Filter authors and titles

B25425:2076

TroposchemmalogiaTroposchēmalogia

Name: Troposchemmalogia
Author: Benjamin Keach

Troposchemmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. KTroposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K

:2073p. 300¶4

(4.) That he should be so lordly, and prodigiously insolent, (who was commanded to the greatest Humility and Abasement) as to tread upon the Necks of Emperors, kick off the Crowns of great Princes, and make Kings his Foot-Pages.

:2074p. 300¶5

(5.) That he should pretend highly, yea, most highly, to God, Christ, Religion, and Holiness, and yet espouse to himself, as the Darlings of his Bosom, not only the chiefest Sons of Belial, but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion, and embody themselves with those First-born Sons of Wickedness, that are of the highest Magnitude, and engage themselves in such monstrous and butcherly Practices, that humane Nature, as such, could never act in the butchering of brute Beasts.

:2075p. 300¶6

(6.) That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God, Jesus Christ, and the Things of Religion, of which Justice and Charity, Holiness and Compassion are not the least Part; and yet under this Visor, and in the very time of these Pretensions, perpetrate the greatest and most unparalleled Villainies in the World: 1. In being the Top of Pride. 2. In committing palpable Idolatry. 3. Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness. 4. To curse, swear, and blaspheme the very Name they profess to be sacred. 5. To cast down the Truth, burn the Bible, deface the holy Books and Laws of God. 6. To assume not only a Power to dispense with Violations of the highest Nature, but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure. 7. To commit Adultery, and account it a venial Crime. 8. To break Covenants, drive a Trade in Perjury, forswear every thing they are justly charged with, and is fully proved against them. 9. To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power; contrive the Ruin of Towns and Places, Cities, Countries, and Kingdoms, by Fire, Sword, and most cruel Devastations. 10. To slaughter, kill, and barbarously murder, both Men, Women, and Children, even all that dare make a show of Conscience and Religion, so far as to abhor and dissent from these Villainies.

(6.) That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God, Jesus Christ, and the Things of Religion, of which Justice and Charity, Holiness and Compassion are not the least Part; and yet under this Vizard, and in the very time of these Pretensions, perpetrate the greatest and most unparallel'd Villanies in the World: 1. In being the Top of Pride. 2. In committing palpable Idolatry. 3. Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness. 4. To curse, swear, and blaspheme the very Name they profess to be sacred. 5. To cast down the Truth, burn the Bible, deface the holy Books and Laws of God. 6. To assume not only a Power to dispense with Violations of the highest Nature, but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure. 7. To commit Adultery, and account it a venial Crime. 8. To break Covenants, drive a Trade in Perjury, forswear every thing they are justly charged with, and is fully proved against them. 9. To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power; contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places, Cities, Countries, and Kingdoms, by Fire, Sword, and most cruel Devastations. 10. To slaughter, kill, and barbarously murther, both Men, Women, and Children, even all that dare make a shew of Conscience and Religion, so far as to abhor and dissent from these Villanies.

:2076p. 301

This is such a Scheme of Religion, and System of Divinity, to come from an Apostle, a Shepherd, a Vicar and Successor of Christ, from a Church, Sheep, Saints, and the pretended Followers of the meek, peaceable, and innocent Jesus, who taught altogether otherwise by his Doctrine and Example, that it might well be wondered at, and is the strangest Mystery that ever appeared, of which we challenge the whole World to show the like in the Turks and Saracens. For Men to swear, lie, and forswear themselves, and yet be true Men: to contrive Rebellion, Murder, and Treason; and yet be as innocent as the Child unborn: to be elevated to the highest Pinnacle of Pride, even above Emperors and Kings, above Jesus Christ, and God his Father; and yet be humble and lowly: To commit gross Idolatry; and yet be the Servants of the Living God: To be filled with, and make a Trade of Excess and Drunkenness; and yet be the Patterns and Standards of Sobriety and Temperance: To cast down the Truth to the Ground, deface the Laws of God, and burn the Scriptures; and yet be the true Witnesses to it: To forgive Sins, and yet be the greatest of Sinners themselves: To commit Fornication and Adultery; and yet be spotless and pure in Heart; To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power; to contrive the Ruin of Towns and Places, Cities, Countries, and Kingdoms, by Fire, Sword, and cruel Devastations; and yet be as harmless as Doves to all Mankind, the only Sons of Peace and Quietness: To slaughter, kill, and barbarously murder Men, Women, and Children, that dare not be so wicked as themselves; and yet to be full of Mercy, tender Pity, and Compassion; an Apostle, Shepherd, Vicar, and Successor of the meek and Lamb-like Saviour. And for the dear Consort of this impious Head, or Man of Sin, to be not only confederate with him, but a Principal in all these unparalleled Villainies, and most butcherly and rapacious Murders; and yet be the Holy Catholic Church of God, the pure and spotless Spouse of Jesus Christ, the true Sheep, the harmless Lambs, the best of Saints, and close Followers of the Lord Jesus, who always taught the contrary by his holy Doctrine, and meek Example. We say, these Things not being found by secret Search, but are written in Capital Letters upon her Forehead, appear in open view, to be read by every one that is not wilfully blind:

:2077p. 301

Let any one show us a greater Mystery in the World than this, and we will subscribe to it.

Let any one shew us a greater Mystery in the World than this, and we will subscribe to it.

:2078p. 301¶4

4. It cannot be the Turks, because they are not the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, which this Babylon is said to be, Rev. 17.5. And upon her Forehead was a Name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And here we demand, in excuse to the Turks, this one Thing:

:2079p. 301

From whence did proceed the Murders, Massacres, and Martyrdoms of all the Religious Professors of Christianity, that have died by violence in the Christian World, for the space of twelve hundred Years last past? And from what People did proceed those horrid Oaths, Blasphemies, and Execrations, that the World hath woefully been acquainted with, most horrid and strangely astonishing to repeat?

From whence did proceed the Murthers, Massacres, and Martyrdoms of all the Religious Professors of Christianity, that have died by violence in the Christian World, for the space of twelve hundred Years last past? And from what People did proceed those horrid Oaths, Blasphemies, and Execrations, that the World hath wofully been acquainted with, most horrid and strangely astonishing to repeat?

:2080p. 301–302

Came these unparalleled Degrees of Impiety from the Turks? from the Waldensians, Lutherans, Calvinists, or any Non-conforming Protestants? No, no. Why, whose Language then is it? Whose! Why, 'tis the Language of the Beast of the bottomless Pit, and bloody Whore, who bare these blasphemous Sons of her own Body, daily nourishes them at her Breast, and strengthens them in their sinful Courses, by accounting them the Sons, the precious Sons of Zion, the true Sons of the Catholic Church, the Darlings of Heaven, the beloved Ones of the Virgin Mary, and giving them Pardons for these bold and Heaven-daring Sins, as often as they do commit them, and come to ask Pardon for them; so that Sin and Pardon is as constant and common with them, as Breathing and Eating. And these Things are done to seal and confirm Lies, which is the more heavy, heinous, and prodigious: For if Men may lie by allowance; may kill, and shed innocent Blood, without Control of Conscience, and Church-Censures; may swear and blaspheme, and challenge God himself to damn them; may burn Men for Religion, consume Cities to Ashes, conspire the Death of Kings, the Ruin and Overthrow of Kingdoms, whore, and murder Infants; and yet be accounted a Church, the Members and Parts of it, called Saints, holy Children, and Sons of the Most High God: Then may we claim a Patent, and take a License to change the Name of all Things, and alter all the Idea's of the Minds of Men; call and account Beelzebub a good God, and all his black Tribe, the pure Saints of the Most High; call the lower Regions of Blackness and Darkness, to which he is confined, ⟨p. 302⟩the Heaven of Glory and eternal Light. Of which Things we ought in Justice to clear the Turks, until Witnesses of undoubted Credit shall come forth, and evidence, that the Turkish State is the Mother of as great Abominations as these are.

Came these unparallel'd Degrees of Impiety from the Turks? from the Waldensians, Lutherans, Calvinists, or any Non-conforming Protestants? No, no. Why, whose Language then is it? Whose! Why, 'tis the Language of the Beast of the bottomless Pit, and bloody Whore, who bare these blasphemous Sons of her own Body, daily nourishes them at her Breast, and strengthens them in their sinful Courses, by accounting them the Sons, the precious Sons of Sion, the true Sons of the Catholick Church, the Darlings of Heaven, the beloved Ones of the Virgin Mary, and giving them Pardons for these bold and Heaven-daring Sins, as often as they do commit them, and come to ask Pardon for them; so that Sin and Pardon is as constant and common with them, as Breathing and Eating. And these Things are done to seal and confirm Lies, which is the more heavy, heinous, and prodigious: For if Men may lie by allowance; may kill, and shed innocent Blood, without Controul of Conscience, and Church-Censures; may swear and blaspheme, and challenge God himself to damn them; may burn Men for Religion, consume Cities to Ashes, conspire the Death of Kings, the Ruine and Overthrow of Kingdoms, whore, and murther Infants; and yet be accounted a Church, the Members and Parts of it, called Saints, holy Children, and Sons of the Most High God: Then may we claim a Patent, and take a License to change the Name of all Things, and alter all the Idea's of the Minds of Men; call and account Beelzebub a good God, and all his black Tribe, the pure Saints of the Most High; call the lower Regions of Blackness and Darkness, to which he is confin'd,

:2081p. 302¶5

5. And lastly; The Turks cannot be Mystery Babylon, because they never were made drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, which this Woman, Mystery Babylon, is expressly said to be, Rev. 17.6. And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus; and I wondered with great admiration. Now let any Man show such Bloodshed, Saints Bloodshed, by Massacres and Martyrdom, for the professing of Christianity, (which must be, if the Text be answered in that Clause, Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus,) by the Turks, either within their Dominions, or without, as hath been shed by a Generation nearer home, and we shall become like the Man without a Wedding-Garment, wholly speechless, and say not a Word more about Babylon.

5. And lastly; The Turks cannot be Mystery Babylon, because they never were made drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, which this Woman, Mystery Babylon, is expresly said to be, Rev. 17.6. And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus; and I wondred with great admiration. Now let any Man shew such Bloodshed, Saints Bloodshed, by Massacres and Martyrdom, for the professing of Christianity, (which must be, if the Text be answered in that Clause, Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus,) by the Turks, either within their Dominions, or without, as hath been shed by a Generation nearer home, and we shall become like the Man without a Wedding-Garment, wholly speechless, and say not a Word more about Babylon.

:2082p. 302¶3

III. Now that Babylon in the Apocalypse, is Great Rome, that in former Times reigned, and in future Times shall be destroyed, is owned by some of the Papists themselves, and is asserted by all Protestants; the Difference betwixt them is brought to this narrow Point. The one wholly confines Babylon to Rome Heathen, and there totally to terminate; the other brings Babylon down lower, to Rome Antichristian, or Papal Rome. Now that this Work may be to Edification, and more full Satisfaction in this great Case, we shall advance to the last and chief Secret that is to be opened and considered, namely, Whether all Things in John's Vision or Prophecy, that are applied to Mystery Babylon, did completely terminate in Rome Heathen, and come no further?

III. Now that Babylon in the Apocalypse, is Great Rome, that in former Times reigned, and in future Times shall be destroyed, is owned by some of the Papists themselves, and is asserted by all Protestants; the Difference betwixt them is brought to this narrow Point. The one wholly confines Babylon to Rome Heathen, and there totally to terminate; the other brings Babylon down lower, to Rome Antichristian, or Papal Rome. Now that this Work may be to Edification, and more full Satisfaction in this great Case, we shall advance to the last and chief Secret that is to be opened and considered, namely, Whether all Things in John's Vision or Prophecy, that are applied to Mystery Babylon, did compleatly terminate in Rome Heathen, and come no further?

:2083p. 302

In Answer to this great Enquiry, we do, with the Body of Protestants, in opposition to the Papists, conclude the Negative, viz. That all Things in the Apocalypse applied to Mystery Babylon, did not terminate in Rome Heathen. The Reasons of which Negative are as followeth.

:2084p. 302¶1

1. Because the Beast that Mystery Babylon rides on, is the eighth Head, or last Ruling-Power of that City that is seated upon seven Hills, which must be Rome Papal, because the whole Race of Rome Heathen was gone off, before the eighth Head came up. — The sixth Head was in John's Time; the seventh was to come, and continue but a short Space, The Beast that carrier the Woman, viz. Babylon, is of the seventh, but is the eighth, and shall be the last; for he goeth into Perdition. This being so evident from the Letter of the Text, needs nothing more to confirm it. Now that Rome Heathen was not the last Part of the Romish Power, is not only the full and joint Consent of all Writers upon this Subject, but is so evident to all the Christian World, that it would be Vanity it self to make a Show of Proof. The Conclusion then is this: If the very last Part of the Roman Power carries the Woman Babylon, and that the Heathen State of Rome went off before, and was not the last; then Babylon could not terminate in Rome Heathen, but must come down to Rome Papal. See Rev. 17.3, 7, 9, 11.

:2085p. 302–303¶2

2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen, then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World: For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church, and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies, did end in Rome Heathen, then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old, and ready to go off the Stage; but hath wholly left us in the dark, and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion, and bloody Persecutions, which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past; which for Length of Time, Numbers of Murders, and Manner of Cruelties, hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State. Which is not at all likely, that a Vision should be given, and a Revelation made, and called so, about a State that was almost expired, and the most great and principal Part wholly left out, and said nothing to. Who can imagine, that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church, concerning their Sufferings, and the Time under Egypt, and Babylon Literal; and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church, to leave them altogether without any written Prospect, or extraordinary Prophet, to inform them what should come to pass in the World, from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen, to the end of all the Churches Troubles, which have already lasted above a thousand Years? The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive, viz. the Roman-Catholics, and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World, after the ⟨p. 303⟩Restoration of the Jews to their own Land, and building a material Temple at Jerusalem, where Antichrist shall sit three Days and an half, or Years, to kill two Men called the two Witnesses.

2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen, then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World: For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church, and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies, did end in Rome Heathen, then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old, and ready to go off the Stage; but hath wholly left us in the dark, and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion, and bloody Persecutions, which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past; which for Length of Time, Numbers of Murthers, and Manner of Cruelties, hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State. Which is not at all likely, that a Vision should be given, and a Revelation made, and call'd so, about a State that was almost expired, and the most great and principal Part wholly left out, and said nothing to. Who can imagine, that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church, concerning their Sufferings, and the Time under Egypt, and Babylon Literal; and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church, to leave them altogether without any written Profpect, or extraordinary Prophet, to inform them what should come to pass in the World, from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen, to the end of all the Churches Troubles, which have already lasted above a thousand Years? The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive, viz. the Roman-Catholicks, and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World, after the

:2086p. 303¶3

3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen, then there was no Cause of Wonderment and great Admiration for a wise Man, to see in a Vision an Heathenish State, under a Diabolical Influence, to perform Actions suitable to their State, and not contrary to their Professions: For what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow, to see the Sea foam, and hear the Waves rage and roar, when the Winds oppose its Effluxion? And what Cause of great Wonderment and Admiration for a wise Man, to see wicked Heathens oppose and persecute Christianity, when it is so suitable to their Spirit, and agreeable to their Profession so to do, we cannot yet understand, and we will diligently listen to them who will undertake to inform us: For the thing is true, that a wise Man did wonder at the Sight he saw with great Admiration, Rev. 17.6. I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered with great admiration. Wondered! O strange! At what? To see that which was common to all Ages, the Seed of the Serpent, that profest Heathenism, the Wicked, even the worst of the Wicked, by Principle and Profession, to plot against the Righteous, and to gnash upon him with their Teeth; Idolaters, profest Idolaters, to persecute the Servants and Worshippers of the true God; those that were born after the Flesh, and lived after the Flesh, to persecute them that were born of the Spirit, and lived after the Spirit. Surely, if our Adversaries Opinion was true in this Case, that Babylon is only Rome Heathen, St. John had forgot that Cain killed Abel, and Ishmael persecuted Isaac; and took not so much notice of the Course of the World, common to every Age, as Paul did, who said, But as he that was born after the Flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit; as it was then, so it is now: And what strange Wonder is in all this?

:2087p. 303¶4

4. Rome Heathen never was espoused, married, or united to the Lord Jesus, in a spiritual way, visibly owning his Laws, and submitting to his Government, as a Wife submits to, and obeys her Husband, and afterwards casts him off, and chooses another Head and Husband; and therefore cannot be Mystical Babylon, or the great Whore: For tho these Heathens were great Idolaters, yet were they never charged with spiritual Adultery, nor could they, unless they had once, by visible Profession, made a Covenant with, or espoused themselves to the Lord Jesus, which Rome Papal before its Apostasy did: Therefore Rome Heathen could not be the great Whore, or Mystical Babylon.

4. Rome Heathen never was espoused, married, or united to the Lord Jesus, in a spiritual way, visibly owning his Laws, and submitting to his Government, as a Wife submits to, and obeys her Husband, and afterwards casts him off, and chuses another Head and Husband; and therefore cannot be Mystical Babylon, or the great Whore: For tho these Heathens were great Idolaters, yet were they never charged with spiritual Adultery, nor could they, unless they had once, by visible Profession, made a Covenant with, or espoused themselves to the Lord Jesus, which Rome Papal before its Apostacy did: Therefore Rome Heathen could not be the great Whore, or Mystical Babylon.

:2088p. 303¶5

5. Rome Heathen cannot be the Babylon set forth by St. John, unless she be guilty of all the Christian Blood shed upon the Earth since the Destruction o• Jerusalem: For as the Guilt of all the Blood shed from righteous Abel, to the Death of Zechariah, is by our Saviour fixed upon Jerusalem, and cannot be removed to another People; so the Blood of all the Martyrs and Followers of Jesus, is by this Revelation ••x'd upon the last Babylon, R•v. 17.6. And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus. Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the Blood of the Prophets, and of Saints, and of ALL that were slain upon the Earth. But Rome Heathen was not guilty of all the Christian Blood that was shed upon Earth, by Murders, Massacres, and Martyrdom, since the Destruction of Jerusalem: For to look back but for six hundred Years last past, in which Time we shall find Hundreds of Thousands of profest Christians most butcherly and barbarously put to Death, for their Zeal and Love to the Christian Religion, in the respective Nations of Europe, before which the Heathenish State of Rome was gone off about the space of six hundred Years. So that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about My••ery Babylon, we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome.

5. Rome Heathen cannot be the Babylon set forth by St. John, unless she be guilty of all the Christian Blood shed upon the Earth since the Destruction o• Jerusalem: For as the Guilt of all the Blood shed from righteous Abel, to the Death of Zacharias, is by our Saviour fix'd upon Jerusalem, and cannot be removed to another People; so the Blood of all the Martyrs and Followers of Jesus, is by this Revelation ••x'd upon the last Babylon, R•v. 17.6. And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus. Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the Blood of the Prophets, and of Saints, and of ALL that were slain upon the Earth. But Rome Heathen was not guilty of all the Christian Blood that was shed upon Earth, by Murthers, Massacres, and Martyrdom, since the Destruction of Jerusalem: For to look back but for six hundred Years last past, in which Time we shall find Hundreds of Thousands of profest Christians most butcherly and barbarously put to Death, for their Zeal and Love to the Christian Religion, in the respective Nations of Europe, before which the Heathenish State of Rome was gone off about the space of six hundred Years. So that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about Myery Babylon, we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome.

Position

Cited: :2076
On this page: :2073–2088
Section: :2039–2167
Whole work: 3,827 passages

Cite

Benjamin Keach, Troposchēmalogia (London,, 1682), head 9, p. 301. EEBO-TCP B25425.

Or select words in any passage to make an image of them.

The book

Title as printed: Troposchemmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. KTroposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K
Author: Benjamin Keach 1640–1704
Place: London
Printer: John Darby
Year: 1682
Size: [12], xvi, 436, 48, 437-444 p.
Words: 336,511
Catalogue: Wing K101A · ESTC R7039
Text: EEBO-TCP B25425

Passages: 3,827
Sections: 518

Title page

The author

Benjamin Keach 1640–1704

PuritansEngland

Particular Baptist minister.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book

This is such a Scheme of Religion, and Systeme of Divinity, to come from an Apostle, a Shepherd, a Vicar and Successor of Christ, from a Church, Sheep, Saints, and the pretended Followers of the meek, peaceable, and innocent Jesus, who taught altogether otherwise by his Doctrine and Example, that it might well be wondred at, and is the strangest Mystery that ever appeared, of which we challenge the whole World to shew the like in the Turks and Saracens. For Men to swear, lie, and forswear themselves, and yet be true Men: to contrive Rebellion, Murther, and Treason; and yet be as innocent as the Child unborn: to be elevated to the highest Pinacle of Pride, even above Emperors and Kings, above Jesus Christ, and God his Father; and yet be humble and lowly: To commit gross Idolatry; and yet be the Servants of the Living God: To be filled with, and make a Trade of Excess and Drunkenness; and yet be the Paterns and Standards of Sobriety and Temperance: To cast down the Truth to the Ground, deface the Laws of God, and burn the Scriptures; and yet be the true Witnesses to it: To forgive Sins, and yet be the greatest of Sinners themselves: To commit Fornication and Adultery; and yet be spotless and pure in Heart; To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power; to contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places, Cities, Countries, and Kingdoms, by Fire, Sword, and cruel Devastations; and yet be as harmless as Doves to all Mankind, the only Sons of Peace and Quietness: To slaughter, kill, and barbarously murther Men, Women, and Children, that dare not be so wicked as themselves; and yet to be full of Mercy, tender Pity, and Compassion; an Apostle, Shepherd, Vicar, and Successor of the meek and Lamb-like Saviour. And for the dear Consort of this impious Head, or Man of Sin, to be not only confederate with him, but a Principal in all these unparallel'd Villanies, and most butcherly and rapacious Murthers; and yet be the Holy Catholick Church of God, the pure and spotless Spouse of Jesus Christ, the true Sheep, the harmless Lambs, the best of Saints, and close Followers of the Lord Jesus, who always taught the contrary by his holy Doctrine, and meek Example. We say, these Things not being found by secret Search, but are written in Capital Letters upon her Forehead, appear in open view, to be read by every one that is not wilfully blind:

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36