Reade these few leaues and see the Demonstration Which take and coppy out with expedition For I must leaue you now to Vertues guard To whom present it without intermission And he to you for this will giue reward I tooke my penne as he gaue me commission And thus I writ the Visions exposition The EXPOSITION 1 One in a shape diuine BY these words is meant the Spirit of Truth the Reuelation of the Mysterie of Iesus Christ the diuine and heauenly operation of the holy Ghost Transported by the windes as swift as thought Which is inspired and breathed into our soules thoughts and consciences from the mouth of the most sacred Trinitie as Acts 2.2 it is said that when the Apostles receiued the Holy Ghost suddenly there came a sound from heauen as of a rushing and mighty winde and it filled all the house where they sate Whose face more gloious then the Sunne did shine The Word of Truth may well be said to be farre more glorious then the Sun in brightnes and shining in respect of the integritie and eternitie thereof for the Sun onely giueth light vnto the outward eyes to guide our naturall feete from stumbling But this gratious visitation in Christ Iesus hath lightned the darknesse of our hearts to guide our mindes and affections lest we stumble at errors and deadly sinnes and so fall into perdition S. Iohn 1.4 speaking of the worthines of the word saith It was life and the life meaning Christ Iesus was the light of men Me to an vnknowne Climate quickly brought By this is to be vnderstood a Representation vnto vs of such places where the light of the Gospell hath not yet shined and where the word of Truth is not yet preached as amongst the Heathen people Pagans Infidels Virginians and other the like barbarous and bruitish Nations and as it was with vs Gentiles in the time of the Law before our vocation as it is written wee were sometimes strangers from the promise Eph. 2.12 Where of Strange things that were within that Nation And of their Natures he gaue true relation That is the Spirit of grace doth demonstrate vnto vs the strange Religions and Heresies of those forraine Nations their vaine superstitions and blinde Idolatrie and the effects and euents of their errors 1. Cor. 4.5 He will lighten things that are hid in darknesse and make the Councels of the hearts manifest 2 He shewed me Oare of Gold All is not gold that glistereth neither is this meant to be materiall Oare but that which indeed if it had beene of the right touch would haue been farre more pretious then gold It is meant by their Religion which being of a counterfeit stampe is but a superficies faire without but drosse within for instead of worshipping the liuing God they adore a dead Idol of gold and sometimes of wood and stone some of them also worship the Sun the Moone and the Starres some put their trust in their Coyne saying with the couetous miser Pecunia omnia potest I pray God too many of those Idolaters be not amongst vs nay some worship the Deuill himselfe We reade in the 2. King 16.3 That Ahaz King of Ierusalem made his sonne to goe thorow the fire after the abhominations of the Heathen as a Sacrifice to the Idol Molech Also in the 2. Kings 21. It is said of Manasseth that he built the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroied and he erected vp Altars for Baal and made a groue as did Ahab King of Israel and worshipped all the hoast of Heauen and serued them And as in those times they worshipped the Gods of their Nations 2. King 17.29 So is it now with those ignorant incredulous people in our daies which know not the true God which being tried As mettals vse to be in burning fire One should haue thought would haue beene purified But contrarie it turn'd to filthy Mire The Gospell of Christ Iesus is compared to a burning fire most vehement which maketh a change of things through all the World as in Luk 12.49 Christ saith I am come to put fire on the earth speaking of the Gospell so then this is the meaning of the last verses That the Religion of those Idolaters and Heathen people being compared and examined with our Catholike and Apostolike Doctrine it needes no other touchstone it shewes both inside and outside that in respect thereof it is base and vilde and as durt and drosse to pure gold as a pibble-stone to a pretious Diamond If we diligently peruse the Scriptures we shall finde that Idolatrie is forbidden 500. times in the New and Old Testament with seuere punishments And God himselfe for the vilde wickednesse and abhomination thereof hath pronounced that the entisers of Idolatrie seeme they neuer so holy should be slaine Deut. 13.5 Blessed is the Tree whereby Righteousnesse commeth but that is cursed that is made with hands both it and he that made it He because he made it and it being a corruptible thing because it was called God Wisd 14.7.8 And whosoeuer kept it afterward Should be with sprights and goblins strangely scard Heere is to be noted that after our consciences haue beene throughly tried by the word of God and that we haue receiued by the spirit of Grace the knowledge of Christ Iesus if we reuolt againe from the truth to serue strange Gods the Lord will giue vs ouer to the temptations of Satan hardnesse of heart blindnesse of vnderstanding and will bring vpon vs warre famine and all the curses mentioned in the Booke of his Law and in the end death and destruction after death perpetuall damnation It is euident in diuers places of the Old Testament in euery booke that the Kings of Israell so long as they kept the Commandements of God and obserued his Lawes as the Lord hath appointed not according to their owne imaginations they prospered in all their doings and many blessings were vpon them But when they went a whoreing after strange Gods the vengeance and wrath of God came vpon them with many heauy curses pronounced whereof reade 2. King 17.7 Exod. 22.20 also 23.32.33 Deut. 17. from 2. verse to 8. also 29. from the 18. to the last verse also 30.17.18 Reuel 21.8 3. Besides the operation of this Oare Was whosoeuer toucht it to make blinde And sottish so that they could neuer more Haue wit or sight in any perfect kinde Heere are described the effects of Idolatrie blindnesse and dulnesse of vnderstanding So heere are blinde Gods and blinde People 2. Sam. 5.8 When king Dauid and his men went to Ierusalem vnto the Iebusites he promised preferment to those that would smite the Lame and Blinde meaning the Idols which his soule hated as the text mentioneth And Salom. Wisd 14.26.27 saith that the worshipping of Idols which ought not to be named is the beginning and the cause and end of all euill for either they be mad when they be merrie or prophesie lies or liue vngodly or
Armes compleat And search each beast that thither comes to eate 37. And they with compleat furniture addrest In single combat shunne no fierce assault Such manly courage resteth in their brest From an whole host they neuer will reuolt But fight couragiously and winne the day And carry conquest for their Prize away By this third Guard is meant the Reuerend and learned Bishops of this Kingdome which are compleat in all things that appertaine to their place and calling and they are like a neast of Eagles whose eies stedfastly looke vpon the Sunne without winking whose iudgements discerne Diuine Mysteries whose profession in Ecclesiasticall gouernment is sutable to Christs and the Apostles prescription whose preaching writing manifesteth the truth of their Religion and whose godlinesse and vertue is seene by their life and conuersation whose learning aboundeth like the Sea and whose wisedome extendeth throughout the whole Land God forbid that euer bastard egge should be hatcht in this neast for what greater confusion then errors diuisions in Religion These are they that search the Papists inside though they appeare neuer so faire in the outside These are the Tutch-stones that trie the false faith of Recusants These make the Priests and Iesuites appeare to the World as they are like the Scribes and Pharises Math. 23.21 Hypocrites which make cleane the outside of the cup and of the platter but within they are full of bribery and excesse And like painted Tombes which appeare beautifull outward but within are full of dead mens bones and of all filthinesse These are Gods warriors and Champions that are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 That haue put on the whole Armour of God their loines girded with veritie and hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnesse and their feele shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace and haue taken the shield of faith the helmet of Saluation and the sword of the spirit Let no simple Romish Catholike presume to make triall of their profound knowledge lest as they deserue they suffer a disgracefull repulse 38. This goodly Paradice thus is safely kept From vncleane beasts chiefely from Wolues and Boares By Vertues care and prouident respect Who chiefe Commander is and keepes the dores And lets all in and out and sets these guards Whom for their paines he daily giues rewards 39. And so the Lambes and silly Sheepe feed free From the Wolues rapine and the Swines infection Plentie of Corne is alwaies seene to bee And fruits great store by Vertues good direction Good Sallet hearbes abundant water cleere As if it were distil'd in Riuers there Oh that I had the spirit of perfect wisedome that I might heere set forth our Salomon our Royall king in his true shape of whose excellencie I am rauisht with admiration O King the Lord hath annoiâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 with his holy Oile as he annointed his seruant Dauid Ps 79.20 Prosper with thy glory Ride vpon the word of truth and of meekenesse and righteousnesse Ps 45.2.4 It is thy goodnesse and carefull prouidence O King to elect such worthy and wise Bishops Councell Nobilitie and Iudges for the defence of this Kingdome who are as Guards and bulwarkes Forts and defences against the Rauening Wolues the mercilesse Papists who as they are the enemies of Christ may bee so called Mat. 10.16 also That seeke to deuourethe sillie Lambs your poore subiects Acts 20.29 Thou art the sole Commander and Supreame head vnder God of this our temporal Paradice the Lord make thee great in the Kingdome of Heauen at the day of thy dissolution By thy protection we haue plenty of spirituall Corne the bread of life plentie of spirituall fruits and hearbs the foode of the soule and plentie of spirituall water to refresh our spirits to wit the Word of God truly taught amongst vs the Gospell of Christ Iesus which as I haue shewed before is thus in seuerall places so compared And vnder thee O King we are happy aboue many other Nations for the peace and tranquilitie of our Land 40. And those three Guardes me thought deuoutly prai'd For the continuance of this heauenly place And God graunt Vertue happinesse they said And his posteritie with increase of grace Mercy and peace for euermore And then Legions of Angels answered Amen St. Paul writing to Timothy 1. Tim. 2.23 declares that it is a good and acceptable thing in the sight of God our Sauiour that supplications praiers and intercessions be made for Kings and for all that be in authoritie And heerein is obserued the allegiance of these eminent persons and the generall loue and dutie of the people whose daily Inuocations of God according to the Apostles direction are deuoutly made for all Spirituall and Temporall blessings to be multiplied vpon the King and his Royall issue which the Lord grant may be infinite without number or measure Amen FINIS
else lightly forsweare themselues The Apostle Paul also writing to the Eph. 4.17.18.19 exhorteth them that they will not walke as other Gentiles in vanity of their minde hauing their cogitation darkened and being strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts c. And it may be truely applied vnto them that is spoken by Isa the Prophet cap. 59.10 They grope for the wall like the blinde and as one without eies they stumble in the noone-day as in the twilight and they are in solitarie places as dead Men. Except by bathing in one Riuer pure In Europe Northward where they might haue cure The word of God in diuers places of the Scripture is likened to Riuers and waters whereby is meant that if those Idolatrous Nations haue recourse to the holy Scriptures as they are now professed and taught in the Church of Great Britaine they shall be deliuered and freed from their blindnesse and ignorance Iohn 4.14 Whosoeuer drinketh of the water saith Christ that I shall giue him shall neuer be more a thirst but the water that I shall giue him shall be in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Ezech. 47.8.9 The Scriptures are called wholesome waters in these words These waters issue out toward the East Countrie and runne downe into the plaine and shall goe into one Sea and the waters shall be wholesome and euery thing which moueth wheresoeuer the Riuers come shall liue and there shall be a very great multitude of fish because these waters shall come thither for they shall be wholesome and euery thing shall liue whither the Riuer commeth Also in the 36. ver 25. Gods Spirit is compared to cleane water where the Lord saith I will pure cleane water vpon you and ye shall be cleane yea from all your filthinesse and from all your Idols will I clense you And the Apostle Paul writing to the Eph. cap. 5. ver 26.27 sheweth how Christ sanctifieth and clenseth his Church by the washing of water through the word that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blame Lastly Baptisme which these Heathen people haue not is a token that God hath consecrated the Church to himselfe and made it holy by his word that is his promise of free iustification and sanctification in Christ 4. In this strange Countrie also was a flower Which this good Angell had no sooner gather'd But within one halfe quarter of an hower As a thing blasted suddenly it wither'd And as the Marigould by the Sun is spread This by the Sunne shut vp and seem'd as dead Certaine it is that there is a flower in the Indies which when the Sun shineth it shuts it selfe close as a Marigould openeth by the Sun And there is a Tree called the shamefac'd-Tree which groweth very faire and greene whose leafe if you touch though you pluck it not from the Tree yet it will shrinke together for a season like as if it should wither and so continue vntill your departure from that place but the purpose heere is not to discouer naturall causes but to make Spirituall vse Therefore By this flower is signified the weake faith of these Infidels which as it is little or none at all so it hath no sure foundation whereupon it is built and therefore cannot stand against the power of the spirit of truth no more then the Idol Dagon did before the Arke of the Lord whereof it is written 1. Sam. 5.2 3.4 That the Philistines tooke the Arke of God and brought it into the house of their chiefe Idol Dagon and set it by Dagon And when they of Ashdod rose the next day in the morning behold Dagon was fallen vpon his face on the ground before the Arke of the Lord And they tooke vp Dagon and set him in his place againe And they rose vp early in the morning next day and behold Dagon was fallen againe vpon his face on the ground before the Arke of the Lord and the head of Dagon and the two palmes of his hands were cut off vpon the threshold onely the stumpe of Dagon was left to him And so is it with this flower which properly I cannot call Faith seeing the Apostle Paul 2. Thes 3.2 saith all men haue not faith but it is a kinde of blinde zeale in their blinde Religion which at the appearance and tryall of the spirit of God withereth like a flower 5. The Angell then transfer'd me to a Land Where huge deformed vgly Giants breed Who spoil'd and burnt good Corne which there did stand And set Tobacco that foule stincking weede By this land is conceiued so much as is vnder the Dominion of the great Turke where the people may properly be called deformed vgly Giants in respect of their horrible foule Heresies and blasphemies which in them is more monstrous and damnable then in the Heathen people before mentioned which neither haue heard of Christ since his comming nor any type figure or Prophesie of him before his comming But these Monsters haue euer had the Law of Moses among them and also the bookes of the Prophets which likewise they haue now in vse whereby the fore-knowledge of the true Messias was prefigured vnto them They did also know of his comming they haue heard his Doctrine seene his miracles he liued and died amongst them Yet these sauage and wilde Giants of the earth which neuer were naturally borne as I may say in respect of Regeneration wast and burne vp our Bibles wherein is written the Gospell of our blessed Sauiour that good seed which that great Husband-man Christ himselfe did sow within their Land The bread of life Iohn 6.48 I am the liuing bread saith Christ which came downe from Heauen If any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer And the bread that I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the World Ioh. 6.51 This bread was giuen to the Iewes before any other Nation which is within the Turkes Dominion now by Inuasion being the elect people of God before the calling of vs the Gentiles as appeareth Math. 15.26 When the Canaanitish woman cryed out to Iesus for her daughter which was miserably vexed with a Deuill Christ answered It is not good to take the Childrens bread which were the Iewes and to cast it to whelpes whom Christ so called being strangers from the house of God But Christs holy name be glorified that we now are made partakers of this heauenly bread whereby we are made one body with him 1. Cor. 10.17 But instead of this bread of sinceritie and truth 1. Cor. 5.8 These deformed Giants the Turkes haue sowed another kind of seede such Corne as will proue vnto them as the bread of affliction mentioned in the 1. King 22.27 Or as the bread of teares Psal 80.5 Or as the bread
what shall the ende be of them that obey not the Gospell of God and if the righteous scarce be saued where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare 1. Pet. 4.17.18 Also 2. Thes 2.8.9.10.11.12 The Apostle Paul speaking of the wicked man that shall be reuealed saith The Lord shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth and because that wicked mans comming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnes among them that perish he sheweth because they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued Therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should belieue lies that all they might be damned which belieued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Many examples may be produced out of the Scriptures to proue and declare the iudgement of God against the wicked will be terrible and fearefull at the day of his second comming and that Hell is prepared from the beginning for the Deuill and his Angels and all wicked persons One more onely shall suffice to shew the Description of Hell that these wicked blasphemers all others may be affrighted in their consciences and conuert and be saued Isa 30.33 The Prophet saith that Tophet is prepared of olde that is Hell It is euen prepared for the King he hath made it deepe and large the burning thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of brimstone doth kindle it These are Tabacconists that for this turne Did whil'st they liu'd before-hand learne to burne These Tabacconists are those blaspheme's spoken of before and such as dispise the word of truth and the Gospell of Christ Iesus whose wickednesse is said to burne as fire whilest they liue Isa 9.18.19 For wickednesse burneth as a fire it deuoureth the bryars and the thornes and will kindle in the thick places of the Forrest and they shall mount vp like the lifting vp of smoake By the wrath of the Lord of Hoasts shall the Land be darkened the people shall be as the meate of the fire 8. Then suddenly he snatcht me vp and flew Vntill he came vnto a thick-set Wood Where trees of all sorts many thousands grew And likewise shrubs innumerable stood And looke how many trees and shrubs there were So many seuerall fruits they all did beare Heere is represented vnto our eies the confused mixture of opinions and Sects in Religion of Amsterdam a Towne within the 17. Prouinces where it is certainely known that there be more varieties of Doctrines then in any one place of the World as namely Protestants Papists Atheists Anabaptists Brownists Arians the Familie of Loue and such like and I thinke some of no Religion at all wherefore the place is compared to a Wood the people to Trees and their Sects to fruits which may fitly be said to be of seuerall kindes in respect of the difference of opinions Euery tree is knowne by his fruit whether it be good or euill Math. 12.33 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an euill man out of an euill treasure bringeth forth euill things Math. 12.35 9. Some were like Apples but were Crabs in tast And in the eating had but sower digestion This may be vnderstood of the fruits of Mans inuentions which carrie onely a similitude of goodnesse but are bad in themselues as the Crab is like to an Apple but is lesser and far worse in taste Such is the hypocrisie of the Brownists whose digestion is sower that is their punishment certeinely will be very grieuous vpon themselues Seeing that the earth which sinneth not shall be made wast because of their wickednesse as in Micah 7.13 Notwithstanding the Land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein and for the fruits of their inuentions Some were as bitter as the Oaken Mast More fit for swine then any mans refection These are the fruits of the flesh which in many things are brutish Ro. 7.18 I know saith the Apostle Paul that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but I finde no meanes to performe that which is good Gal. 5.19 The workes of the flesh are manifest which are Adulterie Fornication Vncleannesse Wantonnesse Idolatrie Witchcraft Hatred Debate Emulations Wrath Contentions Seditions Heresies Enuie Murders Drunkennesse Gluttonie and such like To all these euery man is naturally prone but two of these may be appropriated to the fruits of the Papists to wit Fornication and Idolatrie the one being tolerated the other allowed by their Religion so that it seemeth they neuer learned this lesson of Saint Paul or else they scorne to allow his Doctrine or else it is out of their booke But let them know as Saint Paul saith That such shal not inherit the kingdome of God Some were delicious sweete and perfect good Such as at first in Edens Garden stood These are the fruits of Righteousnesse and of the Spirit and may be said to proceed from a true zealous Protestant Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the Spirit is Loue Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse and Temperance 10. But as that fruit was good and lushious The scituation of the Trees was bad For none of them by meanes of vnder-bushes Sufficient roome to sprout their branches had So that for want of elbow-roome a Tree Not halfe so fruitfull was as else might bee Many times it fals out that the godly are hindred by the wicked that they cannot shew their good workes in such measure as they would For the profession of the true Gospell of Iesus Christ is oftentimes ecclipsed in them by the darke cloudy meetings and mixture of Heresies of others among whom they liue so that it doth not shine with his perfect light especially among such as either refuse to heare the Gospell of Christ at all or else if they heare it they will peruert it and make the construction thereof according to their owne fantasies So these vngodly people are compared to vnder-bushes that hinder the propagation of Gods holy word and the growing and prospering of the fruits of the Spirit And they are like to the Pharises that neither would belieue the Gospell themselues nor suffer others to belieue Math. 23.13 Add like to the Iewes spoken of in the 17. Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where Paul being in Thessalonica as his manner was went into their Synagogue opening and alleadging that Christ must haue suffered and risen againe from the dead and some belieued but the Iewes which belieued not tooke vnto them certaine vagabonds and wicked fellowes and made a tumult in the Citie and would haue brought Paul out to the people 11. Vnfruitfull briars choakt their sappy roote And with sharpe pricks did goad their tender Rinde Thornes would not let their springing Armes to shoote Sprigs of wilde Trees about their branches twinde As if they all malicious
in the Reuel 21.10 descending out of Heauen from God And by the Trees Corne Vines and Herbes is vnderstood how plentifully the word of God aboundeth there for sometimes the Gospell of Iesus is compared to a Tree Reuel 22.2 Which beareth 12. manner of fruits and gaue fruit euery moneth and the leaues of the tree serued to heale the Nations with This is the tree of life Christ the life of his Church and is common to all his and not peculiar to any one sort of people Sometimes the Gospell is compared to Corne as in the parable of the sower Math. 13.3 Behold a sower went out to sowe c. Sometimes it is compared to Vines as before is mentioned in the 14. staffe And in respect the Gospell is the Spirituall foode of the soule it may be compared to herbes and any other sustenance which is the naturall foode of the bodie applying the one to the soule spiritually as the other is applied to the body naturally from whence The Tyrant had before beene banished Who when he kept it was not so perfidious As is the man that keepes it now Religious This our Nation is the Paradice where the Pope sometime did beare such great authoritie as before is relation made in the 14. staffe And from whence he and his errors were abolished as in the 19. staffe Whose perfidious treacherie he himselfe hath heere already at large demonstrated But the Lord be praised wee haue now a Religious Soueraigne Lord King James who is supreame head and gouernour of our Church vnder God to whom for sinceritie and truth in Religion the speech of Saint Paul may be appropriated Eph. 4.20 That he hath learned Christ and hath heard him and beene taught by him as the truth is in Iesus that is he hath cast off concerning the conuersation in time past the olde man which is corrupt through the deceiueable lusts and is renewed in the spirit of his minde and hath put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse And for integritie of life he is like vnto Samuel 1. Sam. 12.3 And for vprightnesse in heart he is like vnto those worthy Kings Iosias Hezekiah and Dauid whose deserued commendations are singularly set forth in the Booke of Ecclus. cap. 49. And God grant that he may long liue to multiply his vertues in himselfe and his Royall issue 28. For hauing Children he instructs them how They may those Trees Corne Vines and hearbs best keepe From Caterpillers Cankers and the Sow That longs into that place by stealth to creepe To spoile the Paradice Of which there were Some by that Tyrant left of purpose there By the Caterpillers and Cankers is meant al such as either enuie or wish hurt to or depraue derogate or speake ill of the true Preaching of the Gospell of Christ of what Religion or Sect soeuer they be But by the Sow is particularly intended the Papist of which sort their be too many yet remaining that doe much hurt secretly to the weake members of our Church animated and set on by the Pope but by the Religious care of our vertuous King the Paradice is pretty well rid of them the Church is reasonably cleered and the word of God more plentifully planted amongst vs then heeretofore it hath beene And heerein all the World may see his Maiesties great prouidence in the education of his children for the continuance and vpholding of the Gospell according to the commandements of the Lord Deut. 11.18.19 Therefore shall you lay vp these my words in your heart and in your soule and binde them for a signe vpon your head that they may be as a frontlet betweene your eies and you shall teach them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp 29. So that this Paradice is like to flowrish Vntill the finall period of all things For his faire issue know well how to nourish Those holy Plants and those cleere water-springs Running there-through to keepe from foule pollution Till all things haue their finall dissolution Heere is set forth the excellent towardnesse of our renowned Prince Charles Prince of Wales Frederike Prince Elector Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth his wife as the issue of our royall King which may well be said to be faire and beautifull Not as Absolon That was comely in outward proportion onely 2. Sam. 14.25 Nor as Saul which was a goodly yong-man and a faire 1. Sam. 9.2 for among all the children of Israell there was none goodlier then he in person Nor as the daughters of men whom the sonnes of God saw were faire Gen. 6.2 For this is but the beautie of the flesh which withereth and decaieth like grasse 1. Pet. 1.24 But their beautie is an euerlasting beautie which excelleth the beautie of all other Princes in Christendome and like the Sunne appeares glorious to the whole World their beautie is the Deuine beautie of their soules made and fashioned after the image of Christ Iesus The holy plants of that Paradice they haue learned of their royall father to nourish that is they allow and maintaine the Gospell truely preached amongst vs and to keepe those cleere watersprings from pollution that is that the word of God be not defiled with Heresies whereupon dependeth a great hope of the prosperous estate of this kingdome for the Lord hath promised that whosoeuer meditateth his word continually his daies shall be multiplied and the daies of his children as long as the Heauens are aboue the earth Deut. 11.21 30. And how prouision is by Vertue made To keepe the Caterpillers from the Trees Js thus A fire vnderneath is laide Whose smoake consumes them as in swarmes of Bees Is vsed commonly to rid the Drones And so they proue continuall fruitfull ones Vnder the name of Vertue is comprehended our royall King Iames for whose desert no lesse name can be giuen him seeing that God hath endued him with such full measure of Faith knowledge temperance and godlinesse which is euidently seene in that he is continually carefull and prouident that the Gospell of Christ may haue free propagation and so proue fruitfull amongst his subiects and that it be not hurt or violated by ill affected people who as Caterpillers are consumed with fire so are they vtterly destroied by the truth of the word professed which is also compared to fire Luke 12.49 31. And that the Corne from Cankers may be cleane Thousands of carefull Laborers are fitted To polish cleanse and winnow by which meane None but good Seede is to the ground committed The like care is to cleare the hearbs from weedes So there good Corne and good hearbs onely breedes That the word of God be not mingled with the false Doctrines of Heretikes thousands of diligent preachers are prouided who are called Laborers Math. 9.37 who as Saint Paul saith 2. Cor. 4.2 haue cast from them the cloakes
as it was with the Israelites when they prouoked the Lord with strange Gods by changing his seruice for their superstitions Deut. 32.28 They are a Nation void of Councell neither is there any vnderstanding in them For if the Romish Catholikes were directed by the true light of the Gospell which maketh all things manifest Eph. 5.13 they would easily discerne the delusions of the Pope and his Ministers who deceiueth them as the Serpent deceiued Euah 24. And that my gaine may be enlarg'd the more I haue deuis'd a Law on Paine of death That none the Iuyce of Grapes shall tast before The Iuyce of Weedes be mixt whereby of breath I haue bereaued thousands with this blade Which for that purpose onely I haue made Here is set forth the tyrannie and bloody persecution of the Pope We reade Acts 8.1 that Stephen was stoned to death for the Gospell of Iesus Christ and that at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Ierusalem and they were all scattered abroad through the Regions of Iudea and Samaria except the Apostles But if we turne ouer all the Histories of the Iewes and Gentiles we shall not finde greater examples of crueltie and more diuellish plots of treachery against the true Church of God then hath beene acted and conspired by the Pope and his confederates Priests Iesuites Fryars Monkes c. and their followers Witnesse that heauenly Communion of Saints that great companie of Martyrs which haue patiently suffered death for the Gospell by his cruell and bloody hand some in this our Nation and those an infinite number some in France Italy Germanie and other places beyond the Seas So that if there were no other argument this were sufficient to proue that his inuentions proceed from the Deuill and not of God nor good men Wee reade in the Reuel 17.4 of a vision described of a woman araied in purple and scarlet and guilded with gold c. This woman is the Antichrist that is the Pope with the whole body of his filthie creatures who afterwards in the 6. verse of the same Chapter inferring his mercilesse seueritie is said to be drunken with the blood of Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus 25. The Angell answer'd for this Impious fact A iudgement on thee suddenly shall come Worse then the Serpents curse for his vilde Act Which in deluding Euah he had done Vengeance from Heauen shall one day driue thee out From this faire Vineyard with thy Rabble rout Here is set forth the iudgement of him and all persecuters The vision of the beast mentioned Reuel 17.8 is meant by the Romane Empire which being fallen into decay the whore of Rome vsurped authoritie and as he proceeded from the Deuill thither shall returne as in the Margent of the Text. The words are these The beast that thou hast seene was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomelesse pit and shall goe into perdition And Reuel 18.2 the ouerthrow of Rome is described vnder the name of Babylon thus And the Angell cried out mightily with a loud voice saying It is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great Citie and is become the habitation of Deuils and the hold of all foule spirits and a Cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird Againe Reuel 19.19.20 the destruction of Rome is prefigured in these words And I saw the beast and the Kings of the earth and their warriours gathered together to make battaile against him that sate on the horse and against his souldiors that is the Pope and the worldly Princes shall fight against Christ but the beast was taken and with him that false Prophet that wrought miracles before him whereby he deceiued them that receiued the beasts marke and them that worshipped his Image These both were cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone which will be accomplished at the second comming of Christ Also Reuel 20.10 there is his perpetuall damnation set forth in these words And the Deuill that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false Prophet shall be tormented euen day and night for euermore 26. Who pitifully shall lament thy case The aspect thereof will be so vehement It is written of the whore of Babylon Reuel 8. ver 8.9.10.11 That her plagues shall come at one day death and sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemne her And the kings of the earth shall bewaile her lament for her which haue committed fornication and liued in pleasure with her when they shall see the smoake of her burning and shall stand a farre off for feare of her torment saying Alas alas the great Citie of Babilon the mightie Citie for in one hower is thy iudgement come And the Marchants of the earth shall weep and waile ouer her for no man buyeth her ware any more By that is meant both they that temporally haue had profit by the strumpet and also the spirituall Marchants shall for sorrow and want of their gaine cry out and dispaire for besides their spirituall liuings the Monkes and Friars as sometimes they were heere in England being stewards to Cardinals Bishops and Abbots were temporall Marchants and held and occupied Farmes Mannors and Graunges c. But others shall reioice at thy disgrace And for deliuerance from thy mischiefes sent The Children of God shall reioice at the fall of Antichrist as in the Reuel 19.1 praises are giuen to God for iudging the whore and for auenging the blood of his seruants in these words And after these things I heard a great voice of a great multitude in Heauen saying Hallelu-iah Saluation and glory and honour and power be to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgements for he hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath auenged the blood of his seruants shed by her hand And therefore double shalt thou punisht be For thy delusion and vilde Tyrannie In the 137. Psal ver 8.9 They are said to be blessed that could repay the like to Babylon where the Israelites were so tyrannously handled O daughter of Babel worthie to be destroyed blessed shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs blessed shall hee be that taketh and dasheth thy children against the stones But in the Reu. 8.6 speaking of the whore of Rome it is said that her reward shall be double For there was a voice heard saying Reward her euen as she hath rewarded you and giue her double according to her workes and in the cup that she hath filled to you fill her the double 27. And then mee thought I was translated thence Into a Paradice replenished With fruitfull Trees Corne Vines and Hearbes By this Paradice is meant the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland A comprehensible Type of the incomprehensible excellencie of the holy Ierusalem spoken of