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
Benjamin Keach 1640–1704London: printed by John Darby, 1682
[12], xvi, 436, 48, 437-444 p. · 337k words · Wing K101A · ESTC R7039
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
10. If the Place, Seat, and City of Rome was not utterly ruined, (so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce, Trade, and Human Society,) when the Heathen Power ceased, — then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon, because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon, the Place, Seat, and City is utterly ruined, so as to be no more a Place of Trade,1 Commerce, or human Society: And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate, and shall eat her Flesh, and burn her with Fire. Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth — for her Sins which God hath remembered, 2which have reached unto Heaven, therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day, Death, and Mourning, and Famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire: For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. Ver. 11, 12, 13. All Sorts of Merchandise, Traffic, Trade, and Commerce with humane Society, shall cease, so as to be no more in her at all; and the good Things which she in Fullness enjoyed before, even all Things that were dainty and goodly, are now departed from her, and she shall find them no more at all, vers. 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate. And a mighty Angel took up a Stone, like a great Mill-stone, and cast it into the Sea, saying, Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers, and Musicians, and of Pipers, and Trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no Craftsman, of whatsoever Craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee. Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the Voice of the Bridegroom, and of the Bride, shall be heard no more at all in thee. Verse 23.
10. If the Place, Seat, and City of Rome was not utterly ruined, (so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce, Trade, and Human Society,) when the Heathen Power ceased, — then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon, because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon, the Place, Seat, and City is utterly ruined, so as to be no more a Place of Trade,1 Commerce, or human Society: And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate, and shall eat her Flesh, and burn her with Fire. Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth — for her Sins which God hath remembred, 2which have reached unto Heaven, therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day, Death, and Mourning, and Famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire: For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. Ver. 11, 12, 13. All Sorts of Merchandize, Traffick, Trade, and Commerce with humane Society, shall cease, so as to be no more in her at all; and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before, even all Things that were dainty and goodly, are now departed from her, and she shall find them no more at all, vers. 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate. And a mighty Angel took up a Stone, like a great Mill-stone, and cast it into the Sea, saying, Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers, and Musicians, and of Pipers, and Trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no Craftsman, of whatsoever Craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee. Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the Voice of the Bridegroom, and of the Bride, shall be heard no more at all in thee. Verse 23.
But the Place, Seat, and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade, Traffic, Merchandise, and humane Society, when the Heathen Power of Rome ended.
But the Place, Seat, and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade, Traffick, Merchandize, and humane Society, when the Heathen Power of Rome ended.
Ergo, Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon, under present Consideration, whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government, reigning in Pride and Pomp, for some hundreds of Years.
11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon, the City of Pride and Confusion, that is set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse; then neither the City of Jerusalem, the Seat of the Turks and Saracens, nor Rome Heathen, is or can be the same: But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse — Ergo neither the ⟨p. 307⟩City of Jerusalem, the Seat of the Turks and Saracens, nor Rome Heathen, can be the same.
11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon, the City of Pride and Confusion, that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse; then neither the City of Jerusalem, the Seat of the Turks and Saracens, nor Rome Heathen, is or can be the same: But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse — Ergo neither the ⟨p. 307⟩City of Jerusalem, the Seat of the Turks and Saracens, nor Rome Heathen, can be the same.
If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record, to prove Mystery Babylon by, do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal, than to the City of Jerusalem, the Seat of the Turks, or Rome Heathen: Then Rome Papal; and not any one of them, is Mystery Babylon.
For the clearing up of this Argument, we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon, and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal, in this Method following.
1. Babylon is a Woman, which imports either a single Person, ranked in the Feminine Gender; or a Body of People related to some Head, Husband, or public Person, to whom she is joined in Wedlock, by Covenant, or Matrimonial Contract, as Eve was related to Adam, and therefore called Woman; or as Judah and Israel, who were joined in Covenant with God, and therefore called a Woman; or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ, and therefore called a Woman. A single Person, as Eve was, she cannot be, because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions, doth no way comport with it: She must therefore be a Body of People, related to some Head, Husband, or public Person, as Judah and Israel of old was, who are often called by the Title of Woman; and in like manner Babylon, before her Degeneracy, were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract, by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession, to the Son of God.
1. Babylon is a Woman, which imports either a single Person, rank'd in the Feminine Gender; or a Body of People related to some Head, Husband, or publick Person, to whom she is joined in Wedlock, by Covenant, or Matrimonial Contract, as Eve was related to Adam, and therefore called Woman; or as Judah and Israel, who were joined in Covenant with God, and therefore called a Woman; or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ, and therefore called a Woman. A single Person, as Eve was, she cannot be, because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions, doth no way comport with it: She must therefore be a Body of People, related to some Head, Husband, or publick Person, as Judah and Israel of old was, who are often called by the Title of Woman; and in like manner Babylon, before her Degeneracy, were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract, by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession, to the Son of God.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
Babylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God; and hence, Metaphorically called a Woman; And I saw a Woman sit, &c. And the Woman was arrayed, &c. And I saw the Woman Drunk, &c. Rev. 17.3, 4, 6. | Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, is a Body, a great Body, a famous Body of People, and which were, before their Apostasy, a true Church, by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God▪ as her public Head and Husband; Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. To all that be in Rome,1 beloved of God, called to be Saints; Grace be to you, and Peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. Babylon is a City, a very great City, so called in a threefold respect:2 (1.) In respect of Power; (2.) In respect of People; (3) In respect of Place and Residence, where this Power and People is seated;3 City being indefinitely taken for either of these, or comprehending all, as in these Instances. | II. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is a City, a very great City, so called in a threefold respect, 1. In respect of Power, which is twofold, (1.) Civil, (2.) Ecclesiastical,4 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People, which are great in Number. 3. In respect of Place and Residence, where this Power and great People is seated; and indeed it is as worthily called, by way of Eminency, a City, as any Power, People, or Place in the Christian World, because there is nothing so much spoken of, or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of, as Rome, in respect of Power, People, and Place, which shall be further cleared by Argument, &c. The Fame of this People as a Church, was great, before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it; as appears, Rom. 1.8. First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all, that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World.
III. Babylon is not only a Woman, and a City, but a bad Woman, and a City of Confusion; ⟨p. 308⟩
There is the Name of the Lamb ⟨p. 308⟩much spoken of, but his Doctrine undervalued and slighted, his Laws trampled upon and violated, his Example not regarded for Imitation, either by the Bishop himself, his Cardinals, or inferior Orders, having his Humility and Self-denial only in Words, like those the Apostle speaketh of, that in Words profess God, but in Works deny him. For under this verbal Humility, here is the greatest Pride in the World; under this verbal Meekness and Self-denial, the greatest Oppression and Cruelty, Covetousness, and Love of the World; as appears by their pompous Garbs, their cruel Punishments, and the vast Sums of Money brought in from all parts of their Dominion, by Sleights, and cunning and deceitful Cheats: Besides, a mere Hodge-podg of Principles, one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against, and cries down; which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible: Besides the strange Mixtures in their visible Worship, of Traditions, and human Inventions, of lying and diabolical Tricks, of blessing by a Cross, consecrating holy Water, and cleansing by it, which are too numerous and tedious to relate, and the less needful, because every Man that hath seen their Ways, hath an imperfect Book of it in his own Mind, and can read the Truth of what we say within himself. And let any People in the Christian World, pretending to Religion, be compared to them, for supernumerary, trifling and insignificant Ceremonies, crowded into their pretended Worship; nay, let all the People in the Christian World be laid in the Balance against the Church of Rome in this respect, and they will be found inconceivably wanting; for which we have this Reason to judg her to be Babylon, and the City of Confusion.
If there is more Confusion (in Contrariety of Principles, Practices, contradicting Pretensions, crowding in Supernumeraries, and Mysteries of Unscriptural Inventions, into visible Worship) in Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, than is to be found amongst any or all People pretending Religion, in the Christian World besides: Then is Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, the great Babylon, or City of Confusion.
But there is more Confusion, in the forementioned Respects, to be found in Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, than in any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides: Ergo, &c.
⟨p. 307⟩IV.
Babylon is not only a Woman, and a City, a City of Confusion, but she is a Whore, which is a strange Word to be applied to a great and famous People; a Word that carries in it one of the highest Impeachments, but no other than was given to Israel, 1Judah, and Jerusalem, in the Days of old, upon a very good Reason; for they being joined in Covenant with God, to serve him in Obedience and Subjection, did, like to an adulterous Woman, break Wedlock, and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead,2 and continued so a long time, till a Bill of Divorce was given, and God proclaimed them not married to him as his Wife, but a Whore, and divorced; yet it is observable, that they used his Name, tho they worshipped Idols, and cried, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are we. |
IV. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, and a City, a City of Confusion, but according to Scripture-History, and notorious Matter of Fact, she is a Whore also, and may be justly so called; for in the Apostles Time she joined her self to the Lord, by firm Ties of a Gospel-Govenant and Profession, and was the renowned Spouse of the Son of God, owned and professed him in the Time of Heathenism, received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them, withstood the Fury of the Emperors, suffered Persecution, had their Faith spoken of throughout the whole World; and yet after all this, like Israel of old, she left God, and his holy Laws, made Idols to her self of Saints, Angels, Relics, and Images, upon which she doted, and forsook the Son of God, upon the working and appearance of the Man of Sin, who exalted himself into the place of Christ, and became her Head, by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was, that she retains nothing, holds fast nothing of what really appertains to true Godliness, but the bare Names of God and Jesus Christ, having corrupted the true Worship of the Son of God, her first Husband, and notoriously ⟨p. 309⟩abandoned Obedience to him, taking this vile Person to be her Head, and chief Guide, and setting him in the Place of, and Dignity above her first Head, and true Guide of her Youth; and yet (like Israel of old) still cries, The true Church, the Catholic Church, the Mother-Church are we; having on her Forehead a strange Mystery written, i. e. God, Christ, Truth, Verity, Infallibility;
and next to this there lies nearest her Heart, Devil, Pope, Lying, Deceit, Perjury, Idolatry, and horrible Cruelty towards the best of Men, professing Christ and Religion in Uprightness and Truth: For which Change of her first Head, Husband, and Guide of her Youth, for this vile Person, with which she commits most abominable Lewdness, together with the Kings of the Earth, she is ranked by the Angel amongst the worst of Women, and styled, as her Type and Predecessor of ol•, a well-favoured Harlot, or of the Angel, a Woman, a City, and notorious Whore, which ill and black Characters we conclude with this Argument:
If there be no Body of professing People in the Christian World, that hath so apparently declined or adulterated from what they once were, deserted the holy Doctrine, Example, and right Government of Jesus Christ, and set up another visible and public Head of the Church in room and stead of him, whose Power and Laws are preferred above and before the Authority and Laws of the Lord Jesus, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of:
But there is no Body of professing People in the Christian World, that hath so apparently declined, or adulterated, or deserted the holy Doctrine, Example, or right Government of Christ, ut suprà:
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Whore spoken of.
To reinforce this Argument, let it be showed by any Man, that any People different from the Church of Rome hath made such a Change, in point of Religion and Headship, and Matters thereto pertaining, so as that this black Character of Whore can more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them, and we must confess our Argument not weighty; but till then, we conclude it carries Conviction in the Bowels of it.
V. Babylon, this Woman, this City of Confusion, this Whore, is a very great Woman, City, and Whore: And the great City was divided. 1And the Woman which thou sawest, is that great City, &c. The Merchants stood afar off, saying, Alas! alas! that great City, Babylon, that mighty City. Again they wept, saying, Alas! 2alas! that great City, which was clothed, &c. What City is like unto this great City! And cried, weeping and wailing, 3saying, Alas! alas! that great City, wherein were made rich! &c.
And a mighty Angel took up a Stone, 1like a great Mill-stone, and cast it into the Sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down. I will show thee the Judgment of the great Whore, 2&c. He hath judged the great Whore, 3&c. Great in four Respects: (1.) Great in Name. (2.) Great in Power. (3.) Great in Multitude. (4.) Great in Action, vile Actions. |
V. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, a City, a Whore, but a very great Woman, City, and Whore, great in many respects, but chiefly in these four:
1. She hath a great Name, no Name so great in the Christian World, as the Name of Rome. She is called a Queen, because joined by Contract to a great Man, the Man of Sin, a Man greater than Emperors, and Temporal Princes, who pretends a Power to give them their Crowns, to set them upon their Heads, and kick them off at pleasure.
2. Great in Power. She gives Rules to Kingdoms, advances her Ecclesiastical Laws above Temporal; sets her Head, and the chiefest of her Sons, above Secular Jurisdiction; makes them unaccountable, and pretends a Power to absolve and bless them; and without Controversy, the lesser is blessed of the greater.
3. Great in Multitude. There are no People besides, that are in a spiritual united Body, and visible Community, professing Christianity, comparable to her for Multitude, and the vast Numbers of her Sons and Daughters.
⟨p. 310⟩4. Great in Action, vile Actions, such as deposing and poisoning Princes, fomenting Jealousies, raising Wars, setting Nations together by the Ears, invading Rights, making Uproars, burning Cities, and carrying on dreadful Devastations, where she is gainsay'd. And that which adds to her Greatness, is the invincible Confidence she hath, that all Persons and Things are made for her, and given to her, so that all Things she doth are allowed as legal and just in Heaven: From whence we frame this Argument.
Arg. If there be no United Body of People, or visible Community in the Christian World, that is so great in Name, Power, Multitude and Action, vile Actions, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath been, and still is —Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this great, very great Woman, City, and Whore spoken of.
But there is no united Body of People, or visible Community in the Christian World, that is so great in Name, Power, Multitude and Action, vile Actions, as Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome is—
Ergo, Rome Papal, &c. is this great, very great Woman, City, and Whore spoken of.
To reinforce this Argument, let it be considered that the Christian World is distinguished or divided into two Parts, viz. Papists and Protestants; the Protestants cannot be this Whore.
1. Because they own Jesus Christ to be Head of the Church, and only him.
2. They have never revolted or changed him, so as to set up another in his room under any Title whatsoever, but profess him to be their Lord, and are in Obedience and Subjection to his Laws in all matters purely Religious.
3. Neither is their Name, Power, Multitude, or Actions, so great by far as the Papists are) they being but small, inconsiderable, and low, in all Papist Countries: And when the Protestant Religion hath gotten up to be the profest Religion of any Nation, Kingdom or City, what is that Nation, Kingdom, or City, in comparison of those Nations, Kingdoms and Cities, where the Papists reign, and Popery is profest? This every intelligent Man hath so full a Prospect of, that it appears needless to give proof by Instances.
VI. Babylon, This Woman, City of Confusion, and Whore, which is very great, sitteth upon many Waters;1 which is expounded to be Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues; And he (the Angel) said unto me, 2the Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, &c. Which according to the learned Mede, and a famous French Author, is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts, which the Roman Monarchy fell into, not long before the Pope, Man of Sin, or Head of Mystery Babylon, assumed the Imperial Seat and Crowns, which afterward became ten Kingdoms with crowned Heads, assisting the Beast against the Lamb, and persecuting of the Saints, distinguished into ten Kingdoms or Empires. 1. Of Germany. 2. France. 3. England. 4. Scotland. 5. Denmark. 6. Polonia. 7. The Kingdom ⟨p. 311⟩of Spain. 8. The Kingdom of Navarre. 9. The Kingdom of Hungary. 10. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily. All which Rome Papal had in Possession, as our French Author saith, in the days of Pope Leo the tenth, which was less than 200 Years. |
VI.
or Babylon, signifies, viz. Evil, or Confusion. |
III. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, and a City, but a very evil Woman, and a City of Confusion:
Metaphor. | Parallel.
BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God; and hence, Metaphorically called a Woman; And I saw a Woman sit, &c. And the Woman was arrayed, &c. And I saw the Woman Drunk, &c. Rev. 17.3, 4, 6. | ROme Papal, or the Church of Rome, is a Body, a great Body, a famous Body of People, and which were, before their Apostacy, a true Church, by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God▪ as her publi•k Head and Husband; Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. To all that be in Rome,1 beloved of God, called to be Saints; Grace be to you, and Peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. Babylon is a City, a very great City, so called in a threefold respect:2 (1.) In respect of Power; (2.) In respect of People; (3) In respect of Place and Residence, where this Power and People is seated;3 City being indefinitely taken for either of these, or comprehending all, as in these Instances. | II. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is a City, a very great City, so called in a threefold respect, 1. In respect of Power, which is twofold, (1.) Civil, (2.) Ecclesiastical,4 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People, which are great in Number. 3. In respect of Place and Residence, where this Power and great People is seated; and indeed it is as worthily called, by way of Eminency, a City, as any Power, People, or Place in the Christian World, because there is nothing so much spoken of, or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of, as Rome, in respect of Power, People, and Place, which shall be further cleared by Argument, &c. The Fame of this People as a Church, was great, before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it; as appears, Rom. 1.8. First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all, that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World.
III. Babylon is not only a Woman, and a City, but a bad Woman, and a City of Confusion; ⟨p. 308⟩for so the Word Babel, 5or Babylon, signifies, viz. Evil, or Confusion. |
III. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, and a City, but a very evil Woman, and a City of Confusion:
much spoken of, but his Doctrine undervalued and slighted, his Laws trampled upon and violated, his Example not regarded for Imitation, either by the Bishop himself, his Cardinals, or inferior Orders, having his Humility and Self-denial only in Words, like those the Apostle speaketh of, that in Words profess God, but in Works deny him. For under this verbal Humility, here is the greatest Pride in the World; under this verbal Meekness and Self-denial, the greatest Oppression and Cruelty, Covetousness, and Love of the World; as appears by their pompous Garbs, their cruel Punishments, and the vast Sums of Money brought in from all parts of their Dominion, by Sleights, and cunning and deceitful Cheats: Besides, a meer Hodg-podg of Principles, one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against, and cries down; which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible: Besides the strange Mixtures in their visible Worship, of Traditions, and human Inventions, of lying and diabolical Tricks, of blessing by a Cross, consecrating holy Water, and cleansing by it, which are too numerous and tedious to relate, and the less needful, because every Man that hath seen their Ways, hath an imperfect Book of it in his own Mind, and can read the Truth of what we say within himself. And let any People in the Christian World, pretending to Religion, be compared to them, for supernumerary, trifling and insignificant Ceremonies, crouded into their pretended Worship; nay, let all the People in the Christian World be laid in the Ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect, and they will be found inconceivably wanting; for which we have this Reason to judg her to be Babylon, and the City of Confusion.
If there is more Confusion (in Contrariety of Principles, Practices, contradicting Pretensions, crouding in Supernumeraries, and Mysteries of Unscriptural Inventions, into visible Worship) in Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, than is to be found amongst any or all People pretending Religion, in the Christian World besides: Then is Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, the great Babylon, or City of Confusion.
But there is more Confusion, in the forementioned Respects, to be found in Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, than in any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides: Ergo, &c.
⟨p. 307⟩
IV.
Babylon is not only a Woman, and a City, a City of Confusion, but she is a Whore, which is a strange Word to be applied to a great and famous People; a Word that carries in it one of the highest Impeachments, but no other than was given to Israel, 1Judah, and Jerusalem, in the Days of old, upon a very good Reason; for they being joined in Covenant with God, to serve him in Obedience and Subjection, did, like to an adulterous Woman, break Wedlock, and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead,2 and continued so a long time, till a Bill of Divorce was given, and God proclaimed them not married to him as his Wife, but a Whore, and divorced; yet it is observable, that they used his Name, tho they worshipped Idols, and cried, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are we. |
IV. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, and a City, a City of Confusion, but according to Scripture-History, and notorious Matter of Fact, she is a Whore also, and may be justly so called; for in the Apostles Time she joined her self to the Lord, by firm Ties of a Gospel-Govenant and Profession, and was the renowned Spouse of the Son of God, owned and profess'd him in the Time of Heathenism, received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them, withstood the Fury of the Emperors, suffered Persecution, had their Faith spoken of throughout the whole World; and yet after all this, like Israel of old, she left God, and his holy Laws, made Idols to her self of Saints, Angels, Reliques, and Images, upon which she doted, and forsook the Son of God, upon the working and appearance of the Man of Sin, who exalted himself into the place of Christ, and became her Head, by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was, that she retains nothing, holds fast nothing of what really appertains to true Godliness, but the bare Names of God and Jesus Christ, having corrupted the true Worship of the Son of God, her first Husband, and notoriously ⟨p. 309⟩abandoned Obedience to him, taking this vile Person to be her Head, and chief Guide, and setting him in the Place of, and Dignity above her first Head, and true Guide of her Youth; and yet (like Israel of old) still cries, The true Church, the Catholick Church, the Mother-Church are we; having on her Forehead a strange Mystery written, i. e. God, Christ, Truth, Verity, Infallibility;
and next to this there lies nearest her Heart, Devil, Pope, Lying, Deceit, Perjury, Idolatry, and horrible Cruelty towards the best of Men, professing Christ and Religion in Uprightness and Truth: For which Change of her first Head, Husband, and Guide of her Youth, for this vile Person, with which she commits most abominable Lewdness, together with the Kings of the Earth, she is ranked by the Angel amongst the worst of Women, and stiled, as her Type and Predecessor of ol•, a well-favoured Harlot, or of the Angel, a Woman, a City, and notorious Whore, which ill and black Characters we conclude with this Argument:
If there be no Body of professing People in the Christian World, that hath so apparently de•lined or adulterated from what they once were, deserted the holy Doctrine, Example, and right Government of Jesus Christ, and set up another visible and publick Head of the Church in room and stead of him, whose Power and Laws are preferred above and before the Authority and Laws of the Lord Jesus, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of:
But there is no Body of professing People in the Christian World, that hath so apparently declined, or adulterated, or deserted the holy Doctrine, Example, or right Government of Christ, ut suprà:
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Whore spoken of.
To reinforce this Argument, let it be shewed by any Man, that any People different from the Church of Rome hath made such a Change, in point of Religion and Headship, and Matters thereto pertaining, so as that this black Character of Whore can more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them, and we must confess our Argument not weighty; but till then, we conclude it carries Conviction in the Bowels of it.
V. Babylon, this Woman, this City of Confusion, this Whore, is a very great Woman, City, and Whore: And the great City was divided.
And the Woman which thou sawest, is that great City, &c. The Merchants stood afar off, saying, Alas! alas! that great City, Babylon, that mighty City. Again they wept, saying, Alas!
And a mighty Angel took up a Stone, 1like a great Mill-stone, and cast it into the Sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down. I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore, 2&c. He hath judged the great Whore, 3&c. Great in four Respects: (1.) Great in Name. (2.) Great in Power. (3.) Great in Multitude. (4.) Great in Action, vile Actions. |
V. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is not only a Woman, a City, a Whore, but a very great Woman, City, and Whore, great in many respects, but chiefly in these four:
1. She hath a great Name, no Name so great in the Christian World, as the Name of Rome. She is called a Queen, because joined by Contract to a great Man, the Man of Sin, a Man greater than Emperors, and Temporal Princes, who pretends a Power to give them their Crowns, to set them upon their Heads, and kick them off at pleasure.
2. Great in Power. She gives Rules to Kingdoms, advances her Ecclesiastical Laws above Temporal; sets her Head, and the chiefest of her Sons, above Secular Jurisdiction; makes them unaccountable, and pretends a Power to absolve and bless them; and without Controversy, the lesser is blessed of the greater.
3. Great in Multitude. There are no People besides, that are in a spiritual united Body, and visible Community, professing Christianity, comparable to her for Multitude, and the vast Numbers of her Sons and Daughters.
⟨p. 310⟩4. Great in Action, vile Actions, such as deposing and poysoning Princes, fomenting Jealousies, raising Wars, setting Nations together by the Ears, invading Rights, making Uproars, burning Cities, and carrying on dreadful Devastations, where she is gainsay'd. And that which adds to her Greatness, is the invincible Confidence she hath, that all Persons and Things are made for her, and given to her, so that all Things she doth are allowed as legal and just in Heaven: From whence we frame this Argument.
Arg. If there be no United Body of People, or visible Community in the Christi•n World, that is so great in Name, Power, Multitude and Action, vile Actions, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath been, and still is —Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this great, very great Woman, City, and Whore spoken of.
