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.
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, Lam. 5.11. 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 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:
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:
To these Characters we shall add a few more out of the Evangelist Matthew, the 20th of the Acts, the first Epistle to Timothy, and the second to the Thessalonians, and so draw to a Conclusion.
Christ foretold that Enemies should come in his Name, and own him to be the true Christ, with an Intent to deceive; that they should appear in Sheeps clothing, and under this Visor hide their devouring Teeth. And, Mat. 27.15. Beware of false Prophets, which come to you in Sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves; that is, have a design to destroy you. |
The Popes of Rome, in their Succession, have been clothed with Sheeps clothing, covered their Design with the Name of Christ, the true Christ, but with an intent to deceive; for all their Pretences of Jesus being the true Christ, have been but as a Visor to hide their devouring Teeth; whilst they hid themselves under the Notion of Christianity, they have carried on most pernicious and destructive Designs, showing their wolfish and devouring Nature in these three respects. (1.) If there have appeared any Kings in the Christian World, that have been piously disposed, they have forthwith endeavoured to pervert them by their Diabolical Doctrines, or destroy them by their Holy Poison. (2.) If any Ministers, or Men of Parts, have risen up, to set forth God's holy Truth, and bless the World with Gospel-Light, and saving Doctrine, they have either choked them with Preferments, affrighted them by dreadful Fears, or by a ravenous thirsting after their Blood, have most wickedly and treacherously destroyed their Lives. (3.) If collective Bodies of pious Congregations of Saints have sprung forth in the World, they have ⟨p. 330⟩followed them like Blood-hounds, and devouring Wolves, with Fire and Sword, fearful Massacres, Devastations, Murders and Slaughters, till they have spoiled them, torn in pieces, and devoured them: Completely fulfilling that Prediction of the Apostle, Acts 20.29, 30. For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in amongst you, not sparing the Flock: Also of your own selves shall Men arise, speaking perverse Things, to draw away the Disciples after them. Who can this Prophecy so exactly agree to, as the bloody Popes, who at first arose out of the Church, and acted the •art of Wolves to purpose, (1.) By affrighting the Flock: (2.) By dispersing and scattering them ab•oad: (3.) By drinking or sucking the Blood of any of them they could fasten upon, in a most astonishing and prodigious manner?
As for those two eminent Gospel-Prophecies, viz. the beginning of
and of 1 Tim. 4. we will give a brief Abstract by way of Parallel, showing how these relate only to the Pope of Rome, and no other.
The Apostle expressly tells us, that a Man of Sin shall arise, who shall be a lawless One,1 that will lift up himself against God, to sit in the Temple of God; that was hindered in his wicked Design by the Imperial Power; who gets up by a falling away: That he was to be so considerable, as to be easily discerned and discovered by the Christian World; that he was to manage a great Mystery of Iniquity: His coming up was to be by the Assistance and Working of the Devil: He was to have a twofold Power, Civil and Ecclesiastical, comprehending all earthly Power: He was to suggest Signs and lying Wonders to the People: He was to make use of all Treachery or Deceivableness, and Lies; his Followers were to be given up to strong Delusions; his Party was to speak desperate Lies in Hypocrisy, to have scared Consciences: That he should be against Matrimony; that he should command a long Lent, and to abstain from Meats. | If the Pope of Rome be not a Man of Sin, then Beelzebub is not a Devil, as is largely demonstrated in the foregoing Sheets; for no Divine or Humane Law can set any Bounds to his Ambition, and spiritual Tyranny. That he exalts himself against God, in polluting his pure Worship, and against Kings, by his usurped Supremacy, is before evidenced: That he was hindered by the Roman Imperial Power, is the Opinion and Judgment of the Learned; and also that he was the monstrous Spawn of the Great Apostasy. That he manages a great Mystery of Iniquity, in which his grand Counsellor, the Devil, lends him Politics, to a double Usurpation, and Encroachment upon Soul and Body; pretends to Miracles, and false Wonders; acts like the Metropolitan Cheat and Impostor of Christendom: That his Followers are strongly deluded, mere Liars and Hypocrites, with seared Consciences, forbidding honest Marriage, but allowing Canonical Whoredom: That he forbids Meats, but can dispense with the grossest Debaucheries: All these, I say, with those other Marks the Holy Spirit gives of him, are so legible upon the Pope, as if the very Sun-Beams had writ them in Capitals upon his Brazen Forehead. Therefore we dismiss him with this full-proved Conclusion, That He, and only He, is [Greek or Hebrew] the Antichrist, and the very Man of Sin.
Thus you have had a brief Description of Mystery Babylon, and the Antichristian Beast, who hath been so long a time so great a Plague to the World, but more especially to God's Church; and we did intend to have added some probable Conjectures concer•ing the Time of her Fall, which, according to most Authors, will be in this present Age, &c. according to Peter du Moulin, Brightman, and others, before the Year 1690. 'Tis said, The ten Horns shall hate her, &c. And I have met with a very ancient Prophecy, that says, There shall arise a Prince of the Illustrious Lilly, that should make War with •landers, &c. And that he should fall out with Rome, and make War against Italy, and in the fortieth Year of his Reign should burn Rome with Fire. And according to the Description there given of the Person, it should seem to be the present French King; the Difference there seems now to be between him and the Pope, causeth many to speak of it, &c. But this we must leave to what Time shall produce.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Christ foretold that Enemies should come in his Name, and own him to be the true Christ, with an Intent to deceive; that they should appear in Sheeps cloathing, and under this Vizard hide their devouring Teeth. And, Mat. 27.15. Beware of false Prophets, which come to you in Sheeps cloathing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves; that is, have a design to destroy you. |
The Popes of Rome, in their Succession, have been cloathed with Sheeps cloathing, covered their D•sign with the Name of Christ, the true Christ, but with an intent to deceive; for all their Pretences of Jesus being the true Christ, have been but as a Vizard to hide their devouring Teeth; whilst they hid themselves under the Notion of Christianity, they have carried on most pernicious and destructive Designs, shewing their wolfish and devouring Nature in these three respects. (1.) If there have appeared any Kings in the Christian World, that have been piously disposed, they have forthwith endeavoured to pervert them by their Diabolical Doctrines, or destroy them by their Holy Poyson. (2.) If any Ministers, or Men of Parts, have risen up, to set forth God's holy Truth, and bless the World with Gospel-Light, and saving Doctrine, they have either choaked them with Preferments, affrighted them by dreadful Fears, or by a ravenous thirsting after their Blood, have most wickedly and treacherously destroyed their Lives. (3.) If collective Bodies of pious Congregations of Saints have sprung forth in the World, they have ⟨p. 330⟩followed them like Blood-hounds, and devouring Wolves, with Fire and Sword, fearful Massacres, Devastations, Murthers and Slaughters, till they have spoiled them, torn in pieces, and devoured them: Compleatly fulfilling that Prediction of the Apostle, Acts 20.29, 30. For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in amongst you, not sparing the Flock: Also of your own selves shall Men arise, speaking perverse Things, to draw away the Disciples after them. Who can this Prophecy so exactl• agree to, as the bloody Popes, who at first arose out of the Church, and acted the •art of Wolves to purpose, (1.) By affrighting the Flock: (2.) By dispersing and scattering them ab•oad: (3.) By drinking or sucking the Blood of any of them they could fasten upon, in a most astonishing and prodigious manner?
As for those two eminent Gospel-Prophecies, viz. the beginning of 2 Thess. 2.
. we will give a brief Abstract by way of Parallel, shewing how these relate only to the Pope of Rome, and no other.
The Apostle expresly tells us, that a Man of Sin shall arise, who shall be a lawless One,
that will lift up himself against God, to sit in the Temple of God; that was hindred in his wicked Design by the Imperial Power; who gets up by a falling away: That he was to be so considerable, as to be easily discerned and discovered by the Christian World; that he was to manage a great Mystery of Iniquity: His coming up was to be by the Assistance and Working of the Devil: He was to have a twofold Power, Civil and Ecclesiastical, comprehending all earthly Power: He was to suggest Signs and lying Wonders to the People: He was to make use of all Treachery or Deceivableness, and Lies; his Followers were to be given up to strong Delusions; his Party was to speak desperate Lies in Hypocrisy, to have scared Consciences: That he should be against Matrimony; that he should command a long Lent, and to abstain from Meats. | If the Pope of Rome be not a Man of Sin, then Beelzebub is not a Devil, as is largely demonstrated in the foregoing Sheets; for no Divine or Humane Law can set any Bounds to his Ambition, and spiritual Tyranny. That he exalts himself against God, in polluting his pure Worship, and against Kings, by his usurped Supremacy, is before evidenced: That he was hindred by the Roman Imperial Power, is the Opinion and Judgment of the Learned; and also that he was the monstrous Spawn of the Great Apostacy. That he manages a great Mystery of Iniquity, in which his grand Counsellor, the Devil, lends him Politicks, to a double Usurpation, and Encroachment upon Soul and Body; pretends to Miracles, and false Wonders; acts like the Metropolitan Cheat and Impostor of Christendom: That his Followers are strongly deluded, meer Lyars and Hypocrites, with seared Consciences, forbidding honest Marriage, but allowing Canonical Whoredom: That he forbids Meats, but can dispense with the grossest Debaucheries: All these, I say, with those other Marks the Holy Spirit gives of him, are so legible upon the Pope, as if the very Sun-Beams had writ them in Capitals upon his Brazen Forehead. Therefore we dismiss him with this full-prov'd Conclusion, That He, and only He, is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 the Antichrist, and the very Man of Sin.
