Christs Victory Over the Dragon, Text (14 of 15)

Christs Victory Over the Dragon · Text (14 of 15)

p. 743Quest. What are these lewd daughters, bred up by prosperity?

Answ. 1. Forgetfulnesse of God. Worldly prosperity 1 Forgetfulnesse of God.and peace make both Churches and persons forgetfull of God. Hos. 13. 6. They were filled, and their hearts were exalted, and they forgat me Ier. 22. 21. I spake unto thee in thy prosperity, but thou saydst thou wouldst not heare: this hath beene thy manner from thy youth. The Prodigall never remembred his father, while he was in prosperity and riot. This danger the Lord well discerning in his owne people, straightly warneth them, that when they come into the land, and enjoy houses, vineyards, olives, and have eaten and are full, then to beware they forget not the Lord their God, Deut. 6. 11.

2 Pride against God, and forgetfulnesse of themselves. 2 Forgetfulnesse of themselves.Let prosperity once winne the heart, it fortifies it against God. Hence hath pride and ambition p. 744beene the bane of the purest Churches: and so incident to good men in their peace, as the disciples themselves shall affect hierarchy and Kingdome, and their own preferment at the right and left hand of Christ, in his supposed temporall kingdome. Now another mischiefe hangs hereupon; that the tops of these mountaines of pride are unfit for the herbes and flowers of grace, to root or grow upon: neither doe the raines of Gods grace stand upon these hills, but slide down into the vallies.

3 Effeminatenesse, softnesse, love of the world, 3 Effeminatenesse.delicacy, feare and slight of the crosse of Christ. For it is exceeding hard to have prosperity and not to love it: it is hard in the increase of riches, not to set our hearts on them: & most easily is the heart wonne from the God of heaven to the god of the world. The reason is, because we are naturally from earth, and carry a lumpe of earth in our hearts: and quickly fill up all our roumes and senses with it, our eyes, hands, eares, mouths, and all our naturall motion is that way. Againe, minding of earthly things must needs make men enemies to the crosse of CHRIST, as those in Phil. 3. 19.

4 Contention and strife for the holding and enjoying 4 Contention.of the present fulnesse and security, and a speciall resistance of those thac sticke closest to the simplicity of Christ and his Gospell, or any way touch upon that string. Ambitious Amazia will not suffer Amos to preach. And Diotrephes loving his preheminence riseth up against St. Iohn and the most faithfull Pastors.

By all which wee see, that as weeds grow abundantly Weeds grow abundantly in rank soyle.in ranke soyles, and without great care kill the herbes▪ even so many mischievous plants and weeds rise up in the fat grounds of prosperity, which seldome peepe out of the leane and barren grounds of persecution and tyranny.

p. 7452 As Satan is more frequent and dangerous in 2.these temptations of prosperity, so our selves are most easily foyled in these rather then in the other.

For the first, Satan is more dangerous in these: for as an enemie when he cannot overcome in a pitcht field, gets him to the woods and bushes, and there layes his ambushments, in which he is more dangerous then in open hostility, so Satan when he cannot by violence and open force conquer, by secret and bewitching allurements he gets an easie victory.

For the secōd: our-selves are more securely drawn and allured by the sweetnesse of prosperity, which, as a bewitching Delilah, hath more prevayled by sugred words and craft against many Sampsons, then by all the power of the Philistians. If prosperity came out against us with a bloody ensigne, or a flag of defiance, or with a dreadfull sword shaking in open hostility, our feare would be more, and our danger lesse. But it comes as Ioab, or Iudas; when it kisseth, it killeth: it killeth with kindenesse, and with the sweet poison of a cunning inchanted cup.

Which serves for refutation of Papists, who glorie Vse 1.in outward prosperity, as a note of the true Church: but by this text and our owne experience we see, that their prosperity is like Jaels milke, which hath brought them on a dead sleepe, as Sisera, whence they shall never awake without a mortall wound: Judg. 4. 12.Judg 4:12and like the dead sea, in which no life or living thing, no grace, no spirit, no spirituall worship is to bee found:

Likewise it reprooves the folly of carnall men, who wilbe acquainted with religion so farre as they may profit themselves and thrive by it. If godlinesse may be gainefull, and wisdome come with inheritance, they are forward and devoute: but if it will not stand with their state, ease, credit, and outward p. 744duplicate page p. 745duplicate page p. 746prosperity, either they forsake it with Demas, or with Demetrius persecute it. Heaven it selfe hath no content, because golden gaine and hurtfull prosperity powres not from thence.

2 Note hence how contrary our nature is Vse 2.to Gods: he by his infinite wisdome fetcheth good out of evill for us, but wee out of our folly su…ke evill of good. God gives us good gifts as sweet as hony, but we like spiders draw infection and poison from them. Lamentable it is how wee pervert all Gods gracious ends and aymes for our good. There be three chiefe ends, which the Lord aymeth at in raining downe the showres of good blessings and prosperity upon us, but we pervert them.

1 He expresseth his bountifulnesse to lead us to 3 Chiefe ends of prosperity perverted by our selves.repentance, Rom. 2, 4. Every benefit should be a meanes, yea Sermon of repentance. But we by hardnesse of heart that cannot repent, abuse them to hinder our selves from repentance, or to multiply that where of wee must repent. And no marvell if the wicked by their prosperity harden their own hearts, when the godly are in danger by others prosperity to harden themselves, as David, Psal. 73. 13, 14.

2 The Lord shineth upon us with the sunne of prosperity, that wee might rejoyce in the beames of his love, and serve him with more chearefulnesse and better hearts Deut. 28. 47. thou servedst not the Lord with joyfulnesse and a good heart for the abundance of all things. But wee use them as clouds to hide from us the light of the sunne, and hinder our sight from the beholding of his grace, being never lesse mindfull of him then when he is most mindfull of us.

3 The Lord affords outward prosperity to his servants, to bee by them occasioned and incouraged in goodnesse, to quicken them in the way, and to make p. 747by them better speed to heavenly habitations: Luke 16. 9. Make you friends of unrighteous Mammon, that they may receive you into heavenly Mansions: namely, not as causes, but witnesses of our salvation: But we make it as a dead sea, in which lives nothing, or as nailes to fasten our hearts to earth and earthly things; so as hardly and heavily are wee lifted up in heavenly meditation or conversation.

All this injoynes us,

First, to bewayle the vile corruption of our nature, 3. Rules of direction hereinwhich is so started away from God, with whom we had once a similitude and conformity.

Secondly, to watch it narrowly, being so slippery and prone to decline, even where it is most incouraged and fenced to the contrary.

Thirdly, to labour to correct it, and bring it backe the way it is gone from God: Keepe it straightly to Gods aymes and ends: For shall the Lord even by afflictions, ill in their nature, worke out our good in conversion, sanctification, and salvation, and shall wee be so contrary to him, as by his benefits set forward our owne damnation, as if the Lord intended to kill us with kindnesse?

3. If prosperity more bane the Church than adversity, Vse 3.then must wee be more watchfull in prosperity All our watch is little enough in prosperity.and peace, because then danger is nearer: For compare these two a little, and see, and say whether is more dangerous: For,

1. Prosperity usually is a beame in the eye, and Foure instances of the dangers of prosperity.shuts the eye of understanding, and closeth the eare from hearing counsell; whereas the rod and persecution openeth the shut eye, and the eare that was sealed, Iob 33. 16. For as the Sunne and dust doe hinder the sight, whereas a ruffling & stirring wind cleareth both the ayre and our eye; so the sunshine of prosperity fils the eyes of the minde with moates and dust, p. 748which suffers us not to discerne spirituall things so clearly, till God by some tempest cleare our sight, according to that, Vexation sharpeneth the sight: See I…r. 31. 18, 19.Vexatio dat intellectum.

2. Prosperity commonly makes men secure, naked, open to temptation; whereas persecution and tyranny makes them watchfull and armed, and fit to make resistance against sinne and assaults. David who could not be ouercome in his battels, but was humble, tender-hearted, chaste and conscionable, compiling holy Psalmes and prayers, full of gracious soliloquies, in his peace and rest was soone conquered, now must hee have Bathsheba, slay Vriah, in the pride of his heart send out Ioab to number his people, to see how hee could stand by his owne strength, and what great evill comes amisse? now hee is off his guard, and out of his strength, and as a City without wals.

Looke upon Hezekiah in his sicknesse, and see him a picture of humility, a patterne of piety, full of confessions, prayers, praises, and divine meditations, Esa. 38. But look on him recovered, and you shal see him glorying in his wealth, priding himselfe in his treasures, and confederating with enemies: for as a faire & hot summers day makes a man cast off his cloathes, whereas a cold storme or winde makes him fasten them unto him; even so it is incident to good men in the gleame of peace and rest to walke more loose, and at large; whereas a threatning storme will make them buckle themselves, and get their graces fast unto them

3. Prosperity makes men and Churches wanton, and unruly; as Israel is an untamed heifer, knows not his master, and leapes over all hedges, but adversity is as a thorny hedge, Hos. 2. to contain men in bounds, and hold them from excesse; Israel in affliction will p. 749returne to her first husband, considering it was then better with her then now. This made Augustine Jnselix Ecclesiae foelicitas. Magnae foelicitatis est a foelicitate non vin…i.truely terme it the Churches unhappy happinesse, and to conclude it a point of great felicity not to be overcome by worldly felicity.

4. How many of our owne experiences may awaken us, and hold us waking, suspicious of prosperity. Who ever saw the tree of grace grow in the fertile land of pleasure? Sodom was as Eden, the Garden of God; but what were the inhabitants? Who are they that receive the Gospell? not many wise, noble or rich, but poore ones, and weake ones, 1 Cor, 1. 26. Christs Kingdome is not of this world, his subjects are called out of the world, and at defiance with the world; Nay, his Kingdome is contrary to the kingdoms of the world, they rise by worldly prosperity, wealth, wisedome, power, but Christs by humility, passion, patience.

Who are the poorest among us in good works of mercy, piety, and charity, but those that most abound in wealth & superfluity? Dives cannot spare crums: Poore men that receive the Gospell can spare some mites to uphold the Word among them; but many of our great rich men can spare onelyonly disgrace, contempt, and, I doubt, would bee at some cost to get it away. I never knew man who would bee at no cost for the Word, but hee was willing to be at some cost against it. It is true of many great men, as we see true in the Mountaines, which the richer they are in metals and minerals within, the more barren and fruitlesse are they without; Even so men to whom God hath given the greatest meanes, are often most barren of good workes, because he hath not given them grace and will to use them aright.

How hardly shall a rich man be saved?

Who be they that leave Gods house most desolate p. 750and empty, but they who most curiously build and seale their owne houses? Hag. 1. 4. Poore men in towne and countrey can come with much travell to this exercise; rich mē many who have time & means to come with ease and pleasure, come not; because who are chosen to the end, are chosen to the meanes. Who bee they that are carryed to Popery and Idolatry from the truth, but great persons for the most part? and why so, but because it is a religion according to the flesh, a naturall religion, a libertine religion, that suites with mens corruptions, set up by carnall policy and power, and therefore carries away such as abound in worldly prosperity? Who exceed most in riot and excesse, but such as abound most in wealth and riches? And wee may generally conclude, Worldly prosperity hath made many worse, few or none better: If adversity hath slaine his thousand, prosperity hath slaine ten thousand.

4. This affords us some rules and directions for Vse 4.the ordering,

First, of our desires.

Secondly, of our conditions.

For the first: If God bid us (as he doth) aske what wee would have, and hee will give us our wish, as he did Salomon; let us aske (as hee did) wisdome before wealth or any outward prosperity; even that true wisdome with which God addes no sorrows: This is a gift which cannot bee turned to our bane, as all outward gifts may. In the prosperity of saving graces lie no snares, as there doe in all earthly prosperity, yea in all common graces: Christian wisdome teacheth to checke those excessive and covetous desires, which seeke and affect great things How to order our selves.in this world, as knowing that pathes washed in butter are slippery; and to say, Give me neither riches nor poverty, but things convenient.

p. 751For the second; the ordering of our estates.1. In prosperity be sober.

1. Of prosperity: If God please to add wealth to wisedome, as hee did to Salomon, wee must bee sober and abstinent, and learne to abound as well as to want, for this is an harder lesson to take out; but Phil. 4. 11.Phil 4:11not so hard as fruitfull. For as sobriety and abstinence in the middest of large provision preserveth bodily health, and helpes to free us of such diseases as come of fulnesse; so the sparing use of worldly comforts preserves the health of the soule, and keeps strength in grace and vertue, and preserves from corrupt humours of vice and sinne, which come of fulnesse and unwatchfulnesse.

2. Of adversity; If the Lord temper our prosperity 2. In adversity bee thankfull.with a sound measure of affliction, wee must on this ground,

1. Be thankfull; for all his workes are,Gods workes are all,

First, wise; in wisedome hee doth them all, unto which wee must subscribe, though wee see not 1. Wise.the reason of them: In wisdome hee appointed the way to Canaan, through a dry and barren wildernes, though Israel murmured at it: Yea, Christ himselfe, the wisdome of his Father, came from heaven, and best knew the way thither; and to shew us the right way, made choise rather of an afflicted then prosperous estate.

Secondly, seasonable; for he doth all in his appointed 2. Seasonable.time, in which every action is beautifull.

Thirdly, profitable to his Church; and therefore hee sends in afflictions like a cold frost, to nip in the 3. Profi…able.ranknesse of our soile, and so fit us to fruitful…es; and as a good Physitian sees it profitable to prescribe a spare diet to his surfetted Patient, so doth the Lord to his surfetted Church or servants: Therefore let us not in all this sinne with our mouthes, or change God foolishly.

p. 7522. Make no more haste out of afflictions than good speed; Gold is not presently pulld out of the fire, so soone as it is cast in, but must stay a while till it be purged: It is a safer state, though sowrer; as the three Children were safer in the furnace than out of it: Gold hath more cause to feare the rust, than the fire; and to us prosperity is more dangerous than adversity.

Verse 14. But to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle, that shee might flee into the wildernesse into her place, where shee is nourished for a time, and times, and halfe a time, from the face of the serpent.

AS the former Verse expresseth the furious assault of the dragon against the woman, so this declareth her happy evasion and escape, with the cause of her conservation, and that was her flight, and disappearing from the sight of men: For what should the poore woman doe, being not able to withstand so huge and fierce a beast and Monster?

Wee have seene how this woman stoutly withstood the bloody persecutions of the Imperiall Dragons, and never thought of flying; shee feared not sword, fire, Gibbet, nor the most exquisite torments of the fiercest tyrants, but the more shee was persecuted, the more glorious shee was, and shined in surpassing brightnesse of holy doctrine and life. We have heard what an happy victory and triumph shee hath carryed against all those bloody and open enemies.

But now the dragon turning himselfe into another shape, and unto another stratagem, under the profession of Christ furiously opposing Christ; when by the clouding & vailing of the truth of the Gospel, she saw p. 753her selfe spoyled of the shining clothing of the Sun; when shee saw the Moone, that was under her feet, set above her head; when now her Pastors and Bishops, whom persecution could not conquer, were addicted to pompe, wealth, contention, primacy, and greatnesse; when now she saw her selfe robbed of her crowne of twelve starres, that was upon her head, and those starres were fallen from their Orbe and Firmament; when her Pastors, forsaking Apostolike doctrine, and striving for superstitions, and to stuffe the Church with humane devises and traditions, in stead of Christs most sacred institutiōs; when she saw that not now the bodies of men were slain and wounded, as in former persecutions, but their soules and consciences were everlastingly wounded with heresies, errours, and Apostasie for the truth; now shee flies into the wildernes, now she dares not shew her face in those particular cōgregations, in w^ch formerly her beauty & glory was conspicuous: her case now is as of a chaste spouse, who seeing a painted harlot and a bewitching whore taken into her place, and those offices of love, and duties of marriage bestowed on her, which is the wives right, shee is willing to give place, and take her selfe to a solitary and sorrowfull life, to be so unkindly cast off; so doth the true Church and Spouse of Christ hide her selfe from those adulterate doctrines, superstitions, and Idolatries, which thrust out Christs owne pure Ordinances.

Here are two things:

1. What is this flight.

2. What are the meanes.

For the flight.

1. This flight of the Church is not a ceasing to bee, Foure conclusions to understand aright what is this flight.but to be seene; for Christ will have alwayes a true part of his Catholike Church upon earth, that shall hold and professe constantly the true faith without p. 754change. So as the Church ceaseth not to bee, when shee ceaseth to bee seene, but hath a true being when she is least visible.

2. This ceasing to bee seene is not in respect of particular Christians, but of particular Congregations; the which although they may cease, because by persecution or heresie the externall government may faile for a time, the Pastors may be interrupted, the sheepe may bee scattered, the discipline hindered, and the externall exercise of religion suspended, and sincerity of religion exceedingly corrupted, yet there shall not cease to bee many godly members dispersed here and there, who shall hold the truth for substance; and so now, though there were no or few assemblies, in which God was purely worshipped, while superstition, tyranny and Idolatry usurped all places, yet many beleeving Christians were reserved to Christ in secret, although either not knowne, or of no reckoning in the world, but contemned and oppressed.

3. This ceasing to be seen in particular Christians is not inrespect of their persons, as men, which are as visible as ever, but in respect of the visible exercise of Gods Ordinances, of the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and outward forme and government, which persecution had now restrained.

4. This invisibility in respect of visible exercises, is not in regard of the Christians themselves, but of the blinde world; for the persecuted Christians may have a secret knowledge among themselves, and a secret profession and exercise of religion, and yet the blinde world take no notice of thē; & yet the Church not destroyed, nor ceaseth to bee, no more than the Sunne ceaseth to shine, though a blinde man cannot see it in the day, nor a seeing man in the night, and no more than a man ceaseth to bee a man, because he is hid.

p. 755Now from the cause of this invisibility and flight, Observ.learne that errour and heresie is more hatefull to the Heresie is more hatefull to the Church than tyranny.Church than persecution and tyranny: Corruption of doctrine, and changing the truth into a lie, more straightneth and scattereth the Church than sword and torments of tyrants: that drives the the Church to her winges, not this; that manifests the true Church and members, but this hideth and obscureth her.

Let the example of the Church make us wise,Vse.

1. To feare the dragon more when hee fawneth Nobis melius visum …st, locum mutare, quàm fidei veri…atem; aedifici…ru…que & … amaenitatem amittere, &c.than when he rageth, more in his Foxes skinne, than in his Lyons skinne; He is more dangerous when he would teach Christians to deny the truth, than when he would force them: His wiles are more mischievous than his violence, his Doctors more dangerous than his Captaines.

2. More to feare losse of truth, than losse of wealth; Hier. Ripariolosse of the Gospell than losse of goods or life. This is true godlinesse which teacheth Mary to fasten upon the good part, whatsoever become of the worse.

3. Hold him that would spoyle us of the truth, a greater robber than him that would steale our goods, an heretike worse than a tyrant.

4. Be more carefull to hold the truth, and keepe our part in the Gospell, than our portion of goods and wealth: The Church to hold the truth, chuseth a poore, desolate, solitary and sorrowfull estate; and a wise Merchant will sell all to buy the pearle.

But where is this care, or where bee the Children of this mother, who for the truth sake would follow her into the wildernesse, who either care for the presence of truth, or feare the losse and removall of it? Where be the buyers of the truth in this age, when so many value it not worth a shoo-string? How few p. 756feare the prevailing of Popery for the truth sake, though perhaps for their peace sake, or wealth sake they had rather have things stand at a stay?

Now in the meanes of the womans deliverance are five things in this verse.

1. The meanes themselves, two great wings of an Eagle.

2. Whence shee did flie with them, from the face of the serpent.

3. Whither, into the wildernesse, called her place.

4. To what end, to bee no…rished and preserved there.

5. How long, for a time, times, and halfe a time.

In the first are,

1. What these wings are.

2. The number.

3. Whence she had them, they were given her.

4. The similitude, wings of a great Eagle.

By Wings are meant the speciall meanes of the Churches escape from danger; so called, because What these wings are.they resemble the wings of the birds in a twofold use.

First, as a bird by his wings flyeth swiftly from the danger, and so saveth his life, even so the Lord by these meanes, foreseene and appointed by himselfe, worketh a swift escape and speedy safety in the present perils of his Church.

Secondly, as the bird hideth her young under her wing, Mat. 23. 37. so by and under these meanes the Lord hideth his Church, as under the wings of his Providence, where she lyeth most safe and secure till the danger be over, Psalme 91. 8. Hee shall cover thee under his wings.

p. 757For the number, they are two: enough to fly withall: The number of them.no bird hath or needeth more for her flight. The Church is supplyed with as many meanes of her good, as the Lords wisdome seeth her need to require at all times. This number of two hath set many wits on worke, to tel us what they be. But they agree not, nor can, seeing the meanes of the Churches safety are infinite. Some define them to be faith and patience, which lift her from earth to heaven. Some say they are the two Testaments, the Old and the New, in which the Churches defence lyeth. Some say they are the two Tables, containing love of God, and of our neighbour. Some, that the one is the wing of prayer, the other of charity. Some, that the one is the contempt of earth, and the other the aspiring to heaven. But we need not be so acute: and, if wee should settle upon any two things, wee should perhaps misse the minde and ayme of the holy Spirit of God, as most of these must needs do. The likelyest (if we would restraine the number, and conceive it definite) were, the providence of God protecting, and his oracles directing the woman in this speedie flight. But the number is definite for indefinite; and two in this place, for the propriety of the subject, and metaphore: For, for a bird to have more wings then two, or fewer then two, to fly withall, were harsh and improper. Not that wee are not to conceive more meanes of Gods providence, and the Churches safety, then two: for these two wings are the same with the seven pipes serving to the lamps, Zech. 4. 2. alluding to the pipes of the candlesticke, which were seven, of which he speaketh in that place: and as the number of seaven aptly agreeth with that allusion, so onelyonly the number of two aptly agreeth with this.

p. 758But whence had the Woman these things? Whence she had them.They were given her. The text implyeth two things.

First, That the Church had no wings of her owne: all her safety and defence is layd out of herselfe: as a weake woman can make small shift for herselfe against such an army of dragons.

Secondly, Though it be not sayd, who gave her the wings, yet it is implyed they were given of God: for he is the father of lights, from whom commeth every good gift: and, he that prepared her the place, vers. 6. prepared her wings to flye to it: &, with him onelyonly is counsell and strength; he onelyonly can afford meanes of escape and evasion; he stretcheth out his strong and oculate providence, as two wings, the feathers of which are the truth and faith of his promise, sealed and delivered by the hand of his Two Witnesses; and thus he saveth her.

Lastly, for the similitude: wings of a great Eagle. So many phrases in this booke, so many mysteries. Here is an allusion to Exod. 19. 4. you have seene how I have caryed you on Eagles wings, and brought you unto me. By those Eagles wings someunderstand Moses & Aaron, their leaders: but they themselves also were carryed upon these wings. By them is meant the powerful meanes of opening a way in the sea, rayning Manna from heaven, breaking a rocke for water, covering them with a cloud by day and night, &c.

In this text these wings of a great eagle note to Wings of a great Eagle note 4. things.us 4. things:

1 As the eagle out of her love to her young ones fluttereth and steareth them out of the neast to a safer place, when she feares danger: so the Lord for the love of his Church, in danger urgeth her out of her neast and rest, and leads her into a safer place, in p. 759the wildernesse; Christ out of Iudea, Israel out of Egypt.

2 As the eagle having gotten her young ones forth, when they begin to fly, supports them with her wings, lest they should fall, Deut. 32. 11. so the Lord supports his Church in her flight from falling, carefully seeing to her that she take no hurt.Psal. 37. 24.Ps 37:24

3 As an eagle, especially a great eagle, hath strong wings, agill, and able to carry her in a strong flight, to flye farre from danger: so the Lord in the needs of his Church provides some great and powerfull meanes, and by them as by strong wings sets his Church beyond al the reach of hurt and danger, Thus Nebucad-nezzar a great man is called a great eagle with great and long wings, and full of feathers, fit to accomplish GODS word against Zedekiah, Ezeck. 17. 2.

4 As the eagle flyeth high aloft in the aire, and beyond all sight of men, by the length and strength of her wing: so the Lord drawes his Church neare unto him, from out of the sight of men, and neare Heaven, and the nearer him the further from danger.

Observ. 1. God who could save the woman by his word, without wings, doth not ordinarily save God ordinarily saveth his Church by wings and meanes.her but by wings. For Gods providence excludes not, but includes meanes of safety. Moses must be saved from the waters to be a Deliverer, but he must be put into a basket, pitcht and prepared for him. They in the ship (Act. 27.) must be saved from drowning, but they must abide in the ship, and then some on plankes, some on boards and pieces of the ship came safe to land. Exod. 15. 25. God could have sweetned the bitter waters with a word: but Moses must cast in a piece of wood to sweeten them. He could have divided the sea, and dryed the way by p. 760his strong word, but doth it by a strong East winde.

Which teacheth us not to neglect the meanes appointed by God for our good: for God who tyeth not himselfe to wings, tyeth the woman to use them when he pleaseth to afford them. Hezekiah must be healed by a lumpe of dry figs. Nature teacheth, that he that would reape, must sow; he must eate, that must live; and he must fight that would have victory. So grace teacheth, that he that would reape one harvest in glory, must sow the seed of grace in the seedtime: and he that would live eternally, must feed on Christ by hearing, reading, beleeving, and obeying his word: and he that would be crowned, must strive lawfully.

Observ. 2. The Woman having no wings of her The Church hath wings and meanes sufficient to avoyd danger. 3. reas.owne, hath wings given her of God: which teacheth, that the Church and members of it shall have wings sufficient to avoyd all hurtfull danger in due season. For

1 Our text saith God will afford two, sufficient for escape, and, wings of an eagle, to fly swiftly and make a speedy escape, and, wings of a great eagle, to fly strongly, and aloft, and far from danger.

2 Gods presence is not an idle presence with his people, but he is present to save; Ier. 30. 11. I am with thee, to save thee.

3 The Arke was a type of the Church, and that was all and alwaies covered with wings of Cherubins; signifying the divine protection alwaies watching and covering the Church, and spreading his wings over the faithfull, to repell any harme, further then he will turne any evill to his owne glory and his Churches good. For wee must know, that all promises run with exception of the crosse: and God in his wisdome doth not alwayes give to every member of the Church wings to fly from externall p. 761tyranny and persecution, but dealeth as a good husband man with his corne, some he sends to mill to grind, but some he reserves for seed; so the Lord appoints some of his servants (as Ignatius) to the mill; I am, saith he, the Lords wheat, and now I must be ground with the teeth of Lions, to become good bread; but others are reserved for succession and growth. So as the Church and her members shall not want wings for safety, if God see it not better or fitter for them to be throughly tryed for his glory and their salvation: and then, if they be not saved from the danger, they are saved in it, and by it.

Use. 1. It serves for the consolation of Gods people 4 Grounds of cōfort hence.in the midst of so many dangerous difficulties.

1 The dragon may create the woman trouble, so as she shall want no molestation for a time: but he cannot hinder her from wings, to make an escape: seeing God hath undertaken she shall not want seasonable deliverance.

2 If wee want wings of our owne, or our wings want strength, the Lord lookes on our weaknesse, and, as an eagle, puts under his wing to sustaine us. Thinke on this in sickenesse, weakenesse, wants, &c.

3 These wings of God cannot be clipped, shortned, weakened, or broken off: which is a sure stay in all the affronts against the Church by Antichristian forces, who, if they could get the Church from under these wings of God, would soone effect their exploits: but as soone must Christ fayle, as his Church: his death, and passion and all should then be in vaine.

4 These wings greatly comfort the Church in Gods deliverance implyed to be▪danger, by implying the quality or properties of Gods deliverance: as,

1 It is speedy, as having long and large wings: p. 7621 Speedy.what speed was made in Israels deliverance out of Aegypt, when they came out all in one day, and all Aegypt in one day sunke and was drowned?

2 It is unresistable: these eagles wings carry the 2 Unresistable.Church through all hazards, and enemies, beyond all reach of danger or dart; as if the eagle had her young above the clouds and sight of men. Thus the Lord caryed Israel through the wildernesse beyond all hazards and enemies on all sides, as if no enemie had seene them. Thus the Lord caryed the Arke through a world of waters, waves, windes, rockes, mountaines, as if there had beene no danger at all.

3 It is most comfortable: for besides the safety 3 Cōfortable.that the wing of the hen affordeth from injurie of weather and the birds of prey, how doth the wing cherish and refresh and strengthen the birds under it, keeping them warme from cold and chillinesse? the same comforts do the Lords wings of protection afford to his children.

Use. 2. This serves for instruction.

1 Acknowledge that all the wings which the Woman hath for her preservation are from the Lord, and a free gift of his mercy. Psal. 3. ult. Salvation is the Lords: and besides him is no Saviour. He is not only the Sonne in the peace of the Church, but the sheild in her trouble, Psal. 84. If then we have meanes of good, ascribe them and the glory of them to God; not to our owne industry, policy, forecast, or endeavours. Neither have Saints, Angells, Prophets, Apostles, Virgins, Martyrs, any wings for us to hide us under. But this point we prosecuted at large in the beginning of the tenth verse.In all dangers to fly under the shadow of these wings.

2 In all our dangers to fly under the shadow of these wings: as David prayed, Psal. 17. 8. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings: For4. …eas.

First, Here is a strong and sure hold for safety: the p. 7631.name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run Pr…v. 18. 10.to it & are saved: no power can scale it, no stratagem can win it,

Secondly, other creatures being pursued fly to 2.their dennes and neasts in earth, but the Churches hiding place is in heaven. Psal. 32. 7.

Thirdly, God therefore acquaints his children 3.with dangers, to chase them under his wing: for as the henne sometimes calls the chickes, but they come not, but if a kite or hawke be above them, then they run under her; even so never do the Saints more desirously runne under these wings, then when they are most frighted by wicked men. Iacob, afraid of Esa…, runs under them. David, pursued by Saul, runnes apace under them, and composeth that Psalme, Ne perdas. Psal. 57. 2. In the shadow of thy wings will I trust, till these stormes be overpast.

Fourthly, God therefore gives us experience of the 4.comfort of these wings, that wee should run under them, and do as the chicks, who finding the comfort and cherishing of the wings, still run under them. Psal. 36. 8. Oh how great is thy goodnesse! therefore the sonnes of men trust in the shadow of thy wings: and Psal. 61. 5. Because thou hast beene my refuge, I will seeke protection under thy wings. Have wee in the Church and Land had such experienced safety under the wing of God, against the Spaniards in 88. in the gunpouder treason, in the safe and happy returne of our Prince, in all which wee were given as lost? let us still run under the same wings.

3 Though wee see not wings presently, to escape danger and trouble, yet let us depend upon the Lord who in due time will supply them. Abraham had them not till the third day, nor saw them till he was in the Mount, even in his deepest triall, and then the Lord gave him wings of deliverance. Israel saw p. 764no wings till he was in the bottome of the Sea, and in the deeps, and then the Lord afforded these two wings of a great Eagle for their deliverance. Seest thou no meanes as yet? wayte still: perhaps thou art not yet deepe enough: but in the deepest sorrows wings shalbe supplyed. Ionas sees none in the deepe till the third day, nor our Lord himselfe the true Ionas.

4 Be sure that all the wings and meanes of safety Be sure that thy wings be given thee of God.bee given thee of God, that they be lawfull, warrantable, and good: be sure they be allowed and ordained of God: for he gives no other. Be able to say as Abraham to his sonne, My sonne, God will provide a sacrifice. If we want wings, Satan would have us make stones bread. Esau wanting wings will make himselfe a paire, by selling the birthright for present maintenance. Saul wants wings of escape, and provides them from the witch of Endor, and from her takes advice and helpe. Nay Peter in the sight of Christ, if he want wings to fly out of danger, will make him two wings to save himselfe by, by denying and forswearing his Master, Gehezi will get wings by lying and deceiving: and so do many Tradesmen: But these wings are not given of God, but of the devill.

Against all such unjust and impious meanes wee must hold the resolution of those godly men; If the Lord should forsake us, wee will not do this; I will not seeke to the devill, nor to the witch; I will never owne the wings and meanes which come by lying, swearing, deceiving, Sabbath-breaking; I will use the wings of faith and confidence, of prayer and patience, the wings of piety and holinesse, and these weake wings of mine shall leane upon the strong wing of God, til his appointed time and deliverance come.

p. 7655 Learne, when it is lawfull to fly in persecution; Then we may fly persecutiō when we have wings from God.namely, when God hath given wings to fly withall: but the woman must not fly before she have wings. When thou hast wings, thou mayest use them.

Quest. How shall wee get wings to fly from 4 Rules to obtaine them.danger?

Answ. 1. Become Eagles, and you shall have 1.Eagles wings: so Christ calleth the godly, Luk. 17. 37 Eagles.

First, To fly aloft, and lift up our neasts, even in Job. 39. 30.Job 39:30the rocke: converse and dwell in heaven, and there hide our selves.

Secondly, To be of sharpe and strong sight, to see our meat a farre off, to fetch the promises from farre and feed on them as present, to behold Gods face in Christ, cleared as the sunne in his strength, by the Eagle-eye of our Faith:

Thirdly, Not to be wearie of flying, or faint in wayting, but renew our strength as the Eagle, Psal. 103. and goe and grow from strength to strength:

Fourthly, Where the body is, thither to resort, Luk. 17. 37. follow after Christ, and frequent the places and meanes where he is preached, fly after him by holy thoughts and desires, ascending to heaven where he is.

2 To get wings to fly danger; be sure of a commandement 2.and warrant, as Ioseph for the safety of Christ, his wife, and himselfe, Mat. 2. and as Elias, fly for thy life into the wildernesse, when thou art sent. First, heare that voice, Get out of her my people; and that, Esa. 26. 20. Get thee into the chamber, my people, till the storme be over.

3 Fly to God by earnest prayer. He that wanteth 3.wings to fly to God, wanteth wings to fly danger. First get the wings of a Dove to fly to GOD, p. 766and then shalt thou get the wings of an Eagle, Psal. 55. 6.

4 Fly from sin by the wings of repentance and godly sorrow. Thus Iohn Baptist commanded the Jewes to fly from judgment to come, Mat. 3. 7, 8. This is the way to fly present wrath: else thy flight will be to little purpose: flying frō a Lyon thou meetest with a Beare, and it is like the flight of Amaziah, 2 King. 14, 19. who fled, but death met him in his flight.

From the presence of the dragon.]

This is the second generall in the verse.

Quest. How can the woman fly from him, whose throne is in al places, being the god of the world, and himselfe every where compassing the whole earth? And if she fly any where among wicked men, it is but to fly from the divel to the devill, her state is not bettered. Besides, is she so swift to fly, that the divell cannot overtake her?

Answ. This flight from the dragon is not in respect The flight from the dragon is in respect of state not of place.of place and bodily motion, but in respect of state and condition: so as here wee must not understand a change of place, but a change of condition and ornaments.

2 It is not an absolute avoyding of the dragons presence: for both he and his army ever compasse the Saints; but it is respective, namely, from his deadly power in persecuting; as when the power of tyrants is so restained, that they cannot reach and overtake the Saints, to murther and destroy them, as formerly in the dayes of heathen Emperors.

3 The woman could never fly from Satans temptation or molestation, but by this flight might & did avoyd the serpents face, that is, open persecution and tyranny, as Paul was saved from the mouth of the Lion Nero. 2 Tim. 4. 17.

p. 767The sense then is, that the Church was now more safe from open persecution and oppression than before, called here the face of the dragon; as they that fled out of Jerusalem, (Act. 8. 1.) fled not from the temptation of the devill, but from the reach of the high Priests.

Object. But you say that the Text and this flight is to bee understood of the times of Antichrist; and was there ever more horrible spoyle and tyrannie against the Saints and faithfull Christians than all that time? was ever the dragons face more furious than in Antichristian religion, which never met with any godly man of any degree, whom they spared?

Answ. Antichristianisme being contrary to Christianity, must bee most cruell and fierce, as that is most meeke and peaceable; so was it ever an Apollyon, and destroyer of Gods Saints; but,

First, not in open profession of hostility against Christ, as the Imperiall dragons; the Antichristian dragon is as fierce, but he hides his face, and under a colourable pretext and profession of Christ, destroies Christ and Christian profession; Antichrist comes not like a Turk, with a flag of defiance against Christ, but like an Herodian, pretending his worship, intendeth his murther.

Secondly, for the time of the blacknesse of Popery, though they persecuted to death all the Professors of the true religion, whom God had set out in the severall ages to witnesse his truth, and to confirme the rest of the Saints, yet the Lord hid most of the Saints from their rage and fury; the intentions of Antichristian enemies were bloody and tyrannous, but the Lord by preserving his Church, caused them to faile in execution, because hee kept them from the face and knowledge of the dragon, and saved them from the mouth of the Lyon; experience hereof was p. 768manifest in Queene Maries dayes, in the Massacre of 1572▪ and Gunpowder treason.

Into the wildernesse.

Hither doth the woman flie; and it is called her The third generall in this verse.place, appointed her by God for her safety. Of this wildernesse wee have spoken at large, Verse 6. and will now onelyonly note this lesson; that the woman, The true Church is not alwayes glorious, but alwayes Observ.safe.Church not alwayes seen. Ecclesia aliquando in uno Abelo, in uno Enocho, in uno Noacho, in uno Abrahamo. Aug.

She is not alwayes glorious and externally conspicuous to the world: For sometime she is hid in the wildernesse, in an afflicted and sorrowfull condition; Was not the Church hid and obscure, when as cleare an eye as Elias could not see it, yet were 7000. reserved? was shee not hid and inglorious in Christs time, in a few obscure persons, Ioseph, Mary, Simeon, a few shepheards, fishers, women, Publicanes, and other meane & despised persons, persecuted, excōmunicated by the Priests, Scribes, Pharises and Elders of the people? Was not the Church obscure under the heathen Emperours: when the Pastors were slaine, the Churches spoiled, the Scriptures of God burned, no Christian suffered to live? no sooner was any knowne, but accused; no sooner accused, but condemned and executed.

In the ages next to them, the whole world wondred to see it selfe so suddenly become an Arrian, a…d that there were in the world scarce five Catholike Bishops, who durst shew themselves in that age; Where was now the glory of the Church? Hilary a Bishop in France, living in those times, about Delituit i… cavernis, non eminuit in primarijs sedibus. Cont. Auxent.the yeare 370 tels us where then we might finde the Church: If any would finde the Church, (saith hee) it must not bee in houses, Temples, Cities, but in prisons, p. 769Mountaines, Dennes, Desarts and Caves of the earth.

But shee is alwayes safe: for,But alwayes safe, foure Reasons.

First, if shee cannot be safe in the City, shee shall bee safe in the wildernesse: God provideth a safe place for her.1

Secondly, the purpose of God for the safety of the 2Church cannot bee altered or abrogated by all the enterprises of the enemies; for his counsell must stand; and therefore let Pharaoh slay all the infants beside, Moses must bee preserved alive by his owne daughter, in his owne bosome, to be a Deliverer, the onelyonly thing hee would prevent: Let Herod slay all the infants under two yeares old, hee shall misse of him whom he seekes.

Thirdly, Gods high account of his Church makes her alwayes safe, as the signet on his hand, as the Apple 3of his eye: the Church is as the Lords wheat (saith Augustine) and shall be kept in the Lords Granary: If Aegypt bee not a safe place for Moses, he appoints him Midian to flie into: If Iudea bee not safe for the childe, he shall bee safe by a flight into Aegypt (a wildernesse in comparison) till the appointed time. Athanasius, who dyed in the yeare 390. speaking of those that were hid from the persecutions of those times, said, The childe was preserved whom Herod sought Servatus etc puerulus ille, quem Herodes int…rfiere volebat. Oral. 1. contrato destroy.

Fourthly, Gods wisdome makes it healthfull for the Church sometime to bee hid, that shee may alwayes bee safe; for else the whole world would Arian.fall upon her all at once, and utterly destroy her.4

Which serves to remove the brag of the Papists Vse.concerning their Church, and their brand and scandalous imputation against ours.

For their Church they prove it the true Church, because they have had a perpetuall externall splendor, p. 770and a continuall glorious visibility, and a true noted and famous succession of Pastors and Professors since Christs Ascension till this day. To which I answer two things.

1. It is false, that the Romish Church hath held The Popish Chuch hath no true succession of doctrine nor persons.a true succession, either in doctrine or persons; for two Reasons,

First, because there is no part of Popery, wherein it dissenteth from the Reformed Churches, which is neare the age of Christ and his Apostles, but came in by patches and pieces many hundred yeares after, and some points very lately, till the whole Antichristian Chaos, and confused body was made up: I might instance in their Latine Service, Transubstantiation, Communion in one kinde, worshipping of Images, prohibition of Ministers marriage, and the patching together of the severall shredds of the Masse, with a number of other new devises, cōfessed by themselves to stand onelyonly by the Churches constitution, and not by authority of the Scripture.

Secondly, as that argues their doctrine not successive from the Apostles, so they have no true personall succession from them: For there was not a Papist in the world for the space of sixe hundred yeares after Christ, nor any Father, Councell or learned man in all those ages, who held the same points of Popery as now these doe: This hath Bishop Iewell unanswerably discovered in 27. points, and Master Perkins in thirty nine, in his learned Probleme against Iodo…us Coccius.

2. Another thing I answer to their bragg, is, that if it were true as they say of such perpetuall glory and visibility, then could they not more strongly conclude themselves a false Church, seeing the true Church of Christ must flie into the wildernesse many hundred yeares from the fury of Antichrist; unlesse p. 771they can make it appeare, that a perpetuall glorious externall splendor, a perpetuall visible head, Neither can such a visible perpetuall successiō stand with so many schismes in the Papacy: 30. averred by Onuph…ius, 26▪ confessed by Bellar…ine.and the most domineering Monarchy in all the world comporteth with the abject, desolate and retyred estate of the wildernesse, a place full of annoyance, wants, obscurity and solitarinesse.

For their brand and challenge of our Church, that wee cannot derive the pedigree of our religion beyond Luther, nor shew where it was, nor the names and persons of any that professed it: To this I answer, 1. with Tertullian, Quod antiquissimum, verissimum; That which is indeed ancientest, is of all other the truest; and wee hold our religion from the ancient Patriarkes, Prophets, and Apostles, therefore it is the true religion, and hath a true succession in doctrine, and consequently of persons (suppose wee could not name them) because it is the religion and faith of the woman in the wildernesse, which sometimes Antichristian tyranny suffred her not openly to professe: she flyeth into the wildernesse, according to Gods Word, to hold and preserve it to all succeeding ages.

Object. But if you have so true a succession, why doe not you name them.

Answ. This miserable shift of the Jesuites apparently The late miserable shift of Romanists.argues the desperatenesse of their cause, and is like a Crayfish, which hath more picking than meat; a very tricke and triviall inconsequence, to call us from the cause whereof they are weary, unto persons; as if wee had no sounder arguments for the truth of GOD, and verity of our religion, then from mens testimony and succession: We know, that if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; and professe as the Samaritans to the woman▪ We beleeve not our religion for any mans word, or any womans, or because any p. 772hee-Pope or shee-Pope saith it is so, or contrary, but because wee have heard Christ himselfe speaking in the Scriptures. Wee take our religion as wee take gold, not onelyonly or chiefly by the sound, but by the touchstone and ballance; and we have learned in our Creed, to beleeve the Catholike Church, though wee see it not.

And because contraries make one another more perspicuous, I would aske them, whether wee may not beleeve that the Towre of Babel was built, unlesse wee could name all the persons that brought Brick or Lime to it, all the Masons, all the labourers, and workmen that were upon it; or whether wee may not beleeve, that a tree is growne, unlesse wee know the person, the name, the particular time and houres of the planting, sprowting, and growing of it: Doubtlesse, if wee did not know when, and by what degrees, or by what persons and workmen their Romish Babel is built and reared, yet wee see and must beleeve that it is built. And suppose wee did not know (which in most essentiall differences wee doe) the persons, nor the very period of the time when every branch of the tree of Antichristian heresie did begin to sprout and bud out; yet our eyes see, and we must beleevè, that the tree is deepe rooted, large spred, and growne tall and thicke: And were it not most absurd, that matter of divine truth must not be beleeved, unlesse wee can name all men that ever spake or beleeved it?

But to hold them to short and manifest reason, I conclude in this forme; Whatsoever Church hath a true succession of doctrine from Christ and his Apostles, hath also a true and perpetuall succession of persons, whether that succession bee visible and nominable, or no: But wee have true succession of doctrine from Christ and his Apostles, as by the Scripture p. 773wee are ready to cleare in all points; and therefore wee have true succession of persons, whether wee can name them or not: By which reason wee bring them backe to the matter and cause, whence they are willing to slide, by bringing us unto persons.

2. I answer: If wee were not so able, as by Gods grace we are, to answer them calling for names, this were not to bee laid to the charge of our religion, but of theirs; seeing the craft and tyrannie of their Antichristian Synagogue hath made our search more laborious: For they have chased the Church into the wildernesse, and forced her to hide her selfe out of sight, and then aske us for all those names that fled into the wildernesse, and lived, and dyed there many hundred yeares since: They burne the persons and records, and then call us to account to shew them their murders: They oppressed their persons as heretikes, and suppressed their workes as hereticall, and used all cruelty and craft to extinguish their names and memories for ever, and now shamelesly they call upon us to put life into all those asnes, whose blood their cruell hands have spilt upon the face of the whole earth: And whereas the names which they call for, are to bee had out of history, themselves by falsification of all Antiquity and story, and by shamelesse purging of all bookes from all truth which might make against them, have made this taske more difficult, and themselves not more insolent than fraudulent.

3. I answer; that there was never any age since Christ, wherein our religion (in what it is substantially contrary to Popery) was not taught and professed, & must needs bee more ancient than the now Roman faith, yea, the only true Catholike faith, from which theirs is a Catholike Apostasie.

p. 774This assertion they have proved abundantly:

1. By Doctor White in his Way to the Church, Digress. 52. where hee hath cleared, that from the yeare 600. (before which there was no substantiall or fundamentall innovation received into the Church, though some corruptions were creeping in before) till the present age, there was no halfe age wherein hee nameth not sundry the Teachers and Professors of our religion, and resisters of the Papacie while it was in the shell. Mee thinkes the Jesuites should answer something to those names, before they call for more.

2. The same is further cleared by one of themselves; whose witnesse is the stronger, because it was the testimony of an enemy and Inquisitor, as is judiciously noted by that learned and worthy Bishop, Doctor Vsher, in his booke de statu Ecclesiae, cap. 6. pag. 151.

There were (saith Reinerius the Inquisitor) many sects of heretikes in times past, but none ever were more pernicious to the Church of God, than that of the Waldenses, or pooremen of Lions, for three causes.

1. Because of the continuance of it; sor some say it was from Sylvesters time, and some say it was from the Apostles themselves.

2. Because it was more generall, for there is almost no land, wherein it doth not spread and creepe.

3. Because all other, by some foule blasphemy against God, make men abhorre them, but this hath a great shew of piety; for they live justly before men, and beleeve all well concerning God, and all the Articles which are contained in the Creed; onelyonly they blaspheme and hate the Roman Church, and the multitude is easily drawne to beleeve them.

p. 775This is the testimony of a Popish Inquisitor; Whence I inferre thus:

If these men held the whole body of religion now maintained in the Reformed Churches, and the same positions against the Roman religion, which wee doe, (as is undeniable by their Confessions, Catechismes, and Commentaries upon the grounds of religion; manifest, as else where, so especially in that late and worthy booke intituled, Luthers fore-runners, or The history of Waldenses, strangely reserved by God for these times; the same also is apparent in the Articles objected against them by the Inquisitors, set downe by Papists themselves, and for which these godly Martyrs lost their lives by hundreds and thousands)

If they were so ancient as from the Apostles, or Sylvester. (a circumstance not to bee contemned;) If they were of such just life and sound beliefe, as the enemy reports them to bee; If they were so many in number, and so dispersed into all Countries, and Fox. 211.so assisted, as none durst stop them, for the multitude of their favorites: If Reinerius himselfe say true, that himselfe being often in the Inquisition, and present at their examination, found forty Churches in his walke infected with that sect; and in one Parish of Cammach were ten open schooles of them; If at one time were observed eight hundred thousand persons that made profession of the faith of the Waldenses.Morellmemorials pag. 54. out of the story of Waldens.

I would now aske a Jesuite, whether his fellow hath not named him persons enough in all ages, of pag. 11.such as ever since Christ held and maintained, and sealed with their blood our faith and religion; And whether any credit is henceforth to bee given to his fellowes, who say that our religion was never heard of in the world till Luther, and was but sixe p. 776yeares old when King Edward the sixt dyed; but every thing is nourished by that, whereof it is bred; and their religion being a compact of lies, must bee upheld by lying whereof it is framed.

4. I answer: There was never any age since Christ, in which the Popes Headship, the maine pillar of Popery, hath not beene resisted as hereticall, and contrary to Orthodoxe religion: The Jesuites have names enough in that learned booke of Doctor Crakenthorpe, entitled, Of the Popes temporall Monachy; who, as if hee had intended to prevent the Papists unreasonable demaund of names, hath cleared by many names in every Century since Christ, that the Popes temporall authority was resisted, and by whom, and that the sandy foundation of it, namely, the pretended donation of Constantine, is but a fiction, and a trick of a false finger, by which Popery hath beene, through outfacing, supported a long time. I need hold no Candle to this Torch, onelyonly I wish the Jesuites to answer those names, before they call for more, or else they must goe shorter by the head.

5. There was never any age since Christ in which the Pope was not detected and proclaimed to bee Antichrist; before his appearing, implicitè, and after it, explicitè and expresly. This I have ready to prove Monarchomac. pag. 23.by names in al ages since Christ, in way of cōfutation of a Jesuites booke sent to mee to review, who impudently affirmeth, that Luther was the first that called the Pope absolutely Antichrist.

1. The Church is ever safe as the Arke on a world of waters, Christ is the Pilot.Vse 2.

2. None can take her out of his hands, Iohn 10. he is stronger than all.

3. He knowes who are his, and where, and how to deliver them.

p. 7774 Quod inimici in perniciem machinantur, deus Aug. Epist. 105. ad Sixtum.convertit in adjutorium: feare not the tumults of Princes nor Antichristian forces, so long as Christ is in the ship it shall not miscarry.

To be nourished.]

The fourth generall in this verse, is, the end why the woman fled into the wildernesse: and that is, both to be preserved safe and provided for there.

And this place is an allusion to the ancient story of the former Jewish Church, whom, when she cannot be safe in Aegypt, God brings into the wildernesse, where not having any provisiō by ordinary meanes, he doth extraordinarily feed her by Manna from heaven for the space of forty yeares. And thus he dealeth now with the Church of the Gentiles under the Antichristian tyranny, heavier then that of Aegypt: When the woman can finde no safety or peace amongst men, in the publike profession and exercise of Christian Religion, the Lord retyres her into secret places which afford her private exercises of religion, and in this hidden desert, and afflicted estate provides secret meanes of her feeding and safety.

The Church of God and every member in the most hard times and desert condition shalbe assuredly Doct.fed and provided for. Of all places the wildernesse The Church shalbe provided for in …ardest times.was most unlikely to afford food and provision, where was neither sowing nor reaping, planting nor watering: the earth affords them neither fruit nor corne for forty yeares: and now the Lord affords them for one yearely a dayly harvest, not of corne but of bread, not from earth but from heaven: he spreads for them a large table in the wildernesse, and feeds them with dainty food and quailes at his pleasure. So Elias flying from Iezabel was sent by God p. 778into the wildernesse, where he might seeme more miserable, as exposed to famine, a more dreadfull death then the sword: But he fled to be fed there, and the ravens shalbe his stewards and Caterers, before he shall sterve in the wildernesse.

1 The truth of Gods promise cannot faile. Psal. 37. 3. Trust in the Lord, and thou shalt be fed assuredly: Reas. 1.and vers. 19. the upright men in dayes of famine shall have enough. Psal. 84. 11. He withholdeth no good thing from them that walke uprightly. He should deny his truth, his faith, himselfe, if he should not feed and provide for his: and therefore, if all fields should faile: and the whole earth grow barren, GOD cannot fayle but feed those that trust in him.

2 Gods power confirmes it: who is not tyed to 2ordinary meanes, nor limited to places, nor hath bound up our life in the fruits of the earth; but man lives by every word of God; not only ordinary, but extraordinary: so as if men will not, or cannot feed Elias, ravens can and shall. And all that he can doe with meanes, he can without them.

3 His love is to his owne as unchangable, as his 3power is infinite. He may alter their place and state, but not his love. He may change their condition, but not his owne affection. And if the love of the creature be so bountifull and communicative, how can there be any lacke in his love, which is a full sea and fountaine, and all affection in the creature to his is scarce as the drop of a bucket?

4 His neare relation to his Church causeth it. Every 4man provides for his owne family; else he is worse then an Infidell. 1 Tim. 5. 8. Wee belong to Gods houshod and family: and if an evill father can and will give good things to his children, much more our heavenly father. He will blesse and feed p. 779his inheritance, Psal. 28. 9. And if there be no Master but will maintaine his servant in his own work, much more will our Lord and Master in heaven.

5 His infinite wise providence, who mingleth 5his chastisements with mercy, and crusheth not his Church out of measure, nor tramples her under his feet, when he suffers men to trample on her, It is enough to bring her into the wildernesse, and that not to starve her, but to provide for her. He leads her thither, but leaves her not there: but as a father, affords her meat and cloth, and at last provides her an inheritance.

Object. But Gods people are often in want, hunger, thirst: as, Lazarus, Paul, the Apostles, and Christ himselfe.

Answ. God who would not allow beggers from dore to dore (which is against all order; and rules of charity) hath ordeined there should be poore alwaies with us, to be examples of their patience, and objects of our charity. And many of these the deare servants of God may know great want and scarcity: so did the Church. Heb. 11. 37. Because corporall benefits are not alwayes, not to all the godly allowed in any great measure, but then only when Gods glory and their owne salvation call for them. But, what they are scanted in temporall things, they are supplyed in spirituall, which they alwaies certainly injoy. And when they are most scanted, they are not forsaken, but have enough to bring them home, and are denyed only of those things which might proove burdens.

Now this serves to comfort the Saints in want, Use 1.and to cherish our faith. For4 Grounds of comfort.

First, what the Lord will do he can do, and wil do all for our good.

Secondly, his providence is waking when wee p. 780sleepe. Manna shall fall in the night, when Israel sleepeth. God watcheth to feed his Church, when she sleepes. He watcheth for Mordecai, when he sleeps: for the babe and his Mother in the night when they sleepe.

Thirdly, his absolute soveraignty and power may make the wildernesse our portion for a time: he may pitch us here or there, in a faire place or in a foule, in a moyst or in a dry: and wee must be willingly disposed by him, whose wisdome over-reacheth ours.

Fourthly, when all meanes are turned against us, he is most able and willing to succour us. Ioseph and Mary shall have gold and precious things brought them a farre off, when they thinke not of it.

Let us therefore labour to see our want of faith, our greatest want: and if we know not what to do, let our eyes be toward him. And if our thoughts be inquisitive as Isaac, how shall I do for this or that? or where is the ram? say to thy soule as Abraham, My soule, God will provide. Now stirre up thy faith, which leaneth not on meanes, or things seene, but on the naked word. Abraham leaned only on Gods truth and power, when al was contrary, Rom. 4. 20.

2 This may provoke and encourage every one in Vse 2.the study and practise of piety, which hath so sure a reward and patron. And though wee may not serve God for temporalls, as hypocrites can do, yet wee must honour him who hath undertaken the care, not of our inheritance only hereafter, but of our present maintenance: and love him unfainedly, who makes 2 Tim. 4. 8.2 Tim 4:8good unto us even the promises of this life, made unto godlinesse, aswell as of that to come. And though this may seeme a smaller mercy, because it is so common to the worst, yet it is not common to enjoy p. 781temporalls in the promise, which makes them sweeter then ordinary, even the love-tokens of a father, and not the wages of an hireling.

3 This may assure the Church and members, that Vse 3▪in the hardest times of straightnesse and persecution they shalbe spiritually fed (which is here chiefly aymed at.)

For all the adversary power of Antichrist, or dragons, The Church in hardest times shall be fed.cannot hinder God from providing and preserving to the Church faithfull Pastors, secretly and conscionably to feed the woman in the wildernesse, in season and out of season. And as none can send Pastors but he, so none can hinder the Pastors whom he sendeth to dispense his allowance: whom he furnisheth, raiseth, and protecteth till his worke bee done, and the Churches need supplyed. The starres Rev. 1. 16.Rev 1:16are in his hand: who then can hinder them? But if they could intercept his messengers, they cannot hinder himselfe, who can and will by himselfe feed the woman, if all means else should faile: as Eze. 34. 14. I will feed them my selfe. And if himselfe feed not, all Ministeriall labour is but lost.

Quest. How doth the Lord himselfe feed the Church?God by himselfe feedeth his Church three wayes,

Answ. 1. By the word of his grace: He leadeth his sheepe into the greene pastures of his wholsome word. By writing his word in their hearts, and carrying 1his law into their secret parts. He onelyonly who hath his chaire in heaven, can teach the heart. And who can hinder his strong arme and mighty power, or the might and power of his word which is omnipotent as himselfe? or who can stand in his way to hinder his accesse into a beleeving soule?

2 As he did with his ancient people, so still he 2feeds the Church with bread from heaven, by the gracious gift of his Sonne, whose flesh is meat indeed p. 782and whose blood is drinke indeed: even that onelyonly true Manna, and bread from heaven. He is the gift of God, Ioh. 4. if thou knewest the gift of God. This is that shepheard mentioned, Ezek. 34. 23. I will set up a shepheard, and he shal feed them even my servant Rev. 3. 20.Rev 3:20David. And, if CHRIST will come in and feed in and with a beleeving soule, who shall hinder him?

3 He will feed her by his Spirit of grace, who is 3.greater in her thē the spirit that ruleth in the world: His office is, to open the heart, to worke faith, to bring in holy light and illumination, and light of consolation, to bring things into remembrance, to uphold by his mighty power to perseverance and salvation, against all the adversarie powers of it. 1 Pet. 1. 5.

4 See hence, what a bootlesse thing it is for Use 4.enemies to strive and struggle against the word and The Woman must be fed in the wildernes. 3. reas.truth of GOD. The woman must be fed even in the wildernesse.

First, Where God hath any called, or to call, his 1.word shalbe taught, either openly or secretly.

Secondly, Christ compares the course of the 2.Gospell to the course of the lightning, which flyes swiftly and suddenly from one side of heaven to another, and cannot be stopped: for the Gospell passeth, and is protected with divine power.

Thirdly, how impossible was it for all the tyranny 3and policy of the devill and flesh, to hinder the power of the Gospell in the most tyrannicall times of heathen Emperors? How miraculously and fully was the Church fed in that wildernesse? But in this wildernesse mentioned, a wonder it was, that so many ages of Antichrist, the enemies having as many eyes as Argus, and as vigilant to destroy and root out the memory and mention of sound Professors, and p. 783wanting no will nor humane power, yet could not prevaile but that the darkest and most violent ages of Popery yeild us witnesses of the truth; in whom wee see, that the Woman in the wildernesse must be fed.

In our fathers dayes it was a wonder, that those hot and fiery dayes of Queene Mary wasted not all that sincerely stood with Christ against Antichrist and his breadden god. And when they threw down all the meanes of knowledge and Instruction, how admirable was it, that so many poore soules did steale up so much knowledge and resolution, as to be invincible in maintaining and suffering for the truth? Who sees not, that the woman in the wildernesse must be fed and provided for?

This makes the enemies at their wits ends: they cannot worke wisely enough to destroy her: but ascamomile, the more it is pressed, the more it spreadeth and riseth up. This makes the Church impregnable. No hold in earth so strong but may be wonne, if not by sword, yet by famine: onelyonly this fort cannot be famished. All the inquisitions in the world cannot intercept her food. Antichristian forces may besiege her, but cannot take her, &c. This sets them in a rage: they give her bread of affliction to eate, and teares to drinke, she thrives with it: they give her ashes, and mould up her bread with them, and give her blood to drinke, she is in better plight with that then Kings children with dainties. Thus God confoundeth them, and convinceth them that they even fight against God, who makes the blood of Martyrs the seed of the Church, He makes poison feed her: for she must be fed.

p. 784A time, times, and halfe a time.

In these words is the fift generall in this verse, namely, the time how long the Woman was fed.

The Lord, when for the sinnes of the Church he was urged to bring some severe rod and correction, that he might expresse his remembrance of mercy in judgment, and shew that in love and measure he meant to chasten, used to foretell the very time of deliverance, before the misery was inflicted. Thus the expiration of that great oppression of Israell in Aegypt was foretold about 350. yeares before it began, that they must be strangers 400. yeares. Num. 14. 34. Israel must walke and wander in the wildernesse forty years according to the forty dayes of searching the land. The Babylonish captivity was for continuance of seventy yeares long before signified, and then to determine and expire. The bondage of the Jews under Syrian tyrants was precisely foretold to last sixty and two weekes.

So in the New Testament, the sorest oppression that ever befell the Church, namely by Antichrist, is in these words before hand described for continuance and determination. For, that the persecution of Antichrist, and the time of it, is here noted, is the consent of Interpreters. For the text denyes it selfe to be meant of the Turkes treading the holy City Jerusalem underfoot: because the two Prophets must helpe her: Now what can two Prophets do against Turkish tyranny? It is not Prophecy can represse them, but sword and power, with which he comes armed openly against Christ, and not by under-hand seduction and lyes, which must be resisted and conquered by Prophecy.

But where and when the period for beginning p. 785and ending of this time is very obscure, and perhaps as yet unknowne to man; the Spirit of God being more willing to lead us in the search, then in the knowledge of the seasons put in his owne power. Act. 1. 7.

I have collected what my most diligent search of this high mysterie can attaine, into these Propositions.

1 Propos. That this time, times, and halfe of time, is the same duration with the two and forty months, chap. 11. 2. in which the holy City, that is, the Church (resembled by Jerusalem) shalbe troden underfoot, namely, by Antichrist, sitting in the Temple of God, by subtilty and tyranny, boasting himselfe to be the head and universall Monarch of the Church. And, the same number with three yeares and an halfe of Antichrists reigne, prophesied by Daniell, chap. 7. 25. Which being yeares of yeares come to the same reckoning. And, the same number with the 1260 dayes, which wee have expounded, vers, 6. which being to be meant of mysticall and Propheticall dayes, wee have just so many yeares of Antichrists tyranny.

2. Propos. In this time the Spirit of God alludeth to the persecution of Antiochus, a type of Antichrist, whose tyrannie as it continued a time, times, and part of time, that is, three yeares and ten dayes, Dan. 7. 25. (understanding civill and naturall yeares;) so shall the tyranny of Antichrist last (of Propheticall yeares) a time, times, and halfe a time, that is, three yeares and about an halfe: For the Apostle Iohn not easily departed from the Septuagint, for the great honour it was then in: And 1260. want eighteen dayes of three yeares and an halfe; because for the Elects sake those dayes must bee shortned. Besides, some learned observe, these Propheticall yeares must not p. 786bee meant of Lunar or Iulian yeares, but Aegyptian, in every month of which are onelyonly thirty dayes; and so reckon, because the Church was now in spirituall Aegypt.

3. Propos. This terme cannot bee meant of three Not to be literally meant of 3. yeares and an halfe, as Papists dreame, 3▪ reas.naturall yeares and an halfe, as Papists in generall assigne the commi… of Antichrist but to three yeares and an halfe, and after his destruction Christ must come at the end of 45. dayes: For,

1. Antichrist is come already many hundred yeares since; for, did the mystery of iniquity in Pauls time prepare the way for the sonne of perdition to enter, and is there after sixteene hundred yeares no more preparation at all then before? Besides, did only the Roman Empire with-hold in the Apostles time, which many hundred yeares since is dissolved, and translated to Germany, and is hee not already come, he that hindred being so long since taken out of the way?

2. If it were literally meant, all men in Antichrists time might exactly know the day of Judgement; contrary to our Saviour, Of that day and houre knowes no man, no not the Angels. Beside that, Christ foretold of the dayes before his second comming, that it should be a secure, merry time, and age of eating, drinking, making merry, and marriages, and not of such troubles, battels and persecutions as they agree to be in the dayes of Antichrist.

3. The litterall time of three yeares and an halfe, is not halfe proportionall to the great workes which they say Antichrist must doe: Hee must (say they) sit in the Temple of Jerusalem, perhaps hee must build it up in three dayes, which Salomon, having all things prepared and ready, was finishing seven yeares, and Zerubbabel was repairing 46. yeares: This onelyonly worke will eate a great hole in his time p. 783assigned; if wee can conceive it might be finished in the whole. Hee must call and perswade all dispersed Jewes through the world, to gather themselves to him, as to their Messiah: this they may thinke may be done in a moment, but wee thinke three yeares and an halfe too little for it. He must build up Rome, burnt by the ten Kings, and sit there as Monarch, the Bishop of Rome, and all his being expulsed: What? will the Pope, and Cardinals, and Princes be so fainthearted, as to leave the cause, the City and holy Seat so soone as he lifts up his finger? me thinkes it would call for three yeares and an halfe to doe this busines. He must slay three Kings of Aegypt, Lybia & Aethiopia; he must conquer seven Kings more; hee must destroy all Churches in the world; he must by force of armes expell the great Turke out of Syria, the great Persian out of the East, great Cham out of the North, great Prester Iohn out of the South. This stripling of three yeares and a halfe must conquer all the world, which no man can post over in farre more time: And what a dead sleepe shall all the Monarchs, Kings, and Emperours of the earth be in the meane time, who could scarce in that time, if they were never so willing, resigne their States to him? Many mo great acts must Antichrist doe in this stinted time, perhaps in a moment; and undoe (if we beleeve the fable) what the whole power of earth hath beene setling many thousand yeares.

These and the like absurdities make the learned Papists give up this Legend. Alcasar in his vestigation, pag. 567. saith, To take these numbers of dayes, yeares, & months, as they soūd, nequaquam stilo aenigmatico quadrat, agrees not with this mysticall writing of S. Iohn: Ribera another Jesuite rejects Bellarmines opinion of 45. dayes after Antichrist for the end of the world: Hentonius a Papist, against the p. 788dreame of three yeares and an halfe, in his Preface to his translation of Aretus, saith plainly, It is impossible that Antichrist, in so short a time of three common yeares and an halfe, should obtaine so many Kingdomes and Provinces.

Let us then looke to these deceivers, who would hold us off from beholding the Antichrist of Rome, and are willing wee should seeke his rise many yeares after his ruine.

4. Propos. It is easier to define, where it begins not, then where it doth begin: And this rejecteth many opinions and conjectures concerning the beginning of this terme: As,

First, that conjecture of Sabbaticall yeares, or yeares of Sabbaths, beginning at Iohn Baptists death, and was the whole time of the three hundreth yeares persecution, till Constantine the Great, which was just 294. yeares; Master Fox his conceit. And the conjecture of Sabbaticall yeares of a latter persecution, beginning in the yeare 1360. when the Turkes power was inlarged, and the holy City trodden under foot; which lasting 294. yeares (for so many the yeares of weekes amount to) they had beene ended about …3. yeares since, which they are not, and the Turkish power stands in the Easterne part stronger than ever, and the woman not eased of it.

Another conjecture of Iunius and the Magdeburgensis, is, that it began at Christs passion; against which, are expresse words, Rev. 1. 1. and 4. 1. I will shew thee what shall bee hereafter.

Againe, then had this time beene expired in Boniface 8. who began his raigne in the yeare of Christ 1294. from which number take thirty foure yeares of Christs life, and there remaine 1260. But this time is not expired; nor the treading of the holy City ended not in Boniface, but is still trodden downe, and p. 789Antichrist sits still in the Temple of God, neither is the woman yet got out of the wildernesse.

Neither doth this time begin presently after the revelation of it: for there must come betweene, the womans dwelling in heaven, the cloathing of her with the Sunne, the Crowne of twelve Starres, the treading of the Moone under foot, the assault of the dragon, the birth of the manchilde, the foyling of the dragon, and after all these the flight, (as wee have heard) and all these are not done on a sudden, but require many hundred yeares for their effecting.

5. Propos. If it cannot bee knowne certainly unto us à priori, who have not seene the accomplishment and conclusion of this Prophecie; yet it shall bee knowne to the Church à posteriori, as other parts of this divine Revelation are by the events and performance.

Some godly men have conjectured à priori, and set downe their opinions; which how farre they carry truth, time will discover. I will onelyonly alleadge three late Writers, and leave their opinions to your consideration.

1. Of Pareus, who on Revel. 11 2. saith, if it were Tempus hoc divino quidem confilio definitum est Ecclesiae exilio; humano vero calculo quantum ad terminos impervestigabile.lawful for him to conjecture, hee would say this terme might begin in the yeare 606. when Boniface

3. gate up into the chaire of pestilence; and then it must end in anno 1866. but that of this terme (saith he) God will cut off some for the Elects sake.

2. Of Moulin a French Writer, in the booke intituled, The accomplishment of the Prophecies, dedicated to his Majesty, who begins the time in the yeare when the Pope laid the foundation of his temporall Empire, anno 75 5. to which number if ye add these 1260. yeares of this Hierarchicall Kingdome and Empire, it must last to the yeare 2015. of Christ, according to which reckoning it hath 391. yeares p. 790yet to come; but that (saith hee) of this time some may be shortned for the Elects sake.

3. Of learned Brightman, who supposeth it to begin Dies velannus certe statui non potest in quem erunt excquiae, tamen ex alijs scripturis perspicuum esse arbitror non differend as ad longissimum ul'ra sexaginta annos. in cap. 19. 4.about the yeare of Christ 426. and to expire in the full account about the yeare 1686. & yet these daies, as neare as they be, for the Elects sake may be shortned: For on Chap. 19. 4. he tels Rome, when shee kept a Jubilee 30 yeares ago, that within a Jubilee of 50 yeares from thence shee should keepe a Jubilee, not so much for her owne joy as the joy of all Gods people over her, who shall rejoyce in her utter destruction, and therefore shee had more need intend her funerals than Jubilees. How true this is he knows who inspires his speciall servants: OnelyOnly wee see greater likelihood of it every day than other: The Lord hath said it, wee must waite and pray him to hasten his owne worke for the joy and deliverance of the Church.

6. Propos. In all these difficulties and differences among the most learned, scarce one consenting with another in the period of entrance, I add the last conclusion, that the safest opinion of the most modest and learned is, that a number finite is put for an indefinite; and that this number is indefinite, not that it is not certaine and defined to God, but that it abides undefined as yet, and uncertaine to us for the terme of beginning and expiration. This is the judgement of the modest and learned Bishop Abbot in the 108. page of his demonstration against Antichrist. It is the judgement of Bishop Cowper: In this opinion rests that learned Pare us, because he saith hee findes not a better, nor safer. To these agreeth To stanus, and other the soundest of our Writers: And in this the safest and soundest I also will rest.

Now to sundry Observations which wee have noted concerning the time, on Verse 6. wee will briefly add these following.

p. 7911. No sorrowes or afflictions can steale upon the Vse.Church, but all are knowne, foreseene and determined by God. Here the woman chased into the wildernesse, is knowne of her Lord; the place provivided by him, and shee in it provided for all the time: Her state is hidden to the world, retyred in her selfe, but not hidden unto God, but by him she is hidden in the chambers of his Providence during all this tyrannie and raigne of Antichrist. In all our sorrowes and restraynts consider, they are foreseene of God, and we are not unseene in them. Let us with Hagar in the wildernesse say, Thou God seest mee: Gen. 16. 13.Gen 16:13Have I also looked after him that seeth me?

2. God hath measured all the afflictions of the All afflictions of the Church measured by God.Church; that although tyrants may disturbe and hinder pure religion by force and violence, yet is it but for an appointed time: Antiochus may interrupt Jewish religion, and bring in Swines flesh into the Temple, but it is but for three yeares and ten dayes, a time, times, and piece of time. Antichrist that great Apollyon may make havocke and …ead under foot the holy city, but it is but for 42. moneths, a time, times, and halfe a time, even three Propheticall yeares and an halfe. Iezabel wasts the Church, and causeth the Prophets to hide themselves in Caves, and flie for their lives, but it was but three yeares and an halfe in the letter. The Jews may bury Christ in the grave, & rol a stone upon him, and seale, & watch the sepulcher, but they can keep him down only three dayes.

Know that what affliction soever thy selfe, or any member, or the whole Church sustaineth, it is not endlesse: neither shall the whole nor parts suffer one houre more then Gods wisdome hath assigned. The proudest waves cannot passe those bounds and bankes, which Gods power hath set them.

p. 7923 All the sorrowes of the Saints are by Gods divine power overruled, to their good and safety; to preserve them from some present danger, spirituall or temporall, and to chase them under Gods hiding place, as David, Psalm. 32. 7. Truly may the woman say, Periissem nisi periissem, I had not beene safe if perill had not driven mee into the wildernesse: And did not the Lord see his Church safest in the wildernesse, he would not suffer her hid there the greatest part of the time of the New Testament: He over-ruleth death it self to be the greatest of al deliverances.

4. In all the sufferings and oppressions of the woman, this comfort abideth by the godly, that shee is not left of God, nor destitute of his presence, nor of his Providence for supply, nor without a promise of deliverance, nor without faith of the accomplishment, nor without a joyfull assurance that the time of this oppression is not farre from expiration.

Verse 15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a …lood, after the woman; that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

THE woman chased out of sight, being now in the wildernesse, in a close and secret dispersion in corners: But this contents not the dragon, that shee is out of sight, because she yet is and hath a beeing; he is still unquiet, because she is not brought to utter havock and confusion; he would afford her no roome in the world, and therefore out of his implacable fury he turnes him to another device, utterly to extirpate and root all the letters and characters of her honourable name, and carry her quite away off the earth, as with a mighty flood and current.

Where are three things:

1. What are these floods of filthy waters, which this huge Monster casteth after the woman.

p. 7932. The spring whence they rise and slow, out of his mouth.

3. The issue and scope of them, that she might be carryed away of the flood.

For the first.

By floods of water are meant in Scripture extreme perils, and deepe dangers and trials, whether inflicted by God, or men, or Satan.

Sometimes they are inflicted by God, Psalm. 42. 7. All thy floods and waves are gone over me: Sometimes by men, stirring up raging tumults against the Church; when mighty enemies, Princes and people, rise in their power, fury, and unresistablenesse like a flood; Esa. 59. 19. The enemy shall come like a flood. Sometimes by the dragon himselfe, as here the serpent casts out a flood after the woman.

Quest. Why are these great tryals compared to floods of waters?Why great tryals are compared to floods of waters: Five Reasons. For their, 1. Danger. 2. Abundance.

Ans. 1. For the danger, threatning destruction to the Church, as the floods of water doe drowning.

2. For abundance; As many waters gather together into one to make a swift streame or flood, so many enemies of all peoples and Countries, even all the wicked of the world, gather their forces and combine their wrath together, against Christ and his Church, to make a great and violēt flood, and head to destroy her; Rev. 17. 1. Antichrist is the great whore that sits on many waters; and these waters are the multitudes, nations and tongues, all gathered under one head against Christ, Verse 15.

3. For their depth; these floods seeme as impassable as the deepe sea, so as the godly are ready to 3. Depth.sinke, and can finde no footing: Psal. 69. 2. I am come into the deepe waters. The Israel of God is often even in the bottome of the sea: Ionas was in the deepe waves and weedes: And the Church hath often p. 794waters of affliction wrung out of a full cup, that is, a large portion of troubles, Psal. 73. 10.

4. For the instance & incessant restlesnesse of them; 4 Instance.for as the waves succeed one another, and thrust on one another, so doe grievous afflictions; one deepe cals another, Psalme 42. 7. and the end of one tryall is but the beginning of another.

5. For the pride, fiercenesse, swelling and rushing 5 Swelling.of many waters; for the fiercenesse and pride of enemies is compared to the swelling of waters, Psalm. 124. 5. then had the swelling waters gone over our soule.

For the second.

The spring or fountaine whence these floods flow, is the dragons mouth: The waters must needs bee filthy, which issue from so foule a fountaine: And shewes us more distinctly, what the waters bee: For there is a two fold flood of persecutions, cast by the dragon after the woman.

The former was that bulke of persecutions, with which the dragon had infinite wayes vexed the Church in her infancy & cradle, and even in her riper age, such as warre, exile, fire, sword, and divers torments: But all these darts and keene weapons hee threw out of his hands, by which hee forced her into the wildernesse: But now the woman is escaped his hands, and is out of his reach: Which some not well observing, expound this flood of actuall persecution by sword and torments; which stands not well with her hidden estate: But the phrase more properly aimeth at a flood cast out of the serpents mouth, and not out of his hands, which the woman in the wildernesse hardly escapes: Whereby I meane in generall, whatsoever poysonfull thing is by Antichrist and his Champions (who are the dragons mouth) vented and spread abroad, for the utter wasting p. 795of the true Church and Christian profession, if it were possible: More specially I take it, the Spirit of God here aymeth at three things.

I. The flood of heresies and poysonfull errors, the 1. Floods of heresies.bitter waters of false doctrines against the foundation, and all those troubled waters of Antichristian superstitions and traditions to drowne and oppresse the woman for ever: For as the pure doctrine of the Gospell, comming out of the mouth of Jesus Christ, is that aqua Coel…stis, or aqua vitae, by which the woman is quickned and revived to eternall life; So that heretical and poysoned doctrine, comming out of the mouth of Antichrist, is a bitter and cursed flood of water, to drowne the woman, if it were possible.

For as wee doe not exclude those most deadly heresies (the vomit of the dragon) after Constantine, the Arrian heresie, the Pelagian, Nestorian, Eutychian, which vexed the Church almost three hundred yeares; so doe we especially meane here those Monsters of opinions, blasphemies, and damnable doctrines against the whole Gospell, vented and cast out of the mouth of Antichrist in all the ages of Antichrist till this day; so directly bent to carry away the woman, as none must buy and sell, no nor breathe and live, that will not receive and worship the Image and marke of the beast, Rev. 13. 15, 17.

For example.

Against the Scriptures Antichrist casteth out of Against the Scriptures.his mouth, that they are a dead letter, a Nose of waxe, a breeder of herefies, of no more authority than Esops fables without the Churches authority; this was godly spoken by Hermanus, saith Hosius. De authorit. Sc. …. l. 3. …ct. & Mon. p…g. 1076.A Popish Doctor reasoning with M. Tindal, boldly said, Wee might better want Gods law than the Popes: It was objected by Doctor Benet, Chancellor of the Bishop of London, that the heretikes did p. 796read certaine Chapters of the Evangelists in English, which containe in them divers erroneous and damnable opinions, and conclusions of heresie.

The like blasphemies he vomits out against Christ: as

1 That he is not foreign God of himselfe, Against Christ.Rhemist. on Ioh. 10. 3. Who, though he be the Son of the Father, yet is he God of himselfe, Ioh. 5. 26. as the Father hath life in himselfe, so also hath the Sonne. The word therfore is another person from the Father, but not another thing.

2 That Christ did penance by fasting, solitarinesse, and conversing with beasts, Rhemist. on Mark 1. sect. 6. An horrible blasphemie, making Christ a sinner: for, no sinner need no repentance.

3 That Christs death is neither the efficient cause, nor formall cause of our justification: Bellarm. in sundry places: but wee are formally made just by a justice inherent in our selves, Conc. Trid sess. 6. can. 10. Rhem on Rom. 2. sect. 4. A blasphemous heresie, contrary to Phil. 3. 9. not having mine owne righteousnesse.

4 That by grace we may truly make satisfaction Acceden… gratia dei vere possamus aliquo mo do ex proprys et ad …qualitatem, ac per hoc iustè et ex condigno sati…facere. Bellar.in some sort ex proprijs, of our owne, et ad aequalitatem, to a full equality, et per hoc justè et ex oondigno satisfacere, Bellarm. de paenit: l. 4. c. 7. A most horrible blasphemie, that a man by his own proper workes can satisfie God fully, according to the exact rule of justice: contrary to Iob. 3. 9. None can answer God one for a thousand. Neither can he blinde us as he doth himselfe, by saying, accedente gratia Dei; for Gods grace and satisfactory works are foreign, can never stand together, Rom. 11. 6. if of grace, not of workes.

p. 7975 That a Priest may properly forgive sinnes: as Tecellius the Popes pardoner openly proclaymes, in Churches and elsewhere, that although Sleidan. l. 13.a man had layne by our Lady, the Mother of Christ, and begotten her with child, yet he was able by the Popes power to pardon the fact. This horrible blasphemy was the ground of Luthers revolt from Popery.

6 That a man having true faith in Christ may be damned, Bellarm. de baptis. l. 1. c. 14 Against the Apostle in Eph. 2. 10. Wee are saved by faith, and Rom. 5. 1. by faith wee have peace with God, and our Saviours promise that the gates of hel shall not prevaile against it.

To these sixe I could adde sixe hundred more, to make this flood of Antichristian heresies swell: but I content my self with a taste.

I I. A flood of slaunders, and gulfe of reproaches and hellish devises, imputing to the Woman and true profession of religion most scandalous opinions, and hainous enterprises, and all to keepe the Woman under water, to get the secular sword drawne against her, and to make the Princes jealous, fierce, and severe against her, as the greatest enemie of their estates and royalties.

Instances of the former: Doth not Antichrist out of his mouth send out most false and slaunderous lies? as, that our doctrine teacheth,

1 That the Church hath fayled from off the earth many hundered yeares, till Luther.

2 That wee condemne all Councells, Fathers, Antiquity, and will onelyonly be tyed and tryed by Scripture; whereas wee refuse not to bee judged by men, judging according to Scripture, and allow the Churches approbation, and consent of Antiquity: onelyonly holding it absurd, p. 798that the authority of Scripture should depend upon the approbation of the Church; which is the question. And this were to make the shine of the sunne dependant on the light of a candle.

3 That wee teach God the author of sin, even of that treacherous sinne of Iudas: Rhem: on Act. 2. sect. 9. Whereas wee only teach as Scripture doth, that Christ was delivered up according to the determinate counsell of God: and that God hardneth evill men, not as an author of evill, but as a righteous judge; and not by bare permission, but by actuall with-holding his grace, and giving them over to the divell to be hardned, as a just judgement.

4 That wee are enemies to all good workes, and hold only faith necessarie; nay that we condemne good workes, as sinfull, pharisaicall, hypocriticall, Rhem. on Rom. 2. sect. 3. whereas wee teach, that to justification before God faith is only necessarie, but such a faith as worketh by love; and that good workes are inseparable fruits of faith, signes of justification, and a way in which Christians must walke to salvation.

And many more imputations there are, not needfull to be all rehearsed.

For the latter. Have not the Papists in all ages prooved themselves to be the very mouth of the dragon, breathing out nothing but their owne poysonfull inventions, against our religiō, and sincere Preachers and Professors of the same? Have they not published to all the world (and do) that no sort of men are such enemies to Princes and governement, none such disturbers of a setled State and common peace, no sect so bad, none so unworthy of common favour, none such enemies to Laws, orders, Kingdomes? Have they not licked p. 799up the spettle of the father of lies, and infinitely shamed themselves with lyes and slaunders, as blacke as the waters of Styx, the river of hell? as that

Luther learned his Divinity of the devill, was borne of the devill, and dyed of drunkennesse. That Calvin was eaten up of wormes, and dyed blaspheming, and invocating devills: whose life and death was so holy and happy, as the dragon must open a wide and impudent mouth to staine the same. That Beza dyed reconciled to the Pope, and cursed the day he ever knew Protestant doctrine: which Beza himselfe lived to confute. That Mr. Bucer denyed at his death, that Christ was come: the whole country, and D. Redman preaching at his funerall, knowing the contrary: and as true as that Mr. Perkins dyed in despaire, of whose happy life and death my selfe was an eyewitnesse; as true as that those whom they called Puritanes had blowne up the Parliament house.

III. Another part of this flood is the cruell 3 A flood of cruell edicts.and bloody Edicts, the cruell Constitutions, and inhumane Rescripts which they furiously breathout, with such violence and rage as a strong current and flood which hath broken out of the bankes: Such as are their Trent-curses for every slight difference in opinion from them: Such as are their Spanish barbarous Inquisitions, which are as the sharp teeth in the mouth of the dragon: Such as their Romish Bulls and cursed excommunications, their degradations, &c. Such as are their six Articles, their horrible execrations, and abrenunciations, and all of that kinde, to destroy, root out, and for ever to drowne the very name and memory of the woman, and sound Christian Religion.