A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
The ſumme of the ſecond chapter.
Not only wee, who by Gods merciemercy are come out of Babylon, are to reade, & ſtudy this book; but alſo all thoſe that neuer yet came out of that ſtate, and ſuch miſerable ſoules, as hauehave wofully apoſtated from vsus, are to bee acquainted with this booke, for theſe reaſons following.
I.THis book doth ſhew them, that theirThe Papiſts are diligently to ſtudie this booke. The firſt reaſon. dwelling is in Babylon, the habitation of Diuels, the hold of all foule ſpirits, and a cage of eueryevery vncleane and hatefull bird, chap. 18. 2. 3. yea it is ſpirituallie Egypt and Sodome, chap. 11. 8. Not heatheniſh, but their popiſh Rome is Babylon, euen Rome now Chriſten. It is then Babylon, firſt, when AntichriſtRome is Babylon by the Popes ſeate therein. ſits there, which muſt be after the heatheniſh Emperours, 2. Theſſ. 2. Secondly, when it becommeth a whore, deceiuing by whoriſh allurements, chap. 17. 1. 2. 18. and 16. 19. and not only (by ſtrength of armes) ſubduing as the heathen Emperours did. Thirdly, when it is called a myſterie, chap. 17. 5. which cannot be, as it was heathen, but Chriſten. Fourthly, when it is the beaſt with ſeuen heads and ten hornes, chap. 13. & 17. 7. bearing vp the whore, and hauing Crownes vponupon the hornes, chap. 13. for being Heatheniſh the Crownes were vponupon the heads, and not on the hornes, chap. 12. Fifthly, when the ten hornes receiue power as Kings with theReuel. 17. 12. beaſt, which cannot be, while the heathen Emperours reigned, who ſhared no kingly ſoueraigntie to any other with themſelues. Sixthly, when it hath a marke, a name, and the number of a name, hauing gotten ſuch power by wonders and miracles, as it cauſeth al vponupon paine of death to receiue this marke or the name, or to hauehave the number of the name, chap. 13. 11.-17. and 14. 9. which things cannot bee auouched of heatheniſh Rome: therefore of Rome Chriſten, or rather Anti-chriſtian. Seuenthly, when one of the heads is wounded and healed againe, then Rome is Babylon, chap. 13. Eightly, when Rome bewitched Kings with the wine of her fornication, chap. 17. 21, and God raiſed vp Preachers to proclame for that cauſe her down-fall, chap. 14. 8. Ninthly, when the ſeuenth viall is poured out, chap. 16. 19. which is many hundreds of yeeres after Rome was rid of heathen Emperours. Laſtly, when Rome is threatned that it ſhall be no more, but come to vtter deſtruction, chap. 18. 2. 21, and that vnderunder the ſeuenth head, chap. 17. 8. 11, when the Heathen Emperours (the ſixth head) was paſt.
II. Hereby may they heare, how the Lord commandethThe ſecond reaſon, they are in Babylon. them to come out of this their Babylon; if they will be held the people of God, and if they will not be partakers of her ſins, that ſo they may not receiue of her plagues, Reuel. 18. 4; for as Babylon, ſhe ſhall be laid waſte, chap. 18. 2. as Egypt be horribly plagued, chap. 16. and as Sodome with fire be burned, chap. 18. 8.
III. This will ſhew them, that their Pope isThe third reaſon, the Pope is Antichriſt. that Antichriſt, the ſtarre fallen, and the King of the Locuſts, chap. 9. 1. 11. the horned beaſt like the Lambe, ſpeaking as the Dragon, chap. 13. 11. for inChap. 13. 11. 12.-17. al things the Pope agreeth with that ſecond beaſt, which hath the ſhew of a Lambe, but the veryChap. 19. 20. Dragons mouth; which exerciſeth all the power of the firſt beaſt, which cauſeth all to worſhip him for to aduance the Romane ſtate; which doth wonders & miracles, as a falſe prophet, to deceiue them that dwell on the earth, and commandeth them to make an image to the beaſt, and to worſhip the ſame vponupon paine of death: which cureth the deadly wound, and laſtly forceth all to receiue a marke in their right hand, or in their foreheads, or elſe to hauehave no commerce with them. Al which are the Popes properties and practiſe, as after is ſhewed at large.
IV. This booke will tell them, that their ſeruiceThe fourth reaſon, their ſeruice abominable. is but the acts of an whore (fornication, abominations and filthineſſe, though that ſtate ſeeme neuer ſo glorious) being attired in purple and ſcarlet, decked with gold and pearle; and though that theſe things bee reached out to them in a golden cup, in that whores hand, chap. 17. 2. 4. So as, according to the poſitiō deliuered by a learned Diuine, proued, and not hitherto diſproued, a Papiſt by his Romiſh religion cannot goe beyond a Reprobate: Maſter Perkins poſition.which being true, is enough to condemne their religion, their profeſſion and practiſes therein for euer.
V. By this ſhall they know, who they bee thatThe fifth reaſon, they ſhall know who are Papiſts. are carried away with that Romiſh religion and ſtate, euen ſuch as be earthly inhabitants, cap. 17. 2. Such as be ſeduced by their ſorceries, chap. 18. 23. by the wonders and falſe miracles of the beaſt, chap. 13. 13. 14. and of the falſe prophet, cap. 19. 20. Such as be drunke with the wine of that fornication, the outward pomp and glory of that whore, chap. 17. 2-4. Such as gaine therby, and liue in the pleaſures of that ſtate, cap. 18. 3. 9. 10. 11. Such as hauehave fooliſhly admired the power, ſeate, and great authoritie thereof formerly receiued from the Dragon, cap. 13. 3. 4. Such as cannot ſubmit themſelues to the powerfull preaching of the Goſpell, but hold themſelues tormented by the true Miniſters of Chriſt, chap. 11. 10. Such as in the louelove of life and goods hauehave through feare ſubmitted to the power of the beaſt, cap. 13. 16. Laſtly, ſuch as whoſe names are not written in the booke of life of the Lambe, ſlaine from the foundation of the world: chap. 13. 8. and 17. 8.
VI. Hereby may they learne to ſee, what ſhallThe ſixth reaſon, to behold their end. become of their Pope and ſtate, their beaſt and falſe Prophet; yea and what ſhall become of thoſe that worſhip that beaſt, his image, and receiue the marke of his name; verily they ſhall bee plagued with exquiſite torments, chap. 19. 20. and 14. 9. 10. 11: and of her plagues, in the deſtruction of that ſtate, ſhall all receiue that will not depart from her, chap. 18. 4.
VII. By this booke ſhall they learne to ſatisfieThe ſeuenth reaſon, to ſatiſfie themſelues of a maine queſtion betweene them and vsus. themſelues in that queſtion, which they ſo often hauehave propounded to vsus: where our Church was before Luthers daies? Certainly euen in the wilderneſſe with the woman, chap. 12; hauing the two witneſſes prophecying in ſackcloth, cap. 11. 3. and in the temple, while the holy citie was troden vnderunder foote by that Antichriſtian ſtate, chap. 11. 2. and 13. 5.
VIII. By this booke they ſhall ſee the reaſonsThe eighth reaſon to be … of. of thoſe things, which now doe ſo greatly vexe and torment that their ſtate, their Pope, their Ieſuits, Prieſts, and all the obſtinate route of them: I. How it is, and by what meanes it commeth to paſſe that ſo many countries, kingdoms and people in Chriſtendome, ſince Luthers time, hauehave forſaken their Antichriſtian ſtate? Euen Chriſts owne power by his Preachers recouering his owne, that is, people, nations, tongues and Kings from vnderunder that pſeudo-catholike and Apoſtatical Church, chap. 10. 11. and 14. 6. II. How it was, that after they had ſlaine and murthered Iohn Hus, and Ierome of Prage, with many other, at ſeuerall times, and became ſo merryChap. 11. 7. 10. after their cruelties, as if all had been ſafe; yet muſt Luther, and with him many other riſe vp in their ſight preaching againſt them powerfully, and yet neuertheleſſe doe eſcape death at their hands? Euen becauſe the ſpirit of life from God entred into them, and tooke them vp vntounto him, in the ſight of thoſe their enemies, chap. 14. 7. 8. 9. and 11. 11. III. How it is, that now their Ieſuits and Prieſts are of vsus put to death, and with them other traiterous perſons? Euen the iudgement and hand of God vponupon them, who auengeth hereby the blood of his Saints and Prophets, and doth to them, as they hauehave done to vsus, chap. 16. 5. 6. and 13. 10. IV. How it is poſſible, that wee can ſo preuaile againſt them, and that they get not the hand againſt vsus? why their inuincible Armado came to naught? why their vnheard-of plot of Gunpowder-treaſon came to none effect? why they proſper not againſt vsus, ſithen they bee ſo ſubtill, ſo trecherous and helliſhly falſe, that no oath can binde them to faithfulnes; but now doe, and daily ſhall by little and little decay to their vtter ruine? Euen becauſe their date of growth is paſt, chap. 10. 6. the kingdomes are become the Lords, who ſhall raigne for euer, chap. 11. 15. for now doe come out of the Church the Angels to poure out the laſt plagues, and that vponupon them, till they bee deſtroyed, chap. 15. 6. 7. and 16.
IX. The holy Apoſtle S. Iohn our Prophet hereThe ninth reaſon, to ſee how they ouerthrow themſelues at vnawares. would let them ſee plainly (if they would ſee the light at noone day) that in the maineſt arguments they bring to ouerthrow vsus, they doe vnawares ſtrengthen vsus; and what they thinke doe ſerue to make for themſelues, in thoſe they be confounded and ouerthrowne. Good Reader in wiſedome diſcerne, and iudge righteouſly.
| The Papiſts againſt the Proteſtants. | Iohn for the Proteſtants. |
| Their The Papiſts arguments againſt vsus, anſwered by the Apoſtle, who ouerthroweth them by the words of the text. Church (if it had any being) was hidden till of late yeeres, troden vnderfoote, and of no eſteeme in the world. | So ſhould the true Church be, the Temple and holy Citie muſt bee troden vnderunder foote, and bee of no esteeme in the world; chap. 11. 1. 2. 10. and 12. 6. 14. |
| Their number ſmall, in compariſon of ours. | The flock of Chriſt is but an 144000: chap. 14. 1. it is a ſmall number, when the whole world followeth after Antichriſt: chap. 13. 3. 16. |
| Their firſt vpſetters, which taught them this their religion, were but a few, and thoſe baſe fellowes too. | Chriſts witneſſes againſt the Antichriſtian ſtate were at the firſt few, and poore, and for a time clothed in ſackcloth: chap. 11. 3. |
| They were iudged and condemned, & not held worthie to liue, and that not of a few, but generally of the whole earth. | So Chriſt by his Angel foreſhewed the ſame, that it ſhould ſo fall out with the true Preachers of the Goſpell: chap. 11. 7. 9. 10. |
| They hauehave wickedlie forſaken our Church, contrarie to the practiſe of their forefathers, many hundreds of yeeres. | Not wickedly, but iuſtly at the commandement of God, chap. 18. 4; not contrarie to the will of their heauenlie Father, though contrarie, to earthly forefathers miſled by Antichrist: chap. 13. 13. 14. |
| They condemne our Church as an whore, and call our eſtate Babylon; and yet they cannot but acknowledge that they came out from vsus. | The ſpirit of God calleth your Church the Whore, chap. 17. 1. and Rome (that great City) Babylon, cap. 17. 18. and 18. 2. out of which they may well confeſſe that they came, as the Lord commanded them: chap. 18. 4. |
| They are all for preaching, and ſinging of Pſalmes, leauing the old & ancient ſeruice of the Church. | The true meſſengers of Chriſt are Preachers, and doe performe that dutie, cap. 11. and 14. and the true Church praiſeth God, with ſinging of Pſalmes, cap. 15. 3. |
| They abhorre Images, and will not worſhip either Saint or Angell, which hath beene a cuſtome of the Church. | They iuſtly abhor thoſe things, for which God plagued the Romiſh people, cap. 9. 20. and concerning worſhip, the true Church onelyonly worſhippeth God, cap. 4. 8-11. & 5. 14. ſo being commanded, cap. 14. 7. and by an Angell forbidden to worſhip Angels, cap. 19. 10. |
| Theſe late vpſtart-Preachers hauehave troubled the world, & hauehave drawn away many from their old obedience. | The true Prophets of Chriſt muſt torment the inhabitants of the earth, cap. 11. 10. and by the miniſtery of the word, preach to people, nations, tongues, and Kings, to bring them from Antichriſt, and the Romiſh Church, cap. 10. 11. and 14. 6-9. |
| Theſe Preachers doe incite and ſtirre vp authority againſt vsus, and to deale hardly with vsus. | They exhort to no more then God cōmandeth, ſaying, reward her, as ſhee rewarded you, and giuegive double vntounto her, according to her workes, in the cup ſhee hath filled, fill to her double, cap. 18. 6. |
| Their Kings and Magiſtrates murther holy and learned men, Ieſuits, Prieſts, and other of our religion. | They murther none, but execute iuſtice vponupon them, as the Lord foretold they ſhould doe, cap. 13. 10. and heerein the Lord is righteous, to giuegive them blood that hauehave ſhead blood. cap. 16. 5. 6. |
| The Papiſts for the Papiſts. | Iohn againſt the Papiſts. |
| Rome is the mother-Church. | Yea, The Papiſts arguments for themſelues, turned againſt themſelues, by the words of the prophecie. the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, cap. 17. 5. |
| Our Church is the holy Catholick Church. | It is Babylon the great, cap. 18. 2. and 17. 5. ſpiritually Sodome and Egypt, cap. 11. 8. |
| The Pope in his Popedome, is a holy father, Chriſts Vicar on earth, and ſitteth at Rome. | He is the beaſt, cap. 11. 7. and 13. 1. 11. the Dragons Subſtitute, cap. 13. 2. and at Rome the whore ſitteth, cap. 17. 1. 3. |
| Chriſt gaue to him his power, ſeate, and authoritie. | No: the Angel hath told thee, that the Dragon the diuell gaue him his power, ſeate, and great authoritie, cap. 13. 2. 4. |
| Kings and mightie Potentates hauehave ſubmitted both themſelues, and their kingdomes to our Churches authoritie, which they would neuer hauehave done, if it had not been of God. | The Kings of the earth muſt commit fornication with that where, cap. 17. 2. and muſt giuegive their power, ſtrength and kingdome to the beaſt, cap. 17. 13. for God hath put into their hearts, to fulfil his will, ver. 17. |
| All the world hauehave bin of our religion, and depended vponupon the authority of Rome. | All the world muſt wonder after the beaſt, and worſhip him, cap. 13. 3. and 17. 8. yea peoples and multitudes, nations and tongues, muſt bee ſubiect to that whore of Rome. 17. 1. 15. |
| Thoſe that hauehave worſhipped this high Eccleſiaſticall power, and hauehave giuen the ſupremacie to that ſeate, were godly, learned, and deuout people of all ſorts. | They were ſuch as were deceiued, cap. 13. 14. or by feare compelled, verſ. 16. 17. … car…ally … that …, cap. 17. 2. or that liued in pleaſures with her, cap. 18. and that were not in the booke of life, cap. 13. 8. |
| Our Church is full of glory and magnificence, wee ſpare no coſt to ſet out our ſeruice with. | Indeed the where muſt be arrayed in purple, ſcarlet colour, and decked with gold, precious ſtones, and pearles, cap. 17. 4. |
| Our Church hath heretofore commanded all ouer, chalenging Supremacie, and had it yeelded to her generally. | Great Babylon ſaith in her heart, I ſit as Queène, cap. 18. 7. and the whore ſitteth vponupon many waters, ca. 17. 1. that is, peoples, multitudes, nations & tongues, verſ. 15. |
| Great was the vnitie and conſent of Princes and people, while the authoritie of our Church preuailed. | So muſt it be, while the beaſt beareth rule; Kings will be of one mind, and agree with him, cap. 17. 13. 17. and the inhabitants of the earth will be merrie, ca. 11. 10. |
| Our Church hath bin famous for miracles, by which many hauehave been moued to imbrace our religion. | The beaſt, chap. 13. 13. 14. and the falſe prophet doe wonders and miracles, and deceiue thereby earthly people, cap. 19. 20. yea Babylon by theſe her ſorceries deceiue the nations, cap. 18. 24. |
| Our Church hath bin viſible and apparant vntounto all; yea, and hath flouriſhed a long time, in the ſpight of all her gainſayers. | This proueth you not to be the Temple or holy City, but indeed the out-court, which hath been apparant vntounto the nations, who hauehave heretofore murthered and oppreſſed the Saints and people of God, that did refuſe to ſubiect vntounto you, ca. 11. 2. 7. and 20. 4. and 13. 15. |
| Our Church hath euer bin a cōdemner (vntounto the death) of all thoſe vpſtart Preachers, and other troublers of the peace of the Chriſtian world: ſo zealous hath ſhe euer been to vphold religion. | Indeed the woman (the whore) could away with no oppoſition, cap. 11. but hath riſen vp againſt Chriſts ſeruants, and become drunke with the blood of the Saints and the blood of the Martyrs of Ieſus, cap. 17. 6. |
| Our Popes hauehave made war againſt ſuch as oppoſed the Churches authoritie, and God gaue them victorie ouer their victorie ouer their enemies, and none were able to withſtand them; ſuch power they had from God. | The beast ſhall make war against the Saints, yea and alſo ouercome them, for not yeelding vntounto him; and put many to death therefore: and power was giuen him ouer all kindreds, tongues, and nations, cap. 11. 7. and 13. 4. 7. 15. cap. 20. 4. |
| Our holy fathers acts againſt theſe buſie fellowes, that roſe vp to ſpeake againſt the eſtabliſhed authority were (I am ſure) approued then of all vniuerſally: which would not hauehave been, if they had been wicked and euill. | Their beaſt full of blaſphemies, and his deeds full of cruelty against the true Prophets of God, muſt bee applauded of all the inhabitants of the earth, yea they muſt reioyce at his ill deeds, cap. 11. 10. |
| Our Church is ſo carefull for ſoules-ſafety, that ſhe wil permit none to liue with in her lap, vnleſſe they ſhew themſelues to be her obedient children. | The beaſt will make all to receiue a marke in their right hand, or fore-head, elſe no buying or ſelling where hee hath to doe, except they hauehave his marke, name, or the number of his name, cap. 13. 16. 17. |
| Our Church hath yet many endued with gifts of miracles to go out for her, and is able to make an armie with kingly aid againſt our enemies. | Indeed out of the mouth of the Dragon, beaſt, and falſe Prophet come forth vncleane ſpirits like frogs, the ſpirits of diuels working miracles, to goe vntounto Kings, to fight for them, cap. 16. 13. 14. |
| Our Church wanteth not yet, neither euer ſhal (I hope) the countenance of Kings, and great men, to like and approoue of her, yea and to maintaine her, ſay, and doe what men can, and al the Heretickes in the world with them. | True it is, Babylon hath, and ſhall hauehave Kings, and great men of the earth, to louelove and like of her, yea to fight for her, cap. 17. 14. & 19. 19. and when ſhe is deſtroyed, then to mourne and to … for …, cap. 18. |
Thus may theſe deceiued people, behold and ſee how they ſpeake againſt themſelues, while they would gladly ſpeake moſt for themſelues. They would be held to be the true Church, and yet they prooue it by the infallible markes of the falſe Church; they would be the c…ſt ſpouſe of Chriſt, and yet they ſet out themſelues with the apparant tokens of the woman the whore; behold, ſtay and wonder! can there bee vnderunder heauen a more euident bewitching then this? conſider thou that readeſt, and giuegive true iudgement by euidence of truth.