A Reply to a Pretended Christians Plea for the Church of Rome, Part 1
Of the church of …ome.
BEcause the true Church is that people to whom perteyneth *Rom. …. ….the adoption of sonns, and the glorie, and the covenants, & the giving of the Law, and the service (of God,) and the promises: it is requisite that we first hādle the state of Antichrists church, so shall we the better discerne of the ministerie; seales of the covenant, and other ordinances of God which the man of syn abuseth, whether they be true or false unto them, in that their synfull abuse.
In my former answer, I layd downe these grounds; †Animad…rs: p. 76.The Antichristian synagogue is by the Holy Ghost called a Beast, Rev. 13. 11. which signifieth a Kingdome, Dan. 7. 23. it is named also a great Citie, Rev. 11. 8. which noteth the largenes of tha tpolitie & kingdome. It cometh up out of the earth, Rev. 13. 11. as being of this world, (which Christs kingdome that cometh downe from heavē Rev. 21. 2. is not:) and therefore is called a man of syn, 2 Thes. 2. 3. and a great whore, Rev. 17. 1. whose head is Abaddon or Apollyon, Revel 9. 11. the Destroyer of others, and himself the son of perdition, 2 Thes. 2. 3. and they that follow him are the children of damnation, 2 Thes. 2. 12. This wicked generation warreth against the Lamb Christ, and against the Saincts,, Rev. 17. 14. 6. and 13. 7. blasphemeth Gods name and Tabernacle, and them that dwel in heaven, Rev. 13. 6. that is the true church, whose conversation is heavenly, Phil. 3. 20. Yet doe they all this mischief, under shew of Christian religion: and therefore this Beast, hath hornes like the Lamb Christ, Rev. 13. 11. this whore is arayed with purple & scarlet, guilded with gold, precious stones and pearles, Rev. 17. 4. as if she were the Queen and spouse of Christ, Psal. 45. 9. 13. Ezek. 16. …0.—13. Song. 7. 5. she hath Peace-offrings and Vowes, Prov. 7. 14. (as if she were devout in Gods service, Psal. 66. 13.) bread and waters, Prov. 9. 16. 17. (as ready to refresh the wearie soules.) Her doctrines, sweet and amiable, lyes spoken in hypocrisie, Prov. 5. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 2. but yet confirmed with signes and miracles, as if they came from heaven, 2 Thes. 2. 9. Rev. 13. 13. 14. her power & efficacie great, prevailing over the many and the mightie, the Kings and Princes of the world, deceiving all nations with her inchantments, Prov. 7. 21. 26. Rev. 17. 2 & 18. 23. and if it were possible, Gods very elect, Math. 24. 24. Her continuance and outward prosperitie is long, Rev. 13. 5. & 18. 7. & 20. 2. 4. her end, miserable, Rev. 18. 19. 21. & 19. 20. 21. consumed with the spirit of the Lords mouth, and abolished with the brightnes of his coming, 2 Thes. 2. 8. And for her destruction, the heavens shall rejoyce, and sing praises to God, Rev. 18. 20. & 19. 1. 2.
The accomplishment of these prophesies, I *Animad▪ pag. 77.there shewed to be in the Church of Rome at this day; confirmed by her own canons and doctors, that set forth her profession and practise. These grounds remayne yet unanswered by mine opposite; being such as I assure my self neither could he, neither can any soundly refute. Now let us see how farr he yeildeth, and how he opposeth. First †Christian Plea p. 12…he prayeth all to take knowledge, that his minde and desire in himselfe is to plead against the present estate of that church, and not for it: acknowledging it to be fallen, into most synful and deep defection and apostasie, and so to be a notorious harlot and idolatress: which all the people of God ought to forsake, and to witnes the trueth there against, even vntounto death.
How well this his acknowledgement agreeth with his plea in the residue of his book; shall appeare in the discussing of the reasons after folowing. But what sayth he to the description of Antichrists church, which I before shewed from the scriptures? He “Chr. pl… p. 141.sayth, I speak of the church and Synagogue of Antichrist, of the Beast, of the great Citie, of the man of Syn, of the great whore, of Abaddon or Apollyon, the son of perdition &c. wheras I should treat of the Temple of God, wherof Paul speaketh. 2 Thes. 2. Hereupon he chargeth me, †p. 242.to keep what I could from the point of the question in hand, and therefore also to confound things that differ.
I answer, that the the question was by this mine opposites former “Adverti… ▪ p. 58. 59.graunt, about the church of Rome, whether it were the church of God or no. Now when at first I shew from the scriptures, what maner of Church that Romane church is, in Gods account: how could he charge me to keep from the point of the question? 2ly. the place of th'Apostle being alleaged *Advertis▪ p. 5… 59by mine opposite for a proof that the church wherein Antichrist sitteth, is the Church of God; I come immediately after †Animad▪ p. 77. 78. &c.to scan that scripture: and yet he challengeth me for keeping from the point; wheras all men of judgement may see it was needful to know what God foretold of that church throughout the scriptures, that so we might understand in what sense Antichrist is sayd to sit in the Temple of God, 2 Thes. 2. For seing the Temple of God, is a figurative phrase, taken from the shadowes of the Law: it is not wisedome in us, to expound a parabolical speech contrary to the plaine scriptures & grounds of Christian religion; but we must understand it according to them. Wherefore, there being no other answer made to the description aforesayd: it standeth in force to prove that the church of Rome, is not the true Church of Christ.
So for the accomplishment of the prophesies, wheras I †…nimad.shewed from the Papists own writings of their church, how fitly it agreeth with Antichrists synagogue foretold of by God: mine opposite answereth *…s. ple… ….I tell them of a Church, such as Bellarmine and others describe, one part wherof lives on earth, an other under the earth, and a third part in heaven &c. Wheras our question is of the Temple of God, wherof Paul speaketh, 2. Thes. 2. 4. and of the court and holy citie wherof Iohn speaketh Rev. 11. 2. Thus neyther the Prophesies of God, nor the complement of them shewed by the men themselves whom the prophesies concerne, may be brought to clear the controversie: but mine opposite will insist upon dark and figurative speeches; that men may be the more easily deluded. For how shall we prove against Papists, that the Pope is Antichrist; if we may not alleage the Popes owne doctrines and practises, which are contrary to Christ? Yea how shall we judge of any church, but by their owne Confessions published, and comparing them with the scripures? Wherefore the profession of Papists concerning their church, is a strong argument wherby they may be discovered to be none of Christs: & even the Cretian lyars testimonie against themselves, is true, as the Apostle noteth, Tit. 1. 12. 13.