text The Waters which thou sawest whereon the Whore sitteth are Peoples Multitudes Nations Tongues 2. Her making all the European Merchants Rich that traffick by Sea Rev. 18.11 by the great expence of all Commodities which are swallowed up within her Territories and Dominions Which could never be effected unless she had Nations and Multitudes to contribute to her great Pride and Luxury 3. A third Instance is the numberless number of good Christians which she hath drawn in and murdered for no other cause than their fearing God and obeying his Laws by loving Jesus Christ and following his Example of which we have a large account in Fox's Acts and Monuments and other Histories Upon which we form this Argument Arg. If there be no Body of People professed Church or State in the Christian World under any single Denomination that sits upon commands or bears rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is this Babylon treated of But there is no Body of People professed Church or State under any single Denomination that sits upon commands or bears rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo c. To the establishing this Argument let it be considered that the whole State of the Christian World consists of but these two parts as we shewed before viz. the Church of Rome considered as Head and Body and those that dissent from her and those are so inconsiderable whether the Waldenses Albigenses Hugonots or other parties of Protestants that no one party of them nay if we put them all together can be said to fit upon command or bear rule over Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues to answer the Text the Waldenses and Hugonots have been and still are a persecuted People the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States or Kingdoms or places of many Languages Great Britain tho a Protestant State or Kingdom comes not near to fulfil the Text much less the seven Provinces that of late revolted from Spain So that if Rome Papal hath done so and no other People that dissent from her could ever yet do the like then this proves Rome Papal the Whore that sits upon many Waters c. VII Mystery Babylon or the great Whore is such a Woman such a City such a Whore that the Kings and great Men of the Earth have committed Fornication with See the Text Rev. 17.2 With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication i. e. Spiritual Fornication or Fornication in a Mystery after a mysterious manner 2 Chron. 21.11 Isa 16.26 29. Rev. 18.9 and 19.2 such as Jerusalem of old was charged with which was a following the same Idolatry that this Woman Babylon had set up and was devoted unto and so great was her Fornication Isa 19.2 that 't is said she did corrupt the Earth with it VII Rome Papal or Church of Rome is such a Woman such a City of Confusion such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with and that hath corrupted the Earth with her Fornications Fornications after a mysterious manner by following abominable Superstition and Idolatry 1. Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God Universal Head and Bishop infallible acknowledged above all Laws so have the Kings and their misled People done 2. Hath she worshipped the Virgin Mary divers Angels and many departed Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People done 3. Hath she adored Images the Crucifix and Pictures of pretended Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People 4. Hath she foolishly debased her self with the Adoration of the Relicts of known and unknown Saints so have the Kings and their misguided People 5. Hath she grosly and superstitiously worshipped the true God in a false manner by crowding in an innumerous Train of Fopperies into his Worship and Service which he never ordained as Candlesticks Altars Vestments Spits Oyl Holy Water Beads and a World of such like Trumpery so have the Kings and their misguided People not only the Emperour of Germany Kings of France Spain Poland Portugal that are still under her Influence but the Kings of England and Scotland too before the Reformation got Ground Upon which we form this Argument Arg. If there be no Body of People in the Christian World pretending a Church-State that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Mysterious Whore of Babylon treated of But there is no Body of People in the Christian World pretending to a church-Church-State that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complyed as Rome Papal c. hath done Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let any Man that will become an Advocate for the Church of Rome shew that any People called the Reformed who dissent from the Church of Rome are guilty of like Idolatry and that the Kings of the Earth have complyed with them in it as afore-mentioned and we will acquit this Argument but if this Character doth more fitly ageee to Rome than to the Reformed c. our Argument is good VIII Babylon is such a Woman City and Whore that hath not only had Kings committing Fornication with her but hath intoxicated the Minds of Multitudes and corrupted a great part of the World or common sort of People by wicked and false Doctrine And the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication Rev. 17.2 VIII Rome Papal or Church of Rome is such a Woman City and Whore that hath not only had the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her in dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious Allurements but hath intoxicated the Minds of the Multitude and corrupted a great part of the World or common sort of People by wicked and false Doctrine As first that a wicked Man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ as if God had no more regard to his own Name and the Good of his Church and Honour of his Son than to institute a Child of the Devil as every wicked Man is to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus in the highest Transactions that relate to Heaven and the Souls of Men. Surely if God shut Judas out from his Bishoprick because of his
shie of and ready at all turns to flie from and avoid any external horrible Uncleanness But Sin is a bewitching and ensnaring Uncleanness All the bodily Beauty in the World did never entice so many as the Deformity and foul Face of Sin hath Beauty and Comeliness are the Attractives the Loadstone of Love Christ was not loved by many because he did not appear beautiful he vail'd his glorious Beauty Lust is loved tho it be altogether unbeautiful Christ is the Mirror of Beauty tho some see no Comeliness in him he is fairer than the Children of Men But there is no Form or Comeliness in Sin nothing indeed why it should be desired yet how is it admired and esteemed by all Sorts of Men They dote upon it and run mad with love to it 't is so bewitching as the choicest Beauty in the World III. Whâ—t Filth Uncleanness or Pollution is of such a murthering killing and destroying Nature as Sin It is true some horrid Pollution is of a corrupting poysonous and destroying Quality but not like Sin This Venom this Uncleanness is worse than any more mortal than any it kills both Body and Soul too it destroys eternally O there is no finding out the cursed Nature of it there is nothing can save from the killing Power of it nor cleanse from its Pollution but Christ's Blood Inferences O What a woful Condition is Man in by Nature how unclean in God's sight Well might Eliphaz say Job 15.16 How abominable and filthy is Man who drinketh in Iniquity like Water The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes that which is most abhorring to the Nature of Man that which is not only so nauseous that the Stomach cannot digest it but so base that the Mind is burthened to think upon it yea the Word imports that which is rejected by all the Senses that which the Eye cannot endure to look upon that which the Ear cannot endure to hear of that which is a Stink in the Nostrils and which the Hand will not touch such a a thing is Man in God's Sight by reason of Sin Filthy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word is derived from a Root that signifies Caryl on Job 15.16 corrupt rotten putrified the Scum of a Pot the Rust of Metals the Dung or Excrement of Man and Beasts There are no Words saith Caryl filthy enough to express the Filthiness of Man The Word is found saith he but three times in Scripture in this Construction and in all of them 't is applied to shew the abominable Wickedness of Man The first is this Job 15.16 Psal 14 3. Psal 53.3 as if this were a Word pick'd out on purpose as a Glass to shew Man his Face and natural Complexion in c. Job 7.17 II. O what is Man that God should be mindful of him What Beauty is there in him that the Almighty should set his Heart upon him III. What little reason have wicked Men to be proud And how sadly are they mistaken who think to adorn themselves with Sin How do Sinners pride themselves in their filthy Garments and Cloak of Unrighteousness He is no Gallant now a days unless he can swear and curse and cry Damn-him and Sink-him Lord what an Age is this They shew their Sin as Sodom and hide it not they glory in their Shame IV. Let us learn from hence to be fully sensible of our Birth-Pollution I mean Original Sin Job 25.5 Job 14.4 that which we brought into the World with us Can he be clean that is born of a Woman Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Can the Stream be clean when the Fountain is so unclean All that are born by natural Generation are unclean Adam's particular Act or Breach of the Law of God was ours we being in him he stood as the common Root of all his Posterity 't is also by the Almighty imputed to us The natural Pravity or Corruption which issueth from thence passeth from Generation to Generation V. We may infer from hence that every Man and Woman hath need of washing say not therefore with Peter Thou shalt never wash my Feet when every part is defiled c. VI. Go polluted Soul go to the Fountain 'T is the Blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all Sin VII Bless God there is a Fountain to wash in a Fountain opened for Sin and Uncleanness See Fountain in the First Volume VIII You that are clean praise the Almighty Ye were as filthy as others Such were some of you c. Saints may be said to be clean four manner of Ways 1. Clean meritoriously by the Blood of the Lord Jesus 2. Efficaciously by the Spirit uniting them to Christ and sanctifying their Hearts 3. Clean instrumentally by the Word Now are you clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you 4. Clean impulsively and attractively by Faith Purifying their Hearts by Faith Sin compared to Gray-Hairs Hos 7.9 Yea gray Hairs are here and there upon him and he knoweth it not HE knoweth it not that is Israel or Ephraim viz. the ten Tribes Hos 1.4 Amos 9.8 Ephraim may be considered as a Kingdom I am against the sinful Kingdom or as a Church They were a People in Covenant with God or in a National church-Church-State and once youthful and beautiful but now they are become old and gray-headed i. e. they had Symptoms of Decay and Ruine upon them Gray Hairs Some by gray Hairs understand heavy Judgments others some prevailing Evils or Sins which were Signs of Destruction c. There may be Truth in both Note Symptoms of Ruine oft-times appear upon a People before their Ruine comes Parallels GRay Hairs are a Sign that a Man's best Days his youthful Days are gone So some Sins and Judgments upon a People are a Sign that their best Days are past away that their Youth and Glory is departing II. Gray Hairs are a Sign of old Age So some Sins and Judgments upon a People shew forth that they are old in Wickedness III. Gray Hairs come oft-times by great Grief Scaliger tells us of a young Man Burroughs who through the extreme Trouble of his Spirit was turned gray in one Night So the Judgments and Miseries of a People because of their Sins make them gray-headed and thereby look old and withered c. IV. When gray Hairs come upon a Man they bring oftentimes with them feeble Knees and Stiffness of the Limbs So Sin makes feeble the Heat of Zeal and Vigour of Spirit is thereby abated V. Gray Hairs are Symptoms and Fore-runners of Death and Mortality So some Sins and Miseries upon a People are the clear Symptoms of spiritual Death or Night of Darkness VI. Some Men have gray Hairs here and there and they know not of them So a Soul Nation or Church may have sad Symptoms of Ruine upon them and they be ignorant of them He knows it not Quest What were those gray Hairs that
decide the Case who is clean and who unclean who is to be put out and who to be taken into his Church The Tabernacle and what it was the Type of THe Tabernacle in some respect according to the Learned was a Type of Christ's Human Nature 1. It was exceeding glorious within all the inward parts thereof were overlaid with pure Gold This might signify how the Human Nature of the Son of God was covered with the Diety that being the true Tabernacle that God hath pitched and not Man Saint John saith The Word dwelt or tabernacled amongst us speaking of his being in our Flesh or taking upon him our Nature it being conceived by the Holy Ghost and not erected by Man 2. The Tabernacle was the place where God met with his People now God meets with his People in Christ 't is in and through him we come to know or have the true Revelation of his Will and enjoy his gracious Presence c. Those who would be accepted with God and worship him aright must wait at the door of this Spiritual Tabernacle Others understand by the Tabernacle the Church or Mystical Body of Christ wherein God graciously dwells and hath promised also to meet his People 1. It was moveable signifying the troublesome State of God's People whilst they pass through the Wilderness of this World 2. The Tabernacle had three places 1. The outward Court wherein stood the brazen Altar 2. The Holy Place 3. The Holiest of all In the first it typifies forth the visible or outward Form of the Church in respect of the external Exercise of Religion and Worship hither the common People may come The second typified out the Spiritual State or more close and holy Fellowship of the Church which none have admittance into but sincere and sanctified Persons who feed upon the Spiritual and true Shew-Bread Jesus Christ The third typified Heaven it self or the Church of God triumphant where Christ is set down in Glory at the Father's right hand to intercede for us 3. The Entry to the Holiest of all was by the Holy Place and to the Holy place was by the outer Court c. So our Entry into Heaven is by being Members of the visible Church through Faith and a good Conscience He that would enter into the Holiest of all must first be Holy and he that would come into a State of true Holiness and Communion with God and his People must learn to know where the Candlestick and true Shew-Bread stands which is the visible Church 4. You read of the fixed Pillars of the Holy Place they might signify the Holy Apostles of Jesus â—hrist and his faithful Ministers who help to support the Spiritual Structure the Church as Pillars do support a House c. 5. The divers Ornaments and Instruments thereof might signify the diversity of Spiritual Gifts and Graces in the Gospel-Church the Tabernacle was exceeding glorious within and all the inward parts thereof were overlaid with pure Gold Exod. 35. Psal 45. So inwardly the Church of God is very beautiful the King's Daughter is all glorious within 6. The several covâ—rings thereof typified the Lord's sure and safe Protection of his Church by his own immediate Power and gracious ministration of Angels 7. Gold within and Skins without might signify tho the Church is glorious within yet outwardly to the sight and view of carnal Men she hath no Beauty but is look'd upon as contemptible 8. The Tabernacle and all the Instruments thereof yea the very Ash-Pans and Snuffers of the Candlestiâ—k must be made according to the Pattern shewed in the Mount which figured forth Exod. 25.40 that the Church of God and all the exercise of Worship that is therein whether Doctrâ—ne or Discipline must be exactly according to the express written Word nothing must be aâ—ded to nor diminished from no Alterations one way or other must be made 9. The voluntary Oblation of the People to build the Tabernacle signifies how willing Christians should be to contribute of their outward Substance to uphold God's Church and the publick Worship thereof 10. The glorious Door of the Tabernacle might be a Figure of Christ who saith I am the Door Joh. 10.7 't is by him we enter into the Kingdom of Grace and Glory The Veil of the Holiest Exod. 26.31 and what it figured forth IT was glorious of Embroidered Work this saith Guild signified the Body of Christ filled with the fulness of God Heb. 7.26 or beautified with all the most excellent and Heavenly Graces of the Spirit Joh. 1.51 II. It was replenished and wrought full of Cherubims noting thereby that serviceable and ready attendance of the Angels on Christ's Natural and Mystical Body III. It was born up by glorious and costly Pillars overlaid with Gold on Sockets of Silver to shew that the Humanity of Christ especially in his Sufferings should be born up by his Deity which his Manhood overveiled IV. By the Veil only there was entry into the Holiest place of all So by the Veil that is to say the Flâ—sh of Christ wâ—ich was rent as it were upon the Cross a new and living way is made for us to the Father Heb. 10.20 The Ark a Type of Christ THe Ark was an assurance of God's Presence amongst his People So Christ is the Cause and Assurance that God in a gracious way is present with us II. Where the Ark was there it was lawful to offer Sacrifice and no where else which might shew that our acceptance in God's Sight is through Jesus Christ If Christ dwell not in our Hearts by Faith if we have not the Ark with us Christ with us God will not accept of our Prayers nor Service III. In the Ark was the Pot of Manna to shew that in Christ is the Life Comfort and Spiritual Nourishment for our Souls IV. The Ark had a Crown of Gold round about it signifying the Majesty of Christ's Kingdom or his Regal Power V. The two Tables were in the Ark the Ark kept them which might signify Christ's keeping the Law perfectly for us and deliver us thereby from the Curse of it VI. When the Ark was set in the Temple of Dagon Dagon fell down and broke to pieces So when Christ and his Truth are set up in a Man's Heart or a Nation Sin and Idolatry will go down VII Where the Ark was there was the Glory of God and when that departed the Glory of God departed So where Christ's blessed Truth and Gospel is there is the Glory of God but when Christ leaves a People takes away his Gospel the Glory of God goes from that People Some run a Parallel between the Church and the Ark others between the Publick Worship of God and it But in my Judgment it more clearly was a Type of Christ which may comprehend much of what they say in respect of other things The Mercy-Seat Exod. 25.17 a Type of Christ IT was called the Mercy-Seat or as
have a Typical Description of the Temple and City The Antitype of which is not the City and Temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah after the Captivity as the Hebrew Rabbies and others have dreamed but the Mystical Temple of God his true Church and the heavenly and spiritual City as the Learned Doctor Haffenrefferus most learnedly expounds it Lastly the Revelations of John in which the future State of the Church by divers Visions both symbolical and typical is represented the Explication or fulfilling of which the Event must shew is properly reduced under this Head So much for Prophetical Types Article V. Of an Historical Type and its first Division AN Historical Type is the mystical Sense of Scripture whereby things acted or done in the Old Testament especially what respected the Priesthood and Worship of the Jews prefigured and adumbrated things acted in the New Testament-times with respect especially to Christ the Antitype who is as it were the Kernel inclosed in all those Shells of Old-Testament-Ceremonies Types or Actions c. This may be thus distinguished 1. that like an Allegory it is either innate or natural or inferr'd The Innate is that which is expresly delivered in the Scriptures or when the Scripture it self shews or intimates that some Ceremony or thing transacted does adumbrate the things related or done in the New-Testament especially Christ in a mystical sense This is done either expresly and implicitely or tacitely and implicitely or which is all one the Scripture either shews it expresly or tacitely insinuates the thing transacted to be a Type of Christ Of the first kind we have many Examples Examples of Types The Prophet Jonas was swallowed into the Whales Belly and vomited out after three days as Jonah 1.17 and 2.10 this is a Type of Christ who lay three days in the Grave and of his glorious Resurrection as Christ himself expresly says Matth. 12.40 16.4 Luke 11.29 30. The Brazen Serpent which Moses by Divine Command lifted up in the Desart against the bitings of Serpents as Numb 21.8 9. is expresly said to be a Type of Christ who was lifted up upon the Cross and healing Believers of the biting of the Infernal Serpent John 3.14 15. The Constiution and Sacrifice-Offerings of the Levitical Priesthood in the Old Testament did typically prefigure Christ the High-Priest as Heb. 5. and the following More Examples may be found upon a diligent search and Meditation of the Scripture Examples of the latter sort are these The Mercy-Seat Mercy-Seat or the Covering of the Ark of the Covenant Exod. 25.17 which typified Christ Rom. 3.25 so you may compare Josh 1 c. with Heb. 4.8 that the Manna Manna was a Type of Christ is told us John 6.32.33 c. The Paschal Lamb Pascal Lamb. Exod. 12.3 c. was a Type of Christ as 1 Cor. 5.7 John 19.36 The Scape-Goat Lev. 16.10 21. was a Type of Christ as John 1.29 1 Pet. 2.24 So was Isaac Gen. 22.2 12. with Rom. 8.32 and Heb. 11.19 So Sampson Judg. 13 c. compared with Matth. 2.23 where that which is spoken of Sampson Judg. 13.5 is accommodated to Christ the Antitype Yet the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall be called a Nazarene not used as some say respecting the words concerning Sampson but to other Sayings of the Prophets Isa 60.21 c. * Isa 11.1 Zech. 6.12 in which the Messias is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Netzer Surculus a Branch whence Narareth is derived hence the Syriack has it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Natzerath or Notrath †See Piscator upon the place and Junius in Parallellis Solomon First-born Son Matth. 2.23 and the Reason they give is that it is said it was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Prophets in the plural Number c. That King Solomon the Son of David was a Type of Christ appears Heb. 1.5 Acts 2.30 13.12 where the Promise made to David spoken in a literal sense of Solomon 2 Sam. 7.12 1 Chron. 17.11 is referred to Christ The first-born Son of the Lord as the People of Israel are called Exod. 4.23 when they were to go out of Egypt is a Type of Christ the only begotten Son of God Mat. 3.17 who is said to be called from his Exile in that Nation Mat. 2.15 where that which is literally said of the Israelites Hos 11.1 is accommodated to Christ the Antitype c. An illated or inferr'd Type is that which is conseqentially gathered to be such by Interpreters this is either by fair Probabilities agreeable to the Analogy of Faith or extorted and without any Foundation in or shadow of Sense from the literal Sense of the Text. Judg. 13.14 15 16 Chapters Of the first sort the Homily-writers and Expositors produce a great many As the doings of Sampson in marrying a strange Wife and destroying his Enemies by his Death altho no where in Scripture applied to Christ yet it is expounded as a Type of Christ who was spiritually as it were married to the Gentiles and conquered his Enemies by Dying More Examples are Gen. 37 c. respecting Joseph Numb 16.47 respecting Aaron See Isa 59.2 Gen. 2.22 23. Dan. 6.22 Judg. 16.2 3. 1 Sam. 17.49 1 Sam. 22.2 with Luke 15 1 c. Of the latter sort are the wild fantastical Conceits of Papists and some others who make Types where there are none For Instance * Lib. 1. summae cap. 90. Turrecremata makes the Son of David yea Christ himself a Type of the Pope of Rome For he expounds the words 2 Kings 7.13 thus I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever that is says he I will cause the Supremacy or Kingdom of the Pope always to endure with several other things of the same ridiculous Tenor which we omit as useless to our undertaking Article VI. Other Divisions of an Historical Type ANother Division of an Historical Type is this some immediately respect Christ and some the Things that belong to Christ Of the first Sort are such Things as prefigure and lively set forth his most holy Life his most bitter Death his most glorious Resurrection and Exaltation as in the Examples before recited Of the latter Sort are the universal Flood in which by the peculiar Blessing of God Noah Noah and his Family were saved which is called a Figure or Type of Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 to which Psal 29.10 may be applied which by the Power and Efficacy of the most precious Blood of Christ saves Men and is to them the Laver of Regeneration and Renovation of the Holy Spirit The Parallel of this Type with the Antitype may be read in the learned Gerhard Tom. 4. loc de Bapt. Sect. 8. The Bodily Circumcision Circumcision is a Type of Heart Circumcision the former is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Circumcision made without Hands the latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2.11 So
like this or that Thing we are not to understand that it is so in all its Parts or in every Respect but only in such Things as are declared in the Similitude So Christ is compared to a Thief only in this respect because he comes in a Time when unlook'd for or when unexpected Luk. 12.39 9. All Parables do not conclude in the same but in a different Manner Some from Likeness a simili as the seven Parables Mat. 13. Some from Things unlike as that of the unjust Judge Him that desired three Loaves and the unjust Steward c. FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE FOURTH BOOK A. Afflictions AFflictions compared to Fire in five respects Page 378 When Afflictions may be said to be very grievous Page 388 389 The Nature Kind and Cause of Afflictions largely opened Page 377 to 390 Ambassadors Ministers of Christ are his Ambassadors Page 282 Angels Angels why so called Page 49 They are compared to Watchers the Reason why shewed in five Things Page 50 Their Work and Office Page 50 51 52 Why they are called God's Host opened Page 53 54 Why they are compared to the Face of a Man c. opened Page 57 Why to a Flame of Fire opened Page 62 Why compared to Horses white red c. Page 63 64 Anchor Hope a sure Anchor shewed at large in eleven Particulars Page 26 27 28 Arrows Afflictions God's Arrows Page 389 What more particularly are God's Arrows Page 390 B. Babylon THe Church of Rome proved to be Mystery Babylon Page 297 First Negatively 1. By Whore of Babylon is not meant Jerusalem 2. Not the Turkish Empire 3. Not Rome Heathen 4. Not Protestants of any Denomination Page 300 to 303 Secondly In the Affirmative That by the Whore or Mystery Babylon is meant the present State and Church of Rome clearly evinced Page 322 to 326 Baptism Baptism how taken Page 36 37 Called a Burial Page 35 Babes Saints called Babes wherefore shewed in eighteen Particulars Page 140 141 Blind Wicked Men blind shewed in five Partic. Page 230 Bitter How a Saint may be sustained under bitter Afflictions Page 389 Breast-plate Why Righteousness is so called Page 10 11 Builders Why Ministers of the Gospel are called Builders opened in ten Particulars Page 277 278 Bulls Wicked Men why called Bulls Page 235 236 Burthen Sin a Burthen shewed in three things What a Burthen Sin is opened Page 344 The least Sin a Burthen to a tender Heart Page 344 Bush The Church compared to a Bush on Fire shewed in six things Page 106 107 108 C. Captives Wicked Men Captives with the Nature of their captive-Captive-State opened Page 201 to 204 Clouds Christ 's Ministers why compared to Clouds Page 269 False Teachers compared to Clouds without Rain Page 294 Captain What kind of Captain Christ is shewed Page 158 Cedars Saints compared to Cedars opened in five Particulars Page 181 182 Children Saints called Children of God opened Page 142 143 Conscience What Conscience is opened Page 69 Conscience a Witness shewed in ten Particulars Page 70 71 72 The Excellency of a good Conscience Page 73 How a good Conscience may be known Page 74 City of God The Church called the City of God shewed in twenty Particulars Page 76 to 83 What a City Sion is Page 84 Church Church the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple Page 87 Church the Anti-type of the second Temple Page 89 Courage Saints like a Lion for Courage wherein their Courage ought to be shewed opened in eight Particulars Page 188 D. Day of Grace WHy so called Page 367 How to know when the Day of Grace draws towards an end shewed in five things Page 368 Darkness Divers Metaphorical Notations of Darkness Page 383 Hell a Place of utter Darkness Page 411 Affliction called Darkness Page 383 Death Death a Sleep why so called opened in three things Page 399 Dead Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby opened in seven Particulars Page 227 228 Debt Debtors Sin a Debt why so called opened Page 332 334 How our Debts are satisfied for and yet freely forgiven largely opened Page 236 to 238 Wicked Men why called Debtors Page 200 Devil Wicked Men compared to the Devil Page 254 Devil why called a Lion and a Serpent Page 363 Dignity The great Dignity of Ministers Page 286 Dogs Wicked Men compared to Dogs in sixteen Particulars Page 232 c. Doves The Property of Doves and why the Saints are compared to them opened in 13 things Page 192 Deceivers Their many Ways to deceive laid open Page 295 Door What the Door is into the true Church Page 278 279 E. Eagles SAints compared to Eagles in ten things Page 141 Why wicked Men are compared to Eagles Page 253 F. Faith FAith why called a Shield Page 16 How you may know true Faith Page 15 16 17 The Necessity of Faith Page 19 20 The Difference between a weak and strong Faith Page 20 21 The Excellency of Faith Page 15 16 Family The Church called a Family Page 128 129 The Nature and Excellency of the Government thereof Page 128 129 Foxes Wicked Men why compared to Foxes Page 241 242 Forgiveness of Sin What it is we ask of God in that Petition Forgive us our Debts Page 340 341 No Forgiveness without Christ's Blood or Reconciliation made by him Page 342 Fowler Satan why called a Fowler and what a subtil Fowler he is opened in 5 Things Page 362 363 Floods Afflictions compared to Floods in 9 Things Page 386 In what respect God may be said to sit upon the Floods ibid Field This World why called a Field Page 392 Furnace Afflictions why compared to a Furnace Page 381 Fools Wicked Men Fools or Idiots opened Page 111 112 G. Garden THe Church why called a Garden opened in many Particulars Page 112 113 Girdle Truth why called a Girdle opened in 10 Partic. Page 4 to 8 Government The Nature of Church Order and Government opened in 12 Partic. Page 129 The Excellency of a Family or Church consists in its good and orderly Government Page 130 Gold The Nature of Gold and why Faith is compared to it opened in seven Partie Page 15 16 17 The Excellency of tryed Faith above Gold Page 18 The Godly why compared to Gold Page 190 191 Goats Why wicked Men as Hypocrites c. are compared to Goats Page 243 244 Why the Devil is call'd the God of this World Page 359 Godliness Godliness a great Mystery proved by nine Arguments Page 371 372 Gray-Hairs Sin and Judgments upon a People why called Gray-Hairs in six Things Page 357 England at this time gray-headed Page 359 H. Hardness CHrist's Souldiers must endure Hardness opened in seven Particulars Page 154 155 Harvest Day of Grace why called Harvest in 8 Things Page 370 Heirs Saints why called Heirs Heirs of God in six Things Page 145 Heart Heart of Flesh why so called and how such a Heart may be known in four things Page 194 Heaven Heaven why called Paradise Page 407 Heaven called