his Church Take it thus He that since the Apostles and first primitive-Christian times will confirm his Doctrine and set up his Kingdom by Miracles is the great Antichrist But the Pope and none in the World else since those times confirms his Doctrines and sets up his Kingdom by Miracles therefore the Pope is the great Antichrist Sitxhly Antichrist shall challenge to himself a Power over all Nations and Churches upon the face of the Earth in reference to Christ as being his Vicegerent Rev. 13.7 Power was given him over all Kinreds Tongues and Nations ver 16.17 He causeth all both great and small rich and poor bond and free to receive his mark and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark c. This Power the Pope assumes to himself and hath had it for no man in the World layes claim to it but he though the great Turk lays claim to all yet not in reference to Christ as his Deputy but the Pope doth It is Antichristian to challenge Power over the faith and conscience of one man or Church t is more Antichristian to challenge Power over many Churches as Bishops do t is a further degree of Antichristianism to claim a Power over whole Provinces as Arch-Bishops do t is yet more to Lord it over the faith of many Provinces and Kingdoms as Patriarks do but to challenge such Soveraignty over all the Churches in the world as the Pope doth thats the great Antichrist of Antichristianism And as one wittily saith lest he should wrong himself by too modest a claim for you must know he 's a modest soul he doth not onely challenge a Power over all this world but in Heaven Hell also where ever Christ hath power yea and even in Purgatory too where Christ hath no Power Mr. Fox in his book of Martyrs records Pope Leo the tenth his Bull against Luther where he charges all Patriarks Metropolitans Primates Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiastical Orders downwards even to the begging Friers and then all Kings Electors of the Empire Princes Dukes and so on and at last all men throughout the universal World upon pain of the great excommunication that they do not embrace Luthers Doctrine adhere to or favor his person Judge you now if this Language be not the very same with that of the great Antichrist Rev. 13. And let me tell you the Popes of Rome have exercised this supremacie for many hundred years Before I close this in hand let me in a word answer a quaere or two the Church of Rome are still putting to us Where was your Doctrine and where was your Church before Luther Why as for our Doctrine my Answer 's thus It was where their 's never was in the Scriptures And as for our Church where that was my Answer runs thus I. Our Protestant-Divines have abundantly cleared it to them that in all Ages there were some they have named the men and the junctures of time in which they lived that opposed Pope and Popery Secondly if we had none before Luther how came they to have so much work for their Inquisitions before Luther for their Armies against the Albigenses and Waldenses five hundred years ago and how came Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury and his fellow Bishops in the reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth of England to condemn and execute so many of the followers of Wickliff and amongst the rest that gallant and famous Saint Sir Iohn Old-Castle 'T is strange there were none of our Church before Luther when there were its well enough known so many in every Kingdom apprehended and executed for opposing the Pope for denying and rejecting popish Doctrine and worship Surely all they may very well be reckoned of our Religion for they would die before-they would be of theirs Thirdly If by this they mean where was your Church visible t is a Nonsence quaere for Rev. 11.2 the holy City meaning the visible Church of Christ shall they tread under foot forty two Moneths i. e. all the time of Antichrist and Rev. 13. He had Power given him over all People Nations and Languages and all the World wondred after the beast T was an impossibility and inconsistent with Gods eternal counsel and decree that we should have a visible Church during the height of Antichrists reign It is enough for us that there have been two witnesses in every age Prophesying in sackloth against him some few haters opposers of him very closely and secretly you might hear of two or three Heretiques in a Kingdom or in a County but perhaps you should not know many times where to find one of them the Beast had so got all the World under his paws Take it in this Syllogisme He that usurps Authority over the faith and conscience of all the Kingdoms and Churches in the World he is the great Antichrist but this the Pope hath done and doth do at this day at least presumptively and intentionally he 'l tell you 't is his right therefore the Pope is the great Antichrist Seventhly The Holy Ghost hath upon the matter named him to us Rev. 13. and last verse Here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred threescore and six As if the spirit of God had sayd 't is not over difficult to find out his name seing t is the number of a man a number that a man may find out or reckon Then he commends the finding of it out for a special piece of wisdom and understanding that so every one might be encouraged to set himself to work it being natural unto men to desire to be accounted wise In the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romagnosh Romanus a Roman the numeral letters make up six hundred sixty six In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the man that useth the Latine tongue so much the numeral letters make up six hundred sixty six You know no expression pleaseth but this ecclesia catholica Romana and the Latine Tongue Latine Bible Latine Service all must be in Latine out of this number says Saint John in effect find out his name that is so much for the Latine In the Latine tongue this Generalis dei Vicarus in terris makes up six hundred sixty six And to give him not onely the name he desires but the name he deserves In our English The Pope by superioritie is the divels Leiftenant the numeral letters hereof make up six hundred sixty six This number may be found in such names and terms as do rightly set him out in diverse Langaages But the Jesuites object that this number may be found in many other names We shall easily grant it may without weakning what hath been delivered for they can bring no other name to whom all the other properties of Antichrist do agree The Holy Ghost doth not send us here barely to
had not our neighbour Nation owned proclaimed him whom they did the hand of providence had never raised this storm against them I do not lay this down as a certain Conclusion for Judicia Dei non sunt temere discutienda sed formidoloso silentio veneranda t is only my perswasion which you may receive or reject as God shall guide your hearts Yet I am not more confident that this book of the Bible came out of the mouth of God then that the childe is born who shall see a general tottering and shivering to peices of Thrones and Scepters and that-upon this account the quarrel that is already one foot between Christ and Antichrist Begin at forty one or thereabouts and make up a Century and observe it in your dayes and then leave it to your children to be observed by them if this now current Century I say be not more fatal to most or all that hold Scepters in their hands but especially to Europaean Scepters then ever any was since this World began The text is express Rev. 16.14 16.18 Chiefly in reference to Kings who being confederate in a crafty war having fair pretentions but exceeding bad intentions marched in the head of their Regiments against indeed Christ and his Kingdom but a Divine Anathema or curse falls upon them there is an Earthquake raised such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great to answer the greatness of the adversaries engaged against him to shake to pieces those great and mighty ones of the Earth which an ordinary Earthquake could not have effected But how can this be for t is said Rev. 17.16 The ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire The Pope falls by them and not they by adhering to the Pope First I answer what I have sayd to this particular you see I have built upon plain Scriptures and I think according to the sense and mind of the Holy Ghost in them Secondly by Hornes here it is not needfull to understand Kings in the strictness and formality of the Notion and my reason is gathered from Rev 17.9.10 The seven Heads are also seven Kings five are fallen and one is Here Consuls Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators are called by the Holy Ghost Kings when as we know strictly they were not so onely they had Supream power in their hands Thirdly What Protestant whose eyes are open doth not see that most or all the Kings of Europe in their present posture are directly framed for the Popes interest Indeed his and their now interest make up one Linsey Woolsey piece they are so interwoven and mixt that Christ must be fain to open the whole fabrick of Kingly Government to the very foundations thereof before the cursed roots and seeds of the mystery of iniquity will be got out Will you tell me that he who lately swayed the Scepter here and he that now endeavours to succeed would ever have been perswaded so to hate as to make war against Pope and Papists for the setting up in the World Gospel-Ordinances in their purity and power and if it cannot be expected from the present Protestant Princes can it in reason be hoped for from the present Popish Princes therefore they are in no small danger most or all of them to be shaken quite to peices by the Earthquake Fourthly the strength of a beast to do his greatest hurt lies in his horns they are the highest and most eminent parts of him and so by ten hornes is meant only the supream power of the ten Nations by what names or Titles soever they are called Christ by the Earthquake will shake down those powers in whom are found a deal of carnal Popish dregs and set up those in their room that are men of other spirits pares negotio fit for such a business as Christ hath in hand Doubtless the ten horns are the ten Supream Powers of Europe who shal do the deed that is so much desired and prayed for of all the Saints And now if any man herein differ from me let him differ I judge him not God forbid that in ruining Antichrist I my self should be so Antichristian as to attempt to Lord it over the faith of any man Why should I be offended that thou canst not see that which I see nor believe as I belive if God intends thee good I doubt not but he 'l find a time to reveal even this unto thee that one civil Government is no more of Divine right then another and that thy Conscience ought not to engage or give it self up in perpetuum to any one of them but thou art free from Oaths Convenants when t is sufficiently clear God hath layd aside that civil power to whom thou didst so swear or Covenant Onely I think it but reason to entreat this of thee that fancy Conscience void of argument custome novelty of the things delivered private ends and aims self interest may not be layd in the ballance against me these are poor beggarly chaffi◠irrational things be carefull to start from me upon some solidity of reason I do profess in the sight of God that as I have balked nothing for fear of any mans displeasure for though I respect and honour many men yet so far as I know my own heart I fear no man so neither have I brought in or delivered any thing purposely to grieve or provoke any mans spirit I hope I have otherwise learned Christ You have it in the singleness of my heart so as God brought it to my hand The fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the seat of the beast Rev. 16.10 11. Here Expositors do generally pitch upon the City of Rome to be this seat of the beast But sure t is not sense to speak of the destruction of Babylon till Euphrates be dryed up which is under the sixrh Vial and you must know that the Vials are placed in this Chapter according to the order of events or transactions and therefore the Popes material seat cannot be destroyed by this Vial. The Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he poured his vial upon the Throne of the Beast By Throne in Scripture is often meant that Government with any person or state sitting upon that Throne do set up and administer as Ps 89.29 So then consider that form of Government the Pope sets up and exercises in all his Churches throughout the World A throne you know admits but of one finde a Government where one alone doth rule and what can this be but Episcopacy Episcopacie is a is a Government where one and no more hath the Throne or Seat all the rest keep their distance and are under Command There were holy and learned men as Beza Cartwright Bains Parker who cast some drops of wrath upon this Seat but t was not long ere all Scotland got the
as to the end of the World an eternal excellency i. e. an excellency while the World stands according to Dans. 2.44 In the dayes of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people but shall stand for ever Dan 7.14 His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed But you le say how can this be reconciled with that Rev. 20.7 8 9. When the thousand shall be expired Satan shall be loosed out of prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea And they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the Saints about and the beloved City hoping to make an end of them at once that the world might be troubled with them no more Where is the glorious Kingdom of Christ at this time shall it not be even broken and lost I answer 1. 'T is nowhere said Christs Reign in the height of its excellencie and utmost amplitude or extent of it should be everlasting we do not anywhere read that 2. A people Christ will have all the Saints will be his and be they never so few he may truly be said to rule in and over the kingdome of the Saints Earthly and worldly kingdoms may but none of the Spiritual kingdome made up of Saints ever was or ever will be taken from him 3. Thought the Devil turned loose deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth yet I do believe Christ will hold his own in the nation of the Jewes Isa 60.20 21 Thy sun shall no more go down neither shall thy moon withdraw herself for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended Thy people shall be all righteous generally righteous they shall inherit the land for ever Isa 59.20 21. The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord as for me this is my covenant with them my Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of them mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth even for ever To convince you that this place is properly alleaged for this purpose see Rom. 11. where all confesse the Apostle purposely sets himselfe to treat concerning the calling of the Jews v. 25. sayes he Blindnesse in part is happened to Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written Isa 59.20 There shall come out of Sion the Diliverer and shall turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob. And sayes God when I shall make this good unto them I will bind my self to them by covenant that my Spirit which I shall put upon them my word which I shall put into their hearts and mouth shall not depart from them nor from their seed nor from their seeds seed while the world stands I say surely the people of the Jewes when once they are brought in to Christ again they 'l not forsake him any more for ever which will be enough to make Christ a visible kingdome upon earth And when all the powers and policies of the world are united in this designed of compassing and so destroying the holy City Christ will not suffer his Scepter to be wrested out of his hand nor the visibility of his kingdome and dominion to faile and therefore fire comes down from God out of heaven and destroys them Rev. 20.9 whereupon the glory of this Church and Kingdome will revive and flourish again and thus his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his Kingdome that which shall not be destroyed When we speak of the great and glorious Rule and Kingdome of Christ over the generality of nations peoples and languages as here we do of this we say only it shall last a long time it shall continue a thousand years it shall be the joy of many generations You see the Point I doubt not to say it is a sure and impregnable truth viz. Vpon the breaking to peeces of the Church to Rome the Lord Christ will reign and King it so so gloriously as he never did in the world before Vse 1. For application thus But little cause have all Gods people to let their hearts be sadded when they see the famous Governments and Grandeour of this World broken to peeces and laid in the dust Did they rightly understand their true interest it would no more trouble them then the pulling down of an old rotten smoaky cottage doth any man that a strong stately house may be set up for him in its room It God throw down the powers the greatnesse of the kingdoms of men it is that he may bring in the place thereof the power and greatnesse of the kingdom of his Son T is storied when the War began in Germany ann 1619. that a great Brasse-image of S. Peter that had Tu es Petrus super te adificabo ecclesiam meam engraven upon it standing in S. Peters Church at Rome a great and massie sone fell down upon it and so shattered it to peeces that not any word or syllable of that sentences was legible but only these Aedificabo Ecclesiam meam I will build may Church Certainly out of these Wars that are now on foot as I touched in the close of the last point out of the ruines and ashes that shall be made he will bring forth the most glorious Kingdom and frame of Government that ever the World saw Carnal Reason may say 't is pitty that such persons such families such constitutions should be shaken to pieces but I speak to those who profess to live by a principle above Carnal Reason above flesh and blood to you that profess your selves born of God Members of Christ Subjects of his Kingdom that profess 't is your everlasting joy to see the Crown set upon the head of Jesus Christ T is a hard Riddle to me that it should at all go to your hearts to see great but barren Mountains cast into the Sea that so the way may be made plain for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and for his Kingdom Vse 2. The second thus It were to be wished that every one would set themselves upon the stretch to hasten to bring on this Kingdom Set up that Kingdom in thy self which comes not with observation as our Saviour speaks that Kingdom which consists in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Let Christ his Truth and Worship rule in thee and over thee Lay down thy self thy name thy estate thy All at the
power and who carries himself as if he were God he is the man of sin the great Antichrist but the Popes of Rome are seated in the temple have subjected all rule and Authority to themselvs and behave themselves as if they were God therefore the Popes of Rome are the man of sin the great Antichrist Thirdly Antichrists Name is written in his forehead Rev. 17.5 Mystery Brocard a Venetian doth avouch it that the word Mystery is written in the Popes Mitre and many others who have been at Rome do profess to have seen it as Dr. Iames the late keeper of the Library at Oxford will further satisfie any man in his Dedicatory Epistle to his Treatise of the corruption of the Scriptures What mystery 't is that is written upon his forehead Saint Paul tell you 2 Thes 2.7 Mystery of iniquity As the Doctrine of the Gospel is a Mystery of Godliness so the Papacy is nothing else but a Mystery of iniquity The Pope pretends to be more for Christ then any man in the World Christs Vicar Christs Vicegerent the visible head of Christs Church Saint Peters successor to feed the flock of Christ and still he hath Christ in his mouth and who but Christ with him I tell you he pretends to be more for Christ then any man alive but let me tell you withall that there is no man alive so much against Christ as he is and therefore most properly called Antichrist which signifies both for and against Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek is pro as well as contra Ioh. 1.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace for Grace The great Antichrist is one that is pretendedly for Christ but is really against Christ which cannot be affirmed of the great Turk or of any other beside the Pope but of him it may most clearly That he bears the World in hand he is Christ greatest friend I need not prove I suppose we will all take that for granted but let me shew you how in truth he is Christs greatest Enemy in all points One mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus 1 Time 2.5 There are other Mediators says the Pope both for satisfacton and intercession for satisfaction the propitiatory sacrifice of the Mass the blood of Thomas the merits of the Church for intercession the Virgin Mary Saints and Angels are intercessors to God even as to our particular necessities for us there 's but one says Christ there are more says the Pope Christ alone is Prophet of his Church to be heard in all things whatsoever he shall say Act. 3. and for this end he opened the sealed book bids every one of his search the Scriptures grow in knowledge walk in the light of Gospel-truth the Pope expresly contradicts this and tells you that the Doctrine Christ hath left in the Scriptures is not sufficient without his daily supplements of unwritten Traditions which are of equal Authority with the word of Christ and must be beleeved upon pain of damnation Of the written word what he pleaseth he makes authentique what he pleases he cancels he teaches and interprets all by an infallible unerring Spirit He hath sealed up the book or Bible which Christ opened to them forbidding the people the use of Scriptures Latine Scriptures Latine Service all must be to them in an unknown tongue he tells them that ignorance is the mother of devotion and to believe as the Church believes is knowledge and faith enough Christ hath forbidden all kinde of pictures and Images in the Worship of God Deut. 4.15.16 Take good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude in the day the Lord spake unto you in Horeb lest ye corrupt your selves and make a graven Image c. John 4.23 The true worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and in truth the Father seeketh such to worship him No says the Pope you shall make Images of the Trinity and pictures of the Cross and shall kiss and worship them with the worship of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same worship ye give God Christ You shall make Images of Saints and Angels and shall worship them with worship of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a religious worship though not the highest you shall pray unto them and fill all your Churches with them for they are Lay-mens books Christ hath taught us that our own righteousness is as menstruous rags upon our best performances we are unprofitable sevants that we are justified by faith without the works of the Law T is not so says the Pope good Works are meritorious there is a merit of congruity in them before conversion and a merit of condignity in them after conversion nay that some men do works of supererogation more then the Law of God requireth or is their duty to do whereby they are not onely justified themselves but the overplus of their merits helps to justifie others Christ saith he will have the Sacrament of the Supper administred in both kinds 1 Cor. 11 23. to 27. I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and sayd take eat this is my body after the same manner he took the cup saying this cup is the new Testament in my blood this do ye as oftenas ye eat this bread and drink this cup c. This St. Paul received of Jesus Christ delivered it in charge to all and every of the Churches of Corinth both what and how they were to receive It shall not be so says the Pope the Priest shall receive in both kinds the People shall have nothing but the bread Christ teaches that marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled Heb. 13. No says the Pope 't is not honorable in the Clergy so they call them t is not lawful for a Priest to marry Christ says Let no man judge you in respect of meats or drinks or an holy day Col. 2. You are now freed from the observation of daies and meats every creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving No says the Pope ye shall observe Saints daies and for meats touch not taste not any flesh on such and such dayes and weeks of Lent But to what end should I thus go on I profess I can hardly name one Doctrine of Jesus Christ but the Popes of Rome have thwarted it either directly or indirectly and quite subverted it The Pope may see himself in those old Heretiques the Antitactae as in a glass who held it religion to contradict the Laws of their Maker and instead of Gods Laws brought in their own inventions and fooleries Take it thus He on whom such a mystery of iniquity is found as to pretend to be wholy for Christ and yet in every thing crosses and opposes Christ he is the man of sin the true and great Antichrist but upon the Pope is this mystery of iniquity
find out a name but such a name out of them as will grasp in all the other descriptions of Antichrist such a name as sutes to all that is said of him in the Rev. or elsewhere such a name as will hold forth the man that succeeds the Emperors in the Government of the Roman State or that is the seventh head of Daniels fourth beast that sits in the temple of God as the great Church man Lording it over the Faith and Consciences of all men in the world and in ordine ad spiritualia subjecteth all civil rule and Authority to himself that highly pretends to be for Christ and yet in every thing crosseth and contradicteth Christ That looks like a Lamb speaks like a Dragon and exerciseth the Power of the first beast viz. King Consuls c. When we put them to find a name out of this number that points out a man to whom all these particulars do agree they are at a stand they cannot give us one though their Kingdom and their All lie upon it Wherefore I conclude That that name whereto all the descriptions of Antichrist do agree is that Saint John bids us here seek after and is the name of the great Antichrist but the names before given pointing out the Pope are such as in every one of them all the descriptions of Antichrist do meet and concentrate therefore this is the name and consequently the Pope is the man of sin the great Antichrist Thus you have a sevenfold-scripturall demonstration of the point It 's good to make sure-work when we have to do with so unruly a beast But why did not the Holy-Ghost speak expresly who it was might not he as easily have said the Popes of Rome are the man of sin the great Antichrist as expressed it thus darkly and left it so liable to doubt and controversie I answer T is not for us to teach God how he shall speak but duty when he hath spoken to set our selves with reverence to spell out his mind I might put you off with this But yet think I may with safety venture to give you some reasons why God carried it on thus in the clouds and in the dark I. 'T was out of a tender respect he had to his People the prevention of their utter ruine for had he said that the Bishops of Rome and consequently Christians should be Lords of Rome yea make Kings and Emperors bow before them nay be Masters of the World this inhumane conjecture would have armed the Heathen Emperors as one man against the Christians and Christians talked so much of a Kingdom that they had some thoughts and jealousies in their heads and hearts of them already therefore certainly if Saint John had spoke out their jealousies had kindled into a flame against them that they would have set themselves to have destroyed the name of Christian from of the Earth which was this way prevented Secondly God would shew himself to be the God of secrets and depths of wisdom above weak shallow man This book of the Revelation hath brought many great and learned men to let fall their plumes the high thoughts of their own wisdoms and sufficiencies hath set them a studying hath exercised their best Intellectuals brought them upon their knees to God in prayer that he would be pleased to give them a Revelation of the Revelation the things he hath opened in this book that he would open them more and give them his own key for none else can unlock the Cabinet How hath it set men of admiring that if there be such hardness such depths in Gods Revelations what unsearchable secrets and depths of Mysteries are there in the heart and bosome of God himself infinitely above the reach of the understanding of all Men and Angels God loves to lay vain proud men low he loves to bring them to the knowledge of themselves and t is a great mercy to us that he doth so Thirdly God sent Antichrist as the greatest judgement on men that ever was in the World Rev. 6.2 God there sends forth Christ in his Apostles Evangelists and others riding swiftly on the white horse of the Gospel and you know how quickly they rid clean through the world Psal 19.34 with Rom. 10.18 but the world did generally despise the Gospel of Salvation offered to them In the following verses of that chapter God sends out The red horse of War The black horse of Famine The pale horse of Pestilence and his name that sate upon him was Death and Hell followed him verse the twelfth There comes a great Earthquake which upon the same account shakes down all the heathen Gods and Monarchies brings Constantine the great into the Throne sets up Christianity in the World and now Regis ad Exemplum every one turns Christian but yet the meer formality of name and notion served their turn the generality of men received the Christian faith but not in the love of it they held the truth of God in unrighteousness and this doubtless angered God more then the Heathens open contempt of the Gospel whereupon God set himself to bring forth some greater judgements on the Christian world then he had on the Heathenish when first he had secured his own By sealing the servants of God in the forehead Chap. 7. In the eighth Chapter the Trumpets sound whereby all Expositors agree haereses corruptelas verae Doctrinaepraesignificari In the four first chiefly Heresies Corruptions of sound Doctrine are presignified Temporal miseries not excluded but t is something hard I find to assign the right heresie and who was the broacher to every Trumpet Chap. 9.1 2. Tht fifth Angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit And he opened the bottomless pit and there arose smoak out of the pit as the smoak of a great furnace and the sun and the air were darkned by reason of the smoak of the pit Here Hell breaks loose upon them and now in the Popes of Rome or the great Antichrist was wrath come upon the Christian World to the uttermost there were all Judgements in this one 2 Thes 2.8 to 13. Then shall that wicked be revealed whose comming is after the manner of Satan with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that Perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be sved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned c. Now if God had named the Person and time of Antichrists coming there are such fearful things spoken of him that all the World would have set against him and so God had crossed the decree of Divine Justice but being expressed thus darkly the Pope hath been able to corrupt and deceive all the Nations of the Earth whereby the determined wrath is come upon the souls and bodies of Hypocritical and ungodly Christians This kinde
graffed in Well because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by faith be not high-minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them that fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Are these Bugbears windie Bladders Can these words possibly import less then that God and Grace were not so made over to them but time might produce a change both in Pastors and Church from good to bad from bad to worse and that if they did not walk humbly and watch to the keeping of the Faith they should certainly be cut off Thirdly Together with Constantines large Endowments and Immunities there arose abundance of Idleness Errors Images Superstitions Pride Affectation of outward greatness especially in the Church of Rome and thus she forsook her first Love and the spirit daily quenching yea dying in them they knew no way to keep up but by supporting themselves with a carnal and outward strength Socrates in his seventh book and 11. Chapter saith Now began an ill name to stick on the Bishops of Rome who beyond their priestly bounds have stept into principality This was in the daies of Theodosius the yonger scarce fourscore years since their low poor condition which Constantine raised them from The next remarkable thing we read of was this Philippicus Leo with some other Emperors after them not without the advice of Pratriarks and a whole Eastern Councel threw Images out of Churches as being decreed Idolatrous Whereupon the Bishop of Rome seizes the City and Territories about into his own hands makes himself Lord thereof which till then was Governed by a Greek Magistrate absolves all Italy of their Tribute and obedience due to the Emperor upon this goodly occasion Then to bear himself out in these pranks he takes upon him by Papâ—â—â— sentence to unthrone Chilpericus gives the Kingdom to Pepin and so made him his fast friend and Champion for by him he presently got all Ravenna and annexed it to the Sea of Rome as lawful prize to Saint Peter I must not now stand to tell you how throughout the fift and sixt hundred years after Christ diverse of the Bishops of Rome did openly contend for supremacy but were supprest in several Councels of Carthage and Chalcedon T was not long after when Phocas murthered his Master the Emperor Mauritius and then says the Historian Bonifacius obtinuit a Phoca ut Rom. Ecclesia esset caput omnium Ecclesiarum Pope Boniface obtained of Phocas that the Church of Rome should be head of all Churches From that time forward that Antichristian Jurisdiction and Supremacie grew still more and more till it became an overgrown Monster even to give Laws to all the Kingdoms and Churches in the World Fourthly It is said Rev. 13.2 The Dragon gave him his Power and Seat and great Authority The Pope hath the Keys of the bottomless pit Rev 9 in his hands the devil freely bestowed them on him and made him the great steward of his house his heart rests securely in him Fithly God made them Antichrist in that sense which he 's said to harden Pharoahs heart They not receiving the truth in the Love of it but holding the truth of God in unrighteousness for this cause God gave them up to what you have heard to receive in and upon themselves that recompence of their Errors and sinfulness which was meet Thus you have the cause of his Rise and Growth But haply some man will say to me Is not the Pope Saint Peters successor My Answer 's this That he is the great Antichrist hath been I think sufficiently cleared then whether he is Saint Peters Successor or no I leave thee to judge But for your clearer light in this point what if Saint Peter were never Bishop of Rome as for my part I verily beleeve he was not And because here is the very foundation of their Papacie give me leave to speak to it not doubting but I shall say enough to convince thee there is no just Warrant to make it a point of thy Faith that Peter was Bishop of Rome Whatsoever Bellarmine saith concerning Peters Journals for he speaks as punctually as if he had travelled with him from first to last hath no solid ground to rest the sole of its foot upon at all He says in the fifth year of Christs passion Peter was made Bishop of Antioch and continued in that Bishoprick seven years Then he went to Rome the second year of Claudius ibique sedem fixit ann 25. there he pitched and Bishop'd it five and twenty years Et ibidem vitam finivit there he ended his daies But that ever Peter was seven years Resident at Antioch for that 's required in a fixed Bishop and twenty five at Rome or most part of those years in those places he brings not one text of Scripture to prove either you have his bare word for it but who 'l take that for good proof in his own cause I wonder For the former of these we read concerning the Church of Antioch who gathered and constituted it Act. 11.19.20 21 22. ver 25.26 We find also who were the chif Prophets and Doctors of it Act. 13.1 We do not find in all the Scripture that Peter was at Antioch but in one place Gal. 2. and that in transcursu he took it only in his way Is here sufficient ground to conclude him Bishop of Antioch for seven years together I have stood the more upon this to shew you that if upon such slender grounds they have concluded him Bishop of Antioch for such a space of time certainly they will catch at small things to constitute him Bishop of Rome whereby their own turn is so much served Search all the New-Testament from one end of it to another and where ever you find Rome named if you find mention of Peters being there twenty five years or ten years or one year or one day then let me pass for a lyar Yea says Bellarmine 't is evident he was at Rome Ex eo quod fuit in Babylone in that he was at Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 the Church which is at Babylon salutes you Roma autem in Apocalypsi passim vocatur Babylon Rome in the Revelation is still called Babylon his very words 1. Let God have the glory of his own truth out of his Enemies mouths Rev. 17.4 5. The woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet colour and decked with Gold and Precious Stones and Pearls having a golden Cup in her hand c. And upon her forehead was written Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and the abominations of the whole Earth All this then by Bellarmines own confession must be understood of Rome and the great whore or Antichrist is not to sit at Jerusalem as he says in another place lyars had need of good
Jerusalem I must also see Rome and God confirmed this conclusion of their Act. 23.11 The Lord stood by him and said be of good cheer Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Ierusalem so must thou bear witness also at Rome And at Rome you find him Act. 28. I profess had they taken the Rise of their succession from Paul they had puzled us more then now they have for Paul was at Rome and the Spirit speaks expresly That he was not behind the very chief of the Apostles spake with more tongues then they all the care of all the Churches lay upon him I say had they made themselves a Church and claimed Supremacy from Paul they had put us more to 't but God hath befooled them in their Counsels they lay claim to all from Peters fixed Episcopacie there contrary to the mind and spirit of God in that eminent success Peter still had in laying forth Christ to the Jews as also contrary to that solemn and well-grounded Covenant among themselves that he together with James and John should be minister of the Jews Oh says Bellarmine t is meant principaliter Judeorum chiefly of the Jews 'T is very true but I would it had been considered by him that at this very time Peter supposing him twenty five years Bishop of Rome had already spent some years of his fixed Episcopacy and presently after this Engagement was to return to his seat and office and there spend out his daies how could such an Engagement stand with wisdom or honesty of Spirit his in accepting theirs in putting it upon him Therefore what an errant dissembler and Covenant-breaker do they make their first Bishop and head of their Church But for my part I verily beleive Peter did take the Engagement with much wisdom and honesty of Conscience it so nearly concerned the greater Growth and Advantage of the Church that he did lay forth his ministration though now and then as occasions were started to the Gentiles principally and for most part to the Jews And indeed consider Fourthly how Scripture looks with a full face towards this to make it good Gal. 1.18 Then after three years meaning of Pauls conversion I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and abode with him fifteen days Paul found him there and left him there and this was Anno Christi thirty seven Eight years after this he was at Ierusalem for Herod had him in Prison Act. 12. and this was the forty fifth year of Christ and third year of Claudius Six years from that he was at Ierusalem for Paul writes Gal. 2.11 then fourteen years after that is from the third year of Pauls conversion mentioned Gal. 1. I went up again to Ierusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me also Where he found Peter ver 7.8 9. and this was in the year of Christ fifty one At which time the learned say that council spoken of Act. 15. was held viz. in the eighteenth year of Christs passion but if that famous council was after the time that Paul came up by Revelation Gal. 2.2 it still makes more against them for Peter was at the council Act. 15.7 From the council he did not return to Rome for thence all the Jews were Banished by Claudius but travelled up and down those Countries teaching the scattered Iews to whom he had writ his former Epistle and in this peregrination he came to Antioch where Paul withstood him to his face Gal. 2.11 In the sixty third year of Christ and eighth year of Nero Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans where he salutes by name all his familiar friends and acquaintance but not a word of Bishop Peter was he not one of Pauls dear friends or was he not there at that time No say they he was gone to visit and confirm the Churches but are they sure Paul knew as much that upon that ground he should forbear to mention him but suppose he had known of his absence it would have stood both with wisdom and piety to have saluted and sent commendations to him For First It would have manifested to them all how worthy Peter was of Remembrance and very dear to Paul and provoked new flames of affection on in their hearts towards their absent Pastor which Paul was used to do 1 Thessa 5.12.13 c. Secondly If this Salutation could not have been conveyed to him by letter from some of the Church yet upon Peters first return to Rome he had doubtless met with it which could not but have been a great refreshing to his wearied spirit Four years after this Epistle was written Paul himself came Prisoner to Rome the sixty sixt years of Christ and eleventh year of Nero he lived two whole years in his own hired house as I showed before and was there some time more in another way that 's implied Now Bellarmine tells us both Paul and Peter suffered under Nero the last year of his reign he reigned in all but thirteen years eight moneths when his thirteenth year and somewhat more was expired t is evident Peter had not been at Rome A strange fixed Bishop who is never mentioned in any of the letters either to or from Rome none that ever were there could either see or find him there no nor yet he himself left any indubitable testimony of his Episcopacie amongst them Therefore I am satisfied that Peter made-good his promise and Engagement laying forth his Apostleship principally and generally to the Jews and at Ierusalem and so neither was nor could be a fixed Bishop of Rome at all much less for twenty five years together But In the next place suppose and I do but suppose it that Peter had been at Rome yea had lived and died Bishop there what ground or warrant can they show which necessarily infers that he must have a Successor in that Prerogative and Dignity There is no Law or Command in all the Book of God for it and was there ever any Kingdome or Soveraignty Spiritual or Temporal and this of theirs is both without Laws made touching the Succession thereof and forms of Election but here is no such thing Besides Peter wrot his second Epistle to the Universal Church indefinitely to them that had obtained like precious faith with him and the rest of the Apostles 2 Pet. 1.1 I cannot but wonder why he did not then declare to all the Churches in the world that the Bishops of Rome were to inherit Successively his place and honour of Vniversal Supremacie and will'd them after his death to receive and own the Bishop of Rome still under that Name and Notion especially when he had so handsome an opportunity of bringing it in 2 Pet. 1.14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me Might he not have brought it in very patly here But you see he did not for doubtless there was never any such thing in his head or heart Christ had shewed nothing of
he fallen down dead or the ground had opened and swallowed him up alive or had Moses called down fire from heaven and consumed him or the like then indeed it had been an extraordinary case an act above nature yea an act above the power of ordinary grace but t was neither so nor so therefore certainly the case was but ordinary and was recorded and transmitted to after-times for instruction Will you please to consider the case of Phineas He finds Zimri and Cozbi committing uncleanness and with a javeling kills them both at once Now what could as to men and Law be said for this mans act surely nothing that I can bethink my self of but much against him He was Phineas the Son of Eleazer the Priest what had he to do with the civil sword of Justice but suppose he had was he to do Justice in a private way when Justice might have been obtained easily in a publike way Had it not been Charity to have caused them to have been apprehended their sin laid home to their consciences peradventure they might have repented though their bodies had fallen yet their souls might have been saved Had it not been both wisdom and Piety to have brought them to publike Triall and publique condemnation and thereupon all the People to have stoned them that so others might have seen and feared and done no more so wickedly But Phineas steps out of his place makes himself Judge Jury Witness Executioner all in a heat stabs them both through the guts to Hell How the Law and men of those times looked upon him in this act I know not but this I know he had a Commission for what he did that no man in the World knew of or could read beside himself Numb 25.10 And the Lord sayd unto Moses for doutless Moses was at a stand and knew not what to think or judge of this Act of his thus Circumstanced but God instructed him concerning it that Phineas in the sparklings of his zeal had done well and excellently well and he would reward him and his for it as you may see ver 11.12 13. Behold I give unto him my Convenant of peace He shall have it and his seed after him even the Covenant of an everlasting priest-hood because he was zealous for his God If you shall say this was extraordinary I deny it what extraordinariness can there be for one man with a Javelin to kill two that lye along before him Whether God gave these men that are now in place and power with us this kinde of Commission for that eminent and exemplary peice of justice as I will not affirm it so I will not deny it but this is granted of all they were the Instruments in the hand of Divine providence whose dispensations are alwayes just and righteous But what might be the reason that Christ hath such an eminent and incensed quarrel at Kings a Viall of wrath is reserved peculiarly for them My answer in general is that which a wise man of this Land once sayd Kings of all men have been most beholding to God and God hath been of all men least beholding to Kings Why do you think did God call the four great Kingdoms of the World Dan. 7. four great beasts but because the Kings and Rulers of each of them were as so many wild raging untamed beasts preying upon the poor Peoples estates and persons at their pleasure setting up their own wills for a Law and none of them so cruel this way as the Roman Monarchy Dan. 7.7 Behold the fourth Beast was dreadfull and terrible and strong exceedingly and it had great iron teeth and it devoured and brake in peices and stamped the residue with its feet and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it and it had ten horns These ten horns are ten Europaean Kings and who ever reckons them up I finde brings in the Kings of Brittain for one of the horns of this terrible and fearfull Monster See yet more of these Europaean Kings Rev. 17.12 13 14. The ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings These have one mind and shall give their power and strength to the Beast These shall make War with the Lamb and the Lamb shall over-come them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings To have gone on in wayes of violence oppression towards any sort of people had been enough to have set Christ against them but when these ten Kings of Europe successively have one minde for the Beast give their power and strength to the Beast to make war with the Saints and with the Lamb do you marvel at that which follows the Lamb falls particularly and after a special manner upon them i. e. upon the European Kings as being resolved to have this known in the World that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords History tells us that in the years four and five hundred after Christ the Barbarous Nations of Goths and Vandals broke the western Empire all to peices at which time the Saxons were setled in England Franches in Gall the west Goths in Spain the East Goths and Longobards in Italy the Almains in Germany these growing into civil States together with their manners change their religion close with the Pope settle their Governments so as was most sutable yea serviceable to his Interest And the Pope got in upon their Consciences and brought them into Oaths and Obligations to defend the Rights and Priviledges of holy Church that is indeed of Rome Antichristian against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ And now when the time of Christs taking the Kingdoms of this World into his own hands draws dear the most of these European Kings are yet professedly for the Pope in opposition to Jesus Christ to keep him out Do you all know this and do you ask a reason why Christ pours out wrath upon the Political fun of every Nation of Europe why he makes the thrones of Kings to totter Bvt you 'l say the Kings of England cast off the Pope long since I answer Henry the eight it cannot be denyed did cast off his Supremacy but Jehu like as Calvin hath observed of him so far as served his own turn in Temporals only but was still zealous upon the six Articles of the Church of Rome that whoever denyed any of those Articles of Popery they were burnt for it Then came that blessed child and doubtless now glorified Saint of God Edward the sixt into the Throne who repealed the six Articles threw Images out of Churches and furnished the Land with an English Service-boook or Liturgie He had Wars with Scotland Insurrections at home a plain War in Norfolk his time very short his age very green We cannot blame him for reforming no more but must wonder at him and bless God for his reforming so much Queen Mary you know brought us again full sail into the Popes arms or bosom but let her Reign pass in a red Parenthesis Next came Queen
Prophesie But they who shall be so far honoured and blessed of God to be called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb as the expression is Rev. 19. to see this Kingdome drawn forth in all the just parts and lineaments of it set up to the height of its greatnesse and glory I say the least of them will be greater then John the Baptist my meaning is will be far more able to preach forth the excellencies of that Kingdome in all the dimensions of it then were those who were spectators of Jesus Christ when he was but at work upon it Therefore Reader I say again since you ought in reason let it answer your expectation if I set before you only some unpolisht draughts of it The Church of God will have more knowledge of this businesse ere it be long Dan. 12.4 Shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased The context rightly under stood clearly gives it thus That when the time of Antichrists reign and the Jews captivity shall draw towards an end men and matters will be hurried to and fro there will be great stirs in the world but then the sealed Book will be opened the knowledge of the Popes ruine calling of the Jewes the starry lustre of Christs kingdome will break forth increase and shine more and more unto the perfect day Which is the daily and fervent prayer of Your true Friend and Servant in the Lord E. H. The Reign of CHRIST Rev. 19.6 The Lord God Omnipotent raigneth THe four and twenty Elders we read of ver 4. are the Representative of the Church of Iews and Gentiles arising out of twelve Patriarks and twelve Apostles The four Beasts there also mentioned are the Ministerial Embleme who are elswhere said to have the face of a Lion of an Oxe of a Man and of an Eagle that by their special courage laboriousnesse wisdome speed the work of Jesus Christ in its time might be effectually carried on in the four parts of the world These four Beasts and four and twenty Elders something they do and something they say that which they did was this they fell down and worshipped him which sate upon the throne that which they said was Amen Allelujah be it even so as God hath done and praise and honour and glory be given to God Two grounds they lay down for this their posture and carriage the first this that he had judged the great Whore which did corrupt the earth he had pull'd down Babylon the second this he had set up himself as 't is in the text The Lord God omnipotent reigneth There needs but little explanation of the words The Lord God that is the Lord Christ for Christ is truly God 1 Joh. 5.20 This is the true God as might abundantly out of other Scriptures be proved yea the next word makes it good an incommunicable Attribute is given to him Omnipotent the Lord God omnipotent he is elsewhere called the mighty God Isa 9.6 which is of no lesse import then Almighty or Omnipotent Reigneth i. he is King Why was he not King before yes but not so as he is now now he reigns to some purpose The words thus opened and relatively taken afford us this point Vpon the breaking to peeces of the Church of Rome the Lord Christ will reigne and King it so as he never did in the world before Christ hath reigned from everlasting by Gods decree he hath reigned actually since mans fall he hath reigned eminently since his ascension and mission of the Holy Ghost but he will reigne gloriously upon the expiration of the reign of Antichrist The wonderfulnesse of this Kingdome we speak of appears to us many wayes First from those Scripture-epithites and adjuncts of him and his then-government In the very text the Lord God omnipotent reigns Omnipotent such a rule and government shall be set up that all shall be convinced and say Nothing under nothing lesse then the Omnipotencie of the Lord Christ could set it up Rev. 11.17 Thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned then Christs great power will be seen in his reigning Isa 24.23 Then the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in mount Sion and in Ierusalem and before his Ancients gloriously You remember what I have spoken to the immediately preceding verses there is the great Earthquake v. 18 19 20. see Rev. 16 18. the ruine of the Kings of the earth and of the whole world v. 21. see Rev 16 14.16 the visiting and calling forth of the imprisoned Jews v. 22. the reigne of the kingdome of Jesus Christ v. 23. Take Sun and Moon how you will Politically for the supreme powers of the Nations or literally for the great lights of heaven the Sun and Moon will be ashamed of themselves and confounded as not being the greatest glories and admirations of the world When his Ancients the Jewes shall be fully brought in Christ will reign so gloriously as shall cast shame and darknes into the face of Sun and Moon If you say this Scripture hath been at any time fulfilled I will not deny it but affirm this that a prophesie may have a gradual fulfilling Jer. 31.15 A voice of an old Grandmother raised out of her grave was heard in Ramah lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted because they were not This was fulfilled when Israel went captives into Babylon which will be undeniably clear if you read on to the 22 verse and yet when Herod kill'd the children upon his search after him that was born King of the Jewes Mat. 2.17 18. then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the Prophet saying In Ramah was a voice heard lamentation c. If Isaias prophesie of Christs reigning before his Ancients hath been at any time fulfilled much more will it be fulfilled in the day may Text points at then it will be fulfilled to the uttermost fulfilled gloriously you see 't is epithited A glorious reign Secondly Christ his then-mannagement of affairs the Holy Ghost sets it forth in such high language to answer the reality of the Kingdom as hath deceived many thousands as if it should be a glorious personal raign 2 Thes 2.8 Then shall the wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming The Lord hath two wayes to bring down Antichrist First He consumes him by the spirit of his mouth i. e. by the ministry of the Word ever since Luther the Pope hath been in a Consumption you might see it in his face The second is by his own coming the brightness of his coming some take it for a personal appearance to give him his deaths wound Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him and all
the seed of Gods people they have lain a great while under the clods as if they had been lost or quite dead but God hath a day wherein his seed shall spring up into a harvest of joy and all that see them shall acknowledge they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed as it is Isa 61.9 Thirdly after these the residue of the Nations shall be the Lords Zach. 8.22 23. Many and strong Nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hoasts in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord. And in those dayes it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the Nations even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you That which was done Act. 2. will not agree to this Text for we do not read of many and strong Nations coming in then You will say how can many and strong Nations come in to Jerusalem at any time Doubtless it will be by Agents or Messengers according to Zach. 7.2 3. when the Jews shall send forth their Emissaries into all Lands to Preach Christ to them there shall go a great blessing a mighty power of the Spirit along that the hearts of the Nations generally shall be mightily taken with them and there shall be certain men out of every Nation and Language authorized to take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and say we will go up to Jerusalem with you for God and Christ are with you to have the most exact and perfect Directory that we and our whole Nation may worship God aright Once Christ in his Rule and Government was kept within the narrow bounds of Jury then he stretched forth the arms of his power over the Gentiles first the Eastern then the Western Churches but the day is coming wherein he will lift up a Scepter over all the Nations of the world Dan. 7.14 There was given him Dominion Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him He reigns a glorious King indeed that is King of all Kings of all Kingdoms Nations in the Earth Sixthly Christ will then given his People more purity and power of Ordinances then ever the Churches did enjoy Take me I pray you in my own sense Ordinances as they came from the Apostles themselves were pure perfect because they were the immediate inspirations or breathings of the Holy Ghost but consider them in the hands of divers others and in the hands of succeeding Officers and Churches and what Errors yea damnable Doctrines were there presently found amongst them Which increased daily grew worse and worse till at last there came out of the womb of them the great Antichrist But when Christ shall set up this Kingdom whereof we speak there shall be no danger by any gross Errors or seduction by false Teachers Isa 30.25 26. There shall be upon every high mountain and upon every high hill rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter when the Towers fall Moreover the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his People and healeth the stroke of their wound These rivers and streams of Ordinances shall break forth in all the Churches in the day of the great slaughter and when the Towers fall i. e. when the Pope and towring Kings shall be brought down Rev. 19 17. to 21. There shall be this wonderfull increase of Gospel-light when God shall heal that spiritual wound the poor Jew lies so sick of to this day when he shall bind up the breach that is between the ten and the two Tribes making them one in faith and love Rev. 22.1 He shewed a pure river of water of life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Romish Ordinances were the blood of a dead man but the Ordinances of Christs Kingdom shall be a river of life most clear and pure ver 2. In the midst of the street of it and of either side the River was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every moneth and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the Nations Christ in his Ordinances will be a wonderfull tree of life bearing both all plenty and all variety of fruits free and open for every one to pluck and feed upon a healing vertue there is in the very leaves thereof the most outward parts of Ordinances will have saving efficacie upon mens hearts God will then send forth men of eminent parts and graces Obad. ver 22. Saviours shall come up on Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords In the day when the Lord shall take the Kingdom to himself there shall be Saviours raised up upon Mount Sion in the Margent of your Bibles you have a parallel place put 1 Tim. 4.16 Save the self and those that hear thee q.d. be a Saviour to thy self others Obadiah cals the then-Ministers of the Gospel Saviours because their Gospel-dispensations shall be in the holiness power of the great Saviour of men the Lord Jesus Christ And there will be the most zealous and impartial exercise of Church-discipline that ever was to keep out to purge out both the prophane and the erroneous for which take two or three Scriptures Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it i. e. into the holy City which comes down from God out of Heaven any thing that desileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs book of life Not but that doubtless there will be hypocrites in the Church but they shall be so close they shall so artificially paint and varnish themselves over with seeming holiness that they may very well be taken in the judgement of charity for such whose names are written in the Lambs book of life but if once they appear to be defilers of themselves or others any kinde of way nay if they be but catched in lying if such offer themselves they shall not enter shall not be received if they be got in they shall quickly be sent packing again Zach. 13 1. In that day when there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem because of him whom they had pierced Chap. 12.10 11. There shall be a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness i. e. abundant streams not only of Doctrine and Worship but also of Discipline for it follows That Idols and false Prophets shall be cut off ver 2. And if any one continue to Prophesie or Preach lyes even his Father and Mother that begat him shall cause him to be thrust thorow with the sword of the Spirit or Church-censure such zeal and impartiality will there be
of Popish wordly powers they vanished and new ones came up in their place According to this Text must divers others be understood Isa 66. from the 18. verse to the end of the Chapter the Prophet Treats wholly of this Kingdom In the last verse he bids you look on the carcases of the men that had transgressed against Christ how remarkably and everlastingly they are destroyed In the 18 19 20. verses you have the Calling of the Jews and Nations of the Gentiles In the 21. and 23. verses you have the Ministers and Ordinances of the Gospel set forth and verse 22. all this called new heavens and new earth In the Margent of this Scipture there are divers quotations I would commend two of them to your notice One is Isa 65.17 For behold I create new heavens and new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my minde That which God will do is so strange so mighty a Work that in comparison of Gods former Works of Providence t is called a Creation of new Heavens and new Earth which cannot be understood concerning the material Heavens and Earth for 't is a Prophesie of something to come that then was not but there was as much yea the very same Heavens and Earth properly taken then as there is now or ever will be there will be no change in the now Visible or Material Heavens Earth but the same Earth Sea Sun Moon Stars to Christs last coming Therefore the Prophet means and calls them new in respect of former ones as t is in the Text the former shall not be remembred Honoris gratiâ The Political Heavens and Earth as I said before of the Pope and Popish worldly Kingdoms these shall pass away and Christ shall set up new Heavens viz. a Heavenly King and Government over all the World Heavenly Officers to rule under him Thy exactors shall be righteousness heavenly Ordinances heavenly gifts and graces shall shine forth heavenly Pastors and Discipline and a new earth of external peace and external plenty the following verses of that 65. of Isaiah will force your thus to understand it The other Scripture the Margent quotes is 2 Pet. 3.12 13. Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God c. Nevertheless we according to promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness q.d. though I bid you look for and hasten to the great day of God wherein all shall be set on fire yet nevertheless take special notice how that word nevertheless v. 13. comes in do not fear that you shall lose that glorious Kingdom upon earth that your hearts are generally so much set upon Act. 1.6 7. Lord wilt thous now restore the kingdom to Israel That the Messias would do it 't was commonly known and believed of all the Jews and by these taken for granted our Saviour denyes not the matter of their Quaere suffering them to go on in their Faith of the thing it self only gives check to their curiosity It is not for you to know the times and seasons the Father hath put in his own hands Fear not say Peter before the great and last burning we groundedly from a promise expect that God will make and give us in our Posterity new heavens and new earth in which shall dwell none of that base ungodliness the present heavens and earth of the Kingdoms of this World are full of but in which shall dwell Righteousness as t is Rev 9 8. He names the chief thing in Christs Kingdom which will bring with it all the rest I have spoken of to you If we that live now who have taken notice of the present state of things might be raised out of our graves and have a full view of the Kingdom Christ will set up everywhere certainly there would be no more spirit in us we should cry out here is noting of that World that was when we were upon earth we see none of the old Kings and Queens old Rulers old Governments old Sins and Sinners old wayes that formerly were all the old things are gone and behold all is become new Here 's a new King and new Officers new kinde of Preachers new Ordinances new Discipline new Saints new Church new State all 's become new Why this is not the World that was when we were alive behold here 's a new World that the Lord Christ Omnipotent hath Created Lastly This Kingdom shall be of no small continuance Surely Christ will not be at all this care cost pain to pull down to set up to make a new World of it and all this but for a day or a year Antichrist had a thousand two hundred and threescore years to play Rex in now indeed 't is pitty Christ should not have as long a Reign in the World at least It is not for us to know the times and seasons the Father hath reserved in his own hands But I le tell you what Scripturer saith to it Isa 65.17 he had promised as I told you to create new Heavens and new Earth and lest you should mis-understand this new Heavens and new Earth what they are he tels you ver 18. I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy that I mean but when shall this be Why ver 19. When the voice of weeping and crying shall be no more heard in her which must needs point at a time after the destruction of the Temple for then there was weeping and crying enough amongst them viz. upon the now so much expected Calling of the Jews and setling of them again in their own Land at which time ver 22. They shall not build and another inhabit as it had been often formerly with them they shall not plant and another eat but they shall dwell in their own houses and eat their own labours But for what space shall this joy and settlement of theirs be It follows Mine elects shall long enjoy the work of their hands they shall enjoy their new heavens and new earth a long time Rev. 20 2 3 4. The angel laid hold on Satan and bound him at thousand years and the Saints lived and reigned with Christ successively generation after generation a thousand years T is very likely this is a certain number for an uncertain but whether it be more or it be less questionless this expression of a thousand years assures us of a very long time Isa 60.15 I will make thee the joy of many generations not a few but many generations I leave it to your judgement what number of years in this case are to be accounted many the Saints shall enjoy this blessed this glorious reign of Christ for many generations But that which goes immediatly before is this I will make thee an eternal excellency speaking of the Church The word eternal here being to be understood comparatively to other great Kingdoms that have been set up and in time fallen must import a duration as great