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> • ... V
POW^'lClNG •
OVT OF "PHE ' J^ ■
SEVEN VIALS=^ ''"'"
' O R AN
EXPOSIIflON, OF THE
1(5, Chapter of thcR E V E L A T I o N, with
an Application of it to our TimcSi;
Wherein is revealed Gods povvriog out
the full Vials of his fierce wrath.
1 . llfon the lomft and hafefi fort of Catholtcks.
2 . 7 heir JVorJh/p and^Religion^
3. Their Priefls and Mihifiers.
4. The Houfe of Auftria, and Popes Sufremacf,
5. EpifcofallCovernmtnti
6^ T heir Euph ratcs,^r the fire ante of their fupfortmentrl;
7. Their grof[e Ignorance, and If tindSHf€rflitions,
Verj fit and neccffarj for this
Prefcnt Age.
3*reachcd in fund ry Sermons at Bofion in New-Englandz
By the Learned and Reverend Iohk^ottoh
BB. ofDivinity^ and Tc acker to the rhnfch tljere
L0N7}0Ni
, Printed for %,S^^nd arc to be fold at Henrj Overtonj fliop •
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• » ■
i« • • •
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■^v^?*
TothQhriflian'Sleader*
^ Biiflm^adir, Thou haft here prefen-
; ted to thy view, a tafte of the ordina-
I ry Weeke-daics exercife, of that Reve-
rend man, taken from his ownc mouth, whole
Pen would, have more fully anf wcred thy grea-
teft exped):ations, could his time (drunke up
with continuall waighty, and various imploy*
mcnts) afforded him more liberty and leifure,
to have fylcd over his ownc notions ' It is ho«
ped they may be of great ufc unto thee, and the
rather, bccauf e of the excellency and fcafona*
bleneffc of the Subjed, to etedl thy hopes, and
toput an edge upon thy Prayers, and dcfircs,
for the more (pedicr bringing forth of thofc
great workcs, which this and the following
Age are to produce. The good that may accrue
to thy fclfe, and the common caufe , produ'
ced this . Worke into the light j which was not
^i^
tim^mmmtm^m^mm
i^mtAm^
111*1— 1 1 wa
«WMWMk««W«MM*ii«>i«M>a*^MAriMM*
To the Chriftidn^ader:
intended, when firfl: delivered, for any more
publike ufe,^ then of his owne private Audito-
rie. Now the Father of lights, andGodofail
grace> 611 our hearts with the life and power
of faith and zeale, to pray for, 1 ong for, /peed,
and waite for the moft defircd ruine^ and fpcc*
dy begiinne-downefall of that moft curfed
Kingdome of Antichrift, according to the
fcopc and drift of that Prophcfic, cxprcffed in
f he powring;out of thef e. Seven Fiak*
Thine in the Lord;
L Eu
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Viall I.
The powringoutof the
SEVEN VIALS.-
'*.■—■ "
OR
AN exposition;
with an Application,of the i6^'.
Chapter o^ the Revelati on,'
R B V E L A T I N 10. I* 3«
ifW gt heard a great voyce out of the Templt,fa]iiig U
the Seven Angels ; Geeyciirtvajet, tmdfOHre autiht
rialsefthewritthefGidupOtttheearth.
'Andthtfrfi went andfrnredout his ViaBufm the Earth-^
Md'therefeS a ntyfcme, and grievous fere uion the mett
which had the Marke of the Baft, ana iifoi} thept
fvhichiViirfhiffedthelnage,
^l^ga Ou hare heard in the former Chapter, of tha Prepa^,
^^S^ ration efthe Seven Angels, topoutc out the fevcti
m1 iI© •aft^/<<p".'ofGod upon the eyfiitichrifli*'. States
^^:Jm^ In this Chapter , you read a large Dcfiriftiott <£
their £j:i;<»h»» of that workcj which is, "' ',
FJrft, Commanded, ff)/? I.
g _ 3ccondlyJ
*'^''^^^*'^^'*— ***'^^* Mil ■! 1 iitmt^utmmt^mat^ ' Tniaii fi iiti
!■ mm II im^mmMim>»MMmmmmta^mttM
3r nefrftriait.
ji Secondly, Performed, in die fequeU of tbe Chapter*
Cotmnankedf wiierein obferve tbat Commandement (et forth,
Fitft, by the Jn/mmenuR efcient Fromklger of it, a gPeat voice
^Ihedrd a great V*ice^
Secondly, By the Sub/cft-place , whence this Voice came
forth, out of the Temple, [^-^g^^^^f '^^*<^^ <>f*f of '^* Ttrnplc, ]
Thirdly, By the matter commanded by the voice, Q goe jour
waies And po/tre ont the fiaU of the wrath of God upon the
eArth*2
This Cemmandement thus given,was accordingly performed
by all the fcven Angels, in this whole Chapter.
The firft Angel poureth out his Vialht*r» 2,and that is,firft fet
forth by die fubjcft upon which he poured it, Z^^P^^ theearth, '}
Secondly, It is amplifiedby the effect it wrought J^Therefc/l
d nojfotne and grievous fere Hpon the men ] What men ? They
are of two forts :
"^'W^^Z Such AshAitheMark^of the BeAfi,"^
The word* arc fomc whstt dai kc , and there is mucli variety iii
the Ir;tcrprctation of thcai : I fliall fliortly open to you, what
Cby the comparing of this, 2ndi odief Scriptures together) I take
to be the meaning of the V7ords»
• Firft, when he faith [ I heard a great voice ] It is a voice- of
j; Authority, and Powers And whofc «n that be, but his, that hath
power over all thefePlagucSj even Godbi.T.felfi»| and the Lord
icfus Chf ift, who alfo have power in the Temple : It is not the
voyce of one of the fourcBcil8,che Officers of the Ch»rch alone,
but a further power doth concur with this voice, fuch as carried
Ma^'eftie, and audiority widi it.
Secondly ,11^*^ ^fthe Temple ] ft implieth it was a voyce de-
livered not by one of the fotu-c OHicers in private, but came ouc
ofPH^itks AdminiJirAtion, where onely the Lord fpeaking, did
with Author ny lot forward thcfe Angels upon fhis work. And
it may further Imply, that it fprungupon fome Prayers of the
Church in the Temple : for all the voices in the Temple, are ei-
ther, the voice of the Church unto Chrift, or of Chrift unto the
Church : And if the Lordfpcake graciuuHy in the Temple: Ic
is commonly obtained in the Praiers of the Church, craving an-
Aver from him,
r To the [even A^geh T That is to fay. Seven forts of Goda .
^.
McflcngcrsiwhctlicrMagiftratcs or MiniftcrsJ or
they be that pourc outthcfc Vials, they are Angels of God, as be-
ing the MefTengers of his wradi* Neichcf is it meant of fcveti
Individual! perfons^ but feven forts of Perfons, that fet forwaxd
this worke. And withall I doe accord widi thofe that fay» that
in ail thefe admininration5, there is fome prefence of tbehe-avea*
ly Angels accompaning the men in the worke.
(JoffjoHr v>aies ] ^oftr waUs ] is not in the Originall* buc
Z9^^ jpo^rtottt the UiaU. ] The Vials arc veflcls of Urge con-
tent, but ofnarrowmouthcs, they pourc out flowly, but drench
deepely, and difiilic6fcdually the wrath of God : Veflcls they
areof fuiiand/uftmcafurc, as all thefe iadgemcnts are difpcftr
fed in wcightand measure.
Ofthetvrathofgod'^ Thatargucth, that upon what fub^'e^l
foever thefe Vials fell, the wrath of God fell together with thera*
upon the fame* And that heJpeth not a little to open the place,
and to fliew the danger of fome Interpretations, which doc ex-
pound the Sunnc verf. S . to be the Scriptures. If thefe Vials be
the Vials of Gods wrath, how fliallany ofthem be conceived to
be poured out upon the Scripture, is ttie wrath of God kindled
againft the Scripture ? And for the Earthy 'verf, t. Some con-
ceive it to be meant of the common fort of godly Chriflians ; buc
though fome foare plagues might befall fome of them, yet hovtr
can the wrath of God be conceived to be powred upon them f
It cannot therefore be meant (as fome of good note fay^ of the
WaUsnfcs^ and ^Ihttgenfesy Htfgonets^ and LolUrds ; but the
wrath of God falleth upon fucb, as worAiip the Beaft and his I-
magc : And therefore take that for cet taine« that what things fo-
ever the Vials of Gods wrath arc poured upon, they arc fuch
as God f^ deepely difplcalcd withall.
Zfpcntheearth'^ They thought right, that thought it to bee
meant of the common fort of Catholikcs : but let us further con-,
flder how it commeth to pade that the Hrfl of thcfc Angels pou-
rethout his Viall upon the earth, and the reft upon other things,
yet they all have a CommifHon to pourc oat the Vials of the
wrath of God upon the earth. For the opening of tliis difficulty
fwhichelfc might cxcrcife fome J wco^uft know, that in this
Prophecic fometfmcs f ^^'"'^ ] is oppofcd to Heaven, and then
as by Heaven is meant the pure Church, as Revei.^. i • c^ 1 2. i •
So by Eajjh is uj^ant an earthly and corrupt Church. Some! ime«
^. - — •
TBeJlrJl VhS^
^Tahy fJeaven \^ mieatit, a corrupt (law of Religion i wliercoi'
tieavenly and divine honour is given to Satan, or Idols, as *Kivtl,
12.3.7. Againc; fometimcs £4rf A is oppofed not unto Hea^
vfH, but unto fomc other Element in the World, and fo is it in
this Chap. The firflAngelpoureth forth his Vt-^S upon the Earth,
thefecondpourethhisVi^ll ontheSea^ C^c, So then in this cafe
the Earth is to be undcrftood in a double fcnfc. In gcncrall,* of
ihc Antichriftian ftatc,or world, ^erf, 1 . And in the Antichrifti-
an World they have fome things that reprcfcnt the Earthy and
fbmc things the «ytf<j, and feme things rcprefent the Snnne oizmt
World,and fomc things reprcfent that Ajre of that worldjthcre-
f ore in the particular execution of this Commiflion,^<&r« thefirfi
j1 ttielpouret bout hit yia/iupo'/t the Ear thy it is upon thelowcft
andbafcft Element in the ^nt'tchrifiian world, and that can bee
no other,but the lowcft fort of vulgar Catholiks, and they were
the fir(l that had the wrath of God pour*d upon them, which
did afterwards arife higher to the Sea^ and then to the Fountaines
and Rivers of water, then to the Sunnc, then to the throne of the
!Beaft,thcntothcKivcri:»/>^'»^w, andlaltof all to the -^jre,
and in all thefe doth the wrath of G od afcend higher and higk r,
as may afterwards mote dearely appcarc.
Thefirfi Angel rvent and poured out his ViaU upon the earth, 3.
This firft Angelxn]jXi be thefe firft fort of Gods Meflcngers, that
did poure oat fome wrath upon Common Catholilccs. And
doubtle^e fuch wrath it was, as being poured out, did workc a
Noyfome and grievous fore upon them that worjhipped the 'Beaft^
and his Jm*ge ( as the Text exprcfTethJ Thej that had the Mark
of the Beajt (yon heard before out of the 1 3 . Chapt. j are fuch as
receive fomc indeliable Charaftcr of the Beafi ; fuch are dicic
Secular, or Regular Pricfls, and all that receive religious Orders
from the Church of Rome* Who then arc they that worfliip
his Image ^ The} mage of thefirfi Beafi Cyou know ) is all Na-
tionally and Diocefan, and Provinciall Churches ; ana they that
rule them are the Image of the CccondBe Afi : So then they that
worfhip the Image of the ^<4/?, befiichas arc devoted to the
Canons of Popidi Churches, who drink them up, and receive
eliem as ArticlcsoJF their Faith 3 thefe arc all afHi^d with a noi«
fomc and grievous fore by the pouring out of this Hrft Viall: For
thofe who did poure it out, they were fuch as aid convince them
of die Damnable cHate of a Catholike^and tasght them, thac hf
, these
t ' « • •
•;^
's.
chetrReligioh they could go not beyond aReprobate^and tbis ^u
the common praiSifc of the Martyrs of itf/W ChriSi in Quccnc
Maries time, in E iward the fixtn, and in Hemj tlic eight's time,
who difcovered unto you, that all their Religion was buc the
worfliip of Goci after the devifcs of men, even Will -vvcrftiip,
fuch as they were led into by the Man of Sinne, whobcing him-
fcifc blinde, leadcth thofe that arc blhidc, and both fall iiito the
ditch J thofethat thus cifcovered the unfoimdiiciie of ihc Religi-
on of thefe CatholikcSjWho before fsenjcd to be good Gmrch-
men, and good Hoafc- keepers, and good Chriftmas-kecpcrs, -
they were the men that poured cur this firll Viallupon the earth,.
And upon this tlicir difcovery, ihere fell a noyfcmc, and grieve-
ous (ore upon their Catholike Priefts, who had borne the com-
mon fort in hand, 7A<?f /^»or4»f^ 7r«?» the mother ofDsvoiicn^^
andfach ignorasit Devotion was the way of Sttlvatio» yWhcn they
fee that all their People, who were heretofore their honeft and
good Neighbours, full of benevolence towards them, were now
informed, that they lay under a ftate of dcepc Daw^fHtion, it
wasaneyc-foretotheir CathoiikeTriefts,2a(i&\i of that Reli-
gious Order, a double fore ftU upon the m»
Firft,a fore of envy,. and malice, againft all the Martyrs of
Chrift, and all that fought fot Reformation of Religion j againft
whom their fpirits were fo ftrongly embittered, tha*t happy was
lie that could bring Tire and Taggot to e>:ecute vengeance upoii
them, thatdiddilcoverthenatcof the common fort of Caiho-
Jikcs to befo dangerous* [It v/as a pubiikc fpcech of Heftry the
eight, when he fate in Parliament,. Complaininc of the Hirs that
were made about Religion, There are many (l&irn he) that arc
toobufic with their new {SHmp^mm) meaning croCc that clave
to that which hecounted the new Religion, thoui^b wJthall o-
thers he taxed, who dbated fas he laid not amine j much upon
thcico\6 M^wpfimtu, The new Religion (though true) Hce,
and they all envied ? the Old (cliougn his ownc J he defpifed*
Secondly, there was a noyfome loathfomeneffs difcovered,
by thefe true W itncfles, and Nlarcy rs o^ ChriO, unto the people.
dation of Religion, as was not lefw Ciyrij! the true Foundation^
but had indeed reared dp an Antichriftian Religion* whereof (as
B 3. It:
»» » The frfi rU«,
5tisfaid(/M 28,1 pOit (haUbcavcxationtoh«ircth€Rcforc;:
A grievous malignant ukcr it was, and the more they ftirrcd mi
it the more they were vexed. And this let mc turthcr addc, be
opening the words, it is an allufio'^ -0 that noyfoint.- iottoYE^^
thatfcUuponthc Common fort oi .nc people, and upon the i^^-
gitUmAi:oyExo(Lg.ii. So that they could not ftand before
>l^c/r/ 5 and fo it was here, thcfcnoifomc fores of which wcc
have ippken, didfo fallupon the common fore of Catholikcs, and
upon their common Rc\igiou$ Orders , that they fell before tlic
Angellthat poured out this Viall, as Bagon before the Arkc.
Thusyoufeethe meaning of thefe words.
Now for the Notes tnatarife from them, — You may obfcrvc
that {C^ap. i$.j.) One of the f owe Beafisgave unto the [even
Angels, Seven golden VtolsfuUof the yvrath of god, hut they
went not then, topoure them out, ttntill they he we a great voice
oHt of the Temple, And noT» thej goe. So that the DoSrine in the
firftplacctobcobfcrvedjisthis.
^oSt, I, Xhonghthecrjanfellandinftrij^ion, andarlviffinf a Cliurch-
Officcr may be a good invitemcnt, and inducement, and prcpa-
rative unto a Calling: yet it is the mighty Voice of Chrift/pecially
in Publikc Ordinances, that EflFeftually ftirrcth up a man to tho
execution of it. Thefc Angels had councell and encouragement
given thero (as you have hcard^ to goc about this Worke, and
were furnifhcd with the wrath of God for this ende : but were
not effcftuallyftirredupto fall upon the execution thereof, till
they heare a great Voice of Chrifl: out of the Temple, (that is
in publikc Ordinances J then they goe to pourc out their ViabJ
You (Kail find this a very ordinary Pradifc in fome things futa-
ble hereunto in Scripture* ^4<:^gavc lacoB a Commandcmcnc
indInAru6tiontogocto'Padan'y4ramyGetj,2S 6» And there-
upon laeo^ went on his way, Verf 7 . But the firfl night that he
lodged out of dores , when the Lord appeared to him in the
Houfe of God (f^erfe 15,) and telleth him, That hec will
bee with him, and keepc him in all placc« whitherfoevcr hec
goeth, and will bringhim backe agalne into this Land; Then Ar«
coh(Chap,2p I.) uTtcthuphis hcelcs, and goeth on his wayes*
Like a Giant rcfreflicd with Wine to runnc his Courfc. And
the like was the Praftife of the fame facoh, when they told him
that lofeph was yet alive. Gen, 45.27.1 8. his fpirit revived, and
he faid, He mntdgoe dmn to fee him j but firft he goeth toieerm
Tkfifl run.
p>ehd, and (Here oflTereth Sacrifiees^znd confulteth with the Lord,
GeH,j^6, 1.2.3.4. and the Lord cncourageth himtogocdoync,
bidcth him not f caret He wiB he mtb him,And there maks ^ i,^^^^
Nation of hi «;, andhing him hdek^againe ("and fo he did to be
buried)thus are his hands fully ftrengthned in his way : The like
alfbwasthc cafe of the, men of Samttria^ loh, 4, fvhenthewo'
man had told them that Jef/te tpos the Chrift^ hecanfe he had told
her all that ever Jhee.did^ they beleeved, becaufe of her fajittg,
y^rfsp. But when they came unto hitn, and talked with him,
then they faid unto her Verf/^i . Norp we believe^ not becaufe of
thjifajing^forrve have heard him our felves^ andkftovf that thit
is indeed the Chrifi, the Saviour ofthefForld, Thus the voice of
Cbrift carricth his people an end in the waies of their cal-
lings, with eflfe^uall power unco fudden andfpeedy execution.
The Rcafon is taken firft, from the greater power of the voice 7
of Chrift fpcak'ng by his Spiri.-, then when bee fpeaketh by the
gifts of his Servants, and therefore p4«/putteth a great difference
in this cafe, A^s 19. ai. The Tcxr telleth us, That he purpofed
in his Spirit togoe up to titerujaUm^ afterwards going on his tvaj^
hemeeteth with certaineDifciples^ Ati. 21.4. and they bj rea-
fon of the Prophefie of tAgahus concerning Paul^ verf* 11, fell
upon htm and ^ept^ andbejought him not togoe up to Hierufalem^
lVh:it meanejoH(izith he) to weete, atd to breal^e mine hearty for
y aw ready not to be bound onely, but to dye at Hterufalemfor the
Ttame of the Lord Icfus^ Behold here the Spirit of God had re-
vealed clearely hinifelfe in the heart of Paulyta ftrengthen him
to goe up to Heirufalem, thefe Difciples ( upon the Prophecic
of ty^gabui, that he fliould be bound at Hierufalem) faid to Paul
through the Spirit, that he (hould not goe up ; By what Spirit ? '
By the gifts of the Spirit, the fpirit of love, and their care of the
Churches; but jP-w'/wavcs them all, for bee had the mindc of
Chrift, by the voice of the Spirit him f elf e ; this was indcede in
times of extraordinary Revelation ; but it ftieweth you never-
thclefle the di6fercncc bctwccnc the voyce of the Spirit, and of
the gitts of the Spi« its he giveth the greater power to the Spirit, .
then to the gifts of the Spirit, being fuch kUKi of Gifts, wherein •
humane fraihy mighi be mingled. .
The fccond Rcafon \s taken from the greater power of Gods jj
Voyce in Publike, then in private Adminift ration j If one of
Chefc Eiders fb«ake unto thcnn, x\ may be but a private Incoa-
•"'~~— ■ - ^
r—frf^m <m^- <» j » ^^ w»iii i
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8 fh} firjl riaS,
raigcmcht ; Such as the advice of T^athan'wll unto David, ta
build the Temple, i Cha, 17.2. But had he comcj (as afterwards
he did) in way of Publike Adminiftradon ; Hec could not have
beenefomfilakenasthenhe was j For therein doth the Lord
fnore fpccially revcalcthc prcrcncc,and the po^Yer of his Spirit,
and grace, c5ff<f«/». 18.18. ip.ao. Therefore it is. That when
there commeth a great voice out of the Temple, it carrieth along
the Seven Angels CO a Ipcedy difpatch of tliis great workc, of
pouring out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earthy
yr^ - The firft Vfe may teach us all, that have any private induce-
' mcnts or incouragcmcnts to any calling, or workc of G od, by
any Church- Offacer, or Church- Member , not to flcightthc
fame ; for thefe A ngels did not fleight the motion, when one of
the Church Officers gaveuntothem the fcvcn golden Viols,but
they rookc the Vials, And when they fea their time, when there
commeth a pnblikc Voice out of the Temple, then doc they all
follow on etfcdually with their worke, in their fcafons* Sleighc
not therefore private cncottragements to good calling;s«buc lookc
for further provocation and (Irengchning in them, from the pub«
like Miniftry, even from the voyce of Chrift in the publike Or*
dinances of his Church. Private Revelations without the Word,
are out of date, but ccrtaine it is, that God doth (peake by his
Spirit in private K'editation and Prayers, and conferences with
Bretheren ; and in all thefe, comfortedi his people with the
manifeftation of his fatherly goodneflc, yet fpeakcth nothing,
but in his word, and according to it. Now thefe be good hints,
and good encouragements, which God givcth his people ia
them, and by no meanes to be (leightcd, when G od ihe weth his
prefence inthem : God forbid that any of che fonncs or daugh-
ters of God (hould put them away. Yet this let me fay, though
filch be faire incouragements, (what private duty foever tl^y
come in) whether to beleeve on this orthat gracious promife of
God,^or to (lir us up unto any other Spirimall work, thefervants
of God arc hereby led to attend the more upon the publike Ad-
miniHrations of the Church, for the.further clearing ofthc mind
and will of God ; There will the Lord more dearely reveale
himfclfe by his Spirit in every Ordinance of his Worfliip, there
doth he delight to poure out all his frefh Springs, *PfaUZj* Laft,
For there the Lord commanded the bleHfing, even life for ever-
more, Pfal^ 1 i 3 . g . Etcrnall life dotli he giyc ill the Publikc fd-
JQj^Mhiq
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'>^r^W*m
»«^'*Ni^"»«'ifc«<^>''<ii>**— *¥ I fM% m\ M i l'' *' I «■■ '■ < u
''*'^— ***'^' *^ ^\ Ml^' ^' I ' l' i i'^^
THefrJlFUB.
fow^hipofbis Saints^ tlieredoth hee confirme tTicir callings to
thcitii lojke unto the Lord therefore for his blcfling in this wa/V
andfofhall you be faithfuU followers of thefc holy Angels oi
God, who being privately incouragcd, w&ice for apublikcvoice
to carry them an end in their AdminiQrarions, wherein the Lord
by the mighty power of his Spirit doth confirmc al his Promifes* ,
threatnings, and Commandemcnts, and more throughly flirretli
up. the hearts of all his people to take hold of al that is fpoken un«
rothcm; therefore if ever you perceive any voyce of fpirit to
cake oflf a man from Publike Ordinances , and cauic him to
Height them,then ever looke at it as a raanifefl delufion, for cvc-*'
ry difpenfationof God, doth but enkindle a more earned longr
ingthat the Lord fhould conHrme the fame by his broad Letters
Patents, the Publickc Word and Sacraments in the Church. Yea
fo^rredoethc Saints of God (land hereupon, that whatfocver
is in private onely brought unto them to beiecve> they will findc
muchadoctorcfi fatisfied in it« untill they fee it confirmed in
publikc alfo . As when men have any fpeciall grant from tbeif
Prince > and have it confirmed by the Privy Scale, they will noc
retl therwtth^but will gototheLord Keeper for the Broad Sealc,'
to confirme what was before Sealed to tnem, though either of
them apart be fure^yet both /oyned together will make ic more
fure: Shall men be fbcarefuU for this world, and fortemporall
Patrimonies, and (hall Chridians take up every motion in private
and neight publicke Ordinances ? Be not deceived, whatfoever
isbroughtuntoyoubythefpirie of God in private, will caufe
you to iecke for more cleare evidence fi-om his loud voice in
Publike, where his voice goeth on more ftrongly and powerful-
ly, convincing the Confcience, and breaking downe all Tempta*
tions and difcouragemcnts that might hinder the comfoR of
Gods people*
The ulc in the 2.placc ferveth to reflcft a iud reprofc t^crforc f
upon any that (hall delpUe or negleft the Publikc ordinances of
God in rheChurch,for you fee here that what is confirmed in the
whole Church is the great voyce of God, and that without con-
tradiction to the holy Saints and Angels, if therefore the Publick
ordioarces bevndcrmined and borne wi'neiTe againfl by any
that comrocth not from the fpirit of thele Angels , but from
f ome evill roote in the hearts of the fonnes and daughters of
men. the report of which is a vexation of fpirit to hcarc there-
i* or.
liiiHiiiMtaiifcMlMiiMMHikMMMMiMMMl
i«yiMMakirfHMMMtMMiil«i«MkMMii*i[*HMii«nMiil«^^
op, Tl US much for the fir ft note. Gee posfre out the vials of- th •■
irrath of Godttpoiithe earths
Andthefirft Angel rpent^ and poured oat hU viall vpcn the
Earth* (^c^
Here is a world yon fee difcribcdjbaving an earth and Tea,
and rivers, and fountaincs, and funnc, and aire, and they all be-
long unto the Bea(l>andtbcrefcrctbc firll Viall is poured upon
them that had the markc of the Bcaft, and the lad brought in
the fall of Babilon: So that from fir(ltoIaff,thcyarcthc judg-
ments of God vpon the Kdm^xi AntichriQian ft ate, as fixe of the
feavcn feales brought in judgements upon the Pagan Romane
\vorld,and the revcnTrump.^ts.hi;? Judgements upon the Chri-
ftian world, as they were ruled by Chriftian Empcrours : foarc
the fcvcniail Vials powrcd out upon the Antichiiftian world 5
From hence therefore you ir.ay note thus much,
, That the whole aniichtiflian world, or flatc is but eartbly
2>3U*t» 3,^3 not heavenly For all thefc Angels are commanded to pourc
chc vials of the wrath of God vponthe car;h, and rl:cy went
not beyond their commifll on, in pouring ihern upon tl c (era, and
Rivers, and fountains, and vpon the funne,and upon the throne
of the Bead, and the River -Ew/?^'''^^^^ and the Aircj where-
by the Holy Ghoft holdeth forth vnto us , that all thcfc are
but earthly, the ftais but earthly, the fountaines and rivers
earthly, their funne an earthly funne, and the throne earthly, 5cc.
And though it is true ( as fome fay ) poure out any judgement
upon any clement, and the earth fareth the worfe. for it : yet
take tlie dclcription of chc Holy Ghofl.as it is plaine, and it
intendeth the amichriftian world alone: They are of the world,
therefore they fpeakc of the wor3ld,and the world hcareth them,
\Ioh,j^ S, And he that is of tUe earth^fpeaketh of the Earth Joh,.
3. ^i. And fo alfoare all their ordinances earthly*
Meafl* The firft Reafon is taken from the efificiciit caufe of all their
frame and flate,which is but from the Earth : ail their Do^lrine,
worfliip,and government, fo farreasit is Antkhriftian is but
humane, if notdivellifli, Rev^i 3.18. The whole number of the
Beaft , whatfoever is nurobrcd to belong unto him, is but the
number of a Man, humane inventions and wiH-wifcdomc, men
will have it ro,and thivis the Summcof all Popifti Religion,
^enf. 3. . As the whole frame of their Keligion commcth froiD tbq
earth, Co doech it tend to the earth againc. for what doth all
Mil
MMHlMiMHMHUMMi
JMta
1^
MM
' ThefirJlvUn.
drive at, but the maintenance of an cartHy Pompious, flatcly'
Prelacy ;nothing in the world but devices to get money : they'
arc f ub of covctoufnefs and ainbition;both whicb,whatarcthcy.
but an open doorc to their earthly libertie ? tbcfc arc fcnfiiau.
f faith /W<r^'^r.ip Jl not having the fpirit : There is nothing fpi-
rituail in all their orders ^ nor in their pleafant Oghts , iweec
fmells, delightfull nnufiqucand many goodly Fealts they have,
and what arc they but to pleafe the taftsofiren;and all their
carved and painted flocks, andftones,iheir goodly ImagesjWhaC'
doe they but pleafe mens fancies, And
This ycu fhallfinde in the third place, that their befl dc^
votions doe but leave a man in an earthly and carnall cQatCj
and therefore the Holy Ghoft fpeaketh boldly, Rev,i^,zn'hati
all that ivorpAp the Eeajiy their names are not yvritten in the
hcoke of life yof the LamOeJlainefrom the foundation ofthevforld:
Tliereis not a man of c!iem,that knowing and beleeving no
more then what he hath from the Bead, can be faved, there-
fore they thought not amifle who have writtcn.that a Papiftby
his Religion cannot goe beyond a Reprobate, fo then what-
foever is meant by thefe things in the antichriflian world,whcrc«
on thefe vials were poured,all is but earthly; an earthly fea,an
earthly funne, an earthly light, an earthly aire, fitter to choake
mcnf fo farre asitisAnticMlian J then to breath any life into
tlie foules of Chriflians.
To (hew you the vanity of all their indtavours, that fludy ,
to reconcile Fopifli and PrctePant Churches together, I will
i^y but thus much, you may as foone bring Heaven and eartlj
together , as you can draw Popifh and Protcfbant Religion
together ; for Popifli Religion is allbut earthly, andall thcChur-
ches of Chrift arc Heavenly, and therefore when Heaven and
earth meetc, then will Po^erie and FrotroUmj eicetc toge-
ther.
In the fecond place let all men beware, Icfl they have any li- ,
courifli affc^ion towards the old ReU§icn,as they call it, if you '
ihall hearken to the voyce cf luch charmers* cliarmc they ne-
ver fo wifely, your bell Religion will be but earthly, your pray-
ers earthly , your faith earthly, your ot)cdien€c wiU bee earthl)^,
you (hall find nothing therein able to anfwer an Heavenly ami
fpirituall mind : what though they tell you that Protedant Re-
ligion lovcth cafe J but as For them, they have their vyhippings»
*' * "■" ' C a " "" and
•- — *
i > ■ III! MH ii > I ■ ! ■ n aM<M>^iaiMii I I i rt I rfi a r i i ii n tii tmma^^Mttm
uni i^mrm
li, TiefrfiViaK.
tc fcourgin^s^and faftingf ,and thcfe ( they willf ay) are no Hicb
earthly dainties ; Truely tliefe fo Rirre as thev are Antichri«
ftUn are but earthly ; they faft from flcfh indeed, and from
white meaC5, but they have the dainties of the Apothecaries
fliops> prefervcs, and confcrves^ and (tich kind of pleafant meats,
and what have they done all this while ? thefe their pradifes
are not fandiHed ot God^and therefore doe leave the foules
of men dill vnder carnall deUifions, being no other,but earth-
ly and bodily cxcrcifcs. Coe and f9ure out the vials of the
Tffirath of Qodvpcnthe Eurth^ and the prfirfient and poured out
his 'viall vpsn the earths This is vpon the loweft and balcft c-
lement, in the antichriQian world, Thence we may obferve.
- - , That God in his ludgements vpon wicked pcrfons , and
*^r**^* ftates bcginncth firft with the lead and lowed aoiongft thcmitbi's
is evident in the Text, fird upon the earth, and the (ca is next;
.which like the naturallfca is above the earth, and the Rivers,
and fountaines are higher then it, and the funne higher then
they : and then vpon the throne of the Bead, and when we come
to open the fequell you (hall fee that all things goe in a gra-
dation ; And in this fort did the Lord dcale when hee trought
antichrift into the world, i?tfv. 8.7. Thefird judgement came
vpon the earth J The fccond vpon the fea; The third vpon the
rivers and fountaines of water ; The ^urth vpon the Sunne,
then conuneth AntichridtheKingoftheBottomelcffcpit,^^^';'.
9. II. and here in the 5. Viali his throne is rmitten,and upon
the founding of the ffxt angell, the foure angels in the River €k-
fhrates were loofened,and here pouring out the 6^^ Viall,the Ri-
ver Euphrates is dryed up* And the confideration yeeldeth great
light to helpe us in the exposition of thefe feven vials :. for by the
fame deps wherby antichritt came into the world, b? the fame
deps doth the Lord vnderminchimand bring him aowne.Por
as fird the common fort of Chridians were corrupted when
antichrid was brought in; To fird the Common (on of Otho-
Uques are bladed, when antichrid bcginncth to GAU The like
courfe did the Lord take in the plagues o£ Egjpt^Exod.j^i^^
Sic He beginncth with the lowed, drd to turne their waters
into bleud, and thereby kiHeth their fi{h > but dill men fub(id
well enough) but then he bringeth frogs into all the. land of
£gypt, and they crawie into their kneading troughes, then he
raorc:
_ urmm"^
•■i - - - ■-'-— rrir'- ' r ,-■- ^ '--■•]-■ -,---— — — ,^..— — ..-.i>.-^^..*^..i>— >......^-^-^..>^.^.>^—— ^^^.i— .■■^^-^j*
more loatlifometomeniand at length hee k31eth all tbeir firft
borne, and at lad overwhdmetb Pharaoh and his bofieinthe
bottomeoFthe red Tea; and all this is according to the old co-
venant of his juf^ice, Levit.z6* i ^, 2 1, 24, 2 %. Ifjoa wilt not
for all this hearken vnto me^ f will pttni/bfOH yet Jfevtn timet
more for yowr fint^ fo he threatneth againe and againe in all
thofe vcrfcs, untill at lad he bring upon them (ach fcareful and
horrible Iudgements« thstthej become anhijftng to all nations.
The Reafon of Gods dealing thus^is to magniBe Gods pa- 1
tie nee vnco all; knowed thou not that the long fu6Fering of
God leadeth theeto Repentance ^T^w. 2. 4, It becoinmeth
the Lord to magnifie his patience and when he doedi drikehe
will not fuddeDly flirre up all his wrath , therefore when here
he commcth to judge Antichrift, he firftpoureth out his wrath
where it is lead ot aU fenfibletothe great Lords of the Anti-
chridian world>to magnifiethe equity oFhis lunices and that
he might alfo leave them without cxcufc, if the lowed judge*
incnts doe not prevaile : t1 is God doeth that he might be julti*
iicd when he /udgethy Pf, 5 1,4. Thus thoogh^i/ wrath Be f
revealed from heaven againjl all vnfcdlinejfe and vnrighteintf*
neffe of men, Rom.i,iZ. yd fuch is trie holineile of Gods pro*
ceedings* that hce will (hew his patience, and will ftrike gent-
ly vpon the lead and bwcdin edate fird, and afterwards hee
goeth on further in wadingto wade, untill he have overspread
a date with puniditnent; thus doth hce together magnine his
patience, and judifie his judice,and leave men without excufe*
This may ferve in the fird place to teach all men in the fbre oft
God^ to become wife by light ludgemems and gentle afflidi-
ons, thofe which yctt would thinke may lead of alfconcerneyoii
fle^ht them not : nothing more didant, from the chiefc men in
a State, then the common multitude* A Judgement upon them
doth not matter much, if a Famine were upon the common fort
of people. Princes and Great men would notbe much adc^ed
therewith. But the lead of his judgements diouldbe warningsb
unto us, to teach us that the Lord haih taken his Sword into his
hand) and will goon in.judgement, untillhe make the foules of
men to tremble. W hat if a judgement begiiiupon mens cattel.l^>
That is farre off : It will come nexr upoii your Servants and.
Children, and it may be,reachto the wife of yourboCome 1 and*
il all this prevailc not,lt may be,He wjU diik« you with grievoui<
; "" '^ " ' " C3 ' " difcaftai
■ r- , ,Mi , .>i „ t ^ n ,,^ij^ ,> — I , — n . .. n-^n-;:
difcafcs in your body j and if you hearken not f orall ilib,' what
if he lee the Devill loo(e npon chs foules and confcieoces of
menand women ? What will the heart of a poorc Creature doe
in fucha cafe ? O confidcr this all ye that forget God I leadhee
cearc you in pieces, and there be none to deliver; When the
Lord fttiketh aloofc from us, It is but the Viall of the firft An-
.3CII, but when the Lordbcginncth, he will go on further • there-
tore it muft be the wifdome of the fonncsof men to take heed
^ ' of his nroakes afarrc oflF. This alfais the Method of Gods dea-
ling with his ownc Children : He did not fall upon the Confci-
cnce of his Servant loh at the firft, but upon his CattcH, then up-
on his Servants, after that upon his Children, andnextly,uponbis
Body,andatIaft, wrireth bitter things againft his fbule. Be wc
warned therefore by the firft hints of chalHfements, by fmall and
gentle vifitations , and happy they that learne to profit by fucb^
to turneunto God, and to make iheir peace with him, before his
wrath breake forth like a devouring nre, and there be none to
quench it,
'fc 2] The fccond life is unto the common fort of Chriftians,if there
beany more poorc and common, and of lefic efteemc then other:
Marke what I fay, and take it from the word of the Lord, it bc-
hovcih you in fpeciall manner to take heed to your R eligion;for
ifcorruptions grow therein, you will be the firft that will fuffec
by them« And why Co ? h is becaufe Religion concernetb
the common fort of Chriftians as well as any other : and yet
they commonly leave their Rcligon, (sls they fay) to men that
arc wifer then themfelvcs ; well, ii you cannot read in the Book
of God the broade Chara^crs of Salvation, and the way there-
of, looke for it, that when the fmarting providences of God
come upon any State where you are, you (hall firft tafte of them,
and then (hall you fee the neccffity of looking unto your Reli-
giom And upon this ground it is that ApotUe Iff^e, Vcrf^ 1 . 5*
writeth unto all the faithfijll^ and exhortcth them. That they
ffjQHld contend €arnefily for the Faith once given to the SMntt :
Dtherwife they fliall have the firft hanfell of Gods ludgcments,
for they will be foonefl corrupted, and fhallbee fooneftpuni*
(hcd<
>«£F.4« Thatthedifcoveryof theloathfome, and niamefnlinnnesof
fnen,isfrom the Viall of the wrath of God. For what was
this Viall which is powred oat upon the earthfthat is upon the
; " " '■ * v" " ""' Common
^t^^^mmmm^matimmimmmi
c6minon Tort of Chfiftians ) It was tfccir convii^ioti ofthciif
damnable Ignorancc,ahd Supcrflit'ion, Idolatry, and Hypbcrificj
and thii the Lord rhfcatncth, as a judgement unto Hiefttfrlem^
EK.icf^ 1 6. 37. That hce wiU dt/ cover her nakidnejlt^ ih4t
thofe that loved her^ and thofe that haled, her pjould fee her ttd-i-
kedneffey Thus is his wrath revealed againft all unrighteoufheife
of men. '> • • > - ... ^^
For the Lord is the firft caufe of all the Evill that is done a- 1
mongthc Tonnes of N'cn, Amos 3, 6. So that, is mers wicked^
ncfledifcovered, is their loathrome^nnfullj carnall, corrupt ei
fl ate laid open ? The Lord hath done it.
Becaufcitis the proper worke of the Spirit of God tocoii- i
Vinccthe World of finne, John 16. 8. and he workcrh jtb^
the Law, tor kj the Larp commeth the k/toivledge of finne,Rom\
7. 7» And what the Law doth, the lame doe the fcrvants of God
by the Miniftery of it, yet all is the workc oi the Spirit of
Goo#- -•■■'■'■ ' • • ■ >,
The Vfc may be, firft to teach the Sonnes of men, to takC'j
hccde how you fnarlc at Inflrumcntsof Gods wrath, thoi^h
it may be, they may fomeiimcs dcale difordcrly ; yet is it your
part to ice the righteous hand of God, and when men walke ac-
cording to God, in difcoveting your wickcdncflc, there is it,v
therjgnteoushandof God nuch more. As when the Angcli
that poured out this Viall, Were encouraged by the Olficers of
Chrift in his Church , and io by the Lord hirofclfe , to fliow
men that they were full of palpable Ignorance, and fiiperftition::
Therefore let men Icarnc in thefe ca{es, tofan^ifid the Lord iti^
their hearts, and td acknowledge his hand on them, in fuch c6h<^
vi£lions of their finncfull and IhamcfuU eftatc and courfc..
Let it teach all (uch whofe fmnes arc difcovcred at any time,^
to humble ihcirfoulcs under the mighty hand of God, that as
their linnes have bccne difcovcred by an Angel of wxath ; fo;
they may be covered a gainc by the Angel of peacci ' •
That the difcovery ohhe ftnnes of the Common fort of pco-7
»pledothinflida noyfomc Boyle upon their corrupt leaders,
and guides that allow them therein There feR a nojfome and
grievous Jore upon the men which had the JM[*rke of the 'Beafi^
and upon them that jvor flapped hU Image, When all this wic-
kednede is difcovered in the common C&thoUkes, then doth the
IcaudnelTc of their leaders alfo grow notorious; what fay yout
now/
~ — * " ji^ii^^^^.^^.^^^...^^ •^*•^ r-^-,--. <rfc > 'Vv i - i nj i rn i T i T nrt'-r- 1 i r-' -- y-n-' f iv ~r
rti ThefrfirUU.^
nowtoalltlieirCailioUckc Pricft$,Thcir wickcAicflcappcarcth;
their Idlcneflc, Hy pocrific, Covctoufncffc , and wantonncflc,
breakecb forth, J€ grievow fore lay upon them aU, to fee
that all their labou rs arc difcovered, tobc but a building men up
in wradi, the Spirits of the Popiih Leaders were greatly diftur-
bcd and troubled tofee men fo bufie with their new Sumpfimttii
A noy fome blemini waj it to all their Religious Ordcrs,andto all
that did countenance the in the faoie.E vident this is unto al thofe
that read the Stories of our ownc times, or the times o^ our Fa-
thers, how this noyfome fore fell upon their Goids and teaders*
And fo it hath done of old, Efmy <?. J 5 . 16. The Leaders of this
^Pteple caufe them to erre : So Jer^ 5.3*. The Prophets prephe^
cie falfelj^andthe *Prieftj hare rule by their meaftes, snd mj
people love to haveitfo : Thus are their Bilfe guides blemi(hed«
Is^afou^ The Reafon is taken from the duty of the guides of the
Church and People,whicbis to turn thei.i from their evill waies,
^«r.2 3.23, Therefore if they lead them into evill wayes, needs
muftanoy{bme(brefall uponthem> when the wickedneflfc of
the people U dilcbvered.
«rA 'This may teach all the fervancs of Cbrifl, to whom the Church
of God is committed, td be the more vigilant in all the Admini*
HratioBS of the things of God in his Houfe,thaC there may remain
initnocorrupdons tliatare difcerned; but that being di(cefned»
they may be alfo borne witnefle againft, and be leafonably roo*
ted out, and tbefpirits of Gods people healed : elfe theforeneffe
will fall upon the goids of the Church, the people may perifh in
their (innes,but their blood will the Lotd reauire at the hands
of thofe that (hculd leade them in the way wncrein they fhould
goe.It is not enough for the people to {ay ,it is the ^ult of their
guides, nor for Minifters to lay the blame upon the people,
unlefle they warne them, then indeed have they delivered their
owne foule6,but if the People perifli for lacke of knowledge^
God wiU require their bloodat the hand of their Guides.
THE
♦ -
«i«i««pHPMMmMW"ir
THE SECOND
I A L
R B V E L. 16. J. ,
A»d the fccond Angel fettrtd ent his vi'aU upen tie Set,
anditbectmteasthebloodofa dead man, andeverj
living fiuU died in the Sea.
\ His Vcrfe dcfcribcs the pouring out of the Viall of
j tlic fecond Anpcl : For the (ubjefl, Hepomei it en
j tht Sea ; and the effect was, the Sf ticame as the
hlaodef a DcaawuM.andtlieeSciSofthat, m the,
iiviHg fmles in the Sea^ they aH djcd. The allufion'
is, to alike plague upon c ■£glft , in the 7. of Exed. ao 1 1 ,
Where Mofei fliucke the River Nilits, and it was turned to
blood, as iiecreTAf Sea became ,11 the b'.oodof a dead man ^ and.
all ihefijh lit the Rivers dyed ; that if, of all forts lotne .
Now for the meaning of this Iccond Viall. Firft, for the
Sea, What is hecre meant by the Sea? And whatby the Se<
bccomniirg blood, ''wrf'"'^' WW o/<« deadman ? And hbvV B
every livingfoule in this Sea, faid to dye by this meancs t The
Seacannotoerrie'iitthe ordinary Sea ofw>atei;s, fo^yoiicaii-
Bot bring any]/ t'dscment on that fca, that can afflift Antich'rifti-
k * .» n awi*a ^ » t - ta i , IUm » U f ll { m t 4l§t^f^^imp^
x8 rhefimdrtaS.
ans more then ChriQians ; if you Should corrupt all the Sea {'as
the PapiQs expound it, and yet they bclccve all thefe evils re-
dound to AntichriR.} What hurt will it be to AntichrKl more
then to the Church of Chrift ? If all the fi(h in the Tea died.
What would it hurt ty4ntichrlfi more then ChrilHan Nati-
ons ? cannot Antichrift be'fupplycd with other dainties on the
iliore, out of the Flocks and Heards, and out of the Fields and
Woods, and out of the Ayre from the Fowlcs there, though
he never had any Fiih at his Table ? That therefore cannot bee
the mtaning. But the fca is the fea of the Anttchrijiian world,
a diflinQ world from that heavenly flate wherein other Refor-
med Churches (land. TheSea>asyou loiow, is the confluence
of all the Rivers and Fountaines of waters.; they all finally
are gathered together into one place, and are called Sea* And
truly the confluence & concourfe of all the fprings of the Chur-
ches, they do meet together in one Religion, that is the common
receptacle of all ; tyiU my frept fprings arc in the Lordy ?faL%-j^
7* In that Religion which the Church profcfl'eth ; And tlicre-
forc Religion was refembled in the 4 of the B^vcl, zcrf, 6. Bj
thefea of giajfe tiks unto Chryfla/l, that is, all the Ordinances of
God they werefo dcare, as that you ir.ig*it fee Chriftsfacc
in them as in a mirrour or glaffe, 1 Cor, 3,18.
Wherein the ftate of Religion in the New Tcflament diffe-
red from the (late of Religion in the old Tcftamcnr, Where
the Brazen fea in Salomons Temple was indeed bright as
bralTe, but thicke and not tranfparent , you could not (ee
fo clearly the blood of Chrid in it i and yet there was a fea of
Waters : What to doc ? In the a Chron,j^,2, to the end of
the 6,verfe, which was for the Priefts to wafli in- Now what
is it that can clcanfe the Priefts, but onely the blood of the Lord
lefusi Now that was refembled by the water in the Brazen fea,
Therefore all the Ordinances of Chrifl,which did hold forth the
blood of Chrifl, to the waifliing and purging of the Priefts and
people of Codf that is the fea* Now this fea, as you heard in
the 15. OiAj^KV oHhe Jleve/atio»,thc i.verfc^ In the Refor-
med Churches is a fea of Glafle , though mingled with Fire ;
mingled with fome contention, yet the tace of Chiifl might be
cleerely feene in it. But this fca heerc^tbatis, the Popifh Re-
ligion, iz the cooflttCRcc of all their Ordinanccsi as they doe ad-
muu«
lW*aMMaH*«k^Mi
I , -M ll l il I I " " -^ ^>. . ■»iii
7he fecotid ViaB.
ttjiniftcr the worfhip of God : And upon this fca, upon this Re*
Iigion,is the fccond Viall poured. In the former ViaIl.Firft,men
ftumblcd at the lives of PapUb, and thcf upon at the lives of them
that led thcm,at their Priells covctoufncflcjignoranccand hipo-
crific ihcy hkcd not their lives, thoi^h at nrfl tVcy flumblednoC
at their religion:but thought it was the fault of iheir lives; but
fbone after, they ftumblc at their Religion jfo that the next Vial
is poursd on their Religion, the Ordinances themfelves^as tbcy
are difpenced by thetn : the Viall is poured on them fo farre as
they differ from Reformed Churches. Then what ? This being
the fea, how is this fea come to be as bloud^That is this Religion
of theirs is convinced, anddifcovered to be> not fuchas holds
forth the clcanfing blood ohhc Lord lefus, as the Sea in Sah^
mons Temple did : and as the fca of Glaife like unto Chrim
y^^f/Zdidibut holds forth the bloodofa deadman : A dead Chri(l>
and dead Ordinances to any ipiriruall life. There is no life, no
power, no favour of goodncflc in it j as the blood of * dead mnn^
whfch is not like the living blood of Chrfft, to cleanfc and puri-
ne, and togivc life ; whojiever eats mjfie(hy anddrink^s my hload
hath ftcrnalllifey John 6.54 But this is the blood not ofthc live*
irg God, but of a dead man, there is the bcft of it, and what is
that ? Fit to pollute and defile, fit to choakc a man, but not to
feed him ;not to clcanfeand purge lim. And every thing living
tn that fca dyed : Every thing, That is every foulc that had no
other life, but what was bred and fed in that Religion * and had
no other Chri^ian life but what he fucked and derived from that
Religion, they all pcrifhcd everlaflingly, this is the meaning of
the words of the Text.
Now then it may be further demanded for clearing of this
meaning, who is this Angell that pomes cut this viall of Gods
wrath on this fcaf the lea (yon fay ) is Antichriftian religion,
for the firft began with the earth ; this goes up higher , and
fo higher, and higher, till it come to the throne, and till at
length 'Babilon be fallen : So that allthcfc plagues fall on the
antichriftian flatc. But who is this Angell that pcurcth out this
.Viall ? There be fome conceive that they arc they who met
in the councell o^ Trent y and gathered all the Qreames of Pc»
pifh priefls, and their dodlrine, and pradife, and ratiHed them
all in that CounccU ; yea fome thinke that BeHarmine hath
D 3 done
20 Thcficoitd Vlalt,
done tlie Qiurcb of God good fervicc, in gathering the body of
Controvcrfics, bctwccnc protcftams and popifli Churchcs,and
hath delivered them in fo many volumes that you might have
a whole fea of antichriftian doftrinc. worfliip, and govcrnc-
ment by him confirmed, though I doe not diOike the nocion,and
it will fall into the true meaning , yet that holds not doCe to
the letter of the Text, for the Text makes all the Angels to be
5* Rev. I J 5. fuch as come out of reformed Churches,* the Temple open
tf. in heaven 5 members of rcbrmcd Churches , all cloathea in
pure and white linnen, godly ChriftiariS, righteous foules, and
girded with golden girdles, llabliflied in the truth of the Gof-
pcll, therefore they cannot be the Bifhops,and Do(5lor8 of Rcmc,
nor BeU.trmine nor any of tl.cm that have held forth Popifh Re-
ligion in a Popi(h Church ; What then ? Then it mult bee o-
ther Minifters and Profeflbrs of reformed religion, who have
difcovcred the religion of the antichriftian ftate to be as it is,
ebieEt, You ^,-,ii fjy j-an they turne Popi(h Rehgion to bloud.
jinfrv, 'j'hg Dodors of Trent indeed have , Belhrmine makes it
Worfc by maintaining and confirming of it. True but can Mi-
nifters of reformed Churches be faid to doe fo, Markc they are
%d to poure out a viall, not by making their religion worfc,
but making it appeareas bad as it was; I hey being righteous
men, they could not corrupt religion , tut difcovcr it, and
make it appcare, that all the decrees of the councell olTient^
and of BelUrmine^ and fuch Popifli writers j they difcovcred
them to bee nothing but a fea of corrupt dodrine , and wor*
{hip : all the (Irearaes that run in that Tea, are all polluted and
filthy, that who fo lives and dies in them, periflicth cverlafling-
ly. And fuch were all thofc worthy fervants of Chrift, that
have written either againfl the Trident Councell , or againft
Bellarmine^ that have convinced their Do(5hinc and worfhip
to be all polluted and corrupted, and to be fuch that if a man
know and pradire,and belecve no better he cannot be faved«
fuch hath been (hnmititis^ and Jnnws^ ChamicTy Whitaksr,
and Rcignolds ^Perkins i and ^f^^^jandthereftof the holy Saints
of God, that have poured out this viall of Gods wrath, that is,
that by their doArine.and writings from the word have pou*
red out fuch deare convidion, and refutation of their do(^rinc
and worihip) that to alK ijiat are not pirtiall^ it appeares to be
_//.
»._ ..4daiaa^a,Ma^flltaBitokH
^. . 'jrrnx^-^:: -.^1. -•■..- ..- _ - • - • ■ ■ 1 .,■.--.»■> .i,.>^>^M,,,
rhefecond Vtat.
not tbc bloaJ of the Lord Icfus, buiof a dead mail, and thcK
fore who ever lives and dies, in that reh'gion, hee cannot die
better then a reprobate, nor live better then an hypocrite, this
is the true meaning of the fecond viail.
The firft note that we may gather ( I will not be long in it,iior
in this piacc the matter requires it not,in fome places it Hiigbc. J
As upon the corruption of common Chridians fbllowesthe
corruption of religion, fo by the difcovcry of the corruptions of
Chrirtians,or upon the difcovcry of the corruption of common
Chridians, followes the difcovery of corruption in Religion.
This note followcs upon the former words, compare this
vcrfc with the fecond trumpet, vpon the founding of the fecond
trumpet, there was brought in corruption of rcligionjin the Im-
pcriail Chriflian world, as in the 8. Chapter of this booke, and
the y*% p.ver. The fir 1^ A»gell Jour.ded^ and there follorvei
ha'tle a»d fire mingled rvith bloudy yvherebj all the green gf^^jfc
noi burnt ftp,&c. The firft Angcll pcurcd out fire andbloudi
that is vncharitableneffc, and contcntioufnefTc, and fo corrupti-
on grew in the fpirits of common Chriftians , and what Id-
lowed upon that ? And thereupon the fecond Angel founded,,
and there fell a great mountaine burning with fire, cad into
the fea , on the contentioufneffc , and quarelling of common
Chriflians and their ambition. There grew contention, about
primacy in Church Governours, and ihatfo far corrupted the
fea ( A mountaine of high preferment being cad into the fca)
that a third part of the fea became bloud, here was a third part
a great part of their religion, fpecially that which concerned
gov crnemcnt, became bloud, very noifomc, both their do^rinc
and governement : fo that looke as on the corruption oi the
lives of Chridians, prefently religion grew corrupt, fo on the
difcovery of corruption in common Chridians. In this fecond
viall follows the difcovcry of corruption in religion it fclf,inthis
(econd viall : and looke by what degrees,the trumpets founding,
brought in cormption into the Church ; by the fame degrees, the
vials bring forth the difcovcry of corruption in thcChurch thcvi-
als of Gods wrath difcover corruption & pollution in Religion •
The reafon of this point is taken from the powcrfull effi- ^
cacy of all religion ,to transformc the fincere profclfors of it,
to the like nature With it felfe, looke what the tdigwn is^fuch
f
u.^ — ^.^^^^. -^..^ MMM«MBIMk«ta*dlMiMi*failite*W^^h«^M^
.jXi^^tj-^J^SJ^Sr-zS^rsrsz^ ' 7 ^ ^1 »— *a^»j— *i—
5 J The feconi VUU.
k the fpiiitofall that arc finccrc, and fcrious profcflbrs of it, and
therefore if there come in any corrupt dOi5lrine,& corrupt reli-
gion, our Saviour tells«s,i; their fruits je fhAllkttorv tbcm^ for
iijch as their corruption is in judgement, fuch will it bee in
their lives, in Afat^y.i y. BeT»4re of falje prophet f^^^^kj/ their
fruits you PjaII k^orv them, Mgood tree cannot Ir/ng forth evill
fruit ^neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good frmt, and fo
it was with the Pharifces, though they were the ftriftcft feft
of the Icwifts Relig^ion, ^ff. 16.5. Yet as they were corrupt
in their lives, fb their Religion was corrupt, and thofc that
were Profelites to it* Mat, 13. 15. They made them twofold
more the children of hell then shemjdvts^ iTVw.gij, EvtU
men and deceivers re axe rporfe^andyvcrfejieceiving and being dt'^
eeived^ and the ground of that is this, the concurrence of the
fpirit of God with his ownc word, and the concurrence of the
fpiric of Satan, with his ordinances and inQrudlions , there is
a (pirit goes with both,that doth aHimuIate and tranlForme a
po werfull profeflbr of finccre Religion, to be finccrc in heart*
And the Profeflbrs ol corrupt Religion to transformc them into
the nature thereof : In the 5P of Efaj^ verfe 21, Mj Spirit
that is upon thee, and my ivords vphich I have put in thy mouthy
Jhall net depart out of thy mouthy nor out of tke mouth ofthyfeed^
nor out of the mouth of thy feeds feedt from henceforth and for e-
ver^ Gods fpirit goes with his owne Ordinances, where ever
they arc rightly and fincerely received, as alv/ay by fome they
are, where ever they have free paflagc, they will have fome
good iffuc, and fome pcrfons or other, on whom they will
worke fuch a change , in 2 C^r, 3 \%,Wc aU mth open face
^eholdingf as in aglaffe, the glory of (yod are changed into the
fame tm ige, from glory to glory ^ as by the fpirit of the Lord^
Confequcntly if Antichrtfi come with his delafions, hee (hall
come with all the power of Satan, who/e comming((aith the A*
poftle,2 7'^<^/.l.p. 10. ^ is after the working of Satan, and
with all power of fignesand lying wonders, with efScacic of
ddufions ; a figne thefe deluHons are not iceerely Natio-
nall, but cfi'c(5luall, to transforroe the heartlike unto the mindc,
their urjll like unto their /adgement,and their life like unto both,
that yon fliall have the whole frame of their Rate, fuch as is
their Religion * if the lives of Ca^olike Profeflbrs be corrupt.
The ficond Viot, , i^
an evident argument their Religion is corrupt, and if theor Reli-
gion be corrupt^ their lives cannot bee found, they that live by
that Religion mud needs be corrupt t fo that upon the discove-
ry of the corruptions of the lives of Catholikes, then men began
to (cruple their Religion;atM it was fairely interpreted of fome
Catholikes, that were reformed^ and brought to the truth, they .
thought that all abufes found inthe Friars& M onks was but from
the hvesof men, their religion was better, their religion did noc
teach them {b:and therfore thought Hill^they might appeale to the
Pope himfelfjas Luther did,they thought it was the ignorance of
the PrieftS) that brought Pardons into the Countrey to fell them^
for groats and fhillings; but this was but a charitable opinion, and
in truth,the Prices the miniftcrs of that Religion, did but a^ the
fpirit of that R -hgicn, the whole heart was licke^and the whole
b|cad and body mortally diftcmpered.
The Ul*c is thus much, it muft be a word of holy admoni* F/c h]
tion.and warning to all ProfefTors/m this Countrey, and Church
members, to all thatprofcfTc they came out of England for pu-
rity of Ordinances , to be very circumfpe^, pure, and faithfully
and zealous in all their whole converfation v for beleeve it, you
will finde this true, aiul remember it while you live, \^ you bee
corrupt in T^yv-EngUnd^ if you be unfaithful! here, ityoubc
worldly miiidcd here, faUe of your words and proroifcs here,,
in/urious in your dealings here, beleeve it one of thefe two will
unavoidably follow* either ail £/7j^/<<W will Judge your Refbr«>
mation but a dclullon, and an invention of fome of your Magi*
(lrates> or Elders^ or otherwise looke at you, as not (jncere but
counterfeit.. This unavoidably you will Hnde true, you cannot:
poure fortha Viall of more wrath on Religion, as it is bCiere:
reformed and ellabliCbed,through the bleding of God,you can-^
not load it with a heavier Viall of Gods wrath ; then if heereyoa-
ihUl grow worldly^and covetous,deceitEiU-ind contentious^an^
unbrotherly.Are thefeyour Church members,ruch&fuch'tniags.
were done,but I hope it was not your Church Member5,arewe
not all brethren ? Doth our Eftates lie much of them in Com-
mon f Well, what ever things may be, though ChriHian love-
will pafTe by much ; yet beleeve it, if men make no confcience
of their bargaines, but that they doe defraud others* If men
make no confcjcncc of heavenly mindedncfife of purity and
i^ The feconi VUll.
icalc J andtWnkcit needs not,butrcft in meet formes of Church
Ordinanccs,you will unavoydably-, pciwea VisH of Gods wrath,
as iKiich as in you lycs, on all the purity of Gods Ordinances, and
judge you how diflionourablc it is to God and holy religion, and
how blame- worthy it is in fuch as are faulty herein, however
you wDl anCwer this before the Lord at his comming ? For you
cannot avoide it,this wiUbe the ifluc j either we are ccuntcrtcit
Profefibrsof Reformation, or that our reformation is counter-
feit, you fay you came over for puritic of Ordinances ; Eutin
trutb,you didbutdiflcmble, & however you thoughr,it was not
in your hearts, the event proves the contrary ; if you be not /in-
cerc, but hollow Members of the Church, and corrupt livers,
under the govcrnement and wor (hip of God hecre eltabli/hed
and ordered, I fay, you will force all whofe eyes arc on youj
tliroughout the Chriftian world to thinke, thefe are but the in-
vcntionsjof men ; there is no. truth, no true heartedncfle in the
Religion here eQabli(hcd : and for the Religion cOablidicd in
JEngia»d, what ever you talke of humane inventions, we know
there is no fuch unfaithfull dealing, and hollow heartcdntfrc,no
fuch bitternelfc between Chriftians. A Miniflcrs Prcfcncc is ami-
able, and his fectbcautifulU and where hec comes, it is not
thought too homely to be regarded, of better then himlcife.
If Religion in our Native Ccanirey,of them that are finccre,
if it bold foorth more puririe there, belccvc it, it bcares
more evident witneffe to the truth of God there , fo much
as is truth, then as we doe, that profeflc greater (implicitic ;
thefe arc but the names of things , but the reality is wanting.
It is rcvcr to be forgotten , the Argument of the bicfled A-
poftle, the Ci-mf'irttf/tooke offence athim ('as they were hu-
mcrous, though gonly men) yet a generation cf^ihcm were
haughty by ibeirgreatgifts, P^til faid he Would come to Co^
r/»/A,hcpromircdtocome, but he did not, and they thought
he uf:d lightncflc ; it was an eafic thing with him to be Tea and
IK ay : What faith the Apoftlc ? Whtn If aid I ircttid comc^
didlttfeiightmjfe^ that mthrne there Jhould be Tea, and Nay f
Nay, faith the Apoftle, ( I pray you marke it, and I could
wi(h , it were engraven on the tables of godly mens
bearts j in the 2 C rimh, i. i8, as Godistrue^ our Word to^
-B^a-djot^ rr/u mp Tea and Nay : How doth hcc prove that f
Yqt^
www»<
■fcfcO^W— * ■■ ■ ' l ^ " *«l«*l Bill^ W wiF^
m
i
1
(
^
f^crthe Sonne of (7o^, /<5^ Chrifi, nvho waif reached antong^
y^u f fy Hs was net yea And uay, but in him was jea^ and aU
•^he promifes of God in him, are Tea and Amen» What is ttis
the purp<ic ^ If the Qoffelhe preached he not yea and nay ^
hen neither are hit prcmtfes yea and nay : this h his intend*^
Whacisttuf
to "
thi
menti dfe his inference is nothing*
I you will fay, Miniders and Apoftles ought to be (uch, boBt
llhthat followcs wraps in all profellburs, Noyv hcc which
Habhtheth you with us in Chrift ( it is not BIders onely j and
he that anointed us is God,whoanointeth with (uch oile as ftdls
on every member of his body ? who hath affo fealed us , an4
given the earneft of the fpirit in our hearts, and makes us eve-
ryway liice himfelfe, therefore faith he, I call God to record
that to f pare you I came not yet to Coyi>f/^,othcrwi(c as the Golr
peli preached by him and Silvanw Be TfmotheustV/zs not yea and
nay, but in him was yea> no more was his promife^this is the fpi«
ritof Chrifliansiand Miniflers,and fo of al chat are eilablifhedto^
gether with their Mini(lcrs,anointed,and fealed andconfirme<(
in grace with their Miniflcrs , and Ijavc ireccived, the eameft
penny > t<» bind the bargaine of eternall falvation, to faithfiill
foules ; So looke what a Chriflian doth prdmife, he is bound
by the earned penny of Gods Spirit, hee dares no more alter
his words, to the difcrcdit of his profcflion^ then the Spirit ojf
God to lie* . - ':
- » • *
<
Sothatcon(ider,if Profeflbrs grow corrupt. Religion wil
grow corrupt; and on thcdi'covcrypf thcoorruptioAof conr-
mon ChrilHans, corrupt religion will be difcOvered, el{b yon
will be difcovcred to be carnall prof cflblrs.
Bat there will be thefe two events, either it will caft afper-*
fion on you, and lo they will fay none arc better ; the fpirit
of the Country is dcceitfull in their bargaines, there is no con-*
ftancic in their words. .
■ . . f
Or elfcthat yout Religion is corrupt i Jiadthiswai srlfo fol*
w;
-v±-
ithe fec0nd rut. 3§
MHiOCMriMSttlWiiaHMBHKISaiMiftMiiMiHiiitriMlfeliMMMh^^
^A
low uiiavoidably , though your Religion bcc of God, and the
Lord himfcUe will bcare witnelTe, it is of God, and according
to the true pattcrne of the Word; yet if We in this genera-
tion {hall defile it , by our uufaithfulnclTe , unfpiritualnclTe 9
unhcavenUnefle, and ungodlinelTe , this \A'iIl be the iffue ; on
the corruption of the lives of Profcflbrs, fullowes corruption
of Religion, and upon the difcovcry of (he one, follo^cs the
difcovery ot the other;
That Religion, which by the blcfling of God , and the po^
wer of his grace , is difpcnftd heere in fimplicity , will bee
corrupted in the very next generation ; you will f^nde your
Children afcer you ( oi whofe (late yon ought to have as
much care^ and Id inke, I may fpeake it without inconve-^
niencyy more then of your ownc : you may know the worfl:
oi It for year fclvcs, bring necre the grave many of you : but
vcrely, what will befall your Pofterity ? They will dcgcne-
raicout of meafure, by the unfjsithfulncfTe of your lives, and
unrighteoufiicfTe of our promifes, they will fail to bee itarke
Qoughcii) ppit)(orDodrine, Wpriliip, and Government, they
Will iittcdy degenerate froni their Anceftors , let buc us bee
polluted , and all the waters that come from us will be pol*
luted, it cannot be fwe^t water that runnes through a poy«
fonous earths if the. earth bcc unfavoury, the Waters, and
Cepcb, and Rivers be poyfoned, what will the iflue bee, all
will bee corrupt : and therefore as you deflre to leave Reli-
gion with a blelHng^lfavc it pure in the converiation of Bro-
^leily love,..and punty, and faithflilnefle , and fruitfulneffe,
and heavenly iniiidedneffc ; that Co as Bcligion alwaycsloves
to lye cleane> .as was a grave fpecch of an ancient Saint, it
will not lye naOy as a Swine, and a Dogge in a kennell, sc
mad lye fweec and deane : if the hearts and waics of men be
no( pure and holy, you (hall not alway haye the Sea deane,
but Religion will giow to AppHacy, and that Which is our
glory, wul be our contution*.
Th^
rmmmmi^mm^itmmmmr9''''''r'''^m9imf'fwm^ni'''^''^'''''''''^'''*^* ivhiimw.ihi
^ ■■ _ - J _^ -^-^ ■-^-^. ^^ — -^ — . ^ — ^^ a^^^^^^^mzk-smiiA^
t
7he fecotid f^iilm
« •
• *
The raitffull Minia^rs], and ProfcfTors of Reformed R6«
!ig'ion> andChiT'hcs , bypowring cut the wrath of God oil
Popidi Religion, have difcc vexed it; not to hold forth the blood
of the Lord Icli s, but to bee as the blood of a deadman^XhAt
is the Sea, the Antidriflian Sea , the confluence of all OrdU
nances in it, not to bee the blocd of the Lord Ie(u$> which is
oncly able to purific and to pacifie the Confcicncej no (iich
thing to be found in it. But a blood fit to quicken and give
lift, John 6, 50. 51- Hee that drinkes of mj h'ood^ fbai live
for ever : but they have difcovered ic to be the blood of a dtdd
It was the fpccch of Mafter Terkins often in his Sermon^'
and throughout hib Writings ('who was one that powred one
this Viali) he would (ay to his hcarcrs> Young Schollefs :
Popifh Bookes in holding forth the blood of the Covenant,
they hold it forth in a icorall manner , but without the life
and power of his death i hee expounds it thus : They will
very evidently fet forth the cruelty and treachery of Ittdaf^
that betrayed him, and the Wordly-mindedncfTe, andCovc-
toufncffe, and Ambition » of the High Pricl's, that bought
and plotted his death ; they will ( faith heO niakc bitter in«
ve^tivcs againft the prophanencffc of the levfesy that Were ica»
dy to renounce him, t/iivay with him^ awaj wuh him^ Lrtt"
cifie him , and dedaime againfl the timoroufneflfc of 'Pilate^
and bafe-mmdcdncffe^ that could not deliver an Innocent;
and dedaime of the cruelty of the Souldiers, and magnifie the
Innocencic of Chrijt lejm^ and make the people many times
to wccpc, that Irfies an Innocent man, had bccne thus pro-
phanely fould and bought » and thus bafely condemned, and
cruelly handly : All this might be done, and all but to (hew
forth the blood of an Innocent man. Bui to (hew the need
of Chrills blood, and how they (hould walke worthy of if^
and how they (hould obcajnc it> it is the lead part of their
"
M>JMhMiM*fcM— ■— f^^iMMIi^rilll 111 imiMMI— ^bMiWaMMlii
cliftourfc, and indeed, no part at all : What is this but the
hlaod of 4 dcAd Adan, to raifc up bitter detcftations againd
the Icvves, and Souldicrs, and Pi/ate, &e* But to raifeit up
to any powerfuU eflied in the hearts of Chrtfl;ians> ic is not their
endeavour that are mod: devout* . \
• » •
caf. Inc Rcafon is firft taken,.
From their holding foorth, not indeed the true Chrift ;
Whether ycufpcake of their Doftrine , Worfliip , or Gon
verncment, they doc not hold forth the true Chrift, They hold
forth Chiift G od and Man, that is true j fo farrc they goo
with us, and hold that Chrid dyed and role againe, aswedoe,
but when they come to fpcakc of the Offices of Chrift» in
\vhich indeedc , bee is favingly held fortli to the people, there
they bring in another Chrift, and renounce him ^ For either
take the true Chrift, as the true Chrift, or elfe none, for he
will not divide ftakcs. Looke at all Ins Offices, ('And I will
give you but a touch of them) Take the Mediatourly Offacc
of Chrift i they will liavc other Mediators, of Reconciliati-
on, and Intcrceflion , befides the Lord lefus. Doth not the
Pricft every Sacrament of the Lords Supper , offer a Propi^
ciatory Sacrifice ^if I may call it a Sacrament of the Lords^
SupperJ this is conftant with thcm^
% -
Now this 1$ to tring in other Chrifts for Reconciliation^
befides the Lord Jcfns^ Whereas the Apoftleinthe io,Chap*^
tcrtothc H(r^2'tfw«,thci4.Verfc,faith, 2?; one offerings hee
hath for ever f erf e tied them that are fanUifUd : and he pro-.
fcffcth, that onefy the Sacrifices of the Law were oft repea-
ted, bccaufc they could not make thecommers thereunto
perfed^ Hcbr, Chapter i o, verf, 1 . to the 14. verfr. So that
to bring in any other Sacrifices , ia abfolutely to renounce
his Mediation and Reconciliation ; and they arc not afha-
med, I confdTe, a roan migbt (bnd and treniile, thofe tbac
die: more devout and. zealous Catholikes , they will not ownc
^at Do^bjne \ but they wiU owne this, they arc not alharoed
•J
td
V*
^r r I ' ^^' ""I ^-iin^ir^ mr"^""^"^"*—
CO entreat Chridby the Uentoi the blood o£Tbomdf^t6aHn
sbcm a blefled Refurrcdion ; by the blood of Tbomat^ wbicb
for us hee did fpend , make us to rife wbithet bee cM af«
cend. •
• ' • .*
Now J if they put on Chrjftians the blood of ThcmM, and
give them to rife by the blood of Thomas, there is anotlKrrc-
conciliarion joyned with the blood of the Lord Jf/f'* r and
indeed, all Sacisfadlory Pcnnance , and Whippings, and Maf-*"
£cs, what are they aU but Copartners with ChriQ, in helping
forward his fatisfadion, as if it were not fufiBcient ; other
lacrificcrs, and other facrificcs , every Prieft is a facrificer ,
and every new facritice is to make attonemenr.-
And fo doe I Dy for his mcdiatourftiip of interccflion,yoif
know they ioy n faints, and angclls^cfpccially the Virgin Mary?.
as the mothers and fathers of grace,ana pray the Lord to hear tor
their merits fake, fo that take the whole mediatourly ofHce of
Chrift, for reconciliation, and intercefnon ; you muft hava
more Chrifts then one, and then he isofnoneefieA>if hcroa/>
not doQ aU in point of merit and fatisfadron : even all the righ*'
tcoiifncfTe that he hath taught us to doe, it is vnprofitable. fbc
fuch ends, we may profit our brethren, and heipe our felves by
his grace, for many fpirimall good ends, but for fatisfa^tionyfoc
(Derit and the like it is to fet up a New Chrifk, befides tbe
Lord lef us, thus is his pricfUy oibce evacuated. And fo his*
Fropheticall office, to bring in other fcriptures, as the Apogrjm
pha that he confirmes not, befides fcriptures, of unwritten tram«
cion carried from handto l}and,and yet many great points oftheu^
Religion arc built thereon, even all the corrupt dodrinewhicho
they deliver by tradition. For his Kingly office, yai knoWr
they fet up other Lords and Governors of the Church befide»
him 9 I meane fuch governours as neith<;rare the Lords,, noc
5VCC were inftituted by him, as the Pope ,. and Cardinals
and Primats, aijd MctropoUtans,and the whole tout of . Popiflii
Hierarchic from the Apparritor to the Pope , they are of bis in-
vention and appointment} and as they have owe loiU^^ fq
Ej
f •
« ♦
V ^
other Lawc$;^e whole cannon Law is noiiedrthe brdlnaiiS
CCS of the Lord lefus » fot the governcment of his Churchy
much of it cent raty to the word of God, and as they haveo*
thcr Lords and lawcs^fo they have other frames of Churches^
Oecutncnicall, Catboh'quc Churchy Metropolitan , Patriarchall ,
Archipifcopall , Epifcopall , Diocc^n , which Chrid never oc'-
dained in the ^ew Teilament, and they have brought King*
ly or Monarchical! power into the Churches which Chrilt ne-
ver gave them» and that noc onely to cxcomniunication, bat
to dethrone Princes, and to fubOiture others in their roomcs;
and in one word, they are not adiamed to {ay, it is lawf ull
for the Pope to difpcnce vi ith the Apoftle P**«/,and he doth
difpence with inceduoiis Marriages, and with abfolutions
and notorious Cim , for fuch fummcs of money , given for
fome religicas, or rather fuperftitious ufe, and they will di--
fpence with oathes which God himfelfe will not, nor can,he
will not fufFcr lofHuhs oath, and the Princes with the C7/^0«
nitet to bee broken, bccaufe it was the oach of God with
them, therefore thcymuft kecpeit, fotbat here is not more
then civill, but more then fpirituall power, brought into the
Church; fo that well doth the holy Ghofl ray,herc h not the bloud
of Chril but the blond of a dead man.
Againe, I might (hew the like in other the chjefe ftrcames,'
whereof their fca confifts, that Faith which they have, it is builc
on the Scripture, and the authority thereof they have from
the Church, their faith is built on theSaipture,and the Scrip*
ture on the Church, and fo the laft rcfolution of ir,l8 but hu-
mane authority, and (o that faith is no aflurance, ( for thac
they fay were prefumption) but humane creduhry,and fofoc
juUification and falvation, they will have it by mtrits,and for
worfliip , worfliipping Saints and Anccis , and in a ftrangc
language, which common people vnderftand nor, an vnrcalo-
nable fervice, io that here is nothing but as dbc bloud of a
dead man they want the vitalls of Chriftianity^
Por the Vfc of if.
It may Icrvc to fljcvv the wcakncffc of .their imaginadons
thiit
MWHII •■ !■ !• Ill ....... ^ II.. I, m,.i 1,11 ^1 .m i,w
MMH
•r-^. '.-rr-'^m-.-^ '.wkI .V^^-^ . t^ mum w ■ .1. ■■! "^ . ■
that <Ide beleeve Popifliand Proteflaoc religion' may be ..
conciled together, and Popifli and Prcteftant Churchesj may
bee brought to bee one, were it not for hot fpurred lefiiits
on the one (idc, and for hot (pirited Proteftanta , Pnritants*
on the other (ide. if moderate fpfrits had things in hand>
they have hoped to bring both ends together. Alas to bring
heaven and earth together, goe your waies, poare out yoor
vials on the earth^their fea is but an earthly fea> their (iinne
is but an eardilyfun, and their rivcrs» and fountaines,arebut
earthly, and yet all may be reconciled , the bloud of a dead
man, and God, life> and death,heavea and heU^andall^ihaU
be reconciled. '
It (hewcs what great reafon we have everlaftingly to ftanci
out againd ail comprominng with them, and all {ubjeAion to
any thing that percaines to that Religion, for they have facred
truthes, as they beleeve. Father, Sonne, and Spirit, and that
Chrift is God and man, but otherwife, for the body of all their
other Ordinances, they are fuch, as in very truth, have not the
blood of the Lord lefm'vn them, but are as thchloodcf a diad
tnan^ as they have them,and corrupt and polluicthem.
LaQly, Every liv'tHg fonle dyed in the Sea^ why did none
live on the earth, but were all dead in this Sea ? All that live on
the earth, all Catholikcs, they live in that Rdigion, Icfuits> Fri*
ars, Every Uvtng joule died in that Sca^
The lad note then is.
D<fSi, 3.'
A Popifli Catholike that lives according to his Religion^
iand no better, he lives and dyes in a ftate of Death and Dam. ^
nation ♦. For fo faith the Text, Every Uvinf^ Souletn that Sf^
dyed. If he had no other life, then by that Religion, no othc-r
goodneHe then that which he got from that Sea, hvingintho(<i
^j^ets^ which they lucked from that ^cligion> from uieOrdi<*
nanccft
* * %
wcSthcre ~: if lie have no more then diat, hfl aBii$ ^mk
to ^ State of Salvation, lie dies in that Sea,
ft »M
The Rcafooof thepomt,
ft
Is taken, Firft, irom the Grace held foorfli in that Rcligii
on : Secondly, from their faith. Thirdly, from their Repen*
tance : And Fotirthly . from their Obedience ^ they arc all
iiidi as are hnt dead : their veiy Grace Iiolds foorth dead
Workcs ; the Faith of a CathoHke,is a dead Faith ; their Rc^
pentance,is dead Repentance, their Obedience, is deadworks^
and that is all their Religion : and in thefe is the life of aChrii
ftian, the life of Grace, the life of Faith, the life of Repentance,
and the life of Obedience, if thefe be dead, what life is there?
For the grace of God, Bj grace je are faved^ not of Work^s,
'i£yhe{^i. S. ^« Kow *hcy wBl not have it of Grace but of
Workcs, not of Itving Grace, but of Wotkcs, that is die mod
:generall opinion. Nor no .redemption of Chriflians, but com*
anon toail alike, Reprobates and true Chriftians> and the difle-
irence arifcth in vocation, and that is out of workcs, out of mc^
^it of Congruity , and their luftification is out of Merit of
".Workcs, and Perfcvcrance in Grace, is out of Concurrence of
Free will, and Glorification is from Merit of Cond%nity -of
Workcs, and if all thefe be of workcs, here is all the grace of
God to fecki (what faith the Apoflle ? ) if it be of JVprksf, ic
is not of Grace, Rom, 1 1,6. And verily, this is the beft grace
of Popifli Religion s all their grace is dP Workcs, and dien it
is utterly evacuated.
What (hall I fay to their Faith, it is no other hut HiftoritalU
As that all that is contained in the Word is true : and verely, the
DeviUhcXtCics as much, he J^owes it to be true^ andwill tremble^
Janus 3. I9, And if that be the Devils faith, :as lames (aith ic
!is,then woe worth all Popilh Faith ; and that faith if you come
• to apply it. That it (hall be a confidence fon C\m{k to falvati-
on, they looke at thatas Hereticallpnefumpcion i wl»c hope is
yf$ .there, that by Faith (iich Should ever be judified, or faved ? And
ior repentance it is like their Faichi iiicb r^cnt^inciB ^ Mas
'4 > ^ •♦••#,
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m» ^ M ^i 11^ I ■■ ■■^»ii ttwimm^ymiymtfiijmtp
riefccdndridti
held forth i as g^eat they requtre, Conrc0ion^cbntrition',ah3 ft* .
ti&fadion, he did it all; he was not a lictlebrcken with the ience
of bis !inne,and the horror of ic : Hce makes confeflion of i^
/ have (inncd^in Betraying the Innocent blood : he made (atisfa- .
6tionjhebroughtagaine thejo. Pieces of (ilvef} and thro wes
thcmdownc; away with thcin, / havt finned^ tn hetrnyng
tht innoctnt hlood^'Csxvi is the bed repentance they liave s for any
repentance that rprings from the fight of Gods favour, applyed
CO the faith of Gods people, this they will by nomeanes hearc
tell of, and yet without faich applyed to the foule, by a prooiife,
or word of grace, there is no life in repentance. They fee hini>
whom they have pierced, and mcurnc for him ; they fee him
pierced by them, and for thcm^ and (his mourning is Evangc*
call and faving.
?or their obedience , theylooke at it, as fuch as is able to
kcepe the whole Law of God , and if they can doe that«
they fceke life > then by Workes » not of Grace .* and thac
Obedience chat is able to keepc the whole law of God, is
the Obedience of the Scribes and Pharifees,for they fo taught?
and therefore our Saviour tcUs his difciples, Mattk ^.tol
^Except joHr rtghteoufneffe exceedes she righteonfneffe of the
Scrihs and pbarifees , yee cannot enter into the Kingdomeof
Heaven ; Such obedience , zi that a man is able to keepe the
whole Law, and by that to merit, and ^oz no more then the
Law requires, it is the obedience of Hereticall prefiimpti-
on, not of confidence and affiance of Faith: that is, obedience
of heretical! prcfumption , that is able to keepe the whole
law> and make facisfadlion to the jullice of Chrid 9 and then
Chrid died in vaine, unleffe hee died to make us Savburs ^
our felves, and that \& as notorious as the former.
The Vfc of this point is#
Vfti:^
To reprove a wicked pracHfe of many Proteftants that
not amameds to fow Pillowcs vndcr the elbowcs of Can
> "»
P
4
thiriiqucsj
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tholfqucs that make them bclccvc, they may be /avcd in that
religion, fo they live honcftly and well j Oh Brethren ! doth
not the Text exprcfly fay , every one that lived in that .Sca ,
died, and died cvcrlaftlngly 5 there is no living bloud of the
Lord lefus there, there is no favirig grace there, but workcs .
all, and there is no lively faith there* but dead faith^ no re-
pentance, but hardneffc of heart, or legall contrition at the vt-
termoft, nor obedience , but fuch as is too good for him to
apply the Bloud of Chriftunto, for it is able to kcepe ther
whole Law , and make fatisfadion for the breaches of the
Law, or if their owne obedience bee not fo perfcd, they have
ibme other faints, whofe obedience may bee imputed unto
them ; fo that though they abhorrc Chrifts Righteoufncffe,
to be imputed to themtthcy have found out a way, that the righ*
teoufnefTe of Saints may bee apply ed,to make others righteous
lo that they put more Honour upon the fcrvants of Chrift, if if
fomc of them were the fervants of Chrift^ then upon Chrift:
and fay it were well their righteoufnes {hould be imputed, but
that Chrift s owne righteoufncflc fliould bee imputed ithe^
looke at it as aputative rightcoulhcffe, as they arc not afha-
med to call it fo,that fee the dcfperatc danger of living and dying
in that ftatc,in the Romifli religion, in that Sea.
Vfe J.
Secondly, Let me exhort all Chriftians to hold ftcdfaftly to
the puritie of Rel igion, whether in our publickc Miniftrations,
or private converfations , let 41 favour and rcakc foorth the
Warme blood of the living Lord leff^^ for there is the diP*
fercnce of our Religion from Poperv : Their religion holds
forth fuch a Chrift as leaves him and his blood, lik^ the blood
of 4 dead Man : The fou'c is dead for any true Grace, or
Paith, or Repentance, or Obedience , or living Comfort ;
the heart is ftill dead, no life of Gods favour , no life from
the Word, no hope of Salvation , but all con je<fhirali , there
is indeed the life of Papifts , no live-blood of Chrifi Jefm a-
mong them : But for Chriftians, It is for us to live, astbof*
that are made partakers of the blood of fprinkling, thatfpeaks.
belter
^^^mm^mgm^gtm
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better things then that of >tf<>V/. (hat c^och pacific^ and purifie
the ConfcicncCj and both vvorkc cflfc^ually more and morfi;'
vntill the foute bee e^abliflied in perfe^ peace, thou wile
keepe them in perfeA peace , whole mindc is (laid on the^
becaufe he trudeth in thee. 1 fpcake of perfedHon that may
be attained in our mcafure, inB/ay 26, 3. So that bcdil^ent
to looke up to the Lord Chrid, &VA as out of Grace, to ac»
cept us, and by the grace ofFaith to receive us, andfodraw^f*
ing the foule to lively repentance from dead works,aiid quidk*
ning and awakning us to lively obedience. In this
lively cQate* we may walke berore him accordiiig
to the good pleafure of his will* to the praife
of the glory of his <SYacc ia
Chrifi Ufta^
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THE THIRD
V I A L-
R E V E L. itf. V E R.4, J,(J,7.
Aid the third Attgel poured out his vial upon the rivers ttiii feUH-'
tains of waters y and they became bloud* And 1 heard the An-
gel of the waters faj. Thou arir>ghteom,0 Lord, which art,
and waft, and Jialt be, becaufe thorn haft indged thiu : Far
tliej hale Jfjed the blond of Saints and Prophets, and thou haft
given them blond to drinke, for thej are worthy. And 1 heard
another out of the Altar faj, Eveafo, Lord Cod Alt»ightj,trilc
axdrightcom are thj iudgements,
"^^^f^T^ -CNHefe fcven Angels (is you heard) that haJ
^ ^ jV^ f^ r ^^^ ^'^'^ of the laft wrath of Gocl to poure
^^^^outjthey poiire it all out upon the Anti-
chriftian world, upon the Bcaft, or fome-
' thmgorotherpertahiingtothcBeaft; for
the hrft that poured his vial on the earth,
\ vexed them that ha i t'ae mark of the beaft;
_ _ ' he begins therefore with the beaft, /fWfiiw
fft Angel pouredforth his vial upon the throne of the beaft, in the
lo.ver. and when the feventh Angel poured forth his vial,.
Great Babylon came up in remembrance before, God, <^c. in the
i^.ver. So that (in a word) all thele vials being poured out
f.omfitft to laft upon the earthy and tlie earth being the Anti-
chriftianftate,oppofitc to heavenly and pure Churches, all the
A vials
^MMM
■■*■ » i i - i n iii i mnYliU II I i n aaSiM
^dimmi^,i^»mmmmmmmmmmmmmmttmmmmm^mmimi^»^mmm
rhe third VUL
vials are poured upon the Antichriftian world grjlate. And ^
you fee) they begin with the lo weft elements firftj The firft
upon the earth , the next upon the fea , the third uj-ori the
rivers and fountaincs, the fourth upon the fun in that world^
the fift upon the throne of the Beaft, the fixt; upon Euphrates,
the leventh upon the ayre. Now the lecond Angel (or which
you heard the laft day) having poured out his vial upon the (ea,
it became as the bloud of a dead man, and all that livai in that
iea, dyed.
The lea (ypu heard) is the confluence of waters and rivers,
and doth hold forth the confluence or concurrence qt all the
oracles, and ordinances, and meanes of grace and /alvation, or
thole that are pretended fo to be. The concurrence, or conflu-
ence of them ail to one body, which in one word was their
Religion in the old Temple, it was rcfembled to a brazen fca,
wherein the Priefts waihed themlclvcs ; In the Apoftolique
Church of the New Teftament, it is rclemblcd unto a lea of
[lafle, like unto cryftall , wherein you might j(oe the face of
thrift, as in a mirrour j In R.eformed Churches, it is a fea of
glafle, mingled with tire ; In Popilli Churches, it is as the
bloud of a dead man ; no living bloud is there to be found to
wafli the people in, but as the bloud of a dead man, without
life, to them that are \\ aflied in it, and rather fit to choake,and
poifon, and kill, then to trive life. Now that being the lea;
Then he.e the next vial is poured out upon the rivers and foun-
tains of waters that run into this lea, and derive this lea up and
downe the earthy The third ^'Ingel toured out his vial upon the
river J attdfountains of waiters : And the pourin? out of his vial,
is dclcribed, Fii-ft, by the liibjec): on .which it'is poured, Ffo/t
the rivers and foux tains of waters : Secondly, by the efje^^l, and
they became hloud : Thirdly,thepouringoin:of this vial is am-
plified by the teftimony given to it^ and the effeO.pf it ; What is
the teftimony ? It is double, i . Given b)' the Ai>gel of the wa-
tcrS;inthe 5 ver, 1 heard the- Angel oftljeyvatirsfajfy what doth
he lay ? he gives to God the gloiy of his ri^htepuliiefle, and of
his unchangeable righteouiiieflej trhich art -^ and waft, and fltalt
key hecatife thou haft iudged thm : And the tealon of it (he gives)
is taken from the equity of the lavv o f r<;tal iatioi^, in t \\{:6.v^ri
For they I' Ave fhedthe Motid of Saims ifftdProphetSy and thou haft
given tkm bhod to dnnk^, for they are vrorthy^ The fecond Te-
ftimony
ft^^^^mm^'^^wmm "m^^^m , M mMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm0mm^mmmmmmt'^>'mmmmmm9mmm
mm
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ftjipony by which this opwrjng put of th? V jtU U jtmplifieJ,
(and vhe efecl pFit is juuifi^cl) is by another Angcjl jput -of th?
AJtarinthey.'Z'rr, who faith Anjen to thjs ; EvenfoXcr4(ro4
Almighty y true and righteotu are thi iudgnKtitf* For the ip^,
nine of the words.
The lea being Religion, the confluence pf ordinances, iuch oi>
dinances as ar<; dilpenfcd in any religion : The rivers and tq\xf\'r
jains of water that (pringfrom the lea, and retpo'ie tp the leg,
and derive all their (prings and waters from thence, they app
(and it is generally 16 received jan4 therefore with more ffCj^r
dome of Ipirit a man may declare it) thele rivers, ,and fbjunt9)f)$
pf waters are generally conceived to be the Prieft?, ai)4 .Mipi*
fters of the Popilh Church, who carry PopilTa Religion,asFoiJftr
tauis and Rivers do the Sta^ up and down the earth ; £0 do they
Popifli Relig'on, up and down the Nations, carryitto'^ndfto,
onlv there i$ this difference between them J and ordinary rjvpi^
ancf fountains, ordinarily rivers and fountains are freflh,' though
the lea be lult, but here the fountains & rivers are lalt and brac-
kiili alio J as thofe fait fprings be, that run through fait minCT
rails, which are of like nature with the fca, and thele keep their
brackiilmeflc IHll : And lb it is with thele rivers and Muitains «
they run through the eaith, on which the firft Angel poured put
his vial; they run through the curfed earth, asit is plagued, of
God, and therefore ftill rctames the like unwhoUome litreams
which are found in the bloudy lea : And therefore it is laid>
that as the lea became bloud, lo thele rivers alio became bloud,
and canyed but the like kind of water which they received froTO
the lea, con upt. As the Rejipion it Iclfe is corrupt, lb are the(e
fbuntaines and rivers, the Pnefts and jefuites, whether lecular
orreg^ilar, that is^ the P.arifli Priefts of their Churches, orRcr
gular Monkes that are in Religious Orders, or who ever arefejit
forth by thefe, they are thefe rivers and fbuntaines of waters
that run to and fro to fill all the world with their lea,with their
Religion. It is theiame word which the Apoftle /'^r/r hath io
expre0ing the nature of falle teachers , though there it is wells^
y'tt the words arc both one. They are fvells wkhom water, mc^-'
ning .without water of life^canying their owne drugs and dregs,
iPa, 2. 17. A fit expreflion (therefore) of fiich kind of Pridts
or Prpphets, as doe convey unwhollbme liquor or water up
and dpwne a coiuitrjfv. Now of thefe it i? laid, that .on the poii-?
A 2 ring
"Ulip—w I I ~»»T ill I ■ I I L ^
"•^^
•*: > '
4
rhe third rUL
ring out ofthis'vial, they became bloud, not onely in regard that
their waters themlelves are bloud^ the dodriiie and worfliip
which they doe hold forth to the people are corrupt, as their
fca is, (liKe the plague in Egypt, when their waters and rivers
were turned to bloudj but that chiefljr in regard of the punilh-
ment which they inflift on them for lb doing, which is a blou-
dy death, as bloud is expounded in the 5 . and 6, verfes, where
the An?el ofthe waters laith^ Thou art righteoM, O Lord, c^c,
hcaufithoH haft iudged thfu : Why ? For thej have fltfd tfje
t loud of Saints and Prophets , and thou haft given them hloud to
drinke , for thej are worthy : So this is bloud which God hath
given them to drinke. And that is an uftiall phrafc, to give a
man bloud to drinke, is to kill him : As To-myris of old laid to
King CjrMy Thou haft been a bloud-thirfty man, drink thou
bloud which thou haft thirfted. When you give a man bloud to
drink, you put him to death. So this Angel, who ever it was,
that poured out this vial, he puts thele Priefts to death, he gave
them bloud to drink, both made themfelves to undergoe a blou-
dy death, to drinke bloud, aud alio made all that received
and entertained them , to drinke bloud too ; and this was efte-
^ually accomplillicd byQucene EiizaBethj when in the 27.
yeare of her raigne, in the yeare 1 5 8 1 . by the conlci.t of the
Parliament, Ihe made it a Law, that if any Pricft or J eliiite,
that had received Orders from the Sea of Rome, or any autho-
rity from that Sea, lliould come into the Rcalme,and poe about
or praflice to feduce any of theQueenes loyall Subjects from
their alle^eance, to the obedience ofthe Sea of Rome, or pra-
ftice to maw them to that religion , he fliould be juaged
mlty of high trealbn , and fiiffcr in the cale of a Traitor;
And this was another branch oi that Statute , That if any
gave entertainment to flich Priefts and Jeliiites (after cer-
tain dayes,) and knew them to beliich , fliould liiffer as in cale
of Pelonie, without the beneSt of his Booke j lb that both
of them muft drinke bloud both the Jeliiites and Priefts
tjiemftlves , and their abettors and entertainers ; and the
groimd was , becaulc they had bloudy intendments in their
comming, intending to kill the Queene, or corrupt the State
with unwhollbme and pernicious Do(5trine,to draw the people
from their allegcance, to the obedience of the Sea of Romci
that ib as it was £ud, a generation^of .Catholiques ■>yas the
<or-
u HI III r»m irri'iimiM^MAfiwppwnv^pwffMnvniPiM^iipfvi^vvivivwHp^Haivm
__ ,^^..^...,>^— ^„_^^^,,— L^»,j^^A^ 1 .am I ■ I t»mt ^0 ^4mmmmm^m
The third VtAt.
corruption ofkcr fobjcds : To prevent which mHchicfe, this
Law was enafted, and lb upon this occaflon, many fuflfered
that yeare, and others in after yeares^ moft part oFiier
Riiene*
Now what is then the meaning of the next words-, 1
heard the Angel of the waters fay. Thou art riohteotts, O Lordi
tphich art, and wafl , and /hah be , becaufe thou haft iudged
thfis : lb it was bloud recompenced with bloud. This Angel of
the waters, it was he or (he that poured out this vial on*thefe
waters : She with the conlent oi her Councel^ and Parlia-
ment , they were this Angel of the waters that had this
power over thele rivers and fbuntaines, and this was accom-
pliihed two or three ycares after ,. when (he fct Secreta-
ry CiciU on worke to write a Booke with this Title,
JUSTITIA Britanni x^The lufiice of Britai/te,
wherein Secretary C/V«//, by her appointment, doth make it
cleare to all neighbour Nations, (and for that end publilhed
his Book in fondry Languages, French, Dutch, and Spanifli)
that what was decreed in that Parliament was ;uft, according
to the Law ot God, and the tnie principles of Chriftian State
Policie, that there was no hope of iafcty to the Queencs
Perlbn, or of peace to the Common wealth , or of liberty
to true Reformed Religion, if fuch peribns were llifFered to
goe up and downc in that peftilentious m;»nner, to pervert
and corrupt the people, and withdraw them from theur AUe-
geance, and liibjec^ them to the Bidiop of Rome ; that they
did not fufter meerely on point of Religion , though on thole
points oftheir Religion which gave theih occalion lb to work,
he doth not deny that neither, out in refpeft that the frame of
their Religion was not compatible to any Proteftant State t
And the veiy Booke it felfe holds fbrth this m eflfe<Jt, that the
Lord was juft herein j and as the Text here tels us , Thott
art righteous y O Lord, becaufp thou haft indged thus : And he
attributes not oncly righteouliiefle to God in this, but immutarr
bility, and conftancie, which art, andrvaft, and Jhalt be alwajf.
The fiime from the ancient Law of retaliation, in the a4» of
LeviticHSy ip, 20, 21, it is there ordained, that look what
a man doth to others, itfliall be (6 done to h^xn^ Breach for
Jf reach 3 ejeforeje, tooth for tooth, &c, They gave thy Prophets-
'.'....:., . A 3. : . and
S
6 The third yidl,
Mnd. Saints hloud to Jritfks, and nm thou hafi given thtm hloud
to drinks : Thisistherealbn .why he acknowledgeth this not
onely righteous , but according to his old and ancient pro-
ceeding, bis righteonfiiefle ever fmce Mofes his time, and Mnce
the world began : that is Gods manner. Gen, p.4, j. H< that
pjeds mans blond, by man pjallhii blond be fhed : God al way hath
been of thdt mind : They that put others to death, that ftied in-
nocent bloud,T»«> blond JhaU goefor their blond, Gen, 9. .6, to
tliat purpole j uftly (peaks that book ; it is that which they have
founa,/»r they are worthy.
And when he adds further, J heard another Angel pnt of the
Altar, fay, Evenfo, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are
thy iudgcments : That is another Angelj a Minifter and Meflen-
xrerof CJods juftice. This phrafe, out of the Altar, in this Book,
doth ufoally hold forth (bme under-perfecution, cither roing, or
new come out of perfccution : for lb it is expreflcd in the 6, Rev,
9. Ifcw under the Altar thefoules of them that werejlcine for the
tVordofGody and for the tejHmony which they held. The Altar is
Chrift, and Chrift fuffering ; and thofe under the Altar, arc
they that fuftered with Chrill fbi* the Word of God, IpcaUing of
the Primitive Chriftians in their fitft perfecution : But here he
doth not lay, they were under Martyrdomc,but they were come
out from under the Altar ; And that holds forth thofe Chrifti- *
ans in the LoW'Countreyes, who of a long tune had been under
peHeaition by Duke Dalv.i, and other Spanifh Princes ; Duke
Dalva boafts of it, there were 3 6000. that he had put to dcath^
Hugonites and ProteftantS; Judge you what the rdl might alfb
do;and ail for the teftimony dtleftiSy for holding forth true Pro-*
teflant Religion; but they were all ref aied by the faithfnlnefle of
God, giving and blclTing the courage o^ <^Eli<Mbeth: and ix>w
they ate got out from under the Altar, and now they are freed
from wrcftling with fuch great diffiailties as had been like 16
(inke them, ifGod had not by his ftretched out arme rdcued
them. And looke as in 1 5 84. Cicill (et forth that book, ib ihi$
Angel firom under the Altar fet forth a Law in 1 5 86. wherdii
by the conlent of all the States generally of the con&deiate
Provinces, they enaft and enjoyne,that noneof the bloudyi^
of the Jefiiites , nor any of their Scholars, whether he be ilnm*
ger, or bornein the Land, fhall have liberty to come into the
Countrty, but be put to capitall puniihment as an enemy to
the
I m i > I I i »^ m Hii iip p II i nwi M i m f^ifffiwiy ■■i« t "ii MM i 1 .
. The third fUL
the State j andthey have been Jn ibme meafure carefiill of that
Law, though more m Grave Maurice his time, then fince ; and
fo they /uftly % Amen to the Quieens Law,that as (he put thofc
Popifli Emifliiries to the paine of High Trealbn,hangihf , draw*
i ng, and quarterinj^, and thus gave them bloud to drmlT; {o^ this
Angel from out ot the Altar laith Evenfo, he fiith Amen to it,
let it even be {6 with thorn. Lord Cod Almighty, true and
righteous are thy judgements j they acknoyvledce Gods Al-
mighty power, that had given them power to make that Law
againftthcm, who had fo lately fufttred under them; and ac-
knowledge Gods righteous judgements; for that. State that
makes a Law to the lame purpole^ which they have found en-
a(flcd in another State, they doe fay Atncn to what hafth been
done, and both the one State and other acknowledge it to be
a rigliteous judgement oFGod , and the adminiftration , a Juft
law, and a juft execution. This (as others have done before me)
I take to be the naturall and tme meaning of this Vial in the fc-
vcrall paits thereof without wreftingotthe words, nor neede
it be ofllnilive to any that luch particular perlbns are named as
the accomplillias of this Vial,confidering the matters were not
of fmall importance, but of great conlequence and admiration,
all ftates rang ottheie laws, audit railed all Chriftendome in
combuftion,the wars of eighty eight, the Spaniilii.iVafion had
fpeciafl relpcL^ to this, and had not the Lord borne witnefle to
his people and their Law, in defeating the intendments of their
enemies, asalnil both the Nations,itmi?ht have been the mine
of them both ; So you lee the meaning of the words of the
Text.
The words are many, and though containing much matter
in 4. verfcsy I il\all fliortly contrail and rccolleel the liibftance
contained in them into one note , and handle that one at
this time, as conceiving all the doilrine of thele words may be
grafped together in one Obfervation j Lor though there be liber-
ty of entring into common places ofCiods righteouliiefle and
immutability, and of his j'u^ice in retaliation, and of his omni-
poter.cic, out of this Text ; yet all thele particulars have be^nv
fpoken to in the former CA^x^f^r, in the third ^^^r/^^ and in the
fourth, Lord (red /ilwUlstjj iufi apd tr;sc> Are thy Tyajds-, iboui:
King of Saints, 'fhat f«.>r Ood being ^^'<■r the f tme , which wm anX
is to cofnet we havo ipoken to it divers times before in this book;
and
I pill III! Tiiff^'i t r'^r-T i r^'' i 'yy7' i ~ ii rt'Tr ^*irlT^^
■wmiiwiini
S The third yiai,
and therefore though they be Catechifme point5> which 'my
place calleth me to attend upon ; yet I Ihall not here ipeak to
them, having Co lately handled the moft of them , but therefore
I will oncly Ipeak to this Doftrine, which containes all the ver-
fes. This is the note then,
•/? . . That upon the dilcovery of the deadly cormption of the Re-
ligion of the Sea of Rome, it was a righteous judgement of
God, and luch as argued him unchangeable ever, like himlelfe ;
That the Priefts and Jeliiites who carry ed that Religion up and
down the Nations,lliould be adjudged or condemned to a blou-
dy death. This is the (iimme.
For lb you fee it is upon the difcovery of their iea of bloud, of
the Religion of the Sea of Rome, to be-a Sea of bloud. We ope^-
ned and I hewed before, that Thefecond Angel fourcd out his vial
9H the fea, that is, on the Religion of the Sea of Rome, and dis-
covered it to be as the bloud of a dead man, made it manifdUy
appeare, that both their dov^rine, and worlliip> and govern-
ment, was deadly , and fiich as was utterly unwholfeme, both
for private families and States, Church and Common-wealth •
and fo cornipt, as was deadly j who ever lived and dyed in that
Religion, lived an hypocrite, and dyed a reprobate. Now the
next Angel that comes, upon this difcover)', he poures his vial
on the rivers and foumaines of waters, and thej hecatftf, lblof(d :
That is, they make Lawes to adjudge all that carry that Religi-
on up and downe the Nation, to be guilty of bloud, and there-
fore to be put to death, as Traitors and Rebels againft the State.
And this is aclaiowledged by the Angels of God, I meane thofe
thatareNUniftersofGodsJufticej and approve thistcftimony
as authenticall j they acknowlaige this a righteous j'udgement
of God, as he that is, was, and ftiall be alway one and the fame.
Thus he was wont to carry it,and thus he doth ftill. In old time,
if a man played the falfe Prophet, and fiiggefted liich devices as
thefe, the Lord j'udged him to dcath,this was his manner : And
{o in the New Tcftament, as in the Old, he condemnes all fuch
to death, (and he is molt righteous in fo douig.) This is the
fiimme.
It was a great while before this, though not tull two thou-
fendyeares, when Z<w;^4r7 piophefyed, that Cod would cut off
the falfe Prophet, in the l$,^Zach, 2,3^ and if fhere,mre any
falfe Prophet JhoHldarife, hisft:therand motljer /hould thrstfi hint
through.
wniiiiBiir I I mmmimrmrmmmmmmmmfimmmmm^fmmm0l''^m'rmmm
^lMMMMtoM«MhMM*MMi«*aM«lte«i«i^HNl^k.^i«*W*M"^MMIHMMSSMiZSS
The third Vial.
rhroHgh , bccaufe he f pake Ijcs in the name of the Ccd of truth, '•
he JhottU not live, Ajid thcy fpcak not of his Typicall death,
that is, of his death by Church ccnfiire, or banifhment, which
have a kind of death in them ; but thcy Ipeak of liich a death, as
that he was not worthy to live; To caft a lye upon the God
of Truth, the Oracle ot Truth. But long before Zachary, this
was an arxicnt law o^ Atofes mihc 1 5 . D^i^r . this was a. law,
that talle Prophets, thcy that turned Religion to the blood of a
dead inan,that did fundamentally pervert Rtligion, they Aiould
not. live. And mindc t he realbn that God gives here , partly in
this text, and partly in other Scriptures.
It is taken from the hainoufnefle of blalphemy in the i^.LeVk Reaf u
\6. He that blafphemeth the name of OW, pjallfurelj be put to
death. Ever\' blafphemi r lliall be put to death. Now we cannot
cvcule Popi'.li Priefts and Jefuites from ^rofle blafphemy>
thcy thxt arc acquaijitcd with the Ladies Pfalter and Orylbns
made to her, cannot but acknowledg iiindry blafphemous Ibecr
ches in it, thcy make their Prayers to the Virgin Atarj that ihce
Would rcquclther lather, and comn'.andher Sonne, and that
by the power of a mothers right to forgive their finnCj which if
this be not blafphemy, I con&ne 1 know not what is, and in a
hi<'h degree, unlclle thcy iViould (ay, he were no ( jod at all, and
tliat falls not far Ihort of it, to fct a creature above Go.^, and yet
this is allowed as wod devotion in the Church of Rome : It is
true, ifamanblafphcmeout of ignorance, as /V/^/ did , in the
1 Tim. I. 13. or if a man blafphcme mnvillingly, as he did
unwittingly, not knowing what he did, and he did compell
ing Jciiis is God as well as man, and hath power to forgive fins
as he is G-o».l, and know the Virgin Alarj hath nccde of a Savi-
our, as all the daughters of men have , that they lliall
put upon her the power to command her Sonne to
forgive imncs, this is fiich blafphemy , that hcc that will
ftand to it , let him die the death ; his blood fliall bee
upon him : If high treaibn againil Princes on earthj
may juftly be punillied by death, verily, this is as dillio^
nourable to the Lord of Heaven, and Pruice of all the Ptinccs ok'
the earth. • ' V
B A
' ■ ^^»mmm ■■* ^ 1 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I ■■!■■<
1 o Tffe third ViaL
"RfAf. 2 . A fecond reafon is taken from the point of feducemcnt: As alt
blafphemous heretiques , fo ieducing heretiques are to be put
to death. In that reljpe<H: that whole 1 3 . ofDeut. is fpent about
the deducing offalfe prophets ; and he puts a threefold gradation,
Jffje be n Prophet, (therefore though never lb lecmingly holy by
his place and gifts,) yctif heturnjou away from the Lord your
C oa,.and draw y OH from the wayesof God, \y hat then? thifte eje
Jfjull not f pare hiwy hefhaUfnrcly he put to death, from the i . ver,
to 5 . from the 6, ver, to 1 1 . he will have no ttecrenejfe of hloodto
hinder from due execution of Juftice : but if it be thj brother, the
fonne of thy mother, or thy daughter , or the wife of thy bofome, or
thy friend , which is as thy ownfou/e that /ha// goe aoout tofeduce
thee fecret/y^ faying, let m goeandferve other Gods which thot€
hafl Kot ktiown , thou /halt not confent unto him, for hearken tin'
to him, thine eye fh all not f pare him, neither fj alt thou conceale him,
but thoujhaltfurely kil/him, thine hand p^a// be fir (I upon him to
put him to death , crc. from the I i.ver, to the end. \^ there be
never fb many that fliall joyn, if a whole City fhail joyn toge-
ther in fuch a courfe^ thou Oialt rile againll,and deftroy the City,
andburne it with fire, and leave not a ftonc upon a Rone which
fhall not be thrown down, in utter dcteftation of that wicked-
ndfcr : And he gives a notable reafon fbr it, why a feducer fhould
be thus dealt withall, becaufe, faith he , he ii^A^ts to turne thee
away from thy way, and to thnift thee away from the Lord thy
God, to turne thee off either by deceit, or to thrufl thee off by
eameft perfwafions ; and therefore left you fliould think thcle
falfe prophets faile onelyinthe ob;ecl ofworiliip, and not in
manner of worfliipping , therefore confider in the 22. lopj,
when the two tribes and a halfe fct up • an Altar by Jordan^ al-
though they thought not they would bring in another objc<?l of
worlnipjbut another manner of worlliip, (here is but another
way of worfhip, whether mediation or latisfadion of Gods
wrath deviled) the whole ten Tribes rile up, and lend a fulfici-
ent Company or Troop of Militarie men to goe andexpoftu-
late with them, and know whether it were true ; and either
they would reclaime them from it by argument, or make warre
againft them ; and they had cut off two Tribes and an halfe^ if
they had found another Altar fbr worlliip : Now he that lets up
another N^ediat or or Mediation, Saint or Angel, he lets up as
great a matter as another Altar ; or he that brings in other mens
inerLts>
^^iwpp>**<»i 1 ) ! ■! 'Ill f mtmmmmmm^mmmmmmrmmHmmm^m^ifm
The third yUL it
merits, he brings in another Altar : Therefore by the ancient
Lawes of that unchangeable God that thought it unlhfterable in
. thofcdayes, he thinks it unfiiflflTablc now that Priefts and Jc-
fiiites Ihould bring in other Altars, other Mediations and Me-
diators, as Prayers oFSaints and Angels ; the Lord looks at it a$
deeply meritorious of a bloudy death, as in former times. He
is the iame Cod, and his zeale and jealoulie is deeply provoked
againft the like kind of vicioufiiefle now as ever it was then.
That is a lecond Argument.
And yet in point of fcducemcnt, this I will (ay, that if a man
upon conviv?lion Hiall lee tlie wickednclTe ofhis way, and huin-
ble his Ibule before C'od,and give iatisfaclion to the Church and
State where he lliall be convinced, on fuch conviclion and re-
pentance, we find liberty to pardon j but yet ftigmatize him, as
in the 13. ofiZ^.ch. Jftbe Prophet /ha/i repent^ and fay, 1 am no
Prophet, Kcr tkefonne of a Prophet y hut an Htahandmany and my
father tcnght me to keep heajh or fjeepy and therefore he wUl not
yveare a rough garment to deceive • And if any man aske him, fVhfS
ure thofe irounds in thine hauds ? he fuill anfweTy Thofe with vrhich
1 7i\ts wounded in the houfe of my friends , Zach. 1 3 .4, 5 ,6. That
fliews in liich a call* they faved his life, but they inf1i<^ Ibme pu-
nillimenton him, to carry away with him. And this is Ipc-
ken not of the dayes ofthe 01dTeftament,but it is written to be
done when there is a fountain opened to the houfeof 7^4Z'«/, and
to the Inhabitants of UrufaUm^ for finne and for uncleannefle,
in the i. ver. And in the 7. rcr, when the Lord calls for a
fword againft his Shepheai'd, and againft the man that is his
fellow, tne Lord JeliisChritt, and his companions his ditci-
pies, Hcivill fmite the p.epheard,and the feepJJjall hefcatteredy
(and thofe are the dayes of the New Teftament) in thole times
It isy when the Prophets lliall be thus cut off that rife up to fe-
duce the people ofOod.
And a third Reafon is taken from the due delert of foul-
murther: There is none of all thefe Priefts, or Jeliiites, or He-
retiques, that fin in the like kind^ corrupt i.g the precious tmth
of Ood, in the very foundations ofitjbut they worry and devour
the foules of Gods people, I meane thofe that fliould not die,
(though Gods eleil cannot be ieduced ) yet thole whom we
ought to looke rit, that iliould not be thus murthered, and
brought to death by fuch means. In the 7. yI/*/r. 15. Beware of
15 2 fulfe
Redf. 3
1 2 The third ViaL
falfe Proplxts rphich come nnto yon in /beeps cloathingf hut in-
}rarMj tnej are ravemngtvtflves : Is it not an acceptable fervice
to the whole Countrey to cut oft'the ravenous wolves ? what .
is the wolfe tathe fheep ? is he not the very death oi' them all
that he lights on, or fall in his jawes ? Co is it with the flieep
of Chrift, that fall into the /awes of thele RomilT\ ravenous
wolves.
It is iaid of thofe fallc teachers, iTimotb. 2. iJ?. Tk'j df-
ftroyed the faith of fome^ rvho concerning the truthy have erred :
And in the 2 Pet.i. 1,2,3. he tels us, There fijallbe fajfe teii-
chers amongsl them, thatP^all bring in damnable hcrefes, even
denying the Lord that bought ihctn, and piall bring, tfpon them-
felves fwift deflruHion, (^c. They lliall make merchandife of
you, as the Church of Rome, and her fount aines and rivers doe;
they make merchandife of the foules of men, Rev.i^.i^. Now
to makie merchandife of an Ifraelite, as in the 2 1 . Fxod. 1 6. it is
a capitall crime, I'fe thatjlealtth a man, and felleth him , or if he
befonnd in his band, he fj all fur el y be put to death. Now thelL*
fell men , and engage them to perpetuall bondage , under their
tyrannie,both in dodrine, and worlnip, and government. This
murtheroffbulesisjuftly a capitall crime; as Mofcs faid be-
fore. If they thrufi thee from thy God, and will not let thee vralke
•with him, let not thine eye Iparc liicli kinde of corrupters and
defperate deluders.
Reaf 4. The fourth reafon is taken from that which the luflitin
Britannia flands moH upon , and becomes States-men to
doe ; and that is the confpiracie and treaion agaiiift the
State : And that unavoidably, by liifivring fiich locuft to run
up and downe the Couutrey , to poilbn the hearts of men ,
by their cornipt wayes and meanes : for thele Minifters,
they doe unavoidably, not accidentally , but they unavoi-
dably draw men from their AUegeance du;:? to their Na-
tive Prince , to a fbrraine State : I or if a Prince Hiould
profcfle Proteftant Religion, (which is the true Religion)
and thereupon be excommunicate by the Billiop of Rome ,
what then ? then by the Lawes of their State he is depofed
from his throne.
And they doe rotably abiife the old type of Leprofie for
this : V<^iah being or.ce fmitten with leprofie , then the
High Pricll reniovts him liom the Temple of the Lord, and
; he
f
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The third VUI.
he may not be fuftered anymore to govemej for if once the
Lord imite a man with Icprofie iii his judgement, (and
indeed , let hercfie be one kinde of leprofie ) if the Prieft
pronounce him fo, then he is ait off from the government
of the Coimtrey , then his people are not iiibjeA .to him,
and lb iiibjccls are freed from their fidelity to their na-
turail Prince, which is a notable abuic of that place:. Vor
Cod doth not intend tb.at the authority of any Minifter or
Prieft in the Old or New Teftamcnt fliould fo farrc pre-
vaile , that whut they did in the Old Teftamcnt to r<z.iahy
fliould take off Priiicc's from their Coverment in the New:
For even in the old Teftament they ftill retained the Crown,
though their power of execution was delegated to another ;
and that not by the High-Priefts appouitment , . but by
himleUe.
But as things were with them, fo though not hi the fame
kinde, but in a typicallway , it befalls Princes in the New
Teftamcnt. If a man were found a Leper in the Old Tefta-
ment , hce was lequeftred fioin the adminiftration of his
Kingdome, and from his owne lioule , Ltviticnf 13.4^* he
muft not live in the Campe, or in the Towne or Village, but
alone, and in afeparate place by himfeUe, (as thole that are
llckof thePeftilence in our Native Countrey) they are not lii^
feredto live tr* the towne, but in Peft-houles, unlelTe there be
a generali infev'lion.
. But this thing muft r.ot be applyed in the letter to the .ftate
of the Church , in the New Tellument ; for Leprolie was not
onely a type of Icandalous , infeclious iins, but it was alio a
bodily, noylbmc, infeclious dileafe, and made a man unfit for
civill commerce.
Voreover , as Lepro'?e was alio a type of Icandalous and
infeclious finnes , (o the lequeftring of V<A.iah from the
Temple, doth type forth, not that Chjiftian Kings lliould
be Separate ffom their thrones j Yox he that ;gives to a man
a Kingdome, or ^ny earthly ell ate, doth not debarre that
man from liis houle, ii he be a private man^ nor from his go-
vemment, if he be a publique perlbn.
But what is the Kingdome that is typed out ?
It is the Kingiome of the glory of C h r t,s t J e-;
s u s : If therefore hee be ftuit out from the holy Templq
B 3 . ' of
^3
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iw^ —
14 The third yUh
o^lfraety he is ftiut out fiom the Kingdome oFHcaven indeed,
that is trae j for what is done by the Churches of God on earth,
is bound in Heaven : But yet Chrift Jefiis never thought it
meete to feparate any by any Church power, from communi-
on with his wile and children , thofe whom nature bound him
to ; nor from his fervants and fiibje'^s , whom civiil engage-
ments bound unto him; but only from interefl in the fpirituall
communion of the feals of immortality, and yet but for a (eafon,
for the healing of his fbule, not for the deftroying of his perfbn
or ftate , but otherwile to exclude them from their own houfes,
or Kingdomes,or from any civiil right, it was never Cods coun-
fell nor meaning in the New Teftament : But now the contrary
being the doftrine ofthe Church o^Rome, and on that ground
juftiried. When Princes are excommunicated , they doe depofe
them, and being depofed, diicharge fubje<5ls from their allege-
ance, and then ;udge you what treafon redownds to Chriftian
Princes, and what conipiracie and rebellion groweth in the
ftate of a Kingdome, when Ibme take part with the King depo-
fed, and others with him that is fiibftituted by the Pope ; and ib
there is Treaibn both againft Prince, and State, and Kingdome.
And therefore it is an ancient juftice of God, that hath fo order-
ed it,that thofc that lliall draw Gods people from the Allege-
ance of their Prince, fliall be ; udged Traitors, and fufler paine
of death.
TAf, 5 : And for a fift reafon, (mentioned in the Text) it is taken
from the law of retaliation ; that lof>k how men have dealt
with others^ they lliould be fo dealt withajil themlclvcs. Now
thele Prieftsand Jeluites, and their Abettors, in the time of
Qiicciic A^arj, anAHfftry the eighth, and all the Kings fi nee,
the Statute againft Lollards in England, as alio a?ainft the
Hugonites in France,if a man were liifpedled of hereticall pra-
vity, and pronounced guilty thereofby the Church, he was to
be delivered to the lecular power ; onely he might have leave
to conlider of it : But it he fell againe, there was no hope of
mercie, but he muft looke fbrbloud, as if he were no better then
a child of death: Andyet they were men that never troubled the
State, but quietly liiffcred for their Religion and Conlcience i
So that thefe J eluites and Priefts, delivering up fo many inno-
cent Lambs of Chrift,Minifters ofthe Golbel, and holy Saints,
to the Secular power, to be burnt at the ftalce in Smithheld^ and
clfc-
II ii aiiiniw»i^r<i;w<ii»>4»i<>wi<ip»i>fpww^wiywwpwiwwp
11 ■ mn I I it ^ immtmm^ltiltttittttlmmt
I
The third Ftdi, jj
cllcvvhcre, and the Abettors of thcfc Priefts and Teluites, being
very ztilcus to cut oft* (iich LiJlards from the land of the living,
it is juft and right with (iod, Thtj have given thj Sawti Mnd
Prophets blottdio drinkey and therefore looke as they have mca-
lured to others, it is meaiiired to them, by the ancient Law of
Cod, t\\3X if the fame y andrri/l^ejorever, Rev,i^,io, He that
killeth with the fword, muft be killed by the fword. So yon
fee this point is j laine. That upon the dilcovery of the deadly
corruption of the Religion in the Romifli Sea, it was the righte-
ous judgement of God, and liich as argued him to be unchai^c-
able, and ever the lame, that the Priefts andj eliiites which car-
ryed the waters of that Sea, that Religion up anddowne the
Nation,n-iould be condemned to a bloody death : you fee the
truth ofthe point, and the reafons of it. . * .
For the ule of the point, it may firft feiTe to ; uftifie the holy yfi]
and righteous equity of all thole laws above mentioned, whe-
ther in England ox Holland y lor putting Popifli Priefts and Jc-
liiitestodeathj and there was a like law alio made in J^raftce,
upon the murther oi Henry the fourth, that all J eliiites fliould be
put away out of the Countrey, and thtir ftudies demolillied,
&c.'but they made it in policie : But the Text fpeakes of
England and Holland, it w as a ;uft and righteous law, that thele
rivers and fountains of waters Ihould become blood: you lee
there is blafphemy in their worlliip againft the Lord Jefiis
Chrifl, they doe leduce the people of ^.^od, and turne them
from the Lo;d, and thnift them firom him , by their juU!*ication
by workes,bytheircaUii^.gson Saints andAngeLs, andtruftiiig
in other Mediators befidcs theLordJefus in the interceflion of
Saints and Angels : It hath beene a juft hand of God, that they
that worry (like ravenous wolves) the Ibules of Gods peopL*,
fliould themlelves be worried : that they that have made fire-
brands of ChriCtians, Ihould drinke blood themlelves; they that
ovtr-whelmtd ChrilHans iti confiiHon and tumult , it is juft
with God, that they fliould be o ver-w helmed j they that have
beene Co bufie in putting to death innocents, that they fliould
alfo be put to death ; you ice this is j'uft with <. Jod, it is well be-r
comming to the uncnangeable righteoulnefle of God :. tluis it
was in the old Tellament, and why fliould it be changed in the
new ?
You will fay it was but a typicall matter then , and you OB
. muft
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o^.
/iafir.
the third yUl,
mud looke for a Ipirituall death in the New Teftatnent.
Why I pray y ou B rethrcn confider,
I . The Papilts are not of that mind, but they execute it in the
letter ; they have put to death the Prophets and fervants oFGod
in the letter ;hunted them up and downe ; the Inquilltion 1$ in-
comparably more bloudy then any other other Butchery. They
doe not,nor may not plead any liich thing ; they bcleeve it is
trueintheletter. Andletme lay further, the holy 'ohoft makes
it as true in the letter j this Text is in the New Teftament, not
in the Old, Thou hafi given them if loud to drink£,for they arewor"
thy : and he Ipcaks oFthe very bloud of the hearts of men : And
it is parallel with Gods j uftice of old ; it was j uft then, and it is
juft now. Zackiry intends the dayes of the New Teflament,
though written in the Old, that when a fottntaine is opened to
the hoftfe ofDavid,and inhahitants of lerufalem^ for Jinne and for
tincleanneffe, then the father and mother of a fallc Prophet ("hall
accufehimtotheMagiftrate, and lliall lay unto him, Hejhalt
not live. Was it an abomination then to fpcak lyes in the Name
ofthe Lord, and no. lefle then blalphemie, and lliall it be more
fevourably interpreted now ? A man may now Ipeak a lye,
and bring in a falfe Chrift , a falfe Mediator, and falle mcanes of*
latisfaflion^ and falfe merits^ now he may without perill of his
. life, in the Old Teftament he might not. Why but was it not
liilHcient to have a fpirituall judgement ? Even they had Ipiri-
tuall judgements then j but God law it meet to inflicl lome
temporall j'udgement as well as fpirituall^and is now his j'udge*
ment changed?
Belides, are not Mofes 1/orall Lawes of pcrpetuall equity,
and therefore to be obfervcd in all Ages ? Is blalphemy more
tolerable in the New Teftament, or thrufting men away from
God?is it not as odious now as then ? Is not murther of Ibulcs
as damnable now as then ? Is not conlpiracie and fcdition as
damnable and capital now as then ^ Is not the law of retaliation
as j'uft in the New Teftament as hi the old? and therefore a man
woujd wonder that fiich frivolous interpretations (liould come
into the hearts of men, to hinder the free paflage of the j'uftice ofe
God, on ilich notorious offenders.
But you will fay, Confcience lliould not be forced, and meii
fliouldnot be put to death for their conlcieifce. ;
Why doe you thinke Heretiqucs were not as confcionable in
the
H N.! ■ ""
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wm
ftm
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thetUririd.
the Old Teftament as now? If any'man had a cdnicience to ttirti
men from God, he would have men of as much confcienceto
cut them off; tfthey make, no confciencc'bftheblaiphemihg
the name of God, the Lord would have^meri -make no coii&i^
ence of cutting them off from breathing in the aireofGod* If
men make no conftience of murthering fbules, or raifihg femtir .
on,and tumult,and murthering men better then themfelves^ tEe
Lord would have men make no conicience of paying every man
in his owne kind. • • • n
But let me anfwer again. But mark what I fay, the Lord will .
cafiiy provide for this, and fo he doth : and in England I am fure
he hath, (what in Holland I know not, but) he hath provided
therc,That if a J efuite or Prieft, or their abettors, (hall come in,
und take the oath of fidelity to the State,and (b cany matters be-
fore Ibme Juftice of Peace, the Law difchai^eth them fix>m
capitall puniQiment : And the Law of God in the New Tefta-
ment is, that fiich (hoiild be once or twice admoniflied, but if
he ftiil continue , the Apoftle would have himcaftoutdf the
Church ; the Church hath no farther power ; if they be procee-
ded with ferther, it ^uft bebytheWagiftrate: Him that is an
heretique, ofter once or twice admonition,re /eft, knowing that
he that is fuch, is fubverted,&c. So that it muft be for Funda-
mental! Articles of Religion in doftrine or worfhip, wliich are
io clearly delivered in the Word, that no man that underfbinds
Scripture, and the wayes of falvation , but may be fatislied in
conicience what is the holy and acceptable will of God in (iich
points ; and therefore he takes it for granted, if a man be once
or twice admonidied, he is convinced of himfelfe, he is iiih-
:vcrted, he is turned off from the foundation, that now no man
is put to death for his confcience> but for fuming againft the
light of his confcience ; his owne confcience h^th convin-
ced him , and the light of the Word is fo deare, as cannot
but convince him, that the \yay of God runnes juft quite con- ;
trary to his interpretation and feducement : And therefore
now ifyoufinnc, you finne againft confcience, and therefore
you juftly fiiffer for being fiibverted, and turned off from the
foundation, from Chrift Jefus, and holding another founda-
tion , and perfifting therein obftinately. So there are two
things in an heretique, he is both fijbvertecl himfelfe,, as an houie
iirom the foundation, it is againft the foundation of ReUgion 5
C and
a Tbi third ri Ah
and He holdeth out obftinatdy againft light of conference, with
ftubbornnefle ; and nov/ in fiich a cale thine eye (hall not fpare
him. A fbule that fins of ^norance> may be pardoned ^ but if he
ftiU continue obftinate, thme eye Ihall not foare Win^the wrath
of God now goes out againft a perlbn, againtt a City ; if it were
againft a Tribe, they goe about by force of Armes to redrefle it ;
they ftiall not fiifter iiich in a Country. This is then the Anfwer
tothefecond Objection, and ftill juftjfies the equity of that
Law. . '.
j, 3 . There is a third Ob/e<5lion, Ay, but is it not written,that you
fliaU iiiffer tares to grow with the wheat , Icfi while ye gather ftp
the tares yje root up alfo the wheat with them ? Mat. 13.30. Now
our Saviour tending to clemencie and moderation, be feith, Xf t
hoth grow together untiU the harvefi ,^c,
ifw. Ay, but tares and wheat ,they may grow together,but he doth
not (ay, ye may fuflfer bryars and thorns to grow with them,
for then you choak all the wheat : And therefore it hath been a
falfe interpretation of the Pbpifh fort, and taken up by the Ana-
baptifts,that tares fignifie indifferently all forts of wicked men ;
but I know none that expound them better then i^r^w^, and
none fo well ; the tares are very like the wheat in Jury ; what
they are in other Countries I know not, but they are like to the
wheat there, and you Will not know the difference in the greene
blade,nor in the (pindlin?, untill it grows towards the harveft,
then you will finde it but an empty eareand thin, and yet it
grows fo clofe with the other wheat , and like it, that if you
pluck it up, you may pluck up the wheat with it, let therefore
hoth grow together till the harvefi,.
What is then meant hy Tares ? Not foch as finne through
obftinacie, but hyhocrites that are like the fervants of God^ that
you would thinK they areflich ^ after you difcover them, they
are empty eares, and hollow^have no fatneffe of graine, and that
is indeed none of the wheat. Now let Hypocrites grow toge-
ther with the Ele6V,doe not caft them out meerly for hypqai-
fie, though you ftndethem halting, unlefle they break forth to
fcandalous behaviour, either in docfrine.or worlhip, or cdnver-
fation,as they appeareto be bryars and thomesj if they be mani-
f eft fruits jtjfthe' curie, away with them, "^Vhj cumber yon the
^*fo»»4f for elie you ihall neither have Church cenfuile, nor ca*
vill to ftand. Such notorious wicked perfons^ adulterers, Idola*
!;><»
l««Mi
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, • • •
tets, railers/ refra^ory and (candalous per(ons-> dru|ikard$> ind
the like, are not tares ; we muft not abiue Scriptujfe,that \xakVi&
tares and hypocrites are fufFefed,thcrefore refraftory,feaiidaloii*, •
notorious wicked men and heretiques may b* fitfferied ; no, that
is not the meaning, they are not ears, you may fee them afarbffj^
you Ihall not needto feare rooting up the wheat by cutting off
them,the wheat is nothing like them. So yoii fee the firft Ufi,to
juftifie the equity and (bveraigiity of fiich capitall punifhments
onPricftsand Jeiiiites, and confequehti)^ . Cri foch as bring in
other Gods,or another way of worshipping the true God, then
tliat wherein we may enjoy fellowfliip with the true God, the
J uftice and fiiitableneflp of it to the holy w ill of God, fincc there
were any Lawes made amongft Gods people. - .
Foralecond Ufe,it may ferve to reprove the carnall and (in- yfi 2,
fliil (bolidi pity that is found in any State, that (hall be fparing
oTlpiiling fiich bloud of the Priefts a^id J efuites : It is you fee'
contrary to the unchanfl;eablc juftice of God ; the Lord loathes,
this kinde of lenity, andgentlencfle, and in.cfulgence,and tolera-
tion of (lich kind of perfbns, and ordhiary Receivings ofth^m-;
if men will iiitrer fiich in the State, truly they fhall doc it to the
fubverfion of their owne lateties and dignities, and diflurb their
whole State. It is a very iad fpeech which the Lord utters in the
48. Jer. 10. Cm'fed is he that doth the rvorkjftPje Lord Kegligent-
Ij ; and cuilcd is he that keepeth back his fword from bloud,.
when the Lord calls us to ilieath the fword of Authority in
fiich kind of delinquents as thelebe;if we (hall no\y fjiarethem,
and negledl this work of God, curled be fuch. A State lliall be
feparate from God, and a Kingdome more and more corriipt and'
Icavencdjby iiich toleration ; the wrath of God will break forth,
tumults,and leditions, and all kind of fcandalous, and unrigK-
teous, and ungodly proceedings will let a wliole Xingdome in
combuftion^ Church and Common-wealth at variance : There
can be no peace to fiich a State, where fiich perfbns are tolera-
ted I And therefore we may feare the righteous hand of God, in
difturbing the Countrey whereto wee owe lb much love and ^
f aithfulneffe, if there be a fiifpending of the holy and righteous
Law ofGod; that thefe rivers and tountaines mould drinke of
bloud,fbr they are worthy. : - :.. ' • ' -■ ^
Thirdly, this may ferve to teach all Magiftrates and Cover- Vfr gi
noursin every Common- wealth, tolooke that all your Lawes,
C 2 be
Law makers, fliould ever have refpecfl what . doth the
God fay ; If it be Gods Law, and Gods will, let it be
20 rht third yUh
be r%hteous lawes : If you will aft any . thing juftly, the. Lord
takes it as his aft, he is the aftor of it. And therefore though
this Law was made by Queene Eli^heth, with the confent of
the whole body of the Parliament, and though her Seaetary, by
her direftion and conlent, publiflied the juftTce of the Law, the
Text laith, it is the Lord, Thou ^rt juft and righteottSy juft and
trite are thj wajes, becaufe thou haft judged thui : They havejhed
the b loud of Saints and Prothets, they have given them bloud^
and thou haft given them bloud to drinke, for thej are worthy^
Even fo, faith another Angel, Lord God Alraigmjy true and
righteous are thj judgements. If there be any wholibme and
juft Law in a Kingdome, the Lord ownes it as his owne, and
it is to be obeyed as a righteous Law of God ; it it be unju^> it
is not Gods, for his laNy is juft, an adequate rule of righteoul-
nefle. So that what ever is lefle then the Law of God, if it liiit
not with the Law of God, and keep correfpondencie therewith,
you cannot iay it is a Law of God : Therefore Law givers, and
Lord our
eftablifli-
ed J if not, let it be antiquiated : But if you can finde a hiiit from
the Law of God for it, then let it (land
yfi A, And fourthly, this muft teach confederate States , or liich
States, whether neere for co-habitation, or farther off; if they
heare of others proceedings, it is good to confirme what they
have juftly done. Queene Eliz^abeth makes a Law in the yeere
84. againit Priefts and Jefiiites, the Decree is righteous, when ,
others heare of this righteous feftion, they make it alio a capi-
tall crime for any luch perlbns to be found amon^ft them ; if
it be capitall in England, it is fo in HpUand^they will require it
of the necks of them that (hall be found delinquent.What then?
This is Even fo^ one State muft fay Evenfo upon the juft aft of
another 5 and they muft record it in their Statutes, unlefle there
be fome auparent diflimilitude, which i$ not in ca(e of this na-
turejfor there is the fame equity in all Ages,and all Nations,and
therefbre-it is for them to fay Amcnyox Evenfo to it : And what
is that ? It is no more but this. If you enaft a Law which is in
another Countrey,you:6yy^»?f«to.Godsj'uftice in your own
Countrey, as others doe in theirs.
jfe 5 . ' The fift Ufc that you may make of this Point,is, to teach you
a tender ceipeft in all la wcs to the j'udicials oiMofeSy to all the
judiciall
iti^i S i. ' JW ' .. ^ Li i i i JJ,. ■ ■ '^^'^»mmmmmmmmmmm0m'm''mmmmmm^m'mmmmmmmmmmmm^''^ » n i ■I'^'^^wpi^^
■p>OT«i^«"4iPi*^npi
rht third rid.
judiciall laws o^MofeSythax are built upon moral equity jthat Is,
where the realbn of a Law holds in one Nation as well as in a-
nother ; in the New Teftament as in the Old. There are ftindry
Laws particular to that Polity, which had peculiar realbns for
them, as to marry in their kindred, to keep their inheritance to
their Tribe, we have not that reafon : But where the Laws ate
of like morall reafbn,as will hold in all Ages, and In all Cbun-
treys,as it is in all the capitall Laws oiMofrs^ there is no reafoii
wny a Jew fliould be put to death for point of Adultery, or In-
ceft, or for ftealling a man,and Iclling him to a Pagan,more theii
a Chriftian. I lay therefore look what was the Law of God by
Mofes yX^it were of perpctuall reafon and equity, it lyes on every
Common- wealth to eftablilli the lame , and to take your felves
as much bound to it as the Jews, why ? for the Text tels us, the
very righteoiifiiefle of God is in it : And looke as he was then a
hater of all wickadnes with a perfert hatred, and as he was juftj
fo he is ftill, herefie is no more pleafing to him , nor blafphemy,
nor leduting,nor to change the way or his \yorfliip,and to draw
men to waves wherein they cannot enjoy the Lord in peace ;
murder of loules is no more welcome to him no w^ then ot old.
And therefore if there were a Law to punilh fuch with capitall
puniQiment, it is a like jufticeofGod to enjoyneiiich Laws in
every Chriftian Common-wealth. And therefore if we look at
Gods juftice as unchangeable, we may not prevaricate judiciall
laws, letting afide Ibme typicall confiderations, or fbme pecu-
liar consideration, in regard of their Polity : But iuch as were to
punifli men by death, or were received on morall equity and
groiuid, looke what was for them to doe there, is the lame pro-
portion for us ; put the lame calc, and you will findethe
like reafon for the fame puniQiment. It is true,fbme ceremoniesr
were there puniQied with death , and fb the like kind of profa-
ning the Sabbath, is as juftly punifliable with us , if profened'
with an high hand • to gather f ticks with an high hand, in con-
tempt of the Sabbath of the Lord, is as juftly punilliable with
death now as then.Andfb you may ^y of any other lawj'uftly
punifliable by death,and that are built on perpetuall moral equi-
t)r,Our God is the fame God that he was \ and fo you fliall have
hiiTi count that righteous whiles the world ftands .
Por a fixt. This may ferve to take off a corrupt interpretation
which feme have made of this place, or a collei^ion that they
C 3 have
a 2 T)&^ ^i&/>i Vial.
to
have gathered from hence , that the Angels of God are deputed
to feverall offices 5 here is one Angel orthe waters j and ibme '
are deputed to goveme the earth^lbme fire, fomc the waters and
lea,as I m^ht tell you, if it were meet to trouble you with hu-
mane inventions, and colle^ions of mens braines \ the colle-
ction is cliiefly grounded on tliis place^ but it is wholly mifta-
ken,fbr the An^el of the waters here is not any particular Angel
of Godjj any otthofe heavenly fpirits, but the Angels and Mini-
fters of Gods J iiftice, upon metaphoricall fcas and waters. It is *
true,thole here were Governours of the narrow fcas^and (he that
gave commiflion to execute the righteous judgement of God
upon thole rivers, (he was Admirall of the narrow leas , but
that is not the meaning. But the Angel that poured owt his vial
upon the rivers and fountains of waters, it is he or (lie that did
execute the righteous j udgment of G od upon the Popilh Priefts
and Jeliiites ; and that did both Queene Eliza^eth^ and he that
had a great hand in executing .that ; udgement , and the Angel
from under the Altar , they ratified that Law, and juftified it
when they had done. Now it is true, the Angels of God aflift
the lervants of God in this glorious work,but they are lent forth,
indifferently, to prote(fl Gods lervants by lea or by land : And I
finde no Scripture to (hew that they are more particularly lent
to the fea, or to the earth, but indifferently to prote(5l Gods ler-
vants in their out-goings and in-commings.
Vfi 7* Laftly,it may lerve to teach us a true elUmation of Minifters.
If Popilh Priefts be rivers and fountaines of waters, drinking
bloud, becaule they have made Gods lervants and PK)phets
driiik bloud^ then it (hews what place other Minifters be in,
where the lea is cleare asglalTe, like chryftall, where yon may
lee the face of Chrift as in a j^lafle, 2 CV.3.18. what then?
where the fea is pure, all Minifters of the Countrey, and Elders
of Churches^ carry forth the doffrine and worftiip of Chrift,
they are as rivers and fountaines, and being living water, rivers
of fieih water, and water all the Countrey. This is the olfice of
of them,/inoppofitiontotholein 2 Pet,2.iy* that zTCrpe/iswifh-'
o/?rjy^r^r^ without fweetwatef.* Godly Minifters therefore are
fountaines of fweet water, and from them illiie forth ftreames
of living water. IwPfaL^^.nU. All mj frejh (prings are in thet^
1 would onely apply it thus^ and leave it andi the Text with the
, time : That therefore looke as a man when he would goe forth
to
^.1 ■iiBii nii ^.^,»r - , >^-; ^■i^i»'fc»*^yi | >i'i ■*'» H I " ! ' y »> r ■ [ " .^ '-^y^^ '■■ ■ " ' ■■^^—**^^^*^— *****— ™
to si new Plantation, or (it downe in any place, or if fie 'wotiid
fex. his dwelling houfe in a place, he would wifely fore-caft to
have a fountaine of living water> a living ipring neere to his
houfe, or fome fweet fpring ran neere him. Why ?jlf he be with- \
out frefh water, it is a great want for the provifion of his hoo-
ihold : Water they muft have, either a ffefh tiver, or a ftcfii
ipring, the one of the two; if they can have both, they covet
both : and there is great need ofbo.th , not onely to quench fire,.
and water gardens^ &c.but for boiling of meat and drink,wa(li-
ingofdoathes, and fundry vl<5luals. Water is ever nece&ry, as
any thing ; nothing more. This is mens care, when they goe a-
bout Plantations, or whether they plant townes or villaee^ or
their owne dwelling houles,they have a care to provide for Seftl
water. All I would % is this. Take heed you doe not provide
forfountaines of orduiary water, and negle A rivers or fweet
water : That is,beware of going about liich work, without car-
rying fuch fountaines with you,as may from the fea of pure Re-
ligion, pure do(5trine, and pure worfliip> carry forth fbme foch
fweet rtreams as may make glad the hearts oi your families, and
Church of God where you goe.
But you will fay. Have not Chriftians fo much liberty, a OB*
company of codly men liberty to enter into covenant^and make
ic me beginning of things, and fo call fome or other, whom they
know are well gifted men, fornillied with gihs , may we not
call them to come and help us,and have we not that liberty pur-
chafed by the bloud of the Lord J efos ?
All this is true brethren, I would infringe no part of it : One- Anfw»
ty this let me fay, you would be loth to provide no better fot
temporals, you would be loth to let a to wne where there are no
rivers nor foimtaines ; and ifyou doe fit downe where there are
no fountaines, yet you have liberty to fetch water from other
places, Chrift hath purchafed it : Trae, he hath purchafcd all li-
berties for his Church, but you will not think it wifdome to fit
downe where there are no rivers, becaufo you have no right to
them by the bloud of Jefus j that would not be a fiifficient rea-
fon in things concerning this naturall life : why then doe not
build further on the bloud of Chrift for fpirituall ri vers,then you
will doe for naturall ; but rather prize fpirituall rivers above na-
turall,as more worthy then all naturall comforts to be looked
after* Therefore when ever you are about fuch a work as this,
. m . — • ... ■ f
24 The third vUL
take the lord Jefiis Chrift along with you, and take rivers and
fountainesofwaters; that as you look for rivers and fountains
for the refrefliment of your cattle^ andfervants, and children,
you may findela living fountaine of the bloud of Chrift, con-
veighed and running in the; plantation where you intend to fit
downe; otherwile you will finde the iprings there, and the
fountams and rivers you fit downe by, rife up* in judgement a-
gainft you, that thefe are the things you fought for, and out of
regard to thefe, you left the fountains and rivers of Gods houfe^
the ordinances of God behind you, andgoe and live in the out-
•moft comers of a countrey,or in fbme ot her countrey,all is one ;
Therefore fit downe no where without good Minifters^ if it be
poffible, and liire poffible it is, elfe Chriftians may refolve to
tarry whgre they are, as E^a tarried by the river Ahava^. in the
8. o^E^jra 15. till he had got fbme Levites to goe with themii
that they might goe and make a comfortable worke of it, that
they might not leave the Ordinances behind them ; and yet
there were fbme there before, whither they went. It is true,
fbme may goe and make a beginning, but yet never, make a be-
ginning, but where you may come and partake of the waters
of Gods houfe every Lords day,and let them that cannot fo tra-
\ ell, let them continue where they are, and drink of the waters
of etemall life, rather then run luch hazards. You have feene
when fome have made a beginning without Minifters, they
have ftaid three or fbure yeercs before they'have got any help,
and when they have got them,they have had much adoe to fet-
tle ; they have been fuddenly unfettled , though they have not
gone raftily about it,but with good advice : but for want of this
there, not taking thefe rivers and fbuntaines with them, they
have been at a lofle, and therefore in fiich a cafe let it be the wif^
dome of fincere hearted Chriftians,'that come from old England
for liberty and purity of Ordinances, not to leave them now
for firefli medo ws and fountaines : and for want of planting .
ground , and the like, it will not be fiiitable to thefe ends for '
which you left your native Countrey.
• 4
T H E
, «
* Q
1i^pipWfl*l**^^^"W«P»«i^«*M*^""^^^"'*'"~ ?■ "■ i^^^m^^^^immrmmtmgmf^mtmmfmmtmmmmmm^^t^^'^'^' '■•
The Fourth
V I A L-
Revel, ig. 8, p.
^nd the fourth Angel poured out hk fial upon the Sun,
and power tp.is given to him tofcorch men nith fire,-
And men imere fcorcfied with great heat , and ilafphemed
the name of God', which had poaer over thefe plagues •
and they repented not: togive him glory.
p'^'^U the feven Angels that are defcribed to pout
(3J?/^i^AA3< o, ijut the ieven Vials of the laft fierce wrath,
•/■^/S^^iw arc a" of them faid to come out of the Tern-
VW^~T~wvi P'^ °^ ''"^ Tabernacle opened in heaven in
.y/(^'^mX the5Vcrfc of the ij Chapter: That is to
e/^tswij^^ fay, all of them to proceed, and to come
forth out of reformed Churches, fuch as had
gotten the viflory over the Beaft, and his Imagfjind his Name,
and the number of his Name, In the 6 Verfc of this Chapter,
they arc all of them further defcribed , to be cloatheJ with
pure and white linnen , and to have their breafts girdeJ with
golden girdles ; that is to fay> all of thsm to be cloachcd wirh
the rightcoufncflb of Chrift (which is pure linnen) both ju-
ftifying and fenftifying of them, the one imputed, the other
inherent, and alloftbem to beiincerc prof; (Tors of the truth
of Chritt , their breafts girded with the goldiMi girdles of
truth. Further, they are all of chcm fai J to receive a command
A ' ' from
The fourth rial.
from God to pour ont the Vials of bis wrath/ and all of them
to pour out the Vials of his wrath upon (he earth , in the firft
VcxCe of this Chapter : and ytt it was but the firft that poured
out his Vial upon the earth $ for the iecond is (aid to pour ic
out upon the Sea ; and the third upon the rivers and fountains|
and tne fourth (you read in my TextJ ufon the Sun i and the
fifth upon the Throne of the Beaft ; and the (ixth upon the great
river Eupbraies^ and the laft upon the air: yet all are command-
ed (the whole fcven) tt purtut the iPratb of God upon the earthy
in the firft vcrfe. The earth being oppoicd to the Church in
heaven^ th« vifible Church open in heavenly purity j it is fo ta-
ken for fome earthly, carnally Antichriftian ftate,or Church r
but when it is not oppofed to heaven, but other elem;:nts, then
it is the loweft of all the reft ; and fo it is according to this
double oppoHtion interpreted in this Chapter* If you look at
the earth, as oppofite to heaven, the heavenly pure Churches, (b
he means the earthly and Antichriftian Church, the Romifli
Popifli Church that then was . Now if you fay, as in the firft
verfe it is faid. The fir jk onelj found cut his vial upon the earthy
now you mean the lowed element of the Antichriftian ftatcr,
the common Catholicks, whereupon there fell a grievous fore
upon all that received the mark of the Bcaft, and worfhipped
his Image. When thofe holy fervants , and faithfull Minifters
of Chrift did dilcover the corruption of Rch'gion in common
Catholicks , the Catholicks were sfflidlcd with much confu-
fion and indignation 5 as being convinced, they werebcdablcd
with groffv fuperftition , ignorance , and idolatry, and many
other evils which you have formerly heard: So that you /ce,
the Hrft of them fell upon the Beaft^and fo from the Hrft to the
laft, the firft began with the Beaft ; and in the laft , Bsbylon w
fiiUen , in the i p Vcrfe of this Chapter* So that all thefc Vials
poured out the wrath of God upon fomething or other of the
Beaft) the firft upon the common wotfhippers of the Beaft; the
fecond upon th: Sea ; that is, the confluence of all the Ordinan-
ces, that is, fiich Ordinarcos as the worftiippers of the Beaft
have in their Religion s and they dilcovered that Sea to be but
the bloud of a d^^ad man, nor to have the life of Chrift in it:
And the thiid poured out his Vial upon the Fountains and Ri^
vers of water, which arc the Pricfts and Jefiuts ol that Cburdh*
whica
%. — « ,«
•
rpr'T r''"^ — ' — 1 1 p I ) I ■ I , ■ _ ■ , , - - - ' ^
The fourth Vial. V
"which carry that Religion up aiid down the earth*, as tKe Ri-
vers and Foiuitains do the water of the Sea (and of thefe you
heard at large the laft day :) And look as the opening of the
Seals (mentioned before in this Book) did open the wrath of
God 3 and his jiidgejnents againft the Roman-Pagan Empire,
and the (even Trumpets did ibund out the wrath ol God agaiiift
the Roman-Chriftian Empire and Church; fo the(c law An-
gels , with the laft wrath in the feven Vials, they pour it all out
upon the Antichriftiari Roman Pcate : So that all the judge-
ments in this Book are ftill upon 'R.ome j either "BJnnt Pagan, or
'Rami Chriftian, or Bamt Antichriftian j the one falls unaer fe-
ven Seals , the other under feven Trumpets , and this laft tui-
dcr feven Vials : So that if the earth ^ upon which the firfl:
Angel poured out his Vial , be the common fort of Catholicks ;
and the Sea , upon which the fecond Angel poured out his
Vial, be their Religion., and convinced it to be the bloud of a
dead man, and no life of the bloud of Chrift in it, to wafli
fin from the fouls and confciences of men , notliing elfe but
unwholfomc and unfavoury choking corruptions , ready to dc-
ftroy all that were waflied in it , or drank of it. And the
third Vial being poured out upon the Jeliiits and Priefts, tliey
were thereby adjudged to capital! piuiillmient (as you havii
heard ) for they were forced to drink bloud , as they were
worthy , having caufed the Martyrs of Christ Jesus
to drink bloud.
This fourth Vial therefore comes to be poured out upon fbme-
thing of the Beaft, as all the reft of the Vials were : I'he fourth
Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sun, to wit, fomething
of the Beaft , which refembles the Sun in his world , even as
the Sun h the greateft light in this materiall world , which
GOD created in the beginning. In thefe words then you
may fee defcribed , the pouring out of the Vial of the fourth
Angcl,whichis fet forth by the liibjert upon which it is poured,
1)^9^ the fiin : Secondly , by the cffcft which followed upon
that, H: bad power given bim to fcorcb men with fire ; and fe-
Mm blafphrmed the name of God-, and God here defcribed to have
A 2 power
■
ibi^ttmmm
> * rhe)foaHh\rUl.
power ever thclc plagues,as an aggravation of tftat blafphsmy,
to blafphsilje the name of God, that had power over thcfc
plagues. Attl fccondly, they arc defcribed by another event,
their Impenitcncicj their not repenting, thtj relented not togrve
htm glory: So that here the fourth Vial is poured out, Upon
•what? Upon the Sun. What is the effeftof that? Power is
is given to that An^d,to fcorcb men nfitb fire* and men werefcorcb'
td with beat : and the event of it was, they that were fo fcorch-
ed, continued ftill impenitent , they relented not to give Godghry*
but on the contraryjblafphf med the name of the great God,that
had power over tbefe plague?.
For opening tl e meaning of the words briefly; By the Sun
cannot here be meant, that body of the Sun that gives light
to us in thefevlfible heavens : For how fliall an Angcl com-
ming out of the Temple , out of a reformed Church , pour
out his Vial upon that Sun t Or if he fliould be able fo to do^
how l"hould he work any diftempcrcd heat in ir, but it would
annoy reformed Churches as well as Antichriftian ? How
will it redefl a peculiar plague upon Antichrift ? It muft
therefore be fome other Sun , and indeed fuch a Sun as is
wrapped up under thcgenerall Notion of Earth j for all the
Angels poured out their Vials upon the earth ; they had no
other Commifljon given them to pour out their Vials, but
upon the earth,in the firft Verfc. And therefore he that poured
out his Vial upon the S2a, it wss bur an earthly fca, a worldly
fwa ; and hce that poured his Vial upon the rivers and foun-
tains, did but pour it out upon earthly rivers and fountains :
and therefore he that pours his out upon the Sun, doth but
pour it out upon an earthly Sun, not an heavenly Sunj I mean
not any fpiriruall Sun of heavenly brighrncfle or glory ; Minde
thcr.forc, that it cannot be allowed to interpret this Sun to be
the Lord Icfus Chrift^as fome good Interpreters have expound*
ed it, fhc is indeed the Sun of true vifible reformed Churches,
"f but not of Antichridian i) Now will it be in like fort allow-
ed, to intcrprst it of the Scriptures, (as fome of our bcft In-
trrprcfcrs have expounded ir) forthefe are but one; for the
Scri[:tnrcs reveal Chrift,and the woman cloathed with the Sun,
that i Chrill, fli: is cloathed with him as he is revealed in the
Scripiiuc , 1 2 Kevel, i, I^ut I do not fee how it (hould well fcc
allowed.
■■1>«^I
The fourth Viati
allowed, that that fliould be the Sun here meant : For fitft, the
Angels that pour out thefe Vials, art; all godly men, atleaft g^«
nerally Tq reputed^ and accounted , and acknowledged by the
Churches i they arc cloatheJ with pure white linncn, whiah is
the righteournefle of the Saints, inherent and imputed: They
are alio girded with golden girdles, fincereprofvfTorsof the
truth J and how thcfc can be imagined to pour ©ut wrath upon
the Lord lefus, or the Scriptures, it is not to be beleeved or
conceived.
Andbcfides, all thcls had command to pour out the wrath
of God on thofe fubjef^s , upon which they poured out their
Vials , as i;i the hrft Vcrfe. Now God forbid wc fliould con-
ceivej that any wrath of God fliould b: poured out upon Chrift
ever fincc his Rerurre(flion5 or thit any wrath of God fhould
be poured but upon the Scriptures : For although they that
thus expound this Vial to be poured out upon the Sun, do not
fay that the wrath of G^A was poured upon the Sun, but upon
the Antichriftianftatc; yet the Text tcls us^f^g poured ouf the
Viah of the rvratb of God upon tbatfttbjcB ; that they poured them
on 3 they poured them all upon the earth : So that all thefe
things are but earthly matters ^ and fuch earthly matters as hav«
been open juftly to the wrath of God. It is therefore but an
earthly fca, and they arebuc earthly riv.rs and fountains, and
itisbutan earthly Sun, and an earthly air, corrupt air,anun-
wholfonie Antichriftian air, upon which the Vials are poured,
Sathat I cannot go fo freely along with that Expoficion, thac
the Sun here, is Chrift revealed in the Scriptures, or the Scri-
ptures revealing Chrift.
If any man ffiall fayjbut the Sun fpoken of in the Trumpets',
wtsGhrift in the Scripturcs,or the Scriptures revealing Chrift,&
thole Trumpets hold forth a like degree of judgcmeiit upon the
Roman-Chriftian Empire, as hereupon Antichriftian Ko/we :
Por upon the founding of the fir ft Trumpet, judgrment fals
upon the earth , common Chriftians : The fecond Trumpet
fbonding, judgement fals upon the Sea, (as in the 3 KeveL 7,
to 1 2.) And the third upon rivers and fountains : And the
fourth Trumpet founding, did bring an hand of God uponth^
Sun, a third part of the Sun was fmitten; that is, the Son Chrift
Icfuswas muchd&rkned in that degenerated Chriftian-ftate,
and
6 Thefomb rial.
andfo it was with the Scriptures, with the Church ftate, and'
with humane Learning , they were all darkened , as it is there
defcribed: But (mhideyou) the Sun is one thing to a Church
tliat hath truth in it, though degenerated ; Christ was
their light, though they were darkened , in a third part ; But
now when Religion is wholly corrupt, that all the whole Sea
is the bloud of a dead man \ now the world is altered , and
if you have a new world ^ you muft have a new Sun : That was
a Chriftian world, and Cur i s t might dill be the Siui,
and light of that , though in many degrees corrupted ; and
the Scriptures might be ftill the light of the world. But now
when you come to an Anticlirillian world, lo wholly degene-
rated , that there is no power of C h r i s t to be leen, as
thev admiiiifter any Ordinance ; now the cafe is (o far chan-
ged, that you muft look for another Sun in another A\'orld :
Here is another earth, and another Sea, tliat Sea was not like
the bloud of a dead man (though corrupt) but this is y and
thofe waters, though their Teachers were corrupt 9 yet it was
but a tllird part ; but here all is become bloud , and they drink
of bloud, for they are pfortby. And here is another Sim iji this
new w^orld, and what muft that be ? In a word, there be others
that interpret it of the greateft and moft illuftrious light , moft
eminent and glorious light in the Antichriftian world : And
what may that be? If you look through all the Antichriftian
world, what Hiould be the moft eminent, and moft glorious,
and moft illuftrious light that iLines in the greateft glory a-
mongft them all ? What doth more readily offer it felf then the
houfe of jiufrhy the chief governour in the Antichriftian ftatCa
of eminent luftre , and hath been fo for a 00 veers, as they call
it, the Lumen, and Columen of that ftate, the liglit and pillar of
that "ftate ? And they that fo expound it, they wrote juit in this
rime when the King of Srpeden came foith to reprefent the
Angel , he witii his followers , to pour out a Vial of G O D S
wrath upon the Imperiall ftate of Gtnnjf/jy and confequently
upon the reft of that houfe that were allyed to them, whe-
ther Spaniards or others ; and that to the provoking of fo much
indignation , you know what fcomfiill derifions they put upon
him. , as if he came in like a Thiker with his Copper money,
rather then a worthy Generall ; and you know what ind^ia*
tion
^aHmmmmmmmmm^i^mt0mmmi^,^m^t^i»tmmimm^K»mmmm
I I - 111 • m^KaaimMtmimitmmmmmm
The fourth Viai. ^
tion and wrath hath been kindled by that means agauift all
Germany ; what a world of bloud hath been fpilt j how lire and
fword hath purfued thofe attempts to this* very day ? What
might be faid againft this Jnterpretation, is not much, but
yet fo umch , as to make fome addition to this Interpre-
tation.
The Papifts will'by no means bear and acknowlecfge it, that
any Civil ftate fliouldbo the moft llUiftrious light of their Re-
ligion ; they will tell you that the Emperour is but a borrowed
light from the Sun , and doth owe homage to the Pope for his
ImperiaU Crown, that have tranflated the Empii*e from
Grtect to France ^ and from France to Germany ; They will
te.U you, the Pope is as much above the Emperour, as the
Sun is above the Moon. And they are not afliamed to fpeak
to the Pope, in the amplification of hi<s glor}', Thou art the
light of the world, the flower of Paradile, the gate of Heaven :•
And if they make the Pope their greatell light , their moft
tranfcendent and Illuftrious light, the vSiui in the primeft and
chiefeft glory, then }ou muft look and fcarch fomcwhat flir-
ther, for fome further Interpretation then meerly the Imperial!
ftate, or the ftate of that fame Tamily combined and united
imto it.
And yet neither would I wholly wave that Interpretation
of the ImperiaU ftate , becaufe the matter is not what Pa-
pifts will acknowledge, or what the Church of Kome w']!!l
own , Whether they will o\vn the Emperour to bee the
primeft and chkfeft light , or others ; for the holy Ghoft
fpeaks of things as they be, as well as how they are concei-
ved to be.
Now in Scripture Interpretation , the greateft lights are
Magiftratcs, that hold forth the greateft lultre and fblendor,
but yet in the Churches j and when you Ipeak of Ipirituall .
Adminiftratio)is , they that are to derive light from
C H R I J- T to the Church , they are thQ greateft lights for
fpirituall things : But wee come to fpeak therefore of the
great light they fet up , they fet up him as the chiefeft and
reateft light, which derives light to :he very Scriptures 5
r they conceive that they ihould not. bee Auithenticall « ,
•■ .«•... ...» _ ^^
^>*'^****^^*^^^^^— —^aW—i^ll^^^WP"^—^!— !■<■*— ^^iW—W——ii%— tiii n — ~— WIWI I W
8 The fourth Fial.
unleflc the B: of Bfitnc count them £0*^ and if he do eount them
authcDticall , then they ftiall be (b, though they be ^^rjpba ;
and no (cnce of Scripture allowed for the light of truth, unlefTe
it be acknowledged by him 9 nor no Decrees go for currant, un-
IciTc he ratiHe them : So that that wluch they take for the light
of rlieir world » is chiefly the Billiop ot Bjume : If then he be
their greateft light > then this Angel pjpurs his Vial of Gods
wrath upon the Pope his transcendent lighti whereby fee gives
authority to the Scriptures, to Doftrine, to Worftiip, to Go*
vcrnraentj to Councels^ and whereby he gives power to all his
Officers, to adminifter Diicipline and Church-power in all
Cbriftendoni , fas they call itj all Chriftian Churches over#
Then they are the Angels that pour out the Vial upon thatSuQi
that take from him tnat tranicendenc Prerogative of the Sun,
which is to rule by day , i ^6 Ffal, 8. Take then from him his
rule by day ; for you muft fpeak of things metaphorically in
this place, though in thePfalm is meant another Sun ; but in
this Sun, take from the Pope, from this Sun PopifK rule of Re-
ligion, the rule of all Churches, the Soveraign power in all
EaleHafticall affairs; and what then ? Then you will pour out
a Vial of wrath upon him : And fo dii Queen Elizabeth in her
time; and th; Parliament then by making the Popes Suprema-
cie,aHd the defence of it, highTrcafonagainftherper(on,and
the State of the Kingdom, and againft the Lord lefus : Tt poured
forth fuch a Vial of Gods wrath upon this great Light, the An-
tichriCbian State ; that it rules no more by day, neither in £ng-
latid^not Scotlandytiot Ireland, nor divcts other neighbour Na-
tions, who by her precedent example did abandon the like
ufurpation, thefupreme rule of the Pope in Ecclefiafticall at-
fiirs, which is the very Rule of the Clsurches of Chrift, Thus
you fee, take the one, or the other, both will ftand together :
Let the floufe of ^HJkria be the Sun, as it is in his kinde and
Spharre,the grcatcft liv^hr of all their created Civil power, and
hath been a great light indeed , and both an ornament and nou-
tiniment to the See of Kome : Or take the Pope himfelf, who
will be the greatefl Church-lighr,and claims to hlmfelf Sa-
prerae power, not oncly in Ecdcfiafticillcaufcs, but Civil too.
It is no unuluall thing in Scripture, to make a graduall Inter-
prctacion of dark Scriptures ; as in tb^ 17 Chapter, Thfeven
beads
' <^ • ,.
•^■^^•^^••"■■'••^ «.*^«^-. ^ » Atmm^mmim^m^mr^^r^imm^^f^'^f'-
The fourth rial.
btaJs (faith the Text) are Jevea mmntnnr^ t^m which the ivomau
ptteib\ and (in the lo veric) they are alio leven Kings; the fame
that reprefcnt leven mountains , doth reprefent fcven Kings.
And fo Loth thcfe are great lights of that ftate,the Imperiall aiid
the Spanilli power combined in that hoiife, by bloud and artini-
tie, and the Pope himfclf in his fphxre, are both the great lights
of that ftate, and it hath pleafed Cod to pour out his Vial of
wrath upon them both , and both the one and the other fuflfcr;
and they fliall fuffcr more and more, bccaule they do not repent
to give God glory of their due and dcferved punillunent, but
continue ftill in their blalpheming againft the Lord and his peo-
ple; and when men grow worfc and worfe, both civil ftate, and
Eccle(ialHcallbte,both growing worle and worfe,doubtles their
lagues will be multiplied : Sa^eden began with one, and hath
icen followed : Queen Elizabeth in England , and others elfe-
wherc have begun with the other, the Lord by fundry inftru-
ments in one kinde or other hath gone forth, and will go on
ftiljto let them know that the moft high hath power over all the
earth, and will not be driven out : When once he begins to exe-
cute judgement , he will go on dedroying to deltroy ; and
though the minifters of this wrath may conliid with doubtdiU
and various events, yet the ifliie will be bleCfed ; and Popifti
Princes and States fliall ftand a fur off, and ciy, Al^t^ alas^ that
g;*cj/ city Bahihrty tbjt mighty city ; pr in om hoar if thy judgement
come : That will be the finall ifliie of the great wrath of Goi
upon it ; and how far both thefc have proceeded, you cannot
chufe but know : How far queen Elizabeth icorched that Aii-
tichriflian ftate with fiery indignation , it isunivcrfally known;
which provoked Catholick Princes io much, tliat what with
pou ing out the former Viuls upon tht^ Rivers '.;nd Fountain^
whcnii.e decreed it Treafon for any to carry Popiili Religion
to hfjgi 'ftd^ and to reconcile men to that See, the pouring out of
that Vial there, and this here, io fai [-rovokedthcn"!, that they
b.oughr in their whole power againft lier in 88, and would
have Iwallowed her up quici<, they were fo exufpei ated with
heat and fuiy; and had not the Lord by hi5> out-ftreithed arm
and w if.lom pievcntec', there had b-een no hope of prefer vation,
but defolutioii of her and her Kingdom. TJius have I fliewed
B you,
'lo The fourth Vid.
yoii, as ftiortly and plainly as I could, what flioiild be the mean-
ing of tliis foiirth Vial, and the Angel by whojn it was poured
out, Let lis fliortly come to gather a note or two from the
words, and very briefly. Firfttnis;
Y>oUi\ I • When the wrath ot* G O D is kindled againfl: a State for cor-
raption of Religion, he pours out his judgements againfl: them
by degrees j firft uuon the common fort of people, then upon
Church Oiticers, and then upon the principall Rulers and lights
uf that State. That is the firll note.
This is evident in the Gradation' of the Text^ here is the
wrath of the Lord kindled againft the Antichriftian ftate, cal-
led here, tht eartbt an earthly Kingdom, an earthly ft:ate, brought
forth of the earthy and minding earthly things, and all their Or-
dinances favouring of the earth , of humane inventions, and
wifdom and power : The Lord then when his Avraih is kindled^
and fends forth Meflfengers of his wrath on that State, how
begin they? They begin firft with the earth, the loweft Ele-
ment; they begin not with the Sea, nor with the Sun^ nor with
the Air, but firft the Vial fuls upon the Earth : Common Catho-
licks, they firft feel the fliame, and confufion thereof, (as you
have heretofore heard :) Then, as he difcovers their Religion
to b-e generally corrupt, as the bloud of a dead man ; fo hee
pours out the next Vials upon the Rivers and Toiuituiiis of wa-
ter, thofe that carry this Religion up and down the Countries
and Nations, the Lord exaljxTates Civil States fo far againft
them, that they force them to drink bloud, their own bloud, as
they made Martyrs to drink bloud ; fb the Lord gave them to
drink bloud, />r they art worthy , (as you heard it opened this day
fevcn-night.) He firft begins with tHe common Catholicks,
then wich Priefts and Jefuits: Well, doth he here ftay, when
the Lord fees what little fnut grow cth hereby ? Verily no, for
here is no Reformation of the common Ibrt, they ftill continue
in their Ignorance, and Supcrftition, and Idolatry: And what
are the Priefts anJ. Jefuits any thing reformed ? It is nothing fo,
nor do the light.', ot that State, either the lights of the Imperiall
world, of the Provinces, or their genei all and grand holy Fa-
ther the Pope (as they call him) none feek Reformation, what
then? Then let the Imperiall ft ate, and Pope, that claims Lord
Para-
T^e fourth ViaU X r
ParamouiitOiip over all, let Iiiin look it, the next Vial falsupon
his head, and the Lord doth this by degrees ; firft upon his lli-
preme liiftre and glory, as he rules by day : And the next fals
upon his Throne , and that is a great blow to him \ and ftill the
Lord goes on poiirir.g to pour out, and (Iriking to (hike, till at
length he crullietii the man of lin,and all his abettors. For,their
religion h corrupt,und all that drink oPit perilli, and the comon
people, Pridls & J^fuits Hiall finartj and then the Pope & Em-
peror, whoever are their great lights, let the be lights in Church
or Common- wealth, (for I will exclude neither) they both par-
take in the fin, and fliuU partake in the punillimcnt of it : The
Kxir Angels, they may be fevcrall peribns, but they have one
common work, they pour Vials upon the lights of both States,
and truly fb the Lord did in Chriftian 'Eomt , this is Antichri-
llian, but when Kwwe was once Pagan, and then became Chri-
flian in Confiantbteftims, and luiderthe Chriftian Emperors,
Conjla/itwe and the reft opened the doors of the Church fo
wide, that all the garden of (iod was become a wilderneffe by
an inundation of carnall people , Chriftians in name , but Pa*
gans in hearty that were let in ; ami then that which was once a
garden inclol'ed, was now made a wlldernefle, >vhen they took
down the Pale , and let in all dogs and fwine that will come in,
the ^vrath of God breaks out againft them, then the Triunpet
founds a (lirill Ibiuid, and what was that ? In the 8 of ReveL 7,
The firfi Afigcl jmiidingy the tt fi>Sowed hail ^ arid jire mingled mth
hltiud^ and they were cafl ttpoa the eartlf^ &c, and that is upon
the lo weft fort of Chriftians, there was given grievous hail,
cold hail-ftorm, they received not the truth in love, and being
cold in Cht illianlty , they were hot in Emulation and Conten-
tion. And then the fecond Trumpet founding, there was as it
^vere a great Mountain burning caft into the Sea, and thet ? was
u third part of the Sea Ix^came bioud ; there was higii prefer-
ment cult into the Oiiicers of the Church, anda grer.it[a.tof
the Adtuinillrations erew corrupt. Then the third Angel
founded , and there fals a Star from Heaven,, calicv.1 Worn>
. wood, WDimvv'ood of Herefie, and corrupts the Pricfts; m.any
were infe fled with the Herefie o^ jirrinf^ 'dud'^lsjionur^ and
EH^jcbefi Afterwards aU Scriptures came to be darkncdwit::
B 2 Allege-
12 The fourth VUt.
Allegoricall, and Hereticall, and corrupt Interpretations, that
Chrill \% fcai fe diicerned in all their writings, and the light of
Scripture is darkened, and the light of humane Learning , that
there is little light left. And then the next Angel,he lbunds,and
finoke comes out of the bottomlelfe pit,and there comes Locufts
upon the earth, and they have a King fet over them, which is
the Angel of the bottomlefle pit, which is the Pope over the
Triars and Monks. So, thus the Lord begins to deal with men,
firft he fals upon them in one degree , upon the earth firft , and
then upon Religion in them, and then upon Niinifters, the pub-
lilhersof that Religion, and .''fter grows higher and higher, till
in the end there comes the Antichrillian ftate^ the leventh head,
and he fm mounts all Chriftian Emperors,leads them all captive,
and hath the Key of the bottomlefle pit to dcftroy their fouls,
who(e name \% hbaddm in Hebrew, but in the Greeke j4pol:jon,
and then comes the Turk in the (ixth Trumpet, and he deftroys
and fwallows up all : So the Lords manner is, firft he breaks
forth againft the common people, then againft the Minifters,
then at laft he rifcth to the great Lords o( the world, the Rulers
of the State, thev fmoke for it at laft. What fliould be the Rea-
fon of the Point ? The Reafon is,
Rm/. I. firft, becaufe ordinarily the firft beginning of corruption is
with the people, and they being firft corruoted, then indeed it is
meet that they lliould firft be plagued ; for look as the Church
grew to be corrupted in the Chriftian Emperors time , fo the
Church came to be plagued in Antichriftians timej the earth was
firft corrupt,, in the Chi iftian Emperors time, and the firft that is
plaguedjis the cartb,then the fea^thtn the rivers, & (b by degrees;
The Lord goes the lame way in plaguing, as they did in dcgcne-
rating,the fame way in executing judgement as they in finning.
Jitaft 3, And fecondly, when the comon people are corrupted^ for tlieir
fin fikeit pleaftihGod cither to lendihem comipt Rulers like
themfclves, or elfe to lead their good leaders into temptation, to
conupr themfelves and their people. You read,^>w.28.2. Fvrtbc
xpick^dneffe if a land^manj are the princes thereof', many and wicked
Rulers too; They never lived long,nor well, after once the hoiife
of Ifratlhad cryed out, Wbatporttm bav( pee in 'David/tr what in»
b<rifanc€ i»tbefm of lejje ? The Lord never gave them good ICing
|i(|(»?*«MWllPH|WWWPli»iii*S'W^^^— ■■^ti"*PI"^WiWW^"i"*^i*W«""^""^*'"««*»^*''***'*~~
The fourth Vid.
in Ifrael aftet", not in Ifrad 1 fay, Judah indeed had fiindry times
good KingSjbut for Ifrad (the lo rribes)that rejcdled the yoke,
and the houfe of Divirit in regard of the hard pavmcnts that Sohm
mom fon put upon them ; and therefore in their prophanenefte
crj'ed out, iVoJt port 10/1 have tve zu "David f &c. Then immediatly
after that, the Lord never gave them any good Kiiig, i KSng. 1 2.
1 6. So there grows Religion to be corrupted in the people, and
then for their vvickednefl'e God gives them wicked Princes ; /
gsve them a King in mine auger ^ andtooh^ bim an^aj in my wratb, O
Jfael thou k:ft deflrojed thyfelf^ Hof 1 3 . p, 1 o. 1 frael corrupts it
felf,**^ provokes CjOvI^ and he gives them a King m his anger,and
takes him away in his wrath : And it is written as a hcavie curfe
of CoJ^in Lev.26.1y. I/joupilltreJpjffeagjiuji me 1 wiUfet Prin-
ces ever you ^tbat pall baieyott: NJifchievoiis Princcs,odioiis Princes
that fliall be odious to God, and malignant to the people. Ifyou
flill provoke nu, and for all tliis turn not to me, I will fet mch
over you, them that iTiall be odious to me, and odious to you,
that Ihall make you more and more to corrupt your waycs :
And if God at any time give them good Prmces,. he. wiU leade
them into temptation for their fin. InaS^iwi, 24. i. yoiircad
there, the wrat . of the Lord was kindled agaiiiR Ifrael, and he
provoked David acainft them to fay , Go number Ifrael and lu*
dab: The wrath of the Lord was kindled againft Ilirael, and
he provoked David ^ dec. To what end ? That fo a plagu^ might
come upon Ifrael : So that (minde you} how the mis of the
time rile from the contagion of tlie h'lrarts and lives of the peo-
ple ; That look as a man catcheth cold on his feet, it fils the
head with diftempers: Catch but cold in the lowtft part,
about the ancles or fett ; or fuppofe the ftomack be fomewhat
annoyed through ill dyet , or ill digcftion , what then ? It
ftrikes up to the head prefently ; } ou cannot annoy the fcQty
ancles, or middle parts, but the head will Rel both : So, if ei-
ther Miniftcrs be corrupt, or common people, the head, the
Rulers will ftraightway bee corrupt , it will not bee othcr--
wifc; If the Prophets prophelie lyes, and the Pricfts bear rule
by their means,and the people love to liave it fo,what will be the.
end? Do you think there w ill come any PriiKes that will reform
ihem? Do you think the Lord will take any coiufc to reform
fuch.
n
^^*> »■ ■ ■jiihi^JL^^^
•m^'
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Tlf i l i rTT ii -I M mr i r - i r- y II I i. 'ifc i. j . r i iii|l I ur i i m i im Z
' I A The fourth Vial,
fuch great evils as thefe be ? As evill firft begins with the com-
mon people, fo they are firft plagued.
For a third Realon, As evill hi ft begins with the people, and
they are firft plagued, and as for them it is derived to the Priefts
and Princes, and they are by that meancs corrupted, either are
not good, or led into Ibme temptation.
„ ^ So thirtVly, the F-ord is deeply provoked againft the lights and
'-' * ^' guides of tiie Church, whether Civ ill, or Ecclefiafticall Church"
men, or Common- wealths m.en, the Lord is provoked againft
both, for fliffering their people to bedable themlelves with lume
corruption in Religion and religious converfation: In the 34. E-
«ei^.75to I o, Herre tkif^ 0)C€ Shtpheards oflfrad j and he fpeakes
(asbeft Interpreters expound it) both to Eccledafticall and Ci-
vill Shepheards, to the Priefts in the Church, and the Princes in
theConunon-wei'lth, hefi)eakesexprefly to both; Heare Oyu
Sbepbejrdt^ becaufe you have fuft'erecl m\' people to Avander, and
my ilock to be a prey, therefore I am againft you, and he profef-.
feth he will rend his people from them, and rend the ver)' caulo
of their hearty and execute judgement upon them, and lie will
judge betweene the Rams and The Hee Coats, and tender Kids,
and will deliver thtm, and fet them one Shepheard ova* them,
that lliall be more laithftill to him and his people, even his fer-
vrait Duvid^ he meanes Chrift, and they that are o^ David's fpi-
rit, that ftiall m his name rule his people. So thctt (mind you) the
wrath of Ciod \s carried an end in this courfe, he begins with the
pTople hrft, becaufe they are firft corrupt, and then with Rulers,
^cr had not they been foon cormpted, it had not been pollible
ihat the Church Tnould {o quickly have become a wilderneflV.
So here he begins with the common fort, and then with Mini-
fters, and then wi. h the great Lights that rule by day, that rules
the affaires of the Church,and Common- wealth. '
Irortiie nfe of this point briefly •; ■ '■'■' '
yje I, It may lerve then to be a watchword and warning to the
common fort of Chriftii^ns : 1 ii 'c look }ou to it, men and bre-
thren, and beloved in Chrill J >fus, look you to it tendenly and
fcrioiifly, t!h'it neither do^Hik j. -or Vv'orjliip of God^iior ChucCh
Caven":inent be corrupt, loyourbeft di':<:eming, butpreferved
by diligent examination of 'liU things, according to the patternc
rtiewcd
The fourth Vial. ij
fliewed in the Word, as it hath been hitherto held forth to voiii
Looketolt, thatihe Sea you wafliand batheyourfbules in be
not defiled^lct it be io clear that the vertue of the blond of Chrift
may be difcerned in it ; otherwiie (beleeve it) though you may
think, it leaft concernes}'ou : Let Chnrch-olficer look to it, and
let Civiil Magiftrates fee to it, it is their calling to look to Wor-
fliip and Government in their time and place ; though that be
true, they mufl: look to it, and God \vill require i: elfe at their
hand, yet if you look not to it ,the wrath of God will be powred
out upon you: 1 f men unprepared lliall moft giddily rufli into
the Church,what will the ifliie be ? The Lord will powre a cold
haile-ftorme upon }'ou : never fuch coldnefle fell upon men, as
there wil be, when they ruili ijito Churches before they be war-
med with the blond of Chrill Jcfus, Kr^c/.S.y, that was the firft
Ti umpet of Gods vengeance there, heavy, grievous haileftones,
great haileflones J and which is wondafull, you will think it
marvellous, but it is true, as they were cold in Religion, (b they
were zealous for contention and CoveteoufiielVe and Ambition,
and pcrfonal refpec^s, that if they got an opinion by the end they
contended for it, as (fro urii &Jvcls) for fire on the hearth, as if
there were no warmth but in that, though the opinion were ne-
vei' fo unfavoury : when men thnift into the Church and take it
ver}' ill if they be examined j What will the ilVue be ? Nothing
but cold, fliill, dead-hearted nelfe flills upon them, and then a
wild fire of rage and crotchetly opinionSj, and then grow (b zea-
lous therein^ as if religion lay in Ibme Oiuinteflence notions of
theirs : th. efbre fiift look for, and beware of corruption in the
common people.
Then fccondly, let thi' Lords V:iniftcrs (Jfpcakto my felfe, «j;/j 2.
{IS much as any other) in a fpcciall manner look to thcfe things,
that \ve diligently lookc to rcligit)!i, and the purity of do(5lrine
and worflim, and of every ordinance of Ckxi with circumfpc-
^ion, and faithfiilnefl'e, and diligifuce^ ar.d ildulity, and watch-
fuhieffe, thai nothing c.f the holy things of God may be corrup-
ted that are committed to us, for we Inail next feele the fmart of
it : For as religion will be corrupt in ihe people rirll, and fo far
as that you fliall have no power nor life of godlinelTe in it, and
the blond of Ckill will be as the bluud of a dead man : So then .
the
...^ ^ — ^m^^m^mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
»M»aWhp<ili w. <iii Ui »^i>Oti»M»^i» i il ii tmMmt^^t'^mfi^'mm^^^mt
va 3
I ^ The fourth rial.
the Minifters of the Gofbell muft looke to h, For the next thing
■will bee Come heavy jucfgment or other God will bring upon
them if they be not vigilant to lee that all things bee done ac-
cording to the true platforme left to us in the word: you know
the Prophet Maiacly complaines of it in M^lac, 1.11,12, 13,
that men began to waxe weary oFfacrifices, and liiufFedat the
coft of it, and brought the blinde and lame, and any thing for
Sacrifice, and the Table of the Lord was polluted,and what then
And now (faith the Lord) O yce Priefts this Comm:'.ndement
is for you, in the firft verle of the fecond Chapter (it \$ a very
fad word which the Lord (peaks) ifyou will not hcare and lay
it to heart ; what i"hould they lay to heart ? Thishaiiftone Cor-
ruption of the people, this fnuffing at the Ordinances if you lay
not this to heart, I will fend a curfc upon you, and will curie
your bleiTings, yea^ I have curftd them already, bccaufe you doe
not lay it to heart, and I will cormpt your feed,&c. in the i, 2,3,
verfe, and £0 he goes on very fadly in threatiiing the Miniittrsof
God upon this point : The people corrupted their waycs, and
were AVtary of holy duties, cold hcartcvi,and onlj' quick for con-
tention and divifion; a^id what then ? btcaufcthe A'.iniftcrsof
God doe not bcftirre them, the Lord brings a curfe upon their
bleflings, their btft gifts in heart,and outward blcllings, he Wafts
bcth,and therefore it marvtiloufly conccrncs MijiitUrs to be mofl:
tender this way, to lie that all be carried cxai^ly according to
the Word of God.
And thirdly, this may be a word of warning to Vagiflrates as
the greattft lights in the Common wealth, for ( as I faid bcrbrc)
1 wil exclude ncither,for both arc the Sun in t!«eir fcver.l Sphear,
a great light, and he fpcaksof the greatclVlight the Antichriftian
ftate had, and fo I fpcals. of the greuttfl: light this * tate hith:Thiis
much let me fay to^ou, if religion be corrupted, tU- people may
firft Imart tor it, ( if there be any corruption it ipringetii there )
and we Hiall fmait for it before you ; y^t if this be not leVirefiev^,
C'od willrtf rvea vial for vcu. he wiiluour out a vial u::on
the very Siume, that you would think were out of gun-P .ot, but
how high {bevc r they be among the* Stm s of Cod,; xaUcvl . above
all their brethren, yvt the J-ord can t<.l how to calu Ibti tc . u\ up-
on your aiithoiity to ediple, and darken,and ftaine it, if the Lord
helpe
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I , " '11 1
i^mSSSSSSSSSBSSBSSm
Thifiurth Fidi. 17
helpe you not to continue watchfnll in this kind : It is true there
is ail order to looke to all corruption in do«5lrine, and worftiip,
and government thut are ftirring in the Comitrey : And it \s true,
matters of religion are firft and properly confidtrable in the
Chuichcs theni(elves,by the orficers and brethren of the Church:
But if Magiftrates lliallfind Brethren or Oihcers defeftive, or
neglertive, it will be their parts to give free paffage to ail under-
takings forredrefle, and if any thjng come to your cognizance
before it come to the Church, then it will concerne you to ftirre
up the Church to looke to doiflrinc, woifliip, and govern-
ment, and you Avill Hnd in this calc you will deliver your Ibulcs
from vianger, and Church-oJHcers and people too, otherwife
yow lee the danger of corruption in religion ; if the earth be cor-
rupt, the fea will be corrupt, and the rivers and foimtaiiics, ani
the Sunne wil be comipt,and all alike more or lefle afflicted and
plagued of God,for toleration of fuch evils as are found amongfl:
them. So much for the firft point, letmefpeak a word of ano-
ther, and fo come to an end. The next note is this :
A wicked heart will not repent oi lln,no not under the wrath- j^o^l. 2.
full hand of God, who hath power over his owne judgements,
to give him the glory, but will rather break forth to further wic-
kednefle, even to blafpemy againft the name of God. It was laid
Q^ ylhaz., that when he was in diftrelTe on every hand, yet in his
dillrefl'e he did trefpaffe more againft the Lord, 2 Chron. 2S. 22.
This is that King ylha<,: as who iTiould fay,brand him for an hy-
pocrite and a reprobate, that in his diftrefle trefpafleth yet more,
why? for he went and i'acrificed to the gods of Damafcm which
fmote him,bt caufe the gods of the kings of Syria help them,&c.
In ftead of humbling himfelf under Gods hand to give him glo-
ry ,he breaks forth into blafphemy, and hardens his heart, and re-
pents not to give him glory, but waxes more fierce againft the
lx)rd,to blafpheme. And another prophane King or JJraci, Jo^
nww, 2 iC/;?^. 6.3 1,32,33. He weares fackcloth indeed upon his
loynts, but being in diftrefle, by reafon of the famine , hcc
breakes forth into fury and rage ; God doefo to mee and more
alfot if the head of EUffja fhall fland on him this day ; hec
meant to cut off EUfha's head by -reafon of the rainine,
when ;^an Aflcs head was fould for fourefcore peeces of filver;
C I and
^4»**«W«M»l
>^ I' m ^ ■ 1 1 > a I > j ! ■ I
1^ - fill — fc — l^ ■*■■■! Hn i tf i
mmmm
*_V
—^I^ap
ii^
tdm^mm
MitfktfJliMliii
^t^i^itmtttitiiimttiMm
i^mmt
WIMI
18; The fourth rial,
aiid in the 3 j verfe, Sfe<j// 1 tpaitfor the Lord any longer ? There he
breaks forth into blafphemy , hee is fiill of fiery indignation and
blafphtmy againft the God of Ilrael ; fee you this fon of a miir-
therei? While ho yet fpake this,the MefTengefscame down unto
hini,andhclaid, Btf6o/^/l>*# evil is of the Ltrd^ »batfioet'dl n>aite
for tie Lprd avf Un^;r f So you read in Ifa. 8.21. They in their dU
ftrejfc pjaScM/fe the Lord and their Kingt and look upward i This is
the frame of carnall and wicked hearts. And the Reafbn is,
TXeaf I, lirll, from tlie Ignorance of fuch wicked fpirits ; their Igno-
rance is liich, they know not who (inites them, tut think it is
fbm-* chance j as the Philiftims in 1 Sam.6.<^, If he go up the "^^ay
of his oWft coafl to Beth (heme fh, then he hath done m this evily but
if not, thin \Vf (ijall kno^ it ^\ts but fame chance that happened to
us : Tiiey neither fee the hand of God that fmites them, nor
their own defer t that provokes the Lord thus to finite them; and
fb, they repent not to give him glory y bfft blajpheme him. And a
fecond Reafbn is,
Jleaf, 2, Secondly, from the prophanc pride of a carnall heart, Ibme
kinde of carelefheffe, 'and it is incident to all prophane kinde of
fpiiits, that they will not fee the hand of God, nor own thtir
own finfiilncfl'e : when the judgements of God are in the earth ,
the inhabitants of the world will learn righteoufnelfej Ifa. 26.
p, 10,11. But they will not behold the ma jefty of the Lord;
ff^L'n thy hand is lifted up, they "^ull not fee it, but the y fJmll fee it,
and be a/hamed, &c. They will not fee it a good while , that ei-
ther their own (in hath brought this judgement , or that ic is a
jufl hand of God upon them, they wiU not fee llich things as
thefe. So you fee the Reafons of the point; not to ipeak of what
high reafons mJght be given , of Gods heavie vengeance upon
mens unprofitablcncs under the hands of God, they grow worfe
and worfe, 2 Tim. 5.13. That the Lord leaves them to hardneffc
of heart, and gives them up to thcmfclves to obllinate theif fpi-
rits,as Phar.ioh, that they will exalt thettiielve'sag'jinfl him ; and
though you bray a fool hi a morter^ yet his folly will not depart
from liim. The U (e of the Point is tniis much y
Vfi r. Firfl-, it may report to you from thcOracle of Cod, that cer-
tai:.ly the Popilh State i's going fift to perdition, wid'the great
Ii;»htsof that State, both thelights of that State, great like the
Sun
ipwpt^wi
^mmt^mMmmmmm^t^mmm
w^m^
Mk«i
^^Jttmmmm
m^mt
m iiM>
m*""^
U ll 'H iii l'il i^ ^»g n i
The fourth VUl.
Sun in the firmament, be they Civil Magiflrates in their (J)hjcre,
in higheft place ; or take it as the Popim Prelacie do , they will
be higheft in both kindes, be it as it will be, as the common pec-'
pie have been vifited with j udgement , their Religion corrupr^
and Priefts and Jefiuts plagued, and the Lord hath begun to
plague their lights in this world,and Church lights too; So make
account of this, forafmuch as they re pent not to gtve God glory,
tut break forth to greater v/rath , and outrage againft the Lord
and his Church, and rervants,and fccret ones, what will the end
of all this be ? Never did any man firive againft God, and pro-
fpered ; what, under the mighty hand of God, imder the Vials
of Gods wrath, and ftill blalpheme the name of God, and ftill
hope to profpcr? Verily you may write upon it,God wil woimd
the head of his enemies, and the hairy Icalp of fuch as go on ftill
in th'.ir wickednefle, Pfal. 68. 2 1 . Let them look to it,the Lord
hath begun to pour out his wrath, and one Vial hath not done
when another tegins to work, but they are pouring upon the
common people, and upon Priefts j\nd Jefiiits, and will be rtiore
and more, and fo (hall both the houfe of Juftria, and the Pope
himfclf, in their fupremacie and lordly authority ; and howlo-
cvcr tlicy may have fome refreftiing, and fuccour, and fiipply in
their declining ftate, yet as their apoftacies and backflidings are
perpetuall, as the Text faith they are, feeing thej repent not to
give God g/ory, the Lord hath fetit down, (and the Scripture
muft be fulfilled) they will go on in tlieir rage and blafphemie
againft the Godof Ifrael, and what will the iflue of that be ?
Truly, if men profper in hardneflfe of heart and blafphemy, then
let Phdraol) prof]ier of o!d;and let all wicked States profper; but
the Lord fent judgement upon judgement, upon Pharaoh^ firft
upon the waters, and then upon the fruits of the field, at length
he came to Murrain of the Beafts, and then a plague upon their
firft-born ; and when that ftrved not, then the wrath of God
came upon the red Sea, and over- whelmed them all : This is
i'joAs manner of dealing, and let the Impel iill State, and all
blifphemcrs know it, that they (liall not profper inftoutingit
-out againft the Lord^but (believe it) as they have begun to fall
before reformed Churches, fo they ihall lurcly fall : As it was
told Haman in Ejhr 6, 1 5. If this Mordecai be of the feed of the
C 2 /^\V/,
t>
■■i^
i^*i i»
.JU^
^^^ ■"- • --•-•- ^^-f-
i^$mttmml0tf'^0timt^d*iitmi^'-'m»m,^»tm0m^mmit»mmmmmmmmmmm iiiiAi -^ ,.^g,ti,tmma^:ttmitm»tmii,^mi
20 The fourth VUL
le^s, before ^^hom thou haft begun to fatl» thou /halt mt prevail,
btttfhalt furelj fall before him : So fall they wiU, and in falling
they fliall fall, and yet more and more f«ll, till the Lord hath cut
them off,root & branch : there is more ;iidgments,you {hall read
of a further Vial upon the throne of the Beaft, and upon the air,
and tTien BMon is fallen, it is not long till then, there is but
three Vials more, and whether fbme of them be not yet begun
to be poured out, it is not yet fo cleer : Let them know it for
their terrour, and we for our comfort, the Lord will go on in
deftroying to dcftroy them. It is a (peech the Lord often ufeth,
in Ifalah p. 12,13,14. Tet for all this his anger is. not turned a-
W^j, htit his hand, is j^r etched out ft ill : Why ? For the people
t'.irn not to him that fmites them , neither do they feck the Lord
of hoafts; and when they do not turn to him, then the hand of
the Lord is not drawn back, butftretched outftill: that is the
conftant courfe of Gods providence, as the people turn not to
him that fmites them , fo the Lord will go on , and cut off head
and tail, branch and ruHi in one day, ancient, honorable, he is
the head ; and the Prophet that teacheth lyes , hee is the
tail, &c.
For a fecond Ufe of this Point,
This may fcrve to teach us, that the Lord is the chief Go ver*
^y^ *• nour, and hath the chief power of all the plagues and judge-
ments that do full upon men : And that aggravates the impeni-
tencie of thefc wicked men, that they do not fall under his hand
that hath power over thefe plagucs, but ftill go on hardning
themfelves againfl him whole plague is upon them. Therefore
he hath power over them, and he w'ill maintain it, and the
judgements lliallgo on deltroying to deftroy , till like Vials of
quick-filver t hey have rooted them out from the land of the li-
viiig : // there a/ij evil in the City, ^A'hich the Lord hath not
donf ? Amos 5.. 6, if a man wtre to Ipeak to Chriftian Princes
in other parts,, how might a man call iipcn them, to beware of
timeroulncHe , and fl-ar , m provoking the difpkafure of the
houte of Aitftria , or of the Pope ? For the wrath of God is
gone out againft that State, and the Pope, and the Lord hath
power over thefe plagues : Whylliculd we Rar all the power
of the houfe of yh/ftria, or Papall thunderbolts, when the Lord
[ hath
mmfmmmmi^mnmitmmmmmmmfmmtm^fmfmmmi^'^^
t
The fourth rial.
hath you under his hand , when he means to go on plaguing to
plague? Shall men underprop this rotten building which the
Lord intends to deftroy ^ I'his curfed fabrick which the Lord
will ruinate? Do you think toftrengthen yourfelves by them,
•when they are not able to help thcmfclves ? No, it is a time of
Gods plague ; and therefore it is a warning and Trumpet to all
Chriftian nations, and to us, do not think if we fliall not yield to
this and that of Antichrift, then Churches and Migidrates (hall
never li^fift, fear it not j 1 tell you, all the States that cleave to
Popery, lliall fall with Poperj', if they continue in it : Indeed
if the Lord refcue and redeem them with a mighty hand, and
bow their power and Crown, to comply with the Lord Jefos
and his people , they may lave themfelVes and their Kingdoms;
but otherwife it is not polfible for them to profper, in maintain-
mg this minous Bahjlon that haftens to deftruftion. The Lords
plagues they are, and it is not all the power of men, or Princes,
no nor of Angels in heaven, nor devils in hell, that can take off
the plagues that God hath (It on- - • .
Thirdly, it teachcth us what is the duty of all the fi>nsof men yr^
under Gods hand, namely to repent of lin, which hath broi^lit
Gods hand, for this is an aggravation of the wickedneffe of thieie
lights, that they repented not to give God glory, when the vials
of ^jods wrath was upon them,but ft il grew more wicked ,eveii
to blafphemc'AVhat laith the Apoftle Peter? Humhiejourfihes
therefore under the nt'g'jty hand of Cody that he may exalt ] oh in
due time, i Pet, ^,6. Hath the Lord begun to fmite the commcHi-
ftate, and it may be the bowiy of the countrey, in that which is
3
we had not fome wayts provoked him? Did he not take it a-
way from them, in HaggCy when they negle(!^ed Temple work ^
And d id not he fay. The filver andpld is mi?te, i Ha^, 6, and
2 Haf.6, 7, S ? Hath not the Lord blafted wSy becaufe we gre\v
cold hearted, and formall in Cliurch-fellowftiip, and confident,
and wainit^and bold-hearted in matters pertaining to our (elves
and to the world, and in matters that tended onciy to tumult ?/
What then ? In (iich a cafe marvell not,.if the Lord fend forth ».
ViaL
'"' '''* ■ ' ' ' ■ ■■ 1 r-- • • I *t " I ii j I I I ,1 1 i-M.'JI J
«
rheYourth^riai. ♦
the Lordj and ipirltuall work, and falling fliort of our fpiritaall
airhcs and ends : \fft cut (hort our growth iii Gfiriftianity, and
the Lord cuts (liort our outward rftater Doe you think a Chrifti-
ans outward eftate fhall proiper, when his in Ward eft ate growes
leaner and leaner ? And as you give him the glory of his juftice
and fbvefaignty. So,
3. Give him the glory of his tnuh,which thefe wid<ed perfons
would not give, him the glory of : To acknowledge their religi-
on was a dead fea,like Mjre mortttum^io acknowledge the bloud-
thirftinefic of their Priefts and Jefui's, theyfiiall drink bloud
therefore, thty would not acknowledge reForination, but blaf^
phemed it as nereticall innovation,- and therefore the Lord had
poured a vial upon their great lights in Church and Common-
wealth, and will doe it more and more till they be confiimed ;
they give not God the glpiy of his truth : As lojhnah faid to A"
'cha»\, I op J. J, I p. Ail fort give glory to Gody and tell mc trnlj ^hat
tboH kifi dc'nc ': And he told him truly, there was fbmehppe of
fbme feed of repentance ; and it is not portlble a man lliould tru-
ly repent before God, in confclTing what hath been wickedly
done, if he denyes any thing that his confcience tels him is truth:
Nay, fomc give God the glor}^, and.t<41 me now what thou haft
done?, if a man hide it under hjs tongue, it is not pofliblehee
fliould repent, why \ for he cannot give God glory,he gives him
not the glory of his truth, and then there is no repentance. And ,
4. What doth repentance give God the glory of? as of his (b-
versignty,and jurtice,and truths, in making humble confe/fionof
it where we are called, if we have juft occalion ; fo the Lord re-
quires that we fliould give him the glory of his m.ercy and grace,
that we looke for all our pardon and mercy in the bloud of the
Lord Jefus,and in unfeigned feeking after rellowlliip with him, ^
belecving on his grace, confelling what is finfull, turning from
on: evill waytSjlaying hold of eternall life, & of every gift of the
Spirit, that might quicken us m every Ipirituall duty, that we
might depend upon his grace for pardon,and healing of our bot-
tomleffe depth of unbtleefe for the changing of our hearts, and
quickening of our Ipirits ; this gives God the glory of his grace, .
thus repentance doth : In the 130. ?fal. 3, 4. J f thou LordpjouU
dcfi V7.irk£ iniquity , \^ho then fjouldfiand f There they give him •
the.
"'' ' "'* — "— -• ^ ' f -" ' I '■ ■ , L I '-'r ■ II
>«rtMp«*«.ia
24 The fourth riil.
the glory of his jiiftice j but there is pardon with thee that thou
mam be feared^ there they give him the glpry of hispardonii^
mercy; thus ought all to do;?, that uiifaignedly defire to walk in
the (erious praftife and ufe of repentance : You never repent
kindly whiles a fpirit of bondage lyes upon you, and makes you
fenfible of the wrath of God and hcll,that alone wiU never bring
forth kindly repentance, but when the Lord helps us to'give him
the glory of his power, that he fwayes and rules in all, and that
wee give him tho glory of his juftice , that hath righteoufly
plagued us, and the glory of his truth to confeffe truly what is
done amifle, and the glory of his grace to pardon fin, and heale
the fbule, this is repentance, and without this there is no repen-
tance : It is a wonder to fee when peoph provoke God and the
Church, how little able they are to eive God glory,but take glo-
ry to themfelves ftill, it was thus and thus, and might have been
interpreted thus and thus, it is a wonder to fee how little they
give God the glory, our own glory lyes fo neere us : And there-
fore it behoves us, as we defire fincerity, to repent ; fo to make
confcience of giving hiui gloiy, let ailnui in that ftreame,* that
we acknowledge h;s jufticej and truth, and mercy, and grace,
and look up to him for receiving from him whatever \% of his
mercy and grace needflill for us, and then we (Kail avoid thofe
plagues and judgements which are thrcatned or gone forth a-
gainft us, aiid lliall recover from luider Gods hand, like gold out
of the fire.
. I
• •
THE
•■♦
^immmmm
i^tmrnmr^*^^'*^
wmtmmmg^^>^»i^i^*'mt>'^'^^
'mmmk
••nat
THEFIFT
V I A U I>
Revel 16.10,11.
^ntl the fifth Afigell pound out his Vinll upon the feat
eftheBenJil or, at the reordii in the Origmall, the
Throne: and hit Kingdome wfsfMof darkliteji , tiud
thej/gnarced their Tenguesfor paitte , And blafphemed
theGodofHeavett becmje of their paiitet , and their
foretiH/tdrepented n't of theirdetdf.
iS;S,'5^*?^','5:i'i N thefe words you have defcribed the
pV^-r^''^";::;;':^ powrlngoutoftheViaUof the fifth An-
llili T ^ii/;: gell.and defcribeditil,
;■ ] . j JL i 'i-]) Firftby the fiibjei.t on which it was
'.'il--, ■,.- '^-^'S powrcd [0» the throne of the Beitfl.'}
U'!jV''v'v|''.J*%^'i3l Secondly by the cffeft of it, wiiich is
1. Proper and primary £ H.v K'mgdome mu thereby
J.irlffiud'l
2, The fecondary and accidcntall events were three.
I . A nguiih and indignation [ They gnawed their Tmgaet
forfme^
A 2.Be-
• _•
rhefifi riaiu
2.Blafphemy[Ti&<7 bUffhtmedthe GcdofEfAvtnt'}
j.Impcnitcncy £ Thej repented not of their deeds*
This Scripture and the interpretation of it, is the more dif-
Bciilc^ bccaufe it is generally conceived that the exception of
Gods judgements upon the Beall 3 hath not yet gone beyond
thepowring out of the fourth Viail , therefore conieSares
about itt will be the more difficult,and it may bemoreun-
certaine : yet becaiife the Scripture in it felfe isnotdarke,
how darke lb ever we may be in our apprehcnfions :The King-
dome of the Beaft is darke, but not the Kingdcmc of Chrift.
And the Loid hath \ romUed a gracious blelling upon all t bat
read, and heaie the v/ords of this prophecy, C/^^if. i. t^^r/? 3.
fb that by the comparing of one pare of this prophecy with
another^and obftrving the due poife of every word in his
place, with holy feare and reverence, the Lord is wor.t to
lead his people into truth , according to the prcmifc n:ade to
the Apoftle^Mw I5.l^ ( which i? fulfilled to every fuccefTour
of theirs in (bme meafure ) Let us therefore goe on in tlie
feare of God to confider of thefc things.
Firft the difficulty chiefcly lyeth in opening the fubjcft
whereon this Viall will be powred, for open that,tind the reft
willbecIeare.The feat of the Beaft isgcnerally taken for the
City of /?<?«»?, and it is confirmed from the likifpecchjiJ^t,.
13.2. Where the ^D-ragon gave the Beaft his power , an^i his
feat/ or throne) and great authority, and thcrcfjre they
gather from hence the ruineof/?<?w<f,applying alfo hereunto
lomc prophecies of the Sibillsy who in theii Lan;.;u..gc tell us
thus much t that iS<JW7fftiaU then be deflate, and be as if it
had never been a ftatc* Now though we huve n uch caufe to
glorificCod for the labours of (iicb of his fervants aj have gi c
that expoiitioHj yet I muft confcfle i cannot icft faiisficd
with that interpretation : for i lindc it dcare in the (equcll
of this Chapter , th^i BMoa ( which is dciibtlcffe meant
of /?^w^[ As throHghoy.t the fevepttcairh Ch^iptcr it is al 3'S ^id
to come up into Remembrance befcic God in the ip. zcr/i
ofthis Chapter J And nhat isinthe^ powringoutthefcventh
VIaU^ which imply cth tlut befo? c,it came not up in remem*
brance before God in point of a£^uali ^ u • (htnerit , for things
^cftiid to come up into rcjj^mbrance ^before God , when -
i he-.;
mmmimmmmmmmtm'mmmmmmmm^mm'^f^*'^'''*'^^''''^
bctakcth in band cither to fliew mercy to tlicm \ or to powre
out wrath upon them , a figne that the Viall and ficrccneflc
of his wrath was not yet powrcd out upon Rome : bcfidei it is
cxprefled in this i'cxtj that upon the powring out of this
Vinll , the Kingdomc of the bcaft was darkened , but there is
a great difference betweenedarkning, and deftroying \ Egypt
wj$ darkened, before Tharob was deftroycd,or the body of
I^gjpt overwhelmed in the red Sea. Upon thefe grounds
therefore I cannot conceive that it is meant of Rome ^ but of
foracthing elfe, which in Scripture is to be undei flood fc^
[^Th'o^e^ (bmetimes it is put for that forme of government
and authority which any perfon or ftate fitting on that
throne doth adminirter^as it is faid of Chrift , that his throne
is a throne of Righteoulhefle, and that is not (b much fpoken
of the place where he governeth , as of the government it
felfe , fo in the 89 Pfalme 29. & 3^1 37. 1 will make his throne
as the dayes of Heaven , and againe his throne (hall be as
the Sunne before me ; It (liall be e(labli(hed for ever as the
Moone, and in T^falme x 22. 5. Thrones of judgement are
diltinguiflied from the thrones of the houle of T^avid^ to wit,
ruchas*I><iWt/hathereftcd : (b by the like propofition It is
here meant of that forme of govcrnmentj which the beaft exer-
cileth in the Church both fubjeftivcly , that which himfelfe
doth occupy over the Churches fubjeA to him, aad efFeftive-
\y^ that which proceedeth from him, and is cxercifcd by
otiicrs in other Churches according to the frame and forme
of l»overnment received from him , and that is fuch a peere-
IcHekind of government i aJ wherein one alone doth rule;
for a throne is fuch a kind of feate wherein one of pcerelefle
aithority doth governe 5 as a Monarch in his ownc Do-
minion.
Indeed the univerfall fiipremacy of the Pope bothin(pi-
rituallandtemporall things, whereby he challenget h tranG-
cendeHt authority over all Kings and Princes , that Was vio-
lated by the fourth ViaH of thefe Angels : but yet ftill here is
another throne which yet hitherto rcmaineth iinplagued, and
that is his y»^^i^/rfr /«/^ authority, and raonarchicall govern-
ment, whereby he fittethchiefeandonely Judge in Ecclcfi-
adicallcaufes in his own ]uri(didion, andf like unto which
As he
a
4 rhefifiriatu
he hath cftiibnfhcd ( he government ofall Nation al, ProvJnci-
aJIand Diocefan Charches, and fo this Jnterprctation i^oih
v^ry ficly (iilt with the proper \ ff.-cT: ot ihc povv: ing out of ilila
Tw// ex pre (Ted in the Icxc [^ hu Kitgdom.' jt.u iLrk^ncd'}
^ao-i>ei* . and what klnde ot government is that ? fucii as
wherein one doth raigne , as they are wont to fay there mull
be but tTj Koi'farvlh, ui /Sa(riMt/;j One Prince in a ftute.* this
forme of govcrrmenc himlclfe doth excrcifc lU!l in hJsownc
Jurifdi<^ion iwiolatcly , and this he hath brought into all
national and Proviiiclalland DiocerafiCburches in the world
where popery hath prevailed ; and which ftill continucth
in.fc.me Prctellant Churches,whcre though the Doftrine , and
woi fiup of Popery be abolilhed , and the tranlcenJent Supre-
macy ot his government, yet the forme of his govcrrment,
monarchicalljor (bie and lingular government byone.thatis
Epilcopacy , is Hill continned. Who is then the fifi h Angel
that hath powredouthis ru/Iupon this pcerelcUe govern-
ment the Epifcopacy ? Though it beraidtfiisnrf//isnoty«£
powredoucand though it haply was not powrcd out with
the writings of (uch menfwho fo conceived) were under tlicic
hsLuds : yet Besia^ind Cart n>right did fprinkle fome drops of
this ytaU upon this government , though the pov/er and
ftrength of the Epifcopacy in their time was (iich asdrunke
them up like the dry Earth,that drinksth in the rainejyct will
notGod be fb put off from his word, he powreth out more
drops upon them by holy 'B.nfics his triall of Diocelan go-
vernment^and godly learned Farmers EcclefialHcall Politie, but
theft Were drops : you now fee whole yia/Is full of wrath
powrcd out by the whole Church ofScot/andj who ^vc en-
gaged themlelves, and their flate for ever in this quarrelljand
have bcene carried along heiein, not in a way of popular tu«
multjbut with (uch wifcdome, courage, ju^'gement and Piety,
that you may fee and fay that it is not a ^W/ powrcd out
by an unadvifed multitude , but by an Angell ot Godjby the
Heavenly Miniders of his wrath.
It hath beene taken in hand with ferious and deepe and ge-
nerall humiliation , judging themfelvcs for their toleration
of (uch a government amongtl chem(elves , and Co (cconded
ip their condant traits cf Reformation > as that their very
*■ ' ■ ■■ , .-.^:^.- ■■■ ■ j.v!..iL- '." ' -I'^-'r-'f ^{"'TT^
Thefift ViidL ' 5
at^verfaric* (land amazed to behold them, and thefe arc no? cVops
oIopCj but like unto grt»u ga'jiul ihowcrs which grow r.nto a
fl iud srid ovcifljiv ell U;r ihev 1)3'' e r.iintd a^v.^y the H lid
of (iiperltition in their ows.c Ccuntiyjby the Rive;? of ihe
power of God , an. I his Evangclkail duth, fo now they haiC.iKb
flowed into Ekj^LiujI, inlbiiiuch that a j^iep.t manyofthcC >m-
mons of E'^^/rt»i^ and many tu.hle r'ccies* doc begin ro Uy that
Epifcopaiy is ?n antichiiiViaii frame ai:d lorn*:e,v.hich he brooghc
( it ycur intelligences faile not) that many
have bccnctilicij iif io En^/.wJ, wlu thcr it be not bell to abandon
all fiich thrones .* men will not right for the defence of thcfc
thronc.% nor draw their purfcs to niiintainc (uch wai rcjbi'.t men
begin generally to be taught of God, that thi? is not the forme
of the government of Jefiis Chrill. Nor doe I linow that any of
the former J'Ulfs have becnc pov/rcd out by any men, wnofc
loines have beenc more gert with tuich, and ivhoiecloaching hath
bcene more pure, and white,(hen thcfe fcrvants of God have been
gert, andcloaihcd withall. Thcfc things being thus underilood,
take yon the feqiielliand ic will eaflJy interpret it iel'cj for doth
not hereby the Kingdom? of tlie beaft ( his monarchical! forme
ofChurchgovernment) grow full of darkenelTc Ms not Epifco*
pacy now Iri-oja^?! »» > the very word of the TextjSS it were alluding
to the Nation that daikeneth it ^ Epifcopal I government doth ic
not grow darkc ? yea full of darkenefle Ms it not fcotized, dark-
ncd and beclouded with a Scottiili mifl^fo as that it grower h ba(e
and vile , not onely in the eyes of godly , wife, and judicious
DivineSjbut in the eyes of good peoplcjnor of godly people alone,
but of many civiiljand orderly mindes :mervaile not therefore if ic
be faid that the Kingdome or the beaft ( that is, this forme of his-
governmcnr be full of darkenefle : And hath not this darkc*
ncfle procure 1 other (econdary cfft&s ^ doe they not gnaw theic
tongues for very indignation, what doeyouthinkeofthachicfe
Church governors of »S'^<?//^W> and Come of the chlefc of thac
order in E»»g/«<«.^, and their chiefc companions (if your reports
be true ) doc they not get ihemfelves into darkc corners t
2. And for the fecond event iThcy h/afphented the GoisfHeaven^
have you not heard that the powring out of this Viall hath beea^
by them accounted nothing cl(e butRebeliion againft thcftate
A3 of
"* " ■ I
tMT i nwu^ l i ail^i H , I n i I i i fti M r , ., ^ !, , n ^t »ik, mmmt o mm.
6 rbtfiftVian.
of the I^iigdome > have they not taxed that ( which is the revi-
ving of the Chiirch aad Common wealth^ to be the ruinc of
both t
And for the third event [ They repentednot cf their deeds 1 have
they nocauie th.nkc you to repent of all their opprefllons and
tyrannies over godly menj through many ages ^ for that their
governments have been formidable to none but the peaceable men
of the Land : if it be a drunkard or fome bale fellow that com-
meth to their Courts,thcy fay to him , what doeft thou here thou
limple fellow t pay thy fees , and be gone : but for the people of
God, nothing will (atif.fie but their extirpation from their Mini-
ftery jiivings and dwellings; they (hall not be allowed to breath in
the free aire, ifany prilbninthcCountrey will hold them. And
is it not to be repented ofthc invafions of the liberties of Church,
and of civill liberties which have becne by fomc of them defperat-
iy impeached, Co as that neicher fubjeft nor Prince (hall know
what belongeth to cither of them ; and (bme of the throne of the
beaft willteilycUj that betwccne Prince and fubjcft there is no
»;f«w,c^ f,'.'^««,but the Prince may fay tfOTwcwr^/^, arc not thcfe
things to be repented Q\ V And is there no fuperftition to be repen-
ted of ? And have they repented of thele things ? doth any
(cmblance of repentance a^ pearc ? have they not Sill gone an end,
even while this Vtall hath beene in powring out to put new in*
ventions upon Gods people ? have they not irapofed an Antichi i-
ilian O ith, that this is the onely government, and that they nei-
ther doe acknowledge nor ever will acknowledge any other, and
is not this a blafphemy againft the name ar.d Crov». ne ofChrift
Jcilis 1 .'.nd yet they repent not of thefc deeds ; therefore they have
faid not mr.ch amifTc, that faid that all the mifchiefes that have
fprungnpin any ftate in the World, where thcle thrones have
beene let up, have fprung from them that late upon thefc thrones.
Thus you lee whai is the true and fimple meaning of thcle words,
and I durft not have fpoken it , but that no other interpretation
will well abide by the words of the Text. Xabiloa wtWX not abide
it, for that commcth up into remembrance in the levenih Km//;
doc but confider all things together 5 and weigh thew«-rdsofthe
Text well with what goeth before 5 and with what will follow
after by the heipe of God » and you Ihall find this to be the true
meaning. Ncverthelcfle though thelc former and late attempts
againft Epifcopacy iniy bee the beginning of this ftnll , and
fome
T : '■'"■"• IJ-P I <iJ>iiJ|u.wvfi«i«wpMV«!|P|i«pppp9|HVpiimpi|P
rlefift VudL 7
fomt good mea(ure al(b of the powring it forth ^ you may believe
that it will not reft here, but as Mofes faid Vent, 32,4. Perfcdl is
the workc of Gcd, and as the Lord (pake concerning £//* i Sam*
5. 12. When I begin, / will alfb raake an end, fo ( relerving all
due honour unto thofe interpreters who reft from their labours
and their workes dec follow them ) I doe conceive , and believe,
that this Viall will goe on from our native Ccuntrcy to all the
Catholickes Countries round about them, untill it come unto the
very gates o( Rente it felfc. In the aieane time all thefc Via/Is arc
atworke, and one is not ended when another is begunjthough
th« which moftexcelleth is nioft in oblervation, and the pow-
ring out thereof, is the wotke which the Lord calleth men prin-
cipally to attend upon, and wherein God hith nianifefted his
preftnce moftjand wil goe on ftill to manifeft more of the prefence
of his wrath unto other ftatcs : now the points that arifelrom the
words are two.
That forme of government , wherein one by folc and lingular t) ft r'
suthority doth govern the Church fpecially many Churches and
moft of all, all Churches do:h fpring from the Earth and favou-
reth of the Eartli, for (o it appcareth to be from the Text, for all
thefc Angels powred out their f'iails upon the Earth : Ftrfi i.Not
as Earth i*s oppofcd to other elements , but as it is oppofcd to
Heaven : Co. that as their Earth is earthly, Co is tlieir $ea,and their
Rivers,and Fountaincs, and their Sunuerand this throne is but an
earthly throne, you fee no fuch throne in the Tabernacle ot the
Tcftimony opened ii^Heaven : Co fane as Churches are Heavenlji
thefe thrones arc not (ct up in them : for this isitwhich/p)&«rc-
proovetli V ?• /^•9»)i^ Diotrephes, thot he loveth to be a primate
and WAuid nut regard a leucr from Idm himfclfe though ani
Apoftle;& for the brethren he would net receive them himfelt,and
forbad them that vvc.uld,and caft them out of the Churchjthe true
fpirit of an earthly Prim.Ue, for ihcy favour of earthly ambition
and covctoJifneflfcjlove'SWiWf wages, they ftick not to buy their
places for filver , care not what they give for them, but having
gotten them wvh buying , they muft maintaine them by (elltng* .
they mull fell Ordinations and Abfolutions, and Dffpenfations,
and muft be maintained by the benevolences of their obedient-
Clergy, and in truth the fummc of the matter is. qnidmihi dahis \'
and what is all this but earthly bravery, if ever you havebcene •
atchcir thrones ( chough it were but the tht^nes of their cbaun« •
cellori -
8 ThefftVialU
cellors and OfScialls ) you Hiall (cenoching but that which (a*
- vourcth of the Earth, earthly pridtj or plealure or Covctoulhcfle,
lam, ( and have Icflc caufc then many others from tny Jalt Dio-
celan, who being more learned , was more ingenuous and favou-
rable then many others ) not wont to (peake thclc things , yet
when the ncccilicy of clearing my Text leadeth me to them, I may
not without unftithfullncfrc to God and his Church^kccpe filence,
wc came not hither to (peake hardly of oth( r Churches : but
when the Word of God callcth for it, we fhould be wickedly
filcnt it we (hould not let the people know t what the mercy
and bleHTing is , which we doe enjoy> and what we are delivcrgd
from.
Re.u 1. Thefirft Reafon of the Dj(flrine is from that forme of Church
eftate, which Chrift hath inftituted in his Wordjivhichisnoo*
ther, but the government of a Church of a particular vifible
Congregation j Hcowneth no other, nor givcth any government
to any befides them. If thy brother offend thee, goea»d tell the
Churchy and muft the otfenceftay till all the world be gathered
together ; or if it were meant of one DioccHui or piovir.ciall
Church, when will they mcete "i therefore the Church that mull
hcarc al orfenccs is theChurch of a particular Congregation, w hie h
may all of them mcete together in one place ( i ^or. 74. 23. )
and then though offences come thicke, they may all be orderly
heard and remooved. And confider moreover (th.«t which further
clearesupthisfiift ground ) what variety of ofiiecrs God hath
given to this Church, not many Parifhes to one Bifliopjbut many
BIfliops to.9nc Church, foas that P^.v/writteih to the Saints at
Fhilipf'^frirh thc'Bipjofs and Deaconsy Phi/,], 1, And he (cndeth
for the Elders ofthe Church of ^/'A^/^^ -^i7j 20. 17. Whom he
calleth Bifhops rVr,*^ 28. t/f:idthey "wtre more then one In tverj
Chftrchfitccordingto AHs I ^%1^,7'hcy orOAtKed thc-m Elders inevery
CWr^jdireifVly contrary to the praftifeof thcLordBifhopsof
theft dsycs 5 Thefe things wc fpeakc^that ihe people may know
we (ct forth no new inventions , though it be true that there is a
newnefle in all thebUlfings of the new Teflamcnr,whcrcas all the
inventions of men Wax old as doth a garmcnt,and there is no new
thing under the funne^as touching mens inventions, but they will
grow old and vanifli away , as all Djocefan Churches will doc,
which the Lord hath not inilituted : Though indeed in the old
Common wealth of j^W the Church was N^ationall, and there
wa$
- t — 1"1l --' — '■ — — ^^^—^ ■— '—^*^ ' ■«.— >...i*-^-.-^
Wds but one hi^h PiicftwhowasatypeofChrift,butno»Chrift
h come he hath delivered all his coiinfell tohis 12 . Apib'niss, and *
they have left the ordering of his Church to (bmc paftorsV and' ,
(bme teachers and (bme ruling £iders,and (bme Deacons. But be-
Tides the(e the Go {pel knowcth no other.
The fccond ground is taken from the kznde of power which /j^^,
God ha?'h given to his officers in his Churches , hath he given to
them a Lordly or a Miniftcriali power ? furcly no Lordly power,
neither over thtir fellow Elders nor over the Church, But he bath
inhis pyurdprohibuedhoththefe, Math^ ic,2^^26^2'7»Tbel?riKCejaf
theG entiles cxercife dom'wion ever them^&they that dre treat exercife
auihi^rtfj upr.>i thtfH Jt!Ht itfhallnot hefo awon^jhjou, vut levhofoever
ypiU hei^reat among fl joh let him be your jUimfier , and wbofhe".
'uer mil be ckrife amongftjou let him be yourfervant, Amongft the
Officers q\ Chrlft honour Is carried by the mod labour, and noC
by moll outward fplendor : But thofe that fit updn the throne of
of the Bcail doe not labour in any kindc of government but that,
which is merely antichriilian,to foment fin and let loofe the reines
ot all prophancfle : neither doe the officers which Chrift kath (cc
in his Church reach after outward honour, but the chcife of theai
make thcmfclves cquall with them of the lower fort, zs Peter
f. thoiigh.an ApoftlcJ when he writeth to the Elders^i/f/i&.^/MN
fel/^-a.feild^'SJier.. u2ett%,l. and exhortfth them to feed the flock of
Godyrtdt '.« Lords over Gods heritage^but being examples to thefiockj;
fo'the ^pofilc if} his fecond and third Epifilefiileth himfelfe An Slder,
(6 farrc is he from affefting L»rdly authority : by all which we
miy fee that all this kinde of Lordly, and (lately government is no
way compatible to that government, which Chrift hath Inllidi-
t^d in his Church. . t .. t A/V. .^*.<\. -; /..
The third rcafon is taken from th*t authority which this Lord jj^^^ ^
hath given to every Cliurch over their Bi(hops,as well i% to their * ;
Bifliops oyer then) , which cannot ftand with EpKcopall (over-
atgnty, Itistrue^ the Lord hath given them poiver over the (^urch^
let. the Elders that rule iveti be counted worthy of double honour , - j^f,
iTim.'yAj, A power they have to call the Church togcthft", as
. the ApolUcs did foi the choile of Deacons, «u/flf /6« 2 •,« And cob-
pen tlic dooresof f^3cech,and (hut thedoorcs of (ilenc^,4<5?.i3»i J.
A power they have aUo to difmiile the adembly as they leecatil^
for they that begin they alfo make an end, and lend a^Vay; the
people with a bkiring, Num, d.24,25,2^. Power they luvcro
^ ^ B direft
i
rhefft VidL
The fecoud u(e may be, to take offthat amazement which bath Vfi
been fcimd in the hearts of fome , concerning the undertakiogli
of the«fr«r/ in our native Country , iince the world began waf
it never known ffor there are no Hifiories of note but are cora*
monly knov<rn)dich a patteme as this » that ever a whole Nation
did rife to take up fuch a quarrell, with fo much )u(Uce^ wifdome
and piety, a thing to be wondred at, that a whole Nation jhould
carry (uch a matter in (uch a way : many things have been done
in Holland^ in geneva , for reformation, but with much more tu-
mult,whichwhen the Papifts have objeded,our Divines have been
wont to anCwer^that they doe not excufe mens thrufting in their
own weaknefles into Gods Worke : but wonder not overmuch if
you Hnde it other wife in this matter , for the Angels of God are
their guides^fo that their foote (hall not fwell, but they (hal keepe
their ranks,and places,and remember that they are (tibjefts though
they carry their fwords in their hands. Juft care is taken that
there be no robbery nor pilferingjuo opprefHons , no violation
of any mans bed, nothing taken up but it fhall be duely paid for,
and yet the proceeding made with (uch conftancy,that ^In a way
of humility ) the end muft be attained, or el(e there wil be no
place in the concIuGon* Thcfe are great things : but if men take
them in hand that are girded with golden girdles , when their
Bibles goe along with them , when Failing and Prayers
fteere along their courfe, you need not much wonder in (iich a
Cafe,
Thirdly, this may ftrvc to teach us, that Cirely this worke will ZJfe a.
profper, becaufe the Lords Angel is in it:and i\icViaUoi Gods
wrath in bis Hand , and he will not be beaten off; though (bme
indruments may quaile, yet wil he (HI raife up more in their ftead
till tho(e plantations be rooted out , according to the word of
Chrift, Miit^ 1 5 . 1 5 • E'oerj plant: which mine heavenfj Father hstli
mt .planted (hall be rooted ftp* Ih'vaine therefore is it for men to
uphold fuch Tandy buildir.gs, which wil in the endbefhakea
down. ;i whatfbever dammcs men may make to ufihold the Epi(^
copaty/, ic win befali unrothem as when men make dammes to
ftop watcrx;our(c}'5orhcr8 ccmc and caft in fome fmall qtnntity of
quickrifilvcr, or Aqu tfortif , v^hich eates fuch holes through th^
(tone? t htic it will I'oone \fCux. out the water, (bthis ty^ftta omntpo^
tofits^ihc vialh oUhe wrath ot C^od wil at liittcoa'ume and waft
allthingjwhacfacvciftandiipegainft them. ^^ , '
B 1 F6Urch«
I
99^^^'^'^^^^m^m^mi^mf^mKmii''''mi^0m9^^!^^rmmmfmm9m'9mHm
7he fifth vm .• 13
ibveofthetrtteththatth'j mtght h faved^ thiuf^re 4'jth^oi give
ihfm up to the cffcacy ofdciujians^that they fljouU bcUive nljei that
they at! might be dxmnedtvho believed mt the truth , but h .id pie affirm .
h tiyr:ig)ite<fufnrjfT • thofe that preached the truth andT) oSlrlnes of
Repentance^ and refimation^ they branded them wiih the name of
Puritans,they hated them uith a perfect hatred » they loved not
ble^Hng thcrefoic it is far from chem, it is the nature and common
faihion ofUipeiftition to leave men bcfbcted in their ownc Rci»
lig»on.
Thij may teach ti$ to lookc ar it, as a gro'JP.d of Faith/hat the Vfe u
Lordvvi.lgoe on to cjeftcoy the throne of the Beaft; tor when
Godt.kccha (vvord into his hand, it is not his manner to put ic
into his (hcithagaine,accordingtOithat which A'>tos fmh phap.
^,'y. Shall one t^k^ up ajhtre from the Ear th ^ afiU have tak^n mthhf
/*r <i// ' hoCyChe Lord will either fuhdiieth^irrpirits to unfeigned
Repentance , or ellc he will goe on infi taring to infnare them till
he have fwept them like doung from the face of the Earth, For
ivhe<jrraf I ttirrtcth >iot to him that ftnittth him y then is not his anger
turKcd(tn\ij^ but hu h.tndisflretchidoutflii/^/ftti,'^A2,j^.Thcrtiore
men cannot more dilh- nuur.noroppoie the Lord then by feeking
to underprop this /andy building.
The iccond.ufe ot thib y oim may be to teach us all in the feare ^^ 2,
of Godjvvhac to doe whenfoevcr we <^Bele but drops^f wrath poW-
red upon us * you fee to whom it belongech to be impenitent^ to
whom it belongeth to blalpheme t^e name oi the Lord , even to
thofe that (icnpon the throne of the BeaO^it is an Eplfcopall HnnC/
an '■ Hierarchic»»ll vvickednefle,a be^ftly frame of ipirit, for men
whiles they are under Gods H^nd to. grow morefroward and diC-
contenced and' filled with indignation. If therefore the Lbr^af-
fli£t the whole ftate of the CoUntry, with any drops of hisdiipliea^
(lire , let us not cry out up< m the Lord and his dealing, nor upon
the Churches > but let our uiuhanktull hearts for his mercies,
beire the burden > and learne we to repent of our deedsithat know
not how to kcepe our ftlvcs clpfc to the ordinances of^o!cli ivhea
wc grow not thankfull nor fruitfull under ftght-'afid' libeirties
seccived, . : '" v . •^^'•^•' " '
{
• *
i -
.;)
Bj
The
» ^ »
1 »
\
/ •
;•• »r fij
"i- f
^•w
maw
tmmm^mm^mmf
i*'mt
mfmmf
i^mtmm
>4
The fixthfiatl.
THESIXTH
\V I A U D
Revel. 16.13,13,14,15,15,
jlttd the fixth Angell pomred out hh Vialt upon the
great Siver EuphruUi^and the water thereof was dryedup,
that the way of the Klugt of the Baji might be prepared,
&f,
I N thefi verfts the powring out of the yiaS (A
thcfixth Angel is described.
Ficft by the (iibjeft upon which it is pow-
rcJjthe River Exphrata, vhich is ampUfyed
by tlie aJjuiift of greatnefle, [ The great Ki-
verEafhrates."]
Secondly , by the effefts of it whlcl^ ar«
. , two, ; ,
■ l.Firft the water thereof was dryeJ up, and that is ampnfyec
by the end which God »imedif\aU[ThatthewajofiljeKingi e,
the Eafi might ht prepareJ,"^
2. Secondly,the warrelike preparations unto a great battelljanc
thole are defcribcd,
i.By tile princijiall commanders in that preparation,and war
which arc fuid to be three C The Devi/1, the'Eeuft , arid the fjlj
'Profhit.l 4.B
7be/xth ViM. .
2.By the Intlt uments, and Minivers of it^who are cerCainc ipi-
rits^and they are defcribed many wayeMS,
I . By their nature and quality [Vrtcleauefpirhj*'}
a.By their numbci Q^^^*]
3.By,by their refemblanceCZ^% i^r^^^^/.]
4.By their originall deicent, which is threefold, [ They come
out of the mouth oft he *Dra^oft^ and out of the mouth of the Beafi^ tmd
o$a of the mouth of the falfe Prophet, Artdthat defcent is AmpHfjed
hj the Caufe ofit^ for they are thefpirlts of 'Deviils,
5 . They are defcribed by their effe^s^whicb are three-fold.
i.T hey worke miracles.
2. They goe forth to the KingsoftheEartb^andofthe
worldjto gather them to the battel! of that great Day of God Al-
mighty, Ver* 14.
3. They are efficacious and (ucceflTefuU herein, they doe
gather them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon^ Ve*l6»
)'i^he(e warlike preparations are defcribed by the watchword
which the God of Ifrael glveth unto his owne troopes , and t hat
is a word of watchfulneflejbehold I come as a thiefe, blefled is he
that w^itcheth and keepeth his garments,Ieaft he walke naked^and
they Tee his fliame. Thus ftandeth the Text. • -
Now for the meaning of it : It is the more darkp^becaufe it if,
( though not altogether ) yet in a great part to come ; and iuch
as (hall ferioudy confider what is the meaning (halC happily}
find it no fmall difficulty to fatiffy thcmfelveSj and much more
to (atisfy other?5yct(by the helpe olGod)let us endeavour to open,
fome (Iich part of the words , as we may be likely to Hniffi at this
time. Firii what is meant by the river Euphrates t SecondIy,who
are the Angels that powre but this Fia/i upon this river ^Thirdly,
what is the d»ying up of this river? Fourthly, who arc thcfc
Kings of the Eaftnhefc things containe the principalldifficul*
tics in the partes ofthis f ?<»//, other things may more cafily be o-
penedjifthcfe things be prcmifed and cleared.
1 1 What is niiint by the great river Euphrate/ :Some of our had
interpreters (to whom God hath given mod light in thefefpi-
riuiall myilcric"=)doe undcrftand ir, properly fcr the river that did
run along by thewallesof old Babylon in (^haldca , which made
the City impregnable, and ycc by the ftratagemof C;r«/wa$.
drycd upjby turnic^g the Courrk of thcttrcamcs to runne in other
channels
iS
'yr^^tm^
» ,
*»"^IW
*»n4m
^PVMpMi^MMa
« — ' U '
1 6 . rhpxihVian.
channels 9 whereby the.chaauell betbrerhe City wascfryedup;
vaA the rcedes burnt by. the Souldiers, and the City (ackcd when
as 'Belflta^.zAr was quaffing in the vcfleis of the Temple : this was
foretold by Jeremy Chap 50.38. A draught is Mpon her waters^ a»d
tkej pjaP, be dried ufy far it is the Landofgravin Ima^es^ and they
ttremad upon their idoSst jind le\^W^i^^t» OnepJftefjallrunto
meete another ^,nd one mejfenjrcr to meete anoi hcr^ to pji jr / he K ir.g of
Babyion that his City it taken at an end ^ and th^t tht pajfagts arc
flopped^and the reedes they have burnt with fire^ crc Now they that
interprete Euphrates to be the fame river , doe underOanJ that
when God calleth home his ancient people , he will dr^ up Est*
j9^<ff^/ before them , fo that they may aflTauU the fiukilh mo-
narchy ^ and recover their anclenchihericanceouc ot his band.
Thcreafon which they give of it is, i. Becaufcihfy rend of no
Nation for whom God dryed up any rivcr» but ojicly ioi the
/r^^AVtf/ for whom he dryed up the red Sea, and the w tcisof
Jordan, 2^ They (ay it hath been anciently toteiold by the Pio-
phec/jrr.44.27. 8C51.10. 6c 63.11. In all which places God
is defcribed to have dryed up the waters, and r ivei s for ihem>thac
as a pledge of the like power to be manifcded for them herc.fter.
3. ( Say they ) the prophet Ifay ( Chap 59.20. alledged by the
Apoftlc Pa::l Rons, 11.2^,) foretelleth the calling of ihe/rir^/.
and if this Hall fpeakc not of their calling, it is fpokcn of no
where in this bookc,which is not credible.
Now although their rcafons arc not to be flighted, yet they
doe not feeme to carry force enough to underiUnd SuphratiS
literally, for Gods Hand may as vvellbcfeencindryingupthe
tnetaphoricall rivers i Sefide?, Ifay 44.27. Doth properly Ipeake
otGods drying up the river Euphrates before Cyrus^ which was
thentoccme, but is not meant of this drying up in the Text,
which is to be many hundred yearcs after , and for the two other
places mentioned , Jfay^i, 10. & 6^^ 11 They onely recount
ivhatGod had done for theirFathersof old* whereupon they
defire that he would not forCike them now, and (o they are re-
ported of as ancient psfTages of his power for them , but not 29
promifes what he would doc for them afterward ; Save onely as
encouragements to their Faich, to cxpeft grc>t deliverances froir
the fame hand.
And for the third reafoniltisnotneccfTary that itfhonldb<
foretold in this T/W/, or elie not foretold in this booke: forth
whol
^m^mmnmm t ¥ i» n » 1 > 1 ai— — wMiifi^ ■ n M i 1 kw»>— wnjWPiwgwa* > n " ^ ' ■ "
mimm
rhejtxthvialt.
whole 21 , and 22 Chapters of this booke doe hold it fbrth9
which are events of the powring forth of the (eventh fW/, and
notofthisHxth*
If then it be not meant of the naturall tmr^SuphraM^ of what
then may it be underftood ? There are ibme that unJerftand
it of fomething that is unto Rome, as Eufhr^tes was to old 'Bahy'*
Ion, I (hall tel you what I moft incline unto^ as far as the Text will
permit.
Some (ay it Is ireant of Nations,and Tongues^and People, and
Language*;* for they are (bmetimcs underftood by waters: but
Enfhratesn but one river among manyjand therefore why (hould
it be meant of many Nations that (hould fall olf from Rome 1 1
cannot well clofe with that , nor is it neccflary that Eupkratet
Qiould be a name given to any one Nation , unleUe it were foms
one that might lie ncctc Euphrates, which no Chriftian Nation
doth. And others there are that doe underftand by it another
refemblance, as it was a meanes to convey much maintenance to
old B^ilfjlon , and therefore conceive it meaneth all the reve*
newes of the Bi(hop of Rome whereby he is made rich^nd weal-
thy ;now Chriftian Kings (ball dry up this river Euphrateshy tak-
ing away this kind of maintenance , and ib by the(e Kings of the
£aU they underftand tho(e Chriftian Kings, that (hall take away
thefe revenewes ^ but neither can I well clofe with that interpre-
tation 5 for you may confidcr it,that all thefe feven T/W// are iutc-
able to the feven Tnimpets , though they fall out in di^renc
ages of that Church : The (even Trumpets brought in /adge-
ments upon Chriftian Rome , and thefe Vialls are the plagues of
God upon thole very corruptions, which the Trumpets brought
in:Now you ftiall finde that the effc(fl of the founding of the fixth
Trumpet wa?5 there were foure Angels loofed which were bound
ill the great river Euphrates , and thole Angels were ready with
an Army of two hundred thoufand thoufand ; and they by gene-
rail confentofall interpreters, are to be underftood of the fourc
Faaiilics of the Turi^es , that were bound by fomc incumbrances
at the river Euphrates Jbiit a«rtcrward broke fourth upon all Chrift-
en dome , and got ConflaHtiaople into their hands,and overwhelm*
ei all i.^fia» And belides to underftand the Kings of the Eaft to
be (he lo Chriftian Kings will not accord, for they are not feated
E^ ft from Rome, or if fomc of them be, yet nothing neerc the
number of ten. Therefore there be that fay, that the river E«^
G phrates
^m
'mn'm^
mmmm^m»
^rm^m
mmt
» ^ 1«.Wl
id rleJIxthyiaH:
phraM Qocb here oieane the Turklfft Doimnion, and ch<ic this rivei*
Euphrates Ihall be dryeJ up by the power of the Kings of the Eaft>
whom they interpret to be the lewcs, ( an J I would not hinder
that ) thereby to mike way for the recovery of their Land ; And
true it 13 ihzx^tphrates in the fifl^ Trumpet did fignify the Turkifb
power that lay by that river.-In like manner it is expounded of the
^j(/?ri/«» monarchy, 7/i«. 8.7. yVhentPie Lord bringetb upon them tioe
tfoxcrs of the river firong andm^nj , even the King oft/^Jj'yria » and
aU hisglorj , tindhepiall come over hU chunnels^ and over^tw all his
hankis, iecaufe they refupd the hclpc which God had given them at
heme. Now th«t h/tphrates ^and cMcfopotama, which then the
^jJJrrMw Monarchy had in dominion, is at this day poflTefled by
the TVr/^jand if the AJfjrian Monarchy may be refemblcd imto
itjlb mav the Turkifti alio : this commeth ncereft to tlie Text,yet I
cannot lay that altogether it fuceth with the context, nor that this
fixt Angel (hould be meant of the lewes j ilnd let me give you
(bmereaG>ns, why it cannot be the /fw/?/, that mu(l powre out
this yiaSy nor that the drying up oiEuphrates can be meant only
of the 7'i«/-il;i/& Monarchy, though they alfo (hall be plagued by the
.drying of it up. . .. !
I • . Firrt, that the fixth Angel cannot be the hyves appeareth frohj
what is hidfChap* i^mU, That no man was able to enter into the?
Temple till the (even plagues of the 7 Angels were fulfilled, there*
. fore the lewes cannot come into the vifible Church in the time.
ofthisHxth fiall^ till the (eventh bepowred out. But certaine
it Is thefe Angels who powre out the Vialis^ doe all of them come
out of the Temple, ) and are cloathed in pure, and white linnen,
having their brells girded with golden girdles, therefore they arc
al profefTours of the truth, and fincere profeflbrs.
2, Secondly, it is evident in the Text, that the way of the /^w^x
is preparecl, by the powring out. of this Jlall, And therefore
they are not this Angell who powre out this f7/i//, but have a
way prepared ^ onely for their Converfion, as an eflfeft of this
naiu
y^ ■ Thirdlyjall the Subjefts whereupon thcre?7/«//; are powred arc
(iich againft which the wrath of God is kindled : for they are the
Vialls of the wrath of God that are powred : and they are all
powred upon the Eirth, by which is meant thcantichrillian
rtate, and (uch things therein againft which GoJs wrath is kind-
led. Now the anger of God is not kindled againll the river
»■■' ■ ■■ ■
rhefixthviail.
'EiiphrAtes more then agau^ft any other rivcr^his Wrath fallcs not upt*-
on I ivers , though (bmetimes for m^ns fake it may j but Euphratet
lie(h not neerc to the R^waue antichrift,nor to any ftatc fuh]c& to
bhu* What the would you fay?is it not nioft Jikely to hould fortk
thcT/^rki^j Dominion ? which God is angry with ^ Shall not
Chriftian Princes powre out the wrath of God apon the Tttrkjjb
Dominions > I would by nomeanes (ay fo : But let us confider
what is the Fountaine, and what are the (Vreames of this river,
which did, and doe ftill wafh upon the Turkiih Dominion^ and
which are indeed as Walles , and Bulwarks to the Turkifhilate t
For this Euphrates though it be not here the Turkifli Dominion,
yet it is of the fame u(e to them and unto the Pope, as Euphrates
was unto old 'Sabjlon^ which made glad the (ame , and conveyed
maintenance unto it. Let us therefore conlider what was the O-
riginall of the Turklfh Dominion, and yon (hall fiadethatic
(prungfrom five(cverall ftreamcs. R^v. 9. 20, 2 1 5 where (having
defcribed the loofing of the foure Angels, which were bound by
the great river Eiy^^r4///v^. 14. ) and tho(c were the foure Fa-
milies of the T//r%j , which at length were fwallowed up by the
hou(e of Othontan ; He faith the reft of the men which rvere not killed
hj the fe plagues ^ yet repented not of the vcorkes ef their hands^ that
they pfOiM not war jhip D ivets y andldoUs of Gold , and Silver, and
"Brajfr, and Stone^ andofpyood^ vrhich neither can fee nor heare, nor
walks (this was their Idolatry) neither repented thej of their wter"
therSf nor of their Sorceries^ nor of their Fornications , TUfr of their
thefts : So the(e were the five (Ireames of this river Euphrates jihzt
gave power to the Turkifti Dominion, to wic, the Idolatries, Mur-
thers, SorccrieSjFornications, and Thefts ofChriftendome, for
by reafon of theft barbarous wickedncfle of Popilh Churches-,
and flates, cloaked under a face of Religion, God brought upon
them a barbarous Nation, that hath a Face of government , and
vet knowcth not well what it meancth , yet did not the Papifts
(whole (Innes thefe were ) repent of their Idolatries , nor of their
Murthers , which they committed upon the (bulesof menjand
upon the bodies of Gods falthfull fervants j nor ;of their Sorceries^
ofwhich many ofthe Popes themftlves were guilty ; nor of their
Whoredomes, their ftewes, aiii beaftly uncleanne(res 5 nor of
theii Thefts, Indulgehccs,and pardons for money, by which they
drevned Ghi iftendome of their fubftancct
Now it thefe were the finiics , which the Lord upbraideth
C 1 Chriftian
«
""■'"" I ^ » I wwm^mitmrmmi^Hmm
• I
ao 7hefixthyiaH*
Chriftian Churches for not repenting of , though this barbarous
nationdid prevalle againft themjyet doubtlelTe thefe are the walles
of the TurKifli Dominion , even thole ftreames of corruption of
Religion,which are the maintenance of the Sea q^ Rome to this
day : thus by admirable wii'dome the Lord hith exprelled his
holy Counfelhchat his inftruments by drying up thefe ftreames of
ijtphratfSj thele corruptions of Religion &all prcvaile at once
both againft the TftrkfSi^nd the Pope together.
a. Who then fhall be the Angdl, that (hall power out this fixt
VUli} if they (hall not be the Uivcs ( as before we prooved ) then
it mud needs be Ibme Chriilian dates* and chele are no other then
thcioChiiftianKings fpokenof/J<'v.i7.i6.i7. That fhall hate
the whore^and fhall make her defblate , and naked, and fhall eaC
herfleih, and burne her with fire, and lb you have all thefe ex*
pofinions fall in together , they will runne in the right channellj
and fully reach all that interpreters have fought after*
3, Thefe Chriftian Kings fhall fo farre fall off from /Joi»^,as
that they fhall dry up all her revenewes , when as they fhall (ee
and abhorrc the vanity of their Images , and Temples, and Mo-
naderies,and the unprofitablenefre of their expences , when they
Oiall fee the wickednefTe of their bloudy inquifitions , the unna«
turalnefle of all thofe murders of Gods bleffed fcrvants , and fhall
(ee their witchcrafcs^and forceries ; the horrible fornications, and
whoredomes of their dewes : and when they fiiall fee chat all their
devifes to get mony are fo many thefts, and robberies , ( as it is
the complaint oi^arew.z German interpreter , that two parts of
the revenewes of the Empire did goe to the Bifliop of Rome, and
but one third to the Chridian Princes) and a worldofworke
would be to tell you of all their Theeveries in E''x/4n^of old^and
other Chridian Kingdomes. Now when thefe Chridian Kings
are fo far converted unto God , as that they fhall fee the wicked-
nefle, of all thefe abufcs of Religion, they will then dry up all
^cfe revenewes, then will they fuffer numorelmigeworfhip,
no more forceries, nor murders , and when tliele things are thus
remooved, thenisE/y/>/;r4^^/dryed up, ihatniaincahietbo)d'?<{-
hjlon ; then is the Fountaine of the Turklfh maintenance cue
o^alfb : For their rife was by thefe corruptions , and they iXxn^^
and wil dand whild thefe corruptions dand , but if thefe fall
then is the river Ettphrates dryed upland a ready way made indeed
for the Kings 9! the Eaft.
A.Whom
m 9 w
■paapppppw^pw^piPH—^wiiB <■ . i\wtf0mmmmmfmmmm^m'^^'''t^9fmmimim''''fWmf9ii^^^'^'^'^^^^^^'^'^^^
Tbe/fxlb VidU a t
4. \Vb3m the mod judicious Interprecers doe underftand co
be the Icwes, i. Bccaufe they are fo by Gods calling, ExodtuA9»
6» l^d fhail he to me a Kingdoms of Prlefis : And D^w/V/forc-
telleth,tbat when the Reman Monarchies are broken in pceces,
by cheftonecutoutof the Mountaincs without handes, Daniel
2.45. f which is the Lord Jefus : ) then the Dominion (hall be.
given to the people of the Saints of the moft high , Daniel 7. 27,
Therefore they are called Kings of the Eaft , in the Cjrcck:; Te-
ftiinent Kings from the riling of the Sunne, they (kill have great
power, and place when God (hall bring them to it ; Neither can
any man tell buc that fome of the(e Eaderne Kings in the Ea(t,
Judges may beof the Families of the Houfc of Ifrael i Sure 1 am
when \->Uph was loll , though his Father thought him to have
bcenc utterly ca(t away, yet when he was found, he was found
to be a great man in Egyft^ and the Prophet £«^Wunder(land-.
eth by ItJ/^p^ J all the 10 TfibcsEt.^ff^.37.i.d. And who can tell,
whether (bmc of thele 10 Tribes may not be found to be great
men of thcEaft. And I remember htniy^ an exaft Tranflator,.
and commentor upon the Bible , faith that which is called the
Land oiSimm, Ifay 45?. li. May more probably be meant of
Ch'tnay and that the C/r#ri^Gcograpncrs doe call them iS'/W^V/,
not Chifta'ej^ which if it be the iiicaniHg there may be there ma<*
ny of them j and indeed he tliac rcadeth their ftory (hallfinde
fundry memorable things in them that may agree to (uch as
h,ive (ometimes beene Gods pc..»plc ; for though they worHiip
other Gods, yet they have iccords , that their fathers did not
fo in ancient times $ and It is reported of them that they make
account chat thofc are the beft bookes, that bring a man to that
eftate wherein he was (irft mide, which is no gentile-like principle^ .
and the greatell prefcrents among them are of their Bookilh
men: It may be fuine of the ten Tribes or buried among them.:
yet it is not m tteriali to the Text , though if it l^e true, their
£a(lerne (ituation will fuit vyel with the Text : but howtvec
it be,the truth is Go J doth by Covenant, account the whole Na-
tion to be a royall Nation, and promifeth the Klngdomesof
the World t / be their Dominion , and that all enemies God will
fweepe them off from the face of the E irth,as it is prophecied at
large Rev, 1 9. Now then if thtfe be the Kings of the Eaft , you
willtatily under (land the evidence of other things in the Text.:
for what is the great (fumbling blockc that hindreth the lewes
C 3 from.
« I - s
i
' " I I - I li m il II I I ^ IIW H IIW— — ».III H I I . I I L m «ii M>H, j m illl|> ■ li HH MIIIi
22 rh pxthViatt.
from cloQng with ChtiftianUy 1 They abhorre Images, and the
luggling of che Fryers, andMonkcs, who are not io cunnmg to
devile miracles as the lew is ciinriing to fearch them out > and to
diCcover the legerdemaine of the Priefts in them* To woiOilp
Idols of Gold and Silver is an abomination to them , and (b are
theredof thoie Hveftreamesof wickedneflfe, which uphold the
Turkijh ftatc ; Let Chriltian Princes once arifc and overthrow
Images,rcpre(Ie theirmurders, remoove away their Fornications,
Thefts 5 dclufion? , which they put upon Chriliianity ^ then ihaJl
. there be a ready way prepared for their converiion,&no remaining
Impediment but their own corruption which God will mighti-
ly overpower 5 if once Euph-atcf be dryed up, down falls Popifh,
andTurkifh tyranny together 5 and the Je>ces (hall come forth
marching to hghc chat great battellofthe Lord God Almighty,
then (hall they fee him whom they have peirced , and be zealous
for God^as ever they have beene outragious againil him. And
hereby you (ball dearely (ee the agreement betwcene /?rw/zw ii#
1 2 . 1 5« ( Where it is faid, If the cafting ajvaj of them he the recon*
cUetnent ef the lV§rld : what /hnff the vtceiving of them be hut life
form the de^dX) a»d2§* Where he raithjblindneflfe in part is hap-
pened unto J/rae/j untill the fullnede of the Gentiles be come in 5
The reconcilement lycth here : The hardne(Ie of the/o?r/lieth
upon them untill the Chriftian Nations of the Gentiles^ that have
with the Pope apo(Uti(ed from Chrifl, be come in , untill they
have dried up this River E«/>^r4f^/jhardne(re lyeth upon the levfes^
but then all //r4f/ (hall befaved, and after that looke for the refl
of the Gentiles that never yet received the Gofpel , to come in al«
Co : then will God bring them home mightily, and not till then :
Thu«you (ec the meaning of thcfe words , wherein I have beene
the more large 5 bec9u(e in ftich Scriptures, the explication is as
much to be attended as the application. Let us (bortly touch upon
anoteortwo*
• ■
"Ptf^f.i. That the dayes arc comming wherein Chriftian Princes > arid
States (hall powre out the wrath of God, upon Popifh (iJperlVi^.
tion.and Idolatry , and upon bU the Fountaines , and (Ireames of
Turkilh Tyranny.
For this (ixt Angell are thofe 10 Chriftian Kings fpoken of
Chap,iy.\6tl[icy fliall powre out this wrath. Therefore thofe
Chriftian Kings went a wrong way to worke, when they thought
tohavc overcome the T/^ri^/*, and regaynedthc holy Land; It is
(Irange
*
■.^^ y^—— ——''■"■• • ■ — -'■ ' ' ' ii --| v.. ' . -' .
M|H^»»>»i" ■ I H » U i > II— I I WWJMF^W^^^^a
7he/ixth Viad. 23
rtrangeto fee how the Tnrkss profpercd againil them j and how
much Chriftian blond ChriitUn Princes fpcnt to no piirpofc , in
nghting againft them ^ The way hadbeenc, Hrll ro have dry ed
upalItho(cftreamesofSuperlUtion, and Idolatry, and 10 have
ihrowne dowiic that nun of Sinne j that had beene thercady
way to prcrailc againft chc Tnrks 5 but the (eafbn was not then
come , it is now comnjing. and how foonc it will come I know
noc,cheLorclknowe(h, biitcomming it is, as appeareth by the
Context of this Viall with the former 5 yea they arc in part ful-
filled, and like the fpearc oi Jojhua they will not retiirne, nor
ccale till alUhc Lords enemies be overcome ; The judgements
of God upon their common Citholickcs ; their worfhip and
government, their (ecular, and regular PHeds, .upon. the Sunoe
the Houfc of iAptflria , and the Popes (bprcmacy , you have
heretofore heard the judgements of God upon the throne of
the Bcaftjwhich is the E^itcopacy , is already begun^s you late-
ly heard darkned it hath beene by the going forth oi th,^ Sc0ts,f
and doubtlellc the Lord will not let it reft there untill. It have,
gone over the Seas, and come to the Gates of Romtt yea to the
Bifhop oiRonte hinifelfc , for after the Lord hath beene pleafed to
(come the Churches from their Hierarchical! monarchy , then
the next newes you fliall heareof, will be,that Chrillian Princes
be^iiT, to (ce the Icwdnefle that is found in their worftiip , the
wickcdneflfe of their MurderSjSorcericSjFornications, and l^hef ts,
whereby they robbed their (bules, as well as their bodies, then
will they dry \ip thelc ftreames , and fo Enphrates ( that did wafh
this Romty^ind the Turl^ipj Empire alfo ) will be dryed up : foe
this worke will goe on proipering to profper , and though it may
now and then be interrupted , yet when it bcginncth,it will alfo
make an tnd , for the Lord is Almighty , when he beginneth he
v/ill goe on to perfcft his worke, and he will not leave unto old
Eli rootc or branch. It is cafy with the Lord to advance the
ivorkc a little higher , and then the ftrenmes oftheir maintenance
will be dryed up by the hatred , wherewith they will hate
the whore, and make her dclbhtc , and naked : for the time is api
preaching.
The re^fon v/hy the Lord will thus dry up the Hreames oiSn* R^afon
fhr,tt(s\% , that he may untwill hiso'vvn jadgcmcntsiathefame
way wherein himfelfe did tWift them ; wee have before heard
how his juigjments fell upon the Chk'illiai^ World by the found-
ing
>«««
> i > • V t
■NMV^i^M
^^mtm
1 ..«...•
■<«■«>•
Q4 rhepxthviatl.
ing of the (ixth Tnimpec the foure Angels that were bound in
the great river Euphrates were loofed , and by this nieanes the
Tun^fb Tyranny wa? brought in. Now by the poivringouc of
the Viall of the fixch Angell « the fpirits of ChriUian Princes are
ftirredupto dry up the River Euphrates^ theieby tomakeway
for the (ubvertion of the Tttrkf ami Vope^ and to prepare a way for
Gods ancient people to come in»thai>there may be no more wrath
upon the face of the Earth.
*^ '• In the firft place this may ftrve to provoke us all earneflly to
c^ll upon the Lord I that he would ftirrcupthe hearts of Prin*
cesto coniider, and open their Eyes to fee howneedtu)! their
attempts are to ri(e up againft the Pope : and for that end that
they may (ee that thejugglings of Popery are bucThetcs, and
Murders } and Superftitions : For when once thofe things are
throughly dilcovered > the meanes of the maintenanc c of the man
of Hnne muft needs be dryed up *. How much caufc therefoi c have
w: to wraftle with God for (uch mercy , and that our pr.,yers
maybe Ca much the more e(fe<5^uali, flrcngtben wee oui Fa'tb,
in this, that the Lord will doe it ior he hath prcMnlfed lt,and hath
begun to power out this Via/l^znd will not ceaie untill he have left
the Pope neither roote nor branch.
Z{fe 2. Secondly , this may (erve to teach us » the ready way to
(iibdue the Tyrants of the World , and to take away all their
(uppcrcanee, their walles and Bullworkes : How ^ould you
take Bahyion ? dry up Suphrates , and Babylon is taken with a
wet Hnger.as when they dryed up Euphrates, they found it but
a workc of burning of Reedes, to take old Bahjlor, And how
(hall you overcome the Turk^s .' dry up but the Fountaines cf
the Corruptions of Religion, and you rcmooveAntichri(l,and
make the Turkes eafiiy Conquerable , he will not be defcnceable
then , whereas now he ftandeih like a wall of brafTe > and (b will
doe untill the(e ftreames of corruption be dryed up .* Ic was a
notable pra^ilethat which the Lord dire(5led his people unto
Judges 10. When they cried unto the Lord to deliver them from
their enemies that opprefled them : The Lord recountcth the
gratious deliverances which he had (hewed them ^ yet .( faith he
Vcrfe ig.) you have forlaken Hie and (erved other Gods J where-
fore I will deliver you no more ; goe and cry unto the Gods
which you have chofcn, and let them deliver you in the time
of your Tribulation. When they heard that they confcded their
fin
7 he ficondpaH oftheJlxthVidlU
Hn and put away the ftrang« Gods from among them, and (enrecf
the Lofd^vind his (oulc was grieved for the mifcry oilfineli then
the Lord (lirrcth up the people to thinke upon Icphthah, and
ihey eaiily goe through the vyorkeofvanquifhingtheopprcfling
Enemies : In like manner bring but in faUe Doftrine,wot(hip,
and govcrnnient into the Church , and you bring in nionders ol
men among you , the grand feigniours of the World will opi-
prc(Tc , and rule over you : Ou the other fide let the Churches
be reformed in France^ mSv^Und^ in <f('//W,^r* What(bevec
other nations thet c be by that have defiled themfelves with Popifli
doctrine, worQiip and governaient>Iet them but fall to this nrorke
of rcformation,ana veriiy the Lords Soule will be grieved fortheir
mi(cry,that tliey are lb opprefled with a ba(e Pi left and his Cler-
gy , who is in the meane while nothing elfe buc a dunghill of
corruption, and what need have we earnefily to (irive in prayer
with Cod for thefe things t and as great Nations arc healed €o
arc particular persons alio by being purged frotn their Idolatries,
Fornications, Tbefts.and Murders^they are preferved from thole
perfonall evills which by Sea or Land might prcvaile againft
them. And the Lord is able to doe it for great Nations as well as
for particular perlbns $ for as he puts it into the hearts of Princes
to agree and give their Kingdomes unto the Bead ; fo he can as
caHly withdraw their hearts from him , and caufethemto fee the
vanity of their (ub)e£^ion to him : Let us therefore give the Lord
no reil, untill he have ful6Iled his word , and overturned all his
Enemies.
That the powring out of the wrath of God upon the Komidx <jy^n
Superftition and Tyranny,as it will be the drying up of the PopUh
and Turki(h Tyranny, fo it will prepare a ready way for the con-
verfion of the lerves*
When they (hall feeChrift riding upon awhitehorfe, and
going forth conquering to conquer, then fhall they be gathered
untohim>£^z/.i9*
Becaufe popifh delufions. Idolatry and Superftitions are the « ^
greatcil impediments of their convcrfion. No man is acquainted ^*^J**^
with their writings but knoweth that thefe things (land in their
way : when the ftrcames of Idolatry, Sorcery, Martyrdome of
the Saints of God,Fornication,and robbery be dryed up,then will
there be a prepared way for the glorious converfion of the Icwes^
together with the rc(l of the Nations which cannot enter into
D the
*— ■^^— ^~— — T- - - '--'
7he ficend fmofthejlxthyid.
The fecond part of ihc fixtli Viall.
VIAL L.
16. R E V E L. ia,r«r./»I4.
X I l./lndthefxth Angellpowredcut hit Viall ufcntke great
River EupliratetyandlM reattr tbireof tvasd'yeiupjihat
the IV y of the Kiugi of iht Eaft might be f re fared, ( I U . )
And I fuw threeuHcle^Ht fpirits lik;. Frogi couieoHtof
the mouth of the Dragon c^/«» of the mouth of the ^eafl,
undent of the mouth oi the f die Piophet,(_ I4,_) For they
are thcfpiritsofDevills morning lairacksjvhich goe forth
unto the Kings of the Earth, and of thetth.le^'orld,
to g.ither them to the l/tittell of that great day of God
Aluiightj.
figa /s-^^j^g"^ N tliefe wordif us ye hive heard^is defcribed
" (S?^ thepoivringoi.tof the fixtli ; 7.:/? oF Gods
|fc|#7^ wrath. Dclciibed it isbythcfubjajUpon
l^-fK^J ivhichit W.18 povvredforth, andfecondly,
|#^*^^ by the cffeft which cnGicd. The fnhjitl wai
mWSi^'' '''■■ircat Siv:r Enflirates, The efFtft tliaC
\;>^-y!i folloival it. Wis drSlihfdrjh^ lip of the 7i;a-
itri thcnaf : and that ampliGcd by the end,
iliat the way of ihc Kings of the Eali might be prepared. The
D 2 (econd
$0t:
28 The Jecondpart rftfje J^xth Ftalti
iecond ei^ft was a warlikeexpedicion, or preparation thereunto;
fetforthby theprindpall Commanders, the Dragon^ theXe^^
andthsfalfe Prophet^ and by the inlkumems, who are here (aid
to be for their nature Spirits^ for their qujiicy Vncteane^ W their
number fW^, for their refemblance tiks Frogs, for their origi-
nal comming out of the mouth of the 'Dragon , ana out of the mouth of
the Beaft , and out of the mouth of thefnife Prophet : And that am •
plified by thecaule ; for they are the fpirits of Devi/is, Und Laftly,
they arc delcribed by their eflFefts 5 which are three, i Thej rvorks
mtracles, % ,Thej goe forth to the Kings of the earth, and of the
fVorkito gather them to Batt ell j^ and thirdly they doe gather them
into a place called in the Hebrew tongue L^rmagtdlon, Thus is
this war here efpecially de(cribed by their principall Ccotman*
der9, and inftruments It is defcribed alfo by the watch-word,
which the Lord eiveth unto his fervants againft the bittcll in
that time , Bfhola I come as a theefe , hlcffed is he that watcheth^
and f^epsth hi-s gariTP.nts ,. left hee w.ilkf nak;d^ and they fee his
Jhame^
We entred into thefe words the laft day ; Anrl flicwed you
whojiuhis x^ng<;ll was, what is meant by the Pviver Euphrates^
whoare the Kii)g3 oi the Eaft, and the way.prcpai ed fur them ; in
a word ( onely to make way to tha-: which remainss ) you heard
thisiixth Angel that pow^ed out this yiall upon the great River
E»phratrsy cannot well be underftood of the JcwS powring oui
the wrath of God upon the Turkifh Dominions '^ For it is evident
from the laft ver/e of the 15 Chapter^ that no m.tn can enter into the
Ti^^ple tin thefe 7 ViaHes be' poixredout. The /fi^Y/ therefore fiiall
not be called till the fcvcnth ViuUhe powrcd out.
9y^nd they that powrcd o:tt thcfe f 'tails yvere fuch as cams on! of
toe Tempi 1 1 5 Chapter 6 f'erfe. Out of reformed Churches, girt
with golden girdKjs of truth ; and clothed wich pure, and wliitc
Linncn , which is the nghteoufneflfe of the Saints* They that
powrc out thcfe Via/Is are godly ChriftJans , profellbrs of the
truth in (inceiity, Njw the few s cannot enter into thatedate
till the fcven plagues be fulfilled. Againe liippofe the Kings of
tlft Eall be the len'esj as they are more then probably conceived
by entcrprctcrs ; yet they cannot betheAngell that powred out
thiif^iall : For the Ang I that powrcd out this ^^// he dries up
the waters,afld makes vvay for their comming in,thcrcfore it is not
they that powred out this Via//,
Ye
mf
iii rfm II I !■ I I ■ ■ ^ n ^^wn0Wi»»*^"*y^ 1,^ M ill'" " ■ " ■ ■ ■ •■' ■ I ' ' t ' " »^^^^
^heficondpartofthejixth ViM»
Yee have heard chat the River ^nfhrates cannot be properly
meant of that Kivcr Euphrates that watered eld 7<i^r//; becau&
the wrath of God is not upon materiill Rivers , and Fountalncs
otwateiss but onely upon iiich peribns as dwell ncare them, or
may be watered by them : but the River it felfe cannot be ir» It
is not taken he(e for one of thofe Rivers and Fountaines of wa»
ter which were turned into bloud, in the 18 Ferfi ol this Chapter
by the third Angell : for then if it had been io underllood the-
wr.tth of God had been powred upon him in the third yidlt^ liot •
in this (ix* h. The rivers there meant are (uch popi(h EmifHirief,
and Pric(\s , as doe carry the popifli Doftrine up and downe the
G urury 5 now Eftphrates v/aflied 'Sabyhn 5 and bis rivers arc
dried up when 'B.tbjlon Is taken : now 'Babylon comes Co be tak^n,
and deltroy cd in the next Viall^ not in the fixth ^^/fjaslbme have
hcrtofore t :<ken it -■ But Euphraur therefore being that which
watered the City of old 'Babelt^ it mu(t be (bmething that doth
the like office unto tliis newBabefl^ unto Rome : that waters the-
t hrone of the Bcaft 5 that waters the (cat of antichrift. And yet
(mind ye ) fo waters it , that if the waters thereof be dried up,
there is way made for the Kings of the Eaft to come inland con-
f quenily vvay made for theruineof the TurkiQi Einpire , and
Monarchy •, For as yee heard thcfc fevcn FU/ls come in, in orddl-
as the (even Trumpets did j to remove the (even judgements
they brought in 5 looke how the fevea Trumpets (bunded, and
by their founding brought in feverall gradual! judgements, fb
jurt in the fame order are thcfc yia/h powred out , and the for-
mer ju-jgements removed. As the firft Trumpet brought a
plagHc upon the Earth, fo the firft Angell powred out a Vialiup^
pon the Eirthjto remove that plague. The fecond Trumpet (bund-
ing brought a j'udgemciit iipun tht Sea j The fecond Angell
powcrs cut his Viall upon the Sea ; and (6 the reft ; The (ixth
Tunpct (as yee heard ) letioofc thefourc Angells, tliefotire
Toikifh Families bound by tlie river E tipkratf s^which brought in
thcTuikifli apoftiCy, and tyr.fnny into the World. This^//-
pb-'ates isfixhariver as waters Bahdl ; and thedryir.gitupdid
ofold make v;ay for the mine o^ Bfihell, So will the drying up
of this E-Avhr^tes dry up the force , and tlrcngth of the ncwBaby-
Ijn • and (b of the Turkifh tyranny aUo. In cnc word, yee have
heird, that which hath been the ftrength and fence of the Turkifii
Duminion.hath been the ftrcamea of corruption and fiilfc worftiip
D3 in
29
^mmm^f
» I M W 11^^
^^*awW>^^i^«aVW
■ ■^.l» ■l»*.».
^a the fecond fart pfthejtxth VialU
^n the BMomJb , for fo yce read in the nirth. Chapter of
thisbooke, and the 20 and 21 vtrfe: Thac forallthisiaichihe
TexC, notwichftanding the letting loofc of the Turkis from
Uuphrdtes ^ jft they repented r.ot of the workes of their handset hat
thejihoHUnot vforJfAp ^ evil It , and J dolls of Gold , and Silver, and
Braffe^and Stone, and of JVood, &c. Neither repented thtj of their
mttrtherSijnor of their forct ries , nor of their fornications^ nr-r ofthdr
Thefts : So chat its evident the Turkifh Empire was raifcd up, and
ftands to this day, as a fcourge of God upon the idolatrie.% and
(liperftitions of the Church oi,Rtme , and upon their niurthers,
and witcli-crafts, and thefcs,by which the whole ChriQian world
hath been abufed t be (e many hundred yeares*
So that then the Angell that powred out this Viall yee heard to
be thofe ten Chriftian Kings , of whom ye read more at large in
the next Chapter : that (hall dry up this Fountaine : that is to
(ay, the ilreames of antichriAian worfbip, and pollution; ''all
ftop the courfc of it. They (hall ftop the courle of tho(e Mur-
therousinquilitiones; They (hall ftop the courie of thofe Thefts ;
and indulgences and pennances ; chey fbail ftop the courfeof
of thofe VVhoredomcs , wherewith Babylon hath bcene made
dmnke;the cup of her Fornication. Now when this ftreame of
corruption is dryedu;) by the reformation of proteftant Kings 5
it (hall come tv» p4fl«',thac there will be a way made for the Kings
of the Eaft-to come in : for yee heard^thatby theKingsofthe
Eatt are properly meant the ycnri* as being ofold called King?,
A royall PricUhood :fb that way is made for ihcm by thisrc-
form.uion ct religion in Chriftcndome 5 The removing of thofe
abuJcs (rowit) of the conuption of religion, and popi(h (m-
peiftition. and idolatry, way is made for their converfion ; and
doe but dry up thofe ftreames, and then you leave 'Bahylcn
dry ; and you leave the furkifh Monarchy weakened .• for the
ftaflfe of thcTurkith Monarchy is the fuperftitionof Antichriftr-
anifine.
From hence therefore yee have heard already thcfe two notes
gathered , and handled : the firft is this, that the dayes are com-
uiing, whcicin Chiidian PrinCcs (Iiall dry up the ftreames of
.nujchiii^iancoiru; linn in Kc!igioi);iAnd thereby alfb dry up the
Fount? JDCi^ of the liieamesof the Turk i(h tyranny.
Jiccondl) jVcc ha\c heard this note (al(b)gathcrcd, and hand-
led. Ihat upon the drying uo of the ftreames of corruption
of
, • ■■ ; . a ■ i j i n i. ■ ■ ■ * < ■>■ ■<■■« i' « ' - ' ' ' ' '•^' "' ' ' "
iheficondpaH of the fixth Fiiatt^ ^ i '
of Antichriftian religion, and of Turkilh Tyranny, way is
made for che coiivedion of the Jerva , the anticnt people of •
God. . • '. ' ••/
Of thefetwowee fpake the laft day ; and thus much was need*^^
full to be repeated, that yee might underhand where wee are* '
To proceede to the next note then , the third that concernes
this Vtall f but the firft at this time -A-Let me Hrft gather the note ^
and then (hewyou how it riles outof the Text ; then give fome '
grounds of it, and make ufe of it as the Lord (hall helpe, thenoce
is this.
Upon the diyingup of the ftrcames of the corruption of reli- ^p^flf •;
gi< >n in Chriftehdomc,the D.agonjthe Beaft,ind the falfc Prophet,
fnall fend forth their choireftint4rjmentsto(lirup, and father
t6gether,both Popifl3,and Pagan Princes, Unto a great battel], to
wichftand the reformation of Chridians, and the cohverfionof
the Jevtes,
This is the fummc. See all thefe points cxprefly , and difiind- '
]y deliYcrcdj^ and fully, inthefetwoVcrfeSjthe 13 and. 14. For*
further then (b I fhall not goc at this time. And this one note
opens both thefe Vcrres,and all the palfages therein!'
Firft yee fee upon the powring out of this ^4Zf upon the river
^uUfhrates , and thp dry inguj) the ftreames thereof, that ivupoii
the dryiogup of the corruptions of religion, fupcrftitloii ;' Idola-
try, MurthcrSjandWhordomes : reftraining and drying up all
fuchFountaines, what followes ? lie faith the Beaft\the Dragon^
and the falfc Prophet , fent out of their mouthes three undeAiw
fpiritSfHI^ Frogs ; ri'hich goe forth unto the Kings of f he Enrth^ knd
of the whole war Idyto gather thejK to the h.ttedofthat^eat day ofG^d
Almighty, -'
To open this dcdldne,and the words a little;,
Firft for the Drtigcfjy tchawciiQard it noted before (frptnthc
12. Rev.^.verfc ) him to be t,he old Serpent, J'^/iriir: but taken*
chiefly as he doth aci, and govern, and divcll in the Roman ftate :
yi fid therefore he isdcfcrihcd to h.iv: ^eavcn kids^ and ten Hornes^
in the third ver^c of the J2 Chapter, But take him as he is Satan
fpirituaiiy , and he hath neither head?, nor homes, Take him as
he governesiJt'We- and (b he hath (even heads, and ten hones* The
fevcn heads are (even hiilcs : And the ten home* arc ten govcrn-
mcntSjWho then is the Beaft ? the Beaft ( as ye have heard) he is
dcfcribcd by the very fame Ch.iractcr^ , fevcn heads and ten
** >rn€$
I
■•"'■ " ' ' -'■■■'■ t i i , „
53- tbeficondpartofthepxthViatU
hornes,i3* i?^z/p* verfe^ It is (aid to be him to whom the Dngon
hath given his power , andhisicat, and great authority 3 it doth
therefore hold forth the Ronton ftatc; not KomeVAgsm nor Rome
ChflftianCas yec have heard) It remainesthcrtforetobe Rime
antichriftian : which is that ? The Rcmait vifible Cathdiique
Church : thats the Hril Bead, which claimes all tlic power by
pretence of reli^on , whick old Rcme^ and the Roman Monar*
chy claimed by force of armes. fVko Is then the falfe Prophet ?
The falle Prophet hee is never mentioned before in this booke,
not by name 5 and yet hee is (jjoken of here OrS 7vellk*}ow»e : It
dfpeares therefore^ this falfe Prophet is the 2 Beaft in 1 3 Rev* 1 1
verfe to the end : Thefecond Beaji^there isfaid to rvorke ijiiiracles:
in the 13 Verfe he doth freat wonders, c^c» Andl% Verfe he deceit
veth them that drve// oa the Earth , by the meanes ofthefe miracles^
C^f. And the famejee fhallrende of the falfe Prophet in the I p Rev*
28 Verfe , The Beafi was taken , and with him the falfe Prophet that
wrought miracles before him ^ with which be deceived them that had
received the mar ke oftheBeafi,
^nd them which worptiped his Intage^ c^rc* The deftription is
the fame of the fal(e Prophet > and of the Bcafl : both of them
holding forth the head of the Roman Cluirch : The falfe Prophet
Jfalaamy the Bifhopt ( or Antichrifl ) oiRome* So that it doth
imply thus much . that the Dragon , and the Devill himfelfe did
ftir up,not the Pope onely , but the whole Catholicke Church,
to gather into fome council], or (bme other (blemne meeting,
Ibmc chiefe concurfe of them, who by common content Oiall
(out of their mouthes) that is to fay, by their commands, their
Cannons, and Decrees, for that is out oftheir mouthes: out of
their commands, out of their edifts, out of their injuntflions,
Jhall fend forth their ftncleane Spirits j Spirits they be for nimble^
neile and a6\ivity , Spirits tney bee for impeuioufhefle , and
ftrength. Spirits they be alfb for clofe and cleanly conveyance :
There is no ftoping the gates again ft Spirits, yee cannot (b flop
the Cinque-ports but they will in j they will enter into any
Court, Princes Palaces, or great mens Houfcs ; thercs no hin-
dering of them , they have a cleanly conveyance, and (ecret
• '■'d clofe pafljge* tAndihey are alfo Spirits of Devills, It is not
theo.dinary word Devill, h'^tDamon^ the which is wont to cx-
pcffi Spirits for their knowledge^ and learning: They are lear-
»*cd rpififs 5 and yet Dcvills for their deceit and mifchcife :
Tte
>^M«»«»«B^P«PMl#MaW««W«MV«HV«««MM««nqP«*'^*F>**l«*«Wi«««^
Ihe fuonipurtcfihejixihyl^ 33
TV are ofjeur Father the deviU^&the wort^ ofjfcur Father ye l»u
John 8 44.Li crs for deccit,& Murtherers for mifcheif^thefe ai
'JiJoet
... , aretfic
rpirits he fends forthjwhicli (urcly comming as they doe, out of .
the mouth of theDragon^and out of the mouth of the headland out
ef the mouth of the fallc Prophet,they arc not fpirits properly
ib called : They are therefore Emiflaries (cnt forth by them, men
of nimble wits, and parts.a&lve for nimblenefle, and clo(ecofi«
veyance : and full of deceit and mifchiefe* And thefc are the
(pirits arc lent forth : and here (aid to be three fpirits comming
out of their moutbes , not as if one came out of the mcuth of
one, and another came out of the mouth of another ; but ali
three of them came put of all their mouthes together at oncci
It is not rightly tranflated here, that he (aith he law them co.m-
ming out ; for the word comming out , Is not in the originall ;
hnt hee faw them oHt ofthofe mottthes^ out of thoie mouthes they
had came ; thence they had their originall , and from thence
they (prange.
Much inquiry there is who they fliould bee ; 1 will •
not trouble you with variety of mens Judgements , The
Dragon is no more here the Turkifli Empire then before, but the
Dragon here is hee that is before called Saran>a^ing/{irn»e, and
fo hath feven Heads , and ten Homes ; which are the Armes
o{Rof»e, as yee have heard before , not Qi'Confiantinople I And
it is hee that confults , and conlpires with the Beaft of Rome to
fend forth thefe three uncleane Spirits- Now if you (hall put
all together that hath beene oblerved by different Interpreters^
and conQder withall what kinde of (pirits the Catholiqae
Church, and the head thereof ( the Bi(hop of /{0f»r)hath croub*
led the Church withall, yee (hall finde they all fall under three
forts : three ibrts of fpirits they doe all ifliie from ; and the(e
have all infpired and breathed into them the very Charader of
the nature which is found in the Dragon , the Beaft , tndthe
fal(e Prophet. There are many rabies of popifh orders, which
were endleife to name now : But they are all (ummed ap inthree
Heads : for all the other are but hangbies, and traines Co them:
all the EmilTarics of Rome ^ the (pirits whereby (hee hath
troubled the Church » they all fall under thefe three, either Car-?
dinalls, Biftiops , or Jefuites 2 and under the Jefiiitet I ranke
all regular Fryers, they are all of them of one nature , regular
• E men
t
I T I ■ , I I ^ , I , __
nil 11 irnrMaiianaMM
•• A
7 he fecoTtdpart cfthjtxtb VtaA^ 5 f
is called Sodom ) fo arc thcfe plagtics of fpirituall Sodsm.
The Frogs they cimc upon them cunningly, and would come
into the Kings Pallaces, dnd noplace could be kept free from
them : Even fuch are t'nefc three uncleane fpirits , no place can
they be kept out from. And like unto Frogs arethcy for their
continiiall croking; nothing but one kinde of tune ; their
own matters tfKjy never leave crokihg of not like theftFrogs here
\vt iAmtrku th*».t have a fevcralituneinccich partofthe yeare,
butihcyarealwayesinone, or two, or three at t he rnoOj either
theCuhollq'i? vifible Church , or the Pope the Judge ofcon-
troverlies , or of vi(iblc fucceffion. And thenlouke jsyccfee
it is wirh Frogs they are moftbufy vich (heir notes when It
growcs darke , and in the heat o' the dty they are a great deall
more filcnr , for then they get them downe Into the mud ; (b it
IS with thcie uncleane fpirits, they ly dole if the light of the
Gofpcll (hinei forth brightly j And if it grow warme in the
zcall 9f the fpirits of Chriflians, then yee here no newes of them,
but they are in fbme muddy places then, they are huflit then :I if
you friould come with a Torch in the midnight they are (ilent
and dill then.
But now when there is want of light,or want of heat of Rc-
ligionjthen it is indeed that thele fpirits are modcroking, and
tumultuou*:, and unquiet : but otherwife if the fpirits of Chritti-
ans and Statc?.men grow warme in Religion, ther's no nolle nor
newes of thele fpirits ; fo thefe are the three uncleane (pirits that
come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of
the Beart , and out of the mouth ot the falfc Prophet. And thefe
three have left a (pice of their own nature in them, theDevill
hath left a fpice of his murther and malice againft religjion, and
well ordered government tending todilbrderj theCithoUquc
Church hath left them hir ftatc andprcheminsncc, llir Lordly
Dominion and fpirituall fuprcmacy, and authority, carving all
before him ; The falfc Prophet hath left them corrupt Doctrine
and corrupt wortliip ; Thele corrupt all where they c<3me» and
with cleanly conveyance in the Name of the Lord, and thus faith
the Lord : when indeed it is nothing but the meeie inventions
of the (infull falfe hearts of the (bnnes of men. To goe on a little
further in the cxpofition of theft fpirit?,
t he J are the fpirits ofDevills, That iscoiayallofadcviPilh
E 2 nature
Hi i m i i fii^.fciSBgaawg'i ^n ■'! \ \ 0*tmm$tm^mm0mmirmmmm9mm^*mmmammmmm^mmmmmmmm>^mm^m0ii^SI^Kmm><'mm^ifi^mww'^
t
''^F*'**'^'^******^*— >*■■— M I U<| |BII I ■! II,
36 '^he ftcondpdttofthe fxthVialL
nature $ they are not Gdds fpirlcs : men they will be accounted
to be, but they are fpirits of the bottomlcfi^ pit , the fpirits of
DevilkjDevilUforlearning^and Deviils for deceit,and Dcvillsfor
mifcheife*
fVori(ini mirAcUs^i 18 a proper worke of the (ccond Bsaft, but
thev are all but lying wondcrs^they come((aich the Apo(lIeP4iy/)
mth all power offgnesund Ijiug vfonders,2 Thff»2 . 9. And theft be-
ing all thus furniftir,the Text tells you,
Thejgoc forth unt<fthe Kings of the Exrth'^y'^Vi^ in this
bodke is meant the Earthly Religion » and (o to the Princes of
£arth]y religion they goe forth . therefore they gee unto the
Kings of the Eirth, And of the whole fVorU ] They doe n ot con- .
taine themfelves in the limits of Chrifiendome, but the othtr
Princes , the Princes of the vv hole world(that is to ^y)to Pagan
Princes,. They would have power to prevent(i fit were polfiW^)
this great mi fchicfe to them(elves , that they might crufhthefe
Chriftian Kings that brought in the reformation; Therefore they
goe forth to the Kings of thcEirth, and of the whole \yorld.
To gather them to bat t ell ^ To the b$tttcll of that great daj of G od
Almighty, yVhiV 8 not the lartjudgcment\as fome have thought)
there will be no warring then; but every day of great .execu-
tion is called a great day of God Almighty. But that ive (ball
fpeakcto (God willing) when we come to it^of that great day
of God Almighty .3 But what day is that ? yce have it expoun-
ded in the ip. Kt-iwj, It is the day of Gods great Snppfr ; that
yee may eat thi fepj cf Kings ^ a*id the fle/fj ejCaptaines^ and the
fippf of mighty r»^t7^ &c» This is the great day of God Almighty*
on which thefe worldly and wicked, thc(c Popifh and Pagan
Pfinces with all their povvcr,and all iheir force8,and armies they
are able to make , (hall come forth again(l the Lord Jefus, and
againd thefe Chriftian Princes,that have becne (crious,and ftudf-
ous in the reformation of Religion , and in the drying upcf
thefc [Ireames of corruption. Thus you fee the words opener^,
and the phine and true meaning of them. I cannot fpcake t f
thecomming cfChrift now, and of the gathering tcgc her to
the great battell of Ar'magcMon , and I uouid nor open more
thcii 2 am ablctofiuifhatthisprsfcBr. Therefore now conlidcr
thcDodlrineagaine, andtheUuchoUc, how. it doth plainly a-
rile from the words of the Text.
Upon
si
t
7hefecondpart efthe/txtb VidU . * g«
U pon the pow rii ig out of the lixth yuil ( chat h Co Cay ). up-
on the drying up of the cui rent , and ftreamc* of the corruption
of Aniichiiaian religion, or Chridian religion f for Antichri({i«
an religion is but the corruption of rd igion in Chriftendomc, )
The Dfagon(that is to Cdy the Dcvill) and the Bcaft ('chat is to
raythe/S6m;i»Cacholiqueviriblc Church, y and the falle Pro"
phet (that is to fay the Pope the head of the Chiirch) did (end
tbrth out of their mouthes C that is to fay out of their com*
niands ) three undeane fpirits, (that is Cardinall&^and Bifhops,
and Jtffiiitej.)
f o llir up the Princes of the- Earth, and of che whole Wbrlcfj
(chat is both Popiftj,and Pagan Princes^ Co a great battdl. ^ To
what end "i ye may fee by the occation of ii,i8 was upon the pow*
ling out the Fia/Iohhe wrath of God upon the (Ireaines of cor-
ruption ^of religion , therefore they would turne the ftream^
a gaine,to prevent the way of the Kings of the Eift ( that is) the
converlion of the lewfs , by bringing In old Idolatry ^d (uper«
fhtlon/pirltuall Adulteries and VVhoredomes^and WiccHcrafts,
for the maintenance ofcheSea of Rome*
Thus you fee the point plaine from theTexcneithcr is there
any difficulty that remaincs for the opening of it, that I doe
di(cerne*
Now then for the fVeafbns of che poinr,and fo briefly to come
to thcufe* The rcafbns are two, why that jupon this drying up
of the ftrcamcs of corruption of Religion theft three great
commanders (hould thus fend forth (iich kinde of Cmifla«
rics, in(\ruments that will bee adive, and- nimble to gather
fuch a fearfuU Battel! againft the Lord ^ and againft his (er-
v.wcs.
The firft reafon is taken from the nature of their Kingdome* ReMi
^ncichrifts kingdom is contrary to the Kingdome of Chrift^
bis Kingdome is not of the Earth 9 theirs are from beneath ; hit
Kingdume is not of this World, ^ But theirs are of this World,
The(c are of the World , faith lohn fpeaking of Antichriff,
in the I M. ^» Chapter dVerff And therefore fmindeyee^
the weapons of their warfare are carnall, full of malice, and
full of envy, and dcvilHQmcfle ; their inftruments are not fbi-
rituall, but carnall, and worldly.. And therefore being thus
fh^kcn as they arc 9 their returne is not to Fafting and Prayer,
E 3 or
aSiit f &r.-*'^j.,t.C'i"V„^" 1. 11 will tu i i i iiii Mna4 . ■ ■ i i p h i [■ mi i < m i i i
gg. rheftcondfjrtofihepythViatt.
or the power of the holy Ghoft , or the power of fj)irunall
gifts, or fo forth ; thc(e are eftrangcd from them : And now
they fill to carnall policy and worldly power , and devilli(b
engines, and mnrumenis, thefe arc He for this u(e. This is one
Reafon.
Rea, 2. The other realon is taken from their Implacable malice and
hatred againft the reformation of religion , and the converfiun
of either /fw or GerttUcy to the Civing knowledge of the Lord
Jelus , there is nothing more grcvious to thcic fpirits then the
proljjerity of religion, they gnafh their Teeth forpaineinthe
iotmtxViall, this is that will vex them more then all the rcf^j
to fee thefe Rivers dried up, and thefe Ureames dryed up, and
now the holy City of Rome blafted ; this doth ftirre them up
to implacable malice , and mlfchiete : and now they care not
who they confederate withall, (b they may crulh the Chriflian
Princes and hinder reformation 5 It was truly prophcfied of
by the ApofUe TW, That evillmen and fedttcers fljall wax
Tpfforfe And rvorfe^ deteiving anh bting deceived, 2 Tiwvtfy 3, 1 3,
So it is with thefe evillmen here , if they (ee they cannot get
viftory over Protcftants, though they have pretended warre
with the Tftrl^f for the recovering cf the holy Land, yet now
they will confent with him j they fticke not v/ho they agree
with,(b they may mantaine their war. To come then briefely to
make fome u(c of what ye have heard : the u(c of the point is thus
much. .
^fi ^* Firfl J it may teach eve- y noble wit , and every aftive fpirit,
and every man of cleanly conveyance , not to pride him-
(elfe> much lefle to bleffe himfelfe , in fuch gifts and parts :
what ever they be pride not your (elves, bleflenotyourfelves
in them ; you fee heere is a Generation of nimble fpirits , and
active wits ; cleanly fpirits , fpirits of as neat and cleanly
conveyance as ever the World faw 5 men full of wit, and full
of dexterity 5 men good for Church ( as they count it) no-
table there ; and not able for the Common* Wealth ; they
are marvelous fit for all kinds of imployment in their owne
wayes, and thats very large for their owne ends 5. and yet
fee they are but made inftruments to the Dragon to the Beafl,
and CO the falfe Piopbet : Co that verily if a man now fhculd
take pride in his gifts , and blcfle himfelfe in the adivenefle
of
» ■ w u Mi ^ fm m X m ■< <i m
t***^*— — **'^"*« tl^— Mi»»>^— KMM^M—t**i»M^fc
rbefecoftclpart efthe/ixtb ViJI. jo .
of his fpiiit, 2nd cleanly conveyance, aplaud himfclfe In fiiich $ '
kiode of inUrge:nents as che(e be , I tell you the Dcvill hath
as quick wUs as yuu are ; andasaftive ipiricsasyouare ; and
men of as dexterous conveyance as you C:in be ; Andtfaec««.
fore never piide your (elves in thefe, they, are (uch at are Us
fit iiidruments for the D<2vill as for ChriO , and many times
the Lord Jc(us takes Icffe delight in (uch as tbefe, then hce
doth in pisii .cr and fimpler men ; Tec fee your caUingBrethrtrt
( faith the ApolHe T^aul ) in the i C<'rmhUnsi»26. How -
that not n.any wi(e men w/fw the flffh , no^many rmghy^ not
many noble are called. It is I (ay ( therefore ) an aba(e-
ment unto all flcfh, and unto ail the glory ofthefiefh ; allflefli
is asGiiffe, and the goodliefl of flcfh and^bloud, is but as
the flower of the Field that fadeth away ; t^keit at thebeft
its but a Flower , but take them as they may bee improved .
by Satan none more mifcheivous , none more active inffru-
ments for the Dcvill , for finne, for Corruption then tbefc
fine quicke ivits and fpirits bee , Thefe nimble wits , the(e
ad^ivc ipii its ; pride not your (elves in thele things I Ay $
(hefe are the mod dangerous if the Lord (et not in to take
hold of them ; pride not your fclves ( therefore ) in thcfc
things , The more learned and witty you bee , the more fic
to aft for Satan wilt you bee if the Lord leave you, the more
neat handed, and quicke witted and nimble fpirited you bec^
the more notable , and profitable will you bee for the Devil),
if hee take hold of you : pride not your (elves f there-
fore ) in thefc , much leflc allow your (elves in facrifice*
ing of thcfe to Satan ; But (ce you doc facrifice your wts,
and fpirits , and dexterity , and what ever you bee, or have
as a living facrlfice to Chrift Jcfus, to his advantage .'orel(e
they will bee improved to the fervice of the Dcvill , and his in-
firumcnts,T he great and monftcrousBcjft, the i?0f;94» Catho-
liquc vi!ibleChurch,and the head thereof, the holy Father the
Pope, as they call him*
Secondly, it may take off the fond doting of the fonnes^yj ^^
of men upon the lesrning of the Jefiiites , and the glorie
of the Epifcopacy , and brave eftate of the Prelate?. I fay
bee not deceived with thefc pompes , and empty (bewes,'
and ;
^hllMMiMifcill^lMMIliMW^'^lfc^i.^^^.^J^^^.^ut.^tA^-.-....,.^.^ >..-^.^.^..^-,. • .. ■^..■^.^^.^. .. ^. -I -, ^
t*iMMMMM«
40 ^beficondpartofthepxthViaU*
and faire reprefentations of a goodly condition before the
eyes of flefh and blood, bee not taken Vrith the applaiife of •
tne(e perlbns , yee have many at this Day., that (land and
wonder upon the reading of the Jeluites , at the witty in*
Ventions , and marvelous dexterity of judgement. They are
ftrong perfwaders, and (Irange pra^idoners of what they
.1 : take in hand : marveloufly are men taken with the firength
■[ \ of their Judgements , and che Itrength of their wits ^ And
dote mervaloufly upon the Cardinalls , and upon the Bi-
(hopa^and upon the Jeluites^ind upon holy Catholique Mother
Church) and their holy Father the PopctThefe are the gods
many of them doe adore.
I pray doe bt\,t looke well upon them all, what are they?
all of them \ Let but the holy Ghoft give his fudgemenc
of them , ( who is onely wife ) let his Counfell bee taken,
and what 1 They are fpirits indeed , but uncleane Q>irit8,
ipirits of Devillf , that come out of the mouth of the Dra-
gon, and out of the mouth of the Bead ^ the Roman viiible
Catholique Church is in the eHeeme of the Holy Ghoft a
monfterous BeaftQas yee heard in the 1 3 Chapter ReveL i Ve,)
And the head of the Popifh Church a iA(c Prophet. And what
are thele nimble wits,and goodly glorious persons yee (peake
of t uncleane fpirits neither fit for meat nor facri/ice, nei-
ther fit for Church nor Common- Wealth.Oh ye will fay
{ they are fit for both ; But (aith the holy Gholl they are
Frogs J and not Church-men fas they call them ) and un-
cleane, and not fit for civill ufe : neither fit for Church nor
State ; but fit to corriipt both, and breed corruption in both :
Frogs they are and their Songs are much what as Frogs
are , If yee mind them their note is alwayes much at one »
either vifiblc iuccelHon , and that's one note ; the Judge
^of controverfies , which they fay muft bee the Bifhop of
Romfy and the Roman Catholike vifible Church the holy
Mother Church as they call it, thefe are their notes, their
Song, but it is but a Frog-like Song what ever they thinke:
and yee (ball ever finde it , that when Religion hath beenc
moft light fome , and Princes anJ States-men have beene
moft warms in Religion ^ then yee (hall here no noife of
thefe
--^ [_ T--['" , '•" ->..>_—_ ^"^-^ '■' —^^^^x^^^^liUi.^.— i>^
rhtficonip4rt cftbepxth VM. ax
thefe Frogs , they ly clofe in tl^e mud ; But when Religi*
gion growes darke once , the (hadow of the Sunne groves
loTft dnd large, when Chriftians wax cold, and CoUrtleri
begin co be Popl(h, or carnall , or I cannot tell how coti-
formable to the corruptions of the times, then they begin
to croke leud, and all things muft be as they will have them:
but I (ay take them as they be , and they are but undeane
Frogs , that doe corrupt both Church , and State. Kad
Lmlnd yee ) they are confederate with the Dragon , the
aft , and the falu: Prophet; Yee (hall finde it in time that
they will be confederate with Tmki^ or Rajpau, fpulioH dr
Jnfdclt , they will be read^ to confederate with them all,
and make no fcrupill of thete things* And yet they ^asmieh
thinke ) are the onely Fatriarkes, and make the greateft flieW
of religion : bee not deceived , you fee how the holy Ghoft
defcribes them* And let thole that are of God learne what
they are •
And thirdly , this may ferve to teach Chriftian Frincis, 4^/1 ^
and States , that when Religion comes to bee reformed, -* ^*
they muft looke for battells , and great battells : There is
00 hope that Satan will reft , the Dragon cannot reft when
his Kingdome is (haken ; And hee hath (iich of his con«
federacy, the Beaft, and the fal(e Prophet, that cannot be
ftill , Efpecially when the ftreames of Rome begin to de-
cay : the ftreames that doe water and refrefti Rome, Then
looke for Warres , and Tumults of Warres , great Warres,
muftering up of Popifh Princes, and cheir Armies, and pagan
Princes, and their Armies , there will be no backwardnefle
in thcfe earthly fptrits , in this ca(e, to the captivating of
all ( if it were poflible ) to the maintenance and fupportance
of Rome, ,
And laft of all, and Co. I make an end. Let this bce^Ve 4,
the laft lift , It may (erve to be fome ground of llay unto
Chriftian Piinces , and fuch as (hall bee inftnuncnts of
this reformation which this fixth Angell brings with him 9
Inftruments of this wafting and drying up of the conup-
tions of Religion which ftiall wille Rome ; I lay chough
great Warres n:ay arife from all the chieFe Princes of the
F World,
4a rheficOndpAft ofthefxtb ViJly
VVorU, both Popifli and Pag40 , and a great day of bat-
tell it will bee when ever th ifc dayes doe (hine forth ( as
hafteing they be, ) why yee (hill fiiiJe chisto be the com-
fort of it , a great day it (hall bee , Ic is (o faid in my
Text, but. not a great Day to the Beaft, nor a great Diy
to the Dragon, nor a great Diytothefalfe Prophet, ( They
looke for a D ly of it , ) but it ih 'II be a great day of GOD /
Almighty ; men arc afraid if they fiirre they fhall bring ^
Warrcs about their Earts , true they fhall doe fo , they
viiW arife ^t once : but though the bacrell will bee great
and terrible , yet never the Icffe moft comfortable to the
People of God : Ic will bee a great Day indeed , but a great
Day of the Lord God Almighty, that hceniay offer a gr<ac
ficrifice to himfelfe by the hands of his fervants , that all
the foules of prey and the beafts of prey may all of them
come J and eate the fl:fh of Kings , and the fl fhof Cap-
taincs, and the flefh of mighty men, and the fl;;(h of Horfes
and of them that fit on them 5 and the flcfh of all men,
both free and bound, both fmall and great 5 It wi!I 1 ^^y
bee a great Sacrifice to the Beafls of prey , and the foules of
prey : It (liall be a great day indeed , but it fh.»ll not be a
great day to the.Papifls, not a great day CQ the Dragon,
nor to the Roralili Catholique Church except it be a great
day of their dilimftion, and that it will be indeed, as yee
fh<ill fee when this battell is to be fought in the nineteenth
Chapter , and they fhall never trouble the World more» that
will be the ifTuc of ic 5 The Dragon is referved to a further
day J but hec fhall bee bound for a thoufimd ycares , and
afterwards fhall mike a great battell with the Saints , but
after that fhall be taken, and then call into the lake f. r ever :
But this will be agrcit day of God Almighty, wherein hee
will powre nicall the/'/W/j of hi« ivrathupojuhe enemies of
Cod, and his peoj-le • that the Nan»c of the Lord GOD
Almighty may bee prayftd from the rifingofthc Sun to the
goifi:» do'vn thereof,
A »'J therelo:ej;rc'at and wondcrfull arc the Workcs of tic
L'^rd that hee dothrc'crve for sftcr ag^s , wherein thelofci-
- ntflc of n;a.i hce will lay low , but his name oncly (hdl
fce
•*«
T T ' .^ '^ ' ^" r/ t -' f I H > *T^'
thefccoftdpariofthe^xthViaS* 45
be exalted , Fftj 2. a. Speaking of a farre lefle day then
this that I am now fpeaktng of ; Ic will bee a great day to
the glory oi God, and ths good of his people' j To the in-
largement of the Church of Chrid, but of deftru6[ion to the
enemies of the Lord Jefiis : That they may be over*
throwne, and taKen and caft into the bottom*
lefle pit, never to rife up againe.
F X
V. .
w O 6 w V C^ 9 M 9 9 V V 9 V ^ ^ V 9 $ 9 V $ 9 9 9 v V ^
THE THIRD SERMON
UPON THE SIXTH
V I A L-
Revblat. 1(5. 15.
Behold, I come Mil tk-efc BUffedU hee that ynttcheth, and
kecpnh hugnrments, left he Vfa/ke naked, and they fee hiijhame.
©)/Y^S?^?¥(S ^" have heretofore heard that theft words
' ' ' • fet forth a dclcriptiuii of the pouring out
I of the fixth-Vial Set forth it is by thefub-
I J eft, upon the great River Euphrates. By the
I effeftSjthey were double : Firft, Immediate,
i the waters thereof were dtyed up. The fe-
cond was Accidentall, and mediate, wirlilie
preparation. The former cffccl of drying up the River,was am-
plified by the end ; That the If ay of the Kings of the Eafl might
lie prepared. The accidentall efftd, (which was warlilte prepa-
ration) was fet forth by a double argument : Firft, by the eiiici-
cnts.Priiicipal and Inllmmcntall. Secondly, by the watch-word
\vhichths Lord gives his people. The clhcients were (princi-
pally) thi.' Dcvill, the Bcali, and the talic* Prophet. The Inftru-
meiitaK \rere ccrtaine fpirits, for nature : three fpirits for num-
ber : Unclcaiie for quality : Like Frogs for fimilitude : Out of
tlic mouth of ihc Beaft, the Dragon, and the fiU'e Prophet : For
their oric;inall which aredclciibcd by their cffcc5ls, which are
three : They work miracles ; They g7e forth to the Kings of the
earth, to gnther them to hattett : And thirdly, They doe gather
them together into a place called in the i1ebre^\ tovgttc Armagcd-
dm. The watch- word which is the fecoiid Ad jiuic'}, obferved
in this warlike preparation, is the watch- word of the Lord Je-
fus to his people (in the words of my Text) there are two parts
a" of
■Y'^ '"* "^••'■■- -- II r I I I I - - -■---■ ^ .
2 The third Sermon upon thefixth VUI,
of it : Firft, a defcription of the manner of his comming : by a
comparilbn taken from the manner of a thieefe ; Behold I come
as a theefi. The fecond is a word of promife,iinto fuch as watch
and keepe their garments at that time. The promife is firft of
bleffednefle to them : Axid fecondly, the prevention of the di{^
covery of their owne nalicdmjfe iind Jhamt : Blcjfedishee that
Vrd!cheth and kccpeth his garment s^ left he \valke naked; and they
fee his fhame. Not to repeat what hath been delivered, that which
off^^reth it felfe here to our confideration,is a two-fold do(flrine.
the firll is this : . , . . ■»
"DoB. I . When Frogs, and uncleane Spirits, (that is to fay) when Po-
pifli InftrumentS fiiall goc forth To gather the Princes of the
f.irth, and of the W'ho/e W'orld, unto baitell : And thofe Princes
fhail go forth to battell againft the Lord and his people. It is be-
hovcmll for the people of God , to behold the Lord J efiis com-
ming againft them, or camming to them as a theefc. That's th«
note : when the Lord expofcs his people to great trials, by the
bufie diligence of thofe Frogs,or by the violent rage of the Bcaft
and Kings of the earth, againft Religion : The Lord then cals his
people to behold him comming upon them, ( 1 mcane upon all
the profeflbrs of the Gofpell) the Lord cals them to looke upon
him comming at them, or camming to them as a theefc. Behold
(faith he) / come as a thccfe. When doth he fay fb ? when thefe
Frogs were let forth : Thofe unclean fpirits or Devils fent forth
to ftirre up the Kings of the earth, and of the ^or Id to gather them
to h':t telly againft the Lord, and againft his people, and againft
Chriftian Religion, and them thxt maintainc it. Then, Behold, I
coine as a theefe : They are the words of the Lord Jefus. Becauic
the notes are double, that the Text holds forth ; 1 muft be briefV
in either of them.
sx/f a thecf2 The Scripture hath refpecft to a foure-fc3uld man-
ner of a theefe comming. He doth not come as a theefe inju-
ftice or robbery : That the holy Spirit of the Lord Jeftis cannot
be capable of. How csn hce fteale any thing from us, which is
not his own : There is nothing but it is his, and therefore in that
fenfc he cannot be faid to come as a theefe, (But yet) as a theefe
he can come fuddenly, and he can come fecretly and (lily, yea,
arid he can coine alfo violently, and terribly, as a theefe.
Thus he can come, and thus he is defcribed in the Scripture to
come J which, though fomc think it to be at the laft ^'udgemcnt^
yet
'^^'^^•'^^'^mcfmmmmtm<mmii»''^mm''^'^i^t^mmmmmmmmmmm
f-r - ' ' ' ' " "^ ^^W
The third Senno»upon thefixtf^f^ah
yet I ctnnot (b conceive it ; for here's a world of bufinefte that
is to be tranflated after this Vial is poured out : above a thoulund
yeers after this, before the coming of Chrill to the laft judge-
ment, but his coming in any notable judgenient> his coming,
cfpecially if it be a coming fuddenly, and iccretly, and power-
fiilly : It is coming as a thief, as ye have an inftancc of itin Rev.
3.3. to the Church of Sardfs, I wl/i come on thee as a thief. How
like a thief? Thou /hait not k»o\>; ^"hat hourlwU come upon
thee. And fo in Luke 12.35?. If the good man of the houfe had
kno^n W^hat hour the thief '^o'u/d come, he Woufd have Watched,
and not havefuffered his houfe to be broken through. But coming
fuddenly, and Iccretly, at unawares therefore it comes to pafl'e,
that the good man of the houfe is alleep, and the thiet" breaks
thorow and Ileak, when all is hiftit then he comes, like a thief
in the night, l Thef.^,2, Tourfelvas k»oW perfeHij, that the d^y
of the Lord fo cometh, oi a thief in the night. So like a thief hee
comes luddenly, and fecretly. Thirdly, he comes as a thiei^ to
take away,and bereave a man of fuch goods as he carnally keeps,
no! tofteal from him, but to recover his own : Though not as a
Uwlerte thief ftcaleth,yet as a juft rccoverer of his fathers goods,
out of the hands of thofe that have not been faithful! in impro-
ving of them, 'fohn 10.10. The thief cometh not, but for tofieai,
and to kill) and to dejl^roj : I am come , that they mie-ht have life,
and that thej might have it more abundantly.
And fo he may come alfo to kill ^ but not unjuftly, as a thief,
but verily as a juft Judge, upon thofe that do not watch, and
keep their garments : He may take their garments, and leave
them nuked, that men may fee their niamc',and juftly too,becau(c
they have not watchcd,but have fuffred themfelves to be defiled.
Thus then Chrill will come at that time (yee lliall have many
men fcrious of Reformation, when the Lord (liall dry up the Ri-
ver Euphrates, that makes glad the city of Babel) when the ten
Kings fliall come to make the Whore dcfolite : the Lord will
then come and try all thofe Kings and their foul.iiers, who ever
they are he will try them : in the Frogs he will try them, fccrett
ly and flily, for ih'jy will not ceafe to be inchanting, as fecretly
as they can, into the hearts of Kings, and all g;odly fpirits ; tQ
turne things backc againe into the rormer courle oi corruption :
into thofe idolatries and thefts, which made glad the City of .
i?^;w^ and which did uphold the 7>r%,
A 2 And
^ 1 -;' ' I -iJjjii ; n .._.... L ' ''*■'■ ■ ■-■^■ »
MMMIteMMiMMMMHMltaiii
,m*tmiutit,m^mm^mti^mrim
A, The third Sermon upon the fix th VUl.
And in the Kings of the earth, and of the world, he will come
upon them as a thief violently and terribly, to (hake the hearts
of all the Kings of Chriftendom (as its called) to withdraw
them from the Reformation of Religion, which they fliall be
zealoudy addidted to; fiiddenly to drivethem to their former fo-
pcrftition of their fore-fathers. So in one fort of theie he will
come as a thief, fecretly and flily ; In the other fort of thefe, he
will come as a t hief, violently and terribly.
Reaf. I . If ye Jliall ask the Reafon of the Point, the Reafon is fhortly
this; Firft, it is taken from the inftrument in which Chrift doth
come , for Chrift is many times rtfembled by the inftrimients
which he ufeth ; if he uP.th inftriiments of a ftill voice, then he
comes not with a rending, but with a ftill voice : fo ye read in
I Kings I p. 1 2. So here he comes hi thcfe luiclean fpirits, for the
Lord a<5ls them ; he comes in Potent Princes , for he is faid to
come in the likcnelTe of thefe, he comes in them both; and he is
faid to come as a thiefi in the likenclTe of thefe Frogs, becaufe.
they come in his Mk^nt^Q.Te pjall have mamfulfe Prophets come
i» my namcy (faith Chrift) Aiat. 2^.2j\. TaKe heed of them, for
they ihall deceive many ; they fliall come (ecretly,a.id flUy, and
play legerdemain, ana by that m.eans deceive many ; an.i they
ihallcome outragiouOy, firft againftthe Lord and his people;
and the Lord comes forth in their rage ; that look as it is faid (by
fomc Interpreters) of P/r///, i Cer.15.32. He fottgl.t\\ith bez-ifis
at Efhefus, after the manner of men ; they interpret it thus, not
that ever he wss put to any iiich triaU (that any probable Stories
mention) in Ephefm, or any where eKe; but he fought ^:ith heafis
at Ephe/M, after the manner oftnen^ bLCau(e,the men o^Ephe/iu
fought with him after the manner of beafts : So Chrift is (aid ta.
come in thcfe men,becaufe they come in the name of Chrift,3nd
plead for the Catliolick Church of Chrift, and the Vicar of
Chrift. Heholdjcome as a thief ^ they are all but theevcs, though
they pr;.t^nd to come in the name of Chrift ; that maybe one
part of the meaning : But yet notwithftanding,this that fuUow*
cth do ! moft of all cleave unto, not excluding that.
This may be another, taken from the authority of Chrift, and
power of Chrilt, in leading a people into temptation, what ever
the inftrum-tnts be; I (ay it is the Lord Jefiis that leads his people
into all kindesof temptation,, whatfoc'ver the inftruments be i
■ If any Prophet be deluded, it lis Chrift the Lord hath deluded
that
mm0ll^f'^^!^^»mmmmmmi§mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmi»mi^mi0mmmmmimmi''mmmfm^ ^^-^^••■••••■^•^■^^■^^•••'••■"•■■■i^i^^w^"^"^"*"^*'^*^ ■ ' "
v. " *
that Prophet: Or if any Tyrants be fetup, it is the tordtnat
fcts them up: Or what ever unclean fpirits come againfthis
Church, it is the I^rd that ftirred them up, it is the Lord that
ftirred them upunto this battell againft his Church, it is the Lord
that ftirred them up , what ever the inftruments be^ be they
Frogs,or unclean fpirits that gathers to the battels of Pray y And
therefore we are taught to pray in (that which is commonly
called) the Lords Prayer {Mat. <^. 1 3 •) Lead us not into tempo-
tlon : We pray to the Lord, that he would not lead us mto tem-
ptation : As who fliouid fay, to the Lord it bdongs,to bring one
creature againft another ; the devil againft Eve, and £ve againft
the devil j the Lord it is that brings the evil, whoever be the in-
ftruments ; it is the Lord that brines his challenge into the field,
he brings Goliahlnto the valley of £lah. And there fore w hen .
itisfaia, I Chron. 21. 1. thiit Satan rofe ttf againfi Ifrael^and
provoked David to nnmber Jfracl, In 2 Samuel 24. 1, it is faid.
The anger of the Lord^as kindled againfi J/r-ael^ and he moved
T) avid Againfi them y to fay, GonumherJfrael andfudah. The.
iorvi was angry with the people, and then he let Satan loofe to
tempt Z)4Z'i/to number the people: It was the Lords doings,.,
though it was Satans ad. And lo, when Micaiah in his Vifion
faW" the Lord Jit ting on his Throne , and all the ho fie of. Heaven
fianding ly him, on his right hand, and on his left. And the Lord
faid, JVhoJhall perf\\>ade cyfhab^ that he maj go up , and fail at.
Ramoth-Gileadf ylndoncfasd on this manner , and another faid
on that manner. At length (faith the Text) there came forth a
Jpirit, and flood before the Lord, and faid, I ^ill perf^ade him,
^ndthe Lord faid unto him, IVhere^ithf ey^nd he faid, I ^i&
go forth , and J Will be a lying Jpirit in the mouth of aU his Pro-^
phets. ttAnd he fatd. Thou fhdltperfWade him, and prevail alfo :
(faith the Lord) Go forth anddofo. 1 Kings 22. ip, 20, 21, 224.
So that (mindeyou) whoever goes forth, the Lord fends him, ,
the Dragon, the Beaft, and the faKc Prophet, may give one
Commillion, but ihit Lord gives him permiflionj yea,and(I
may fay) Commiflion too : For in cffe<5ling the thing, the Lord
doth it; that SiS David faith o£ Shimei, The Lord hath bid him.
curfe mc : (that is to f y) he hath given him elfeAuall liberty^
and opportunity to do the thing, as if he had given him a.
command to doit. If a fdfe Prophet arife (faith the Lord ia.
BcHteronomie^ Chapter 13. Verfe 12.) and give thee afigiij^
aodi-
5
tmmm^mt^Fm^mimmmmmim^frm^
_^y_^\ 1 II j i I i r ' ''^ • ' — — — ■■ 11 ■ ■^— — ^j»^^
3MM«MM
6
Vfi I.
The third Sermon upon thefixth. KUi^
and a wondcT') faying, Let m got after other gtdx. Thou Jhalt
not harken unto the Words of the Prophet, or unto the dreamer of
dreames : for the Lord your God froveth jou, to k»o\>f Whether
jou love the Lord jour God With all jonr hearts, and With all
jour foulet
The Lorvi will iiiffer fuch to come, and this he doth to try his
people, fo that ( mind you ) it is the Lords doings, it is he that
commands a thc.Fe, when he comes like a theefe : it is the Ix>rd
that lends forth fuch that are clothed with Ilieeps skins, but in-
wardly are ravening wolves ; though they have no direft com-
miilion from God, yet they have liich fecrct permiflion from
God, and commiflion by giving them oportunity to do that
which they come for; that mdeedthe Lord comes: Beloved^
ttnnkjt notfirange (faith the \^\ Peter y \ Pet^,12,) concerning
the fiery triall. Which is come to try you, as though Jome jtWange
thing hAppencd unto you. He means the ten Perlecutions,the Per**
lecutions in Nero's time, and thofc that were to follow. Let no
man think it ftrange; why? for judgement mull begin at the
houfe of Go»"l, fo that (mind ycc) all the fiery trial?, what wer^
they but the judgements of God : God fends them forth in his
fatherly wifdome, and by his Soveraigns Authority, to try the
patience, and wildome, and watchfubiefle of liis people : And
thtrtfore it becomes the people of God, when they fee fiich
creatures budge, and when they fee the Kings of the earth ftifre:
then. Behold, faith the Lord, / conte as a iheef, fuddenly,{ecrctly,
flily, and violently.
And the ufe ot this point fcrves to teach us neither to juftifie
men,nor to conderane the Lord Jefus, for that were a finfol vio-
lating of the Scripture.Let it be therefore a caution to tc3ch us to
avoid both thefe, and neither to juftihe theft, nor to condfmne
the Lord j it is not the Lords meaning, but make account of this,
thoi^h the Lord come as a theefe,that doth not juftifie thtfr,but
aggravate the fin of thtft : If a theef fhall make ule of the oppor-
tunities, which the providence of God puts into his h:;nd,of the
nimblenefll* of his wits,, and the authority he hath in his fpecch,
and the powre he hath with Pruices : I fay that man that ihall
abufe fuch things as are given him of the Lord, this doth not ex-
ailc their fin, much le(Te juftifie it, but it aggravates it, and they
iliall find it fo one day. It is a very divine Ipeech of our Sayioiit-,
lohn Ijp. lO^ii.P Hate faith to him, KnoWefi thou not that fhave
• poWer
itm
■«i
^NF
i^tmrmF^^'r'mmm
mrnfim'
I , - I - ~ III — - - ■-->'-■ ■*->'^-'^*
The thirdsermon upon the fixtbF'UL 7
boWer U crucifie thef, a^nd have poVfer to bofe thee I Uj us aHpS^e"
rcd^ Thou coftJdcfi have no po^^er at all againft me, except it i^ff^
given thee from ahve t therefore hee that delivered niee unto the€
hath the greater Jinne, And it implyesalfo (aildit had been a
wholefome leflbn for Pilate to have fiickt out of it ) that it was
the greater finne in Pilate, to abufe his authority, to condemne
the Lord JefiiS.
For I»d.i^ to betray Chrifl to the J ewes Ecckfiaftical Autho*
rity : and for the Jewes to deliver Chrift into the hands of Potu
tins Pilate, it was a great fin^ and lb much the greater, becaufe
P Hates authority was of God ; and they would arme the fword
ofGodagainftthe Lord Jefus : And if Pilate had the power
given him of God either to crucifie Chrift, or loofe him : if he
fliall abufe his authority, inputting Chrift to death, as he did:
Then he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater jinnes : But ,
thou then that doft abufe thy power, to crucifie me, fhalt bee
found very finfiill in the end : So that, that will not excule any.
Inftrument for abufing the power for fuch an end. If God raile
up Pharaoh (Exod.io 16.) to make his power knownej and to
declare h'sname thorow-out all the world: If he fhallaLufe this
Authority, the more heavy will the wrath of God be upon him ;
and it will not be for him and fuch like to complame againl^
God ; and fay he hath ordained me to it ; Oh man W'ho art thou
that dilpftcfi againft God : for God never doth it, but being o-
yer-;uftly provoked by the creature. Therfore fb much the grea- -
ter is the fin of any that will abufe their wits and parts in a way
of fin againft God : And therefore it muft tt ach men to beware
of excufing theft: And neither is their luirighteoufiieiTe in Chrift,
For the Lord is right eom in all h/4 ^ayes^and holy in al his ^orki»
Pfal. 145.17.
He doth not thefe vncl:?an fpirits,(CardinaIs, Bifliops and Je»
fuits) any wrong ; but even as the Scraphims cryed one to ano-
ther, fo let us Ittim, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hoafis ; the
W'hole earth « full of hie glory. When is* this ? When he fer-ds
Jfaiah to harden the hearts of the people, and make their ears
deaf, Jfa.6, 3,-10. So that let the Lord and his Throne be guilt-
leffe, and let guilt Ive upon thefe theeves; theeves and robba:s,leC
them bear the burthen of their own fins.
If weaiikhow this can be imagined? e^;^ All this aftix^
with theeeves is an accidentall concurring ^ in all thefe things
the
f_ ---L I * ^^^ *■ " *■ ■■■■■ ' I I, 1 * 1
■fiA-.l^-^^li^A^-*"
r^
t •
Th th/rd ScymGHupoa tJ/efixtt* F/V/.
• • • » * *
are fallen, they ard'iibt worth half, nofpt inay fcc^) on8 third of
that they were* the Lord hath Vione this, iic hath coiAie upon
us on a liiddcn lik<> a thiefi' dnd blefled be his name for if;
Second ly, it helps us in the ufe and improvement of them all, .
it iiaturally leads men by the hand , to Jiumblo themlelves under
the hand of God : and this is the onely way toobtain 'cfefive-
ranco, l Peter ^.6, Humble yotfrjctits Hftdtr the TKtghn hand
of God, that he rnh) exalt jr.u i:i the time : Its not the calualtics
or calamities of the Country that comes either by chance, or
. ortune, but from the Lord, lie tak'eth away all, by one means or
another, takes away :ill ; whether by o.ur pride, that we mule
have evciy new falliicMi, and be like the men of the world, in
houies, a])parcll, and th;^ Ilk'-, or daiiitinefl*c,that we mull have
our vai icties, be it what it will be, though it coll never (6 much;
and no matter Avhat follows, though itcatiipour ellates, and
brings us into want : The Lord hath made ule of our folly, and
pride, and daintineflc*, our idlcnefle, oar covetoufiicffe, (or what
ever it be)to bring us into po vcrty ,the Lord hath done it; and let
I lie people of CI od I'ec the hand of G od in it.
Thirdlv, it leads vou by the hand in all the iad changes thit
paiTe over you, to look to the Lord, and to wrcltle witi* the
Lord, and not to Rand wrcftiing with nivU : fticcl' he is in trou-
ble, and he wreftles with the Lord, G:>:rJ:s ^2. 26. And lb it
behoves the Lords people to wixftle with the Lord, and Hot to
(laid coiiteltiiig with the Bifnops, nor with tliejeliiits, asit
maybe men may do: No, no, prevail with the Lord, and get
him to turn ;ill thiiigs r;bout ; and x^J.tcnb get God to blelVe him,
Ehirt fnuU not (thin) curfe him. 1 will not let thee go till thou
blciTe iitl; and iFthe Lord bleiVe Vir-^h, hCr.u iliall be ciu'sM.
And iuiilv , it w'H holn vo:i to quit your felvc;; !iAe men in all
(he th:ii::s thit ao bcfail vou ; I'.s /\r.v/ ihith in i C^jrlithla-nr 16..
13. (rodh^ah i^r ur (lailhlhc Apoilk) r^pj?: t:7'h(::t7r, (is tlac
word is In the onC;:iV.i!I ^ i Cc? .v.7 ;';.:;// 4. ^.) r.r.i ^^ the \Vor/l, .:r.d
:r.:to ^ir.jdsj n.:d ;-;.';cr ;/.v7; .j thcr^^forc l:iitii he, .y/z/r y^ur iclves
/f';;f ^77^*;, as Hch. ^^-3 5*) C^ijl r-ot iiV^\ y jcr.r co:if:,'lc},ic^\K'hich
hitth ^yci-ir yccwvpcicc oj rC^Wri*^ for yr kuve r^^cdof j),it!cy:rc\
dec. It br^hoovcs ChiiPcians to quit ::icrntllvi.s li^c nicii,lin^'^n^y-
iiiGT the Lord in all co'.vditioas, in af/ii. lions and croIil\s' wrelt-
lin::' with him to turnawiv th "le thi.u% ani to turn us hem all
our evil wiycs ; and then walking in a holy leli-dcnlall, and in-
13 tegrity
FT^^*^*^*^^'-**^^*^''*-"*'*^"*'"''**^'**''*'^"'^^ '-.-' '■■^-^^^^ - ,--- — ^- -^^ r-ifiii
MMH
xo
The third Seirmonupon thefixth rial,
tparity of heart and life, giving every man Jiisown : And f«
Wnile we walk inpathes of holineffe and righteoufiiefle, . in hur
xnility and meekntife of {pirit ; unclean fymis may come oiK
agaiiift us, and the Lord come as a thief upon us, aim yet when
he doth,, we (hall keep our own garments. So much for the
firfl: Point. .
The fecond Note is this ; that
^ocir.2. A watchfiiil Chrii^ian that keeps his garments in times of
fraudulent, or violent calitmities, or triail> injoyes his own blel-
fc^dnefle, and prevents the (hamefull dilcovery of his own na-
kedneffe.
Its evident in the Text,. Behold, I come m a thUf: Biejfed is
l)fthat"^'atcheth i andkeffrthhii gdrmsnts , lefi he W'alkjfaked,
And they fee his fhame. He that watcheth, and keeps his gar-
ments, when Chrift cometh he is bklfed, that is^ he in joycs his
own hleHednelTe, and increafcth ir, and eftablifheth it ;. and he
Oiall by this means prevent the difcovery of his own (hame and
nakcdiieffe, or his (hamefull nakedneffe.
^ef,. What are thefc garments, garments in the Plural!
Number ?
^nf\\\ They are interpreted briefly in the i p. Chapter of the
KevcLitlen , Verfe 8. Thefinj Unven is the ri^hteauf»ejfe of the
Splints, There is a double righteoufnefle of the Saints ; there is
an inherent righteoufnefle, and an imputed righteoufnefle : Ai^
inherent righteoufnelTe, He that doth righteo ft/he ffe, is rtghteotis,
2 J ohii 5.7. There is a righteoiidiefle therefore of a mans own,
to wit, fpirituall graces j ZSyZjchary a^id Elizabeth \X>erelfoth.
rigiteoy^ before God, Luke 1 .6. And it is well obferved by fbme
ff t f >.* * f f f t f Tt« *f* t**fl
2nd hath no fpot in ity but it is not bright, you can fee no great
sr.itttT ill i" , it maketh no great llic^v b. fore men : A man may
be very much ddik'd, and be Tub j eel to many fcandals, and yet
cloathcd with the garment of imputed riditeoufncfle; the righ-.
teoafnefle inherenr,is the rightcouliieffe of a godly hetirt and life
tcforc men • . Lctyiisr light (ofhine. before men, rhaf they may fee
jQur^ocd ^oik:^ Matth. 5.1^. The righteoufhsffe of Chrill im-
■•MwnMHOTiiii < »*^'mmmmm''^mmmmm^mr'^mim'mtmmm''mmm'^'^^
- ■ - - ■ ^ ''^'' ■ ■^'*
Thi third Sermon upon the fixthKiai^ 1 1
piitcd (f mean the righteoufiieflc of Chrift received bj'fkitii,
aiid imputed by grace, is a pure righteoulheflet liat Qiines before
God , and not before men. But the righteoufiicfle inherent,
thats not pure, (but very bright^ before men. Thei*e is therefore
a righteoufntfre that is vr»y bright, thuts the righteoufneite in^ :
hereiTt , exprcfled in our converl'ation ; and there is another
righteoufncfTe^to witjtherighteoufiicflb impated, which is in-
comparably more pure : As it Iiath been faid of old^ There is
not the poortft Saint, though Laz^ms on the dunghill, tut is
as pure as the Vix^mAiary.Phil. 1.8. So then thole are the
garments , cloathed in bright and in ptu*c garments : And thefe
garments are the rightcoufneffes ot the Saints. Cjaiments^
why ? To cloaih our nakedncfle, for our naturall cornipt eftate
is nakedneffc : Now both thefe are given to cover this, naked-
ncfle of ours ; thefe Indewments, rightly fo called ; Jndow-.
mcnts,or luduments, Knowlegde covers the nakcdneffe of our
Ignorance ; Zeal covers the nakednefle of our Luktwarmne(J<;
VVifdom covers the nakedncfTe of our lolly, Paithfidneffe co-
vers the nakednefle of our UnFaithfulnefle and falf-heartcd-
ncflc ; Humility covers the nakedneffe of our Pride ; Patience
covers the nakednefle of our PalTion j Clialbtyccvers thena-*
kedneflb of oui- VVantonnelle ; and the Righteoufnefle of
Chrift covers all : And as garments cover the nakedncfi'e, lb.
they keep ns from the mjurivs of weather, Wct and cold,&c.
lb do thcfc garments keep us from, all injuries in the world ; all
temptations From the devil, or our own corrupt lufts: And
thty do adorn us alio', in the fight of men , and make us beauti*
fiill, amiable, and glorious, as our garments which are not onely
for nccciTitVj lut comelinefle. • • :
Now, Bl-lfrdishe that Watchcth, andkcepeth hii ^MJnetit s : ' •
Which argUL'th, that our garments are kept by watchfulneflo;
watchcth unto what ? jVutchcth untop-aycr, i Pet.4.7, M^atchi
(faith our Saviour to liis flcepy Dilciplesj ylAt/. 26. 41. And,
IVatch f4»r» the IVord : }Vhne>^ithall pjall a yong mnn cleanfe hii
\V4r •* ^y taking heed thereto according to thy JVord, Pfal. I ip.p.
Watch unto Prayer, and ^vatch unto the Word, and watch imto
your convcrfation and wayes, and then keep your garments and.
your felvts clean 5 and then watch to the ipeciaU duties of your,
calling: Bleffed are thofe fervan' s ^hom the Lord Vohen he comcth'
PMllfind: Xvatching, (Luke 1 2.37. j Verity J faj unto yoit, that he
- B 2 " ff'lil
«HMM*I^M«M»Ma%«MM
X i Ti^i? ^i^/j'is^ Sermon upon the fix th P^ial.
fmiRgird himfeifiattd make them taf.t cl9\W at meatytwd Will come
forth and fervethlm. Then Peter CaidHmo himy (ver.41.) Lord
j}eahcfithopt thU'ParahU to m^or even to. all f yindthe Lordjaid^
JVhots. thfitfatthfffllandwife Steward, Whora his Lord fjall makg
ruler over his hotiPio.ldy, to give them t^ieir meat in due feafon ?
Blejfed if th.it/crvant , Whom hi/ Lord When he cometh Pullfinde
Jo doing : in the 22 and 43 vcrftsoF the fame Chaptrr. VViitn a
man \yutchcs to the improving of his oiling,, unto thole good
ends, for which God hath given him it. Why ? Blejfed t-uhat
man. Which When the Lordcsny.th^ hd (h.iil. fndefo doinf. And
Fourthly, he vyat-ches unto \\\s own heart, that he does not triifl:
ti> his* own righteouliielVe ; and runs away from Cjod by deceit-
tiiineile and unbelief of his own heart : Take heed (laith the
Apofl:le)./<r/? there be in any of yoM an heart of tnihilitfy to depart
from the. living GodyV{x:h. 3. 1 2. And To, Watchfulncfl'e isoppo-
leduntoDiownnefrejCfpecially higood duties, Luki; 6.^i..\i is
oppoicd to Senliiality, Luke 21. 34,3 5*3^. it is oppolld alio to
canviU Security ,. 2 Thejf. 5^ 2, 3, 4. So lie now by this means,
whileil a man watcheth luito prayer,, watchethto the Word,,
watchithto his calling, anvl watcheih over his own unclean,
corrupt ,. and dcceitfuU heart j Hence it comes to pafle, that he
keeps his garments (o bright ;. in one word) jie keeps fiiith and a
;ood conlciencej and f-ith helps him to keep hisgannents : He
:eeps hoLhiefle aiid righteouliiclfe, and all iskept m this holy
way. So that by this nicnnSjWhat evjcr theeves or robber's come,
t mans g^trmcnts are keptxlean ;, he is not gulled out with thofe
l^rogs,. nor Priglted Qr tyiedout with thde Kings of thecal th. .
So (hit by thfs-mtans he.iloth not lluw his own nakedndVe, but .
doth m joy his own b k HI d nt {(l\ . -
Kcaf, I, For the Realbn of this P.ohit briefly, and fo come to the Ufe.
The. Hcafon is taken from the Lords gracioufnefle , and tender
rtl'pecl- to a watchfuU Ipirit. - v ' • !
It. is (as 1 remember), one of the aboundanttft.promifcs of
grace that iiniude to any.el^ate ot (iodspeople,that he makes to .
a wutchfuil hf artp i.i the fore-mmed plate in Ltike i«. 37. Blef"
fed are thofe (ervants Who^m the Lord When.he comm^tii [bull fnde
.Wntchiri'f : \vhy, wherein lyeS;iheir.fcK*flitfdncifc?i7i>rZ^r/^'(laitI| .
the. ie^t) I7]t^,l^irdupkimfilfe^9djif<f0ke them tpjit daWn.ia mcAt^
Mnd Will come forth and, fine them, K wcltgirt Chriftian fcath .
c>< r a ,well"gir t Chrift to jniniftcr .tftlumi;.tlatasiiii5^ gaurments
r
''tHmm0mmmmmm0^^mmmmammmtmm^^^
iv/ ^la^-} ami lu ii!u>it^> uiiiuiayv.!
US, he will liipply us, and carry j
And a Iccond Reafoii is take
corrupt n ture, elpccially in a C
Chrilkia;i wiUblulli and be allia
CJod and men. O nty God (raith
to lift up my face to thee my 6W,
over QHr heady 3cc. UngiitnclV<
with Jliamc. 1 fay, iFthis be th(
kedncilc of it, that a man is not 1
his body, as a ChriftianoFthe
then (jnind vec) he that watche
joycs his own blefl*edn€fl*e,and \
of his own nakedncfil'. The ufe
t irft, it may teach us, hosv tc
nature both of iin and righteoufi
tion of both. Look at your paiTi
look at ail your naturall parts : \
over-powred with holy piftsot
nefll* and ihame of a man. If a i
not Gods will, the fliame of ftii
heart. A fpirit that is not lively
drowfic, it is a Ihametiill naked
ihamc of a man; Pride is the vet
htin(<»l£> fhi* <Tr»ni4liVlV nKjilI. nix
•
»
Tht tbird%irm%n uftn thefixth Vidl. 15
dreams of jE/^/i&r/rr^//that makes glad hone bu^Carctinats, aiid
BHhop Sy and carnall hearts^ whatfoever is a fupport to hew Sk-^
bjlonfiv old; whatfoever maintains Popifli Idolatry^ or TiirkifH
Tyrannie : But to beftir themfelves like men , that io the work
of the Lord may go forward, and the ftreams of the River Eh-
phrates may be dryed up ; what ever maintains Popifti Idolatry,
or. Turkilli Tyrannie , that ail this were drycd up. What a caiife
of joy would this be to ail the people of God I If ye hear any
ill news from our native country, you will hear nothing but
iliamefulnc(re dilcovercd. If men be not watchfull, fliamcRil-
nefTc in Docflrine, and lliamcfulneffe in Worlliip, and ("hanieful-
neffc in Government will be di{covcred,if men be not watchfull
at this day : For now is the time that God goes about to pour
out the Vials of his wrath upon the Throne of the Beaft, to dry
op the Epifcopacie. And ye iTiall fkiie great way made for the
drying up of the river Euphrates , for it will fiid<lenly be dryed
up. I fay (therefore) it behoves men in this time efpecially to be
watchftill; and therefore let us pray for our Brethren, and for
our felves in this regard , that the Lord would gird them and us
clofe, that our lamps may be burning, as men thit are bound to
dry up this n\cr Euphrates, that- makes glad i? <?«;(?, but fad the
hearts of Gods people.
Laft of all (to make an end) it will be a ground of comfort to Vfi j.;
all watchfull Ibuls , to whom Chrift comes as a thief; anvl y\X .
when he doth come he findes them watching, and girt: (If the
food m.in of the koufe did i^r<7\V \V^r« the tlusf ^ould cajne, he
\\^ouldff*rclj ^X'atch, and not fuffer his hdufe to be broken through-, .
&c.) I fay in fuch a cafe as this is ; if the Lord give up the fpirits-
ot men (as 1 doubt not but he doth) thofe that are fo, take it for •
your comfort ; yec that are clofe girt, cary it home as an encou-
rj^cment unto continuall watchfulncffe. Such as walke before .
him fpiritually and watchftUly, marke what the Lord promifeth
you, for yec (ce what the bkifednelTe is which the Lord promi-
feth. He fhall not have bleifcdnelfe only, but he is a blelfed nian.
Bleffedishe that^atcheth^ he /bail enjoj the Lord Jeftts Chrifiy .
and all S over aigne good, HcWHllgirdhim/elfe, andV^ill jtM do'^ne
at table and minifler unto jouy Luks 1 7* ?• A man will hot fay fo
to his fervants. But (mind yee) here's a diflFeraice, that if fo be
a man have walked with a watchfull frame of fpirit, the Lord :
will ferve him.A man that hath kept his garments without fpot, ^
the..
III 1 1 ._■ • - I ■ ' 1^.—
■uH
MiiMlMi
■ti^
btsts
LJ,g ' J.L" ' 3 ff
MH^MiAMni
lH tf !■•
^ 71&^ /i5^/V</ Sermon upon thofxth VtaU
the Lordfo well approves the frame of hisfpirit, asthiat hewili
gird himfelf^ and \viU fcrve him, (that is) ready prepared to do
luch a foul good. . '":'••
He fliall Hiide him at flipper, he (hall finde him at the ordi*
nances , at evety fpirituall duty he (hall finde him ; at lead, ie
will not be long,biit he (liall finde him. I fet aflde extraor dinaiy
cafes of tiyali, times of temptation and tryall, which may come
upon any of Gods ftrvants ; and thefc fliall not be long. The
Lord will hide them under the fliadow of his wings, andpre-
fcrve them from ihamefull fals ; or will hide the rtiamefulnc(re
of th;;m ; and the Lord will for die prcf^nt be girt clofc to you :
He will be ever and anon helping you in all trials and tempta-
tions, when you have moll need of iiim, then ihall \d finde him
ready to be mofc near you. And therefore it is a marvellous com^
fort, and (lay to a Chriflian wiiomthe Lord hc'lpsto be thus
Vv^atchfuU: He will be a Sun, andafliieldj and no good thin v
Wu/l he Withhold from them thr.t Walk^ thus upricht/yW" th him,
Pl*im 84. II.
i •
T H E
\
• '
;/J
• t '.
• • .
• - • >
«' . •
WP
i- » nw*
^WMViK
mm*
'^ i wi w
THE
FOURTH PART
V P ON THE
SIXT VIALD
R.EVEL. l6. 16:
'AHd heguhered ihtm together intisfUce, called in the JFe-
brev tiHgue htmigtiiou.
S>^i1^>; H E S E words »rc the lad part, o£ the defcriptioa
^^?1 IIctP of the Eirent that followcth , upon the powring
Ij'q^ Y0^ out the fiallodhi fixt Aniell, and in them is
!;|^J$H fet foith the Efficacy ot thofe three Spirits of
wSiiiSs DivcUs : who as [hey arc dcfcribed , by their ef-
feft of working miracles, and going forth to gather men tqthe
Bactellof thegreatdayof <?(>3Almighty,t««r. 14. Sotheydo
preyaile,they did gather them togecher intoa field, wh. rein
the Battell was fought, and that is called in the Hehm tongjc
jirtnagtiim.
The place it felfe is o( much difficulty, and much variety of
Interpretations hath bccnemide of it, Imiynot iu much as
reckon them up, much Icffe fpend time to refiite them.
hi a word, two things are chiefly to be opened; Firft who
is that [Hif J of whom it is fiid , [ Hetgiuhtred them together -
&c.] Secondly what it this place* Thirdly why is it dtfc.-ib-
ed in the Hetrev tongue. Fourthly what is this unco Chiitli-
an Kings, And fifcly whe:cfore is this SacccU fought here ■'
B b H»
'"''^'-^'^^ ■■ ^ - • "- y\\
riifa
Thejixt riall.
I . Pifg4thrad them together, ] Some anderftancfit of the Lord
C7i><^Aujiighty, and fo ic might well be meant > for it is'hc that
gachtxech the Nations together into the Va'lcy of lehofaphat,
loel 3. 2. ThcUi^h that be not infant ol this Armageddon^ but
is Ipokcn of, KeveL 20. 8, 9, The Lord indeed, may not bee
excluded from this worke, yetbccaufe the fame word \s ufed,
ver. 14. and i: is an ufnail phrafein that language, tojoync
Vertex of the fingu'ar number 10 ntuter Subftaotives of the
plur&il, th;rcfore I would traoflatcthis Verbe of the fiiigu'ar
Niiinber in chc plural!, and fay | they gather edthem^z\\c:y went
forth to pcrfwadc them, and iheydid prcvaile m'ghtily with
them. For the word in the native and proper meaning of that
language, \^ to be iranflatcd in another Language in the plu-
rall Number rather then in the Singular* . ' ., .
In:oa place called {^/ymageddon'^ thcrcbcthsLtranflatc it to
S» fignifi: the d£{lru(5l:ionof a froopc, now that may agree to a-
ny place under Heaven j And I know nocthen why itfliould
beexpreiTed in Hebrew i A Greeke woxA mij^ht havetxpreflcd
it as well. Some doeinrerprct it to bee the Mount of delights,
whicli the Turkcs (hall compafle ; but you fliall findc that this
is not that Bi-tc I ; that ii it which fliall be fought in the Val-
ley of fehofaphat ^'though they be ufually confounded by Inter-^
prefers^ but that Battell to which they arc here gathered , is
fought in the ip. chap, ver, 17. to 2 t • The Battell of Gag and
(Jlfagog , which is in the valley of lehofaphat, is fpoken of in
the 2o. chapter of this booke ; therefore you read that the Dc-
Wllwa.'iboundathouland ycares, and then loofedout of Pn\
fo::, and at lin[;th caft iutothe Lake that butncth withfire,ani
briiiillone ; (Rev, 20, lo .) where he found the Beajf ap.d the
filCcProphetf who were both call in before, T^v. Ip. 20* So
that I dare not undcrftand it to be meant indcfi iitly, nor of the
MoHfit of delights ; for I know not why they here fpoke of
( to wit Chriftian Kinc^s) fliculd g<>e to lerufajem to fight this
Battell ; their bu^intfle will lye neerer home. And whcrc-
^sinanythinkc that the /^B»tf/ fliall have a great ftrokc in this
ButijU, I dare not confent unto that, bccaufc there is but a way
prcpircd for them in this Vtall', they fliall comc.in the ftventh
Viall't Thefe things put me off from doling with thefc , and
Inch like Interpretations : what then may be the meaning here-
of?-
ArmagedJom ■
wmmtm
llMM iMKIfcM „ ^Mfa«h
7lefixf KUll
Armageddon doth fignific the hillof MegiddcHt for Majgei*
d^Q»t tyS Megiddon are but di^srenc wriciogs holding foich che
iame thing : Bac why fliould ic be called chui^ Qiatl this batccll
be Foiighc iherc ? there is no light for that. But as hee (bm;-
times callech %of»e by che names of Sado»e$ and ^gnt i and
Babjlon^h^ciiUiQ of their necre relembUnce one to another : So
this is callsd Arm^geddoHf bccaufc of the ncere rcfcmblancc of
chat batecil fought in this H.ld , unco thofebatctls which were
fought in Megiddon inoldcimc ; For it is ufuaii in the Propbc-
Ccs of the New Tcftament » to allude uacothingsl fpoken of in
the (M : Now you may remember that three great battels have
b<:ene fought in ^jmegiddon, and I conceive thac the Holy ^hofi
niakcf h the events of the batcell here fought , to bee like the
events of thofe battels.
ftVft there vj^s fought the bactell of *De^orAh and Barat^Z'
g-ainft fatfin and Sifera which (the text faith) was by the wa-
ters of Megiddo, Indg. 5 . ip. This battell ended in a memo-
rable and joy full vi(5loryjCt:lebratcd with a/oyfull Pfitimejudg,
5.,This Overthrow t here given was dteadfull to all their advcr-
farics, they deftroyed them all, and favcd not a man of them:
an eminent vidory it was , and therefore Deborah praycth,
fo let all thine Enemies perifli O Lord, ver* 31. And David
praycth concerning Gods Enemies » doc unto them as unto
Sifera^ asto/4^/«atthe brookeiCy/#», which periOicd at Ett»
dor&c. And like hereunto will this battell in Atmageddon be,
when thofe Canaamtes which have opprcd'ed the Church of
God fliail be opprcfled , and cruflied in pieces by the 10. Kings
that fliall rife againft them.
There was a fccond bartcll fdiight at Megiddon^ and that by
lofiah and Phar/toh Nrchoh who met loJtah.tMfgiddoyZndH^w
him there, 2 . Kings 2 3 . 29. whereupon there grew a great La-
mcntariotijin fo much, that all IndAh and lerpifaUm mourned
?oi foJiahy^xViiMercmiah lamented for /o/74^,andaUthe(iiging
men and fi;iging women fpake oflojtah in their Lamentations*
2 C/jr*». 35^24, 1 J. And hereupon /tfr<?jwi<i^ wrote the bookc
oK Lamemations, as if he had feenc the City ruined» their wjves
raviflied, ihcir children tolTcd upon thcfpearcs of their Ene-
mies I bccanfe the breath of Clitirch and Common-Wealth,
and every Family v/as choaked in the death of Tofiah. And
the like E(fc(^ of mourning Hi all this battell fought in ^rma^
A a 2 geddon
MMwa
4 7kefixf hsUm
j^idd«9ff orkc id the Itwis ^ and {hall become the rife of their
calling • when as they {kail fee the mighcy power of Chrifi in
rooting out all I(nage*tvor{hip « and worlhippers chat have
So long time hindered them, from comming to the knowledge
o£ the ^'fjjidti then{h>ll there be a great mourning amongll
them » as tne tnourning of HadaJir$mt3t$H in the valley of J^"
geddotttZseb, 1%. I0| 1 1. Therefore it isfpoken of in the
i/<^r^)v :un»ue, bccaufe this ffiall befall the Htbrcw people,
a^ vviKn you ready Kev* ^, xi. that the King of the bottom-
UHc pit hsth his name in the Helnw^ AbM^Ui and in the
Cree)^ tongue jA^oUoff , it is to be onderftood that hce is ade-
laoyti both unto the J ewes and Gentiles i and if you {ball af-
terward heare of feme that ling HaUhj^y know of a tru:h
thai it principally concerneth thofe, in whofe language it is
fpoken,Cfor every Nation is to praile God in his owne Lan-
guage: J fothebattell willbefoU;»htin Armdj^eddon, bccaufe
as ic will be a great defti iiflion to Gods Eiiemics» fo it will pro*
duce a penitcntiall, and comfortable mourning at the length
unto the liwes,
5. But why is it called the Hill of MEgiDDOtl^ thcfe
battels were fought in the valley? therefore the Holy Ghcfi
would Kot expreflc ic barely by the name of Magiddt , that
fo he might point be fides thefe , ac another battcll which was
fought \i\ the hill of Megiddon : now the hill that looked over
this valley, was Metrnt Gtihd, where the battcll was fought by
the *Phififliws againll SahI , upon whofe overthiow David
was crtablifiied inthtKingdome; The men of Ifratl and S4*/,
iiid his f Juncs fell downe (laine in Ji^onnt GtlhoA , 1 S^.m. 31,
^ $• From hence wear 54«/roenq'iire of th: VVixh at Sndor^
Siid that was in the valley o^ Megiddtn ; (o they were nigh one
to another , for *BAral^ battcll with Sifera was fought neerc
V W*r, TfaL 83 . p, 10. Thus w ce have an allufion to all thefc
three noiaUlc andtocmorablebattelS) whereas had he faid in a
place in t he i/^^r^n' tongue ^f/^04»then had hee limited the
allu{ion unro Sauis battcll, who was ittJccd a dcftroyer of Re-
ligion, bu;fo other cffcifls of this battcll fought in this Tcxt»
bad not bccne pointed at. Therefore that he c icight grafpe in
ail tbofc Events, which thole battels th t were Tought about
Megiddtu brought fortbi he laith the j !ac. wa called jirmOf
ledaojJi andic is an ufuall thing that battei^ ia the hill atepur-
- iucd
fffmrnm^mm III , ■'■^■1 1 I m0'''m,^^ffm^r^gfi^iatmmfmif^^mm0immmmmmKrm
Thefixt run.
fued to the valley, and in the valley to the Hill: the hill and
the valley lying ncere together. And indeed the fame Events-
will this batrell bring forth, which kll out upon all the former
battels at Mtgtiio. So then the fumme is , that thefc Ipiriti
went forth u. gather chefe Popiih and Heathen frmett to-
gether, into a place called in the Heirtw tongue Arm»gti~
i>i>, where the bacicll ilull have the like iucccfTe , thacic had
of old u;ito the deftruiSion of Gei$ Eiemies , the utter ruinc
ef AiitichriH, as of S»al, the fetlnig of the Kingdomcjof Chrifi
upon 'David , unto the converfion of the lentt , who (hall
upon this occjfionmournebitce'" "^'ti, whom they have
pierced. Onelyletus alittlefu one fcruple which
may (bmewhat reojainc ; why I tt come in raoum-
iDjj at this viftury ? fliail they n Indignation for the
fucccffe of Chrilhan Prineci , a f or (hall it bee a
mourning of compalTion for the ^of Rtmt } no ve-
rily, the text is plaine, they will re or both, and/oync
together with the refl of the C ill irchestopraifc t&c
name of the Lord with ///«/W " I9. cit^/lYr of this
faooKcandthe i. vtr. After 1 (that is after tha
d<Rta{i{on of Baiel ) I he*rii I « :t tf mueh fciflt it
Heaven, fajm^Hatleliijah : So againC vir, j. 6. they iliall
piaili; CBd\w\inM\HxlUlHJaht a well as the Latincs with a
Laudaie Diminum : It is therefore neither a mourning of In-
dignation tor the lucctfle of the Saints, nor of compailionfor
the Rivers of Badell; but fivhat is it then f ) It is a mourning
of compuucSion whereby they, (feeing in this ^<ir>»'/ that
Clirifl is indeed the true •'7/!/7J<» J they (hall monrne that they
have becne fo long eflra igcd from him ; for rwo maine ftum-
bling blocks will this ^<i;/f// remove out of their way.
Firft, [hat which liiheir great Humbling block, to wit, the
Pope .who is cpui .ted the F.ithcr of Chriftian Churches, and
yet h'mfclfe livcth like a < Efieure, and maintaincth Idolatry and
fuperf{ition; and though ma'7 in the world abhorre his *ayes>
yet they looke ar them but as S^fts, and iiiferiour people and
States, inrefptflof the Pope and PopiOi Princes; but when
they (hall (ecthac tlieZeale of Chriitian Princes bath dryed
upthofcftreamcsof 'upvrftision, totheuttcrconfulionof the
man of (inne, then u ill thtyalfo fee that, that ///«* whom they
have refiftcdall this whilc,cventhat/fy5(;isthe^<#<»/.
Bb 3 Secondly
KftMHteMwiiHlto
^t»tM
»* ■ > i n I i M I m m ' a ^i M a^mM^^mmi^ai^^mm
6 rheftxtrUll
7% 2. There is alfo another ftumbling block , which feme of
their more learned (land upon , that when the Mefftat comes ,
he (lialldeftroy thcfourc Monarchies (poken of , Dan, 2. 45,
The fiofte that wAt cutout of the ?>4oumaiite wit^ont hand , brake
inpeicesthe Ironjhe BraJfethecUjithe Silver^andthe Gold: Now
(fay. they) if > Our leftt* be tKe Alfjftatihow ctHnineth ic to paffe
the Monarchy ftandcth upon his two feet, ihcTurke and Pope?
but they might have confidcrcd that the Lord lefus hath been
crufliing chem a great while together, and hee never told them
that he would doe ic as foone as became, though he will ne-
ver leave until] he hath crufljed them to the duft, andwhca
oi'iCe this batteliis fought, that there flia'l bano more remain-
ing, butwhatis the Jtf'w« worke to dos: then (liallthey fee
the Prophtficof P4«/V/ fulfilled, when the bat tell in Armaged'>
don fliallend in the deftrudlion of the man of Sinne 9 awd then
lliall they fee jr/w Chrifl held forth in the purity of the Gof*
peilf contrary whereuntono word of the Prophets fliall bee
found, and chcn fliall they fee him whom they have crucifyed
to be indeed both Lord and Cbrifi : Then fliall they lee that
the name of the Lord leffts , which they now curfe in their Li»
turgies is bTcfled forever, now they will grieve that they
have curfed his name blafphemoufly, praying that it might pei»
rifh from under thcfe Heavens, and from above this Earth : for
thefe things will they mourne bitterly .
Obji^. But you will fay,that to fee the fuccefle of a battell, is not a
fuificient meanes to convert a people to the Lord, that are fully
poffeflcd with their owne wayes .• Here indeed may be a remo"
vens frohibens , that may fomewhat help forward j but it is
needfull unco cheir Convcrfion , that foinc word of God bac
fet home to their hearts to convince them, that the curfe of
the i^wvyhJchbclongcch iintotherft , it is Chrifl oncly that
J . hath borne it for them.
•'' Ic is no fmall meanes of converfibn, to fee the Lord bearing
witncflb againft the corruptions of Rcligion» \i\ deftroying the
Enemies of his people* You know the (lory of lethro ( who
was a Ftincc or Prieft of U^idian, ) when he commeth to fee
his ibnnc iWl^y^/, vjhd told him of all the great deliverances
that Godhzd wrought for his pcop\e,Exod. 1 8. 8,<F, 10. tvhat
faith he ? DOW I know thar the Lord is greater then all Godt s
for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly hec tvas above
cbcm:
The fist rf Hi. 7
them ': This is the cftc^ of his hearing of the wonders that
God had wrought for his people : fo that you need not doubc
it,buc when thefe Battels are fought f though they flial! bee
noc parties on the one fide nor on the- other ) yet they ftiall
hearc what wiil be reported upon this occafion, in the publick
MinilUry of the word, which will bee fufficicnt to convince
(as aPrit ft oi Midiani foja /rn?,ihatthis is the Lord Ufitii who
ha: h lo fulfilled ail that hre hath ipokcn of in his word. And
moreover I doe belct vei thar great will bee the power of the
Mmiftcry of the word in fighting of this^rf«<r//, by declaring
the powcrfwll prcfence of C/»r//? with them,and forthcm ; thus
jfliall the fword of tlie MinilKry of the Gof^ell prevaile migh-
tilj^, by animating Chriftiai Princes and people, accordiig is
ic is iz'idi i chaf, ip. ai, of this bookc ; the remnant were
flaine with che' fword that procccdethout of his mourh , thac .
is, out of the mouth of- lefw Chrifi ; and when the word of
C^rifi goeth along with the fword of Princes .yoj need noc
woinkr if It doe noc onely prevaile againft the Beafiy and falfe
Prophet, but alfo to mike S^tari fall dowue from Heaven like
lightning, evenouc of the heartspf the /^/rtf/jfromdecc-ivin^^
them any longer.
Thus much for the opening of the words > which though
it have beene long and difficult, yet many times things moft'
diiTiculc to open, are fwcete^ to diev/ upon^as inall bones,and
the like; let us therefore from hence obferve this note.
That the Event and fucccfle of the great, and hXi^At^ Do6t,^
tell, which Chriftian Princes fliall fight againft /'nHchrifi t^nd
his Adherents, fliall belike in fucceffc to the battels fought at
i/irma^eddon .'that is to lay, defpcratedcftru^^liori to the Ene-
mies of Oods people; joy full vidorics, aud Triumphs to the
Glurches o^Chrtfi^ godly fbrrowes and penitential! mourn-
ing to the Icr^es,
All thefe feverall Events are inclufivclyfpokcn unto, in this
Word ^rffiaffeddon ^ and each branch of them are cxprclTely
mentioned iw this booke» and other Prophtfies of Scripture,
Firft^ that there (liall bee great and dcfper>jte dtftmdio'nto
the Enemies of Go^i people , you read in chapter ip. that ic
will be fo great that the A»ff//fianding iri (he middeftofthe
Sunne, erjed rpith dloud-vojce [tij'tng to allthefoHUi^ that flje
m tht middcftof HeavcH't come, Pitidffntherjottrfslvef together
t.
t^^
w^
9 *f
•
9 The ft xt run.
t9 the Super of the great Gedy thatjee mayeM thefiejhofKinitt
and thefiefh §f Captamet , and theflejh cf mighty wen , and the
fle(h of horfcSy and of them that fit en them, and the ffefh of all men
^othfree andhond,- both [mall and great: thcref ere this battell
muitnoc bceibught onely with the Miniftery o£ tht Gojpeif,
^chough cbac will mightily concurre) but with the fword, and
Weapons of warre, clfe the foules o^ Heaven would have Itt«
tlef^ellitoeaty upoa battells fought by the Miniftcry of the
word : but Word and Sword fighting together. Thus will
there be wrought a great dcflrudtion to (jeds'Bxizmits , to fa*
tiate all the foules of Heaven*
*' And there will bee great rcjoycing and Triumph to tho.
Churches of Chrifi» as you read of their longs of praife , for
the vi<ftory gotten by Deborah and Bara^» over labin and Si"
fera , Judges $ . So here there will be many Hai/elujahs, ehap.
ip. I. to the end of 7. which they (ingagaine andagaine to
the Lord.
And thirdly it will be matter of penitentiall mourning to the
5* Ifraelo( God, Zaeh.12, lO, II. when they (hall fee C^rifi
comming in his glorious power , it will break their hearts
with holy mourning overcbem, and this (hall be fulfilled when
the new lernfaUm ihall come from ^od out of Heaven, as is
propheficd in this booke, chapter 31. 2* 10. Then (hall the
Tribes of the Earth mourne. bitterly after lefms Chrifi,
Why will the Events of thefe battels be the fame ?
■^Z^^/i !• Firft, becaufe C7oif Enemies will bee like in their (innc5»
untothofe that fought againft Ifraeiofold; Therefore they
muft partake in the like Judgements, wherein are they like in
their finncs ? In cheir opprclfions of the people of God; (o
jF4^i« mightily opprc(red the children of Jfraely Judges /\, 3,
^ And Saul was a malicious perfecuter of David: bo hach the
- manof (inne, and his Adherents beene malicious perfecucers
of the Saints of God, And Saul tooke Counlell of the Witch
tt.Ender; So have thefe becnc famous for their witch-crafts,
neither did they repent of their forceries, ehap, p. «/f. Now
as their (innes are like, fofliall their puniihmentsbce, bccaufe
of the unchangeable wifedorae and lufticc of God , who pu-
ni(heth now as he did of old, PfaL iSg. p, zo. The likenefleof
rhcii (inncs,.theUkenc(reof (7tfj/lu(lice, bring forth the like
kiudeof Iudgcincnts,nowa:».of &id, . ,• , ,
If
=:-a'.->rr-f.- - ■-?-.■.-
* • •••••• • '
If you fhali aske the Realon why there fliall be (lie like oc«
cadonof rcfoycing*
Ic is bcc uic che Lord fhiU in like manner avenge his people ^'^/* i-
now , as he did of old , Itnig. 5.2. where (he callcth upon
Gods piopic to praiie the Loid for ihe avenging o^ JftAch (o
(hall he now judge the h'hore^ and avenge the bfoud of his
lecvantsaiher hand; 'Kev, ip. 2. And look e 9S of old they
fventondidroying) todcihoy the EnetRtes of the people of
C^dunuW they had conibincd them : 16 (hail the people oiGoi
now c!oe untill they have exttnguiOud utterly the name of Po*
peiy, and made it like dti g rjpoi- the face of the Eaith : and
as there was way madeot oid for tnc glorious Kingdoneof
^gvid; fo fliall there he wa> made by ti.clc Wa: rc5, for 2)4-
v/</tobethcPrircv o( Gads people for ever, as the Prophet
Ez,eehfci forctilktby chap^ 34. 2^, 14. and 37. 24. 2^. not
in vifible prefence; 1 daie i.oc take up fuch c.rnall Ifijagina-
cions* as that {^rfft fliall come bodily, andreigne hereupon
the Earth, tut by his Spirit, and in hi& ».^erv«nt$ , bcc; Ihall
r eigne on the Earth : And all thefe things fliall give the people
of C^^ great, and worderfull caufes of f c;V yc>ng.
If you fliall a&ke in the third pl?ce> wh> G^di ancient people
the /fir^/ fliall be called to fuch pcnitcntiali mourning. ^^/* 3*
X, Ihe Reafcn fir (lit takvn froai the fence* which thrv.
fliail have of their owneflnne, a fprinkling whereof we nf^
j^St, 2. 3y. when they were pricked in heart, andfaid unrd
'Ffter, and to the re ft of the Apoftlcs,Mcn and Brethren, what
fliail we doc? fuchwill the fence o^ their (inne bee hereafter^
aswillafiPeA, and aflOi^rhfm with afflidion like that of the
lewef^ for the death of Jtfiab ; yea it is fee forth in Zach. 12.
xo, II. bythcdeepeft mourning that can befall a family :/^^/
pfall miuritf as oneniaufnetbfofhUongtjffnnef and bee in bitter*
fitjfef AS one that is in bitterne£e fer hu firfi bwne ; Ic is true,
the loffe of fome wife may Oc greater then the loffe of fome
fonnc : but be fpeaketh thi-re of the mourning of Husband and
Wife togct heft and they can loofe no greater outward blefling,
then their firft borne : And fiich was mourning for the death
of Jopithi wherein they faWy the rume of Family* Churcht »■
and Common*wealth : Therefore- lerentj compl-iineth , that
the breath of their Noftrills was taken away, LMment. 4. lO,
They laifttke (hat thiokc it was fpoKcn of Zede(hidh,iot the
Cc Lamencatiotis
lamentations wfirc written upon the death o^tofiah^t CBr^.^y,
2; 'Which was a bitcer mourning to chem all .*.a id fuch (hall bee
their mourning in their return to the L^rd 9 when they (hall fee
that the deaih diChrifi hath beene the rutne,Sc dcfper Jte deftru-
^ion^ &id damnatioaof all cheir Families for thefe many Gene*
rations, & that all the Cilamiacs chat have come upon them for
tbcfc I6oo,yeares,havcfprung from chis,that their Fachershave
put C^rifl to death, by which mcancs they have bin ruanagates
upon the face of cber4r^^jChe fence of chac horrible fin & mifery
which they have brought upon chemfelves and theirs, by the
death of cheir A>/4^.& Mesfmh ihall thus deeply afH. A them.
2 V The fccond ground oKtheir mourt.ing, will fpriog not oncly
from the fight and f«.nce of their fin, b jc of che wonderfull & un-
fpeakabl grace & titer ey of (j9Aunf them to give them that Son of
hisveho hath given himfeifto death for shetn:thefp9aihefo dfhumed,
& confonnded, nith the fence of Cjodstender mercy & loving k^ndnes
tortdrds them that have bin fuch hlondj Butchers of him as thAt the/
JhaRifeftcaUoei ed np m the fence offueh unJpeAkAble grace t Convi-
ftion for fia doth grtady help forward legal! humilacion^bur for
a kindly and (iiirruall mourning,mcn maft looke upon Chrifi not
only as killed by them, but as killed for chcm : Thus fhall it bee
with them according to what is foretold, i^4r. 24. 50. fyhenthe
fffte ofphefon ofmAn[hallapfeare.inheAven,thenfhAUAllthe Trthes
/fyhe Earth momne^ (peaking or che t wel vc friocs of Ifiatl who
^ail mOsirnc> because of him that commeth to fhc w fucU mercy
to them who have dealt lo unworthily with him. This is the
mourning which vr<ll befill this people, like that of MegiddoiOy
when this grear hattetl (hall be fought.
irtft ^°^ ^^^ in the firrt place, were I to fpeake to fuch people as were
^ * Hkcly to be infnarcd with thefe Froggsi- and fpirirs of Divclls :
This might teach them diligently to beware ot iuch,and in ca(e
any of che»o flmuld come over into this Country, lefaiiSiOt Carm
dtna&i Or Bilhopsfiot not hearken to their whi(permg.t, whatfb*
cverchcy fliall ptLfentiinto you, for this vvih bee the lifueof it,
wbof :>ever they be thai hearken unto them,they w^l- never leave
them,cill at leng h they have brought them to this field of de*
ftrud«on,rhey u iK goc forth to gather the Princes oi rhe Eirth>
and whither will rhey gath r thVm ? even thlthe^ where will be
thi.' Fatal; ruincof rhcm all : A ^d therefore let allChriftia.. Prin*
CjCsundeiftaad it, that they cannot liilcn unto thefe Froggs , Po«
pA
pifli Bijhtfsfif CufAinM^ or Jefukts^ or vvbo ever they be^ that
come unco them pn this errands but chcy. will by (iiis^ioeaois
bring their Kingdomes tP u^tcr dc ftrudion.* Be xvife nowtbdrefire
O jieKin^s't is inJirH&ed^ee Judges tf the Earth : youftcwiiat
Wo^uu worke wiU be made at Icngc cy cheU Froggs* they will
brii'g yuuinto a place called in the Htbrew tonguv Armageddon,
King J4i»<v(who made a Parsphra/e apoii lOdoth irtcipici fr to
(ig. hcdcflrudlioii by decetr^ac V u were compoutided of two
I^ebjew words»wbicii rnay i'o hold it forth ; Bui oh rhat it had
bcei.e as well bcltcvcd a^told; how many fad changes, and Agi-
tatioOj thri)Ugh( u jail Cbiiftendome, mghc have bin p e\ eattd
thar h'ivc nkn upon heurkning to tneic froggv i dwlirudiou and
CiiMAi'iy aie in their wtyes;k cpe ycur klvcs thc-rcfoic Urre
fioih alt fctlov< Hiip with them, that will beyour wiledeme*
Incite ft cond ^1 ce; chii may reach u^ t) r. Joyce at hvnie,^2.
thc»ugh wced'.c tot live to Ice thcfc vidones obtained : I
Ki ov( not whai yi u thai are young may live unto > for the
iic.rci thtkibiig come unto thtiraccomplifhment, thcfwif-
tct their motion will be , as it \$ wxh all naturail motions.* hue
l.oucver .ei us rcjO)CCtog«cl.trin btholdingrhcm by Faith,
alilcugh ill) te«. ^ii t« c«mc; when i>.<wW rejoyccd in
Chrtji , Plal, i6»9, I o. a- d faith, therefore /»/ heart isglad^and
ffijgio^j *c\tt)€<th, mfJitJhMifeJhaUreflmhope.ferthoHwi/t
fs0t icAVewy dead body sn the Grave ^ neither mU theu fuffer thf
holjoneto jce ^otrnftt^^; this Dav$d m ipmc ictth long be-
tuic, andlookeil: ai hiS owne Rcmrrc<5^:on ts fcacd up unto
him in the h'CofiupJonof the body of leftet Chnfii U David
can re Joyce to lunu b. fore in beholding th<3 , then Ought
wee tt) rtjV.yc^ in Lcholding bcfort-ba d the deftrudion of
Gods E I- mies and h s y/acjouj deliverances of his people ; for
wee m y Ue it Into e.hand b/ Fatth , and behold it with con-
fi let ce in the tfu h of hiiPtbachdtH prrin-'ed It; f >r fo alfb
d'd /'braham lohnS 56. Tent Father Abraham rejoiced to fee
my day t andhefawttt and naigfad'y ^nd why fh. uld not the
Fatho\ Chnlliiiii bee new mo e ciejre eyed, thsn at thic
tim;;it vvas>robehoi;l the t uchof his promifcs, and rejoycc
in the accompWOiniwUt of them ?
Third'V w- miy from hence gather fomc ground of Faith,torfe 3.
bcltive that there wil' com<: a time, when the lenses will gene-
rally mourne for the HgUc and death of Chrifif as much as e*
Bb 2 vec
' " • "^rwmJmtmmtr^
vtT tlicy sioutnecl of old for the death of UJtMh f and leaft you
fiiould isy chat Parabolicall Scriptures arc not Foundations of
Fs$t&,{^^d yet any Serf pxurc truely expounded is ground fljf-
^sicnc for the truth it huldcrh forth ; yet you may nid ifundry
©thtr Scriptures that fpcake » xpreflcly to their Converfion,
"^m, II. U. 15.25, J^. fvfOftld fi0t Brethren thatyeefh^uUhe
*gmrar.t of this m^ fiery , th*t himdnefe in part is happened Mfitp
Jirac: untiUtkefHlncjjeof the Gentiles ^#ftfw*/»,( chat is , nn-
tili men :uinc bacKe trom Atituhrifi unto Chrtfi. iintill they fee
Chjiilian Princes more finccrcincheworkeof God) and then
all I[rAe\ fliall bcfavcd, for though they were call off for their
own fakes, y^t arcthcy beloved tor their Fathers f-ikc^ v. a8«
For \^ thoi. wcrt cut our of the Olive Tree which is wilde by
Nuurc; and wcrt graced contrary toNa art; intoai^ooii OUve
Trtc.* how much more Oiallthefc which are rbe naturall
branches bee sir^ff.d in:o iheir ownc OUve frct ?f>r(aith
ht^Godi^ anIccogtaftVtheniinagainc; andhe wtlltJos jt,or
ellc theApoftios A^gimcntwiil not hod. A f<> rhar of the
Apof^ieto ti c C«r;»;A*«e»/, rt. Cer. ^.14 1 5 l6. Sven unto
this diij when Mofes ts tead the f^ayle is upon their heart : hut
when li (chat xsjjrael) jhalltMrne unto the Lord, the Vajlefhall
he tal\en away : ' his is not Ipoken of rw o or i hi Ct Ipiink lin^s of
If*Aeli tb.at do h not m?.ke up an Ifrnety piucJi leiTe all fjraei^zs
PmhI ptakeih in the place forenamcd,and what myflery wtrc
i:, I' ic were meant oncly oFthofe that were brought home
by Peters lAuM^itT^, > Bu: th;.t blindneiTc is come upon c hem,
till the tulnes of ^hc Gentiles be come in, and that then all ffrael
Obl ili be faved, rliis is indu'cd a Mvftsry 10 :hc (gentiles ^ is the
cilling of the Gentiles was a M> (Icry to t' c letves* Thus wee
Aethvreare cleare Scriptures for it, w'^ en when wed >eftc,
Wimay mere freely tskc up parabolic :|iSc'i',)turiSjpe.'CCving
wh>c they wcvkeupon,and Duild OL;r Faith t ntlum, thereby
to be llrcngthned ii Prayer, f )r fuch r> b!- Hiag, that chcy may
come znHw^HallelHJahs withiis, and wcc miy (ing prayfcs
with them.
Fourthly, wcc may Icarnc from hccc, the true nature of
?^4» Godly forrow , both in 1 he c::«{e of ir, and m the m'.afijre of
i*-. For :he ciufe '>f it wtc mull fee I im from wh< m all fa«
«
ving repentance* c'oth flow, even Chrifi v\ f.i.m ♦vchavt pierc-
ed, ind then indeed wcmournc aiiijht, when wt mournc over
hitn*
Tbefint FUlh 33
him. It is net (arie^ Hepencanccjchac which the t^wworl^
cchy though it doch indeed make way for it, hoc they tee,hiai
and mourne over him; cheHghcof him workech godly for-
row in the heart.
And what is the mcafure of ir p it is even fuch as for the
loiTeof amansonely Sonne* and his firft borncy the fiaff<^>arid
and (lay» of his name and life^and of his profpcrity : Lord G^d,
what wilt thou gi^emce, feeing I goe childlelfet faith Altrn-'
ham> fiich as was the mourning of ItttUht and Xer/tfilemtwhcn
they faw Family, Church, and Common- wealth all plucked
up by the rootes inthelofle of One man c fuch is the mourn-
ing of every godly iouk-, feeth all bis hopes plucked up by the
rooces for the want of Chrif^
But ycu will (ay, i&icnoc godly mourning unUHeic bee q^:^
fo great ^ may not a man mourne more for loUc of Church >
and Common-Wealth, and for his oncly Sonne then for Chrifi}
I anfwer, mourning for one of thefc may indeed make more ^^/j^^
noyfe; but not be a greater mourning ; when a man moumcth
for his fit ft borne, the windowcs ^t Heaven arc open, the
Judgemencsof C7tf</arcopct», andthcFv^uitaines ot ihegreiC
deep arc open j this or thac d^ep Affliclion feifc;h upon a
man, nature (ctceth a manon worKe to mourne,and grace doth
not hinder it , but when a manmoutntth for want of Chrifi^
the windowesof H.aven indeed arc open; but this mourn-
ing fi jdcth much oppoficion.b.lovv even from our hearts with-
in : a foiall Diallow channel comming dovvne from a Hii/, .
will make a grcatnoyfcj when a man mourne th for his oncly * :
Sonne^ it comajcth downe from Goda a Judgement, dowoe
hill, nochuig hindcrttln but this mourning for Chrifl is like
a ftrcametlargoethup hill y ('as it were ) and through many
reeds ind flaggcs, and therefore no wonder if itmaketh not
fuch a noy Ic, t hough it bee 5 farrc greater ftreamc then the o-
thtr, .^uch is this fpirituall mourning: for m thefc things
It doth exceed all other griefes and mournings whatfo-
ever.
Ic is more durable then any ot her forrow , our time in this
world will ttever wcarc it e>ut j whereas other lorrow, rhoagh
it be for a m\m oncly Sonne will not laft a; way, time will wcare
it cur.
It is aaJncrCifiig forrow : other fonowcs arc more mo- 5*
C c 3 . ' derated
/ * *
4 ThefixtridU.',
derated every day cben other, but this giHowethdill more and
more powerful!, and will eat up all other grief es: XKa man have<
but a wound in his confciencei it will wcarc ou all other Crof-.
{cS9^ftf4irfOHftdidSfiritwhi>cdnhare} Frov, 1 8^ 14. It is a very
ftrong mourning, as we may perceive, Pj\ ici. 5 . ^.&c, where
the Holy man complainerh, that his dAjes are thereby cendtmed
lil^tmol^, and his htnet ^arnt as an hearth^ his hearr U fmttten and
r^nhertd hke^raffg, j that heforgetteth t» cm hjd brettd. &c, •
This goiiiy iorrovvisalfo moxc pure than any w her 10 n)W»
havifignotl" much mixcurc with lufts» and Carnal* AflFcd ons;
when 'David mcurnts for /bfahmt there is much Caruaii AflF-
ftioninit, infomuchthac itah doth perceive r, and deuicch
(h^rply with him for it, but th;s mourning for Chriji bcitig hea-
venly » is not fo clogged wirh thole boyftctOUi dutcmpc.s
which other moiirnipgs are filled wichaii.
5» Sceabroadd.fFerencc inthccaufcaiidob/e-ft of th;s mourn-
ing: when a man mounieth U^rChrifi as wron«cj by h:in > and
yet feeth himfclf favcd by Chrsfi: >:» chis oojeA is tranic; d it,
lo is che mourhing tranfctud-^nr aio, therct-^ie it is \x^. ■> R-'mZ
26. T he S first maketh lnterce£t9ns for w with grones that canK§t
he uttered. Thus being fet upon Chrijh ^ and tonie»iicd by his
Spirit,ic is etcrnall in the caufesuF ic« and will lift up the louie a-
bovcall undcrmoone dilcouragemencs, that a man will looke
uponthcn as thmgs, wli'ch God lacb g ve 1 and taken, and his
griefi: conccrningrhtm will van flia vay; bur chis being fctlcd
upoicternall ol/i^li can end noloontr then life it ic He ; And if
cur life in this world wcrt ciernill, fo would4hii moui mug be,
ahhcugh indeed when this life lh?.il have an (nd,it will be 1 wal-
lowed up in a pcrfcdl f i ui ion ol lefus Chnfi*
IntVt lall place, I would commend thjs unto all the children
o(Godt that they Regulate thtir mourning ace t ding 10 this
mo:irniiig:Letusmournc for Clrifl , aid for hisdeatbt and bee
truly IcnfibJc of thegrtat JijnKs which v\ee havcd'»ne unto
Inmjtha* (oour gritfc may iwalUnv up all the balentflc of our
hruts, and ail world'y forrowes which caulc death, i.Ccr.y. 10.
Bu?" godly (orr»w worketh Rcpcncance never to b<: icp iiredot .•
• Let us ihcrcfore in all cur piivotc trd pubiick Adnnnillrati-
ons mourne after him, and mourne for hnn , that thereby wee
may b; kept from fuch entanglCirents,anddi'C'>uragcminrsa3
might interrupt us in our Chtiihan G^urfe upon other meaner
occafioos*
t
BWBliB^lf;*^!^ I . . ** I II I n I II l^» I — •-^.-»a,i ■! I I I M^1»M^i»1i^i^fi^»^<» ■ III ^
t*^
miim
^t^im
■4««'i^
t .
« ■■■■ i ji -
■^w*^-*-
4^
IWI^
■«*
i«HMHa«^
I
' / /
^^•^•^mr^i^r'wr % Wi 4fc*«r'*^r>M«9
i09^tnn3^!^^msmt^mmmm»immmtmmmmmmmimrmmmmmmmmmmmttm^mm^i^t^mmmm
'^•i^HMmMI^**^
»
THE
SEVENTH AND
LAST VIAL
Revel, i^. i7^iS,ip,20,2i.
^«^ thefsventh Angel fo$ired out hit Vtal into the Ajre,0tndthere cami
s great vojce out of the Temfle of heaven from the Throne^fajingt
It u done,
Andthere vrere voycet, 4nd thunders, and UghtidngJ ; and there woe d
great earthquake, fueh at wat notjince men -were ufon the earth, fi
migfitie an earthquake,and fo great.
And the great Citie was dividedtnto three farts, and the Cities oftht
nations feU : and great Babylon came into remembrance before God
to give unto her the cuf of the fiercenejfe of his wrath.
And every I (land fled away, and the mountasnes tvere not found.
And there feH upon men a great haile out of heaven, every flone abo/tt
the weight of a talentiand men blafphemfd God becaufe oftheflagut
of the haile,for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Hefe words defcribe unto us the pouring out of
the feventh Vial, by the feventh Angel ; and (ec
I forth it is by a threefold Argument.
I . Firft by the fubjeft upon which it fell, it fell
upon the Ayre It is trandatedQinto the Ayre[] buc
the fame word in the third and fourth Verfes is
cranflated upon (the Sea) and upon ^the Rivers and fountaines of
A a a yzttts)
The feventh VUL
water:) To it fell upon theAyre, otherwife to fay, into die Ayi«,
might (eeme to looke at fome further {ubje6l,whereapon it fell^buc
that is not tlie meaning.
*Secondiy,by an adjunct accompanying the (ame,to vfii^A great
vcyce oMi of the Temple cf heaven, Scc.^ for I cannot call it an
cfi^ct, but an adjunft it was.
Thirdly ,by the cfFccls,ancl they are threefold.
Ftrft, ofTcrrourand Horrour. ^Thereypere vojces, and thutt'
th-'mgf ^and lightfungs^ all which doc ftrike Terrour and Hor-
rour into che hearts of men.
Second c(fcc1 was changes,and alterations of ftates J[_A>td there
vasagrtat eArthquai^ amplified by an argument taken from
the leiTe ^Such as va4 notjlnce men rfere upon the earthy fo great for
amplitude, fo mighty for power.
Third cffe£l wa$,the worl ing of diftrafting,and cleftroy ing ca»
lamiiies upon three feverall forts of fubjccts,
Firft upon Cities, and among them,
Firft, ihe great City was diviicd intoti-ree parts, which fwith
leave of Interpreters that take it to be a Jdlinci City from Bahi"
ion) I take to be meant of ^<i^/V:7/i, which now came upiniore'
membrance bef^ re God, and that is re i J red as a reaf«.n how fbec
came to be deftroved, for (he came up into remembrance before
God,to give her the wine, firft of diftraftion, fecondly of deftru-
ftion. ' ' .
Secondly, the cities of the Nations fell, the great Citie was de-
ftroyed,it fell to mine.
The fecond fort of fubj-£Vs upon which this diftra£Hon fell,
were ^Every I/land, a»dezKry moftntdne'^ the Iflands fled away,the
moumaines were not found.
The third fort, was the fonnes of men, and the plague that fell
upon them was a great haile out of heaven, which is amplified.
1 . By the meafure or weight of it ^everj fione about the weight
efaTalent'^
2. By the e(Te£V it wrought in men, J[Thej Blajphemed the Cod «f
heaven^ fei forth by the caitfe of their blnlpheming againie repea-
tedjbecaufeofihe plague of the haile, for the plague thereof was
exceeding great.
Let us firft open the words, and then fumme them up into feme
do^lrinall obfervations.
I. What
^^imm^f^fimmm^mmtmmimmmmmimmmmi'i'mmmmm^^'i'^i'm'^^'mm
The feventh VUL
. I . What fin the firft placcj is here meant byf^/rt^doubtlefle
not the element of ayrc chat wee breath in : for all the Vials are
Vials of wrath, 3c therefore poured upon fubje^ls of Gods diQ>Iea«
fure.Now God is not offended with the ayre,which is his creature*
but as you reade in the firft verfe of the Chapter. All thefe Angels,
received a commandement to poure out their Vials upon die
earth, and that is meant of the earthly Amichrillian Church, and
they all fulfill this Commandement upon whatfoever they poure
out their Vials ; k is dill upon the Amichriftian ftate : nor are the
meffengers of Gods wrath (' which come out of the Temple, and
have cheirloynes girded with golden girdles jprovoked againft the
Ayre, which themfelves doe breath in ; nor could a plague be up*
on the Ayre,but it would fall upon Chriflian Churches as well as
Popifh. Others doe interpret it f with much more probabilities
sobeuponthekingdome of Sathan, for he is called the Prince
thatrulethin(heayre,£^^^.2 2. he alfo rayfethup (lormes in the
ayre,and fiery meteorstherein,^t'^ 1.16. So they conclude thac
whcrefoever the Devill hath to doe, whether it be in Popery or
Paganifme this V^iall is poured upon all his kingdome. I thinke
the doclrme is truly gathered from this place, that the holy Ghoft
intendeth to poure out a iu«.!gement 'i|>oii all his kingdome : yet
I cannot fay that the words doe fo properly hold forth a judge*
ment upon the Element of ayre : for all the Vials are to be
poured upon the earth, the Antichriflian Church, called earth in
oppodtion to the heavenly and pure Church mentioned Revel.i^,
5, there being in it the whole Fabricke and Syfteme of the world:
there is an carth.and thac is the luweft and baud cr mmon fort of
Catholickes in that world ; and there is a Sea, their corrupt Reli«
gion;ihcre be Rivers,and foumaines of water, thnfe that derived
their corruptions into all countries (Vricfts and Monkes &c.J
there is a Sunne in this world, the great light thereof : the fainily
o^ Aujiria in the common wealth,and the Popes fupremacy in the
Church: there is the throne of the beaft ^ the forme of their f,o»
vemment, and manner of judicature *. Arcerwards comes in llu-^
thrates, the ftreame of all thofe corniptions that make glad the Ci-
tie of Rome : Therefore this Ayre iceiireth to be the Ayre of thac
Antichriftian Church : Looke therefore what you can conceive to
be the Ayre, which this Antichn'Aian Church doth breath in, and
that is the fubjeft whereupon this Viall is poured : And although
A a a 2 indeed
'••^"'''^'"■"■'■•••^'•^••T*"***"'"*'"*''!^*'*''"^^^****""*!^"*^"'******"^^
^g^gg^^S^3[r— ., — ...^ ..^^i^^ . ^.^^ t'" — — i^-Tr>ti'-->, ^.. *■*■«
4
The ft^venth VUt.
indeed Mahumecry, and Faganifme come to be aftli^ed here by
ic ; yet is it but an efFefl of pouring out this Vial upon the Ayre.
NowifyonlookeintoChap.p.iy2. oFthisbookeyou (hall finJe
that the Ayre of this worldly Church is the fmoake which arofe out
•f the bottomleiTe pit,and darkned the Ayre,fo that you ceuld not
fee the Sunne, much leffe the Moone and Starres : and what was
that fmoake out of the bottomleffe pitjbut the darkeneffe of Igno*
irance from whence fprung all thofe Locufts^ and that King over
them,verr.i I. the angel of the bcttomleHe pitj whofe name in the
Hebrew tongue is AhoMont he deftroyeth the hope of the convert
(ion of the J ewes : and in the Greek tongne hath his name AfoUj"
#;fjhede(boyech them al(b,and fprung out of this ignorance.There
is a double nfe of Ayre , and this darkenelTe corrupted both.
I. There is an ufe of it for fight; for through the Ayre, if it bee
cleare, you fee all the heavenly lights, and by their help, all infe-
riour bodies. 2. It is the breath of life, which maintaineth the life
ofmen, and is the fupporcance of their vitals. And in both thele
things doth it fitly refemble heavenly, and faving knowledge, by
which, X* In the firft place, we fee J efus Chrift the Sun of righte-
oulhefle to our juftiHcation j by which we fee the Moon, that is,
the true (late ofChurches according to the Gofpell J by which we.
fee the Stars, the people of God, and who indeed are his people,
that Ihine like lights in the world : And hereby they fee all things
here below, and judge rightly of them. And 2. by the fame faving
knowledge doe we breathe in our vitals (that we may fo fpeak^our
fpirituall life ; By hif k»ov(>ledi^e JhaU my rigfjMHS fervam jfffiifi^
nMnji Efay 5 3 . 1 1 . And this is life eternM tokntm thee the only true
Codi andjefus Chrifi ^hom thou hafi/ent, J ohn 17.3. Now if this
Ayre be choaked, you can neither fee J efus Chrift to your juftifi-
cation, nor breath in any ordinance of his to your falvation, nor
can you fee what is the true Church, nor who arc the true Saints of
God; you can rightly difcernc of nothing, if once the Sun, and
the whole body of the ayre be darkened j but if now there come an
Angel that Ihall poure out his Vial upon this fmoke of the ayre, atxl
difpell thereby the clouds of darknefTe, and ignorance ; then fhall
you clearly fee J efus Chrift, and the true ftate of his Church, and of
all vifible Saints, then fhall you draw in true and lively breath from
every ordinance of God. This is therefore the ayre whereupon
this Vial fhall be poured, and that will be the difpelling of the darfc-
aelTe
mf^mm^^mmmmmimmmi^'^mm^t^*^
«^»««MM««*M
^lwM^»ii^«Mia^***^
H „, II f D i Mny
-;\
Tbefevenih VidL
ncffe of it: The Lord wilHe^d forth fuch a bright and clearc know-
ledge of his Chriftj and Church, and Saims^and holy things which
will prcvaile fo far, as to difpell all the fogs and mifts of darkneCTe,
not alone in the Amichriftian State, but in all the world : fo that all
Nations (hall be brightened with the knowledge of God : All Aiia
(hall fee the vanity ofMahumetcy, and all the Pagan Nations, the
fondneflTe and blindneflc of their Superftitions. And the J ews (hall
then fee, and bewaile their blindneffe, and wretchedne(re in (land^
ing out againd J efus Chrift .• So that mofttrueit is which godly
Interpreters have faid, that hereby all the kingdomcs of Satan arc
threatened, though it be rather an eifefl of it^ then the true, and
proper fence.
a. What is then the adjunct that followeth, or goeth along with
it : ^[Thcre came a ^reat voice out of the Temple of heaven from the
ThrowT^ And that Throne is fet in the Church. Rev.4.2,3. Behold,
a Thro fte \}?as fet m heaven, and one fate on the Throne, Which is the
Lord himfi/fe.'wUo is rtCcmhUdhy three pretious ftones, holding
forth the three perfons in Trinity : A Jafper having (as they (ay)
a white circle round about it, reprefenting the Eternity of the Fa-
ther; a Sardine ftone, of a fle(hy colour, reprefenting Jefus
Chrift, who took our fle(h upon him. An Emerauld being of a
green colour, refre(hing the eyes of thofe that looke upon it, re-
prjefenting the Spirit, who is fas the Rainbow) a token of faire
weather, and is a comfortable refrefher wherefoever he commetb.
Now this voice comming from heaven, and from the. Throne, ic
commeth alfo apparently from God, faying, It is done • that fo
all men may fee it to be the revealed, and holy will of God> that all
thefc things fhould be thus accompliOied.
3. It iidone'^'whuisdonci (or here is no nominative cafe be*
fore the verb. But this is that which is done, the myftery of iniquity
isaboli(hed: Andthemyftery ofGod is fulfilled : For of this ic
was rpoken, which you read Rev.io.y. where the Angelfthat ftood
upon the Sea, and upon the earth^ telleth us. That in the dajes of
thefeventh Angel, Whn hejhallfotmd (whofe Trumpet is founding
to this day) the myjlery of God fhoulh he falfilted; And that ftandeth
chiefly tn two things.
1. In the deftru£lion of all his enemies.
2. In the accompli(hmem of all his gracious p^mifes to the
converfionofche Jewcs ^ and both thefc ihall be accompli(hed iit-
Aaa3 the
5
^^mmmmmmm
mm^^-^m^mp
mmmiimf^mmm^
mmm^mmmil
ThefevemhyUl.
the pouring oiit of this Vial, as we may reade at large, jE^jf jp^
17. to the end of the Chapter j where the holy Prophet rpeaketb-of
this very time, when the enemies of the Church (hall come outa*-
gainft them, there will be a finall accomplifhment of all the myde*
ries of iniquity, and of all the hoftility of the Lords enemies againft
his Church : It isalfo the accompliihment of all his gracious pro-
mifes, and therefore he faith Rev, 2 1 .6. When once the new J eru-
falem commcth downe from God out of heaven, then,. Chrift him-
felfe faith, /r /k^w. All his pro mifes are now performed and his
great workes now fulfilled ; this is meant, when it is here faid, Jt is
dom ; And the Lords voice it is, for had it been the voice of fomc
Church-OfFicersabne, it might have reached to the Church, but
not to the ends of the world : but when the Lord himfclfe fpeakeih,
whofe voice is like the voice of thunder, then is it heard from one
end of the earch unto another. All men fhall fee the i;rer.i workes
that he hath done upon the face of the earth, Poper;, an: rJlfalfc
Religion aboliflied ; the Kingdome of Chrift efi.ab.i.r.cJ, from the
rifing of the Sun to the going down thereof. TKis is the Adj.mct.
Now for the EtFecl : There is an E^t-y. of Terrour, and of agi-
tations, and changes, and an efec^ ofdeftroying calamities, fori
cannot well gather the notes that arife, unleHe thefe t-:ings be all
opened, then I conceive they may be handled with brevity.
4. For the efFefl of terrour ; the thunderings, and lightenings,
and the voices, are the fame with thofe tliat are faid to come out of
thcThrone,/?«;.4.u. Like unto that difpenfadon of old, Exod,
20.18. Wherein were thunderings, and lightenings, and in ftead
of voices, there is put in, the noife of the Trumpet, and thefe held
forth the terrour of the Lord in giving of the Law, info much that
Mofes himfelfe faid I exceedingly &are, and quake, and much
more did the people feare and tremble : for fuch is the convincing
dreadfull power of the La v of God, that let a man but heare it, and
have it effectually applycd, and it will make the meekeft and moft
innocent of the fervants of God to tremble; It will make the
moumaines and hi Is to tremble. The voice of Gods fervants is
like the voice of a trumpet, Efay 5 8.X. piercing deep into the earcs
and hearts of men, but the voice of himfelfe exceedeth. So the
meaning is, That upon the pouring out of this Vial upon the ayrc,
there (liall be terrible thunderings, and lightenings, and voices like
^unds of Trumpets upon the heans of men, tliat (hall make them
tremble
'mmm
^^'•^^^^•'•^^•"••■•••••■■^•■■■••■i'^pw^«»""n*^»^'«**pi*^p""fp*''""*
Thefevemh yjtL:
tremble and quake : The Lord will To lerribly aflfright, «nd amaze
tbefonsof men withthe power ofhisholyword, and will, asdiat
h (hall fuddcnly break fonh all iKe world over ; for in this man-
ner doth the Lord begin his faving difpcnfations towards men,
even with terrible lightenings, and ihunderings, and earihquakcs,
thereby partly convincing men of fin, and fubduing their hearts,
and confounding their malicious enemies. For the next Effect.
5. Thn-t TfM a great earih^Hake.d-c,'^ And that importeth agi-
tatations and changes,and not terrour onclyjthey are fuch as will
not ccafe,untill they have removed the things that are iTiiken,tViat
the things which cannot remain.fodoih thcApoftle,
Hfi.it. 2(5.27. Interpri :fie of Haf^J.i.6. It ar-
gueth (faiih he) the rcmovn iings that ate (liaken j and
he interprets it concerni eftatc in that place ; and he
will alfo (liakc all tlie I' e world, as the fame Pro.
phet HA^.thoMZirut ;,2 2.raying,I will fhake the
heavens and the earth : .hrow the throne of King-
domes, and I will del • of the Kingdomcs of the
Heathen, y;c. And fo erthrow the great Pcrfian
Monarchy byiheGf( jrecian Monarchy by the
Romane, and ihe Roma jus Nations, and the Lord
hath bin (iLiking them evcrfincc,and will (hake them hereafter with
fuch a (hakinp as iicvet was the like : you rcade of a great earth-
quake, when as Id^rne, of Pagan, became Chriftian, Kfv.6.ii.
But ilat w.ts .1 fiujll (iLtking, unto this earthquake, for dill the
Perfiansare Uli laurs, and many Pagans in the world ; that (ba-
king bnmsht in a forme of Chtiftianity, but the faving know-
leJg'" of Chrift was yet in a great mtafure wanting ; that forme of
Cliriflianity which then came in, made way for Popery to creepe
in M into the ChuriKes hui ihiswill (li.xkeoutPoyery, and when
by it the Popilh aire is fmtttcn, the Lord will alfo (hake all the
world by it J and the tmw dcth haften.
e. Kow for the third eflert, whichisadillraaing, and de-
ftro'iing calamity upon Cities, upon IHands, and Mountaines,
and upon men: Amons; cities, here is the great Ciiie, and the
cities of the Nations, »nd Babylon.Some good Interpreters looke
at fi abx Ion to be Con(Uminople:For my pan I dare not think but
one of ihefe is p»« cxiwiitively for the otherjBabylon for the great
city : Now ihat gr«M cUy wKich is rpiriiaally called Sodome, and
I
S The fevemh Vfd,
^^f^» ^w. 1 1 . 8. is that great city, which rcigncth over the
Kings ofthe earth, and that is i^om^, as all confe0e; and that Ba-
bylon, C^^.iy.i 8. and this is the fame city, which the Kings of
the earth, and the Merchants of the earth doe moume for whea
(he is deftroyed, and fay, Chaf,i%. lo. AlM,atat, thit great city
B^jlon, that mighty city, (^c, and that alfo by their confefTton is
Rome, And fo this Laner mention of it, doth but (hew the rea-
fon why it commeth to be divided into three parts> and
why the cities of the Nations fell, for Babylon, came up into
remembrance, &c. The great city then is Babylon, and that
is divided into three pans : I ihould not thinke that it is
fpoken of the breach of the naturall walls of the city by the earth-
juake ; butit will be divided into three fa£lions ; fome will fticke
raft unto Popery, and others of the people of God that be-
fore durft not openly profefl*e Religion,will now renounce Pope-
ry, for fuch there (hall be in Rome when it is neere to be deftroy-
ed, unto whom it (hall be faid, Rev. i %,/^,Come ont of her my people,
C^f. and what the third part may be, there is not light, for in this
ilace, what light other places may give, we (hall ( if God pleafe^
Tee hereafter, meane while it is fufficient to under(land that it will
be divided into three pans : and what if the third pan be a Neu-
trall betweene both the other i
7. What were the ciries of the Nations i Thofe are they that
trod the Church of God under foote. Rev. 1 1.2. fuch they were
who did fubje£t themfelves to Fopi(h Government, the cities of
thofe Nations (hall fall, whofoever they be that are found ado-
ring Rome, they (hall fall : for Babylon her felfe (hall come up
into remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the
wine ofthefierceneifeofhis wrath, which (hall infatuate her un-
till (he be utterly deftroyed by thofe ten Kings that (hall hate her,
and eate her fleHi, and bume her with fire.
8 . ytful every Jflaudpd awajtOnd the mount aines tvere mtfound^
He fpeaketh not of eanhly Iflands, but you muft underftand that
hefpeakeihofthe mouniaines, and Iflands of the Antichriftian
ftatc; what are the mountaines .' They arc the places where they
went a whoring after their Gods in old time, fer.^.6. She is gone
upon every hightmountaine, and under every grecnc tree, and
there hath played the harlot, there they had built them Chappells,
and there they had placed their confidence, in refpe^ of which
when
f
ie
W^nmfimimttmm
*** ^ ''■ "" ^-^r^^i^'^Pt^— i tm i ■* wpwi^F^*^ ' ^ m i»"i ■ ! '
The fcvtMh yial,
vhtathty come to repent; they (hall retume, »niifay,vei:2j.
Troely in vaine is filvaiion hoped for from the hills, and from
(he multitudes of msuntalnes.anfwerable unto wliich arc the great
temples built unto falfe Gods they lliall Hccaway. In the new
Jerofalem,/fw.2i.i3.thercwasno Temple fccne, no Temple
confecrated to this or tliat .Saint (hall be found therein,
. What are the lilanJs ;• They are grounds fcparaicd from the
earth, by the Sea : The Sea is the corruption of Religion, upon
which the fecond N'iall vvas poured. Therefore fuch places as are
confecraied by Pop:(li I'Jevoiions, as Chvirch yards, and fucli o.
ther Popifh grounds, il-ey are thefclflands, that (hall flee away;
yoD (hall no more heare tell of ' d Church-yard, or any
fuch matter all the world o\t II fall to the ground all-
yoarCathedrallCh:rcl'cs, and ligli Places that over- .
toppe the people of God, and hit growth of the thingsof
Godneere about them, though t s that be fuperftitioufly
fet apart for holy ends be never ( , they (hall be all ba.
niihed and vanidi away, there le no more noife of
theih.
9. AndHfottmmthcrc fdlagreiu « o/fc-dt/fii] The AIIu»
fionbyfome, is thought to be unit, ayle fpokenof^(7^;,io,
1 1 . which the Lord caft downc from ncd ;n upon the Cananites,
fo that mo:e died with haileftoncs, then they which the children of
Ifracl (lew with the Swordibut I cannot fay, that l-.aile ftormc is here
alluded unto: for here men did not die upon it, but blafphemed
onely ; unleffe it (houlJ be fpokeu of their cvcrl.'fting death in hell,
but that were a common jutlgcmcnt to :ll ;he wicked ; but I rather
thinkeitisanallufiontotl'.ehaile (lorme in A'gvpt, whereof the
effccl was, that tlicv (inncd, and hardened their herts yet more,
Excd. p.j/J Well then, if it be fach an hayle as dcth not kill men,
but provoke them to blafphemc, what kinde of judgement might it
beC InteriTeters doe n('t tell us ; So that we cntake no better
courfcto knowit, then to fee whatallcgoricall hai'e ftoncs meanc
in Scripture, for by C'-nipiiring Scriptures together, you (halt have
the full meaning : f c^'cr)' p.irt of Gods Counfell. For this end let
us look in Jifay 2^.17. where the l^rophct telleth us that the hai|e
(liallfweep away the refuge of lies, when once Chrift is laid in the
foundation, f(r.I (5. then all the reft of the refuges ofihefonsof
B b b men.
""• '■ "T" -jMj-n^-^mrf.-iufs.a t i r»^*fc»^i-t»..^-...^-.— .^...^^--.^e^^. ^ trir^ <ni H 1 i i ■'■iii L i^ t i Tn
lo Thi fevcnthVid.
men, iha arc lying refuges, (hall be f.vepc away : There is alfo
ancihcr alluUcn fucng hercumo in EK/k: 13 U- 13. where the
Lord ihre.uneih againft ihe walUhac is daubed wiih umempered
mercer : there flul! be :n over-fiowing flioNver, and ye O great
haile ftones (hall fall^ end a ftcrmy \vindc fhall rent it. So then, this
kindc ofhaileilormeis fuch a plague of Cjcd upon men as (hall
dcftroy all iheir iv ing rcfugeS; and men (hall then infult over them,
and fay, where is the dawbing wherewith you have dawbed it '^ So
then, at this lime the Lord will fend an haile ftorme that (hall dif-
cover all the counterfeit Religion' in the world, all the juggelings
of their Miracles, all the faire Teeming pretences of Popery, or any
other Religion, all their doctrines of merits, and confidences in
their prayers to Saints, and Angels, ?nd fuperftitious Devotions,
;:n haile ftorme fliall tall upon them all infuchfort, that you Avail
fee the vanity of them: And all the world fhall fee, that allRclgi-^
ons befides Chriftianity, are but a refuge of lies, and in the end
their jugglelings, and fcphiftry fhall be blowne up, andblafted:
Some fhall be (haken out of ».hem, Sc feded upon better bottoms,&
ethers will be provoked to blafpkeme, they will fo vex thcmfelves
with extremity of anguifh, for that thev are thus bereaved of their
old comfortable good daycs ; and oh the joyfull feftivals that they
v/ere wont for to keep in their Abbies, and fuperftitious places, for
the lofle of which they fiiall blafpheme the Lord,and true Religion,
and all the inftrumcnts of the Gofpels propagation. Such a thing
as this we reade o^ Rev. 1 1 . 1 5 . When as the feventh Angel found-
ed, there were j^reat voices in heaven, faying, The King-
domes, of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and
ofhisChrift, Scc. There it is faid iyluuorloj but here y^^n (the
thing was liiCn in doing, but now it is donej Then the Nations
were angry faith the Text, ver. 1 8. and a great haile there fell, when
tlicy began to become the Kingdomes of Jefus Chrift, and there
was an earthquake, ver. 19. but never fuch an earthquake as this
will be ; fo mighty, and To great, that will blaft, rot Popery alone,
but rll the Hotamocks in this countrey, and all that arc found
among other Indians in other parts of the world, an Haile ftorme
fl\:ll fall upon them all, and blaft all their green groves, and ar-
bours, wherein they were wont to be worftiipped : Thus have you
feen (?s the Lord hath been pleafed to help^ the meaning of ihefc
words :
" ■■ nmmm^mm^^mmmfirmmm^wmmm^ntmmmm^mmmmmmmm^rtmm^
_ STmuT
mm
Thefeventh Vial. 1 1
words: Let us now gather one note from them; For I would not
long dwell upon thefc iEnigmaticall, I mcanc Prirabolicall Scrip-
tures.
The l)o£lrine is. That when the darkneflc of Popifli, andhel- I?<?^/
li(h ignorance is difpelled, fo that a man may clearely fee heaven*
ly light, rnd breath in heavenly knowledge, then, It is done : That
is to fay, then rll the myftcry of ini«]uity is aboliflied, and the my-
ftcry of God is fulfilled. For thus you fee it is evidently here ex-
preffed in ihe Text. T he feventh Angel did pourc out his y\7\ uj>-
on the Ancichnftian ayrc, and that was fuch an ayre as was darken-
ed wiih the fmoakc of the bcttomlcflrc pit, as with a foggj^'mift.
Now when tills ayrc fliall Againc bee cleared, and die foggy dark-
neffe thereof difpelled, fo that men m.y have the true ufe of it, to
fee through it thofc heavenly bodies which were darkened by that
fmoake, 7{e^z;.p.2. then fliall men fee Jefus Chrifl: to be all in all un-
to Juftification, Sanflification, Ccnwlation, which in Popery you
could not: then fliall the true Church be feen^which like the Moon,
borrowcth all the light ic hath from the Sun : ftrue indeed if the
Moone be taken for the world, then flie treadeth ic under her feet,
Rev.i 2. 1. J In Poperv vou could not fee what a true Church was,
they will tell you of this and that Church, but they rrenotrue
Churches. Rut when this v;.ile fliall be removed, then fliall you
clearely know thpt the true Church is not a Catholike vifible, nor a
Ca;hedrall,noraDioccfan,nora Provinciall Church. Then fliall
you fee the Stars of he\ven, you fliall know who are the true offi--
ccrs of the Church, not Paratours,^.nd Fro^lours, Deacons, and
Archdeacons^ Bifliops, and Archbifliops over many Churches,
they are not the lights which the Lord hath fet therein : And you
fliall then fee who were the true members of the Chiirch, Not the
Canonized Saints, not fuch as %'^\\\iGcorac^ who was an ancient
Heretick, but you fliall fee them to be fucb as are fpoken of, Plnl.
2. 15. blanieleflTe, and h rmlefle, the Sons of God, without re-
buke, fliining as lights in the world ; then fliall you fee the Scrip-
ture more clearely, true doclrine, and worfliip,and government as
it is held forth in the Gofpcll of Chrifl:,and when you fliall fee thefc
things, then,lt is done ; Even all that God hath to do in die world,
for any ftirther Reformation expecl it not, /?«/. I o.y. when the
lime is come th.t the feventh Angel hath blowne his Trumpet, the
Bbb2 Lord
^^^,^^t■-|*>^g^^>^*-^:.r.tw»•-,,..f>A>^ , . ,M-^, , .^ ^^. ^ ^ ^ . . ^ ^ ^
..^
t
I i T/y^ feventh VtaL
Lord will not delay, but ic ihall then be fulfilled, and the f.ofd will
clearely nunifed to all Nations the great grace which he hath to
fhow to the f 3ns of men, and ihis is long agoe foretold, Efaj 25.
6y 7, 8. In this mountain (hall the Lord of hods make unto all pco-
le a feaft of fat chings, a feaft of wines on the Lees, of fat things
ull of marrow, of wines on the Lees well refined : And he will
deftroy in chis mountain ihc face of che covering call over all peo-
ple, and that is ch ^ pouting out of this Vial upon che ayre, for the
face of the covering, is the ayre in my Text , T hen will the Lord
make a feafi: of fat things, then will he fwallow up death in viclory,
and wipe away tcarcs from off all faces, :nd the rebuke of his peo-
ple (hall betaken away from off all the errih : this is alfo prophe-
fied of, jcp;'. 11.6,7,8,5?. They (ho.llnothu tn^rdeftroy inall
mine holy mouniaine, and the reafon is : for the earth (hall be full
m
ofthe knowledge ofthe Lord, ^s the waters cover the Se.i : and
then, Tt is done : The myftery of iniquity is aboliflied^ there is no
m^redarkncfTe, nordeftruTiDn, and the calling of the Gentiles,
which was a mvftery to the J ewes, (hall be then fully accomplifli-
ed, and the calling of the J ewes, which the Ap lllc callcth a myfte-
ry to us Gen:ilcs,y?(>w. II. 25. (hall be then fulfilled, and fj the
myftery of C jod is finifhed.
^(raf. I . Three Reafons doth the Text give us hereof, i . Firft, from the
manner of the entrance of this heavenly gl >ry into the hearts of
men, whether it conic into private perfons, or publique States ; It
com.ncthce Tibly wiih lightnmgsand thunder* ng<;,t!:e which com-
ming from God, doc fo terri£« the hearts of men, and the fta:e of
the world, ihat they fhall fee plainely how they have beene deluded
v/ith defperaie follyes, ond when men arc put unto fuch an carih^
qtiake in their fpirits ; this will be the point they come unto : Men
nn^ brethren v. hat fha/l rve doe to he fkved? as did the J aylor when he
had been foundly fhaken with the eartliquake, AHs 1 6.26.^o.^v\d
lo it willbe with Kins;domcs,when God hath in Hke fort fhaken
them, they will contend for true Religion, and will not then be
baffled out and deluded with vanities, as now they be : when die
fpirits of men are terrified, and they feclc no faivation in thdr Re-
ligion, they know not what fhall become of their pn.cious foulcs,
this will feti'.ll the world on worke to looke about them : for upon
this ground you (lull fee Indians, and Jews, and Pagans gaping
after
* •
The feventh Vial. tf
afier falvation, when they fee by chcfe terrible ftormes, and thun-
c^ers, that all their Re'igions arc buc Co many refuges of lies, then-
is there worke in hand indeed, which when God hath begun hec
will alfo finifli it unto the day of Chrift^^nd it will be fuch an eanh^
quake, as was never heard of in the world : Heretofore fo long as
this worke was found amone pcr^e Chridians, the great Lords of
the world pcrfecuicd ihem, and drvifed all manner of cruell tor-
menisf<^rthem : but whenthcv felr tha the wraih of God was
kmdled againtlthcm, then t!:;:ir heans fc*!I. and they were ali in a
combuftion for the ftate of their foulcs before the Lord : now they
were glad to renounce their y//p/Vrr/, and y/r;^Av, and to embrace
Chriftianity, and to heark-n to abetter Covcncint, this is the efFeft
of thundcrings and ii jhmm'gs, ^nd vovces it f ione blafleth IdoIa<«
tr^', and forccth man to feeke after a clearer paJTage to heaven.
1 he fecond Reafon is taken from the power of the fiving ^^ov/- n ^2
ledgeofChrifttodifpell this Popifli ignorance, and to carry an
end the heart of a man with fach power, ihat he can no longer lie
at quiet in his naturall eftatc ; but it worketh in men thefc foure ef*
fe;ts.
1 . It fubductb and tameth the hearts of men that now they will
joyn themfelvcs unto the people of God,£y^. 1 1 .^.7, 8. the VVolfe
fhall lie with the Lambe, the Leopard fliall lie downe with the
Kid,&:c. So great is their change in their hearts, that mens Rave-
nous tyrannies are taken away, and there is wrought in them, a
kindly fwcetc unfhaken frame, that will fo bre.ike forth againft
Gods people as formerly; thus doth the carthqna'.c.fhake out
droffe, and corruptions, and cllablifh the heart in a fweete graci-
ous frame of Spirit.
2. Secondly, The knowledge of Chrift will breed divifion, as
well as conjunction ; Thlnhe yon ('faith Chrift J that I am come to
fcnclp^accjIt''lljoHnay^h{tthefv.wrd: To fotmcnat variance a-
mons; tliemfelvcs, the father againft the fonne, and the fonne a-
gainftthe father, nS. tlze mother againft the daughter,Scc. And this
divifion is made in Cities, anA in Kingdomes, ^^67.14.4. The
city was divided, and part held with the Apoftles, and part held
with the J ewes : fo it is in the Text, the ejeat city was divided into
three parts> fume are hardened in their ignorance, and fome are
drawneout of it, and a third part will ftand Neuters betweene
Bbb 3 both
14 The [event h Vial.
both to fee, which way the balknce will turne, and thefc arc alCo
hardened in their blindneflc.
3 .Thirdly the faving knowledge of Chrifi: hath in it this power to
caufe men to rife up in armes againft all the enemies of th« G jfpell
cf Chriil in a lawful! way of God : There is a power in true Reli-
gion, thr.t makcth the hearts of the timerous to be fl:i(fe,and ftrong>
that where as men were before atr.iid of the power of the houfc of
Auftria, and of the King of Spaine, and of the reft of the Cacho-
like Princes, there is a power in the Spirit of Chrift, that willdi-
(pcliall thcfe, had but men the zealeofGodin their hearts, it
would make allthefe feares to be like Scar crowes, and makes
men bold to bid battell unto all thofe that ftand out ag:.inft Reli-
gion, fofarre as the Lawes of a State may beare them out.
4, A fourJi power of this knowledge, is to blowup all the in-
vemions of men in the worfhip of God,wherby men have deluded
tlicmfelves and others j when once mens hearts are lifted up in the
waves cf the Lord, as it is faid o^ J oho/haphat that his heart was,
2 Chro.iJ.6. and then he tooke away the High places. and groves
oinoffudah: So whenthezeale of Godlifteth up the hearis of
hispeople, then wilhhey not endure a confecrated place in all the
world where they come And when this Viall is poured out » the
earch (hall be full of this knowledge of God,and then all the Chap-
l^els of Eafcjand Churches of ftate, and Temples of glcry,whereby
the v/c rid hacN b'iene deluded, they will not leave them j iconc up-
onaftonet.iat ihcfil noi oe thrownc downe: This is the fecond
Reifon, taken from :he power of faving knowledge, which fabdu-
eth mens wilde nature:, worketh holy divifion, giveth courage,
and ihe power of zeale a^jr-nft all fuperftitions, and inventions of
men, though now in fomc places you may not paflTc through with
a burden,nor looke upon the wall thereof. The zeale of the Lord of
hc)aft will blow them up^ ihofe places will be hid open to the reft
of the ftreeces^ and become but common foyle, they will not then
be regarded but trampled upoii.
Jxcaf. 3. 1 he Third Reafon is . rom the juft judgement of God upon all
that are not effeilually wriu^ht upon bv this faving knowledge of
God, if men come not in on iom? meafure to a perfect accomplirh-
mem of Gods worke in their heans,therc will fall fuch a plague of.
haile upon them, as will teare away their vaile, and rend away their
hypocri-
■\7
• ft
■'* \^mmmmmmmmmmfmmmmmmmmmr'mmmmimmtitmf^»mi'>mmfmi'!>m'mm^'mi(
..— ., y^
«^^itflM^»i«4«**^ ••*• ^*— tf.
I
Tbefeventhyid. jj .
hypocriticall fiiiftSjand goodly pretences, and wafh down their
unicmpcred dawbings, therewith ihcy have dawbed the walls
of ihcir ftanviing in the Church of God ; He will fo rend them
to pieces, thac if they will not come in, he will leave them
tc luch opcnblifphemies, thatyou jTiall clcarcly fee there is no
more hope of iheir ccnverfion, not falvaiion.
The Ufe of this point in the lirft place,- may fetve to teach: -i^ij-j—
you a juftrcproofe of the Popifh conceit, Thac ignorance is
die mother of Devotion, unleiTe they meane it ot their ownc
devotion ; True, it is the mother of their devotion indeed :
fo long as their people are hood-wmked with it, they will
thinkc ihey doe God good fer\'ice, if they be intheCh^rch,
though they underftand nothing there, and if when they die,
theybeburyed in a Church-yard, they thinke they are the
better, and yet better if tli^y be bury ed in a Church, and yec
better, if it be in a Chancell,.and better then fo, if it be under'
the Altar, and better ihen. that,, if a Fryars Cowle be wrapped
about them. This is indeed the mother of whippings, and
fcourgings of auricular confefTions, and of all Popifh fuperfti^
tions ; for in truth, take away this ignorance, and all Popifh
devotipn dotn of it felfe fall to ihe ground, if once this vaile be
riemoveu from the face of all Nations. • •
Secondly, Lcarne from hence to fee what great need wee ^/^ 2;
have all of us to grow up In faving knowledge, and in prayer,
for the increafe thereof, that we may propagate the fame daily
more and more; you fee what wonders it will doe, Gods
people of old prayed for us; Pfal. 6j. i. God be mefcifuil to
us, an J bleflfe us, and caufe his face to fliine upon us : And for
what end c' That thy way may be known upon earth, and thy
faving truth among all Nations. And when once the light of
theGofpellisdifperfed, it will bring in all Nations, it will
thunder upon them, and never leave ir* nil it have changed
them. If this kno !-:dgc of God comeamongftan army of
men, they will n i touch any thing that is their brethrens, not
meddle, no'' n.ake with any to doe them harme, no mans
purfe fhall be taken from him, no mans goods taken away
withoutduerecompence, only they will not be deludtdwith
(haddowes, nor fufFer mountaines to overtop them, neither
will
y p i i I . ■■ ■ ■ *» ■ ■ ■ ^jLAf
-rSTTf
1 . . X
1^ V ^^^,^ Jl\ , • ,,, jj^ J.I ^ » ■ ii l|ir II
I ^ Thefeventh VUl. ^
will thcybecncompafled with hands : they willraife fuch art
earthquake firft, in Church, and Common- wealth, as you will
at length wonder at, for though it begin in a corner of the
world, it will not ceafe till it have {haken all Chriftendome,
for when men once begin clearely to fee which is thfetnic
Church of Gcd, that it is not Cathedrall, nor Provinciall, nor
Diocefan, bucconetcgationall only, the officers whereof are
godly Paftors, and Teachers, and ruling Elders, and Dea-
cons. And when chcy fee that the Saints which they have cm-
braced, and efteemed, arc not the true Saints oF God, nor
thefe the Churches, nor thofe the officers of Chrift wherewith
they have been gulled : but they fee now who arc the Saints
of the mod high ; and can put a difference now between pre-
cious and vile : In this way men will goc on to raifc fuch an
' earthquake (and that not befides the Law neither) that if any
City rife up againft them, fall it muft, and (loop unto them,
andat length Rome it felfe (hall fall, and all the Cities of the
Nations that cleave unto her, and every mountaine (hall bee
rocteJ up, and all their confecrated places fhall lie levell with
the common foile, this will the Lord bring to paflc, and will
not leave till he hath wrought his great work in the world, this^
is his revealed will, and it will not failcuntill every jot and
tittle of it be fulfilled. Let us therefore pray both night and
day, in feafon, and out of feafon for our brethren in our native
countrey, for whom God hath wrought all thefe great things,
and for whom greater things yet remain to be done, for whom
our work is to wraftle with God, that they may not perifh for
lack of knowledge, nor nitlake a falfe Church for a true, (and
falfe it is, ifitbeeitherCathedrallj Provinciall, National!, or
Diocefan) But pray we, that they may fee the Moone, which ^*
God hath fet in ihc Firmament, even the true forme of a .^
Church of the new Tellament. And alfo that Chrift may bee
better known in ali the parts of his Kingly office, and govern-
ment in his Church, that they may fee who arePapifts, and
who are the true Saints of God, and who are counterfeit, that
they difcerae between clcane and uncleane : for if the faving
knowledge of God grow up unto any ripenefle among them,
it will not bcare many things that arc there remaining, many
dawbings
'^ - -l i t r " ■! ^ 1 ■ -t. ■ ■■ ■■■■■•■ II
The feventh fid. 17
dawbtngs with untempered moner there are that maft be bea*
ten downe : And great piety were it that they (Kould want any
li^ht which might pofTibly be afforded unto them, and mar^
vellous ufefuU will it be, that we (hould not be wanting on our
parts to help with what hght we have, that fo (here may be no
more refuges oflies in that land, I fay this is mightily to bee
wraftled for, both in prayers, and in all Chnftian endeavours .•
for venly this is the worke of God, meet for every man to fet
his heart, and hand unto, even to pull away the vaile of dark'
nelTe from all faces, and from all the mindes of men, and to
difcovcrclearely thcGofpellof JefusChrift, and all the holy
wayes of his fanduary, that every man may fee, and fee cleare-
ly, that men may not makeadawbingofpart Reformation,
andpartSuperdition, part Popery, and part Proteftanifme,
part uniformity, and part conformity ; O that an haile ftorme
might not be wanting to batter downe fuch dawbing, that the
work of God might not ccafe, but amount unto the praife of
the glory of his rich grace in Jefus Chrift, and extend unto the
accomplifhmem of every holy word of his truth.
The third ufe may ferve to inftruftyou in the wonderfully/^*'
fuccelTe of fmall beginnings in the things of God ; that a wo-
mans throwing of & forry chaire at a mans head ^though the
partie might be punifhable for fuch a mifcarriage^fhould rayfe
fuch a contending for reformation, that both kingdomes
muft either ftand by reformation or elfefall to mine; Firft,
the women backe on the men,and then the men muft for (hame
backe on their wives, and greater men backe the meaner, to
bring forth fuch a great reformation : And how (hould this
come to palTe ^ Truely in the eyes of men it is wonderfull.
But you know the lead thing you caft into a {breame,will runne
downe the ftreamc, you neede not force it ; you have caft it in
where nature hath fee a courfe to carry it along: And how much
more fhall things runne an end , when the God of nature
hath fet them a courfe K when he powreth a Vial upon the igno"
ranee and darkenefl'e of Popifh luperftition, then great workes
therein, will be done, for now a man underworkes the Lord,
when he doth what his word hath fpoken, and what his hand
bath gone before us in : And when the ordinances of God (ay^
C c c ic
"* ^ • *^^^ . ^ M . ■ ■■ I ■ ■ I ■ ■! ■■■
mifiin***^'»^m>mmmmt m m i— *^>>» a a ^ ww ^ii^^ l ' ■ i ^ " » " ' " " '
**«-.-
^ffffT?— ' " !.•«•♦ ' •■' "J." i- ^ r ** "^ »"' "• ' *" •.. ■ ' rr" "" * '' ' ' '■ ■ " ■ T'^ Ssjg ^^— TT^'irw i. " aw I I I ■■V m ■ ■■1^1 ^ in iiaiT^t:
^ it '-' /.* The feventh ViaL
m •
it is fpoken,tlien the providence of God will fay, it is done^
and then if you failc long with Gods providence in Gods or-
dinance,you need not fcare, nor wonder, if weake beginnings
come unto great ilTues : For now you take opportunitie by
the foretop (as they are wont to (ay) if you carry along bud-
nelTe according to the word, the Lord will carry things m end
mightily in your hands beyond all your expecVations,or imagi-
nations,, for there is no refitting, nor controlling the worke
ofGod.
ZJfi 4. The fourth ufe may fhow you the great danger of fuch, as
{land out againfl: the reformation of Religion, the Lord will
throw downe his hdile upon them, and rend their hearts and in-
dignation,and blafphemy : He will goe an end wich his worke,
though they fweare, and ftorme, hewillpurfae the enemies of
his grace with his wrath, till he have utrerly confounded, and
confumed them from off the face of the earth.
Zffe <. In the lafl: place this may ferv^e to teach every man in pcrti-
cular (I amforcedto fpeake unco kingdomes and dates : but
leticnotbeinvaine ; let us be acquainted with every part of
his counfell, and will, and this is a maine part thereof, and wee
m?.y not fliuc our eyes from any knowne truth ; for God would
have the veyle taken from all faces^ you may have a true plat-
forme of this worke in any godly mans heart : If the Lord
meaneto finiflithemifcery of his grace in thee, he will power
out a \^'al upon the vaile of thine ignor nee, and will open
thine eyes to fee that thou haft runne a camall curfed courfc
ofhfe,he will come in with thundrings, and lightnings, and
voyces, fuch as wherewith A'fofcs himfelfe (hall be terrified. He
will come in with an earthquake into thy heart, terribly (baking
thy finfull corruptions, and then he willworke a reall change in
thee, that nothing in heaven butChrift, nor in the earth in
comparifon of him. The Lord will not fuflPer you to reft, until!
you have clofcd ftedfaftlywith him, tbe knowledge of God
hath given yon will bring this matter to pafTe, he will not leave
you untill you havegone forward to a divifion from your (infuU
luft,and camall companions. And whatfoever his work be, yoa
muft doe it, even unto the fiilfilhng of the myftery of God; and
whofoever rifeth againft you, you muft plead for Chrift with
the
t •
■ ' ■ ■ I 11 '^■^mmmmmm
Thefevtnth Vid. ' '■ • 19'
die weapons of your tongue ; and whatfocver High mountaine
rifclh in you, any gifts, or parts, good duties, any grcene
grafle tliat grov/etli in you ; the liaile ftcrme of Gods \v a;h
will drive you fromtrufting on ai-.y fuch comn-on grace; all
dawbingswith untenipered niorceryou cannot skill of: whatfo-
ever doth not make to the building you up in away of faving
grace you are unsl-ilfull in, ilieiefoic you arc dcfrous ftill to
clofe witl' Clirifb ; nor c.;n yec reft, unc'-ll you ccme to fetled
peace in hi:n : This is fuch a m. ftery of God, as dee will not
reft, nor fulTcr you to reft untill it be done; and if his Word
will bring it to pafte in a whole countrcv: then fure it is enough
to etFccI it in tbinc heart: S(
upyourfelves, nor oiiiers \vj
your fclves untill you be fiis
prehenfions as hypocrites a
till you I'mje Cbrift manift
up in a I aiiibe-lil'e frame ol
of God be fmiftied in you ;
tV.athatb beene wrought
at you doe not dawbe
d morter ; fatisRe not
allHich common ap-
t in : reft you not, u(t. -
)irit as yours; grow
ly, untill the myftery
!t myftery of Iniquity
[hcd.
FINIS.
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