law endictes every wicked man hating the godly of murder 1 Ioh. 3. 15. not only because hatred is a degree of it but because his will and desire carries him to the highest degree and execution of it 2 Members must be conformed to the head in obedience both active and passive What floods the dragon raised and cast out of his mouth to carry Christ away is manifest in the story imputing to him sorcery blasphemy sedition treason and all that was hainous and poysonfull If they called the Master of the house Belzebâ—b what will they not call his servants 3. The more innocent thou art looke thy suffering to bee the more for malice is most against grace and innocency When good men are generally maligned and floods of water cast after them the generall conceit and speech of other is some fault there is were there not some fire there could not bee so much smoake some indiscretion some oversight some fault No no there is shining grace wisdome holinesse watchfulnesse the dragon will revile good men be they never so discreet and innocent yea for innocency as Christ himselfe Againe seeing it is inevitable that the godly should bee molested with these floods and rising of waters let them for their comfort and direction thinke of these Rules 1. Against the multitude of Antichristian enemies who increase and combine as a flood to overflow all bankes oppose the promise of God Esa. 17. 12 1â— They shall make a noise as the noise of many waters but God shall rebuke them hee hath passed sentence against them which is not farre from execution and Chap 59. 19. The enemy shall come like a flood but the Spirit of the Lord will chase him away and daily shall they be blasted by the breath of his mouth all his forces cannot prosper being gathered against the Lord Deut. 33. 27. 2 Against the floods of Antichristian heresies and false doctrines wee must stablish ourselves First with true humility to containe our selves within bounds of truth Pride and conceit makes heretikes Secondly with sound love to the truth this onely will make us hate all false inventions Psal. 119. 113. Thirdly with true obedience to the truth revealed Ioh. 7. 17. If any man will do my will he shall know the doctrine whether it bee of God By these meanes wee shall sticke fast to the Rocke and hold fast by truth and not be carryed away with this flood Fourthly when they trouble our waters with traditioÌ„s fables for they are called troubled waters oppose the sweet and cleare crystall fountaines of the Scriptures the waters out of the Rocke and out of the fountaines of Iacob Deut. 33. 28. this shall bee sufficient against the full sea of Antichristian brinish salt and damnable doctrines 3. Against the drowning waters of scandals reproaches threatnings wicked Edicts false accusations or violent executions oppose those sweet refreshing waters of comfort Esa. 55. 1. These promise First Christs presence who rebukes winde and sea and makes a calme Secondly strength and patience because they are the rebukes of Christ. Thirdly a clearing of thine owne innocency as the light Againe oppose thine innocency purity sound conscience honest conversation and then assure thy selfe no reproach can take away thine innocency no more than thy head Lastly waite on God as David in Shimeis rayling hee may doe thee good for their evill hee may blesse thee for their cursing and honor thee the more for their dishonour as Mordecai And many of his servants have experience that the more evill men seek to cast them downe and carry them away with floods of injuries the more God doth establish and uphold them and carry them up above the waves and billowes which threaten to drowne them Vers. 16. And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the stood which the dragon cast out of his mouth AGainst new dangers the woman hath still new remedies for unwonted dangers unwonted helpes Against the former dangers shee had wings to flie from them here the earth sets in for her helpe the dragon casts the flood out of his mouth and the earth takes it into her mouth By the earth is not meant the earthly globe which Mathematicians call the center of the world in which wee walke neither may wee understand it properly of this vast Element but improperly and metaphorically as wee did the flood in the former words drunke up by it By earth therefore is meant 1. In generall all the meanes by which the former flood was drunke up and the phrase is an allusion to an ancient story in Numb 16. where the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Corah and all his company who had cast floods of reproachfull waters against Moses Aaron even so here before the Lord will suffer his Church to be drowned and overwhelmed he will command the earth to open it selfe and swallow up all such as enterprise against it as formerly he had to swallow alive Corah Dathan Abiram and all their complices 2. More specially by the earth wee meane those speciall providences by which the former floods were dryed up as 1. The floods of herefies spewed out of the dragons mouth were swallowed up of the earth for First it was the earthly and wicked Synagogue that embraced all the dragoÌ„s plausible heresies such as whose names are writen in earth but not any whose names were written in the Booke of life the true Church drunke not a drop of that poyson spewed out of the dragons mouth Secondly because that the Synods and Councils gathered out of all the earth resolved and swallowed up those pernicious heresies against the grounds of Christian religion For as of old the Councell of Nice swallowed up the poysoned flood of Arrius the Constantinopolitan supped up the hereticall flood of Macedonius and Eunomius the Ephesine of Nestorius and the Chalcedon of Eutiches so we might name a number of Canons out of Councels gathered under Antichrist resisting many main Romish errors and hereticall doctrines as the sixt generall Councell about the yeare 700. decreed against the Church of Rome the marriage of Ministers and forbad to make the Holy Ghost in likenesse of a Dove The Councell of Portugall at Bracca appointed the Cup in the Communion Sundry other Councels as of Constantinople under Leo Isauricus and after under Constantius Copronimus and of Frankeford under Charles the Great all against Images and many of their owne contradicting their fellowes in matters of greatest difference as might be cleared at large but is done already by Doctor Hall in his booke intituled The peace of Rome 2. The floods of slaunders and false suggestions have beene dryed up even by the earth earthly men and enemies of the Church who have acquitted and discharged the Christians of those horrible scandalls which were out of the dragons mouth sent after them to drowne them as in the ancient Story the Christians
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
Let the Turke come hee may expose the body to bee slaine with sword fire teeth of beasts and in all this nothing comes contrary to the condition of mortall men But let the Pope come and hee will doe all this and beyond all this by his fraud and impostures hee taketh the minde and delivers up the heart to bee ruled by the devill that lusts and vices as wilde beasts prevaile against reason religion and humanity it selfe and this is most unnaturall and monstrous If they spoyle our goods maime our bodies deprive us of our liberties there are some remedies and hope of recovery or by a right use of these tryals wee may better our selves in grace But if Antichrist withdraw us from grace delude our soules sit in our consciences and so cast us into the wrath of God what remedie is left Now shall wee finde that a gash in the soule as it is the deeper so it will prove more incurable than any bodily wound Of the third this tyranny of Antichrist is beyond all externall tyranny in the difficulty of recovery because it is more pleasing to sense than the other Externall oppression and tyranny every man naturally avoydeth and resisteth but this every naturall man chuseth and desireth for it dazelleth the eyes with external pompe outward splendor worldly power in all which it is contrary to the simplicity of the religiō of Christ. This Antichristian poyson which was by a voyce from heaven said to be powred into the Church in the dayes of Sylvester naturall men drink up without all inquiry and are willingly detained under Antichristian slavery and without a mighty arme of Christ a stronger than hee are never pulled out All this sheweth the fearefull wrath in this Antichristian tyrannie beyond all other III. The third argument will further cleare it that Satan commeth with greater wrath in Antichristian delusions than in any open tyranni◠or persecution besides drawne from the effects of this wrath which are more fearefull than any or all other judgements of God besides The miserable effects of this wrath are especially three 1. An upheaping of the measure of sinne In open tyrannies the enemy fights against the Christian man and this is the enemies sinne in this hee makes the Christian fight against Christ and his truth and his Church which is his own horrible sinne In the other it is miserable to see men besmeared and all imbrued with their owne blood but here is a greater misery to see men wallow in their inward filthinesse and bloody vices and pollutions The former may bee a meanes to open the blinde eyes and the sealed eares to bring in a sight and sense of sinne and soften the heart but here is nothing but increasing of sinne for this is a meanes to harden the heart more and blinde the eyes more and wrap men not onely in darknesse but in the hatred of the light 2. An unhappy resisting of the meanes of recovery In other tyrannie tyrants may chase men to the Rocke of their salvation and drive them toward heaven as Israel toward Canaan by the oppressions of Aegypt but this tyranny gallops men to hell and intercepteth all meanes of reconciliation and repentance so long as they are under this thraldome which is plaine in these particulars First it is a turning of men from truth to fables from light of Scripture to the darknesse of humane traditions and devises Secondly a going an whoring from Christ to many lovers and harlots Thirdly a denyall and renouncing of the onely sacrifice and merit of Christ. Fourthly a sinning against the whole Gospell and all the Offices of Christ. Fiftly a settling of men in contempt and hatred of holy Scriptures and now what greater plagues can be imagined than thus to fight against Christ and that salvation so dearely purchased by him 3. Another effect is a rushing headlong into a gulfe and maine sea of wrath This tyranny findes men sonnes of wrath but casteth them into a deeper wrath than it findeth them in For is it not a greater damnation to fight against the light than to want it Is not the issue in a deeper wrath to refuse the remedy than contract the disease Is not that judgement heavier which brings eternall confusion of the whole man than that which onely can bring the outward man to confusion Thus having cleared the doctrine wee come to the Vse 1. Of all judgements in the world beware of spirituall plagues in which is the greatest wrath which either God or the dragon can inflict on a man in this life We must more feare blindnesse of minde than of the body feare more the stone in the heart than the stone in the bladder feare more to be drawne to errour than to torment Wee have had great cause to feare the power and forces of Antichrist but much more the efficacy of his delusions For where God giveth up to efficacy of errour it is such a token of his wrath as except he should presently send him to the place of his iniquity he cannot strike him with a more severe judgement this being a signe that the Lord hath denyed or deprived such a one of his saving grace that hee hath rejected him from his care and speciall Providence and that hee meaneth to glorifie himselfe in his utter destruction Here for fuller application of this point consider two things 1. The markes of a man under this wrath 2. The meanes to avoid it The markes of one that lyeth under this wrath are these 1. Ill use of gifts bestowed and not profiting by good means of grace vouchsafed when Gods Word and Ordinances are too weake to prevaile with a people or person to reclaime him Esay 5. 4. What could the Lord doe more to his Vineyard Which when it failed of all his expectation hee would lay it waste nothing but bryars and thornes should thenceforth grow in it and hee would command the clouds to raine no more on it The unprofitable servant that imployed not his Talent to increase had his talent taken away and himselfe bound hand and foot unto execution Heb. 6. 8. the ground often watred and dressed that still beares thornes and bryars is neare a curse and the end is burning So the bad ground of wicked mens hearts which under a powerfull Ministery grow more stony more secure more hatefull their conscience more seared their courses more obstinate against the meanes of grace are neare a blow and the longer it is a fetching the heavier it will bee So when the Lord addes to his Word his hand and addes some stinging externall crosse to awaken the soule and bring it low before him but this gracious warning and summons is set out and no good use made of it it hardens so much the more as in Pharaoh and causeth the Lord to leave such persons to themselves as a father who cannot prevaile against his sonnes stubbornnesse by admonitions nor corrections leaves him with sorrow to himselfe or
to Herod as Pilate and therefore here private quarrels shall give place that they may joyne and befriend one another in mocking and condemning Christ. 3 The policy of the dragon who well knowes that united forces are strongest and therefore holds all the kingdome of darknesse together for the overthrow of the contrary power for if Gods kingdome should prevaile downe goes theirs It is the voice of them all If we let this man alone the Romanes will come to take our nation It is the prudence of the captaine to keepe his band from mutiny and Satan knowing that a kingdome divided against it selfe cannot stand labours to hold it in peace against the common enemie 4 The common corruption and consent of wicked and unregenerate natures all are of the same poysonfull nature all led by the same spirit that ruleth in the world All their wils given up to the devill to rule and move at his pleasure All their counsels and intendments against Gods people mischieuous like the poyson of dragons Deut. 32. 33. detestable to God and dangerous to mâ—n All alike flexible to sinne for by the infection of sinne one wicked man can soone draw another and all are as ready to such motions as gunpowder to take a sparke of fire All their delights are the same in the ruine and spoile of the Church so far as they can They all eat up Gods people as bread Psal. 14. like dragons who so hate mankind as they devoure men not for hunger but for spight and hatred taking great delight in eating his pray So these delightfully oppresse the people of the high God First See how they are deceived that make unitie a note of the Church Here we see the kingdome of the devill at unitie making up but one dragon all the devils in hell are one in their aimes and ends in their wils and endeavours against the kingdome of Jesus Christ. All the wicked in the world Jewes Turkes Papists Atheists Epicures all disagreeing among themselves yet all joyne in one against Jesus Christ. The world ever afforded a generall unitie against Christ. How was unitie a note of the Church when all cryed crucifie him and were all with one voice against Christ So when the whole world was an Arian Secondly See what is the unitie and peace wee must preach for a unitie in veritie Eph 4. 3. endeavour to keepe the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace It must be the peace of God that must rule in our hearts Col 3. 15. It is an idle thing to call for and commend an unlimited peace a carnall peace a peace without yea against grace and truth the dragon can maintaine an unitie against veritie And the Scripture every where disclaimeth carnall peace Mat. 10 34. The Angels signe first glory to God and then peace with men but it is not for Gods glory to runne and combine with evill men follow peace and holinesse And the kingdome of God is first righteousnesse then peace Rom 14 17. Nay it is an holy and honourable contention to contend for the faith for truth in doctrine in manners against superstition and corruption and wicked men and manners although the dragon will call it faction turbulence and daunt men w th noyse of troublesome make-bates as truly as Eliah was accucused to trouble all Israell when he destroyed the Altars of Baal Or the Angell might be blamed for troubling the water for the curing of mens diseases Thirdly As hatred of truth unites the hearts of all wicked men against it So let the love of faith and truth unite our hearts for it that we might serve the Lord with one accord and with one minde and one mouth we may glorifie God 1 Hereby wee shall prevent the dragon who while he will not suffer his kingdome to be rent in the maine sowes tares of dissention and division in the Lords field As an old polititian he knows how much it makes for his party if he can raise a mutiny in the contrary army 2 As there is not a greater benefit on earth then communion of Saints so there is no greater damage and detriment to Satan and his kingdome then when it is carefully and fruitfully preserved hence he bestirres himselfe and prevailes with many who would be counted peaceable men to live in open malice by seaven yeares together to the scorning of many of Gods graces for which they shal be countable 3 What a shame that men of wicked opinions and lewd practices can close and combine theÌ„selves against God and his Sonne against his truth and servants and we that professe the doctrine of grace and love and in judgement hold the same truth yet in affection and conversation breake one from another as if we had no such bands upon us as wicked men yea devils have Do not birds of a fether fly together Do not Atheists swearers adulterers drunkards theeves and all wicked ones sharpen their swords whet their tongues and dragons stings to revile these Do not devils stand together against the truth and shall we speake as the dragon do as the dragon be not halfe so fast for the truth as they against it can no Christian bands tye us as fast as malice and hatred of Christ doth them A great red Dragon Now we come to the five properties of this dragon The first of which is his magnitude or greatnesse which propertie is expressed for more terrour seeing the greater the dragon is the more dreadfull he is Hee is great in foure respects First In respect of the head of this dragon Satan who is the greatest in all the world for power rule dominion in which sense he is called Mat. 12. 29. The strong armed man Ephes. 6. 12. principalities powers and spirituall wickednesse in high places yea and more he is called The God of the world Some of the Ancients have compared him to Behemoth Job 41. 33. In the earth there is none like him nor any power to compare with him and He is without feare of men Secondly In respect of the members the dragon is great both for 1 Multitude 2 Qualitie 1 For multitude All the numberlesse number of wicked men and devils are the body of this dragon The greatest army that ever was gathered in the world are now mustred against the Woman of all tongues nations and ages 2 For qualitie They be great and potent instruments for the dragon hath under his colours the most and most potent Monarchs of the world to fight for him The most politicke Counsellers and Achitophells to plot for him the greatest armadoes and Armories of warlike instruments and all mortall weapons to wound and kill for him The greatest Antichrist and Cham of Rome that servant of servants and all his armies of Priests Jesuites orders Fryers and sisters to blesse and curse as another Balaam for him He hath great mynes and mints of gold and treasure to
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
starres of heaven both in themselves in respect of divine and heavenly light and gifts of wisdome and knowledge especially of sanctitie and heavenly conversation as also in respect of the high regard and reverent respect which faithfull Pastors have amongst true beleevers for as they have the highest place in the Church of God so walking worthy their place they have the highest place in the hearts of beleevers Now these starres set by God in their orbs shining in so high place are said to be drawne downe and throwne to the earth 11. The second thing in the meaning is How the starres are said to be cast downe to the earth Ans. To fal froÌ„ heaven to earth here is not to be taken literally but it is in matter of religion to fall froÌ„ a heavenly profession and hope to carnall and earthly counsels and courses and then the Pastors are said to fall from heaven to earth when they fall backe in their 1. judgement 2. affection 3. practice and conversation 1 Then in judgement they fall and faile when the light that was in them is turned to darknesse when they turne away from divine and heavenly truth to errours lies mens fancies and traditions to doctrines of libertie to please carnall mindes and turne from substance to superstition 2. When in affection they change the love of the word into the love of the world they affect the winning of wealth and ease above the winning of soules in stead of minding divine studies to save themselves and others now they minde earthly things in stead of the love of Christ which they seemed to professe and expresse in feeding his I ambes now they are carried with selfe-love seeking and feeding themselves only here is a lamentable â—all of starres from heaven to earth 3. When in practice they exchange their godlines with gaine their piety and sanctimonie into earthlinesse covetousnesse and worldlinesse their conversation which seemed and should have beene in heaven into earthly fleshly and unfruitfull courses This is a woefull fall of the starres which have lost their station as pernicious to the Church and to theÌ„selves as if the starres in heaven should fall upon the earth III But how or by what meanes could the dragon cast downe such excellent men that shined by the light of holy doctrine and conversation as bright as the starres in the heavens Ans. By his taile by which word are there implied all those base artes wicked instruments meanes by which the dragon casts down the stars and these are three which the word most expresly implieth 1. By force and tyranny Dragons have more force in their tayles than in their jawes and therefore this is a figurative speech befitting the nature of a dragon when by the rage of persecution and bitter war and wrath by their fire and sword and cursed cruelty the dragon forces many of the Pastors who had shined and ought still to have done in their places to fal froÌ„ their shine froÌ„ their doctrine holy professioÌ„ holy conversatioÌ„ first to corrupt earthly doctrine then to corrupt and earthly life and behaviour such as other men of earthly mindes and professions have undertaken and expressed 2. By flattery and insinuations by which as by a dragons tayle the Pastors were beaten downe for as dogs do use to fawne and flatter their masters with their taile so the dragon not by open force onely but by secret fraud and insinuation assaileth the stars namely by many faire promises and sugred perswasions making offers of wealth and preferment favor and what else the world can bestow on her favorites by which meanes hee drew many ambitious pompous and câ—vetous teachers from their former study and care in propagating the truth and from their diligence and labour in advancing the salvation of men unto earthly studies and cares how to build their owne houses and feather their owne nests not caring that Gods house lay waste 3. By poyson and infection much poyson lieth in the taile of a serpent the dragon poysoned a great number more with heresie and poysoned opinions against the truth of Christian religion for which end he daily stirreth up heretikes and false apostles and false teachers who being furnished with all arts to deceive draw a number of the starres away from sound and heavenly truth into the apostasie of earthly and impious doctrines cleane contrary to the Scripture and to the person natures and offices of Jesus Christ. Thus the Prophet Isay 9. 15. saith The false prophet which teacheth lies is the taile calling him so in foure respects 1. For basenesse and contempt let them beare themselves aloft in conceit of their wit and learning and others admiration of them 2. For their base flattery and playing the parasites and sawning upon patrons and Princes as dogs on their masters with their tailes for a bone or a crust 3. For their inconstancy and mobility as a dogs taile wags and moves easily on this side and that so they in their doctrine and conversation are here there and buzzing every where for an advantage 4. Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects for as venomous beasts hide their venome in their tailes by which on occasion they doe much hurt and mischiefe so false and corrupt teachers by eloquence sophistry and base shifts hide the poison of false and erronious doctrine by which they infect and taint the Church of God for which cause Isa 59. 5. false doctrine is compared to the egges of Aspes which if they bee eaten bring most present death and broken sendeth forth a Basiliske that is is most perniciòus both Autoribus to those that invent and devise them and also Auditoribus to those that receive and digest them it bringeth eternall destruction to both as certainly as if they should eate the egge of a Basiliske which is most deadly of all serpents slaying men onely with her sight and poysonfull vapours that sparkle out of her eyes In the times next after the Apostles at which the spirit of God here more expresly aymeth how the imperiall dragon bestirred himselfe and how many starres he drew down stories are not silent to relate 1. Infinite numbers by persecution as Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 3. when wicked Dioclesian commanded the Christians oratories to be demolished and laid even with the ground the Scriptures to be burnt the Bishops to bee cast in prison and compelled by torments to renounce Christianity and offer unto Idols many suffered death constantly Sed alij infiniti animis prae formidine perculsi facile post primum impetum prorsus tandem succubuerunt In the seventh persecution under Decius we read of Serapion and Nichomacus who through their tyranny renounced Christianity and Cyprian de lapsis lib. 2 cap. 8. mentioneth Enaâ—stus a Bishop in Aftrike and Nicostratus a Deacon who made shipwracke of faith and as starres fell for feare from heaven to earth 2. Many starres
were throwne downe by the flattery and faire perswasions of this imperiall dragon How faithfull Policarâ—e was by Irâ—narchus Herodes and his father Nâ—cetas taken up into the Chariot going to judgment and perswaded to favour himselfe and his old age and sweare by the Emperours good fortune which he resisted appeares Euseb. Hist. li. 4. cap. 1â— And â—liny in an Epistle to Trajan Emperor enformeth him that he had a Libell containing such names as were wonne from Christianity and content to doe sacrifice with incense and wine to the gods and to Trajans Image to blaspheme Christ And how infinite a number were won from Christianity in the last presecution under Dioclesian were easie out of stories to recite 3. Many more were throwne downe with the porsonfull taile of the dragon namely of heresies and false doctrines for the horse which was white for integrity of Apostolicall doctrine was not only red by bloody persecutions of tyrants against Christians but was shewed to be blacke for the mournfull and sad estate of the Church by reason of many and mighty heretikes who all of them by all their wit and strength obscured the light and truth of Scriptures and shooke asunder with the foundation of religion the faith of many every yeare of the first three hundred producing some monstrous heresie or other amongst which that damnable Arrianisme had so poysoned all the world as it seemed but one Arrian and so prevailed against the starres as there were scarce five Orthodox Bishops in the world Athanasius the chiefe of them ill intreated and banished yea so poysonfull was the taile of the dragon that the ancient fathers that lived in those times neare the Apostles had almost beene drawne away and hardly escaped Witnesse Ireneus inclined to Chiliasts or Millinaries Tertullian a Montanist Origen caried away into many foule errours much discommended by Ierome c. Fourthly in the meaning Is the number of the stars cast downe by the Dragon not all but a third part an indefinite part put for a great number that seemed holy men and zealous and stood in the firmament of the Church in great shining and brightnes were cast downe with the Dragon Quest. Why did hee not cast downe all Ans. Not all because he cannot cast downe any of the elect or fixed starres it is impossible to seduce any of them Secondly not all for then hee had cast downe the whole Church depending upon them for there must be a Church so long as the world continueth Thirdly not all because many of them were held in Christs right hand Chap. 1. 16. and none of those can hee cast downe for none can take them out of his hand But a third part he cause they were not upheld by Christ but left unto themselves and their owne strength and to temptation and so soone by the power of the Dragon cast downe for no man ever stood long against the Dragon by his owne strength Commit thy selfe in tryall to Gods hand and power pray with David Uphold me Lord and I shall be safe The chiefe ayme of the Dragon is against the Ministers and faithfull Pastors of the Church that hee may throw downe to earth the starres of heaven It is true he is fierce and furious against all godly meÌ„ of all coÌ„ditions scorneth not a coÌ„quest against the weakest and meanest Christian but his speciall malice is intended against godly Ministers such as in higher places as in their orbes shine as starres in piety faith fortitude and sincerity of doctrine and life 1 Kings 22. 21 He offereth himselfe to be a lying spirit in the mouth of Abahs Prophets and striketh downe with his taile 400 at once Zach. 3. 1. Satan stood at Ioshuas right hana to hinder him and resist him in his Ministery Luke chap. 22. verse 31. the dragon desired to winnow the Apostles as wheat how he resisted the Apostles in all their Ministery appeareth in the whole Storie of their Acts and in their Epistles 1 Thess. 2. 18. we would have come to you once or twice but Satan hundred us How the starres were cast downe by imperiall dragons we have shewed in after ages how the starres were cast downe in the church of Rome according to that prophesie Revel 6. 13. they should fall as the leaves of a figtree shaken with a mighty winde When their pompous Prelates Cardinals Patriarkes and Popes forsaking and giving up their office of preaching became earthly Princes studying policies and lawes and imployed themselves not in Pulpits but on seats of justice in disciding mens civill inheritances and in matters of state yea and whereas they should have laboured and confined themselves to the Gospell of peace not onely maintained but also often in person acted civill warre and bloodshed and leaving the simplicity of the servants and Ministers of Christ they take on them the state and pompe of Princes in Princely Palaces Princely revenues Princely diet Princely attendants Princely pleasures of hunting hawking dicing c. Now the starres are falne from heaven and from their heavenly function to earth viz to the seeking and enioying earthly pleasures profits and imployments in which no secular man can bee more busie Carnall things are all they care for and all they savour and now they are become like other worldlings called the Inhabitants of earth and our owne experience giveth too many testimonies to this truth in which the dragons taile hath prevailed to draw away many shining starres men once of learning zeale and industry but now through their owne worldlinesse greedinesse ambition or though their owne feare flattery or threatning of times are growne mere politicians and worldlings scarce retaining any savour of their former zeale and grace perhaps zealous against nothing more than grace and zeale The dragon is therefore more especially furious against the starres because of their shining and light of grace above others Where grace is more abounding there the dragons envie more aboundeth the more bountifull Gods hand and eye is the more envious is his the richer the booty is the more audaciously will the thiefe adventure for it A starre of the sixt and smallest magnitude in respect of place and gifts if hee shine faithfully shall not escape the dragons assault but his chiefe ayme is against the starres of the first second magnitude since the Apostles his taile is most stirring against them as Luther Calvin Beza Perkins men in their times of incomparable light of learning and sanctity and yet how now cast downe and darkned by the dragon Because God hath specially appointed the function on of the Ministery to batter the kingdome of the dragon 2 Thess. 2. last Ioshua 16. 20. and to advance the Scepter of Christ. It is no marvell that seeing they most hinder his purposes kingdome that hee by all meanes hinder crosse and cast them downe as Moses by Iaâ—â—as c. His universall malice to mankinde who he being
corne and let thistles and tares grow in their place and though they may bee stout and will not heare their duty from us yet wee must not faile in our duty for company but let them know they shall not faile to be called upon and if their sinne be not lesse by it it shall bee the greater Thus shall we testifie our love to God to them to their place nay procure the love of God upon our selves and them for as an irreligious Governour is set up by Gods displeasure over a people so a wise and religious Ruler is a gift of Gods love 2 Chron. 9. 8. God set Salomon a wise and religious King on his throne because hee loved Israel and this is true not onely in the supreme but in those that are sent from him And the woman fled into the wildernesse Some may think it strange that the woman should now flie for which fact shee seemeth to have but little reason seeing her sonne the manchilde was in the former words so exalted to the throne of God and so able to defend her with his iron rod this may seeme to weaken the former exposition but we must knowthere might bee sundry causes besides outward force even many inward dislikes and distastes that might haften her out of sight 2. This verse is here inserted by the Spirit of God by anticipation that is when a thing is mentioned in a former place which was done after for here is mentioned the thing but neither the time nor reason for both which wee must consult the thirteenth and fourteenth verses to which time and place this verse doth properly belong for else would follow First that the woman did flie before the battle begun which all this while was but preparing which is not likely Secondly that shee flew twice 3. That shee did flie before wings were given her all which unlikelihood must needs follow if the verse bee not anticipated for it is plaine by those verses that the slight was afterward that the battell with Michael was fought after shee overcame the dragon after the new assault of the dragon against her and after shee had wings given her to save herselfe by flight Quest. Why is this verse so inserted out of his order and due place Ans. The reason seemeth to be this In the former verse the spirit of God had shewed that the dragon although he watched to destroy the man-childe yet hee was safe being taken up into the throne of God and now if question should be made But what became of the woman he would presently adde the woman was safe too and by what meanes as he by his advancement into the throne so shee by flight but not at the same time for many things came betweene Now as the Spirit of God mentioneth this flight but by the way so shall wee speake of it as here wee finde it reserving the reason of it and meanes and other circumstances to the fourteenth verse where wee shall more fitly meet with them This flight of the woman seemeth to be an allusion unto Israel flying into the wildernesse from Pharaoh that red and bloody dragon pursuing them even to destruction In which flight there are three things considerable 1. The place where she flies with a secret reason implyed because that was the place prepared by GOD. 2. Her sustentation that they should feede her 3. Her mansion or continuance 1260. dayes I. In the place two things are inquired First what is the desart Secondly what is the flight 1. The desart is not to be understood of a certaine place as the desart of Arabia or Libia or any other set place to which the Church was to be tyed to at that time as the Donatists dreamed that this wildernesse must bee theirs in Affrike but a certaine state and condition of the Church opposed to her high and heavenly condition wherein shee shined crowned with twelve starres as verse the first The wildernesse then is nothing else but an afflicted wasted and solitary condition of the woman excluded from her former glory forced now to hide her face from the world and to live in poverty and exile and in a private and solitary condition and as creatures that live in the desart flie the sight and aspect of men so shee vanished and disappeared from the eyes of men not daring to bee seene the same shee was before 2. The flight into the wildernesse is not by change of place but by change of her state and ornaments Especially by the flight are noted 1. The speedy corruption of all things in the Church for flight is a quicke motion 2. The dissipation and deprivation of particular and visible congregations To cleare this observe that presently after Constantine had procured peace to the Church and put an end to the bloody persecutions of those imperiall dragons shee came under worse tyrants than ever before which were security ambition wealth and ease for the former tyrants by their tyranny exercised and excited faith and piety but this deadeth and eateth out all the former made the Church glorious and shining as fire doth gold but this darkened her and dusted her as appeareth in these instances 1. Persecution forced them to cleave close to the simplicity integrity of doctrine and rites which Christ himselfe instituted and his Apostles observed but now ease and idlenesse maketh the Pastors at leasure to devise and mingle pure doctrine with uncleane and superstitious rites they now begin to dedicate Temples to Martyrs and proceed to make commemoration of them after to seeke out reliques of Saints hence Origen and others begin to dispute doubtfully of the intercession of Saints for us and Nazianzen Audi quoque tu anima magni Constantini 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si quis sensus insit and after in short time grew impiously to invocate them and after to pray for the dead then came in superstitions as a flood and this was the beginning of the womans flight namely the sudden corruption of doctrines and rites 2. Against the former tyrants they contended earnestly for the faith now ease and wealth maketh them wanton proud and contentious one with an other for primacy praecedency ambition prelacy patriarkhood and motherhood These contentions lost and neglected faith truth and charity 3. All the time of the persecutions the woman held her foundation had the cloathing of the sunne upon her that is the righteousnesse of Christ but now they begin to gard it and lace it with the righteousnesse and sanctity of their owne merits 4. Against all Tyrants shee retained the crowne of twelve starres on her head but now shee must change them into temporall crownes and glorious titles of Patriarkes universall Bishops and Pastors of Pastors yea Princes of Pastors Now must this woman either appeare in the habit of a harlot or flie from the sight of men and so as a faithfull Spouse and Virgin of Christ shee chooseth in a meane estate to retaine her virginity
up to hatefull things condemned by themselves to drunkennesse filthines usury base and shamefull courses that their name stinkes as a Candle sluttishly put out not after but before they are put out that all men may see them cast out of their place parts before hand and if the wicked servants talēt be taken from him what remaines but the other part of the sentence Cast him into utter darknesse Mat. 25. 30. 2. Another note of a man whose place shall not bee found is hee is one whose place is not found amongst Gods people in his House and ordinances Cain as vile as hee was being cast out from the presence of God complaines of a miserable case many outcasts now wilfully excommunicate themselves and please themselves in it their owne hatred of grace hath cast them out from Gods people and worship already Gods house hath already spewed them out as unworthy of the fellowship of Gods people and whither are they hastening hee that will not abide to have his place found amongst Gods people shall one day have his wish his place shall never bee found among them Thirdly a man blowne about as chaffe and dust already shall never have a stable estate hereafter as I. If any bee carried with every blast of false doctrine as unrooted unsetled in the faith never was there change of religion but Satan raised false teachers and seducers who did privily bring in damnable heresies such as Iannes and Iambres that resisted the truth and carryed away numbers from the truth themselves first carryed away by the deceit of Balaams wages beware of such Popish Pedlers that helpe to sell the people of God into the hands of the cursed Babylonians Ieremie describes such 1. They cast aside the Word of God and deliver their owne dreames chaffe instead of wheare they bend and straine their wits to looke out vaine and foolish things causes of banishment Lam. 2 14. 2. They are described by their intolerable Iesuiticall lying fathering that upon the Lord which the Lord never spake where doth the Lord in al◠the Scripture enveigh against the powerfull frequēt preaching of his holy word Shall we beleeve he speaks from God who cryes out of too much Preaching I must beleeve that his eyes are sore or bleared who cries out of light how can a Torch-light be welcome to a company of theeves or robbers how can the light of the word be welcome to Atheists Papists and Iesuiticall spirits who would robbe the Church of the word of salvation 3. They are described by hucksterly blending the wine of Gods word with the puddle-water of humane inventions watch them and disclaime them that would sow our field with the miscelen of Popery who like their Jesuiticall friends with one wipe will cast out all the reformed Churches from being the true Churches of God with whom wee have joyned as sisters ever since the restoring of the Gospell as in the harmony of Confessions appeareth with another overthrow the better halfe of the fourth Commandement as their friends cast out the whole second Commandement and as like the Jesuites as may bee cast dirt and foame upon the faithfull able and zealous Preachers because they see them stand in their light as the greatest opposites to their Popish projects Well for giving heed to such deceitfull Prophets the Lord threatneth Ierusalem to wipe her as a maid wipes a dish If we would not be cast out of our places Churches let us beware of such locusts whose property is to eate up every greene thing Rev. 9. 4. especially beware of the delusiō of Antichrist who is that beast that must goe into destruction and the King of these Locusts for how shall they that adhere to him stand or bee found in their place when his place shall not be found II. The like of one who is carryed away with the blasts of temptation from sinne to sinne having no stedfastnesse in a good course None can bee established by iniquity III. The like of them that are carryed away with Apostasie from good beginnings without constancy in their hearts or mouthes or good actions such withered leaves are blowne away with windes Psal. 1. And IIII. Of them that runne after the world setting their hope and heart on earthly things for how can such a ones place be found when earth and heaven flies away and their place found no more Revel 20 11. when all Ilands and Mountaines shall not bee found Rev. 16. 20 Vers. 9. And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent called the devill and Satan which deceiveth the whole world hee was cast out into the earth and his Angels were cast out with him This Verseis a large confirmation or interpretation of the former and in it are foure parts I. A large description of the party overthrowne the grand enemie of the woman and that by two arguments 1. His names and titles which are foure 1. The great dragon 2. That old serpent 3. The devill 4. Satan 2. His effect he deceiveth the whole world II. The manner of his overthrow He was cast not downe but out III. The place designed whither he was cast into the earth IIII. His company and associates in this overthrow and his Angels with him First of the description Quest. Why is the Spirit of God so large in it Answ. 1. That we should not mistake the enemie overthrowne and conceive of any naturall or physicall dragon in proper sense 2. That wee should not doubt of the truth of the overthrow For the meaning of the names I. The great dragon is the arch-enemie of mankinde who had in all ages by his instruments oppressed and outragiously wasted the Church but especially as wee have seene in this Text by the great and prophane power of the old Romane and imperiall dragons in whom he had ruled at his will tyrannized over the woman spreading upholding all Idolatry blasphemy heresies and plotting dēvising and executing all injustice tyranny and barbarous immanity against her this dragon is now cast out of whom and his greatnesse wee have spoken at large verse 3. and will neither repeate nor add to that discourse II. The Title is The old Serpent where 1. His nature 2. His adjunct His nature he is a serpent First because hee hid and covered himselfe in the serpent in his first stratageme against our first Parents Secondly because of his serpentine disposition in two things 1. His poyson and malice both in the fountaine and streams for in his owne nature his poyson is alwayes ready as in a fountain and in his effects it runneth incessantly as in full streames first and principally against Christ the Head of the Church and then against all the members for the Heads sake His speciall hatred is against Christ for as the serpent carries a most deadly antipathic and fight against the Hart or Hinde so this serpent against Christ who is aijeleth hashahar the hart or hinde of the
aske it of God Iam. 1. David prayeth God to turne Achitophels wisedome into foolishnesse and so it was God onely can make us wiser then this our enemy therefore as a child the weaker it feeles it selfe the faster hold it layes on the hand of the father so let us on our heavenly Father 3. By sticking to the Word Psalm 119. 24. make that the man of our counsell which onely can make us wise to salvation By this David was wiser then the ancient then the counsellers By this all the serpents stratagems are discovered and diverted 4. Grow up in the feare of God which is the beginning of wisedome This stands not in contemplation but operation rectifying the minde affections actions and is nothing but an upright endeavour to please God in all things A good understanding have all they that do thereafter II. Against the sting poyson and biting of this serpent 1. Let us looke to the brazen Serpent Christ that wee may be both healed and saved No other sight but this can ease us not gold not silver not lands nay not heaven it selfe without Christ nothing but Christs blood The Israelites must bee cured onely by looking the Christian by beleeving 2. A speciall preservative is prayer The policie of the weesell is that knowing the serpent will set upon her and that hee cannot abide the sent of Rue which wee call herbe-grace shee runnes and eates of that herbe and so the sent of it drives off the serpent so wee being sure to be set upon by the serpent who is too strong for us must runne to this herbe-grace and let our dayly and fervent prayer be as Rue against him Thus are wee taught to prevent temptation by praying not to be led into it 3. Daily apply the vertue and power of Christs death to the cure of thy sinne The Harts horne burnt is of power to drive away the serpent and a good antidote against his poison Christ is this Hart or Hinde his horne is the power of his death this horne burnt or parched on the crosse with his Fathers wrath is the onely antidote against the malignity of Sathan III. Against his satanicall opposition and enmity be sure to get God thy friend if God bee with thee Jesus Christ for thee the Spirit of God within thee who can be against thee Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us And if Christ be dead and risen for thee who can lay any thing to thy charge verse 33. 34. Now God is with thee so long as thou art with him for hee leaveth not those who have not left him first IV. Against his accusation get 1. The testimony of thy conscience excusing thee that no sinne is unrepented 2. Corin. 11. 12. 2. The testimony of the Spirit that thou art the Lords and in Jesus Christ and then is no condemnation Rom. 8. 1. 3. The Lords justification of thy uprightnesse Iob 1. By fearing God and departing from evill This of the names The second argument by which the Dragon is described is his effect that hee seduceth or deceiveth the whole world where foure things for opening the words I. What is it to seduce Answ. In proper speech it is to mislead or draw a man aside from the right way into some by-way and is a Metaphor taken from travellers or passengers who being ignorant of the right way are led aside into error and wrong wayes Thus the dragon after the way of God had beene propounded to the world in the preaching of the Gospell and Jesus Christ had beene published the onely Way by whom wee can come to the Father by all meanes would shut up this way to heaven and did draw aside the world from the true worship of God to idolatry and false worship of idols and heathen gods and from the embracing of Christian religion to Paganisme and Heathen rites so as the very name of Christ should be extinct if it were possible This is the seduction of the dragon which he incessantly labours in as the participle of the present tense noteth even a perpetuall action of drawing men from the way of truth to errour and false religion II. The persons that are seduced are the whole world alluding to his generall seduction and surprising of all mankinde in our first parents as also the generall corrupting of true religion in the daies of Noah when all flesh had corrupted their wayes and were destroyed by the deluge But by the whole world or earth are meant the reprobates or earthly minded men who intended the world and minded earthly things with contempt of heavenly These were the dragons prey for their multitude called the whole earth For first it is not possible the elect should bee seduced Matt. 24. 24. 2. They are onely in the world but not of the world they are not the earth while they are in the earth nor parts of it but citizens amongst Saints and of another corporation 3. The dragon cannot go beyond his commission which reacheth not to any elect but onely to those who by the just decree of God are given up to his seduction and their owne destruction Rev. 9. 4. The locusts are sent out with a limited commission they are commanded not to hurt the grasse of the earth nor any greene thing that is the elect who have any appearance of true grace these are not to be wounded with the keene stings of their damnable errours and devillish devises but onely the reprobate who have not the seale of God in their foreheads And Revel 13. 13. who be they that worship the beast but they all they and onely they that dwell upon earth earthly men who have no part in heaven whose names are not written in the booke of life III. How or by what meanes doth the dragon seduce the whole earth Answ. Hee hath many wayes some without us and some within us Without us especially three 1. Hee deceiveth by false doctrines errours heresies and lies in which sense Antichristianisme is called the deceiuablenesse of unrighteousnesse 2. Thes. 2. 9. because under pretence of truth and Christianity it fights against Christ and his truth Thus was Ahab seduced by foure hundred false prophets Thus Elymas seduced the deputy and resisted Pauls doctrine and Paul cals him the child of the devill Acts 13. 10. and so be all they that disswade others from hearing the truth II. He deceiveth the world by impious frauds diabolicall impostures and prodigious workes for the confirmation of error Reuel 13. 14. the beast did great wonders to deceive them that dwell on the earth by signes as to make fire come downe from heaven and the like This beast is Antichrist and that false prophet Revel 19. 20. who wrought false miracles by which he seduced those that received the marke of the beast Hee shall do great wonders to confirme a deceivable doctrine yea even call for fire from heaven Which though Bellarmine to free his Pope
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
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
out of the Church into the earth and there among earthly and carnall men holdeth his power still Ephes. 2. 2. The Prince that ruleth in the aire worketh among the sonnes of disobedience 2 Thes. 2. 9. Sathan worketh in Antichrist by all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish 2 Cor. 4. 4. The god of this world blindeth the mindes of infidels or unbeleevers And why 1. Sathans raigne is in the reigne of sin that is his scepter a wicked heart in which sinne raigneth is his chaire of estate But sinne raignes not in the elect that are under grace Rom. 6. 14. 2. Sathan being the Prince of darknesse rules in the kingdome of darknesse whence wicked spirits are called rulers of the darknesse of this world Ephes. 6. 12. The devill is the father of all spirituall darknesse of lies heresies false doctrines false worship and all workes of darknesse This is the world of darknesse in which hee ruleth as a king in his Kingdome But the godly are gotten out of this Egypt out of the reach of this hellish Pharaoh and are gotten into Goshen the Church where light is Ephes. 5. 8. Ye were once darknesse but now are light in the Lord. 3. Sathan is the father of sinne and sinne is the mother of death by which necessary connexion appeares who are his subjects over whom hee holdeth his full and absolute power to weet a world of dead men dead in trespasses and sinnes destitute of the life and Spirit of God and as dead men laid and buryed in the earth among these hee ruleth As the demoniake in our Saviours time lived among the graves and there tyrannized so doth Sathan being cast out into the earth which is as another Golgatha But the godly are quickned by Christ being formerly dead in trespasses and live now the life of the Sonne of God and have part in the first resurrection Gal. 2. 20. And so are exempted from the power of Sathan Which is a ground of comfort to all true hearted Christians that stand in the spirituall combate 1. Thou fightest against a conquered and bound enemy who is cast out of all thy Lords dominions 2. Hee is cast into the earth and keepeth state in the world as the god of the world but thou art called out of the world and brought from the earth Object If hee be cast out how comes it to passe that I am so afflicted with horrible hellish and violent temptations Answ. 1. The Dragon is not cast out of all power till hee bee cast into hell but hee is cast out of full power in the godly 2. There is a reserved wrigling power of the Dragon which may assault thee but hee shall never hurt thee that art one of Gods chosen neither by his temptation nor persecution For first though they may afflict and exercise thee yet all the gates of hell cannot overcome or extinguish thy faith Secondly though they may trouble thee and hinder thee in the way as the Moabites did Israel by their wiles yet can they not in the end of it which is life and glory Thirdly though they may hinder the sense and comfort and joy of thy salvation yet can they not the right nor assured hope of thy happinesse Object I finde these temptations prevaiâ—e in mee and if the devill raigne in sinne I feare he is not cast out of mee Answ. There is the least feare of that sinne that is most feared The feare of sinne keepes downe the raigne of it But for the strengthening of such as are in combate we must know that the best have sinne but sinne hath not them the best slip and fall but lye not in falls the best do the acts of sinne but not habitually they trade not nor walke in sinnes at least with delight as men in a pleasant way the best have flesh but walke not according to flesh And therefore although thou findest sinne present with thee yet if thou canst finde the power of it weakened if thou sometimes sinnest but art so farre from tumbling and trading in sinne as that thou hatest what thou doest all is safe the dragon is cast out for all that 2. Here is a rule of tryall to know our estate whether wee belong to heaven or are yet in the earth under the dominion of Sathan If Sathan uphold his power and state in sinne and unrighteousnesse within thy heart thou art apparently in the earth and of the earth Christ hath no part in thee nor thou in him Art thou an enemy to grace to the doctrine of grace Art thou a stubborne and obstinate sinner an enemy to the perswasions of the Word and Spirit a sonne of disobedience a rebell against all thou hearest Art thou a lover of thy sinnes an hater of them that hate and discover them Art thou of the Dragons trade and walkest in fraud lying accusing and envying Gods children Dost thou cast thy selfe out of the Church and wilfully excommunicate and separate thy selfe from God from his house and worship from his Saints and people Now this doctrine tells thee that for these accursed qualities the devill himselfe was cast out by Christs victory and so shalt thou as an enemy of Christ shall Christ cast him out and keepe thee in who resemblest him no confounded shall ye be together and eternally excommunicate from God and his Church 3. This is a ground of instruction if Sathan bee once cast out to keepe him out and let him enter no more When Christ cast out a devill he said Go out of him and enter into him no more So hee never recovereth his power against the Church againe being once cast into the earth Apostasie and revolt from the truth once received gives him a stronger and surer possession then before For he never comes againe but hee brings seaven worse spirits then himselfe And now seeing that Sathan is cast out of our Church into the earth let us not turne to worldly rudiments and that earthly religion and doctrine of Popery and Antichristian idolatry which is from earth set up and upheld by earthly power and policie thrusting it selfe on the world by serpentine craft lying pretenses of miracles martyrdome concord of doctors perpetuall succession from the Apostles c. But let the Dragon rage and dominere in the earth whither hee is cast and in that fleshly doctrine which carrieth away earthly and unstable men Let him make spoile in his owne dominion amongst Papists and Idolaters and hypocrites and atheists Let us keepe that pretious truth which is committed to us and hold fast that which Michael hath wonne for us shall wee runne after the dragon cast into the earth Consider hereunto 1. How can that be a religion of God that openeth a wide gate to all manner of hatefull and unnaturall sinnes by licenses pardons before and after sanctuaries c. that exempts subjects from lawes obedience oathes and allegiance to Princes that under pretence of Christ
wicked enemies of it For 1. By these overthrows the most desperate enemies are daunted for a time and by the terrour of judgements discouraged from their mischievous enterprises against the Church Did not Gods plagues on the Egyptians stop their unreasonable violence against Israel yea however the kings heart was hardened to destruction yet the people were overcome so as to do them all the good they could leaving themselves bare and naked to adorne and enrich them with their Jewels And how hath the heavy hand of God felt by our enemies made them lesse bold to attempt the like mischiefes yea rather inclined them to be at a kinde of peace with us 2. By the dreadfull overthrows of wicked men the Lord sets up his Church and makes even the enemies themselves submit and stoop to her Psalm 18. 44. When Davids sword prevailes in the Lords battels strangers shall bee in subjection though dissemblingly The proud Aramites were forced to submit themselves wiih halters about their necks to the King of Israell 1. King 20. 31. 2. Chron. 32. 22. When that memorable judgement was executed against the King of Assur and his proud army many are said to bring offerings to Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah who was magnified thenceforth of all nations So by the fearfull hand of God against proud Herod the Lord made his word to prosper and beleevers to multiply Act. 12 23. 24. 3. By the judgements of God powred out upon wicked men they themselves are convinced in their consciences and forced to acknowledge themselves in a wrong course and that the state of the godly whom they persecute is farre more happy then their owne If Balaam in his prosperity wished himselfe in the number of Gods people what did hee when the sword came against him in the slaughter of the Midianites Numb 31. 8. And when the Egyptians were hurled among the waves did they not wish themselves in the state of the meanest Israelites And shall not all wicked enemies who now brave it out against the Saints do so also when the waters of Gods wrath arise and beginne to returne forcibly upon them III Motives to this duty are these 1. The end proposed by the Lord of all his actions is the setting up of his glory but especially when in overthrowing the dragon hee sheweth forth all his glorious attributes of power justice hatred of sinne revenge of sinne as also of mercy care and love of his Church the over-mastering of her enemies for the terrour of all proud adversaries and the encouraging and confirming the faith of the Saints 2. As this is the Lords end so wee cannot disappoint him of this end without our own great prejudice For as thankfull praises for old mercies invite new so ingratitude being a bundle of many sins hinders the course and current of Gods blessings unto us If we would continue perpetuate mercies to ourselvs we must not deprive the Lord of his due praises 3. The Lord hath manifested his pleasure and that hée is well pleased to have the mindefulnesse of his mercies towards his people to dwell with his Church to beget in them more love of himselfe and a greater desire of promoting his kingdome Hence himselfe pleased to be the institutor of feasts speciall services for perpetuall memory of mercies deliverāces as the Paslover to perpetuate the memory of the Angels passing over the Israelites houses in slaying the first born of Egypt saving thē frō the revenging Angell And in their entring into the land of Canaan hee appointed the feast of Tabernacles in remembrance of all that providence and preservation of them and theirs from all enemies while they dwelt not in walled townes but in Tabernacles forty yeares in the wildernesse 4. The very Heathens themselves after their victories would institute publique solemnities to their gods in way of thankfulnesse and dedicate dayes and temples to them for remembrance and shall Christians come behinde them and as the manner is after victories eate and drinke and bragge and sweare in the meane time forget their songs to the Lord 5. We cannot better or liker to our life of heaven exercise our selves on earth when all the Saints shall solemnly and tryumphantly sing and sound out the glory of God for their finall deliverance from the Dragon and all his Angels by Jesus Christ when the Angels Saints Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all the blessed company of heaven shall joyne in the song of Moses and the Lambe Now the Saints on earth must resemble and begin this life of heaven and seeing all other services and spirituall duties shall cease and onely this shall remaine in heaven our care must bee that it cease not upon earth This doctrine casts out of the society of the Church such as grieve and repine at her prosperity and happy victories for he cannot be a member of the Church who rejoyceth not in her joy nor a sonne of this mother who is not glad in her prosperity Is it a note of a righteous man to rejoyce when hee seeth the vengeance Psalm 58. 10. what is hee then that pineth when hee seeth Gods revenge powred on the heads of his adversaries 1. Such as grieve when Antichrists kingdome is shaken when they heare any newes of defeating his forces and cannot containe or conceale themselves but by magnifying the Catholike Captaines and contemptuous discourses against the Protestants forces bewray what they are and on what part they stand good subjects must they needs bee while they bewray such sure affections to the enemies of GOD our religion our Countrey our King and our Kings Children and good souldiers to Christ and trusty who are sorry when their Generall gets a victory I cannot tell whether to impute their boldnesse more to want of grace in disclaiming the truth or want of wit in such discovery of themselves 2. Such as rage and storme against the power of the Word which discovers the nakednesse of Popery So shamelesse and foolish are some ignorant sots and so earnestly set for their Popish Dagon that if they heare any thing against the doating doctrines of Popery they are ready to tumult as the Ephesians for their Diana It is nothing with them to revile the Ministers and give them all the lie and charge them with ignorance or falsification But what need clearer evidence to cast them for treachery against Christ his truth and holy religion established by the lawes in regard of which if folly it selfe did not leade them they would forbeare 3. Such as cannor endure our solemnities and daies of publike joy for our deliverances against the bloody Papists but as Vipers swell with poyson and griefe that their mother hath any cause of joy and that the Church and Kingdome was lifted up by God from such destruction as never came into the heads of any wretches but Papists or devils The barbarous heathens could not expresse their joy sufficiently in their triumphs gratulatory rites
wicked men goe on in sinne as if they were able to make their party good against him 2. They are his enemies who will not suffer him to raigne over them Luke 19. 27. but cast off his yoake and tread his Scepter under foot Enemies to his Word are enemies to himselfe as First such as forbid to preach the Word as the enemies of Ieremy chap. 11. 19. and the Rulers to the Apostles Did not wee charge you to preach no more in this name Acts 4. 17. and 5. 28. Secondly such as consult evill against the Preachers of the Gospell under colcurs and pretences like those who said they were Abrahams seed yet went about to kill Christ why because his Word had no place in them Iohn 8. 37. Violencing of Christ in himselfe or his members is a signe of an enemy of Christ. Thirdly such as snuffe and murmure at holy and wholesome doctrine and conceive wrath where they should apply the truth for their owne reformation Iohn 6. 41. They murmured because hee said I am the bread that came down frō heavē Why he preacheth himselfe and hath his owne ends and what hath hee to doe with us what calling hath hee to bee so busie But what is it not the truth that is spoken canst thou hate the truth and not bee an enemy of Christ Oh what a fearefull thing is it to stand thus in enmity against Christ his Word or servants the power of Christ one day with one word shall smite them to the earth as all his apprehenders Ioh. 18. 6. and thou that wilt not bee subject to the rod of his mouth shalt be crushed with his rod of iron Ps. 2. 9. 3. That great Antichrist and all his deluded armies regular and secular are the greatest enemies to the whole Kingdome of Christ whose whole doctrine and religion is but a disthroning of the Sonne of God from his power and regency And now they fight with all their power and politike plots Abroad their forces are every where prepared with death destruction in all their way at home their friends fight with lies slanders and such other weapons as beseeme their lying and slanderous religion were their religiō truth and from truth it would not need such weapons to support it But can they prevaile against the power of Christ no the breath of his lips shall slay both the Captaine and the troupes led by him whose names are not written in the Booke of life Re. 17. 14. They shall fight with the Lambe but the Lambe shall overcome and Will not God avenge his Elect who cry night and day and whose blood they have shed like water and there with watered all the earth as a flowing Sea 4. Enemies of Christ are such indifferent men as having power place and calling out of policy and selfe-seeking are content and silent to see Popery prevaile and doe not stand out in these times to helpe the Lord and his people against his enemies I meane especially those Ministers that doe not their uttermost to detect the frauds and impostures of Antichrist nor to confirme their people in the truth against the same For as he were no other then a Traitour to his King that shall see and suffer any other to thrust himself upon the Kingdome and claim all royall authority make Edicts to draw all the subjects to his faction so is hee to Jesus Christ who can patiently digest that the man of sinne should thrust himselfe upon the Church as the Head of it and take on him to pard on sinne to make lawes to binde conscience and make new Articles of faith and proclaime himself King of the Church by fraud force cōpell men to take his mark in their hands foreheads Surely as the power of Christ shall shortly overtake this sonne of perdition who exalts himselfe above all that is called God and takes on him in the Temple as if hee were God so shall it meet with all those that take part with him as they doe that discover him not nor discover themselves against him 5. They are enemies to Christ who are enemies and rebels against the power which hee hath committed to Civill Princes The Arch-rebell of the world against Christ and Christian Princes is Popery neither can those Papist which hold the Principles of Jesuited Priests at this day but bee rebels to Christ and to our Christian King For 1. They must hold our King a slave and Vassall to the Pope and under his power to bee King or not for the spiritual power may depose Princes and place other in their stead when necessity requires saith Bellarmine l. 5. c. 7. and Suarez Defens fid l. 3. c. 23. 2. They must hold that the Pope may command other Kings to punish him if hee please to call him Heretike or Schismatike and if they doe not hee may constraine them by excommunication Bell. ibid. 3. They must hold that subjects may depose their Princes if Hereticall or Tyrannicall and although Christians did not depose Nero Dioclesian Iulian c. it is because they wāted force for by right they might if they had power enough Bell. ibid. Neither did they use cunning when they wanted power as now our Catholikes and honest Powder-traytors because it was fit for the foundations of the Church to bee laid in patience and suffering Neither was it expedient in those times to doe all that law and right admitted Mariana de Rege l. 1. c. 6. But in all memory of men such as have undertaken the killing of Tyrants have beene in high estimation saith hee and commends the person and fact of Clement on Henry 3. 4. They must hold that although S. Paul saith Let every soule bee subject to the higher powers yet S. Paul never added That every one should bee subject to powers excommunicate or deposed by the Pope neither can the one hee inferred from the other being meere contraries for à deposed King is no longer an higher power Suarez Defens l. 6. c. 4. sect 5. And this is the reason that Bellarmine against Barclay c. 3. introduceth the Pope answering the people which would continue in the obedience of the deposed King thus I doe not free thee from the naturall or Divine commandement when I absolve thee from the tie of obedience for I doe not permit thee thou shouldest not obey thy King which were against the Divine law but I make him that was thy King to bee so no longer as a servant set at liberty is bound no longer to that Master 5. They must hold that Clerkes are no subjects and that the King hath no power over them either in spirituall or temporall things So saith the Cardinall It cannot bee proved that the Kings of this age are lawfull Superiors and Iudges of Clerkes if by the same meane it be not proved that Children are above their fathers sheepe above their Pastor temporall things above spirituall and Not onely in spirituall things
to keepe him under for ever but yet the third day he arose gloriously so there is a third day for his members wherein they shall rise from under all the infamies and reproachfull slaunders of evill men as out of the graves For if the Head be risen so are the members Secondly the spouse of Christ cannot be cast into such a deepe but he whom her soule loveth hath his hand under her head Cant. 2. 6. so as the Lord never suffers his servants to be so farre cast downe but his hād under thē at lēgth shal lift up their heads Let what floods and waves of reproches and persecutions rise against them they cannot sink Christ is with them in the shippe he will seasonably rebuke the waves still the windes stay the blustring stormes cleare the heavens and make a calme for them 3. So it shall be in regard of the godly whose graces and holinesse must bee exercised but not extinct whose glory and happinesse may a while bee suspended and obscured but not prevented or hindred The Sunne of the world may bee set with clouds covered shut in and hid for many dayes Acts 27. 20. but yet clouds will bee dispersed and the darke mists and fogs will be scattered and the Sunne will recover his shine and strength even so the shine of grace and innocency may bee clouded and darkned many dayes but when God hath exercised his Church a while he will over-blow the tempest againe the Sunne of grace shall rise and disperse these blacke clouds and cause them to vanish unto nothing After darknesse saith Iob I shall see light And suppose the Saints walke in blacke a while yea all the while they are here below yet they shall walke in white Rev. 3. 4. when their mourning garments shall bee taken from them and they clothed with whitenesse of holinesse and glory 4. It shall so bee in respect of the wicked accusers who must not alwayes have their will and force their rod must not lye alwayes on the lot of the godly but when the Lord hath by them whipped and corrected his Children they must be cast into the fire as Ashur was Object But wee see the godly haled to death and destruction by false accusation as Naboth as Christ himselfe as the Christians and Martyrs in all ages executed as traitors heretikes and wicked men Besides how goe the godly hanging down their heads as men onely despised and carying the scorne of the times as men onely worthy of hatred and thus they goe heavily to their graves and their innocency is buryed with them Answ. All this impeacheth not this truth For First this promise is made good so farre as the Lord seeth good for his servants Secondly often in this life the innocency of those who die as guilty is restored them as Naboth whose innocency is recorded to all posterity and the Martyrs in the ten persecutions after-ages honoured their memory and sufferings though they dyed as the greatest malefactors and the poore Christians in Queene Maries dayes who were cursed to hell and burned in the flames for most accursed heretikes and traitors God stirred up Master Fox to cleare their innocency to honour their memory and cause all ages to glorifie GOD in their grace and constancy Thirdly many wrongs must bee reserved for the brightnesse of the great day to reveale and some things perhaps never come to light in this world but then the Saints committing their cause and names in well-doing unto the Lord hee will keepe faithfully that which they commit unto him and for his owne name is jealous of theirs Fourthly in the Courts of men the day goeth against truth and innocency so high as from which in earth is no appeale and so the matter must rest yet there is a day and an high Court of heaven which is without corruption of Judge or witnesse this shall right all errours of inferiour Courts there innocency and innocents shall stand in tryall and the righteous shall there shine as the Sunne in the firmament Mat. 13. 43. if not in the kingdome of the world in the Kingdome of the Father And for the godly whose grace and innocency appeareth not here nor themselves in this strange Countrey are knowne what they are When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory and if Christ be contented to bee obscured here so may we also This doctrine serves to terrifie the enemies of the Church whose tongues are now their owne none may controll them they priviledge themselves to devise and disperse what lyes they list But they must know First that the mouth of wickednesse shall bee stopped Secondly that truth is strongest and will prevaile though they may outface and smother it for a while Could they hinder Christ from rising can they hinder the day from dawning or the Sunne from his rising or course no more can they bury innocency and grace so low but it will rise againe Thirdly they must bee called to reckoning for all wicked speeches and false accusations of the Saints when they would esteeme it their happinesse to lie ever in the darke cave of their rottennesse but they must be fetcht in to carry the shame and perpetuall reproach which they would have cast upon innocency Againe this may comfort the Saints who heare there is a day when their righteousnesse shall bee brought forth they shall have their desire As falsehood and darknesse feares nothing but to bee discovered so truth and light feare nothing but to be hid Now they rejoyce in the day of manifestations of things rolled in darknesse Now shall their innocency triumph when shame shal cover the faces of all accusers as they did Hamans before his hanging In that day shall men and angels see that they were not seditious factious rebellious proud hypocrites and worst of all men but humble peaceable obedient to the good lawes of God and men sober fruitfull sincere gracious and holy Oh how sweete and honourable shall that sentence of absolution from Christs owne mouth be after all the unjust sentences of wicked men 3. This teacheth us a rule of wisedome to judge not according to outward appearance but with righteous judgement Iohn 7. 24. Judge of persons as of coyne by the touchstone not by heare-say We judge of a great heire not as hee is in minority but according to his livelihood and future great estate Labour to esteeme of Saints not as they are here besmeared but as they shall appeare like Christ in glory Seest thou one for Christ made like unto Christ in reproaches and suffering ignominy and rejection now conclude this man must bee like him in glory though the world cast a sea of shame upon him 2 Tim. 2. 12. If wee suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him 4. This is a ground of patience and constancy in wel-doing and suffering evils Grieve not to see the darke night shut
Note the reason why Satan and Antichrist are such enemies to the Word and Scriptures of God namely because it is the hammer of his kingdome and the meanes of the Saints victory against them They know well that nothing can conquer errour but the truth and nothing can chase away darknesse but light And their owne experience by Gods blessing upon the meanes at this day tells them how sound doctrine hath and doth winne ground and victory over their Antichrist whose armed Princes cannot long support him against it Truth is strongest and shall prevaile Marvell not that our Country-Papists hate to death sound and faithfull Preachers while they can indure wel enough frothy and loose doctrine they have reason they feele these by the sound application of the Word shaking their tottering kingdome so doe not the other Marvell not if they maligne and scorne zealous Professors but formall Protestants that hover as meteors in their religion they brooke well enough for those hold out the word of life and light which is the ensigne of victory over them so doe not the other 5. Seeing the Word is so powerfull a meanes of victory let it bee the word of our Testimony and let us learne to give testimony to it First in word and profession speake boldly for the truth and that in the day and where thou maist bee heard not as Nicodemus in the night Secondly in holy life and conversation see it bee a counterpaine of holy doctrine Thirdly in passion and suffering for it whatsoever awaites so holy a doctrine Consider hereunto 1. Christ himselfe was a faithfull witnesse of the truth shall not the servant stand where the Lord stands 2. The end of every Christians comming into the world must bee the same with the end of Christ comming into it but that was to beare witnesse unto the truth Ioh. 18. 37. 3. Consider the dignity of truth it is Gods own therefore the Apostle was not ashamed of it And the truth of God is the Pillar and stud of the world 1 Tim. 3. 15. Not to uphold this Pillar is to let the world fall to confusion 4. The impudency of men against the truth Esa. 3. 9. they are not ashamed to invent and abet lies and open injustice against the Word and bringers of it and are wee ashamed to testifie to the truth 5. Christ will confesse such hereafter as confesse him here Mat. 10. 32. but will bee ashamed of them that are now ashamed of him when the unbeleevers and fearefull shall bee cast into the lake Rev. 21. 8. 6. It is the honourable office of the Spirit of God Iohn 15. 26. He shall testifie of mee and yee shall witnesse also And they loved not their lives to the death This is the second instrumentall or adjuvant cause of the conquest of the Saints namely their constancy and valorous Martyrdome Where to open the meaning we have many questions to resolve Quest. 1. Whether may not a Christian lawfully love his life Answ. The love of a mans life must be considered 1. Simply 2. Comparatively In the former respect it is simply lawfull for a man to love his life for First it is a naturall instinct which God hath put in all creatures for their own preservation and it is an unnaturall sin for a man to sinne against his owne life Secondly the law of God which bindes us not to kill our selves or others bindes us also to preserve our lives and the lives of others And the same law that bindes us to preserve the life of our enemies beast bindes us much more to preserve our owne lives Thirdly in the Gospell the Apostle saith No man ever hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it Eph. 5. 29. and even the body is a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Ghost But in comparison it is not lawfull as to love a mans life more than God or the truth of God or above Christ and the faith and religion of Christ to love the naturall life and meanes of it above the spirituall and heavenly this is sinfull for First we must buy the truth but not sell it at any rate all the lives of men and Angels are not to bee valued with God and his truth Secondly the wise merchant sels all for the Pearle that is for Christ and his Gospell and goeth away rejoycing Thirdly in this comparison not to hate father and mother and wife and Children yea and his owne life is to renounce Christ Luke 14. 26. but this hatred is not single but comparative and respective In which comparison our Saviour saith Hee that saveth his life loseth it and hee that loseth it saveth it as he that spareth his seed loseth it and hee that soweth it saveth it And thus are the words here to be meant that the Saints preferred the faith truth of Christ before their owne lives and loved death more than their lives when by it they could more glorifie Christ For so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is they fleighted contemned yea despised their lives and rather exposed them to hazzard and losse then to bee removed from their holy profession Thus are they said not to love their lives that love Christ and his truth more Quest. 2. Can none overcome but Martyrs and those that die for Christ Ans. Many that give not their lives for Christ overcome and conquer for God calls not all to that honour and service of Martyrdome but even in such as give not their lives to the death for Christ must be three things First preparation and disposition they must bee ready to give their lives for Christ if hee please to call them to it as those that prize Christ and his grace above their lives and in way of thanfulnesse to him that gave his life for them do sacrifice theirs to him Secondly affection of which our Text speakes They loved not their lives to the death The love of their lives must bee subordinate under Christ. This will follow the former where Christ is prized hee will beeloved and victory which alwayes implies not the action of Martyrdome implyeth ever the affection rather to die than deny the Lord Jesus Thirdly expectation to bee Martyrs in action as wel as in affection if the Lord please so to imploy us Rom. 8. 35. All day long are wee counted as sheepe for the slaughter Where these three are the Lord who esteemes of men not by events but affection and the ready minde accounts of them as Martyrs as Aquila and Priscilla are said to lay downe their neckes for Christ Rom. 16. 4. their readinesse is reckoned for the deed Quest. 3 It seemes then a man may not flye in persecution May he Answ. Yes some flight in persecution is lawfull For First Christ himselfe alloweth his Disciples to flee Mat. 10. 23. If they persecute you in one City flee into another Secondly we have good examples of
are so far from being overcome by externall violence that when their persons are most downe their graces are most victorious and invincible even in the eyes of the enemies themselves for 1 Can they seaver them from the truth and faith of the Gospell no they will not live without it but will dye that it may live they will water the furrows of it with their dearest blood rather then it should not grow they will rake it out of the fire into which the enemies cast it 2 Can they sunder them from the love of God and Christ as they intend by torment No they see their love stronger then death all the waters in the sea nor all their seas os sorrows and deadly torments cannot quench it 3 Can they cast them out of the favour of God and possession of happinesse as by their degradations excommunications anathemaes and great curses they desire No but the Lord is apparantly with them in sixe troubles and in seaven in the fire and in the water and never leaves them till they be with him in his immediate presence-chamber as wheat laid up for ever in his garner 4 Can they overcome their patience fortitude or constancy No but by the undaunted resolution of the Saints in their torments the mindes of the persecutors themselves seeme rather overcome then the Martyrs that suffer them Even Iulians furie was conquered by the patience of the Martyrs Roman Tyrants in the first tenne persecutions were even tyred with the stedfastnesse of the Saints in suffering Thus are they in their weaknesse most strong as dying but behold they live afflicted on every side but not overcome This is the priviledge of their estate of their cause of their graces that they are never lesse overcome then when they seeme most overcome and as the text saith they most gloriously overcome when they love not their lives to the death The point of doctrine from these words thus expounded is this Godly men must contemne their lives and not love them to the death in respect of Christ and his truth Luke 14. 26. He that hateth not his owne life cannot be my disciple that is he that is not ready to bring his life in his hand and offer it up in sacrifice when my cause and the Gospels calleth for it cannot be a good Christian. Act. 20. 24. Afflictions and bands abide me every where but I passe not neither is my life deare unto me so that I may finish my course with joy Heb. 12. 4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood as if he had said Howsoever ye have endured a great fight in afflictions while ye were made a gazing-stocke to the world and while ye were companions to them that were tossed too and fro Chap. 10. 32. yet yee are not come so farre as you must make account of in the profession of Christianity because yee have not resisted unto blood Revel 2. 20. Bee thou faith full unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life 1 Because of Christs merit and desert hee loved not his life to death for us nay hee was earnest to die for us Luke 12. 50. I have a baptisme to bee baptized with and how am I grieved till it be ended how then should our thankfulnesse binde us to give up if wee had a thousand lives for him shall the just sufter for the unjust and shall not the unjust hold himselfe bound to suffer for the just 2 The worth of truth bindes on all Christians this dutie to despise their lives for the truths sake for the truth of the Gospell is farre more worthy than all that wee can give in exchange for it God hath magnified it above all things Psal. 138. 2. The Sonne of God magnified it above his owne life it cost him deare he bought it with his life and precious blood The Saints of God the cloud of witnesses He. 12. 1. were prodigall of their blood and would and did spend it till the last drop rather then by any torments they would bee removed from the truth and faith of the Gospell and we are injoyned to buy the truth at any rate even with our blood if God call us to it but not to sell it for any thing in the world 3 Our neare relation unto Christ bindes us not to love our lives to death for his sake For 1 Wee are his redeemed ones wee are not our owne but bought with the price of his blood 1 Cor. 6. 20. and therefore wee must glorifie him in our soules and bodies whose wee are 2 Wee are his souldiers prest under his colours and if a souldier sell his life every day for a base pay how much more ought the Christian souldier in a farre more honourable warre esteeme his life at a small rate in the cause and quarrell of his Generall and if a souldier must stand in the place his Generall sets him in and must not remove though hee dye for it how much more ought wee being called to stand fast in the faith of the Gospell keepe our ground unremoved from our holy profession though it bee by the losse of our lives Thus then must a Christian souldier animate his owne resolution Shall any fouldier more feare or more love his Commander than I my Michael my Christ shall I more feare a Tyrant threatning death and torments then my Lord requiring my faithfulnesse and constancy doth a man of valour feare the dishonor and shame of a cowardly flight above torment and terrour of present death and should such a man as I flie who preferre in true judgement an honourable and happy death above a thousand base and disgracefull lives 3 Wee are not onely souldiers but houshold servants unto Jesus Christ and therefore must shew all good faith fulnesse to our God Tit. 2. 10. And herein a faithfull servant is differenced from a slothfull a sincere Christian from an hypocrite the hypocrite may bee a great Professor and call Christ Lord Lord and in the peace of the Gospell will say with Peter Master I will dye with thee before I will deny thee but if Christ be in hands and called into question the voyee of a Maide will make him turne his copy But it is proper to the Elect to stand fast and to hold that hee hath and maintaine against all challengers to the death the profession of truth committed unto his trust 4. We are yet nearer even members of Christ and the member naturally lifteth up it selfe and will lose it selfe to beare off a blow from the head and it doth but the duty And much more ought it to bee so in the mystic all body wherein the union is farre more straite then in the naturall 4 Our service to our fellow-members putteth us in minde of this duty which we owe much more to our head If for the edificatien of the Church we are bound willingly to lay downe our lives much more for the
of nature in delivering them up to vile affections and unnaturall sinnes to receive such recompence of their errour as was meet Rom. 1. 24. 27. how much more must hee thinke it a meet recompence of such a sinne against the light of grace to give them up t◠effectuall delusion to be carryed by Satan hoodwinkt and headlong unto destruction But let us see some instances 1. How he spared not his owne people the Jews his owne first borne among whom when the Sonne of God came as to his owne they received him not when false Prophets and false Christs rose up among them those they followed both before his comming and after as both divine and humane stories make mention Iohn 10. 8. All that came before me were theeves and robbers Acts 5. 36 37. Iudas and Theudas drew away many to destruction And after false Christs and Prophets were to rise with such efficacy of delusion as to deceive if it were possible the very Elect Matth. 24. Iosephus speakes of sundry especially one Aegyptian which carryed away thirty thousand Jewes by one vaine delusion to destruction And not long after this same sinne made their nation spew them out that they are now an hissing an execration to all the nations of the earth They renounced Christ to rule over them and ever since the dragon hath had them in possession 2. Consider how the wrath of God came upon the former ages of the world according to the warning of the Gospell and how the earth and sea who would not receive Christ received Antichrist in his roome and the inhabitants of them not loving the truth were therefore led away with horrible lies See Gods retaliation First God sent them Apostles Euangelists and true Pastors who sought only the glory of God and the salvation of men but they despised and distasted them But how did the Lord plague the earth in the same kinde giving up the inhabitants to receive hypocrites Impostors Fryers and fat Monkes who onely sought themselves and to make a spoile of men eating up their estates as Locusts for number and unprofitablenesse these were willingly borne as the Church of Corinth despising the Apostle Paul gave eare to false Apostles who robbed and spoyled them Secondly Christ the Lord came with an easie and sweete yoake his doctrine and his Apostles was a freedome from the bondage and burden of Ceremonies and traditions of the Fathers 1 Pet 1. 18. and the new commandement was only to beleeve in the Sonne of God and love one another This sweet yoake was cast off but with what an exchange now the devill yoakes them with traditions superstitious ceremonies and plagues the earth with tyrannicall and Antichristian Lawes Canons Decretals devised by men his little finger is heavier then Christs loynes yet Popish Countries receive them and like them well Thirdly Christ instituted and ordained a most holy Sacrament the Communion of his blessed body and blood but the inhabitants of the earth and sea despised that simple and most chaste and Primitive institution But was not the world ever since justly plagued with that gawdy and impudent harlot of the Popish Masse the very spirit and quintessence of Antichrist Fourthly how could the world bee more severely plagued then by receiving that greasie Priesthood that hatefull sacrifice of Antichrist but could it be plagued more iustly for abolishing the Priesthood and sacrifice of Christ Fiftly Christ in the Gospell calleth men to the participation of grace life pardon heaven and salvation freely offered in the Gospel men would not heare this voyce How iustly therefore hath the world bin blinded and gulled these many hundred yeares in buying at great rates lies sleights impostures iuglings meere tricks of wit and cunning pardons dispensations merits masses and heaven it selfe Sixtly Christ ordeined in his Church holy Pastors giving them liberty to live in holy wedlocke according to Gods Ordinance This order of Christ pleased not the earth and sea but how sensibly revenged for no sooner did they refuse and reject holy Pastors but they admitted most filthy bawds and unchaste Pope-holy Priests and Nunnes into Ecclesiasticall Orders I might say into the Popes chaire A man had need of a vizard to speake of their holinesse and stop all his senses to heare it Seventhly when the world scorned and persecuted the Saints living how did the Lord give them up to worship and invocate in most idolatrous manner the Saints dead and departed And when they despised and trod under foot the living images of God the godly and holy Professors of Christ great was the Lords revenge in giving them up to worship dead images of wood stone metalls c. 3 God who is ever the same and like himselfe hath heretofore warned us in this land that we have not received Christ nor embraced his truth in that love and affection that became us 1 By the prevailing of Priests and Jesuites heretofore in the land who swarmed as the frogs of Aegypt and have seduced many thousands but never any that loved the truth 2 By the propensity and readinesse of many to receive any religion or doctrine according as the times should require And this hath ever beene the sinne of English people to swim with the streame of times And this print of Gods finger is at this day set upon many plainly convincing that they never received the truth in the love of it 3 By the generall fighting against the light and hatred of the very sent of sincerity in both preachers and people which the Apostle makes a sure note of perdition Phil. 1. 28. Let Iohn Baptist come he is excepted against and hath a divell Let Paul come too much learning hath made him mad Let Christ come he is a friend of Publicans a demoniacke c. But let Antichrist come Popery come a flatterer and deluder come the multitude applaud them receive them Delusion shal be effectual to the damnation of such as he must carrie into his owne perdition 4 The same arrowes of Gods wrath against this sinne are shot in amongst our selves many of whom plainly bewray their naturall hatred of the light and love of lies Let a man come in the name of Christ convince intreat perswade beseech men to be reconciled let him with the losse of his owne peace seeke theirs the more faithfully and sincerely he deales the more despightfully he is rejected the more paines and love such a man sheweth the lesse is he loved or recompensed by many presently they plot to sterve him out or if he stay he must live on aire or grasse for them Let a flatterer come in his owne name and call the churle liberall and sing an Omnia benè and for their owne applause profit or credit run along in all their courses no marvell if these men be put in their bosomes and how can it be but he that hates true dealing should love false Is this love of the light when God
opposing Christ when by the clouding vailing of the truth of the Gospel she saw her selfe spoyled of the shining clothing of the Sun when shee saw the Moone that was under her feet set above her head when now her Pastors and Bishops whom persecution could not conquer were addicted to pompe wealth contention primacy and greatnesse when now she saw her selfe robbed of her crowne of twelve starres that was upon her head and those starres were fallen from their Orbe and Firmament when her Pastors forsaking Apostolike doctrine and striving for superstitions and to stuffe the Church with humane devises and traditions in stead of Christs most sacred institutioÌ„s when she saw that not now the bodies of men were slain and wounded as in former persecutions but their soules and consciences were everlastingly wounded with heresies errours and Apostasie for the truth now shee flies into the wildernes now she dares not shew her face in those particular coÌ„gregations in which formerly her beauty glory was conspicuous her case now is as of a chaste spouse who seeing a painted harlot and a bewitching whore taken into her place and those offices of love and duties of marriage bestowed on her which is the wives right shee is willing to give place and take her selfe to a solitary and sorrowfull life to be so unkindly cast off so doth the true Church and Spouse of Christ hide her selfe from those adulterate doctrines superstitions and Idolatries which thrust out Christs owne pure Ordinances Here are two things 1. What is this flight 2. What are the meanes For the flight 1. This flight of the Church is not a ceasing to bee but to be seene for Christ will have alwayes a true part of his Catholike Church upon earth that shall hold and professe constantly the true faith without change So as the Church ceaseth not to bee when shee ceaseth to bee seene but hath a true being when she is least visible 2. This ceasing to bee seene is not in respect of particular Christians but of particular Congregations the which although they may cease because by persecution or heresie the externall government may faile for a time the Pastors may be interrupted the sheepe may bee scattered the discipline hindered and the externall exercise of religion suspended and sincerity of religion exceedingly corrupted yet there shall not cease to bee many godly members dispersed here and there who shall hold the truth for substance and so now though there were no or few assemblies in which God was purely worshipped while superstition tyranny and Idolatry usurped all places yet many beleeving Christians were reserved to Christ in secret although either not knowne or of no reckoning in the world but contemned and oppressed 3. This ceasing to be seen in particular Christians is not inrespect of their persons as men which are as visible as ever but in respect of the visible exercise of Gods Ordinances of the Word Sacraments Prayer and outward forme and government which persecution had now restrained 4. This invisibility in respect of visible exercises is not in regard of the Christians themselves but of the blinde world for the persecuted Christians may have a secret knowledge among themselves and a secret profession and exercise of religion and yet the blinde world take no notice of theÌ„ yet the Church not destroyed nor ceaseth to bee no more than the Sunne ceaseth to shine though a blinde man cannot see it in the day nor a seeing man in the night and no more than a man ceaseth to bee a man because he is hid Now from the cause of this invisibility and flight learne that errour and heresie is more hatefull to the Church than persecution and tyranny Corruption of doctrine and changing the truth into a lie more straightneth and scattereth the Church than sword and torments of tyrants that drives the the Church to her winges not this that manifests the true Church and members but this hideth and obscureth her Let the example of the Church make us wise 1. To feare the dragon more when hee fawneth than when he rageth more in his Foxes skinne than in his Lyons skinne He is more dangerous when he would teach Christians to deny the truth than when he would force them His wiles are more mischievous than his violence his Doctors more dangerous than his Captaines 2. More to feare losse of truth than losse of wealth losse of the Gospell than losse of goods or life This is true godlinesse which teacheth Mary to fasten upon the good part whatsoever become of the worse 3. Hold him that would spoyle us of the truth a greater robber than him that would steale our goods an heretike worse than a tyrant 4. Be more carefull to hold the truth and keepe our part in the Gospell than our portion of goods and wealth The Church to hold the truth chuseth a poore desolate solitary and sorrowfull estate and a wise Merchant will sell all to buy the pearle But where is this care or where bee the Children of this mother who for the truth sake would follow her into the wildernesse who either care for the presence of truth or feare the losse and removall of it Where be the buyers of the truth in this age when so many value it not worth a shoo-string How few feare the prevailing of Popery for the truth sake though perhaps for their peace sake or wealth sake they had rather have things stand at a stay Now in the meanes of the womans deliverance are five things in this verse 1. The meanes themselves two great wings of an Eagle 2. Whence shee did flie with them from the face of the serpent 3. Whither into the wildernesse called her place 4. To what end to bee noâ—rished and preserved there 5. How long for a time times and halfe a time In the first are 1. What these wings are 2. The number 3. Whence she had them they were given her 4. The similitude wings of a great Eagle By Wings are meant the speciall meanes of the Churches escape from danger so called because they resemble the wings of the birds in a twofold use First as a bird by his wings flyeth swiftly from the danger and so saveth his life even so the Lord by these meanes foreseene and appointed by himselfe worketh a swift escape and speedy safety in the present perils of his Church Secondly as the bird hideth her young under her wing Mat. 23. 37. so by and under these meanes the Lord hideth his Church as under the wings of his Providence where she lyeth most safe and secure till the danger be over Psalme 91. 8. Hee shall cover thee under his wings For the number they are two enough to fly withall no bird hath or needeth more for her flight The Church is supplyed with as many meanes of her good as the Lords wisdome seeth her need to require at all times This number of two hath
they brew and digest the bread of affliction they prepared for others 2 Let us acknowledge with much thankfulnesse the truth of this prophesie Wee have seene the earth drinke up many floods cast out of the dragons mouth by Antichristian tyranny sufficiently strong and deepe to have carried her quite away Among many instances I will record two in fresh memory and not farre off In the yeare 1521. when Luther had appeared before Caesar at Wormes to give account of his doctrine and doings what a mighty flood issued out of the mouth of the dragon which in the Imperial edicts threatned nothing but death and bloodshed against the Professors of the Gospell and this flood like Danubius ranne through all Germany But now see how the earth drunke up the flood Shortly after arose an exceeding great trouble in Spaine to the pacifying of which the Emperour went in person and so the Professors of the Gospell had a little breathing till the States of the Empire assembled at Norinburge got those cruell Edicts mitigated and qualified to the great prosperity of the Gospell The other in our owne Kingdome in the dayes and memory of our Fathers When in the raigne of Queene Mary many were carryed away with that raging and high-swelling flood of the sixe Articles and the enemies were devising not to strike off the branches onely but as one perswaded to strike at the root in cutting off the then Lady Elizabeth being then in prisonand very unlike ever to get out of their bloody hands now see how the Lord caused the earth to helpe his Church for who was the meanes to keepe them off her and her head on her shoulders but King Philip of Spaine an earthly Idolater who had no reason but to bee a greater enemy to her than her sister or that state Now the earth dranke up the flood and a few moneths set that happy Lady and the Church and Kingdome by her in such glory and prosperity as ancient ages had never seene and future ages perhaps both wish and admire 3. In the present tryals and persecutions of the Church when wee see the floods swell even almost over her head and Antichristian Armies every where gathered and carry afore them whole Provinces and Churches be not dismayed but stand still and see the Lords salvation he will appoint one meanes or other to swallow up all these floods as here hee commanded the earth to â—each her helping hand both to take in and harbour the Lords exiles in the secret chambers of her desert Mountaines and Caves as also to drinke in the dangers for them Nay more the Lord who causeth the earth to helpe the woman will in and by these persecutions helpe up his Church and truth Act. 8. 1. The wicked men of earth raise great persecution against the Disciples at Jerusalem and scatter them but they being scattered and dispersed spread the Gospell through all the Regions of Iudea and Samaria In the story of the Waldenses is reported that the banishing of Waldo his followers out of LyoÌ„s was a means which God used to spread the doctrine of the Gospel in the darkest times of Antichrist almost over all Europe Thus the Lord bringeth light out of darknesse to his Church the earth shall not bury the truth but spread it neither shall these Antichristian floods drowne the woman but shall onely water her furrows And let the Church be instant with the Lord he wil in the end of these businesses shew he hath a reach beyond all Actors and lookers on the wrath of men shal turn to his praise themselves shal drink the rivers of blood which they intend against the woman and shall root themselves out that the Gospell which they fight against may finde footing in the most desolate Popish Countries and the time and their pride hasteneth it Let us alwayes set these props under our faith to support us through our tryals whether wee see meanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is enough to see the power and faithfulnesse of God who can and rather than faâ—â—e will worke the Saints delivery by unknowne and even by contrary meanes Waite upon the Word If hee seeme not to regard thee in danger awake him by thy prayers hee may delay helpe a while but he cannot dehy thee helpe but hee must deny himselfe but either hee will lead thee out by preventing the danger or helpe thee through it and make thee more then a Conquerour in it by a conquered death 4. As the Church abroad is tryed and in resistance of the floods of violence and lies under the fire and sword of the enemy so the dragon ceaseth not amongst us in our peace to cast out such floods as hee can of scandalls slanders and reproaches of Gods people against which wee must foâ—tifie our selves with assurance that all these floods shall be drunke up and dryed up also for us For 1. Our Head is the truth and as strength of truth prevailed in his owne person and rose againe from underground so it shall in all his members by his mighty power 2. Gods promise is to bring forth our righteousnesse as the light even as a bright morning comes after a sad night of black darknesse 3. Gods providence watcheth as well the names and reputation of the Saints as their persons because as their persons are nearely joyned to Christ so are their names nearely linked to his and their honour is his as their reproach is his Heb. 13. 13. 4. Looke upon the unknowne meanes used by God to drinke in these floods Sometime from heaven The Angell turnes away the flood of scandall which had like to have drowned the Virgin while Ioseph was thinking to put her away Mat. 1. 20. Feare not to take her Sometime the earth as here rather than faile shall drinke it up The Judge shall pronounce Christ innocent Saul shall proclaime Davids innocency 1 Sam. 24. 18. Thou art more righteous than I. Lastly though truth and innocency may bee clouded a long time yet it shall bee disclosed and time the mother of truth shall dry up and drinke in all wicked accusation when all secrets shall bee disclosed as well for the opening of innocency as the shutting of the mouth of guiltinesse Vers. 17. Then the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed which keepe the Commandements of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ. THE dragon being againe defeated of his purpose in drowning the woman seeth that hee cannot hurt her yet he cannot but hate her the more Hee cannot meet with her to doe the mischleâ—â— that he would for she is out of sight neither can the floods cast out of his mouth reach her for shee is safe and hid and the earth shall drinke it for her yet hee abates not of his wrath against her and for the wrath hee beares to her hee goes and makes warre with her issue described here
an eternall Kingdome of glory 4 Obedience is the onely true testimony of love to God as the second commandement implyes In them that love me and keepe my commandements Measure thy love to God by the love of his commandements Peter lovest thou me feed my lambes He that keepeth my word is he that loveth me Ioh. 14. 15. This makes the godly invincible in labour and sufferings under rebukes and evill report and for all this they turne not aside nor deale unfaithfully in the covenant And there is no love lost for their love upholding them in obedience that obedience upholds them in Gods love as our Saviour saith Ioh. 15. 10. If yee keepe my commandements yee shall abide in my love as I have kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his love And have the testimony of Iesus Christ. This is the second property of this remnant Where consider 1 What is this testimony of Jesus 2 What it is to have it The testimony of Jesus is the word and Gospell of Jesus Christ Rev. 1. 9. Iohn was banished into Patmos for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ where one is expressed by the other Now the Gospell is called the testimony of Jesus First Because it is revealed by Jesus Christ by him brought from the bosome of his Father an hidden mysterie to men and Angells none was worthy to open this booke but he in which regard he is called the true and faithfull witnesse Rev. 1. 5. Secondly Because the subject of it is Christ revealing Christ the Gospell is the true faith and doctrine concerning salvation wrought by Jesus Christ and him alone Rom. 1. 2. concerning his Sonne c. 3 Because it was testified unto by Christ not only by revealing it by his divine doctrine but by his holy life his mighty miracles his faithfull profession before the Jewes Pharises Pontius Pilate the whole Councell and by his most innocent death by which he set his seale to his testimony 4 Because the end of it is Christ it aymes only at his glory Act. 2. 36. But what is it to have this testimony Answ. The phrase is taken two wayes 1 To have the Gospell is to preach the Gospell so Iohn bare record of the testimony of Jesus Rev. 1. 2. and most plainly chap. 14. 10. I am thy fellowservant and of those that have the testimony of Jesus The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy 2 To have the Gospell is to professe the Gospell to uphold and maintaine it to give witnesse unto it and to hold it in life and death as Rev. 20. 4. the soules of Martyrs beheaded for the testimony of Jesus And so it is taken in this place This remnant as they abide in the dutie which the word commandeth for they keepe the commandements so they sticke to the faith and doctrine which it teacheth they hold it fast against all the slights and intrusions of the beast or Antichrist and testifie unto it both by life and by death The truth of the Gospell is an hold which Antichrist cannot winne from the Saints Note hence that the keeping of the commandements of God and having the testimony of Jesus must go together 1 Tim. 1. 19. having faith and good conscience and chap. 3. 9. holding the mystery of faith in pure conscience For 1 The law and gospell Christ and Moses though in matter of justification before God they can never be reconciled no more then most abhorring contraries fire and water light and darknesse yet in Christian conversation profession and practise they may never be divorced there must be light within and shining without 2 In all Christian conversation wee must joyne faith and love 2 Tim. 1. 13. Because neither of these can stand alone faith without love is dead and love without faith is at best but Civility Beside all duties of love without faith are sinne and whatsoever we doe without love suppose suffering of martyrdome is all nothing Papists then slaunder our doctrine who say wee teach only to beleeve and destroy good workes we say contrarily with our Saviour what God hath joyned together let none put asunder But they sunder what God hath joyned in that they pretend to magnifie good workes and set up the law but cast out the doctrine of faith and preaching of Christ insomuch as the word may not be had or read in a knowne tongue neither in publicke nor private This also shews that protestants disgrace the doctrine of grace while they content themselves with a profession of faith but are barren and fruitlesse in good workes of piety and mercy Beware of the curse of the fruitlesse figtree that kept the ground barren notwithstanding all the show and leaves Againe note hence who they be that the dragons wrath most aymeth at and is bent against such as keepe the commandements and have the faith of Jesus Christ such as abide by the word and will not be pulled aside by any imposture or delusion And why 1 He needs not warre against conquered slaves whom he hath pulled away already The strong man hath the hold and things are at peace Beside what have they to lose who have already lost the faith and love of the Gospell and with it their owne salvation 2 These are likest to Christ and the residue of his body who must be conformable to himselfe he was a butt and signe of contradiction in the dayes of his flesh and is so still being ascended in the persons of his members who are inspired by the same spirit quickened with the same life ruled by the same word fight against the same enemies and walke in the same steps to the same inheritance and Kingdom whereof he is gone to take possession They have the word of faith in them which the dragon most hateth as the greatest enemie of his kingdome For being light no marvell if the prince of darkenesse resist it It is the sword of the spirit which cuts off his temptations Being a rule of righteousnesse it is the sentence of his condemnation No marvell then if he hate it and all that love it They have also the faith of truth which he deadly hateth as the shield which quencheth all fiery darts It makes us so strong as that the gates of hell cannot prevaile Only faith crosseth the dragon getting power from Christ and makes all Gods Ordinances profitable all weake obedience acceptable And hath he not reason to seeke to winne this hold from us seeing when the foundation is overthrowne the building must fall and the root overturned the branches must wither Such therefore as set themselves to keep the commandements of God and hold the testimony of Jesus Christ let them make account of the incessant malice and madnesse of the dragon He never rests opposing those that will not be driven from the testimony Some of them he casts into prison some he tryes by mockings and scourgings some he
hedge Hos. 2. to contain men in bounds and hold them from excesse Israel in affliction will returne to her first husband considering it was then better with her then now This made Augustine truely terme it the Churches unhappy happinesse and to conclude it a point of great felicity not to be overcome by worldly felicity 4. How many of our owne experiences may awaken us and hold us waking suspicious of prosperity Who ever saw the tree of grace grow in the fertile land of pleasure Sodom was as Eden the Garden of God but what were the inhabitants Who are they that receive the Gospell not many wise noble or rich but poore ones and weake ones 1 Cor 1. 26. Christs Kingdome is not of this world his subjects are called out of the world and at defiance with the world Nay his Kingdome is contrary to the kingdoms of the world they rise by worldly prosperity wealth wisedome power but Christs by humility passion patience Who are the poorest among us in good works of mercy piety and charity but those that most abound in wealth superfluity Dives cannot spare crums Poore men that receive the Gospell can spare some mites to uphold the Word among them but many of our great rich men can spare onely disgrace contempt and I doubt would bee at some cost to get it away I never knew man who would bee at no cost for the Word but hee was willing to be at some cost against it It is true of many great men as we see true in the Mountaines which the richer they are in metals and minerals within the more barren and fruitlesse are they without Even so men to whom God hath given the greatest meanes are often most barren of good workes because he hath not given them grace and will to use them aright How hardly shall a rich man be saved Who be they that leave Gods house most desolate and empty but they who most curiously build and seale their owne houses Hag. 1. 4. Poore men in towne and countrey can come with much travell to this exercise rich meÌ„ many who have time means to come with ease and pleasure come not because who are chosen to the end are chosen to the meanes Who bee they that are carryed to Popery and Idolatry from the truth but great persons for the most part and why so but because it is a religion according to the flesh a naturall religion a libertine religion that suites with mens corruptions set up by carnall policy and power and therefore carries away such as abound in worldly prosperity Who exceed most in riot and excesse but such as abound most in wealth and riches And wee may generally conclude Worldly prosperity hath made many worse few or none better If adversity hath slaine his thousand prosperity hath slaine ten thousand 4. This affords us some rules and directions for the ordering First of our desires Secondly of our conditions For the first If God bid us as he doth aske what wee would have and hee will give us our wish as he did Salomon let us aske as hee did wisdome before wealth or any outward prosperity even that true wisdome with which God addes no sorrows This is a gift which cannot bee turned to our bane as all outward gifts may In the prosperity of saving graces lie no snares as there doe in all earthly prosperity yea in all common graces Christian wisdome teacheth to checke those excessive and covetous desires which seeke and affect great things in this world as knowing that pathes washed in butter are slippery and to say Give me neither riches nor poverty but things convenient For the second the ordering of our estates 1. Of prosperity If God please to add wealth to wisedome as hee did to Salomon wee must bee sober and abstinent and learne to abound as well as to want for this is an harder lesson to take out but not so hard as fruitfull For as sobriety and abstinence in the middest of large provision preserveth bodily health and helpes to free us of such diseases as come of fulnesse so the sparing use of worldly comforts preserves the health of the soule and keeps strength in grace and vertue and preserves from corrupt humours of vice and sinne which come of fulnesse and unwatchfulnesse 2. Of adversity If the Lord temper our prosperity with a sound measure of affliction wee must on this ground 1. Be thankfull for all his workes are First wise in wisedome hee doth them all unto which wee must subscribe though wee see not the reason of them In wisdome hee appointed the way to Canaan through a dry and barren wildernes though Israel murmured at it Yea Christ himselfe the wisdome of his Father came from heaven and best knew the way thither and to shew us the right way made choise rather of an afflicted then prosperous estate Secondly seasonable for he doth all in his appointed time in which every action is beautifull Thirdly profitable to his Church and therefore hee sends in afflictions like a cold frost to nip in the ranknesse of our soile and so fit us to fruitfulâ—es and as a good Physitian sees it profitable to prescribe a spare diet to his surfetted Patient so doth the Lord to his surfetted Church or servants Therefore let us not in all this sinne with our mouthes or change God foolishly 2. Make no more haste out of afflictions than good speed Gold is not presently pulld out of the fire so soone as it is cast in but must stay a while till it be purged It is a safer state though sowrer as the three Children were safer in the furnace than out of it Gold hath more cause to feare the rust than the fire and to us prosperity is more dangerous than adversity Verse 14. But to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle that shee might flee into the wildernesse into her place where shee is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time from the face of the serpent AS the former Verse expresseth the furious assault of the dragon against the woman so this declareth her happy evasion and escape with the cause of her conservation and that was her flight and disappearing from the sight of men For what should the poore woman doe being not able to withstand so huge and fierce a beast and Monster Wee have seene how this woman stoutly withstood the bloody persecutions of the Imperiall Dragons and never thought of flying shee feared not sword fire Gibbet nor the most exquisite torments of the fiercest tyrants but the more shee was persecuted the more glorious shee was and shined in surpassing brightnesse of holy doctrine and life We have heard what an happy victory and triumph shee hath carryed against all those bloody and open enemies But now the dragon turning himselfe into another shape and unto another stratagem under the profession of Christ furiously