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.
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⟩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:
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, 5
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.
Rome Papal or Church of Rome, is not only a great Woman, City of Confusion, and Whore, that hath set up the Man of Sin, great Belial, or highest Son of Wickedness, but she likewise sits upon many Waters (viz.) People, and Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, which may be illustrated by undeniable Instances.
1. She sat upon, or ruled over more than one third part of ten, which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its Civil State, which (more than one third part) hath since fallen into ten States or Kingdoms, under the Government of ten crowned Heads, and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast, according to what was foretold by Daniel, 1concerning the little Horn, which had a Mouth speaking great things, whose Looks were more stout than his Fellows; by whom three of the first Horns of the Roman Power in its Civil State was plucked up by the Roots, and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads, who have their Crowns given them by this last Beast; and as they have their Crowns given by, and hold their Kingship under the Pope, little Horn, last Beast, or Man of Sin, in requital of his Fatherly Care, to give his Sons ⟨p. 311⟩so great a Patrimony, they gave their Power unto him, and engage against the Lamb, making War with and persecuting the Saints, till the Word of God, or Prophecy of Daniel, is fulfilled, which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzar's Image, to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse, that are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom, as to be overcome by the Lamb; and turn to hate the Whore, that before they supported, and for whose Pleasure they did persecute the Saints, which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French Author, in his Book, called the accomplishment of the Prophecy, p. 345. distinguished to be as in the other Column set forth. All which Kingdoms, as King James in his learned Works makes out, took their rise with Rome Papal, upon the division or ruin of the Roman Empire in its Civil State, the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many Waters, (viz.) Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, or People of several Languages, which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Rome Papal, as their being so;
Rome Papal or Church of Rome, is not only a great Woman, City of Confusion, and Whore, that hath set up the Man of Sin, great Belial, or highest Son of Wickedness, but she likewise sits upon many Waters (viz.) People, and Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, which may be illustrated by undeniable Instances.
1. She sat upon, or ruled over more than one third part of ten, which was formerly under the Roman Empire in its Civil State, which (more than one third part) hath since fallen into ten States or Kingdoms, under the Government of ten crowned Heads, and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast, according to what was foretold by Daniel,
which doth fully answer to the very Letter of the Text, The Waters which thou sawest, whereon the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, Tongues.
2. Her making all the European Merchants Rich, that traffic by Sea,1 by the great expense of all Commodities which are swallowed up within her Territories and Dominions. Which could never be effected unless she had Nations and Multitudes to contribute to her great Pride and Luxury.
3. A third Instance is, the numberless number of good Christians which she hath drawn in and murdered, for no other cause than their fearing God, and obeying his Laws by loving Jesus Christ, and following his Example, of which we have a large account in Fox's Acts and Monuments, and other Histories; Upon which we form this Argument.
Arg. If there be no Body of People, professed Church or State in the Christian World (under any single Denomination) that sits upon, commands or bears rule over Peoples, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, doth. Then Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
But there is no Body of People, professed Church or State (under any single Denomination) that sits upon, commands or bears rule over Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, and Tongues, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome doth.
Ergo, &c.
To the establishing this Argument, let it be considered, that the whole State of the Christian World consists of but these two parts, as we showed before, viz. the Church of Rome (considered as Head and Body) and those that dissent from her, and those are so inconsiderable, whether the Waldenses, Albigenses, Huguenots or other parties of Protestants, that no one party of them, nay if we put them all together, can be said to fit upon, command, or bear rule over, Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, and Tongues; to answer the Text, the Waldenses and Huguenots, have been and still are a persecuted People, the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States, or Kingdoms, or places of many Languages; Great Britain (tho a Protestant State, or Kingdom) comes not near to fulfil the Text, much less the seven Provinces that of late revolted from Spain. So that if Rome Papal hath done so, and no other People that dissent from her could ever yet do the like, then this proves Rome Papal the Whore that sits upon many Waters, &c.
⟨p. 310⟩VII.
which doth fully answer to the very Letter of the Text, The Waters which thou sawest, whereon the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, Tongues.
2. Her making all the European Merchants Rich, that traffick by Sea,
Mystery Babylon, or the great Whore, is such a Woman, such a City, such a Whore that the Kings and great Men of the Earth have committed Fornication with. See the Text,1 With whom the Kings of ⟨p. 312⟩the Earth have committed Fornication, i. e. Spiritual Fornication, or Fornication in a Mystery, after a mysterious manner,2 such as Jerusalem of old was charged with, which was a following the same Idolatry that this Woman Babylon had set up, and was devoted unto; and so great was her Fornication,3 that 'tis said, she did corrupt the Earth with it. |
VII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is such a Woman, such a City of Confusion, such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with, and that hath corrupted the Earth with her Fornications, Fornications after a mysterious manner, by following abominable ⟨p. 312⟩Superstition and Idolatry.
1. Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God, Universal Head, and Bishop infallible, acknowledged above all Laws? so have the Kings, and their misled People, done.
2. Hath she worshipped the Virgin Mary, divers Angels, and many departed Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People, done.
3. Hath she adored Images, the Crucifix, and Pictures of pretended Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People.
4. Hath she foolishly debased her self with the Adoration of the Relicts of known and unknown Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People.
5. Hath she grossly and superstitiously worshipped the true God in a false manner, by crowding in an innumerous Train of Fopperies into his Worship and Service, which he never ordained, as Candlesticks, Altars, Vestments, Spits, Oil, Holy Water, Beads and a World of such like Trumpery? so have the Kings and their misguided People, not only the Emperor of Germany, Kings of France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, that are still under her Influence; but the Kings of England and Scotland too, (before the Reformation got Ground): Upon which we form this Argument.
Arg. If there be no Body of People in the Christian World, pretending a Church-State, that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done. Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is the Mysterious Whore of Babylon treated of.
But there is no Body of People in the Christian World, pretending to a Church-State, that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, &c. hath done.
Ergo, &c.
To reinforce this Argument, let any Man that will become an Advocate for the Church of Rome, show, that any People called the Reformed (who dissent from the Church of Rome) are guilty of like Idolatry, and that the Kings of the Earth have complied with them in it, as afore-mentioned, and we will acquit this Argument, but if this Character doth more fitly agree to Rome, than to the Reformed, &c. our Argument is good.
⟨p. 311⟩VIII. Babylon is such a Woman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had Kings committing Fornication with her, but hath intoxicated the Minds of Multitudes, and corrupted a great part of the World, or common sort of People, by wicked and false Doctrine, And the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication. 1|
VIII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is such a Woman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her, in dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious Allurements; but hath intoxicated the Minds of the Multitude, and corrupted a great part of the World, or common sort of People, by wicked and false Doctrine; As first, that a wicked Man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ; as if God had no more regard to his own Name, and the Good of his Church, and Honour of his Son, than to institute a Child of the Devil (as every wicked Man is) to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus, in the highest Transactions that relate to Heaven, and the Souls of Men. Surely if God shut Judas out from his Bishopric, because of his Wickedness, tho an Apostle; he is not so far changed since to be fond of a wicked Pope, as to make him immediate Deputy to Christ, and to impose a Wolf, as Shepherd, upon the Universal Church.
⟨p. 313⟩2. Who saith, That he is an infallible Judg to determine Articles of Faith, and impose them upon great Penalties; so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith, and Souls too, which the Apostles disclaimed.
3.
But there is no Body of People in the Christian World, pretending to a Church-State, that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complyed, as Rome Papal, &c. hath done.
Ergo, &c.
To reinforce this Argument, let any Man that will become an Advocate for the Church of Rome, shew, that any People called the Reformed (who dissent from the Church of Rome) are guilty of like Idolatry, and that the Kings of the Earth have complyed with them in it, as afore-mentioned, and we will acquit this Argument, but if this Character doth more fitly ageee to Rome, than to the Reformed, &c. our Argument is good.
Who saith, The Church cannot err, (tho God and the World knows, there are not such great Errors in Principles, nor such villainous Enormities, cursed Actions, cruel and immoral Practices in the World besides,) which the poor Multitude believes, and kill others that oppose it, and venture Body and Soul upon it.
4. That says, that a Priest (tho he be a treacherous Villain, a Contriver of Murder, an abominable Adulterer) hath Power to absolve his equal and Fellow-Sinner from all his Offences, if he come to Confession, tho the pretended Penitent keep his old Habit of Wickedness still; contrary to what God and Jesus Christ say, That the Dauber with untempered Mortar, and the Daubed; the Layer of the Pillow under sinful Elbows, and the Leaner thereon; the blind Leader, as well as the blind Follower, shall all fall together.
5. That saith, There is a Purgatory, that is no part of Heaven or Hell; and that Men may be redeemed thence for Money: Tho God saith, The Redemption of Mens Souls is precious, and ceaseth for ever, after the Offering of the Body of Jesus once for all; that Redemption is not with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as a Lamb slain without spot.
6. That saith, That the Hands and Mouth of a filthy unclean Priest, can make not only the Bread and Wine sacred, but turn both into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God, make whole Christ of a pitiful Wafer-Cake, that after it is eaten, turns to Corruption; and before it is eaten, is a fit Feast for Rats and Mice; not only contrary to Reason, but the full Verdict of all our Senses.
7. That saith, That no Person, how good and pious soever he be, can be saved, out of the Pale of their polluted, ungodly, and devilish Church; tho the Scripture plainly affirms, That in every Nation, he that fears God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him.
8. That says, 'Tis no Sin to lie, swear, and forswear, to kill, slay, and murder such as they call Heretics, (tho never so good) if it be for the Cause of the Church, with a thousand Things of the like Import, which the People do verily believe:
Who saith, The Church cannot err, (tho God and the World knows, there are not such great Errors in Principles, nor such villanous Enormities, cursed Actions, cruel and immoral Practices in the World besides,) which the poor Multitude believes, and kill others that oppose it, and venture Body and Soul upon it.
4. That says, that a Priest (tho he be a treacherous Villain, a Contriver of Murther, an abominable Adulterer) hath Power to absolve his equal and Fellow-Sinner from all his Offences, if he come to Confession, tho the pretended Penitent keep his old Habit of Wickedness still; contrary to what God and Jesus Christ say, That the Dauber with untempered Mortar, and the Daubed; the Layer of the Pillow under sinful Elbows, and the Leaner thereon; the blind Leader, as well as the blind Follower, shall all fall together.
5. That saith, There is a Purgatory, that is no part of Heaven or Hell; and that Men may be redeemed thence for Money: Tho God saith, The Redemption of Mens Souls is precious, and ceaseth for ever, after the Offering of the Body of Jesus once for all; that Redemption is not with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as a Lamb slain without spot.
6. That saith, That the Hands and Mouth of a filthy unclean Priest, can make not only the Bread and Wine sacred, but turn both into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God, make whole Christ of a pitiful Wafer-Cake, that after it is eaten, turns to Corruption; and before it is earen, is a fit Feast for Rats and Mice; not only contrary to Reason, but the full Verdict of all our Senses.
7. That saith, That no Person, how good and pious soever he be, can be saved, out of the Pale of their polluted, ungodly, and devilish Church; tho the Scripture plainly affirms, That in every Nation, he that fears God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him.
8. That says, 'Tis no Sin to lie, swear, and forswear, to kill, slay, and murther such as they call Hereticks, (tho never so good) if it be for the Cause of the Church, with a thousand Things of the like Import, which the People do verily believe:
And as they dare not gainsay upon their Salvation, so will they embrace and use all Opportunities to fight and make Wars, overcome Cities, and lay waste Countries and Kingdoms, to kill and slay, by Massacre, and all manner of murdering ways, all Ranks and Degrees of Men, that oppose the horrid Principles and Practices of those cursed Children. Nay, they will go boldly to their own Death, when convict, and condemned for Villainies, and deny that to day, that they were convicted of but yesterday, and tho never so notoriously guilty, yet will take it upon their Death and Salvation, that they are as innocent as the Child unborn. What can this be, tho they drink it down for most sweet and pleasant Wine, but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poison that the lowest Cellar of the Bottomless Pit can afford, the very Wine of Fornications, and the most dangerous Drunkenness and Intoxication in the World? Which is attended with this Aggravation, that the best prepared Medicines of the wisest Physician will not recover them; for Babylon having made the Multitude drunk with this sort of poisoned Wine, how rare is it to have any come to themselves, to their right Mind again! And to shut up this Head, take this Argument:
Argument. If no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude, or common Sort of People drunk, corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine, such as before-mentioned, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
But no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude, or common Sort of People drunk, corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies, and false Doctrine, such as before-mentioned, as Rome hath done.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
IX. Mystery Babylon is such ill Company, as to let Kings be dishonestly familiar with her, and make the lower and ruder Sort of her ⟨p. 314⟩Associates drunk. She is said to sit drunk upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, and this Beast is full of the Names of Blasphemy:1 And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, full of the Names of Blasphemy, &c. So that the Woman and the Beast are distinct; the Woman, the Church; the Beast, the Secular Power, or Civil State. This appears evident from divers Considerations, arising,
1. From other Prophecies relating to the same Thing.
2.
And as they dare not gainsay upon their Salvation, so will they embrace and use all Opportunities to fight and make Wars, overcome Cities, and lay waste Countries and Kingdoms, to kill and slay, by Massacre, and all manner of murthering ways, all Ranks and Degrees of Men, that oppose the horrid Principles and Practices of those cursed Children. Nay, they will go boldly to their own Death, when convict, and condemned for Villanies, and deny that to day, that they were convicted of but yesterday, and tho never so notoriously guilty, yet will take it upon their Death and Salvation, that they are as innocent as the Child unborn. What can this be, tho they drink it down for most sweet and pleasant Wine, but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poyson that the lowest Celler of the Bottomless Pit can afford, the very Wine of Fornications, and the most dangerous Drunkenness and Intoxication in the World? Which is attended with this Aggravation, that the best prepared Medicines of the wisest Physician will not recover them; for Babylon having made the Multitude drunk with this sort of poysoned Wine, how rare is it to have any come to themselves, to their right Mind again! And to shut up this Head, take this Argument:
Argument. If no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude, or common Sort of People drunk, corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies and false Doctrine, such as before-mentioned, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
But no People in the Christian World hath made the Multitude, or common Sort of People drunk, corrupted and intoxicated their Minds by wicked Lies, and false Doctrine, such as before-mentioned, as Rome hath done.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
IX. Mystery Babylon is such ill Company, as to let Kings be dishonestly familiar with her, and make the lower and ruder Sort of her
From the Letter of the Text.
3. From Arguments in Reason.
4. From the Confession of the Woman Babylon, or the Whore her self.
11. From many Prophecies; the latter part of the Image is partly Iron, and partly Clay; two States really distinct, that could never so incorporate as to become one.
2. From the Letter of the Text: I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, 2full of the Names of Blasphemy. The Colours of the Royal and Imperial Vestments the Angel in the next Words declares distinct, and the Apostle in the Vision beheld them distinct.
3. They appear to be distinct from Arguments in Reason: For (1.) The Beast is in the Masculine, the Whore in the Feminine Gender.3 (2.) The Whore else did sit and ride upon her self; an high Absurdity. (3.) The Horns, being of the Beast, shall hate the Whore: if not distinct, the Whore must hate her self, even to Ruin and Desolation, which is nonsensical. (4.) The Beast shall abide, tho in Captivity, after the Whore is thrown down or destroyed.
4. From the plain Confession of the Woman or Whore her self, who saith, I sit a Queen, I am no Widow. Ergo, she hath a Head or Husband, which is the Beast, little Horn, or Man of Sin, that Paul declared should rise after the removal of the ⟨p. 315⟩then present Power which did let, which the Primitive Fathers, as Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, and others, understood to be the Imperial Power, in its pure, civil, iron, or unmixed State.
⟨p. 313⟩IX. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath not only been ill Company to the Kings and great Men of the Earth, in drawing them into her Idolatry, Abuse of God, his blessed Son, the Christian ⟨p. 314⟩Religion, and blessed Books of the Old and New Testament; but she hath made the lower and ruder Sort of People drunk too. And 'tis no Wonder, she thinks she may do any thing, having a Dispensation from Heaven, which the Pope keeps the Keys of, and fearing no Power on Earth; for she hath the Beast, the Secular Power under her; she sits upon him, and rides him, and is not only distinct from the Secular Power, but above it; so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome, is under the Conduct and Management of the Church: there being no Civil Administration of Justice, or Exercise of Laws, but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness, the Head; and the Cardinals, the Shoulders, Breasts, and Arms of the Church, or State Ecclesiastical.
To make this fully evident, the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome, and near to it; but he claims the like Supremacy abroad, in the Islands far off. If the Secular Princes fall off from him, or if they will not be reconciled to him, as Head of Holy Church, he will excommunicate and depose them, and dispose of their Crowns, Thrones, and Sceptres from them. That the Pope is a Temporal Prince, as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop, i. e. makes Laws, exacts Tribute, raises Soldiers, and acts as a Monarch, (which fairly affords him the Title of Beast); that his Royal Robes, Chair he sits in, to his very Hose and Shoes, with the Vestments of Cardinals, is Scarlet, no Man can reasonably doubt: That what the Civil Power claims, and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises, are not incorporated, or entirely mixed; that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine, and his Spouse, the Church, in the Feminine, is owned by all Parties.
That the Church-State doth sit upon, ride, and govern the Secular at Rome, Italy, and all its Territories; that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow, but hath a Head, called his Holiness, or Supreme Ruler of the Church, is so evident, that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy. There remains therefore no more to be done at this time, but to frame our Argument upon the Premises, and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Balance.
Argument. If there be no visible State in the Christian World, that doth so ⟨p. 315⟩apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast, or a great Secular Power, clothed with Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, doth: Then is Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, the Whore of Babylon here treated of.
But there is no visible State in the Christian World, that doth so apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast, or Secular Power, clothed with Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome doth.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is the Whore of Babylon here treated of.
To reinforce this Argument, we challenge any profest Papists, Atheist, or any else, to show where any other People or Parties are, to whom these Characters agree; and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument.
X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon, commands, and governs, is not only clothed with Scarlet, but is full of the Names of Blasphemy, &c.
To make this fully evident, the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome, and near to it; but he claims the like Supremacy abroad, in the Islands far off. If the Secular Princes fall off from him, or if they will not be reconciled to him, as Head of Holy Church, he will excommunicate and depose them, and dispose of their Crowns, Thrones, and Scepters from them. That the Pope is a Temporal Prince, as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop, i. e. makes Laws, exacts Tribute, raises Souldiers, and acts as a Monarch, (which fairly affords him the Title of Beast); that his Royal Robes, Chair he sits in, to his very Hose and Shooes, with the Vestments of Cardinals, is Scarlet, no Man can reasonably doubt: That what the Civil Power claims, and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises, are not incorporated, or entirely mix'd; that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine, and his Spouse, the Church, in the Feminine, is owned by all Parties.
That the Church-State doth sit upon, ride, and govern the Secular at Rome, Italy, and all its Territories; that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow, but hath a Head, called his Holiness, or Supreme Ruler of the Church, is so evident, that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy. There remains therefore no more to be done at this time, but to frame our Argument upon the Premises, and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance.
Argument. If there be no visible State in the Christian World, that doth so
Which may be taken in a threefold Sense: (1.) For reproaching the Name of God. (2.) For telling Lies in Divine Things. (3.) For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God. And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former, yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter, viz. the ascribing that to Creatures, which belongs to Him, that saith, I am God, and my Glory will I not give to another. |
X. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, sits upon, commands, and governs that Beast, or Scarlet Power, that is not only clothed with Scarlet Vestments, but is full of the Names of Blasphemy, which appears by his receiving, allowing, and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures, which belongs to God, and to his Son, of which we give you but these Instances: (1.) When this human, sinful, and wicked Head, is called our Lord God the Pope, whether this is not Blasphemy against God? (2.) When he is called, Universal Head of the Catholic Church, which none is but Christ. (3.) When he is called the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, the Root of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God? (4.) Whether when the Orders of the Church, Oral Tradition, the Decrees of Councils, are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures, which they call a Nose of Wax, the Heretics Ink-Rule, are perniciously mischievous to the People; whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake, and the Word of God spoken? (5.) When Angels, the Virgin Mary, and other unknown Saints, shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty; as if these Creatures were infinite, and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven, which they could not do, if perpendicularly over us▪ much less from all parts of the World, over which they cannot be; whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature, that is only due to the Creator, who is over all, God blessed for ever, be not Blasphemy? (6.) To conclude, Whether making a God of a piece of Bread, and calling the profane Priest the Maker of the Creature, be not ascribing that to the Creature, which only belongs to God? Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World, worse (if possible) than Atheism it self? For as Philosophers observe, 'tis better having no Opinion of God, than such an one as is unworthy of Him;
Which may be taken in a threefold Sense: (1.) For reproaching the Name of God. (2.) For telling Lies in Divine Things. (3.) For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God. And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former, yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter, viz. the ascribing that to Creatures, which belongs to Him, that saith, I am God, and my Glory will I not give to another. |
X. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, sits upon, commands, and governs that Beast, or Scarlet Power, that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments, but is full of the Names of Blasphemy, which appears by his receiving, allowing, and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures, which belongs to God, and to his Son, of which we give you but these Instances: (1.) When this human, sinful, and wicked Head, is called our Lord God the Pope, whether this is not Blasphemy against God? (2.) When he is called, Universal Head of the Catholick Church, which none is but Christ. (3.) When he is called the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, the Root of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God? (4.) Whether when the Orders of the Church, Oral Tradition, the Decrees of Councils, are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures, which they call a Nose of Wax, the Hereticks Ink-Rule, are perniciously mischievous to the People; whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake, and the Word of God spoken? (5.) When Angels, the Virgin Mary, and other unknown Saints, shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty; as if these Creatures were infinite, and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven, which they could not do, if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World, over which they cannot be; whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature, that is only due to the Creator, who is over all, God blessed for ever, be not Blasphemy? (6.) To conclude, Whether making a God of a piece of Bread, and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature, be not ascribing that to the Creature, which only belongs to God? Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World, worse (if possible) than Atheism it self? For as Philosophers observe, 'tis better having no Opinion of God, than such an one as is unworthy of Him;
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:
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.
concerning the little Horn, which had a Mouth speaking great things, whose Looks were more stout than his Fellows; by whom three of the first Horns of the Roman Power in its Civil State was pluck'd up by the Roots, and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads, who have their Crowns given them by this last Beast; and as they have their Crowns given by, and hold their Kingship under the Pope, little Horn, last Beast, or Man of Sin, in requital of his Fatherly Care, to give his Sons
⟨p. 311⟩
so great a Patrimony, they gave their Power unto him, and engage against the Lamb, making War with and persecuting the Saints, till the Word of God, or Prophecy of Daniel, is fulfilled, which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzar's Image, to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse, that are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom, as to be overcome by the Lamb; and turn to hate the Whore, that before they supported, and for whose Pleasure they did persecute the Saints, which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French Author, in his Book, called the accomplishment of the Prophecy, p. 345. distinguished to be as in the other Column set forth. All which Kingdoms, as King James in his learned Works makes out, took their rise with Rome Papal, upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its Civil State, the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many Waters, (viz.) Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, or People of several Languages, which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Rome Papal, as their being so;
by the great expence of all Commodities which are swallowed up within her Territories and Dominions. Which could never be effected unless she had Nations and Multitudes to contribute to her great Pride and Luxury.
3. A third Instance is, the numberless number of good Christians which she hath drawn in and murdered, for no other cause than their fearing God, and obeying his Laws by loving Jesus Christ, and following his Example, of which we have a large account in Fox's Acts and Monuments, and other Histories; Upon which we form this Argument.
Arg. If there be no Body of People, professed Church or State in the Christian World (under any single Denomination) that sits upon, commands or bears rule over Peoples, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, doth. Then Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, is this Babylon treated of.
But there is no Body of People, professed Church or State (under any single Denomination) that sits upon, commands or bears rule over Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, and Tongues, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome doth.
Ergo, &c.
To the establishing this Argument, let it be considered, that the whole State of the Christian World consists of but these two parts, as we shewed before, viz. the Church of Rome (considered as Head and Body) and those that dissent from her, and those are so inconsiderable, whether the Waldenses, Albigenses, Hugonots or other parties of Protestants, that no one party of them, nay if we put them all together, can be said to fit upon, command, or bear rule over, Peoples, Multitudes, Nations, and Tongues; to answer the Text, the Waldenses and Hugonots, have been and still are a persecuted People, the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States, or Kingdoms, or places of many Languages; Great Britain (tho a Protestant State, or Kingdom) comes not near to fulfil the Text, much less the seven Provinces that of late revolted from Spain. So that if Rome Papal hath done so, and no other People that dissent from her could ever yet do the like, then this proves Rome Papal the Whore that sits upon many Waters, &c.
Mystery Babylon, or the great Whore, is such a Woman, such a City, such a Whore that the Kings and great Men of the Earth have committed Fornication with. See the Text,1 With whom the Kings of ⟨p. 312⟩the Earth have committed Fornication, i. e. Spiritual Fornication, or Fornication in a Mystery, after a mysterious manner,2 such as Jerusalem of old was charged with, which was a following the same Idolatry that this Woman Babylon had set up, and was devoted unto; and so great was her Fornication,3 that 'tis said, she did corrupt the Earth with it. |
VII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is such a Woman, such a City of Confusion, such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with, and that hath corrupted the Earth with her Fornications, Fornications after a mysterious manner, by following abominable ⟨p. 312⟩Superstition and Idolatry.
1. Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God, Universal Head, and Bishop infallible, acknowledged above all Laws? so have the Kings, and their misled People, done.
2. Hath she worshipped the Virgin Mary, divers Angels, and many departed Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People, done.
3. Hath she adored Images, the Crucifix, and Pictures of pretended Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People.
4. Hath she foolishly debased her self with the Adoration of the Relicts of known and unknown Saints? so have the Kings, and their misguided People.
5. Hath she grosly and superstitiously worshipped the true God in a false manner, by crowding in an innumerous Train of Fopperies into his Worship and Service, which he never ordained, as Candlesticks, Altars, Vestments, Spits, Oyl, Holy Water, Beads and a World of such like Trumpery? so have the Kings and their misguided People, not only the Emperour of Germany, Kings of France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, that are still under her Influence; but the Kings of England and Scotland too, (before the Reformation got Ground): Upon which we form this Argument.
Arg. If there be no Body of People in the Christian World, pretending a Church-State, that hath set up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done. Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is the Mysterious Whore of Babylon treated of.
VIII. Babylon is such a Woman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had Kings committing Fornication with her, but hath intoxicated the Minds of Multitudes, and corrupted a great part of the World, or common sort of People, by wicked and false Doctrine, And the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication.
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VIII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is such a Woman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her, in dancing after her Pipes in all her mysterious Allurements; but hath intoxicated the Minds of the Multitude, and corrupted a great part of the World, or common sort of People, by wicked and false Doctrine; As first, that a wicked Man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ; as if God had no more regard to his own Name, and the Good of his Church, and Honour of his Son, than to institute a Child of the Devil (as every wicked Man is) to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus, in the highest Transactions that relate to Heaven, and the Souls of Men. Surely if God shut Judas out from his Bishoprick, because of his Wickedness, tho an Apostle; he is not so far changed since to be fond of a wicked Pope, as to make him immediate Deputy to Christ, and to impose a Wolf, as Shepherd, upon the Universal Church.
⟨p. 313⟩
2. Who saith, That he is an infallible Judg to determine Articles of Faith, and impose them upon great Penalties; so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith, and Souls too, which the Apostles disclaimed.
3.
And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, full of the Names of Blasphemy, &c. So that the Woman and the Beast are distinct; the Woman, the Church; the Beast, the Secular Power, or Civil State. This appears evident from divers Considerations, arising,
1. From other Prophecies relating to the same Thing.
2.
From the Letter of the Text.
3. From Arguments in Reason.
4. From the Confession of the Woman Babylon, or the Whore her self.
11. From many Prophecies; the latter part of the Image is partly Iron, and partly Clay; two States really distinct, that could never so incorporate as to become one.
2. From the Letter of the Text: I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, 2full of the Names of Blasphemy. The Colours of the Royal and Imperial Vestments the Angel in the next Words declares distinct, and the Apostle in the Vision beheld them distinct.
3. They appear to be distinct from Arguments in Reason: For (1.) The Beast is in the Masculine, the Whore in the Feminine Gender.3 (2.) The Whore else did sit and ride upon her self; an high Absurdity. (3.) The Horns, being of the Beast, shall hate the Whore: if not distinct, the Whore must hate her self, even to Ruine and Desolation, which is nonsensical. (4.) The Beast shall abide, tho in Captivity, after the Whore is thrown down or destroyed.
4. From the plain Confession of the Woman or Whore her self, who saith, I sit a Queen, I am no Widow. Ergo, she hath a Head or Husband, which is the Beast, little Horn, or Man of Sin, that Paul declared should rise after the removal of the ⟨p. 315⟩then present Power which did lett, which the Primitive Fathers, as Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, and others, understood to be the Imperial Power, in its pure, civil, iron, or unmixed State.
⟨p. 313⟩IX. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath not only been ill Company to the Kings and great Men of the Earth, in drawing them into her Idol•try, Abuse of God, his blessed Son, the Christian ⟨p. 314⟩Religion, and blessed Books of the Old and New Testament; but she hath made the lower and ruder Sort of People drunk too. And 'tis no Wonder, she thinks she may do any thing, having a Dispensation from Heaven, which the Pope keeps the Keys of, and fearing no Power on Earth; for she hath the Beast, the Secular Power under her; she sits upon him, and rides him, and is not only distinct from the Secular Power, but above it; so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome, is under the Conduct and Management of the Church: there being no Civil Administration of Justice, or Exercise of Laws, but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness, the Head; and the Cardinals, the Shoulders, Breasts, and Arms of the Church, or State Ecclesiastical.
apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast, or a great Secular Power, cloathed with Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, doth: Then is Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, the Whore of Babylon here treated of.
But there is no visible State in the Christian World, that doth so apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast, or Secular Power, cloathed with Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome doth.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is the Whore of Babylon here treated of.
To reinforce this Argument, we challenge any profest Papists, Atheist, or any else, to shew where any other People or Parties are, to whom these Characters agree; and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument.
X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon, commands, and governs, is not only cloathed with Scarlet, but is full of the Names of Blasphemy, &c.
