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.
Peter, she hath had her Kingdom over Germany, so long upon France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, England, Scotland, and Ireland; so that their Kings have been governed by her; whom she would, they killed; whom she willed, they worshipped, and so became guilty of drinking the Wine of her Fornication; whom she willed, they set up; whom she willed, they plucked down. What she required, they paid themselves, and made their People pay also. When she willed, they raised Arms; and when she willed, they laid them down again. What shall we say, the Church of Rome hath had such a Power over the Kingdoms of Europe, that the Power and Wills of Princes have b•en controlled and over-ruled, when in any considerable Case they have gone contrary to the Sense and Interest of the Church, and that to such a Degree, as they have sometimes made them do Penance, resign up their Crowns, and then receive them again as an Act of Kindness, from the Chair of St. Peter. Which affords us ground for such an Argument as this.
Arg. If there be no great and considerable Body of People in the Christian World, that hath so evidently and apparently reigned over the Kings of the Earth, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon, City, or People, that St. John sets forth.
But there is no such great and considerable Body, &c.
Ergo, Rome Papal, &c. must be this Babylon, &c.
The Major is undeniable: The Minor is so notoriously known to the whole World, that the Papists can never avoid the Force of it, unless they can produce some Protestant Kingdom, or State, that domineered over the Kings of the Earth in a more eminent way and manner, than Rome is here charged with: But that is impossible. The Conclusion is therefore true.
⟨p. 322⟩And now having thus in fifteen Particulars run the Metaphor by way of Parallel, betwixt Mystery Babylon, and Rome Papal, as the same is set forth in the Apocalypse, other Histories, and known Experiences, we shall, before we quit this Task, briefly consider, how the Acts and Progress of the Church of Rome do most fully comport with other Types and Prophecies of Holy Scripture, namely, with Literal Babylon, that was h•r Type, and from whence she derives her Name; from the Prophecy of Daniel, concerning the little Horn, vile Person, or Man of Sin, which is her Head;
Peter, she hath had her Kingdom over Germany, so long upon France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, England, Scotland, and Ireland; so that their Kings have been governed by her; whom she would, they killed; whom she willed, they worsh•pped, and so became guilty of drinking the Wine of her Fornication; whom she willed, they set up; whom she willed, they plucked down. What she required, they paid themselves, and made their People pay also. When she willed, they raised Arms; and when she willed, they laid them down again. What shall we say, the Church of Rome hath had such a Power over the Kingdoms of Europe, that the Power and Wills of Princes have b•en controuled and over-ruled, when in any considerable Case they have gone contrary to the Sense and Interest of the Church, and that to such a Degree, as they have sometimes made them do Penance, resign up th•ir Crowns, and then receive them again as an Act of Kindness, from the Chair of St. Peter. Which affords us ground for such an Argument as this.
Arg. If there be no great and considerable Body of People in the Christian World, that hath so evidently and apparently reigned over the Kings of the Earth, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this Babylon, City, or People, that St. John sets forth.
But there is no such great and considerable Body, &c.
Ergo, Rome Papal, &c. must be this Babylon, &c.
The Major is undeniable: The Minor is so notoriously known to the whole World, that the Papists can never avoid the Force of it, unless they can produce some Protestant Kingdom, or State, that domineer'd over the Kings of the Earth in a more eminent way and manner, than Rome is here charged with: But that is impossible. The Conclusion is therefore true.
⟨p. 322⟩And now having thus in fifteen Particulars run the Metaphor by way of Parallel, betwixt Mystery Babylon, and Rome Papal, as the same is set forth in the Apocalypse, other Histories, and known Experiences, we shall, before we quit this Task, briefly consider, how the Acts and Progress of the Church of Rome do most fully comport with other Types and Prophecies of Holy Scripture, namely, with Literal Babylon, that was h•r Type, and from whence she derives her Name; from the Prophecy of Daniel, concerning the little Horn, vile Person, or Man of Sin, which is her Head;
the Prophecy of the Apostle Paul, in two remarkable Epistles, the First to Timothy, and the Second to the Thessalonians; and conclude. The Sum we shall cast into one general Argument, and so proceed to the various Branches of it. The concluding Argument is this:
Argument. That People whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon, which was a Type, with the Prophecy of Daniel about the little Horn, and Revelations of the New Testament about the last Scene of Things, is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon.
But Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is that People, whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon, the Prophecy of Daniel, and Revelation of the New-Testament, about the last Scene of Things.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon.
The Truth of this Argument we will endeavour to illustrate by this Induction of Particulars following.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
AS Literal Babylon was the Head-City of the First or Chaldean Kingdom, called the Glory of the Chaldean Kingdom,1 and great Babylon, &c. | SO Rome Papal is the Head-City of the last Kingdom, called, Great Babylon, or the great and Mother-City, Rev. 17.18.
II. Literal Babylon had a great Head or King over her, called Lucifer, or Son of the Morning. | II. So Rome Papal hath a great Head or King over her, called the Angel of the Bottomless-Pit, Son of the Evening, Darkness, or Perdition.
III. Literal Babylon had Dominion over many Countries or Provinces. | III. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath Dominion over many Countries or Kingdoms, no less than the Territories or Jurisdictions of ten considerable Kings, called ten Horns.
IV. Chaldea, or Literal Babylon, fell under a fourfold Circumstance, in respect of her Supreme Lord, or chief Head: As, (1.) That He was, when in great Pride he did insultingly say, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built, by the Might of my Power, for the Honour of my Majesty? (2.) He was not, when by the Watchers, and the holy Ones, he was tossed from his Throne, and made to eat Grass with Oxen, till seven Times (or Years) past over him. (3.) Yet was, when his Reason, and the Hearts of his Nobles returned to him, and gave him a ⟨p. 323⟩Re-advancement. (4.)
the Prophecy of the Apostle Paul, in two remarkable Epistles, the First to Timothy, and the Second to the Thessalonians; and conclude. The Sum we shall cast into one general Argument, and so proceed to the various Branches of it. The concluding Argument is this:
Argument. That People whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon, which was a Type, with the Prophecy of Daniel about the little Horn, and Revelations of the New Testament about the last Scene of Things, is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon.
But Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is that People, whose Acts and Progress do most fitly and fully comport with Literal Babylon, the Prophecy of Daniel, and Revelation of the New-Testament, about the last Scene of Things.
Ergo, Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is undoubtedly the wicked and bloody Whore of Babylon.
The Truth of this Argument we will endeavour to illustrate by this Induction of Particulars following.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
AS Literal Babylon was the Head-City of the First or Caldean Kingdom, called the Glory of the Caldean Kingdom,
Went off finally, when God brought the Medes and Persians against his Successor, into whose Hands the Kingdom was translated. | IV. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is foretold by the Angel to fall under a fourfold Circumstance, in respect to her Supreme Lord, or chief Head, the last Beast, by her called, Our Lord God the Pope. (1.) When he carries the Whore in State, makes War with the Saints, and overcomes them; when his Adherents say, Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make War with him? Then He was. (2.) He is not, when the Horns shall hate the Whore, make her desolate, eat her Flesh, and burn her with Fire; And good Men join issue with them, to take away the little Horn's Dominion, and lead him into Captivity, whose Life shall be prolonged for a Season and Time, even unto the time of the End. (3.) He yet is, when by virtue of a false Prophet, and ⟨p. 323⟩all the Helps Satan the Dragon can afford him, he shall make a Rally of the careless Nations, to bring up against the Jews, after the Restoration, to complete the Battle of Armageddon, foretold by divers Prophecies. (4.) He shall go off the Stage for ever, as the Man of Sin, great Opposer of Christ, and Son of Perdition, when God shall send his Son from Heaven to fight against, and slaughter his deceived Nations; of whom it is said, The Lord shall go forth, and fight against those Nations, 1as when he fought in the Day of Battle: Which will be so dreadful a Fight or Battle, as never yet was fought, for Slaughter and Blood; and so destroy this vile Person with the Brightness of his Appearance, to fulfil 2 Thess. 2. and cast him, as the Son of Perdition, into the burning Flames, to fulfil Rev. 19.20. And the Fowls of Heaven shall be filled with their Flesh. And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom, The Beast that was, and is not, and yet is, is of the seventh Head, and is the eighth, and goeth into Perdition.
V. The first Beast, or Head of the Chaldean Kingdom, or Literal Babylon, did invade Judea, besiege Jerusalem, take the City, and trample it under foot, till raised again by an Edict from the next great King of Persia. | V. The last Beast, or Head of the Roman Kingdom, called Mystery Babylon, doth invade Zion, the Gospel-Church, hath closely besieged her, and blocked up her Privileges, and trampled under foot the holy City, for a long space of Time,
The first Beast, or Power of the Chaldean Kingdom, called Literal Babylon, did take away the two Olive-Trees, that stood before the God of the whole Earth. | VI. The last Beast, or Power of the Roman Kingdom, hath taken away, or endeavoured to slay the two Witnesses, that bore up the Light and Testimony of God to the World.
VII. Chaldea, or Literal Babylon, did set up Image-Worship, commanding, upon pain of Burning, the Worshippers of the true God to fall down. Jer. 5.38. Dan. 3.6. It is the Place of graven Images, and they are mad upon their Idols. And whoso falleth not down, and worshippeth, shall the same Hour be cast into the midst of the burning fiery Furnace. | VII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, requires Worship to be given to the Crucifix, the Image of the Virgin Mary, and other Saints, but especially to the Idol of the Mass; so that whosoever will not own that most ridiculous Idolatry, of a piece of consecrated Bread, coming out of the Priest's unhallowed Hands, to be their God and Saviour, shall be burned at a Stake; as many blessed Men and Women, young and old, were in the Marian Days. See Fox's Acts and Monuments.
VIII. Chaldea, or Literal Babylon, was the Place of Captivity and Spoil; for she carried the Servants of God away captive, and made a Spoil of their Treasures, and rejoiced in so doing.1 Here we shall find Ezekiel, and Daniel, and Thousands more in Captivity; here we shall find the Spoils of Jerusalem, and the Enemy rejoicing in the Spoil. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced at the Destruction, ye are grown fat as the Heifers at Grass, and bellow as Bulls, &c. | VIII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is become the place of Captivity and Spoil; for 'tis by her Orders, Dictates, and Influence, that the Servants of God have been carried away captive, and their Goods and Possessions made a Spoil of in all parts of the Christian World. In her Dominions it was, where we find John Hus, Jerome of Prague, the Noble Lord Cobham, and thousands more, captivated and destroyed. 'Tis in their Jails we find good Men imprisoned; in Popish Countries we find the Inquisition, and other cruel Usages: For who is it in all the Christian World besides, that imprisons, spoils, and destroys Men for their Religion, that persecutes the People of God, but the Vassals of this sinful City of Rome?
Her wicked Sons did not only kill and spoil in Bohemia, Piedmont, and other Countries, but they rejoiced in their horrid ⟨p. 324⟩Wickedness, as appears in the Histories of the Saints Sufferings, written by Mr. Fox, Mr. Clark, Sir Sam. Moreland, and others, &c.
IX. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, notwithstanding her great Wickedness, yet was the most lofty and proud of all Countries besides, called the Lady of Kingdoms, and the Glory and Beauty of Excellency, for which God doth severely threaten her.1 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most Proud, saith the Lord God of Hosts: 2For thy Day is come, the time that I will visit thee. | IX. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, notwithstanding her great Crimes, and most horrid Wickedness, yet hath been the most Proud of any City or People in the Christian World, who saith in her Heart, I sit a Queen, am no Widow, shall see no Sorrow; for which Haughtiness and Pride of hers, the Lord will remember her with Judgment, and Severity, when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood, and avenge upon her the Injury done to Zion: Rev. 18.7. How much she hath glorified her self, and lived deliciously, so much Torment and Sorrow give her, &c.
X. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, was not only a People of great Pomp, Pride, and Covetousness, but of great Riches and Treasures. Thou that dwellest upon many Waters, 3abundant in Treasures, thine end is come, the end of thy Covetousness. | X. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is not only a People of great Pomp, and Pride, arrayed with Purple, Scarlet, Gold, Pearl, and precious Stones, but she sits upon many Waters, is Covetous, as well as Proud, and full of Treasures: and indeed it must needs be so; for besides the Gifts that were first given in the time of Constantine, (as is pretended) she hath made a Prey upon Nations, a Spoil upon Saints, had the Gifts of Kings, had vast Revenues settled upon her Orders and Clergy; she has peeled the People by selling Pardons, and Indulgences, raising Peter-Pence, and the like; so horribly covetous is she, that she is not willing any should go to Heaven without the Gift of Money to holy Church, by which slight she is grown so exceeding Rich, and full of Treasure, that she can afford a golden Cup to present her intoxicating Wine in, to be clothed with Scarlet, decked with Gold, Pearl, and precious Stones; she makes the Merchants of the Earth rich that do trade with her;
she hath indeed, as a full answer to her Type, Lam. 1.10. stretched forth her hand upon all the pleasant things of those Countries and Kingdoms where she hath sate as a Queen.
XI. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, did spoil the meetings of God's People, made the Ways of Zion to mourn, because Men could not come to the solemn Assemblies, Lam. 1.4. The Ways of Zion do mourn, because none can come to her solemn Feasts (or Assemblies) All her Gates are desolate, her Priests (or Ministers) do sigh, her Virgins are afflicted, and she is in Bitterness, &c. | XI. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath spoiled the Meetings of God's People, (the true Professors of the Religion of the Holy Jesus) by driving the Gospel, Zion, (or Church) into the Wilderness; and oftentimes burning and plucking down their Meeting-Places, and persecuting her Ministers, driving them into Corners, frighting and dispersing their Auditors; by Fines, Imprisonments, Banishments, and cruel Usages; so that her Ministers have been made to sigh, her Gates become desolate, none being suffered to enter without Danger; and their Virgins (the best sort of Professors) have been afflicted: the faithful Pastors grieving, because they might not preach to their Flocks; and the People mourning, because they could not hear the pleasant Voice of their Pastors, by reason of Violence, &c.
XII. Chaldea, or Literal Babylon, made the worst of Men, Chief among the Nations, and Provinces, over which she ruled, suffering none to come to Preferment, but such as were Enemies to Zion, and the ⟨p. 325⟩ways of Worship by her observed, Lam. 1.5. Her Adversaries prosper, and are the Chief, &c. | XII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath made the worst of Men Rulers, or Chief among the Nations; not suffering Men to bear Office in Kingdoms, Cities, or Corporations, nor indeed comfortably to buy and sell, unless they would relinquish Goodness and Religion, and receive the ⟨p. 325⟩Mark of the Beast in their Forehead, or right Hands, viz. publicly profess, or privately subscribe to such Injunctions as were against their Consciences, and inconsistent with their Religion; Who can be Cardinals, unless they do own the Pope? Who can be Kings, without being deposed or poisoned, that subscribe not to the See of Rome?
Who can sit safe as Governors over any Cities, where she sits as Queen, without truckling under that Yoke of Servitude, that she puts upon the Necks of all her Vassals? Rev. 13.16, 17.
⟨p. 324⟩XIII. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, was guilty of starving, or famishing the Children of Zion, in the days of her Power and Reign, which made the Prophet cry out, Lam. 1.19. & 4.7, 8, 9, 10. & 5.10. My Priests and mine Elders perished in the City, while they sought their Meat to refresh their Soul; those that were purer than Snow, whiter than Milk, more ruddy than precious Stones curiously polished, became as black as a Coal, withered and wrinkled, their Skin cleaves to their Bones for want of Food. | XIII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath been guilty of this most horrid Cruelty, by forcing tender and heavenly-born Souls, both Ministers and People, from their Dwellings, and that in a most bitter season, driving them up into Corners, where they have been kept, till starved to Death, by much hunger; of which we have a lamentable and Heart-breaking Relation, in the History of the Irish Massacre, &c.
XIV. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, delighted so in burning-work, as that they set on Fire and burnt down the very Houses and Dwellings of the People of Zion, as well as the places of public Worship, Jer. 52.12, 13. In the nineteenth year of the King of Babylon, came his chief Steward, and burnt the House of the Lord, and the King's House, and all the Houses of Jerusalem, and all the great Houses burnt he with Fire, &c. | XIV. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath so much delighted in the cursed Trade of Burning, that she hath not been contented with burning the Bodies of Men and Women to Ashes; but she hath burnt down their Meeting-Places, wherein they worshipped God: and not only so, but the very Habitations and dwelling-Places of the faithful Servants of Christ, leaving them and their Wives and Children Harbourless; as she did not only to the blessed Witnesses of Christ, in the Valleys of Piedmont, but to famous and renowned London it self, &c. remember 1666.
XV. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, was so villainous as to ravish the Women in Zion, and the Maids in the Cities of Judea, declaring their Sin like Sodom,
Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath been so beastly villainous, that it is almost beyond Belief, taking Women before their Husbands Faces, and Maidens before their Parents Faces; first ravishing them openly, in the sight of the Sun, and then imbruing their barbarous Hands in their Blood, as divers Histories do declare.
XVI. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, delighted in Hanging as well as Burning, serving God's People, as Men serve Dogs that they do not think fit to live; as well as used them like dry Bones and rotten Wood, by burning them to Ashes and Powder, they hanged them up as well as burnt them, and hanged them up in a miserable manner too, even the best among the People, ⟨p. 326⟩Lam. 5.12. Princes are hanged up by their Hands, the Face of Elders were not honoured, which is the worst way of hanging for continuance of Shame and Pain. |
XVI. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath not less answered her Type in this than in many other things; for she hath served the best of Men like Dogs, that have been counted not fit to live, for besides making them like rotten Wood, and burning their Bones into Lime, Dust or Powder, she hath driven a very cursed Trade in hanging; and because she would see which was the wor•t way of hanging, she has hanged some by the Neck till dead, and others by the middle, and burnt them by degrees, to lengthen out their Pain and ⟨p. 326⟩Misery; others by their tenderest Parts; O monstrous Barbarity! A Shame to have it told in Gath, or published in the Streets of Askelon! What was done to the noble Lord Cobham, and many others in these parts of the World, is so plain and notorious, as if she had been under a constraint to accomplish the Iniquity of her Type.
Here we shall (for the further clearing up of this Mystery) run a brief Parallel between the little Horn and the Popes, or Bishops of Rome, and so conclude.
⟨p. 325⟩I. The little Horn rose at the latter end of the Fourth Kingdom, or when the Roman Empire stood upon its last Legs, or fell into a Division of ten Parts. Dan. 7.7, 8. And the Roman, or fourth Beast had ten Horns; and behold, there came up amongst them another little Horn. | I. The Popes of Rome were kept under by the Emperors, who kept a strict Eye over them, curbed their Insolencies and Exorbitances, and at the first appearance nipping their aspiring Projects in the very Bud;
sometimes deposing and banishing some proud Prelates, when they showed at what they levelled their Designs. But after the Power of Rome, which before was entire in one Emperor, fell into ten Parts and Divisions, which happened in the Year of our Lord 456, as* Du-Moulin, and the Learned† Mede show at large, out of the Roman Histories. Upon this Division, and weakening of the Empire, the Bishop of Rome took his advantage, to make his Advance, and rose up to Regal Power, enacting Laws, raising Taxes, and levying Soldiers; by which means he struck in with Parties, and encroached upon Italy, and the Parts adjacent.
II. This Power arising upon the Weakening and Division of the old State of the Fourth Monarchy or Kingdom, is called a little Horn, because truly so at its first beginning. Dan. 7.8. And behold, there came up amongst them another little Horn, &c. | II. The Papal Power, or Bishop of Rome, before this Division, was but low and small, being confined to his Episcopal Power over the Church, till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat, and Power of the Temporal Sword, which he managed with so much Craft and Policy, that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions; but is very rightfully in his Infancy styled a little Prince, Power, or Horn, arising up amongst, or after the rest, which began presently after the Death of Julian, about the Year 365, in which Time was a most fearful Earthquake, the like never known before, betokening the Decay of the Fourth Kingdom, in its Civil State or Power, by a Division or falling of Nations, who set themselves against the Power of Rome, and harassed, wasted, and destroyed the Provinces thereof, for near forty five Years together. See Mede, lib. 3. p. 659.
III. This little Horn, after his Rise to Temporal Power, plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots. Dan. 7.8. Before whom there were three of the first Horns plucked up by the Roots. |
III. The Papal Power having gained the Temporal Sword, tho but a little Horn at his beginning, did practise and prosper so, that betwixt the Year 365, and the Year 456, or soon after, when Rome was sacked by Gensericus, he gained such Enlargements, that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman Dominions, according to the Rules or Measure of the Compass; as we find in Mr. Mede, lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du-Moulin, ubi suprà.
Upon which three Characters of the little Horn, we frame this short Argument.
If the Pope of Rome did arise to Temporal Power, upon the weakening of the Caesarean Dominion, (which before did hinder him in his aspiring Usurpation) was but little in his first Rise and Appearance, did enlarge, and grow to a Possession of ⟨p. 327⟩about a third part of the old Roman Dominion: Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn, the Wicked Power, and vile Person, set forth by the Prophet Daniel.
But the Antecedent is true: — Ergo, so is the Consequent.
IV. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, &c. | IV. The Pope of Rome hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, the Resemblance of a humane Look, but a Heart like the Dragon, out of which foul Mouth he utters presumptuous Things. His Predecessors had Eyes like a Leopard, a Bear, a Lion, a Dragon; but this hath Eyes like a Man. In which there are three things to be noted: (1.) He looks higher, (2.) Sees further; and, (3.) Is more enticing, than those that went before him. (1.) He looks higher, that is, makes a pretence of Piety, and Design for Heaven. (2.) Sees further, that Deceit, Flattery, and Policy, will do more than Strength. (3.) Is more enticing to Kings and People, than the Eyes of a Leopard, Lion, or Dragon, or the former Powers in their Heathen State.
V. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things, above the rate of ordinary Men. Dan. 7.8. | V. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things, above the ordinary rate of Men. This is evident in many respects, of which we shall give you but a few Instances out of many. (1.) That he is the highest Deputy of God, above all the Kings of the Earth. (2.) That he is infallible, and cannot err, which is an incommunicable Attribute of the Most High. (3.) That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholic Church. (4) He assumes the Attributes of his Holiness, and holy Father; such an Oracle, that has Right or Power to give Laws to the World, to which all ought to subscribe, and yield obedience, and none ought to dispute. Greater and more loftily can no Man speak, unless he will say, I am the Supreme Being, and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self; which would be so highly ridiculous, that every Idiot would be able to detect it.
VI. The little Horn had his Looks more stout than his Fellows: Dan. 7.20.
Whose Looks were more stout, &c. | VI. The Pope of Rome has Looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him; which appears in three things: (1.) In his terrible Bulls, that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully. (2.) In his Power and Acts of deposing Princes. (3.) In asserting himself to be God's Vicegerent, against whom no Person, upon any Cause or Pretence whatsoever, ought to lift up Hand or Tongue, upon the Penalty of a total Ruin in this World, and an eternal Ruin in the World to come.
VII. The little Horn makes War with the Saints. Dan. 7.21. I beheld, and the same Horn made War with the Saints, and prevailed against them, and that for a long Time, even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the Most High. Verse 25. |
VII. The Pope of Rome hath made War with the Saints, and prevailed against them, and that to their Ruin, as to Liberty, Estate, and even Life it self; as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countries, in divers by-past Ages, even for such a Series of Time, that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the Most High; for his Cruelty ended not in a Month, or a Year, but hath lasted for many hundred Years: So that for Length of Time, Numbers of Countries, and Multitude of Persons, there is no Power that ever reigned, hath out-done, or equalized this vile and bloody Monster; upon which we frame this Argument.
If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, a Mouth speaking presumptuous Things, and Looks more stout than his Fellows; to have made War with the Saints, to have prevailed against them, and wore them out, more than any other Power that ever yet reigned: Then he is the little Horn, or vile Person, under Consideration.
But the former is true: — Ergo, so is the latter.
⟨p. 328⟩VIII. The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns. Dan. 7.24. And he shall be diverse from the first, and shall subdue three Kings. | VIII. The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects: 1. The Manner of his Rise. 2. His Pretensions to Power. 3. In his progress to his Height of Dignity. 4. In his Management of the Power he has usurped. 1. He was small or little in his Rise, but an ordinary Bishop, before he came to be a Temporal Prince. 2.
Whose Looks were more stout, &c. | VI. The Pope of Rome has Looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him; which appears in three things: (1.) In his terrible Bulls, that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully. (2.) In his Power and Acts of deposing Princes. (3.) In asserting himself to be God's Vicegerent, against whom no Person, upon any Cause or Pretence whatsoever, ought to lift up Hand or Tongue, upon the Penalty of a total Ruine in this World, and an eternal Ruine in the World to come.
VII. The little Horn makes War with the Saints.
He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance, or Gift of the People, as other Kings do, but by a special and Divine Patent. 3. In his progress to the Height of his Dignity, by leaving his fixed Station, as Pastor of a Church, and by Deceit, Treason, and Violation of all Laws, mounts the Throne of Imperial Grandeur. 4. He rules by a supreme Ecclesiastical Power, as well as Temporal; pretends to the Keys of Heaven, as well as the Sword of Justice on Earth, showing himself to be the Beast that hath two Horns like a Lamb, spoken of, Rev. 13.11.
IX. This little Horn hath so many Marks upon him, that they are too numerous to handle distinctly after our usual Method; and therefore we shall put the remaining part into a general Rank, and conclude this Subject. | IX. The Pope of Rome hath so many Marks or Characters upon him, that are too numerous to be handled distinctly in a little room; and therefore we shall but touch upon them, so far as they show the Texts made good, and form an Idea of Truth in the Minds of Men.
1. He must change Times and Laws. | 1. The Pope hath changed Times and Laws, in two respects: (1.) He hath set up, and plucked down Kings, which is called a changing of Times and Seasons, Dan. 2.21. (2.) He has made strange Alterations of the Laws, Orders, and Institutions used in the Church, in respect of Officers, Administration of Sacraments, and Celebration of Days.
2. Continue a long space of Time. | 2. Hath continued above twelve hundred Years.
3. He is a vile Person. | 3. He is as vile a Person as any in the World, tolerates all kind of Wickedness, by his Dispensations, Pardons, &c.
4. Had not the Honour he hath, fairly given to him, either by God or Man, but gained it by Flattery. | 4. Had his Exaltation neither by Inheritance, lawful Conquest, nor rightful Gift from rightful Donators.
5. Removed the preceding Power by the Arms of a Flood. | 5. He had the help of Phocas, to kill the Emperor Mauritius; and by the help of Goths and Vandals enlarged his Power.
6. He became strong by a small People. | 6. Became strong by a small People, having only a declining Church, and Apostate Christians to assist him.
7. He shall have power over the fattest Places of the Province, and there scatter his Riches. | 7. He hath power over Italy, which is reputed the Garden of Europe, &c.
8. Such as do wickedly against Religion, he shall accept. | 8.
He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance, or Gift of the People, as other Kings do, but by a special and Divine Patent. 3. In his progress to the Height of his Dignity, by leaving his fixed Station, as Pastor of a Church, and by Deceit, Treason, and Violation of all Laws, mounts the Throne of Imperial Grandure. 4. He rules by a supreme Ecclesiastical Power, as well as Temporal; pretends to the Keys of Heaven, as well as the Sword of Justice on Earth, shewing himself to be the Beast that hath two Horns like a Lamb, spoken of,
He hath accepted, entertained, and encouraged the People of any Nation, that would turn wicked, and sacrifice all Piety and Religion, to serve his Interest.
9. Under him the Saints fall by Captivity and Spoil, by Sword and Flame, many days. | 9. Under him the Saints have fallen, by Flames, Captivity, and Spoil, many days.
10. Shall do according to his own Will, not accounting himself tied to any Laws. | 10. He hath done according to his own Will, and doth not look upon any Laws to be obligatory to him, either from God or Men.
⟨p. 329⟩11. He shall exalt himself above every God, and speak marvellous things against the God of Gods. | 11. He (the Pope) hath exalted himself above every God, (that is, such as are so accounted amongst Men, or Gods on Earth,) by excommunicating, deposing, treading upon their Necks, and kicking off their Crowns; by his blasphemous Edicts and Injunctions he exalts himself above God himself, and his written Laws, &c.
12. Shall not regard the God of his Ancestors. | 12. He doth not regard the God of his Ancestors, either the Idols of the Emperors, or the God of the good Bishops that went before him.
13. Nor the desire of Wedlock. | 13. He hath been remote from the desire of Women in a lawful way, nay, and frights his Clergy from it too, who are made uncapable of spiritual Promotion, and censured as heinous Transgressors, if married.
14. Nor any God in a pious way. | 14. He hath not regarded any God in a pious way; for tho he doth name the true God often, and in Words profess him, yet in Works he doth defy him, and profane his holy Name.
15. Shall give Honour to them that have armed Forces. | 15. He gives honour to them who have armed Forces, and lends them Assistance to carry on his black and diabolical Designs.
16. Shall own a strange God, with splendid Ceremonies, Dan. 11.38. | 16. He hath owned a strange God; a Mark completely made up in the Mass, which is adored with splendid Ceremonies. Upon all which, we fairly frame this Argument.
He hath accepted, entertained, and encouraged the People of any Nation, that would turn wicked, and sacrifice all Piety and Religion, to serve his Interest.
9. Under him the Saints fall by Captivity and Spoil, by Sword and Flame, many days. | 9. Under him the Saints have fallen, by Flames, Captivity, and Spoil, many days.
10. Shall do according to his own Will, not accounting himself tied to any Laws. | 10. He hath done according to his own Will, and doth not look upon any Laws to be obligatory to him, either from God or Men.
If all these sixteen Characters meet no-where so clear and evident as upon the Pope of Rome; then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn, and vile Person, set forth in the Book of Daniel:
and great Babylon, &c. | SO Rome Papal is the Head-City of the last Kingdom, called, Great Babylon, or the great and Mother-City, Rev. 17.18.
II. Literal Babylon had a great Head or King over her, called Lucifer, or Son of the Morning. | II. So Rome Papal hath a great Head or King over her, called the Angel of the Bottomless-Pit, Son of the Evening, Darkness, or Perdition.
III. Literal Babylon had Dominion over many Countries or Provinces. | III. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath Dominion over many Countries or Kingdoms, no less than the Territories or Jurisdictions of ten considerable Kings, called ten Horns.
IV. Caldea, or Literal Babylon, fell under a fourfold Circumstance, in respect of her Supreme Lord, or chief Head: As, (1.) That He was, when in great Pride he did insultingly say, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built, by the Might of my Power, for the Honour of my Majesty? (2.) He was not, when by the Watchers, and the holy Ones, he was toss'd from his Throne, and made to eat Grass with Oxen, till seven Times (or Years) past over him. (3.) Yet was, when his Reason, and the Hearts of his Nobles return'd to him, and gave him a
Went off finally, when God brought the Medes and Persians against his Successor, into whose Hands the Kingdom was translated. | IV. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is foretold by the Angel to fall under a fourfold Circumstance, in respect to her Supreme Lord, or chief Head, the last Beast, by her called, Our Lord God the Pope. (1.) When he carries the Whore in State, makes War with the Saints, and overcomes them; when his Adherents say, Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make War with him? Then He was. (2.) He is not, when the Horns shall hate the Whore, make her desolate, eat her Flesh, and burn her with Fire; And good Men join issue with them, to take away the little Horn's Dominion, and lead him into Captivity, whose Life shall be prolonged for a Season and Time, even unto the time of the End. (3.) He yet is, when by virtue of a false Prophet, and ⟨p. 323⟩all the Helps Satan the Dragon can afford him, he shall make a Rally of the careless Nations, to bring up against the Jews, after the Restauration, to compleat the Battel of Armageddon, foretold by divers Prophecies. (4.) He shall go off the Stage for ever, as the Man of Sin, great Opposer of Christ, and Son of Perdition, when God shall send his Son from Heaven to fight against, and slaughter his deceived Nations; of whom it is said, The Lord shall go forth, and fight against those Nations, 1as when he fought in the Day of Battel: Which will be so dreadful a Fight or Battel, as never yet was fought, for Slaughter and Blood; and so destroy this vile Person with the Brightness of his Appearance, to fulfill 2 Thess. 2. and cast him, as the Son of Perdition, into the burning Flames, to fulfill Rev. 19.20. And the Fowls of Heaven shall be filled with their Flesh. And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom, The Beast that was, and is not, and yet is, is of the seventh Head, and is the eighth, and goeth into Perdition.
V. The first Beast, or Head of the Caldean Kingdom, or Literal Babylon, did invade Judea, besiege Jerusalem, take the City, and trample it under foot, till raised again by an Edict from the next great King of Persia. | V. The last Beast, or Head of the Roman Kingdom, call'd Mystery Babylon, doth invade Sion, the Gospel-Church, hath closely besieged her, and block'd up her Privileges, and trampled under f•ot the holy City, for a long space of Time, Rev. 11.2.
VI.
The first Beast, or Power of the Caldean Kingdom, call'd Literal Babylon, did take away the two Olive-Trees, that stood before the God of the whole Earth. | VI. The last Beast, or Power of the Roman Kingdom, hath taken away, or endeavoured to slay the two Witnesses, that bore up the Light and Testimony of God to the World.
VII. Caldea, or Literal Babylon, did set up Image-Worship, commanding, upon pain of Burning, the Worshippers of the true God to fall down. Jer. 5.38. Dan. 3.6. It is the Place of graven Images, and they are mad upon their Idols. And whoso falleth not down, and worshippeth, shall the same Hour be cast into the midst of the burning fiery Furnace. | VII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, requires Worship to be given to the Crucifix, the Image of the Virgin Mary, and other Saints, but especially to the Idol of the Mass; so that whosoever will not own that most ridiculous Idolatry, of a piece of consecrated Bread, coming out of the Priest's unhallowed Hands, to be their God and Saviour, shall be burned at a Stake; as many blessed Men and Women, young and old, were in the Marian Days. See Fox's Acts and Monuments.
VIII. Caldea, or Literal Babylon, was the Place of Captivity and Spoil; for she carried the Servants of God away captive, and made a Spoil of their Treasures, and rejoiced in so doing.1 Here we shall find Ezekiel, and Daniel, and Thousands more in Captivity; here we shall find the Spoils of Jerusalem, and the Enemy rejoicing in the Spoil. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoyced at the Destruction, ye are grown fat as the Heifers at Grass, and bellow as Bulls, &c. | VIII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is become the place of Captivity and Spoil; for 'tis by her Orders, Dictates, and Influence, that the Servants of God have been carried away captive, and their Goods and Possessions made a Spoil of in all parts of the Christian World. In her Dominions it was, where we find John Hus, Jerome of Prague, the Noble Lord Cobham, and thousands more, captivated and destroyed. 'Tis in their Jails we find good Men imprisoned; in Popish Countries we find the Inquisition, and other cruel Usages: For who is it in all the Christian World besides, that imprisons, spoils, and destroys Men for their Religion, that persecutes the People of God, but the Vassals of this sinful City of Rome?
Her wicked Sons did not only kill and spoil in Bohemia, Piedmont, and other Countries, but they rejoyced in their horrid ⟨p. 324⟩Wickedness, as appears in the Histories of the Saints Sufferings, written by Mr. Fox, Mr. Clark, Sir Sam. Moreland, and others, &c.
IX. Caldea, or literal Babylon, notwithstanding her great Wickedness, yet was the most lofty and proud of all Countries besides, called the Lady of Kingdoms, and the Glory and Beauty of Excellency, for which God doth severely threaten her.1 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most Proud, saith the Lord God of Hosts: 2For thy Day is come, the time that I will visit thee. | IX. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, notwithstanding her great Crimes, and most horrid Wickedness, yet hath been the most Proud of any City or People in the Christian World, who saith in her Heart, I sit a Queen, am no Widow, shall see no Sorrow; for which Haughtiness and Pride of hers, the Lord will remember her with Judgment, and Severity, when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood, and avenge upon her the Injury done to Sion: Rev. 18.7. How much she hath glorified her self, and lived deliciously, so much Torment and Sorrow give her, &c.
X. Chaldea, or literal Babylon, was not only a People of great Pomp, Pride, and Covetousness, but of great Riches and Treasures. Thou that dwellest upon many Waters, 3abundant in Treasures, thine end is come, the end of thy Covetousness. | X. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is not only a People of great Pomp, and Pride, arrayed with Purple, Scarlet, Gold, Pearl, and precious Stones, but she sits upon many Waters, is Covetous, as well as Proud, and full of Treasures: and indeed it must needs be so; for besides the Gifts that were first given in the time of Constantine, (as is pretended) she hath made a Prey upon Nations, a Spoil upon Saints, had the Gifts of Kings, had vast Revenues setled upon her Orders and Clergy; she has peeled the People by selling Pardons, and Indulgences, raising Peter-Pence, and the like; so horribly covetous is she, that she is not willing any should go to Heaven without the Gift of Money to holy Church, by which slight she is grown so exceeding Rich, and full of Treasure, that she can afford a golden Cup to present her intoxicating Wine in, to be clothed with Scarlet, deck'd with Gold, Pearl, and precious Stones; she makes the Merchants of the Earth rich that do trade with her;
she hath indeed, as a full answer to her Type, Lam. 1.10. stretch'd forth her hand upon all the pleasant things of those Countries and Kingdoms where she hath sate as a Queen.
XI. Caldea, or literal Babylon, did spoil the meetings of God's People, made the Ways of Sion to mourn, because Men could not come to the solemn Assemblies, Lam. 1.4. The Ways of Sion do mourn, because none can come to her solemn Feasts (or Assemblies) All her Gates are desolate, her Priests (or Ministers) do sigh, her Virgins are afflicted, and she is in Bitterness, &c. | XI. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath spoiled the Meetings of God's People, (the true Professors of the Religion of the Holy Jesus) by driving the Gospel, Sion, (or Church) into the Wilderness; and oftentimes burning and plucking down their Meeting-Places, and persecuting her Ministers, driving them into Corners, frighting and dispersing their Auditors; by Fines, Imprisonments, Banishments, and cruel Usages; so that her Ministers have been made to sigh, her Gates become desolate, none being suffered to enter without Danger; and their Virgins (the best sort of Professors) have been afflicted: the faithful Pastors grieving, because they might not preach to their Flocks; and the People mourning, because they could not hear the pleasant Voice of their Pastors, by reason of Violence, &c.
XII. Caldea, or Literal Babylon, made the worst of Men, Chief among the Nations, and Provinces, over which she ruled, suffering none to come to Preferment, but such as were Enemies to Sion, and the ⟨p. 325⟩ways of Worship by her observed, Lam. 1.5. Her Adversaries prosper, and are the Chief, &c. | XII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath made the worst of Men Rulers, or Chief among the Nations; not suffering Men to bear Office in Kingdoms, Cities, or Corporations, nor indeed comfortably to buy and sell, unless they would relinquish Goodness and Religion, and receive the ⟨p. 325⟩Mark of the Beast in their Forehead, or right Hands, viz. publickly profess, or privately subscribe to such Injunctions as were against their Consciences, and inconsistent with their Religion; Who can be Cardinals, unless they do own the Pope? Who can be Kings, without being deposed or poysoned, that subscribe not to the See of Rome?
. They defiled the Women, and ravished the Maids in their Cities, &c. | XV.
Who can sit safe as Governours over any Cities, where she sits as Queen, without truckling under that Yoke of Servitude, that she puts upon the Necks of all her Vassals? Rev. 13.16, 17.
⟨p. 324⟩XIII. Caldea, or literal Babylon, was guilty of starving, or famishing the Children of Sion, in the days of her Power and Reign, which made the Prophet cry out, Lam. 1.19. & 4.7, 8, 9, 10. & 5.10. My Priests and mine Elders perish'd in the City, while they sought their Meat to refresh their Soul; those that were purer than Snow, whiter than Milk, more ruddy than precious Stones curiously polish'd, became as black as a Coal, withered and wrinkled, their Skin cleaves to their Bones for want of Food. | XIII. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath been guilty of this most horrid Cruelty, by forcing tender and heavenly-born Souls, both Ministers and People, from their Dwellings, and that in a most bitter season, driving them up into Corners, where they have been kept, till starved to Death, by much hunger; of which we have a lamentable and Heart-breaking Relation, in the History of the Irish Massacre, &c.
XIV. Caldea, or literal Babylon, delighted so in burning-work, as that they set on Fire and burnt down the very Houses and Dwellings of the People of Sion, as well as the places of publick Worship, Jer. 52.12, 13. In the nineteenth year of the King of Babylon, came his chief Steward, and burnt the House of the Lord, and the King's House, and all the Houses of Jerusalem, and all the great Houses burnt he with Fire, &c. | XIV. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath so much delighted in the cursed Trade of Burning, that she hath not been contented with burning the Bodies of Men and Women to Ashes; but she hath burnt down their Meeting-Places, wherein they worshipped God: and not only so, but the very Habitations and dwelling-Places of the faithful Servants of Christ, leaving them and their Wives and Children Harbourless; as she did not only to the blessed Witnesses of Christ, in the Valleys of Piedmont, but to famous and renowned London it self, &c. remember 1666.
XV. Caldea, or literal Babylon, was so villanous as to ravish the Women in Sion, and the Maids in the Cities of Judea, declaring their Sin like Sodom, Lam. 5.11. They defiled the Women, and ravish'd the Maids in their Cities, &c. | XV.
Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath been so beastly villanous, that it is almost beyond Belief, taking Women before their Husbands Faces, and Maidens before their Parents Faces; first ravishing them openly, in the sight of the Sun, and then imbruing their barbarous Hands in their Blood, as divers Histories do declare.
XVI. Caldea, or literal Babylon, delighted in Hanging as well as Burning, serving God's People, as Men serve Dogs that they do not think fit to live; as well as used them like dry Bones and rotten Wood, by burning them to Ashes and Powder, they hang'd them up as well as burnt them, and hang'd them up in a miserable manner too, even the best among the People, ⟨p. 326⟩Lam. 5.12. Princes are hanged up by their Hands, the Face of Elders were not honoured, which is the worst way of hanging for continuance of Shame and Pain. |
XVI. Rome, or Mystery Babylon, hath not less answered her Type in this than in many other things; for she hath served the best of Men like Dogs, that have been counted not fit to live, for besides making them like rotten Wood, and burning their Bones into Lime, Dust or Powder, she hath driven a very cursed Trade in hanging; and because she would see which was the wor•t way of hanging, she has hang'd some by the Neck till dead, and others by the middle, and burnt them by degrees, to lengthen out their Pain and ⟨p. 326⟩Misery; others by their tenderest Parts; O monstrous Barbarity! A Shame to have it told in Gath, or publish'd in the Streets of Askelon! What was done to the noble Lord Cobham, and many others in these parts of the World, is so plain and notorious, as if she had been under a constraint to accomplish the Iniquity of her Type.
Here we shall (for the further clearing up of this Mystery) run a brief Parallel between the little Horn and the Popes, or Bishops of Rome, and so conclude.
⟨p. 325⟩I. The little Horn rose at the latter end of the Fourth Kingdom, or when the Roman Empire stood upon its last Legs, or fell into a Division of ten Parts. Dan. 7.7, 8. And the Roman, or fourth Beast had ten Horns; and behold, there came up amongst them another little Horn. | I. The Popes of Rome were kept under by the Emperors, who kept a strict Eye over them, curb'd their Insolencies and Exorbitances, and at the first appearance nipping their aspiring Projects in the very Bud;
sometimes deposing and banishing some proud Prelates, when they shew'd at what they levell'd their Designs. But after the Power of Rome, which before was entire in one Emperor, fell into ten Parts and Divisions, which happened in the Year of our Lord 456, as* Du-Moulin, and the Learned† Mede shew at large, out of the Roman Histories. Upon this Division, and weakning of the Empire, the Bishop of Rome took his advantage, to make his Advance, and rose up to Regal Power, enacting Laws, raising Taxes, and levying Souldiers; by which means he struck in with Parties, and encroached upon Italy, and the Parts adjacent.
II. This Power arising upon the Weakning and Division of the old State of the Fourth Monarchy or Kingdom, is call'd a little Horn, because truly so at its first beginning. Dan. 7.8. And behold, there came up amongst them another little Horn, &c. | II. The Papal Power, or Bishop of Rome, before this Division, was but low and small, being confined to his Episcopal Power over the Church, till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat, and Power of the Temporal Sword, which he managed with so much Craft and Policy, that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions; but is very rightfully in his Infancy stiled a little Prince, Power, or Horn, arising up amongst, or after the rest, which began presently after the Death of Julian, about the Year 365, in which Time was a most fearful Earthquake, the like never known before, betokening the Decay of the Fourth Kingdom, in its Civil State or Power, by a Division or falling of Nations, who set themselves against the Power of Rome, and harrassed, wasted, and destroyed the Provinces thereof, for near forty five Years together. See Mede, lib. 3. p. 659.
III. This little Horn, after his Rise to Temporal Power, plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots. Dan. 7.8. Before whom there were three of the first Horns pluck'd up by the Roots. |
III. The Papal Power having gained the Temporal Sword, tho but a little Horn at his beginning, did practise and prosper so, that betwixt the Year 365, and the Year 456, or soon after, when Rome was sack'd by Gensericus, he gained such Enlargements, that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman Dominions, according to the Rules or Measure of the Compass; as we find in Mr. Mede, lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du-Moulin, ubi suprà.
*Accomplishment of Prophecies.
†Lib. 3. p. 779.
Upon which three Characters of the little Horn, we frame this short Argument.
If the Pope of Rome did arise to Temporal Power, upon the weakning of the Caesarean Dominion, (which before did hinder him in his aspiring Usurpation) was but little in his first Rise and Appearance, did enlarge, and grow to a Possession of
⟨p. 327⟩
about a third part of the old Roman Dominion: Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn, the Wicked Power, and vile Person, set forth by the Prophet Daniel.
But the Antecedent is true: — Ergo, so is the Consequent.
IV. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, &c. | IV. The Pope of Rome hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, the Resemblance of a humane Look, but a Heart like the Dragon, out of which foul Mouth he utters presumptuous Things. His Predecessors had Eyes like a Leopard, a Bear, a Lion, a Dragon; but this hath Eyes like a Man. In which there are three things to be noted: (1.) He looks higher, (2.) Sees further; and, (3.) Is more enticing, than those that went before him. (1.) He looks higher, that is, makes a pretence of Piety, and Design for Heaven. (2.) Sees further, that Deceit, Flattery, and Policy, will do more than Strength. (3.) Is more enticing to Kings and People, than the Eyes of a Leopard, Lion, or Dragon, or the former Powers in their Heathen State.
V. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things, above the rate of ordinary Men. Dan. 7.8. | V. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous Things, above the ordinary rate of Men. This is evident in many respects, of which we shall give you but a few Instances out of many. (1.) That he is the highest Deputy of God, above all the Kings of the Earth. (2.) That he is infallible, and cannot err, which is an incommunicable Attribute of the Most High. (3.) That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholick Church. (4) He assumes the Attributes of his Holiness, and holy Father; such an Oracle, that has Right or Power to give Laws to the World, to which all ought to subscribe, and yield obedience, and none ought to dispute. Greater and more loftily can no Man speak, unless he will say, I am the Supreme Being, and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self; which would be so highly ridiculous, that every Ideot would be able to detect it.
VI. The little Horn had his Looks more stout than his Fellows: Dan. 7.20.
. I beheld, and the same Horn made War with the Saints, and prevailed against them, and that for a long Time, even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the Most High. Verse 25. |
VII. The Pope of Rome hath made War with the Saints, and prevailed against them, and that to their Ruine, as to Liberty, Estate, and even Life it self; as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countries, in divers by-past Ages, even for such a Series of Time, that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the Most High; for his Cruelty ended not in a Month, or a Year, but hath lasted for many hundred Years: So that for Length of Time, Numbers of Countries, and Multitude of Persons, there is no Power that ever reigned, hath out-done, or equalized this vile and bloody Monster; upon which we frame this Argument.
If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man, a Mouth speaking presumptuous Things, and Looks more stout than his Fellows; to have made War with the Saints, to have prevailed against them, and wore them out, more than any other Power that ever yet reigned: Then he is the little Horn, or vile Person, under Consideration.
But the former is true: — Ergo, so is the latter.
⟨p. 328⟩
VIII. The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns. Dan. 7.24. And he shall be diverse from the first, and shall subdue three Kings. | VIII. The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects: 1. The Manner of his Rise. 2. His Pretensions to Power. 3. In his progress to his Height of Dignity. 4. In his Management of the Power he has usurped. 1. He was small or little in his Rise, but an ordinary Bishop, before he came to be a Temporal Prince. 2.
.
IX. This little Horn hath so many Marks upon him, that they are too numerous to handle distinctly after our usual Method; and therefore we shall put the remaining part into a general Rank, and conclude this Subject. | IX. The Pope of Rome hath so many Marks or Characters upon him, that are too numerous to be handled distinctly in a little room; and therefore we shall but touch upon them, so far as they shew the Texts made good, and form an Idea of Truth in the Minds of Men.
1. He must change Times and Laws. | 1. The Pope hath changed Times and Laws, in two respects: (1.) He hath set up, and pluck'd down Kings, which is called a changing of Times and Seasons,
. (2.) He has made strange Alterations of the Laws, Orders, and Institutions used in the Church, in respect of Officers, Administration of Sacraments, and Celebration of Days.
2. Continue a long space of Time. | 2. Hath continued above twelve hundred Years.
3. He is a vile Person. | 3. He is as vile a Person as any in the World, tolerates all kind of Wickedness, by his Dispensations, Pardons, &c.
4. Had not the Honour he hath, fairly given to him, either by God or Man, but gain'd it by Flattery. | 4. Had his Exaltation neither by Inheritance, lawful Conquest, nor rightful Gift from rightful Donators.
5. Remov'd the preceding Power by the Arms of a Flood. | 5. He had the help of Phocas, to kill the Emperor Mauritius; and by the help of Gothes and Vandals enlarged his Power.
6. He became strong by a small People. | 6. Became strong by a small People, having only a declining Church, and Apostate Christians to assist him.
7. He shall have power over the fattest Places of the Province, and there scatter his Riches. | 7. He hath power over Italy, which is reputed the Garden of Europe, &c.
8. Such as do wickedly against Religion, he shall accept. | 8.
⟨p. 329⟩
11. He shall exalt himself above every God, and speak marvellous things against the God of Gods. | 11. He (the Pope) hath exalted himself above every God, (that is, such as are so accounted amongst Men, or Gods on Earth,) by excommunicating, deposing, treading upon their Necks, and kicking off their Crowns; by his blasphemous Edicts and Injunctions he exalts himself above God himself, and his written Laws, &c.
12. Shall not regard the God of his Ancestors. | 12. He doth not regard the God of his Ancestors, either the Idols of the Emperors, or the God of the good Bishops that went before him.
13. Nor the desire of Wedlock. | 13. He hath been remote from the desire of Women in a lawful way, nay, and frights his Clergy from it too, who are made uncapable of spiritual Promotion, and censured as heinous Transgressors, if married.
14. Nor any God in a pious way. | 14. He hath not regarded any God in a pious way; for tho he doth name the true God often, and in Words profess him, yet in Works he doth defie him, and prophane his holy Name.
15. Shall give Honour to them that have armed Forces. | 15. He gives honour to them who have armed Forces, and lends them Assi•tance to carry on his black and diabolical Designs.
16. Shall own a strange God, with splendid Ceremonies, Dan. 11.38. | 16. He hath owned a strange God; a Mark compleatly made up in the Mass, which is adored with splendid Ceremonies. Upon all which, we fairly frame this Argument.
