applying them the right way Again if Satan foretells any thing it is only gathered from the observation of the affairs of the world and his long experienced conversing in them and this at best can be but conjectural and therefore keeps himself to those dark ways of delivery Lastly To ascribe to Satan truth in foretelling of events it would rob God of his glory and one of his great prerogatives which he alone by his Spirit hath often manifested to his servants the Prophets for the good and comfort of his church and people Object But did not Satan tell Saul in that apparition of Samuel in 1 Sam. 28.19 That he should be delivered with all his host into the hands of the Philistines and that he and his sons on the morrow should be all with Samuel that is dead And was not that prediction truly fulfilled I answer first Amongst Expositors there is a great difference of opinions about the meaning of this place They that hold it was Samuel himself who was at rest have but small store of reason for it for these reasons First Because God will not send one from the dead to exhort the living They have Moses and the Prophets Secondly It is improbable that God would send Samuel who would not let him to answer Saul in his life time because God had forsaken him would now send him from the dead to advise him and then too when he was advising with Wizards and Witches which was utterly forbidden by God in his Law But the current of most Expositors hold That it was the divel in the appearance or likeness of Samuel But herein submitting to the judicious and more discerning judgements I here lay down some considerations to the contrary If this were Satan in the shape of Samuel it is strange he would leave such an excellent lesson to all posterity to the destruction and prejudice of his own kingdom as this is Saul had departed from God and disobeyed his voice therefore God was departed from him and given his kingdom unto another even unto David ver 16 17 18 19. and at last for this his disobedience would destroy him and his family by the hands of their enemies Now this is against that former saying of our Saviour's A Kingdom divided cannot stand is Satan divided against himself Collate unto this the reasons a little before mentioned and judge whether ever that spirit of lies and enmity to mankind would leave such a good and fruitful lesson for the children of men upon record to his prejudice for ever For this reason I am hardly induced to believe that this was Satan in Samuel's apparition but rather a cozening confederate of the Pythonist of Endor set up by her in a secret corner described by her or set up in the shape and garments of the old and famous Prophet Samuel who was but lately dead and therefore his postures garments and also his prophesies of rending the Kingdom from Saul and giving it unto David was very well known unto all Israel and therefore this witch of Endor could not be ignorant of it being but a little way distant from the Court of Saul where Samuel was often conversant in his life time as appears from vers 7 and 8. campared with 25 And also it appears unto me that Saul here in the whole transaction did not see the counterfeit Samuel by that his question in vers 14. What form is he of And she said an old man cometh up and he is covered with a mantle And Saul perceiving by this description of hers that it was Samuel he bows himself and so proceeds to his business with this Samuel or counterfeit which might lie hid behind some shrine hanging or grate where the whole cozenage is transacted and how easily Saul was to be caught and deceived in this kind appears from his distraction consternation and fear he was in being serrounded of his enemies forsaken of God and seeking unto witches in this time of trouble This wise woman or witch of Endor with her confederate knew well enough that this was Saul being higher by the head then all Israel though disguised and by his attendants and servants with him from the beginning of this whole art of cozenage though she counterfeited the contrary verse 12. This appears from her neighbourhood with the Court he coming to her and after all these cozening transactions returning the same night again verse 25. whereas this counterfeit is here often called Samuel and Saul took him indeed to be Samuel yet this makes it no more to be true and real Samuel then if it had been granted that it was the divel in Samuel's shape so that under correction of better judgements I am of opinion this was not Satan in Samuel's likeness that left this useful lesson and prediction for the reasons abovesaid but rather proceeded from the cozening Pythonist of Endor and her well-informed confederate who well knew of the prediction of the Prophet Samuel that God would take off the kingdom from Saul and give it unto his servant David because Saul had disobeyed God's voice in the business of Agag and this she could foresee was the time in that the Philistines the enemies of Israel were come up against him and he knew not which way to turn for God had forsaken him and had denied to answer him either by Prophet Urim or Thummim I have been somwhat the longer herein to stave the divel off that he may not have any hand in God's prerogative in foretelling the truth of events If it were granted that this were the Divel in Samuel's likeness yet I answer the Divel might well gather the truth of this prediction concerning the destruction of Saul and his sons from that of Samuel's prophesie against him when in his life time at Gilgal he came and told him that God would rend his kingdom from him for not obeying his word and give it unto his servant David 1 Sam. 13.14 And therefore the Divel here might well predict the same unto Saul coming to him to know the event and success of his undertaking against the Philistines But in the time and some other circumstances of this prediction whether it proceeded from Satan or the cozening Pythonist yet there is a palpable failure therein to show that God's Spirit alone is the spirit of prophesie and the sure foretelling of all events in the full truths thereof for this pretended Samuel tells Saul that to morrow he and his sons should be with him that is in the state of death But observe if this were the Divel how this father of lies keeps on his old trade of lying for indeed Saul and his sons were not overthrown nor slain by the Philistines on the morrow but some days after as appeareth by considering the several transactions done by David in the 29 and 30 chapters against the Amalekites after he was dismissed from the Army of the Philistines before they fell upon Saul and his Army to their
in himself is too weak for such a work may be fitted in some measure from thy self who art the Wisdom of God and to whom the Revelation of all things is given of the Father because thou art found worthy O do thou enlighten his minde with true Light from above And remove all impediments his iniquities out of thy sight by the washing of thine own bloud then thou maist discover thy minde unto thy poor Servant being hallowed by thy self to a fruitful reception thereof Grant O Christ that by thy favour and the guidance of thy good Spirit he may diligently consider the misteries of this Book and that unto sobriety and declare it forth unto others that the Church of God may receive some advantage by him And if thy Servant O Lord hath herein through weakness built any hay and stubble upon thy precious structure O let it be consumed but so as that thy Servant may be saved in the great day of the Lord God Almighty but if any of thine receive good hereby to thee for it as most due which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty be praise glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen A Catalogue of diverse Questions in this Treatise discussed WHether this Book of Revelation be of divine authority pag. 1 Whether John the divine the subordinate Author thereof be the same with John the Apostle and Evangelist or some other Person 5 Whether the Title of this Book viz. The Revelation of John the Divine be John's own or some other Persons 7 What is meant by the Christian wish or salutation grace and peace unto you 19 How comes John to wish grace and peace to the Churches whilst being Churches of Christ they had this grace and peace aforehand 19 Whether Christ shall have two last commings to Iudgment 25 Whether Christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the truths of God 31 and 112 Whether the Lords day mentioned Rev. 1.10 wherein John received his Visions be the first day of the week or not 33 How shall we know Divine raptures extasies or Visions from diabolicall the Divel being Gods ape herein 34 Doth not the Divel often foretell the truth of events 37 Did not Satan tell Saul in that apparition of Samuel in the 1 Sam. 28 19. That he should be delivered with all his host into the hands of the Philistines and that he and his Sons on the morrow should be all with Samuel that is dead and was not that prediction truly fullfilled 38 Whether that Samuel which the Witch of Endor raised unto Saul was the true Prophet Samuel or the Divel in his shape and likeness or otherwise some cousening consort and confederate of the cousening Pythonists 38 39 Whether Christ according to his manhood appeared unto John Rev. 1 13. when he appeared to him as one like unto the Son of man 43 Whether there can be any separation between the deity and manhood of Christ 44 Whether the two edged sword that proceeded out of Christs mouth is to be only spiritually understood and not matterially also 50 51 Whether the blessed heavenly Spirits and Angels or glorified Persons after the Resurrection do or shall see the essential glory of God 53 Do not Angels see Gods face in Heaven and did not Moses and Jacob see God and talked with him face to face 54. and do not divines hold that in Heaven we enjoy the beatifical Vision 55 Whether Christ according to his divine nature was impassible 58 Why John is commanded particularly to write to each Church of the seven apart 68 Whether a sound Church may censure a corrupted Church 69 70 Whether by Angel of the Church of Ephesus be meant the Metropolitane over the rest of the Bishops of Ephesus and whether the Angel of Ephesus was the Metropolitane over the other six sister Churches 71 Whether the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is to be interpreted the Presbytery 72 What gives unto our works the denomination of good works And whether any of our works are simply and strictly to be called good and perfect 79 and 80 In whom lyes the power to try judge and examine false Apostles false teachers and their Doctrines 83 and 196 Whether the jurisdiction of the Church be above the word 84 Whether wicked Persons or unsound in the faith are to be admitted or being admitted to be tolerated in the fellowship of the Church 85 86 c. Whether any else besides true and real Saints or believers in the judgment of charity are to be admitted into Church fellowship 86 87 Whether the judicials or ceremonials of Moses are any foundation for a Gospel ordinance 88 89 Whether Baptisme is administred with best satisfaction of conscience upon infants 88 Whether it must be true justifying faith or dogmatical only that entitles to Baptisme 90 91 Whether the Apostolical Office be ceased to the Church or not and whether it was only tyed unto the first twelve 92 93 94 95 Whether the first 12 Apostles were but of equal authority with other ordinary Officers as Pastors Elders c. 95 Whether the gift of miracles does continue unto the Church 97 How shall we know or try false Apostles from the true 101 102 c. To what Church shall one repaire to receive a sound and orthodox call for the minâ—stery of the Gospell 105 106 c. How should the first reformers have a right call to the ministery if they â— had it not from Rome 108 Whether the Presbytery of England have a right call from the late Bishops as true Presbyters 110 VVhether Believers complaints for want of wills to repent be just or not 118 Whether it be a Legal Teaching to denounce wrath and Judgments on non-amendment or for want of Repentance 119 VVhether Repentance is to be joyned to Christ in some causality unto salvation or joyntly with him somwhat subordinate to that great end 120 And whether Faith and Repentance be the condiiion properly so taken of the Covenant of Grace 121 VVhat is meant by the Spirit that speaks unto the seven Asian Churches 126 What is meant by the Tree of Life and what is meant by Paradice 130 Whether Paradice and Heaven above be all one 131 Whether God tempteth man And whether he tempteth unto evil or sin 143 Doth not many Scriptures say That God tempteth man 144 Whether God hath a hand or efficiency in and about sin 146 Why doth God often afflict his own children with so sharp tribulations And whether the justice of God can be vindicated in that particular 149 VVhether great corruptions nullifies a Church 173 What is the reason that full Reformation cannot be attained 171 172 How is Gods justice vindicated if he smites godly and ungodly together for the sins of the wicked among them 179 VVhether Christ received now by faith to justification and absolution be the hidden Manna and white Stone promised Rev. 2.17 to
and catholique instructions in his mouth The divel or the divelish preacher answered him that whilst he preached good and sound doctrine unto his auditors and they were not followers of it he had his end even the aggravation of their condemnation for their neglect inproficiency and contempt of such good doctrine surely how this odd designe should come into the divel 's head I know not being a liar from the beginning and the truth abideth not in him nor will confess it no further then he is compelled to do it by an over-mastering divine power this were indeed to destroy his own Kingdom and God never sends the evil spirits to be the messengers to provoke to break off from sins to live to God holiness and works of reformation his very nature is contrary to such works and therefore is the great hinderer not the promoter of them This is another mark to discern of what spirits visions are of Thirdly Another distinguishing mark is That in respect those visions and raptures of spirit carries with them a terribleness in the strange apparitions therein they leave a high and strange impression of spirit upon the parties under them and those that are from God leaves always behind them when they are passed away a holy awe and reverence of the divine Majesty and glory and a contempt of themselves and their own worthlesness Isaiah the Prophet when he saw the Lord and had discoveries of his glory he could call out Wo is me for I am undone I am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa 6.5 Iob also confesseth cap. 42. 5 6. Now mine eyes seeth thee I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes The sight of divine glory and majesty doth always humble in that it brings to sight our own worthlesness even in our best attainments in respect of it which causeth a godly sorrow Now the contrary spirit brings contrary fruits and effects as pride vain-glory c. and therefore not difficult to be differenced in their operations Fourthly Visions extasies or raptures of the Divine Spirit though often they may much grieve and trouble their spirits that are under them as in Dan. 7.15 and 8.27 and take away their senses for the present and their strength and comliness and make them as it were faint dead dumb and breathless as in Daniel cap. 10. 8. 15. 17. verses and as Iohn in verse 17. at the vision of Christ he fell at his feet as dead and in the examples of Zachariah Paul c. yet after they are passed they have no impairing in the parts either of their bodies or souls but rather a greater glory put upon them as Moses whose face did shine coming from the presence and visions of God Paul grew a most eminent light and the highest of all the Apostles after he was strucken as dead with his converting vision Acts 9. Iohn here receives great and high revelations from Christ after he was stricken as dead at his feet by the glory of the vision God is no hard master none were ever losers to be his instruments in this sort for unto such he commonly adds greater additions of parts grace and glory But on the other side by the evil spirit's raptures or possessions many have not only lost the due temperature of their reason and understanding and so become altogether besotted and wittols but have also their bodies impaired by the hard service of their master Hence it is that as it is reported and commonly by experience seen of witches and such wretched creatures that are truly bewitched by the spirit of delusion and have given up themselves as servants to his will have the faculties of their souls so impaired and hurt by his possessions and daylie disturbing of them he being an Apollyon or destroyer from the beginning that being broken in their reasons they conceive in their raptures that they are transformed into strange shapes of cats dogs hares c. and in an instant to be transported and carried into far places distant and in and out to houses though the doors were shut things in themselves above the efficiency of any creature and contradictory to nature and all its works and unless persons of such belief makes two Omnipotents it can never stand Indeed the true ground hereof and of all their confessions in this kind proceeds from hence that the divel from whom they have their frequent extasies and raptures hath so befooled them in their understandings that they do verily believe those things to be really done and acted which the divel does represent unto them in their extasies and trances and so when they are out of them having lost their reasons believes and often confesses them to be of truth though many of them be impossibilities in nature without a miracle and had never a being further then in the fancies of their confused and disturbed brains This is the reward of the divel 's instruments in this kind Fifthly and lastly If all these former distinguishing marks fail for a hypocrite may go very far in complying with the signs of God's word yet herein he cannot deceive to wit in the truth of his vision or revelation in the event thereof this will be sure to try him whether his vision be from God or not Events discovers visions and distinguishes prophets Jer. 28.9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace when the word of the prophet shall come to pass then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him and this is according to that of Deut. 18.21 22. The question is How we shall know whether a vision be from God or not Look to the event if it comes to pass it is of God if not it is a lie Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem Hananiah and other false prophets the contrary Jer. 28.2 3 4. Ahab feared not to go against Ramoth Gilead whiles Zedekiah the false prophet told him Go and prosper 1 Kings 22. but when the words of Micaiah proved true to Ahab in his destruction then the false prophets were confounded and Zedekiah ran into an inner chamber to hide himself 2 Kings 22.25 Object But hath not the divel often foretold the truth of events Yes but not with that clearness as the divine Spirit does he leaves no hesitation or doubting on which side the overthrow will be The Beast together with the false Prophet and their adherents must be taken and destroyed the Saints must remain the conquerors Satan in his predictions is but as a good guesser or conjecturer at best to keep his credit good with his complices he gives out his predictions in riddles or aenigma's as of old in the Oracles at Delphos Aio te Aeacides Romanos vincere posse Or that of Croesus Croesus Halyn penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim Both which may be taken in a diverse sense which the constructors took in advantage as to themselves and so proved to both fatal in not
inferiour measure The same oyl that was poured on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his garments so the same unction of the Spirit that was poured on Christ is in some measure poured on all his inferiour members and therefore most dear and beloved to him Omne simile gaudet simili Thirdly By reason of Union Christ and his Members beiâ— one by a mystical and spiritual union they must needs be most dear and precious to him Fourthly and lastly the great reason that Christ's Saints and churches are most dear unto him is In that he hath laid down his own most precious life for them for greater love then this was never shown in that he died for us even whiles we were fighters against God and enemies by evil works Observ 2. Another Note is That though the world looks upon the faithful distressed churches of Christ as a broken poor and forsaken people both in outward estates and intellectuals also yet God sets another rate upon them and accounts them rich wise mighty comly beautiful and as the most accomplished people in the world Is not this a strange Paradox to the infatuated worldling But it is not so strange as true Christ here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich for she was rich indeed with spiritual graces that their persecuting adversaries were ignorant of she was rich in immortible Treasures laid up for her service in heaven above where moth could not corrupt or thiâ—â—â—reak thorow and steal which her blaspheming enemies never dream'd of what wise worldling does think a poor afflicted christian wise He looks upon him so far beneath himself that from his Machiavilian plots and counsels he tells the wise and prudent christian soul Procul hinc proculate prophani Yet God tells them plainly That the wise of the world are taken in their own snare whilst true wisdom is justified of her children And God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. The wise of the world think themselves a wise politique and highly contriving Statists when they have brought the Saints of God and the whole world under their feet and subjection but the Saints of God know no such wisdom but that wisdom which is of God the eternal Word and Christ who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that no flesh should glory in his presence The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies as a Torrent to carry all before them Alas they are deceived there are others more mighty then they the poor afflicted churches of Christ can do more with their prayers and using their interest with God then all the Armies in the world they can pray for legions of Angels and they are ready at their commands Witness the host of Sennacherib destroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Son of Amos 2 Chron. 32.20 How many heathen Armies do we read of in Histories were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly or at least their force diverted another way A poor despised chriâ— David with a sling and pebble can do more by the prayers of faith then Goliah with his spear Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to destroy for the presence of our God was in the midst of them for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings Oh therefore ye soveraign Governours take heed how ye offend these little ones of Christ that they may not avert their prayers from you make good your interest with Christ and his Saints and be one with them in faith and prayers then never fear the boisterous storms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion shores which will prove but as the daylie surges that washes our rocks and clifts and so dash themselves into froth and vanish Next the gaudy Gallant of the times thinks himself the most fair and comly of all God's creatures and looks upon a sober and prudent christian as a despicable creature in respect of his gay Worship whiles God himself sets another character upon both The one is clothed with the white garments of Christ's righteousness and is all fair with the beauties of holiness whiles the other is only covered and â—â—â—hed with the excremental extravagancies and menstruosities of small earthy brutish and despicable creatures and at best do serve but in the room of Fig leaves to be somwhat more honourable badges of their sin and misery it is a shame to glory in that which are the ever-living Ensignes of their sin and shame and seeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery little reason to glory in those rags of ours Next the Glutton that makes his belly his god and fareth deliciously every day conceives he hath a heaven on earth and that the poor afflicted christian comes far short of his happiness in that he hath not that fulness every day in the varieties of Viands and Festivals that he enjoys But alas this wretched Dives never considered that a poor christian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of he hath spiritual Manna bread from heaven and the wine of Paradice that he is quite ignorant of that he that eateth thereof shall never hunger or thirst more Lastly the wisdom of the world looks upon the distressed disciples of Christ as fools wittols and maâ— men and thinks them to be so indeed But on the contrary the judicious christian knows the wisdom of the world to be foolishness and madness to purpose for who but fools and mad-men would perversly run on in the ways of destruction as the wisdom of the world does prompt unto Whilst Christ's faithful ones though suppressed and broken by afflictions and tribulations yet do walk in the way of life and shine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces Observ 3. That the sharpest persecution comes from such as are the highest pretenders to truth and godliness The Jews were such that boasted much of their divâ—â—â—cles and priviledges from Abraham Luke 3.8 yet â—ere the most inveterate and bitter adversaries to the Gospel of Christ and to the primitive Apostolical churches of any persons in the world Witness their reproachful blasphemies which consisted not only against Christ himself but against his members also They reproached him that he had a divel and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles and cast out divels yea their malice was not only to him living but reached him after his crucifiction and resurrection that if possibly they could destroy or weaken the faith of his disciples and withal hinder the promulgation of the truth and to that
of all your adversaries yea it is the way and method that Christ builds his Church by by the way of the cross and sufferings Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae The Martyrs blood was God's seed-plot of his Church and Truth There is no promise that God's Saints shall be freed from Tryals but there is a faithful promise that they shall not sink under it for he will lay no more on them then they are able to bear If God calls any to witness his truth by tribulation and persecution he gives them hearts of courage and constancy to bear it he administers sutable strength unto the temptations the strong in faith have stronger tryals then the weak yet both are preserved by a divine supply and influence that neither perish under them Peter is desired by Satan to be winnowed as wheat yet Peter shall be still Peter a Rock for Christ hath prayed for him Job is given into the hand of Satan to be touched in al that he has and is dear unto him yet Job by this means is preserved and made an everlasting example of faith and patience to all generations to come The divel receives loss by afflicting Christ's churches for they grow the better for it as Gold by the Refiners fire loses its dross so the Saints are more resplendent in their graces in the times of sufferings and less corrupt and earthy then in prosperity as these and former days witness The worst that the divel can cast on them is death and that is gain unto them and an entrance unto a crown of life Observ 2. Another Note is That wicked tyrannical men in the imprisonments and persecutions of the Saints of Christ are said to do the work of the divel We well know that the divel himself did not cast those poor persecuted Saints of Smyrna into prison but they were divellish and wicked men who were as the Instruments of Satan to do his work and set his designs in execution O sad to consider When men open their mouths against the Saints in blasphemies and reproaches their mouths are only Satans Organs that he belches out his malice by when they lift up their hands against them in loading them with persecutions and tribulations they are but Satans wheels whereby he moves and acts all his vilanies yea and are called Satan himself Consider seriously this all ye that lift up your tongues and hands against the Saints of God and tremble Observ 3. Another Note is God's ends and the divel 's are far different in laying afflictions and tribulations on the Saints God's end is That they may be tryed not destroyed as gold is cast into the Refiners fire that it may come forth more purified so God's Saints are cast into the fire of tribulations that they may be purged from their dross kept closer and more undefiled unto him then before The divel 's end is that they may not only be broken under affliction and tribulation and therefore he is termed Apollyon a Destroyer because he delights in the destruction and ruine of the godly but also he aims and intends thereby to vilifie the truth of God and if possibly he can to bring the Professors of the truth by heaping afflictions on them to impatience and become wayward towards God and his truth and as Job's wifes advice was unto her husband to bring him unto a desperate condition to curse God and die This is Satans designe in afflicting the godly either that they thereby may become Dastards and Apostates unto the Truth that both the truth and godly may be vilified and scandalized or else that they may provoke God by their foolish wayward and impatient carriage under it and so provoke God to become their adversary and to chastise them for it Satan doth indeed desire to winnow us as wheat but sure not for our good not to cleanse away our Tares and â—arnel from us but to destroy us and undo us if he may but our comfort is Christ hath prayed for us that we shall not fail but hath given us also spiritual weapons to oppose his fiery darts and to silence the Tempter in all his soul destroying temptations for ever Gon desires by afflicting us to try our faith and keep us closer to him that so we may become his approved children as it is in Heb. 12. Deut. 8.16 Satan is on another pin he desires thereby to draw us further from God and God also from us if he may by provoking him against us by our untoward carriages under the rod. O Lord lay no more on us nor give power to Satan to touch us farther then thou hast given us strength and ability from thy self to resist or bear with patience and so we pray Lead us not into temptatation Object But some may say God tempteth no man according to Isa 1.13 How then say you that God tempts and the divel tempts I answer First Indeed God that is the Author of all good cannot be the Author of evil as evil is a sin and an obliquity to his holy and righteous Laws for he is God and unchangeable holiness it self and therefore he never presents seducements or motions to sin This is the proper work of Satan and their own lusts and far from the nature of the unchangeable holiness of God But secondly God tempts as temptation is taken for tryal and so tries the obedience and faith of his children by divers temptations and afflictions as he did Abraham Moses c. Object 2. But again you will say Does not God in his inevitable Decrees and Providences cast us necessarily upon the objects and temptations unto sin therefore may be said to be author of them and to tempt thereunto I answer It was God's providence that the wedge of gold lay in Achans way and it was the purpose and decree of God from everlasting that Judas should betray his innocent master and it was by God's providence that Bathsheba was presented naked to David's eye yet this doth not at all make God the author of sin nor render Achan Judas or David the less culpable for their sins for God's secret Decrees and providential dealings with and towards his creatures are no rules of duty unto us nor render us more excusable for our failings for God does neither enforce our wills either physically or morally by urging or enclining them to act in sinful ways or by counselling or perswading thereunto for that as I said before is against his holy Nature and so tempteth no man but when we are drawn aside it is by our own lusts and concupiscences God is free from the charge thereof otherwise then as the Sun that casts his efficacious beams on a stinking dunghil makes it send forth unsavoury vapours the nearest cause is the intrinsique corruption of the dunghil the Sun is only a more remote cause he only sends forth as it were its providential heat whereby the dunghil is enflamâ—d and so sends forth from its corrupted wombe most
wheresoever Idolatry is admitted into a church looseness and lasciviousness presently follows Errour is fruitful and one brings forth another Assoon as the church of Pergamus maintained the eating of things offered unto idols which is the service of divels presently they joyn hands with the obscene sect of the Nicolaitans when the Israelites joyned to the sacrifices of Baal Peor Numb 25. they became shameless and presently fell on the Midianitish women in Ezek. 8.14 we shall read that there were Jewish women weeping for Tammuz that is as some read it Adonis or an idol or image of Adonis who was a great lover of Venus and slain by a Boar in whose memory there were celebrated yearly solemnities in which were the weepings of women or as Junius has it it was Osyris an Idol of the Egyptians and Phoenicians in whose rites they forgot all bounds of modesty and discovered their nakedness to the Idol So corrupt is false worship and idolatry that it and filthiness do usually walk hand in hand together in most part◠〈◊〉 â—he jurisdiction of Rome but especially Italy and Spain â—ein the greatest and most notorious idolatries are committed and countenanced there are the greatest obscenities both in words and actions yea and that commonly practised among them which is unnatural and Sodomitish and not so much as to be named among christians so it was so here once within our memories with us as soon as we had tasted the same grapes of Rome lust was soon promoted both in Court and Country Quest But if you here demand wherein lies the mischievousness and grievousness of this sin of Idolatry I answer 1. All Idolaters they forsake the true God 2. They change the glory of the incorruptible God into the form of creeping things 3. They thrust out the Ordinances of God from their holy places and at last God himself 4. They slight God and his help in extremities and call to their idols that see not hear not nor understand as the Papists do to S. Anthony S. Francis c. 5. They become prodigal towards their idols as the Adulterer thinks nothing too much for his harlot so they nothing too much for their idolatrizing worship witness the church of Rome 6. They become unclean and Nicolaitans which thing God hates 7. They become fools infatuated and delivered over to a reprobate sense whilst they disclaim the great infinite glorious holy and all-wise God and in the room thereof adore Batts Oxen Moles Owls c. and that which is worse little pieces of dead wood mettal and the like carved and framed by the hand of the workman and this is the just hand of God upon all Idolaters who receive not the truth in the love of it and therefore God gives them over to strange delusions and believe a lye Observ 7. The last Note from these words shall be That it is one of the difficultest undertakings of the Ministry of Christ to take off or wean either new planted Churches or newly reformed ones from their old false worships and practises Some of the new planted churches as of Pergamus Corinth and other of the Gentiles thought that they might still participate of their former sacrifices of divels and their idolathites and of Christ's Table also but the Apostle Paul was very bitter against such in 1 Cor. 10.20 21. and the Spirit here also falls foul upon them and sets a check upon the Pergamitish church for entertainment of such doctrines What ado had Paul also to take off the believing Jews from their circumcision and Mosaical rites they would needs have the observation of all the ceremonial Law and paedagogy of Moses joyned to Christ for justification and so make Christ of none effect no less then a full council of Apostles and Elders were sufficient to remove this stumbling block out of the way Acts 15. and what a difficult business it was in the first Reformation to reform up fully all the world knows what uproars commotions and civil wars there were in K. Edward the sixth's days when the Mass-book was but turned into English as some of K. Edward's counsellors advised our Cornish Rebels who were then in Arms for their old Mumpsimus and Popish worship And surely Luther nor Zuinglius nor Calvin could go on with a thorow Reformation in Germany France or other places in respect of the unpreparedness and unsutable state and condition of the Nations among whom they begun the Reformation being so long time setled and fixed upon their old lees it was a very difficult work for them to go farther thorow with it then was fit and competent for that generation who always reserved some reliques remains and smacks of Popery though the main works were beaten down and therefore some heady people of those times that would not condescend in any thing or have providential carriage towards the weaker and darker sort of people would reform things even to the height and full pitch of Reformation according to the primitive pattern but the people of them ages being not able to bear it it caused much trouble to the church and through intemperate zeal much hinderance and obstruction to the begun reformation and advantage to the enemy But since in many places and Nations of the reformed this reformation hath made a further progress by some steps yet still amongst most of the reformed not only in this Nation but elsewhere there are some remains of the old false worship and practises and a lusting after them so strong a desire we have to the imitation of our predecessors practises be they never so corrupt yet blessed be God for that reformation we enjoy and liberty to profess and practise the ordinances of God according to the most undefiled and purest pattern that we judg agreeable to the Gospel of Christ What shall us desire more on our own parts Or what greater blessing can we expect from God by the sword of the Magistrate then to be protected secured and countenanced in the ways and worship of God according to a good conscience If the Ministers and Churches will not reform in such a day when publique Edicts are gone forth from Cyrus to set Israel free I wonder when they will fall upon it Do they expect the Magistrate to command and compel all unto the work Alas this is not the generation that all will be fit for such a work in a whole Nation or Kingdom no never will there be such a golden age until Christ himself shall come with the fan in his hand to purge his garner and take the Kingdom unto himself Is not the church a Lilly among thorns If the whole Nation be the church where are the thorns Are they the other neighbour Nations about Alas they are Lillies too churches on that account as well as you Are they the gentle Nations as Turks Persians Antichristians and Popish Nations As Italians Spanish French c Alas they are no Thorns to you the reformed Nations are in equal ballance
them is charity its precedency lies in this 1. In that it perfumes and enlivens all the other graces faith it self is dead without it And to suppose a faith without love is to suppose a man without a soul The gifts of prophesies tongues and miracles are but barren and usless things without this 2. This hath for its object both God and Man we exercise our faith and hope only towards God and his promises but our charity is extended both towards God and Man And therefore love is called Rom. 13.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulfilling of the Law it is the whole sum and hinge on which the commandements turn In this one word charity both the Tables of the decalogue are abridged 3. It excells in that it is the greatest note of our interest in God and Christ Faith is that giveth right unto the promises but love is that giveth life to faith It is the very soul of all our graces If we gave our bodies to be burnt for Christ and had not charity it will profit nothing 1 Cor. 13.3 By this we know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3.14 and Ia. 1.12 The Crown of life is promised to them that love God and Rom. 8.28 Love is made the very discovery of effectual calling and election 4. Love excells in that it is the perfection of the Law it is the very end of the Commandments 1 Tim. 1.5 and were Love but perfect in us it would make us perfect Keepers and Observers of the Law both towards God and Man Love knits the Members of Christs Body together and so perfects his Body It unites us to God and so maketh the perfecting of divine love in us 1 John 4.12 17. and here it is we are commanded twice to put on love above all things 1 Pet. 4.8 and Col. 3.14 but once above all things to take the shield of faith 5. And lastly when faith hope patience and all other graces ceases charity abideth Love is not only a portion for the Saints in this life but in the other also then we shall love God and Christ when faith and hope ceaseth therefore justly did Christ in this place and the Apostle in 1 Cor. 13.13 give it the precedency above al other Graces of the Spirit 2. Love brings forth another grace service external worship and obedience him whom we love we obey we serve we honour and worship The service of love is most intense and effectual When Christ communed with Simon Peter John 21. and asked him thrice Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me Yea Lord thou knowest it saith Peter Christ answered feed my sheep The more love that Peter manifested the more service and duty was put upon him Services that we perform to God not out of love but formality or custome are but as scabbed or lame Sacrifices under the Law which the Lord hated Right ends in our services are First Love and zeal to God's glory Secondly Love to the obedience of God's commandments Thirdly Love to the edification of others These ends makes us a true and sincere worship love goeth through all and is the fulfilling of the Law 3. Thyatira is approved for her faith made lively and effectual by love True faith is never seperated from love they go hand in hand together but love hath the precedency for the reasons aforesaid though faith is first in order of nature for faith is that grace that gives the first being unto a christian but love is the perfection of that being There must be first a knowledge of God and assent unto his truths which is the first act of faith before we can love that God or his Truths but withal I say there is so inseperable union between these two graces no sooner hath faith a being and a body but love comes to animate it to make it sound lively and perfect Observ hence Note That it is not a bare opinion or entertainment of the truth that is a true lively faith but that that worketh by love Many will one day say we have prophesied in thy Name taught in thy Name cast out devils in thy Name professed and beleived thy truths and yet the Lord will say unto them I know you not and all for want of this grace of love towards God and his Saints A sound and true faith contains in it these three principal ingredients that gives the very form and being to it First A sound distinct knowledge of the thing believed I know and am perswaded saith Paul Rom. 14.14 Persons that are ignorant of Gods promises and of the word of eternal life can never believe aright Secondly A firm perswasion strongly assuming the heart As a sound believer must not be an ignorant soul so must he not be a wavering-minded man but must have an undeceivable certainty and truth in that he does believe Thirdly A confident resting and rejoycing with satisfaction unto the Soul surely looking to enjoy that it does beleive True faith hath these four acts and degrees in it 1. Knowledge 2. Assent 3. Adherence and 4. Assurance A believer may have the three first acts and want the latter and a sound beleiver and a justified person Though God for causes to himself known may never give the grace of Assurance yet that faith that only knows God distinctly to be a God of salvation in his promises to repentant sinners through Christ and so takes him and adheres unto him in the love and truth thereof doubtless that soul shall never be a cast-away though God's presence of assurance and joyful satisfaction be never manifested unto him If we be saved it is enough though God reserves his comfortable presence and inward love for us unto another world 4. Thyatira hath another excellent grace and that is Patience or sufferance with patience as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carries it in the Greek A wicked man may suffer affliction but not suffer with patience without murmuring swearing or blaspheming as the godly doth The wicked may haue patience perforce and unwillingly when he cannot help it the afliction being above his reach to remedy but the godly is patient as it is an effect of love because he loveth much he is ready to suffer much with constancy and patience as Jacob served two seven years hardship for his beloved Rachel so a faithful soul is ready to suffer all afflictions chearfully and with much patience all the years of his life because he loves God and Christ and so accounts the afflictions of this life not to be valued with the glory that shall hereafter be revealed to all those that love God 5. Thyatira was a growing fruitful church her latter works were more then her first done upon better grounds and better principles From whence Note Observ That the gracious works of the more grown Christians doe exceed those of the younger sort in soundness The Neophites or young Christians may be more zealous
was a she Prophetess of the Nicolaitans and that she was one of that Sect is evident from this that she comes with the same cursed Nicolaitish doctrines in the 14 and 15. verses mentioned teaching and drawing God's people to Idolatry and Fornication First herein appears her impudence who contrary to the modesty of her sex and Apostolical prohibition yet she takes the name of a Prophetess upon her self and to teach publiquely contrary to the Apostle 1. Cor. 14 34. Next observe her falsity and deceit she is a Prophetess and why it is only to deceive and seduce Christ's Servants Thirdly observe the ways and means of her seductions it is by false doctrines by teaching Idolatry and communicating in the Sacrifices of Idols and Fornications to be things indifferent for I always take these to be two great distinct sins and errors of the Nicolaitans Idolatry and Fornication and not only Idolatry which is a spiritual Fornication or Adultery for Balaam's advice was not only that the children of Israel in the business of Baal Peor Mumb. 25.1 2. should fall to Idolatry but to fornication also with the Midianitish women so also Jezabel Ahab's wife who provoked him to set up Idolatry unto Baal in Israel 1 King 16.31 32. compared to 1 King 21.25 was also a notable Adultress as by that of 2 King 9.22 What peace whilst the woredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her witch-crafts are yet in great number and her carriage being accordingly impudent ver 30. doth convince her whoredom for she painted her face and tyred her head and looked out at window the posture rather of a Strumpet then of Majesty as some would have it And therefore Balaam and Jezabel are here fitly brought in by the Spirit to personate this lewd Nicolaitish Sect and their great Prophetess in the church of Thyatira Observ 1. Hence Note That it is no new defigne of Satan's to trouble the Church with false she Prophetesses As there were false Prophets Balaamites and Nicolaitans in the church of Pergamus so there was a false Prophetess and a very impudent one of the same Sect in Thyatira If God will have he or she Prophets the Devil will be God's Ape and will have the same If God to honor that weaker Sex sometimes raised up she Prophets to help his people be sure the Divel will be upon the same work he will have his Jezabels his Maximillae for her service also We find in Ezekiel's days there were false Propheteses who sowed Pillows to ahe Arm-holes 13. 1k 18. Prophesied pleasing things unto the people and Neh. 6.14 there is mention made of one Noadia a Prophetess she with other false Prophets Prophesied against the building of the Temple encouraged Sanballet and endeavoured to discourage Nehemiah and the builders of it And some such there were and will be in all ages who with their false doctrines will deceive unwary people Simon Magus had his Helena Carpocrates his Marcellina Montanus had his Prisca and Maximillina and so all erronious Sects hath their she Prophetesses as well as he Prophets for the Divel's defign thrives on both ways Observ 2. False she Prophetesses are not only very bold but very subtile to deceive and seduce God's servants from the truth And therefore they are likned to Jezabel a bold setter up of Idolatry and a subtile deceiver as in the business of Naboth and seeking the death of the true Prophets appeareth And it appeareth also henbe that this false Nicolaitish Prophetess was not only a very impudent one for she calls herself a Prophetess to teach but was also a very sly and subtile one or else she could not be said to deceive Christ's Servants I conjecture that her practise was somwhat like the ranting Familists and Anti-scripturists of our days who pretending some high notions and transcendent matters above the common pitch of plain and wholsom doctrine and so flying beyond sobriety God suffers them to fall into the snare of Satan and to deny the Law of God as a rule to them and to stand in awe to sin is but of a legal spirit and of bondage and sin cannot at all reach God or offend his Majesty and then they can freely among the Heathens as the Nicolaitish christians did of old partake of the Sacrifices of Baal of Bacchus Priapus Venus or any of their Heathenish Idols and can freely without regret eat of their idolothites and joyn and commix with their corporal fornications also High and untroden speculations and novelties carries the vizor of deceit with them wholsome doctrine is old and plain but novel and erroneous is held forth in most high and unintelligible motions which false ProProphets and Prophetesses on purpose make use of to amuse confound ensnare and deceive the easy credulous and simple people many of these false she Prophetesses goes up and down with their new Light new Christ and new Gospel and all within them in these very days of ours a true branch of the old Gnosticks and Nicolaitans Observ 3. Some of God's own faithful Servants may be deceived and carried away by the Doctrines of false Teachers This Jezeâ—el or false Lady Prophetess had seduced Christ's Servants and had entised them to their filthy Idolatries and Adulteries we know Peter and Barnabas were drawn away by such into errour Gal 2.13 14 The old lying Prophet deceived the young Prophet of God and drew him into a snare which cost him his life for a Lion devoured him 1 Kin. 13. Christ hath foretold us Mat. 24. That many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many But whence do they arise From the bottomless Pit and do raise such a smoake with their false doctrines Rev. 9. that they darken the Heavens that is the Gospel truths that the Saints cannot clearly see their ways and therefore not strange if they stumble Did not many precious Souls stumble in the late days of Prelacy and were turned away with their errors and have not many stumbled in these days of liberty and carried away and deceived by Familistical Anti-scriptural errors and the like But seeing these things are so let us hearken to the advice of Peter 2 Epist 3.17 18. Beware lest ye also being led away with the errors of the wicked fall from their own stedfastness But grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. But to return to the charge which was against Thyatira and it was because she suffered the woman Jezebel A church is not so blame worthy for having a Jezebel a false Prophet or Prophetess among them but for suffering for countenancing owning and freely tolerating of them this was the crime of this church of Thyatira Whence Note Observ That the toleration and indulgence of false Teachers in a Church is a great evil Surely it is not the way of God nor his will to suffer opinions in a church that are dissonant from his truth that will corrupt the soul with sin Though I should plead for a just
the Sinagogue of Satan The words in the Greek copy are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza's Version reads them Prebebo eos qui sunt ex Synaga Satana The Verb is in the Present tense I give and not in the Future and what is given Those that call themselves Jews I give or I yeild is put in the present tense either for the more certain denotation of the certainty of the good promised to come in the future for so the latter clause doth intimate I will make them that they shall come and worship c. Or else Secondly it denotes unto us that God did at that present time make some of the Iews to submit themselves unto his church as it were a taste and first fruits or as a pawn and earnest of their more full general and universal call and subjection to the Scepter of Iesus Christ which should ensue in future ages which the latter clause of this verse is full unto whereof more hereafter I formerly she wed on cap. 2. ver 9. how those Iews that are only so by lineage and descent do lye when they cal themselves Iews and are not To call ones self a Iew in those days when John wrote this Revelation was as much as to profess and to arrogate to themselves that they were the seed of Jacob and had Abraham to their Father and were the Israel of God the only people of God his peculiar Inheritage to whom the promises appertained the children of the Kingdom to whom the Oracles of God were committed and all others Aliens and Barbarians in respect of them who alone had the priviledges of the children a holy Nation the Lord's Portion who alone had the Temple Divine Ordinances Worship and clear Visions of God Now when those persons that boasted themselves of those priviledges yet persecuted reviled and blasphemed Christ and his churches as they did that of Smyrna cap. 2. 9. They cease to be true Iews and make a lye when they call or profess themselves Iews true Israelites of God when indeed they are children of the Divel and of the Sinagogue of Satan for his works and counsels they do really execute and performe they do synagere work together plot study and execute one and the same thing and therefore worthy to be denominated his Disciples of this infernal Colledg and Synagogue and not of Christ's church colledg or of the Society of Iesus Hence Note Observ That many are apt to call and boast themselves to be true Jews true Israelites of God true Christians that in truth are not for their evil works and blasphemies both towards Christ and true Christians doth evidently shew that they do lye in their Profession and Indeed are not true inward Jews and Christians but of the Synagogue of Satan You would have thought it strange to hear of a Sinagogue of Satan an University as it were for the Divel set up among the holy people of God his own Inheritance and yet it was most true John Baptist could have called them a generation of Vipers and Christ more plainly the children of the Divel for his works they did do and John here a Synagogue of Satan and that most deservedly for their contumelious reproaches and oppositions against the Gospel of Christ and true Believers We have a true counterpane of these carnal Jews among the christian churches in those days who call themselves christians and children of the Kingdome and yet only fit to be cast into utter darkness They crack of the Temple of God of Ministry of Ordinances of true Visions of God and the truth and yet who more enemies to the truth and to true godliness They are just like the Iews of old that boast of Abraham to be their Father and that they are Israelites as from Jacob and yet are ready with the Iews to crucifie the Lord of life in his Saints and followers They think it enough with their elder Brethren the Iews to have Abrahams and Iacobs to their Ancestors and Progenitors but for Abraham's faith or Jacob's spirit in wrestling with God let that alone for them that will They think it safe enough to be of Israel according to the flesh to be born in a christian Nation or church and to have some external badges and priviledges of children as Baptisme or the like then all is well whilst the weightiest things of the Law and the most substaintial parts of Religion they let ly by and contemn And what are all their arrogating Titles when truth is wanting but a kind of blasphemy and a lye I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not cap. 2. 9. for indeed he is not a Iew which is one outwardly in circumcision of the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly whose heart is circumcised and is one in the spirit Rom. 2.28 There were two sorts of people that did call themselves Iews and were not but did lye 1. The Samaritans 2. They of Iudea and Ierusalem and both by their perverse carriages to Christ and the truth did blaspheme and dishonour the honourable name of a Iew. So among christians there are two sorts that wound this honourable name of christians who call themselves christian churches and are not but do wrong and blaspheme the honourable name of church and christians I mean the Romish Popish Synagogue and many of the pretended reformed churches The first like the Iews of old cry out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord O The Church The holy Catholique Church The Chaire of Peter The infallible Chair of Peter We are the only Spouse of Christ no salvation without our jurisdiction and yet who greater blasphemers reproachers and persecutors of the true christian churches and Saints then they And seeing they will not part with the Title of the church let them keep it but is such a one as is here mentioned the church or Synagogue of Satan not of Christ and as long as their Idolatries continue she will ever be a Babel not a Bethel counterfeit Iews no real spiritual ones christians only in Title and shew not in truth notwithstanding all their high pretentions and claimes to the contrary 2. So many of the pretended reformed christians cry out We are of the reformation we are baptised we are of the Lutheranes confession we are of the Calvinists and yet no Papist more blind more ignorant more vile more profane or greater enemies to Christ in the power of godliness The names titles and honour of christians they love they esteem they expect and yet who vainer who more profane more ungodly or less deserve it then they They are only nominal christians outward Iews but to the inward spiritual Iew who more strangers to it then they Let them therefore look to it notwithstanding their high and honourable affected titles least the spirit of God shall declare the very truth and manifest to all true christians that they are only seeming Iews and do lye