hee could not succeed by open tyrannie now by secret traines and perswasions of heretikes under a plausible forme of Christianity and piety hee shall carry the world headlong after Antichrist and wrap it up in his impostures and Apostasie that whose bodies he could not destroy by sword and tyrannie their mindes hee might poyson with errours and heresie 3. Hee descendeth with a farre more furious hatred and wrath over those who are left under his power for as a man comming angry from abroad will shew his wrath at home so the dragon seeing the Church escaped from his furious hand by Michaels helpe doth looke more narrowly to make them faster who are left in his power lest they should breake away from him as the other had done and therefore hee now commeth on them with continuall and efficacious temptations and bindes them with strong chaines and bolts of unrighteousnesse Now the devill taketh his peniworths in the earth and sea by increasing his wrath hee increaseth their woe and not only rideth the Nations but galloppeth them to hell This arising of Antichrist bringing with him a mist of blacke darknesse and Idolatry is the devills comming downe into the earth And his powerfull prevailing by strong and forcible delusions among them that perish is his fierce wrath which hee exerciseth in the earth and sea but justly upon them that had refused Christs rule over them Where Christ and his Gospel cannot prevaile the devil cōmeth armed with power and efficacy of delusion and hee prevaileth Jesus Christ came into the world and was preached in the earth and sea but could not bee received he came to his owne and his owne received him not yea they persecuted him drove him away slew the heire and crucified the Lord of glory he came by the preaching of the Apostles among the nations and set them into the true Olive when his own were broken off but they after a little lightning fell off first from their first love then from all love of the truth Now the wicked spirit makes a re-entrey into his hold whence he was cast he comes downe into the earth more forcibly with seven spirits worse than before and prevailes with them to their destructiō I come in my Fathers name that is by his authority in powerful doctrine miracles to set up his name glory in promoting your salvation ye receive me not if another come in his owne name that is seeking his own glory not Gods and intending his owne ends and good and not the good and salvation of men him will yee receive 2 Thess. 2. 11. God shall send strong delusions the effect is to beleeve lies the end that they may be damned and the reason because they loved not the truth nor beleeved it nor entertained it but rejected the happy meanes of their owne salvation The Lord sends Michaiah his Prophet to warne Ahab of his danger neare him Ahab will not heare him for his owne safety but commits him to ward feeds him with bread and water of affliction now comes the devill and is a lying spirit in the mouthes of 400. false Prophets them presently he heareth speaking to hasten his destruction 1. Mans heart will be resting and setling upon something it is like a Mill that is ever grinding if it rest not on truth it will on lies The soule of a man is such an hold or tenure that cannot want an owner or occupyer If it bee not resigned to the God of heaven it is reserved for the god of the world If Gods Spirit depart from Saul presently the evill spirit comes upon him and vexeth him A servant must every man be to one of these masters 2. The just desert of wicked men puls on them this fearfull vengeance to be delivered up to the devill The world loveth lies better than the truth and lyers above the bringers of truth how just is it that such as reject the truth and preferre lyes before it should be given up to the father of lies as children most like him What more righteous revenge can the Lord inflict on him that will not come to Jesus Christ to bee saved then that the dragon should come downe upon him with great wrath and carry him headlong into his owne damnation how just is it for those who refuse the government of a mercifull Prince to bee given up to the spoile and oppression of most cruell tyrants Is any so blinde as hee that will not see and are any so justly blinded as those that will not open their eyes to the light Who can implead the Lords justice in delivering up him to the Prince of darknesse that hateth the light or who can say it unequall in him if hee give over such as chuse death unto him that hath the power of death that is the devill 3. Refuse to come to Jesus Christ and what remedie is left to rescue us from the power of the devill If Christ and his truth bee rejected what can resist the devill when hee assaulteth with lies and false perswasions If the way to bee rescued from the power of Satan bee the knowledge of the truth so as by it to come to amendment as 2 Tim. 2. 24. then to refuse Gods grace offered in the Gospell is to assent and covenant with Satan and refuse freedome offered from his vassallage lies have no enemie no discoverer no conquerer but truth There is no freedome from the impostures of the father of lyes till truth rescue us and set us free and if truth set us free wee are free indeed Truth is the onely effectuall instrument and meanes of our salvation it is the arme of God to save us to refuse and resist this arme is to hate life and abide under damnation In a word the resistance of Christ is an inviting of Satan home to us and a kind welcomming of him with full contentment where Satan seeth such a man there is a fit subject for him to worke upon Take notice then of this fearefull sinne of refusing the voyce of Christ in the Gospell being a sinne of such provocation as it is as most injurious to God to the grace of God to the Sonne of God and to the truth of God a sinne of such a deepe dye and so deadly to the soule of the sinner who preferreth to drinke ranke poyson before the sweet waters of the Wel of life and a sinne so fearfully revenged by God with many other most hainous sinnes the just punishments of it Now because men commonly startle at the high sinnes against the law and conceive Gods wrath due to them and in the meane time seldome take knowledge of sinnes against the Gospell and the Lords severity against thē let us cast our eyes upon the Lords most severe revenge against this sinne above other as sinnes against the remedy and therefore not more severe than righteous for if God revenged upon the heathens their sinnes against the light
carry us through fire and water through Pikes and perils through thicke and thin after it Thirdly sticke to the conscionable practice of the Word and then be sure thou canst not bee deceived hold to the rule of that for it cannot deceive thee the powerfull practice of it turneth a man from the power of Satan unto God V. Pray for the spirit of grace to performe his Office for thy establishing in grace Quest. What is his Office Answ. 1. He is that Anoynting which teacheth all things needfull 2. Hee is the Spirit of wisedome and counsell to resolve all doubts it is his voyce that saith behinde thee This is the way walke in it 3. He is the Spirit of courage and fortitude to dissolve the fears of flesh to arme us against tyrants enemies changes tryals and persecutions for the truth 4. He is the Comforter to sustaine us with assured comfort in our heavinesse and to cheare us in our wearinesse 5. Hee is the Perfecter of his owne worke for he leaveth no work imperfect which he beginneth for salvation Col. 1. 28. I strive to be perfect according to his mighty power that worketh in me VI. Add this to the former sticke to the Ministery but see that the Spirit be effectuall in that Ministery for 1. The Spirit worketh all those comforts by means of the Word 2. As the evill spirit is effectuall in such as perish by false doctrines and false perswasions so the Spirit of God is effectuall in the Saints especially in the preaching and perswasions of the word of truth 3. It is just that whosoever suffereth not the Spirit to be effectuall there shall finde the spirit of error effectuall in strong delusions If Ahab will not heare Gods Spirit in Micah hee shall fall by a spirit of errour in the mouthes of his false prophets Now to bee established by an effectuall Ministerie wee must observe two rules 1. Receive not every thing hand over head but search the Scriptures and trie the things that are delivered Iohn 5. 39. and the Bereans were commended for examining the doctrine of the Apostles themselves by the touchstone of the Prophets Acts 17. 11. But Papists would not have the Scripture in common mens hands because they distrust their doctrine 2. Having tryed all things resolve to hold all that is good and continue in the things learned from the Word which is an assured fence against deceivers 2 Tim. 3. â—4 We are further admonished to take notice of the markes and signes of a person that is seduced by the Serpent to the end we may avoid them One is in the dayes of light not to perceive the glorious light of the Gospell 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospell be now hid it is hid to them that perish in whom the god of this world hath blinded their mindes that the light of the Gospell should not shine unto them Hee is a blinde man that seeth not the Sunne shining nor such objects as the Sunne discovereth so hee is blinded by Satan who cannot or will not see his estate to bee damnable and miserable but is alive and happy without repentance and conversion that by the same light cannot see that a sinne in himselfe which hee seeth so to bee in another that by the light cannot be convinced but that some sins are good and commodious as profitable lies and oathes some breach of the Sabbath some usury some idle company and perhaps esteeme it vertue or wisedome that by so cleare a light cannot be perswaded but that there is more ease and pleasure in following lusts and sinnes than in observing Gods law here is one led away and deceived of the serpent 2. Another mark of such a one is not to beleeve the truth but to esteeme the Word as a fable unworthy of our credit Eve was not seduced till her faith in the word was shaken Thou that beleevest not the promises as not expecting salvation by them that turnest away the thoughts from thinking earnestly of the threatnings and punishments due to thy sinnes that walkest in thine owne way and refusest the counsell of the word why seest thou not thy selfe seduced and led away by Sathan in great part already 3. A third marke of such a one is a departing from the doctrine of faith received from the religion and divine worship planted by the Prophets and Apostles and prescribed in the word of God a giving way and willing eares to Priests Jesuites and croaking locusts Eve should not have lent her eare to the serpent against the truth of God Hee easily seduceth those that are willing to bee seduced 4. The fourth marke is to withstand the power of grace and religion accounting the practise of holinesse a needlesse precisenesse esteeming the care of pleasing God to be hypocrisie zeale to be rashnesse and distemper Who seeth not but the dragon hath led these away at his will For what other way doth the Dragon himselfe walke in but in a perpetuall hatred of grace 5. The fift marke is noted wickednesse of life and living in lusts for the more wicked a man is the more subject hee is to be delivered up by God to be seduced and who be they that are given up to the efficacie of Antichrist but such as have pleasure in unrighteousnesse that is such as take felicity in sinne and rather then they will forsake it trample under foot all the hopes of the Gospell 2. Thess. 2. 12. Who be they that are or may be noted at this day carryed away into the delusion of popery and are a prey to Jesuites Priests and deceivers but such as must have liberty and indulgence to live in some sin or other first they resolve upon a beastly life and then fall to such a deluding doctrine as may skinne over the gall of their consciences Of many such Apostates wee may say it were pitty they should professe any other religion then popery for no other would befit the wickednesse of their lives so well 6 The last marke is when sinne is revenged with sinne with hardnesse of heart with brawne of conscience deadnesse of spirit dedolency impenitencie This man is fearefully left by God and seised on by the dragon when neither Law nor Gospell neither piping nor mourning prevailes with him Instance whereof we see in many Apostates and temporizers who having made some shewes of goodnesse in themselves and good affections to others falling to the world and selfe-seeking have slacked in their love to the truth and that sinne revenged with hatred and persecuting of goodnesse and that sinne further revenged with hardnesse of heart and a dead conscience not suffering them to looke either behinde them or before them till they have outrunne themselves in so fearfull violence against the grace of God as commonly godlinesse meets not with such enemies any where as those that once made shew of it And as the dragon most desirously assaulteth these so Gods revenge sheweth it selfe most
watched and brought upon the world since the fall was the raysing of Antichrist He had beene mischievous before and wrathfull in open tyranny but now he putteth forth a greater wrath in secret delusion Which truth will appeare if we consider 1 Antichristianisme in it selfe 2 In comparison with open tyranny 3 In the more feareful fruits and grievous effects of it 1. Antichristianisme in it selfe is the most fearefull plague that ever the wrath of God or Satan strucke the world withall if we consider 1. The cause 2 The effect 3. The generality In the cause it proceedeth from the greatest wrath that ever God put forth upon earth for 1. It is a wrath from the divine iustice due to the most fearefull sinne in the world which was the worlds reiecting the truth of the Gospell wherein the wrath of God is come both upon the Jew and Gentile to the uttermost 2. It is a wrath of the dragon whetted by the wrath of God in which God sendeth the strongest and most prevailing delusions that ever were in which that wicked spirit who seemed to bee cast out of the world by the preaching of the Gospell is returned againe and hath brought seven worse spirits than himselfe 3. It is a wrath not onely punishing sinnes of such a deepe staine but with most fearfull sinnes such as immediately forerunne damnation even that universall damnation of all those who chased away the truth of God to embrace the delusions of Antichrist 2 Thess. 2. 10. God shall send strong delusions that all they may be damned who loved not the truth 4. It is a wrath so great as the Spirit of God finds no parallell to compare it with but the great day of Gods wrath and therefore in the opening of the sixt Seale Revel 6. 12. which describeth the comming of Antichrist into the world hee resembleth the time of his appearing to the greatest day of wrath that ever was before it and describeth it by all those fearefull events which shall accompany Christ himselfe when he commeth to his last and universall iudgement The signes of the wrath of that great day of wrath are seven by this wrathfull day of Antichrist notably resembled 1. Great and fearfull earthquakes shall goe before the comming of Christ Matth. 24. 7. Even so at the comming of Antichrist the foundations of the earth shal be shaken a new face of things shal appear the pillers and foundations of old Apostolicall doctrine and discipline shall bee shaken downe and a new Ecclesiasticall Monarchy shall eate up the ancient civill and Imperiall government which was the studd and pillar upholding the earth and societies of men 2. The Sunne shall bee darkned as sackcloth Mat. 24. 29. and Christ the sunne of righteousnesse who shined so cleare in the firmament of the Church the onely Saviour Mediatour and satisfaction shall bee wholy darkned and horribly ecclipsed in the day of Antichrist the holy doctrine concerning his person natures offices and benefits shall be cleane obscured as the Sunne at midnight a blacke vaile of traditions and a thicke curtaine of humane constitutions blacked and darkned all his most sacred Ordinances the Sacraments by theatricall pompes and devises shal be adulterate the worship of Christ by adoration of Idols and veneration of creatures wholy depraved Now is the Sunne of the Church turned into darknesse 3. The Moone shall be turned into blood So the Church which as the Moone receives all her light from the Sunne of righteousnesse shal seem all blood partly by the cruell and bloody warres and partly by the bloody persecutions of Antichrist who shall boast of both swords and fill both his hands with weapons of wrath and cruelty 4. The Starres shall fall from heaven Marke 13. 25. So in the appearing of Antichrist the Bishops and Pastors shall become Apostates from the truth and of shining starres in holy doctrine holy life and beautifull graces in their severall Orbes shining in humility charity sobriety diligence and heavenly-mindednesle shall fall to pride ambition contention wordlinesse warre seats of Judicature and whatsoever is earthly and sensuall and pompous 5. At the comming of Christ the heaven shall depart as a scrole so in the day of Antichrists comming the Church the heaven upon earth shall bee shut up and hide it selfe and shall not bee visible and conspicuous to the world And although many good and godly men still in all ages contested against Antichrist yet were they condemned for heretikes and were counted no part of heaven nor faithfull members of it 6. The Mountaines and Ilands were removed out of their places By Mountaines are meant Kings and Emperours who by the fraud and power of Antichrist were removed from their high places and authority which was swallowed and ingrossed by Antichrist and by Ilands the people and nations who were all forced upon paine of damnation in stead of obedience to Christ to submit themselves to the tyrannie of Antichrist Nothing so firme as Mountaines nothing so farre off as Ilands but Antichrist reached them 7. As in the day of Christs wrath the wicked shall in utter despaire of their estates call for the hils and Mountaines to cover them and hide them from it so shall the great day of Antichrist drive great ones to utter despaire not knowing what shall become of them and of their estates and this shall bee the hire and recompence of all the ayders and supporters of Antichrist in the day of their particular iudgement if their consciences bee awakened at farthest in that last and great day of wrath in the generall iudgement Thus wee see the Scripture setting out the day of Antichrist to bee as wrathfull as the great day of Christ which of all dreadfull things is to all wicked men most terrible Secondly now consider the great wrath of Antichristianisme in the effect and we shall see it the most horrible mist and black darknesse that ever the world was stricken withall Other heresies and hereticks which made way to this are called the black horse Revel 6. 5. as being contrary to the white horse Verse 2. which was the integrity of Apostolike doctrine but those did obscure and darken the light as in the evening But when Antichrist comes this heresie chaseth away all light as at midnight Not that the Church ceaseth to bee no more than the Sunne ceaseth to be at midnight but it appeareth no more in that Horizon or Hemisphere thā if it were not all Heaven passeth as a scrole which is no lesse but lesse seene Hence is the Kingdome of Antichrist called spiritually by the name of Aegypt Rev. 11. 8. for it resembleth that Kingdome especially in three things 1. In Idolatry 2. In cruelty and oppression of the Israel of God 3. Most of all in blindnesse and darknesse with which that Kingdome was covered for three dayes Exod. 10. 21. And betweene the darknesse of that Aegypt and this there is apt resemblance 1. Of all the plagues of
idolatry did not wrap the Kingdome into this fierce wrath 4 Sinne earthlinesse love of the world of profits and selfe love as in Demas who forsooke the truth and embraced the present world This sinne made Iudas being an Apostle at the side of Christ and steward of his family to be delivered up to the full wrath of the divell What else carrieth away our Fugitivos and Seminaries to become Priests and traytors to Religion their Prince and country but hope of preferments and profits which here they fayle of II. The onely positive meanes to be hid from this wrath is to walke carefully and humbly before God Eccles. 7. 26. there is a woman whose heart is as nets and snares her hands are bands he that is good in Gods sight shal be delivered from her but the sinner shal be taken by her Even so onely piety delivers from this Babylonish harlot which hunteth the precious lives of men Prov. 6. 26. For the more wicked a man is the more is he hated of God and the more hated of God the more subject he is to be deceived by Antichrist And therefore the sinner is in great danger Now the way to avoyd this danger is to be good in Gods sight which goodnesse consists in 1 Approoving our hearts and wayes unto God the chiefe good 2 Framing our actions by the word the unfayling patterne and rule of goodnesse 3 Walking and persisting in the way of good men For it is not goodnesse of nature witt education civility learning nor any humane skill which can keepe a man from the hookes and snares of this harlot but onely goodnesse of grace and the feare of the Lord. 2 This serves to admonish all who are in full communion with the Pope and are formall limbes of Antichrist and of the Romish Church timely to looke to themselves and consider these foure propositions 1 That those who adore the Beast and receive his Image must drinke up the lees of this wrath Revel 14. 8. 9. But so doth every limbe of Antichrist adoring him in yeelding him divine honour and seeking pardon of sinne from him as if he were God and receiving his image by subjecting his conscience to his laws as to the laws of God and depending on his mouth as on the mouth of God And therefore they all lye under this great wrath 2 That he that hath not the Sonne shall not see life But no obstinate and wilfull Papist that holdeth not himselfe only to Christs righteousnesse for justification but will stand before God in his owne righteousnesse merits and satisfactions hath the Sonne And therfore no such shall ever see life The Assumption the Apostle teacheth Gal. 5. 4. They are abolished from Christ and fallen from grace whosoever wil be justified by the Law 3 That he which beleeveth not in the Sonne of God the wrath of God abideth on him Ioh. 3. 36. But no such Papist doth beleeve in the Son of God For saving faith is condemned as presumption and accesse to the throne of grace with boldnesse and assurance of the favour of God are scoffed at and in stead of saving faith they nourish a generall assent to the truth of the word of God which I affirme to be common to the reprobates and devils Therfore they are under wrath 4 That he which liveth and dyeth an idolater cannot avoyd the wrath of God But so must he do that liveth and dyeth an obstinate member of that Church being bound to give divine honour to Saints relickes images consecrated things and especially to the breadden god And therefore what a desperate thing is it to live and dye in that religion Antichrist only prevayleth in them that perish none of the Elect can be seduced by this great seducer neither can any that follow the beast avoyd to drink the dregs of the Wine of GODS wrath Revel 14. 7. 8. 3 Pity the case of those that are carryed away into Antichristian delusion and Apostacie For of all sinners they are in most fearefull case 1 For their persons they are a number of men whose head is the sonne of perdition who are in state of perdition who are given up to the most mischievous wrath of the dragon such as whose names are not written in the booke of life 2 For their course they are men that sin against the light against the remedie against the whole Gospell especially against the precious blood and merit of Jesus Christ. Oh what a sin is it to sin against this blood and bring the guiltinesse of it upon a mans owne head as they do by undervaluing it and trampling it under foot equalling with it the blood of Becket and traytors preferring before it the milke of his mother as Carolus Scribanius a late Jesuite in a Poeme not onely holds the best compound for a sicke soule to mixe Maries milke and Christs blood but that of the two her milke and the merit and vertue of it is more precious and excellent then CHRISTS Blood 3 Their estate is most fearefull because there is no losse to the losle of the truth no fall to the fall from grace no wrath that the Dragon can watch against a person comparable to this For he is sure that whosoever persist in this condition they must drinke of the winepresse of the wrath of God We pity men if we see theÌ„ in any bodily torments but no bodily torments can equall the wrath of being given up to the strong delusions of Antichrist And wee must put on bowells of mercy and pity toward our brethren in misery which if it rise right will begin at their soules and especially will compassionate the spirituall miserable This is to be like God who had pitty on us when wee were in darknesse in our blood our navell not cut c. Ezek. 16. 4 Wee learne hereby not to take offence if wee see many turned away to this horrible Apostacy but take notice of the just judgment of GOD in delivering up men to this great wrath of the Dragon For particulaâ—â—ersons what wonder to see carelesse and contemptuous hearers of the Gospell set over to Satan to execute all his wrath and mischiefe over them God in justice hath allotted them their wish and choise The truth woed them but could not win them and therefore falsehood and lies have justly seduced them Christ in the Gospell made love unto them intreated promised allured by all loving meanes but they slighted him refused his offers of peace and life and therefore are justly a spoile and prey of Antichrist The truth offered to set theÌ„ free bring them into the liberty priviledges of the sons of God but they refused truths freedome and therfore are justly chained and fettered in the bands of deadly errors and delusions How justly must he drinke up a full viall of wrath who will not be perswaded to tast a sweet cup of mercy and salvation how justly is that felon executed who scornes the Kings
cannot hinder or interrupt so as after sowing of much seed there is no reaping or joy in the harvest First in generall he cares not greatly how many good things thou doest how charitable how devote thou art how diligent and laborious even in that which is good so he can keepe thee without the care of sound conversion and from serious repentance for he knowes that all that is done before conversion is hatefull to God That of thistles no figges can be gathered that out of a reprobate soyle can nothing be yeelded but noysome weeds and poysonfull plants what goodly shew soever they make That before repentance the sacrifice of a man is sinne and his very prayer is abominable what cares he how much and often thou pray so thy prayer be frustrate But whiles thou regardest wickednesse in thy heart hee knowes God will not heare thy prayer Neither cares he what good thou doest so thou be proud of it and say Lord I thanke thee I am not as this Publican If he can get thee to thrust thy glory betweene thy actions and Gods glory he hath frustrated all thy expectation More specially if he cannot hinder thee from hearing the word nor for shame barke against the action he cares not so he may frustrate it which he can do by many slights 1 If he can make thee receive it without faith he knowes the word is unprofitable if not mingled with faith nay hurtfull for he that knowes his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with more stripes 2 Without love for if thou receivest the truth without love of it God wil at length give thee up to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2. 3 Without change of heart and life what cares he if thou heare every houre a sermon so all be put into a riven vessell If thou hearest 20. yeares together never so diligently if thou holdest thy sinne and abidest a hatefull wretch spitting poyson against the word and preaching of it Secondly He cares not how civilly and soberly thou livest without open grosse breaches of the law thou art no drunkard murderer blasphemer theese sodomite all this pleaseth him well if so he can make thee hereby reject the gospell for all this while Thy righteousnesse doth not exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees Nay if he can make thee stumble at Christ he knowes no fall into hell is like that it had been better thou hast never heard of him Thirdly He cares not greatly what a religious life thou makest show of what strong conceit of faith thou hast how joyfully thou receivest the glad tidings of the gospell how resolutely thou professest the gospell if he can frustrate all this profession Either first by keeping thee from being beaten downe by the law for then all the foundation is deceitfull Or secondly by neglecting the meanes of faith for then he knowes thou nourishest but a fancy for faith Or thirdly by making shipwrack of faith by corrupt conscience while he holds thee fast in some sinne or sinnes as lying cousening swearing usury gaming or deceitfull courses or loosenesse of life for now bragge of faith and say thou wilt never forsake the gospell I say thou shalt never hold it out for thou canst not favour it and thy sinne too which it favours not In heart thou deniest it and easily wilt with thy mouth Fourthly He cares not how zealous and forward thou art for the time and how many things thou sufferest for the gospell so it be in vaine some Magistrates are good and forward at first for a fit some Ministers are best at first as Saul Iudas c. but after comes the bad wine and the lees and dregs are in the bottome and many remitting of their first loves fall to loosenesse contempt and spight of the way Satan hath now frustrated all true grace proceeds and holds out now he knowes these were never good I◠Now for evill actions the dragon sets all his seaven heads a worke to thrust them forward and that especially two wayes First Because he cannot make them be good he can make them to seeme good till they be acted He can hansomely apparrell them and make them appeare next to vertues The eating of the forbidden fruit will make our parents as gods extreme covetousnesse is but nearnesse or good husbandry wrath and cruell revenge is but manhood and spirit unfruitfull wasting of our time is but good-fellowship and neighbour-hood Neutrality in religion when a man is neither fish nor flesh hot nor cold is to be moderate discreet and a wise man To neglect the study preaching of Gods word and to carry men from the simple truth to royes and froth of humane spirit and wit is profoundnesse and depth of learning Revel 2. 24. for how else came schoole-learning to banish the scriptures for many hundred yeares but under pretext of a deeper learning To be earnest and an hot pursuer of these hot precise fellowes is to be a good zealous protestant And to thinke they doe God good service in killing and burning his Saints in stabbing kings massacring Innocents and blowing up Parliaments is to be a resolute Catholike Thus skilfull is this seaven headed beast to wrap up all his poysoned pills in some sugered pretence and perswasion or other he can make them seeme neare allied to vertue and grace Secondly If he cannot make them seeme good yet he can so gild and hide them as they shall seem lesse evill When a man in rude and wicked company hath made himselfe beastly drunke and swinishly unreasonable it is no great matter he would be loath not to be counted a good and kind neighbour and not disgrace himself so much as not to pledge his friends health When he hath in anger and rage cursed sweared rayled and quarrelled with his neighbours it is a fault indeed but no man is a Saint and it is in some mens nature to be more cholerick then others and thus comforts and confirmes himselfe uncleannesse fornication adultery great sinnes against the fountaine of mankind are slighted it is but a common error of youth and age will mend it Ordinary oathes by faith troth Masse Mary and by God himself are but small sinnes the custome takes away the sense but not the guilt Secret sins which other men see not he can make a mans selfe not to see them and those which dig into the bowels he makes appeare but as the scratch of a pin Many sinnes are practised by the most and greatest nay even good men and professors will card and dice and prodigally waste their time and now they are priviledged sinnes and vanish into nothing The third head wherein we shall see the subtill working of these seavē heads against the woman is in respect of his assaults which are most subtill for never was there such an engineir so expert to winne and hold as shall appeare in some instances His first
heads be not crowned they cannot long prevaile Third if he can get his diabolicall edicts once crowned they shall passe almost unquestioned and that generally and bee they never so unlawfull and wicked against Gods pure worship against Gods holy Sabbaths yet they shall prevaile not onely against the wicked who shall shew themselves good subjects in their blinde and impious obedience but especially against the godly who shall bee pursued with all the wrath of such superiours as rebels seditious disobedient to Rulers and Princes as Daniel against whom they could picke no quarrell but in the matter of his God From the desert of the Church for her sinnes crowne the Dragon God in justice appointing them to be the rodds of his wrath by whom hee whippeth his owne children for whereas the promise is that the Church obeying the commands of God he will make her the head and not the tayle and shee shall bee above and not beneath By her disobedience her adversaries become chiefe and those that hate her in affections and those that oppresse her in action get the staffe into their hand and have power as crowned Dragons over her Lament 5. 5. and especially cap 1. 5. From the justice of God against the dragon himselfe both head and members that they may runne on headlong to their perdition For the more power and greatnesse they have the more they grow in malice and madnesse against the woman and the more victories they attaine against the Church the more they exult and triumph and sooner rise to their height and fill up their measure that the Lord may awaken himselfe and rise up as a Giant and pursue and breake them and cast them as rodds into the fire as he hath ever done Note the good service that every wicked man and enemy of God and his Saints doe in the world he is of no other use and service then to hold the crowne upon the Dragons head For as every good subject must stand to the death to uphold the crowne and dignity of his lawfull Prince So doe these rebells and revolters from Jesus Christ uphold the crowne and dignity of this usurper Object God forbid there should be any such we are all Christians c. Sol. Yes the Dragon hath a number of good subjects that strongly and mightily uphold his crowne while they will protest and professe the contrary Quest. But how may we know them Sol. 1. He is free from righteousnesse that is de sacto non dejure he will have nothing to doe with that let grace wooe him and perswade him it can prevaile nothing at all let the Spirit of God perswade him to humility obedience conscience he is an enemy to the Spirits motions and perswasions but let the Dragon instigate him with wicked motions and cogitations hee is a ready agent as Iudas rejecting the good motions of the Spirit the devill entred into his heart to betray his Lord and it was soone done Let the word perswade him to change his master and of the slave of the Dragon become the Lords free man Hee resisteth the word the Spirit of God which inspired the holy Prophets and Apostles moveth us to speake the same word and the wills of beleevers to obey it But the Dragon moveth them to scorne and contradict our doctrine and so resist the holy Ghost as Steven telleth his adversaries and why because we light not candles to the Sunne nor confirme the Kings word by some of the guard nor prove the truth of Gods Spirit by men and humane spirits Eph. 2. 2. These sonnes of disobedience walke after the Prince that ruleth in the aire and being of impure cogitation and conversation how is it possible but they should judge amisse of the truth Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded Can a blinde man judge of colours II. They walke according to the course of this world Eph. 2. 1. Frame themselves in religion and manners to the times to please men can sweare drinke scorne raile speake filthily sing beastly songs for of so wicked a Prince all the servants are extremely wicked the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience moveth and acteth in them as the soule in the body there is no service of sinne commeth amisse and when the devill ceaseth to draw his slave from evill to worse wee may hope better things of them III. They are beleevers of lyes 2. Thess. 2. 10. They that are carried away by the effectuall working of Satan or given up to beleeve lyes carryed away with Priests Jesuites Seducers to beleeve all false doctrines contrary to truth as transubstantiation salvation by merits purging of sinne by penall workes and humane satisfactions worshippings of Angels Saints images crosses and a million of dotages being carryed about with flattering teachers to beleeve lies IV. Persecuting of godly men and ministers there Satans throne is and there the dragon is crowned Revel 2. 13. Good subjects will not indure him to be spoken against which they love well therefore they hate godly preachers and cannot abide to heare the abominations of popery and Antichrist to be detected but our Preachers say they lye as fast as their dogges runne these uphold the dragons crowne and resist the crowne and dignity of Jesus Christ what ever they prate to the contrary In beholding the battell of the woman against so many crowned adversaries learne not to esteeme of a Church by externall splendor pompe wealth or glory which is a note of the Antichristian Church Here wee see the Dragon hath seaven Crownes Dan. 11. 31. 36. Antiochus a wicked man that shall magnifie himselfe against all that is called God and speake marveilous things against the God of gods yet hee shall prosper and have armies stand on his part and Antichrist typified in Antiochus who magnifieth himselfe above all that is called God and hath on his head written names of blasphemie hath his armies standing with him Italy France Spaine and many crownes to thrust forward his Antichristian lawes and decrees It is true wee grant there is an internall splendor and glory of the Church consisting in the ornaments of faith charity patience and other vertues as also in the purity of sound and wholsome doctrine and this splendor because it constituteth the true Church it can never want and yet even in this it may be greater or lesser as the doctrine is more carefully preserved or otherwise But that outward splendor and glory which consisteth in peace wealth and multitudes of professors this may be hid oppressed and obscured for 1 This maketh for the good and safety of the Church sometimes to be hid and obscured for hereby God preserveth his Church which were it all and alway knowne all the hornes and the crowned Dragons would assault it at once to destroy it utterly 2 The greatest glory and splendor of the Church is that which appeares not to the eye of
the prince of darknesse would keepe in a perpetuall night of sinne and darknesse and therefore with the uttermost of his power would withhold from them all the shine of the Sunne Moone and Starres he can afford them no light at all of holy doctrine or holy example If he can change the light with darknesse how great is that darknesse His despight to God whom he would have most dishonoured by his chiefe and next servants of whō he justly expecteth most honour and service if hee can bring it about none shall betray the Sonne of God but his owne Disciple and none shall so much pull downe the kingdome of Christ as the master builders that should set it up The hight of the starres his policy hath taught him that if he can cast them downe hee throweth many downe with them if he can winne Aaron he is sure of all the people to make and worship the Calfe they are Leaders if he can mislead them hee misleadeth a multitude in every one of them they are Shepheards if hee smite them with his taile the sheepe are scattered They are Standard bearers if he can cast downe the Standard the bands are soone defeated Cedars fall not alone but many shrubs are crushed with their fall Besides hee knoweth their fals are more scandalous more exemplary and that they who in goodnesse will neither follow rule nor example will make their example in evill a rule sufficient Besides he knoweth that as a man falling from a great hight seldome riseth againe or not without great hurt so these falling from holy and heavenly doctrine to humane constitutions to externall ceremonies and worldly contentments seldome or never rise to any good service but prove greatest enemies of all To teach the starres watchfulnesse against this sly busie wrigling taile of the dragon which maketh the lives of godly Ministers very troublesome Q. How may wee prevent the hurt from them Ans. 1. By preparing ' for persecution and triall 2 Tim 2. 3. suffer afflictions as a good souldier of Jesus Christ. Act. 20. 24. Paul was ready to goe to Jerusalem though nothing but bonds did await him The starre keepeth his place be it never so much beset with cloudes and windes and tempests forecast then the first in any storme against the Church is the sincere preacher he is in the foreward and face of the enemy 2. Love not the world deny thy selfe let the world be crucified to thee thou to the world else wert thou a companion of the Apostles as Demas or an Apostle or Disciple at the side of Christ the taile of the dragon will cast thee to the earth why else did learned men change with the times 3. Establish thy selfe in the truth and see thou beest well grounded and able to hold the truth against errours false doctrine heresies which are a part of the taile of the dragon look into the heresies and errours of the time as physitions study the nature and describe the work of poysons not to teach them but to teach how to avoid them So heresies of Popery must be studied not to be received and supped up but to be damned and refuted Many reade Popish bookes and erronious schoolemen and are turned into that they reade as poyson drunke turnes the body unto it selfe 2. Settle thy selfe in love of truth else maist thou easily be given up to strong delusions see 2 Thess. 2. 10. and Marke 10. 21. 4. Content not thy selfe to be well read and seen in the Scriptures nor to shine in light of knowledge and pure doctrine nor in seemely sober and civill conversation but labour especially to make thine owne Election sure for the dragon can cast downe none of the elect no not the weakest of them whereas he prevaileth against strong Cedars of most excellent common graces who are called to the meanes but not of purpose Rom. 8. 28. 5. Pray unto the Lord to uphold thee for what art thou to him whose taile can cast downe the third part of the starres if his taile be so huge what is the bignesse and strength of his bulke or what is the silly woman or any of her sonnes to such a monster pray therefore that Iesus Christ would take thee in amongst the starres into his right hand the hand of protection and safety the hand which is stronger than all out of which hand the dragon cannot take them To hearers learne hence to pray earnestly for their Ministers and afford them all the strength they can against this monstrous dragon whose incessant labour is to throw them downe for prayer is a strong bul warke a guard of men cannot make them so safe as the prayers of Gods people Peter Acts 12 by this meanes was saved from the dragons taile when in likelihood an army of a million of men could not have rescued him this made the Apostles every where beg prayers of the faithfull Faile thou in this and thou sinnest against God in ceasing to pray for them 2. Thou makest thy selfe guilty of the troubles of thy teacher 3. Thou art often denyed comfort in the Ministery and they that should speake to the hearts of Gods people speake often to grieve and gall them because thou prayest not for them to speake as they ought Take no offence to see many learned men once zealous preachers fall ex orbe in orbem out of their orbe and heavenly motion to the world and secular affaires It was before prophesied by Christ Matth. 24. 29. and Rev. 6. 13. Starres fell unto earth as a fig-tree casts her figs in a mighty winde the blustring storme and winde of temptation shake many a fig-tree and stripeth them of their unripe figges and unsound fruit when we see such woefull sights wee may say to thē as Absalon to Thamar defiled and defloured by Ammon Hath Ammon met with thee 2 Sam. 13. 20. so surely the dragon hath met with them hee ought them a spight and payed them a piece of his taile hath light on them and smitten them to the earth And much lesse marvell if many which seemed good and zealous hearers and shined in the firmament of the Church as starres of lesser magnitude have fallen from their beginnings as weary of the good way for if the dragon cast downe so many teachers with his taile what heaps of common professors in the visible Church may we conceive he throweth downe from heaven to earth To the resisters and opposers of godly Ministers good Preachers what art thou that createst trouble and art casting downe the starres so farre as lyeth in thy power but a piece of the taile of the dragon Such as Alexander the Coppersmith and Elimas that resisted Paul called by him the childe of the devill And what art thou doing but easing the dragon and saving him a labour art thou afraide the dragons taile cannot cast downe starres enough without thy helpe or what a needlesse labour
Cyrus was named above a hundred and twenty yeares before he was borne and also his singular care and diligence in building of the Temple and restoring Ierusalem to her former beauty and honour that he should establish the pure worship of God and as a vigilant shepheard protect Gods people now would not the dragon have hindred the birth of such a sonne whom he knew should bee borne if hee could But he cannot prevent the Woman from bringing forth her sonnes especially designed to serve GODS Providence for the good of the Church The stability of Gods decrees the counsell of the Lord shall stand and no power nor policy shall break off any of his purposes hee hath purposed to teach mā by man to rule man by man to save men by men and therefore there must be a succession of Pastors in the Church and of Princes in the world who shall uphold this his ordinance in the severall ages It is true the Lord with whom is wisdome and strength can by his own hand without and against all worldly power save his Church but for his owne greater glory and the confusion of the dragon hee will rather doe it by weake instruments assisted with his owne mighty power which all the dragons cannot prevaile against The truth of his promise who although he bee the husband of his Church and as Elcanah to Anna better then ten sonnes yet hath promised that shee shall have sonnes and Princes in all Lands he will see that she shall not want sonnes of her own that shall bee as nursing fathers and mothers to her Esay 49. 23. and 7. The power of God is such as cannot be foyled by any contrary power but still raiseth up some man-childe for the Churches use and service for as it is in nature so here with this mother It is the Lord that openeth the wombe and the dragon cannot shut it as Iacob said to Rachel Am I God to open and shut the wombe so it is God that maketh the Church a fruitfull and joyfull mother of children which powerfull worke himselfe challengeth Esay 66. 9. Shall I cause to travell and not bring forth shall I cause to bring forth and shall shee be barren This power of God so over-ruleth that not onely against all outward contrary powers but when the birth it selfe or manchilde it selfe is most averse and repugnant yet shall he be brought forth For example Moses was most backward and pleaded many excuses earnestly intreated the Lord to send any other to Pharaoh yet he and no other must be brought forth Ionah flatly refused to goe to Niniveh but the Lords power mightily over-ruled and brought him forth by a strong hand for the conversion of the people No contrary course shall hinder the birth of the man-childe against the Lords powerfull call The care of God over his Church hee suffereth it not without some manchilde or other to helpe it as in the booke of the Iudges is manifest hee never casteth off his people nor his care of them hee hath speciall feeling of their miseries speciall regard of their prayers and sighes as is manifest by the example of Israel in Aegypt he suffereth not the rod of the wicked to lie on the lot of the righteous Psal. 125. 3. but it should ever doe so if the dragon could hinder the birth and bringing forth of such sonnes as may prevent and remove it For comfort of the Church who shall never want such stout defenders as the Lord doth see fit for her 2 Kings 19. 7. when Ahab and Iezabel destroyed the Prophets of the Lord and made no end of effusion of innocent blood the Lord had a manchilde in store Iehu who shall revenge their quarrell to the utmost When the dreadfull and terrible fires were kindled against the bodies of Gods servants Saints here in Queene Maries dayes God stirred up that most Noble Queene Elizabeth comparable with any manchilde in these last ages for her noble and heroical zeale valour and fortitude and though many plots were attempted by Papists to take away her life for Gardener chafed that they lopped the boughes and stocked not the roote yet was shee brought forth to the kingdome set upon the Throne of God and had an iron rod in her hand an unconquerable power by which she was the glory of her Kingdome a terrour to all Papists and professed enemies of her religion In the dayes when we see Antichrist prevaile his arme stronge his powers victorious his numbers increased his buls blasphemies and masses received himselfe and his in armes with hopefull successes Now is the time to expect some manchild and sonne of the Church to take him from his top and height or rather those ten sonnes of this woman taken up into the Throne of God and with rods of iron to make her desolate and naked to eate her flesh and burne her with fire Rev. 17. 16. the Church may say as Ioseph The Lord hath made mee fruitfull in the land of my affliction The dragon cannot hinder the woman from bringing forth children and sonnes that shall witnesse and defend the truth for her being her birthright and inheritance for 1. He cannot want hearts to beleeve nor mouthes to confesse the truth who made both all hearts and all mouthes 2. The power of the truth is such as will have witnesse and testimony to it Luke 19. 4. I tell you if these should hold their peace the stones would crie as indeed the earthquakes rending of the Rockes and opening of graves did at his resurrection hence was it that in the darkest times of Antichrist and when their tyranny was at hight God ever raised some sonne of the Church to witnesse unto the truth against that abomination as here in England Iohn Wickliffe that preached plainly the Pope to bee Antichrist his transubstantiation his masses his indulgences his dispensations to be trash and dung to be swept out of the Church many after him In Italy Dante 's Marsilius Patavinus Franciscus Petrarke In Bohemia Iohn Hus Ierome of Prague In Germany Luther Melancton c. the dragon could not hinder these sonnes of the Church in their testimony and so it shall alwayes be III. The dragon cannot hinder the woman to bring forth children in grace although he watch never so instantly for I. The spirit bloweth where it will and hee can no more hinder his worke then hee can the winde from blowing and by this spirit the Church becommeth like the Hebrew women of whom the midwiues said they were lively and delivered before they could come to destroy the birth II. Birth in grace is a mighty worke of new creation and no more can the devill and dragon hinder this worke where God will have it than they can dissolve the great worke of Gods creation wicked men as Esau may strive to hinder Iacobs birth in the wombe but cannot where hee will have a
birth he leaveth them not like Agrippa almost Christians but whole Christians III. The Antichristian dragons have laboured in nothing so much as hiding the Scriptures and rowling up the little booke that the sound of the Gospell should not bee heard to the conversion of any they call into question the authority of the Scriptures and they must bee beleeved but for the Popes judgment insteed of opening this they have opened Schoolemen Sententiaries Canonists Legends but to read the Scriptures in a knowne tongue is heresie but in despight of them the Angell hath carried the eternall Gospell through the midst of heaven the truth is so cōspicuous as shining in the midst of heaven and where Christ will have the dore of grace open none shall shut it Papists now seeke to shut that dore and our sins and ingratitudes hath deserved that the Gospell should bee shut out but yet Christ keepeth it open for us IIII. The dragon cannot hinder the woman but in despight of him shee shall bring forth many children to glory for it is not possible 1. To take them out of the Father who is stronger than them all to dissolve their union with Christ Rom. 8. or to deceive the elect either of their faith or substance Mat. 24. 2. The over-ruling hand of God maketh the dragons themselves effect his will and serve his Providence both in glorifying his name and promoting his good and the salvation of his servants when they thinke nothing lesse nay when they bend and aime cleane contrary they shall in despight of them further their salvation and can they then hinder it Rom. 8. All things shall be for their best and shall bring them to their wayes end Ob. But doth not the dragon often prevaile to hold off many from soundnesse of grace and cast many off as Iudas Demas Sol. 1. The dragon never prevaileth by his absolute power over any but by Gods just desertion and permission saying Thus farre shalt thou prevaile but no further 2. He never prevaileth wholy or finally against any whose names are written in the booke of life but though the Lord suffereth them to be molested in the way it is that in the end he might declare in them the riches of his grace mercy power 3. These yeelding to Satan for a time are cast down but not cast off seeing they are not elected jufied redeemed called sanctified and saved for any worthinesse of their owne but for Christs which the dragon cannot spot or blemish To abate the glory and hope of the Churches enemies They may spurne strive against the free passage of the Gospel but shall not prevaile Many have striven to roote out the Gospel whom God hath resisted and rooted out the Church shall bring forth for all them In that this sonne of the woman is her protector learne to shew our selves sonnes of our mother by upholding her causes and her friends wisedome will be justified of her children Luke 7. 35. Nicodemus will defend Gods cause when the Pharisees sit to condemne him Luke 23. 50. Ioseph a good man consented not to the fact of the counsell Ioh. 7. 25. Protect her person and friends 1. Get a sound judgement in discerning of things and persons that differ that wee knowing who are on her part may imbrace them not calling the churle liberall nor passing sentence for the wicked or against the right for both are an abomination to the Lord. 2. Stand for the truth her patrimony and brethren avow it notwithstanding losse of liberty meanes pleade for it maintaine for her the whole counsell of GOD which no power of earth may abridge her 3. Stand for her royalties and privileges the liberty in which Christ hath set her and uphold her from Antichristian yoakes and bondage uphold in our places the liberty of preaching of professing the holy doctrine and the liberty of al Gods holy exercises and ordinances that no power doe rob her of them Now in that the dragon though he watch to hinder the happy birth of the woman yet shee bringeth forth a manchilde that is not a soft or effeminate but a stout generous and masculine childe by whose prowesse and valour the dragon in his tyranny should be repressed and resisted Learne hence whō it pleaseth the Lord to raise up for more excellent service he furnisheth them with proportionall gifts for their imployment When Moses was to undertake an extraordinary function to deliver the Israelites out of Aegypt how did the Lord not onely extraordinarily preserve but furnished him with extraordinary education vocation spirit gifts miracles holinesse and power in which respect hee was called Pharaoh GOD. When Salomon was to build a stately house for the Lord hee furnished him with forwardnesse zeale wealth wisedome bounty peace above all Kings of the earth before or since When that house and City of Hierusalem was ruined and defaced Gods worship exiled and the mighty adversaries of God and his worship scorned to heare the restauration of the City or Temple what noble instruments were raised up Zerubbabel Ezra Nehemiah whose wisedome valour zeale and holinesse daunted the enemies and in despight of them repaired both the City the house and true worship of God The Apostles were but poore fishermen unliterate and simple but set upon an imployment as if twelve naked men had beene set to take and tame all the dragons in the world but before they were sent out how abundantly did the spirit come on them to fit them with knowledge courage gifts of tongues miracles zeale holinesse that in a little time they conquered the world and brought it into the subjection of Christ. Nay further if the Lord please to call any wicked man to any notable service he giveth him abilities and indowments answerable as Saul annoynted by Samuel was changed into another man now hee had extraordinary signes to confirme him hee prophesieth among the Prophets and mindeth not the Asses or husbandry but the great things of the kingdome 1 Sam. 10. 9. And yet more then so if the Lord imploy weake women to his service he gives them masculine gifts and spirits for the worke What a manly and couragious spirit above her sexe did God give to Hester to adventure her life for her people when shee said If I perish I perish Hester 4. 16. What a masculine and stout courage did the Lord afford to Iael Iudges 4. 22. that she durst attempt with hammer and naile to kill that great Captaine Sisera onely falne a sleepe whereas it was a hundred to one the attempt had not cost her her life God hath abundance of spirit and more blessings than one with him are treasures of grace and a flowing Ocean never drawne drie hee never bestowes so much but hee can give much more if there bee need of more If Elisha need a double spirit above Elijah hee shall receive according to his double neede Gods wisedome layeth not heavy burthens on weake
from this marke of Antichrist saith the Pope never did yet it is truly verified of him both in mysticall and literall sense 1. In the true and mysticall sense for this booke hath as many mysteries as words by fire from heaven in Scripture is meant Gods wrathfull vengeance executed upon sinners called the fire of his wrath In this sense the Popes flatterers call them gods of revenge Hildebrand in an epistle to the Germanes having excommunicated Henry the fourth called him afflatum fulmine smitten with a thunderbolt Here wee have the Pope confessing that hee brings fire from heaven Did they not vaunt and Kings and people feare that being stricken with the bull of excommunication they were smitten with a divine revenge as with fire from heaven 2. In the literall sense boast they not of Zachary the Pope as hee was in his progresse to Ravenna that in the day he was protected with a cloud from the heat of the Sunne and in the night armies of fire in the heavens gave him light What shall I speake of the fiery streames which they say have reached from heaven to earth to point out the lost host as was wont to be read on Corpus Christi day What of the fiery tongues which they fetched from heaven on some of their Saints to make them equall with the Apostles or of the fire from heaven to destroy the enemies of some of their martyrs Their Legend is full of such fables but this shall suffice for the pointing of Antichrist of Rome by that wonder in that text which is true both in the true mysticall sense and in their false literall But these are called lying wonders and collusions 1 In their originall they proceed from the father of lies who is a lying Spirit in the mouthes of all false Prophets 2. Their matter is lies appearances juglings at best wonders not miracles such as Iannes and Iambres seduced Pharaoh withall 3. Their end is lying and seduction confirming lies idolatry superstition and apostasie so leading and settling men in errour for destruction III. The Dragon seduceth numbers by open tyranny and persecution we see how the apprehension of Christ drove away all his Disciples for a time and how the fanne of tribulation blowes away the chaffe from the wheat for ever And thus the whole world was seduced here in speciall manner being forced by open tyranny and rage of the Imperiall Dragons to the levell and prescript to the rites and religion of heathenish and idolatrous Rome Thus hee seduceth us outwardly Within us he hath many meanes and wayes to seduce us as 1. By exciting and stirring our originall sinne blinding our mindes with clouds of darknesse and our understanding with mists of errour working on our wills to embrace things whith corrupt judgement directeth unto stirring our affections to rebell against right judgement and will And thus hee seduceth us by our selves Iam. 1. Every man is seduced by his owne concupiscence 2. By working on our naturall faculties both our spirits and senses Hee knowes how to dull our spirits and make us drowsie and easily give off in any good meditation or service And contrarily hee can refresh and excite them in evill to make them watchfull and of long continuance and constancy in such objects And for our senses hee can draw the eye to behold wishingly the forbidden fruit the eare to set open it selfe to receive lies and slanders the tongue to blaspheme curse sweare lie and revile the smell to wind a commodity which must be compassed by oppression wrong or the like 3. By finding out our inclinations and intents and purposes that he may suggest according to those inclinations as it were hanging his weight upon us to force our owne disordered motions Thus hee doth and can out of our owne universall corruption and from observation of our counsells speeches and gestures lay fit traines for us first receiving true intelligence from our selves by observing our motions lusts affections and then sits himself down in counsell with us in our secret chambers in all our consultations of sinne himselfe being the President of our privy Councell 4. By sweetning his allurements so as no temptation is so bitter or poysonfull against God or man but hee can guild and sugar it and then layeth them in secret and in the darke so as we easily take and no sooner take than are taken by meanes the waters are both stolne and sweet IV. The last thing in opening the doctrine is the reasons why the dragon seduceth the whole earth Namely 1. The just judgement of God upon the world for the contempt of his word and the unkinde usage of the Gospell by which the world meriteth to bee seduced see 2 Thess. 2. 10 11. 2. The desperate wickednesse of Satan 1. Proclaiming open warre against God and withstanding the word of God the faith of men the glory of Jesus Christ. 2. Exercising incessant fury against mankinde all which he seeketh to bring back into his owne damnation 3. Advancing himselfe in his horrible pride to enlarge his owne kingdome to establish his greatnesse upon earth and to shew himselfe the Prince of the world In the generality of persons that the whole earth is seduced by Satan wee learne First how false a note of truth a multitude is the way of the world is the way of errour and of seduced persons to destruction rather conclude with our Saviour the multitude walkes in the broad way but strait is the way that leadeth unto life and few finde it The wisedome of a Christian is not to number voyces but weigh them and not to looke who goe in the way so much as in what way wee goe neither to hold it a good plea I did but as the most did seeing the whole earth is here seduced and deceived Secondly marvell not that many bee seduced and carryed away from God and his truth into so grosse and palpable errours seeing the dragon seduceth here all the earth 1. It is a generall but a righteous judgement of God to give up them that love seduction to be willingly blinded and carryed to destruction 2. Heresies false doctrines and delusions are just punishments of the contempt of the Gospell and word of truth 3. The world is the Princedome of Satan he must prevaile and command his subjects and tyrannize over all earthly and worldly minded men Let us not marvell that Papists are so resolute in such horrible delusions not onely against the cleare light of the Scripture but against common sense as stifly to maintaine transubstantiation judicial forgivenesse of sinnes by a Priest purging of sinne by penall workes and satisfactions salvation by merite of workes worshipping of Angels Saints Images Crosses crusts blocks stones and a thousand such senselesse dotages seeing the Lord hath smitten them with blindnesse that they cannot see the truth Let us not be moved that Popery doth so prevaile in all Countries that Princes and people learned and unlearned
joyne to it For efficacy of doctrine is no proofe of truth because there is an efficacy of errour by which the dragon prevailes against all the earth But is the doctrine effectuall to turne men from the power of Satan to God then it is true not else Nor yet be much dismaied that among our selves after the knowledge and profession of the truth so many should turne away to Popery and are seduced by Priests and Jesuites for how can a carnall doctrine but prevaile among carnall men what looke they after in their religion but men on earth at Princes lawes times persons and earthly respects not one of them after God or his word or rules of direction from it but hate the Scripture as a theef the gallows their Religion then must needs be good But none are altogether given up to Antichristianisme but they they are first given up to Satan to bee seduced Oh that Papists would heare and lay to heart that they are pitifully seduced by the chiefe seducer under Satan which is a plaine signe of perdition for among whom doth Antichrist raigne but onely them that perish Rev. 14. 6 How can they expect to raign in the heavenly Jerusalem with Christ who stick in mysticall Babylon unto Antichrist how shall hee triumph in heaven with Christ that fights on earth for Antichrist But well may we with a sea of teares take knowledge of the generall sinne of our land in the hatred and abuse of the light and bringers of it for which the Lord may justly deliver us up to delusion and efficacy of errour and if we goe on resolved to give no better entertainment to the light the Papists themselves are not more effectually deluded in maine points than it may please God many among us may bee Finally marvell not that so many great wise and learned men in the world oppose resist the truth plot cōtrive against Gods Ordinances servants for how can earth but stand in opposition to heaven they are but pieces of earth and of the world delivered up to Satan to deceive earthly affections lusts motions desires carry them away earthly policie dignity favour ease wealth is all they aime at their way and their end earth is their portion and they the dragons for the dragon seduceth all the earth and only that Doth any resist and oppose heavenly doctrine he is earthly-minded he savours the earth some base lust or sinne is the dragons chaine to hold him under delusion to destruction Thirdly wee learne hereby to beware of seduction and carefully prevent it Quest. What meanes may we use thereunto Answ 1. Get out of the estate of nature into the estate of grace become a beleever by faith get into the hand of Christ and none shall pluck thee thence Iohn 10. Give all diligence to make thine election sure by adding grace to grace and bringing forth fruits of faith the dragons delusions are onely effectuall in them that perish 2. Get out of the world answer the voyce of Christ calling thee out of the world for what is the whole earth but a company of seduced and deluded people If thou art still in the world hee that seduceth all the world cannot but carry thee away from God Demas embraced the present world and forsooke the truth The young man went heavily from Christ for hee had great possessions nay they had him rather The dragon thought to have seduced Christ himselfe by the profer of the world All this will I give thee Oh therefore get thee with all speed out of the world in affection in conversation love it not live not after it 3. Avoid persons and places of seduction Persons are 1. False teachers and false Prophets that come in sheepes clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves Mat. 7. 15. not Priests and Jesuites onely who study the art of deceiving but sweet-tōgued Prophets who by libertine doctrine or loosenesse of life leade the way to wickednesse They are accursed in the Law who make the blinde goe out of the way and all the people must say Amen Deut. 27. 18. 2. Perswaders to Popery and false worship whereof there are not a few at this day and such as perswade to any schisme or separation from the truth Let servants be choice what Masters they serve and bee sure their Masters serve the same Master in heaven with them but above all beware of a Snake in the bosome our weaknesse needeth a faithful Counsellor so neare us For places 1. Beware of ignoran tand rude places which are destitute of instruction and able instructers where the eye is blinde that man is misled any whither and such a people are led away as a prey to the dragon a wicked Ministery makes a naked people Where doe the Frogs and Locusts Priests and Jesuites sculke and croake bin ignorant and untaught places where men are taught no difference betweene the mists of Popery and the shining light of the Gospell where the watchmen are blinde the embassadours dumbe and teachers untaught need teachers themselves in the principles of Religion 2. Avoid infected places where abominations are set up and maintained no poyson kils more certainly or speedily Whether they be Popish Countries to which the Spirit of God would have us bid farewell Revel 18. 4. Goe out of her my people lest yee partake of her sinnes and plagues Or Popish houses where deceivers are harboured idols and lies set up and worshipped a little Breaden god adored true religion reviled and the mysterie of iniquity embraced Avoid these This is the third meanes to avoid seduction 4. Sticke close to the word of God which onely can hold us upright Mat. 22. 29 Ye erre no knowing the Scriptures Here in cleaving to the word First indeavour to grow up in sound judgement for the discerning af doctrines and signes which carry great pretenses of truth and by which the dragon usually seduceth many 1 Iohn 4. 1. Beleeve not every spirit but trie the spirits whether they bee of God for many false spirits are gone out into the world Alas how doe the body of our people lye open to seduction and are ready to entertaine any doctrine any religion for want of this abilitie They embrace a religion because it is established by authority commauded by the law professed by the Prince embraced by the multitude freest fr ōtrouble But aske them a reason of their faith call them to account in Catechisme you would thinke them speechlesse you can force no answer savouring of judgement or reason is there then no need of this exhortation Secondly grow up in sound love to the Word for else thou canst not but bee given up to beleeve lyes 2 Thess. 2. 10. it is not learning knowledge wisedome that can arme or fence us from delusion but love of the truth as in the instances of Adam Iudas Hymeneus and Philetus c. but love of the truth will quench in us love of the world and selfe-love and
is a Catholique heresie against the whole foundation 2. There is but one way to eternall life by Jesus Christ stray out of this way and you runne most assuredly to perdition 3. Esteeme the truth above wealth peace or life it selfe because God hath magnified it above all things 4. Consider the force of errour as the secret working of poison and who they be that are given up to Antichristian lies and delusions 2. Thess. 2. 10. 5. Considering the danger of the times and the businesse of the limbes and agents of Antichrist beware of three things 1. Of false prophets who come in sheepes cloathing and call themselves Catholique Doctors Know them by their fruits their seditions warres treasons massacres stabbing of Princes powder-plots arming of subjects against their undoubted Soveraignes c. They are locusts spoiling invading and eating up kingdomes 2. Beware of the leven of popery of their impudent and lying bookes which they spred boldly and busily of curious and alluring pictures and all false arts to deceive us 3. Beware of conversing with such too much out of desire to please some Touch no pitch In a word Remember what yee have beene taught concerning the whore of Babylon how you have beene called out of her what destructions they have provided for us and what plagues God hath provided for them This of the first point 2. Note this that wheresoever Jesus Christ the great Michael commeth there the Dragon is throwne to the ground and cast from his state and power This seed of the woman breakes the serpents head This lyon of the tribe of Judah conquers and casts downe the roaring lyon both in himselfe and his members This Michael is hee that sits on a white horse and hath a bow in his hand Revel 6. 2. that is the word of the Law and Gospell whence hee shoots deadly arrows to wound his enemies Psal. 45. 6. And to him is given a triumphant crowne beeing the King of glory and he goeth out conquering that hee may overcome The proofe hereof appeares by considering the two wayes of Michaels comming Hee comes 1. In person 2. In Spirit 1. Michael in the dayes of his flesh and infirmity in his owne person encountred all the devils hand to hand subdued all the devills he met withall and healed all that were oppressed with the devill Yea if there were a legion in one man hee made them come running and couching and begging forbearance Hee imposed them silence by a word and by the same cast them out of their hold 2. Hee comes in spirit by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell by which Sathan was so bound up and cast out of his rule that the exorcists could no longer practise their devillish arts Act. 8. 8. when the Gospell was preached in Samaria the great power of Simon Magus which had madded the people vanished and came to nothing Act. 16. 16. The spirit of the Pythonisse was driven away at Philippi by the Gospell preached by Paul Act. 19. 18. After the Ephesians had received the Gospell they burnt their magicall bookes and had no more to do with those devillish arts That is famous which Suidas reporteth of the oracle of Apollo when Augustus Cesar under whom Christ was borne asked who should rule after him no answer was given but this The Hebrew child who is King over the gods commands mee to leave this Temple and get mee to hell now therefore go quietly from these our altars To which wee will adde that of Porphyrie a deadly enemy of Christ and a scoffer of Christian religion who as Eusebius cites him hath these words Nowadaies men marvell that our city is so many yeares together annoyed with the pestilence whereas Esculapius and the other gods are farre gone away from it For since this Iesus is worshipped we can get no benefit by the gods One reason of the point is taken from the end of Christs comming which was to dissolve the works of the devill 1. Ioh. 3. 8. to shake downe his kingdome and destroy his power All the worke and office of Christ is but to cast out the Dragon The strong man had bound all mankinde hand and foot 1. From doing good 2. Unto punishment for doing evill 3. From helping our selves Now a stronger then hee commeth and looseth the prisoners that were bound his office being partly to preach liberty to the captives by his doctrine and partly to open the prison doores by his merit and obedience Another reason is taken from the power of his person who is God and man as God he hath absolute power and soveraigne command over all creatures even the same joint power with the Father and the Holy Ghost infinite uncreated omnipotent As mediator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and man hee is by his office exalted at the right hand of God above all names and principalities to whom the Father hath committed and by whom hee executeth all power in heaven and earth for the Father ruleth all by the Sonne Hence is his title Lord of Lords and King of Kings Revel 17. 14. The Angell said Hee shall be great Luke 1. 32. And so hee was for hee is the greatest in respect 1. Of his person 2. Of his office 3. Of his kingdome and command over all Hence must it follow that the power armory and skill of the dragon is but impotency folly and weaknesse compared to Michael and must be hopelesse to prevaile unlesse hee could bring also into the field divine power and eternall majesty The third reason is taken from the powerfull meanes with which Christ commeth armed and furnished against the Dragon and these are five 1. A powerfull death which is of more strength than the lives of all men and Angels Hebr. 2. 14. By death he destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill Iohn 12. 31. Now is the Prince of the world cast out But how by Christs lifting up upon the Crosse for he saith If I be lifted up This Michael hath spoyled principalities and powers upon his Crosse That is the Charriot of triumph there hee tormented the devils while they tormented him there they crucified themselves more than him and as Haman there they reared a Gibbet for their owne execution 2. A powerfull resurrection wherein he mightily declared himselfe the Sonne of God Rom. 1. 4. a worke passing all created power either to doe or hinder from being done for whereas his powerfull death was properly the death of sinne wherein the dragon ruled so his powerfull resurrection overcomes the world hell the grave in all which the dragon before tyrannized for hereby hee applyeth that salvation which by his death he merited hee maintaineth that salvation which he had formerly procured and hereby raiseth up all his members to eternall life at the last and great day of his appearing 3. A powerfull Ministery for the conversion of persons and nations and casting the dragon out of
condition saveth it Thirdly it is the onely gainefull service to thy selfe above all other Thy body thou givest to his mercy who might command it to punishment Thou offerest it weake and sinfull to receive it sinlesse and glorious Thou givest it for a while to dishonour and abasement to receive it for ever glorified Thou walkest here a while in blacke that thou mayest ever walke in white hereafter Thou sufferest a short paine but gainest joyes long and weighty 2 Cor. 4. 18. A bitter breakfast said our Martyr but a better dinner In a word what is there but cleare gaine in exchanging a miserable life for a moment into an eternall happinesse which eye never saw nor heart of man can thinke As there is no losse in serving God so much lesse in suffering for Christ. Be faithfull to the death thou shalt have a crowne of life there is gaine enough 5 Looke at the enemies they are no way so much disappointed as when a godly man loveth not his life unto death but willingly forgoeth it for the name and profession of Christ. For whereas they intend nothing but evill as Iosephs brethren God turneth all to good yea to the best as appeares in these instances 1 They hope to bring Gods people to a very few and worke wisely to keepe them under as Pharaoh But how are they disappointed for the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church the more they are oppressed the more they increase This camomile the more it is troden under the feet of tyrants the more it spreadeth rooteth and increaseth This palme tree cannot be so oppressed with the weight of bloodie decrees but it shall more apparantly rise up from under it 2 They hope and intend to bring infamie and ignominie on their names for ever by devising the most opprobrious and exquisite torments for them But how are they disappointed for as sweet drugs stamped and pounded cast the sweetest smell so the Saints pounded in the morter of affliction sweet incense is never so sweet as cast into the fire so is it heere 3 They intend nothing but their death the chiefe of all evills which they can inflict but are disappointed for they suddenly deliver them from all evills of sinne and punishment and send them speedily to the fruition of their chiefe good which is God himselfe and all the pleasures at his right hand While they devise to kill them they doe but cure them While they thinke to banish them out of the earth they call them out of their banishment Pharaoh by tyranny will chase Israel out of his land but it is but to thrust them on to their Canaan They intend by their furious fires to burne and consume Gods golden vessells but they shall onely purge them from their drosse The heaviest flayle of affliction shall but cleanse and sunder Gods wheat from the chaffe Never were the three children so glorious as in the midst of the furnace never was the tyrant so pusled so confounded so conquered From the Meditations come to the Practises which may helpe us in this great resolution and performance 1 Labour daily in subduing and mortifying corrupt lusts Get daily power to dye to all sinne else canst thou never dye in the quarrell of grace And of all lusts beware of three which are strongest lets First selfe-love he that cannot denye himselfe can never take up the crosse Selfe-love makes a mans life so sweet and deare unto him as he cannot abide to heare of heaven it selfe in exchange so that he that hath not power to deny himselfe let him be never so wise learned civill yea or religious he will at last dishonour God by backesliding and deniall of Christ. Secondly love of the world which will not harbour with love of Christ this easily makes him look backe whose hand is on the plough Demas forsook the truth to embrace the world And if thou dost not master this lust though thou wert as neare Christ as Iudas thou wilt turne from him yea against him Thirdly pride and applause of men which will never endure the shame of the crosse To batter down this high turret the Apostle Heb. 12. 2. bids us looke on Jesus who endured the crosse and despised the shame He not onely sustained but sanctified to us the mockings and contradictions of sinners 2 Another practise is to labour for sound judgemēt in matters of faith This only produceth a threefold action which must necessarily go before undaunted profession First a sound apprehension firmely and distinctly to beleeve the truth of religion For wee must first beleeve with the heart and then confesse with the mouth Rom. 10. 9. 10. and 2 Cor. 4. 13. I beleeved and therefore I spake Secondly from sound judgment issueth an high estimation of Christ and his truth above all the world or life it selfe All things are doung in comparison of him both in themselves and in the judgement of a sound Christian. And as the Lord himselfe hath magnified truth above all things so doth sound judgment framed to his Thirdly from sound judgment issueth a wise and advised resolution to hold the best fastest and keepe this whatsoever wee let go for it and not to shrinke from the truth for saving our life no more then our Lord himselfe did This sound judgment will keepe out a treacherous purpose of saving thy selfe by betraying the truth either by silence policie or open deniall 3 Another practise is to get sound affections to Christ and his truth especially two First love that is truths keeper every Apostate knew the truth but never any loved it And only love of Christ is stronger then death Secondly sound joy by which we are made not only contented but joyfull in sufferings for Christ which is indeed a matter of true rejoycing Act. 5. 41 The disciples were glad when they were counted worthy to suffer 1 Pet. 4. 13. Rejoyce in that ye are partakers of Christs sufferings Hence the Martyrs in the Primitive Church were so forward to offer their lives up to Christ as the woman of Edissa came running with her child in her armes into the fire lest the Christians should be burned ere she came and not she with them the like of Blanditta a peerelesse woman of Accolus a mirror of patience so our owne Martyrs who sang in the midst of the flames and had more joy then their tormēters This joy none can take away 4 Because to lay downe ones life is not the past of mans weakenesse but of Gods goodnesse and to suffer for Christ is a worke above naturall strength and the holy Ghost onely can stablish men to this triall we must not presume of our owne strength as Peter but pray for the mighty power of the Spirit to make us of weake strong and that he who hath given us to beleeve would also give us to suffer and strengthen us to all patience with joyfulnesse Col. 1. 10. Consider that none have
a Physitian who hath put Art and nature to the uttermost extent but cannot prevayle against the disease leaves the Patient to death so the Lord Esa. 1. 5. Wherefore should ye be smitten any more ye fall away more and more 2 Another note is pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes. 2. 12. this signes a man given up to this wrath By unrighteousnesse is meant error of judgment or of practise whereby God or men are deprived of their due as righteousnesse gives both their due By taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse is meant 1 Not a willing of their sins only but a liking and allowing of them 2 An high prizing and esteeming of them as things we take pleasure in 3 An earnest greedy and delightfull pursuing of them 4 A fight and contention for them and against contrary grace 5 A resolution by no meanes to part with them no more then we will with things in which we take most content and pleasure Examine the content which thy course giveth thee and see whether it be a sweet fruit of the Spirit of truth or arise from the spirit of error and delusion For there be many wayes that be good in a mans owne eyes but the issues are death Prov 14. 12. and a most grievous plague it is when a seduced heart flattering the sinner shall cause him to blesse himselfe while his sinne worthy to be hated is found with him Psal. 36. 2. This calling of good evill and evill good drawes on sinne with cartropes Esa. 5. as many nowadayes count religion precisenesse care of pleasing God hypocrisy zeale rashnesse and folly in the meane time they thinke their owne prophane estate good enough Well take heed of pleasure in unrighteousnesse which argueth a man stripped of all sound grace for the least grace would acknowledge the least grace and disallow the least evill and it argues a man in a course which brings on swift damnation and whosoever delights in unrighteousnesse the righteous Lord will dash all his joyes and make them end in wo and desperate sorrow 3 Another note is society with vile persons out of favouring their vices as with Atheists swearers drunkards enemies of grace and such whose damnation sleepeth not For what is this but to partake and thrust a mans selfe into the wrath of other mens sinnes and how can a man be knitt unto the members of a body and not to the head If Gods justice have permitted thee to be one with the members thou mayest well discerne he hath permitted thee and for the present delivered thee to the head seeing the head and the members make up but one dragon And as there is not a more discernable marke of a Beleever then love and hearty union with the brethren 1 Ioh. 3. 14. so is there not a more discernable note of a man belonging to the dragon then by sorting with his brood and running with workers of iniquity 4 He is apparently under the dragons wrath that confirmes himself in the customable neglect of Gods Ordinances publike or private This man will fall to nothing as he that ordinarily refuseth his meat or at best his religion is but a passion or fit or is in respect of persons or occasions And it is because he will not be reclaymed from some lust 5 He also that is an enemie of righteousnesse a man whose bent is to disgrace the way of God and turne men out of the way as Elymas Act. 13. 8. 10. a flaunderer a deviser against it an open contester against the powerfull purity of Gods word an instrument of the divell and make-bate to cast out thy meanes of Salvation such a one is in the divells worke and why not in his power The like of them that mis-judge the generation of God and pronounce wicked sentence on them whom the Lord acquiteth as if a good man be cast into some furious disease they are ready to judge the estate of the soule by the distemper of the braine and disgrace a godly and holy life by a violent death c. Now the meanes to avoyd this great wrath are twofold I. To avoyd the speciall sinnes which arme Satan with this great wrath against us as 1 Want of care to know God Rom. 1. 28. the heathens because they regarded not to know God God gave them up to a reprobate minde For when men cast God out of sight and out of minde how just is it that God cast them out of sight and minde Thou that hast not God before thine eyes thinkest not of him but as of one that hath nothing to doe with thy matters forgettest him to be a judge and witnesse of all thou doest deridest the true knowledge of God and wilt take no direction from him know it thou hast thy choise God will have as little to do with thee for the present as thou desirest his grace and presence shal be farre enough from thee owne thee who will guide thee who will his mercy and helpe will be farre to finde Who seeth not this heavie stroke of Gods wrath in numbers left by God and ruled by the divell men of reprobate mindes destitute of judgment and common reason rejecting all that is good refusing nothing that is naught rejoycing in the highest sinnes swearing drinking drabbing rayling cursing defying whatsoever savoureth of God or Godlinesse 2 Sinne want of love to the truth 2. Thes. 2. therefore God gave them up to the strong delusions of Antichrist See wee a man despising the meanes or bringers of the truth or a man that willingly suppresseth and choaketh the truth in himselfe or withstandeth the holy meanes resists and scornefully thrusts away the preaching of the Gospell of truth or preferreth vaine speculations and frothy discourses and devises of mens braine before the simple truth of Scriptures or a man that doth not regard to procure preserve practise and propagate the true knowledge of God this man is farre from love of the truth he is fit for any delusion there is no trust in him but be his knowledge and profession never so great he may make a strong Papist an open Apostate or any thing but a sound and constant Beleever If wee know the truth happie are we if we love it 3 Sinne idolatry Rom. 1. 26. for this cause God gave up the heathen to vile affections namely for their idolatry And yet theirs was invincible they knew not the true God by the light of the Scripture but only by reading in the booke of nature How much more shall Christians be given over for their wanton and wilfull Idolatry after so long teaching and such cleare shining of the truth amongst us Where an idoll stands up there is no place for God Dagon and the Arke cannot stand together How farre Antichristian Idolatry hath driven God from that synagogue wee may read in the great letters of such senselesse errors as no blinde heathens were ever worse seduced It was Gods patience that our easinesse to Romish Masses and