Christs Victory Over the Dragon, Text (4 of 15)

Christs Victory Over the Dragon · Text (4 of 15)

p. 1693 If he cannot hinder them from comming, he will come with them to hinder their hearing: well 3 By hindring the hearing, being come.knowes he, that no man would looke for a devill in the Church; at so good an exercise: and therefore when men thinke him farthest off, he will be sure to be nearest. Now he cometh to steale away the word, not as other theeves to convert it to his owne use, but to prevent thine.

Quest. How doth he steale the Word from He stealeth the word 3 waies.Men?

Answ. First, By thrusting in a world of worldly and wandering thoughts of profits or pleasure which fill up the roome, and divert the mind from the word in hand; and here he mightily prevaileth, as by his owne subtilty, so by Gods just judgement, upon them who deny God, their heart, mind, & thoughts in his service; the devill must have them.

Secondly, If bad and idle thoughts be repelled, he can thrust in better thoughts and meditations, on p. 170which while the mind setleth, the businesse in hand is unprofitable to them: or he can while they should heare, make them devout in praying, or diligent in reading, wherein how can they choose but thinke themselves well occupied? but are circumvented by the seaven heads, who can overthrow good things, not by evill only, but by good.

Thirdly, By binding up their senses, and casting 3.them asleepe, least they should heare and beleeve. A fearefull sinne of many who seeme to have taken some graines of some opiated hellish confection to cast them asleepe.

Or, if he cannot shut and bind up their senses, he can draw them aside to outward objects, on this or that person or occasion, and set them a tatling or gazing or some other unfit exercise, and all to divert the mind from the one thing necessary.

4 If he cannot hinder them from reverent and 4 By intercepting it frō the heart and life. 4. waies.watchful hearing: thē he casteth about to intercept it from the heart, and life.

1 He will call the word into question as he did Gods owne voice to Eve: And so not mingling it with faith, he knowes it must be unprofitable.

2 Or if he cannot question it, he deviseth to make men fall out with their meat if every thing be not to their mindes, either it wants latine, and learning; or it is too tart and personall, it shall go hard but some dislike shall fall on the man or the matter; Iohns austerity, Christs familiarity, all shall be distasted. Pipe or mourne to froward children all is one.

3 Or if they heare it with pleasure and affection, then he will make them beleeve that to heare is enough, without all due meditation in the mind, or expressing the power of it in the life and practise: p. 171he cares not greatly if they chaw it a little, and turne it over their tongues by speaking of a point or two, so as there it rot betweene their teeth, and starve faith and good conscience.

4 Or if they begin to practise or shew any fruit at all, then he hath some agent in a corner to advise him to be wise and be not led away by sermons, he shall be noted for a favourer of such as will be little for his credit. Thus Elimas sought to turne the deputie from the faith. Paul spying him catching the word. Oh full of all subtilty and mischiefe, child of the divell. Or by open scoffes and reproaches daunt them who are unsettled, from the profession and practise of godlines. Thus Satan keepes infinite soules starving and fasting so as they are never able to hold out in the incounter.

A second stratagem of Satan in his assaults against II. 2 Stratagem, to disarme us. 2 waies.us, is in regard of our weapons, and here he attempteth two dangerous plots.

First, To disarme us, to keepe us naked, and destitute of armour. If a captaine can keepe his enemies from weapons, what needs he more for victory? The Philistims to hold Israell under their bondage. 1 Sam 13 19. left never a smith in Israel, who might helpe to arme them. And if Satan can keepe men naked without armour he hath enough to hold thē for ever under a hellish slavery.

Quest. But how doth the devill disarme the Christian?

Answ. Two wayes.

By driving men to sinne against God, so as now they are naked and destitute of Gods favour and protection. Exod. 32 25. Israel making a calfe was naked. And Balaam could not curse or any way overcome Israel, but by entising them to commit, first, corporall fornication, and then spirituall, and this p. 172made a fearefull breach among them.

2 By perswading men to put off or lay aside their weapons or some part of their armour for a while. He knowes when we lie open in any part, and can there hit and wound us, as, he can easily perswade to remit prayer; to be weary of faith, his shield, for the weakenesse of it; To crack a good conscience and to straine a little; to dislike the profession for the suit and service of it; to slight the preaching or reading of the scripture, and so cast away his word; or in time of peace and securitie to suffer his armour to hang by the wals rustie and dis-joynted, not considering that the adversarie takes no daies of truce: nor the Apostles precept, to put on the whole armour of God: As good no armour, as not put on.

Secondly, If he cannot get us to lay aside our armor, then his next drift is to turne them the wrong way. 2.If he cannot wrest it from us, he will seeke to wrest it against us: it was the glory of Davids victory that How Satan turneth our own weapons against our selves.he tooke off Goliahs head with his owne sword; and many times and waies doth Satan glory in such conquests over us while wee little discerne him, For,

1 That he ever conquers us by our owne corruptions every man can conceive: which, what is it else then to fetch his weapons out of our owne armory?

2 But, which we lesse discerne, he beates us, and overthrowes our graces, not by corruptions onelyonly As, our graces.but by our graces. As, if we be sorrowfull for sinne, he will have us swallowed up of sorrow. 1 Cor. 27. 11. If wee be zealous, he will carry us so far as the Disciples, who will call for fire from heaven; the fire that should warme the house, shall burne it: If wee be humble, he can make us proud because wee are humble: in maintaining our Christian libertie, he can p. 173easily bring us to licenciousnesse: in hatred of our former prodigalitie, he can easily draw to more hatefullc ouetousnesse: and how easily shall wee thinke that to be a vertue, which is contrary to a former vice?

3 The Word of God, a principall weapon, he And Gods word. 2. waies.can easily turne in our owne hands against our selves.

First, Sometimes by hiding some part of it, which is as a breaking short our sword, so as it cannot reach to offend our adversary, or defend our selves. To embolden men in sinne, he alledgeth Ezek. 13. & 18. As I live saith the Lord, I will not the death of a sinner, but hides and breakes short the next words, but that he repent and turne. and 1 Tim. 2. 4. who would have all men saved, but breakes off the next words, and come to the knowledge of his truth. So, to bring Christ to presumption, he alledgeth Psal. 91. He shall give his Angels charge and they shall keepe thee &c. but breakes off the words in all thy wayes.

Secondly, Sometimes by inferring on words of Scripture diabolicall conclusions, as, Christ died for al, therefore thou maiest live in sin. He that provideth not for his family is worse then an infidell, therfore thou maiest be covetous, earthly, unjust in word & deed; a remedy worse then the disease; to avoid infidelity by a greater infidelity; for never can he speake truth but to deceive, and in nothing can he more plausibly hide his lies, then in words of truth, and most of all in words of scripture. Thus Satan foyles us with our owne weapons.

A third stratagem of this seaven heads is, they are very buisy to breake our rankes, for thus an army is III. 3 Stratagem is to breake our ranks in our duties.soone discomfited. This policy Ioshuah used against the men of Ai. chap. 8. 20. he set part of the army before and part behind in ambush; who when they p. 174arose, so troubled the enemies rankes, that being disranked and confounded, they could not stir any way to escape; and thus dealeth the dragon. The rankes of Christian souldiers are their callings; which are of two sorts: generall calling of Christianity: and the speciall calling in which station every man abideth.

If Satan can interrupt or hinder either of these, he hath drawne us from our wall and fort, and soone foyleth us.

1 The duties of our generall calling are praying, reading, conferring, meditating and the like; in 1 Of our generall calling▪which we must stand continually, as the Apostle, pray continually, in all things give thankes. Set the Lord continually at thy right hand; if Satan can winne us to discontinue these duties at any time, he easily winneth his purpose against us.

Example in holy David 2 Sam. 11. 2 he was wont in the afternoones to be praising God, praying, meditating in the statutes, compiling holy psalmes; But now he must have a nap; after that, he spies a woman washing her, hence was his adultery, and to hide that sinne addeth the murder of his faithfull captaine Uriah.

2 Our speciall callings are our rankes, and if he can turne us out of them, which are our way wherein 2 Of our speciall calling.wee have the promise of Gods protection; he easily overthrowes us.

Idlenesse is the devils pillow and anvell; an idle mind emptie of good, is fit to be filled with evill, whereas looke as a full vessell can receive no more, so an heart filled with godly meditations, or an hand full of good exercises, leaveth no roome for satans temptations, nor leasure for his designes or enterprises. We must therefore abide diligently in our callings, which are a schoole and exercise of many p. 175graces, as humilitie, obedience, patience, faithfulne, experience of Gods blessing, power, and providence, with daily exercise of the word, and prayer, to sanctifie them, all which are notable bulwarkes against the incursions of the devill.

A fourth usuall stratagem of Satan is to dissemble IV. 4 Stratagem is to dissemble a flight. 3. instances.a flight when he need not, when he doth not. Thus Judg. 20. 32. the Israelites after two foyles drew all the Beniamites out of the Citty by dissembling a flight, and by such as were laid in ambush (of whom the enemie was not aware) cut them off every one. So satan often dissembles a flight for his owne advantage; For,

First, He can and often doth depart from vexing and afflicting men at the command of the loosing witch, nay instead of hurting he will offer his help. But 1 to binde his servants more obse quiously unto him. 2 To draw the faith of men from God unto him, and reject dependancie on him, and the lawfull meanes, and so do homage to the devill; and is not this flight a mighty conquest?

Secondly, He will give a man leave to leave some sinne, so he can get him surer into another extreme: and then he thinkes this must needs be a motion of the spirit, because he concludes it cleane contrary to that which he tooke to be a motion of the flesh or divell.

Thirdly, After much struggling and resistance he departs and seemes to fly, but his flight is his forest fight; For,

1 He departs but for a season.

2 Never but to renew his forces and assaults, to bring seaven spirits worse then before.

To bring us into the sleepe of securitie, as conceiving both,

weakenesse in our adversary.

and strength in our selves to resist him.

p. 176A fift stratagem of the dragon, he can greatly V: 5 Stratagem, by light skirmishes get great advantages.weaken the Christian and much availe himselfe by light skirmishes, and proveth most dangerous, when he seemes to intend least danger, as,

First, He will begin mannerly with one sinne, and what great danger can be in that which is so necessary too as he cannot thrive without it? As, to lie or sweare for advantage, or to take usury to live by, to be a non-resident, a gamster, or a sociable man, but he knowes: 1 One sinne never goeth alone; one sinne cannot keepe it selfe warme without another. 2 One sinne suffered is like a hole in a ship, which will sinke a ship of the greatest burden, somewhat more slowly but as surely as if a whole side were shattered out. Let thy fraught of graces be never so rich, one raigning sinne will wrack all. One Agag spared shall cost Saul his kingdome, and his life; one dramme of poyson is enough; one swine in a garden to roote up all; one dead flie shall make the whole box of ointment to stinke; and one sin raigning and unrepented shall slay the soule for ever.

Secondly, He can easily prefer and get countenance to secret sinnes, as, evill and wandring motions and thoughts to take up the mind by daies and months, with foule & uncleane desires, and purposes, yea and practises and actions sutable: For,

Are not thoughts free, and who sees so much hurt in them as in the pricking of a pinne, et fi non caste tamen caute, He that cannot live chastly, yet if he can carry it cautelously and charely, all is well.

But the dragon knowes, that,

1 If the foūtaine be corrupt, so are all the streams, Motives to avoid small and secret sins.and this is a cōpedious way to poyson all that comes from within.

2 That secret sinnes are stronger snares to hold men faster then more open and manifest: both because p. 177these are more easily contrived, admitted and continued in. As also because these want those restraints which usually curbe open crimes even in bad men, as shame of men, feare of law, and sting and terrour of conscience.

Thirdly, He gets no small conquest by holding men in small sins, which are so onelyonly in comparison of greater; why, Is it not a little one, and my soule may live in it? and, The offence, skarr, noise and punishment of a small sin cannot be great: whereas he knowes, that

First, The least and smallest sin, let in, and allowed, will widen and make roome for greater, as a little villaine thrust in at a window will soone set the whole house open to the whole crue of theeves and cut-throats.

Secondly, As a skilfull Apothecary he can disperse the poyson of sinne at first in so smal quantitie, as that the conscience be not sick. But it is that the practice of small sinnes may grow into custome and habit, and that the conscience may at length come to digest it, as meat and drinke with delight, because of the sweet taste in the mouth. And then what delight hath God in him whose delight is in any sinne.

The 6. stratagem of these 7. heads is, that the dragon The 6. stratagem of the 7. heads.gaineth no small advantage by spreading false feares and terrors to dishearten us in our combat, as valorous chieftaines raisé up clouds of dust, o… kindle some false fires that in the smoake of them they may helpe thēselves, and hinder their enemies: Thus Gideon Judg. 7. by 300. persons discomfited a mighty host of Midianites, by blowing every man a trumpet, breaking every man a pitcher, and holding up every man a burning lampe, by which policy they seemed as many bands as they were men, at which p. 178the amazed hoast fled worse afraid then hurt, had they stood their ground: Even so Satan to discomfit Satan sprea deth false feares concerning mens estates. Foure instances.the Christian, spreadeth false feares and terrors in their mindes to make them forsake their ground; and these feàres may be reduced to 2. heads.

1. Concerning their estates.

2. Concerning their actions.

First, For their estates, he terrifieth them with I.these suggestions, as,

1 That they never had truth of grace but all that ever they had or did was hypocrisie, and dissimulation, or presumption; all 'to make them out of love withgrace.

2 That God never loved them, for then he would not so afflict them, but dandle them as children; and this is to shake out the love of God from their hearts, which constrayneth them to duty and obedience.

3 Terrifieth them with their owne wants, ignorance, infirmities, unworthinesse, and feare of shamefull fals, as such and such of Gods servants, that seemed well rooted; his scope herein is to make them weary of all.

4 With feare of finall falling a way, and withering if the sunne of persecution should arise, and thus causeth many to cast away their confidence, as if he that beganne the good worke would not finish it.

II Concerning actions the serpent spreads many II. And concerning their actions. Foure instances.false feares to drive the Christian off them, as,

1 In religious actions he objecteth and urgeth the reproaches and many wrongs there waiteth upon forwardnesse; it is but to purchase generall dislike and disgrace, & expose himself to be a prey; and as many Lions and difficulties are in the way sufficient to cast off the sluggard, and no fewer losses of p. 179friends, customers, takings in the trade, his credit, respect of great ones, and the like. Here not a few are circumvented.

2 In common and civill actions he perswadeth men, that they cannot live by true dealing without falsehood in word and deed; and if they help not themselves with lying, swearing, dissembling, unlawfull gaines by usury, and the like; they cannot trade or live; And hereby he holdeth many tradesmen in the trade of sinne; who account nothing evil which may bring them in the goods and profits of this life.

3 To hinder actions of mercy and liberality, he frighteth men with false feares, least by giving, themselves come to need, and so they wrong their family; as if God supplied not seed to the sower, and as if he that watereth should want raine. See Proverbs 11. 25.

4 To hinder actions of justice, especially if against a great man; What know you what you doe? would a wise man raise a Liō, or take a Beare by the tooth? will you pull on your selves a needlesse danger? thus is he skilful by false terrors to hinder any good; hereby he doubleth his strength and winneth ground on our cowardlinesse. These things have I set downe, that wee might not be ignorant of his enterprises. 1. Cor. 2. 11.

Being to deale and to grapple with this seaven Vse I. Serpentine wisdome is in fourethings.headed dragon and all the serpentine seed, we must learne that needfull lesson of our Saviour Mat. 16. 16 Be wise as serpents.

Quest. Wherein is the Serpents wisedome?N…mo enim celerius opp…imitur quam q…irihil aut parū timet: hostisque st…enuitatem ignorat.

Answ. In 4. things.

1 The serpent is naturally wise to defend himself frō wrongs, to which end he wil wrap up his whole body about his head, to save and defend that from p. 180danger: So must Christians be most carefull of their own safety, by carefull respect of their head, namely, the faith and glory of Jesus Christ, and expose themselves to any dangers to save him, his glory, his holy profession harmelesse; as the holy Martyrs did

2 The serpent or dragon who is the old serpent, 2.and his seed, are very subtill to contrive evill: So Christians must be wise and politick to contrive and bring to effect that which is good. Rom. 16. 19. Be wise concerning that which is good; but simple concerning that which is evill: The object of Christian wisdome must be that which is good, and a good cause wisely handled is very gracefull, which made Davids face to shine even in Sauls envious eye; because he behaved himselfe wisely in his matters. Good Rebecca willing to save Iacob from Esaus fury, hideth her counsaile, by pretending another occasion; because the daughters of Heth were a griefe unto her; she would send him to Padan Aram to fetch him a wife; And so wisely prevented the intended mischiefe. Gen. 27. 41. And Paul used a speciall good policy for himselfe amongst his accusers, who discerning that some were Saduces who denied the immortality of the soule, and the resurrection of the dead; and that some were Pharisees that held both, he professed himselfe a Pharisee, and cast a bone betweene the two sects, and so slid away betweene them. Acts 23. 6, 7.

And thus Christian policy is as lawfull in our warre against this hellish and serpentine army, as are those prudent policies of the field in externall wars and martiall affaires, squared to the rules of Gods word, and to these cautions; 1 That nothing be said or done to prejudice truth; 2 Or Gods glory; 3 Or civil righteousnesse; 4 Or the speciall calling.

p. 1813 The serpent is subtile to contrive evill by evill 3.meanes, and this is that wisedome that is earthly, hellish, sensuall and devillish, such are the Machivilian policies and desperate shifts to atraine wicked ends, by right or wrong, force or fraud, life or death; Thus Ahab and Iezabel cōtrived for Naboths Vineyard, by hypocrisy and murther. Thus Papists will set up their religion by lies, equivocations, Spanish inquisitions, gunpouder plots, and such horrible torments as are likest and come nearest to the torments of hell, whence both their religion and devises to uphold it are. Thus many Tradesmen are wise to get wealth, by lies, oathes, circumventing and laying snares.

But the practise of true wisedome from above is, pure, peaceable, gentle, and by allowed meanes attaineth lawfull ends: the Serpents policy is ever joyned with iniquity: but Christian policy must be accompanied with innocency, and contriveth good things by good meanes onelyonly, and degenerateth into carnal counsaile, when, even in case of saving the life, unwarrantable meanes are undertaken: as when David to save his life fained himselfe mad: Peter denyed his Lord; a Protestant to goe to masse with 1 Sam. 21. 14.1 Sam 21:14pretence to keepe his heart to God, or a Christian for recovery of health or goods, to goe to the Witch.

4 The serpent is wise to stop his eares against the 4.charmer, and will by no sweet and cunning notes be drawne out of his hold into danger; So must the Christian be here as wise as serpents by bewaring of men Mat. 10. 17. Godly men must not commit themselves hastily to every one that can speake thē faire, and singing sweetly unto them; but carefully keepe them out of their snares; who are like ponds, the water is cleare enough at the top, but at the bottome p. 182foule and muddy. Let us remember our Lord was betrayed with a kisse; that the Apostles suffered most from false brethren who, crept in to spie their liberty.

That enemies of grace can make faire weather when they are most stormy within, that the times Christians must walke as wisely as warrantably.are dangerous, the persons we have to deale with pernicious, the flights of the serpent mischievous, and if we deale not as wisely as warrantably, they will get beyond us; that it is the property of folly to poure out al his mind: but wisdome reserveth something for afterward.

2 But especially let us not be carried away with their whisperings and charmes that would draw us from our religion, sincerity, true worship; Let no Syren song draw us out of our hold, as those of Jesuites, Priests, Libertine preachers, nor prevaile so much with us as to taste any forbidden fruit.

Quest. How shall I get this serpentine wisdome to oppose the dangerous 7. heads.

Answ. 1 Get the feare of God, that is the beginning Meanes to get this serpětine wisedome, 5.of wisdome Prov. 1. 7. Psal. 111. 10. and to depart from evill is understanding Job. 28. 28. Prov. 3. 9.

2 Use the meanes appointed, seeke for wisdome, dig for it as for treasures Prov. 2. 4. Minerals lie hid in the bowels of the earth, and are fetched out with labor and hard paines, wait at the gates of wisdome: that is worth nothing which is got for nothing: we must seeke it as silver, covetously, diligently, constantly.

3 Make the word thy counsellor, there thou meetest with the wisdome of the spirit, which overreacheth all the wisdome of the flesh; David hereby became wiser then the ancient, then his Counsellors, then his enemies Psal. 119. The serpent indeed hath p. 183a subtilty of many turnings and windings, but in the scripture is foreign a manifold wisdome against all devises. It is a faithfull guide against all wandrings: it is as was the cloud in the wildernesse for our motion or station; an unerring gu…de that leadeth us as wise men to Christ: it is the holy card to direct us in this troublesome sea, to escape all the shelves, and sands, and rocks, to conduct us safely to the holy land.

4 Pray for wisedome, so did Salomon: for heavenly wisdome thou must go to heaven. James 5. If any want wisdome he must aske it of God, the incouragement of the prayer is, 1 The promise of the spirit of wisdome; grace, and speech to prevent evils, and disappoint enemies. Luk 21. 14. 2 The promise that God wil turne wicked mens counsailes to folly, as Achitophels 2 Sam. 15. 31. he will scatter their devises and bring them home on their owne heads.

5 Practise true wisdome: the practise of true wisdome increaseth it. The dragon is subtile by long experience and practise, against which we shall well oppose this experimentall and practike wisdome. Deut. 4. 6. This is your wisdome.

Quest. How may we practise this Serpentine wisdome.

Answ. 1 In respect of God and the things of God, true wisdome wil provide for it selfe the best Wherein is the practise of true wisdome.things. In vaine is that man wise that is not wise for God and himselfe. Prov 9. 12. Sound wisdome will provide the best estate for it selfe; Wise Virgins will prepare oyle as well as lamps, and the wise Merchant will be sure to purchase the pearle, though it cost him his whole estate: true wisdome will first seeke the Kingdome and the righteousnesse of it, then other things: true wisdome esteemeth godlinesse p. 184the greatest gaine, and is provident for it selfe.

2 True wisedome is watchfull of it selfe; it will observe what evill it is most prone unto, and there fence most carefully; as Cittizens beseiged doe the weakest part of their wall, and there keepe strongest watches.

1 It knoweth the dragon watcheth all occasions, and so it doth for it selfe; and seeing it knoweth Satan fitteth his temptations to every estate: it will observe it selfe, in prosperitie to watch against pride, in adversity to watch against impaciency, it will observe opportunities offered and accept them for Gods glory, and the good of himselfe and others.

3 In good duties it contenteth not it selfe, that they be done unlesse they be wel done, and in a good manner by good meanes, to right ends, and in all right circumstances, as knowing he must not onelyonly Wee must not only do good, but be wise to do good.do good, but be wise to do good.

2 It will do all the good it can, if it cannot do all the good it would, for so the dragon doth in evill.

3 It will be in lesser duties and commands as conscionable as in greater. Psal. 119. 6. When I have respect to all thy Commandements.

4 In temptations to sin. 1 It thinketh not it self gotten ont of sinne by running unto the other extreme. 2 It will abstaine from evill and from the appearance of evill. 3 It will abstaine from evill though good might come of it, Rom. 3. and so preventeth the tempter, who ever thrusteth on evill under the colour of some good by it.

Comfort to the church not to feare the high reaches Vse. 3. Comforts against the depths of Satan. 5.and deepe devises of the enemies, for,

1 The wise God taketh the wise in their craftinesse p. 1851.and breaketh the head of the crooked serpent and dragon of the sea, Isai. 27. 3.

2 Though the dragon have 7. heads, our head is 2,wiser then them all; In him are treasures of wisdome and knowledge; dragons may hide their counsailes from men; but not from him who hath 7. eies to foresee and prevent all mischiefes from his Church, Zach. 4. He hath the 7. spirits of God. Rev. 5. 6. that is a most absolute wisdome and power, to repell all the dragons subtilties.

Ob. What is this to us?

Answ. Yes, these 7. spirits are sent into all the world. vers. 5, 6. 2 The head hath wisdome for all the members, and understandeth not for it self only, but for them. 3 He is made of God to us wisdome as well as righteousnesse. 2 Cor. 1. 30.

3 Though Charmers whisper and busily pull 3.many from the truth, yet by this wisdome of thy head thou maiest discerne betweene truth and error; betweene the voice of a shepheard, and of a stranger. Let never so many false Prophets goe out into 1 Joh. 4.1 John 4the world; thy comfort is, thou art of God and hast overcome them.

4 Though tyrants and antichristian powers 4.should draw thee before councells and consistories, feare not what to say, in that houre wisdome shall be givē to thee, as the poore silly Martyrs, to cōfound the mighty and learned.

5 Though in the world thou art counted silly and simple, to crosse thy selfe in the reputation of it, be 5.content, let others be wise in the world, be thou wise by the word, so shalt thou be wise to salvation, when worldly wisdome shall end in folly and damnation.

And ten hornes]

Now wee come to the fourth propertie of this p. 186dragon namely his power and strength called, here ten hornes: where consider,

1. What those hornes be.

2. The number of them.

1 The word horne properly taken is wel knowne 1to be that part of the beast wherein is his chiefe strength and beauty: but in scripture it is commonly taken Metaphorically, and signifieth strength, might, power, kingdome, glory; Sometimes in the Creator. 2 Sam. 22. 3. The Lord is the horne of my salvation, that is, my powerfull and glorious Saviour. Sometimes in the Creature, and thus great Provinces, and Princes, and those mighty Kings and kingdomes which like beasts with hornes, both defend themselves, and offend and hurt one another, are usually called by this name in scripture.

Dan. 7. 7. The fourth beast (by which some understand the Romane Monarchy, and others better, the Asiaticall kingdome of the Selucidae) was fearefull and terrible, and very strong, It had Iron teeth and devoured and brake in pieces all before it, and it had ten hornes, and those were ten kings that should rise successively: and ver. 8. another little horne, that was Antiochus Epiphanes ver. 24. called little, because he was yongest brother, and had no right to the kingdome, before whom there were three of the first hornes pluckt away; that is, 3. kings who had right before him, but all made away by him, that he might come to the kingdome. And the Beast, Rev. 13. 1 by which is meant Antichrist, is said to have 7. heads and ten hornes; here in agreeing with this dragon; both of them are monstrous, and though they are divers beasts, yet resemble one another in great correspondency, and those ten hornes, are expounded to be ten Kings, vassals of Antichrist. Cap. 17. 12.

Here by hornes I understand.

p. 1871 In generall the mighty power and strength of What is meant here by ten hornes.the whole dragon, both head and members, that is, of Satan, and his instruments, against the Woman the Church in generall, thus. Zach 1. 18. The Prophet saw a vision of foure hornes, and the Angell expoundeth it; saying, These be the hornes which have scattered Iuda, Israel, and Ierusalem, that is, the enemies which oppressed the Church, called 4. hornes, not in respect of number, as if there were no more, but of universalitie, because they make waste and havocke of the Church, in all the fowre costs and regions of the world; as, East, West, North, South. As;

1 On the East of Judea were Moabites Ammonites, and Idumeans.

2 On the West were Philistims.

3 On the South Egyptians, and Ethiopians.

4 On the North, Syrians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. So the Church is beset with these foure hornes.

II In speciall the excessive power, and glory of the imperiall dragon, or Romane Emperours, who most of them were successively armed with as much power as cruelty, to wast and destroy the woman, that is, the first Churches and Christians of the new testament; to which story the Evangelist John in all this vision hath speciall reference, as wee have already in part shewed, and shall declare further all along as we come to the particular.

The number tenne hornes, this may be taken two II. Of the number of ten hornes.waies.

1 Definitly, and with limitation and restraint, to a certaine number, and so hath an eye either to the ten bloody tyrants, and persecutions under those Emperors p. 188or to the ten Kings and kingdomes of Europe, which were under the Romane Empire, who made themselves vassailes to that dragon, and gave that power and hornes to him against Christ, and his spouse, this Woman.

2 Or rather, which I thinke the better, we are to take this number here indefinitly, for all those Kings and Princes and Captaines under them: who leagued and banded themselves against the Woman, which by the perfect number of ten, are noted to be exceeding many.

1 Because this number is often so taken in the Scripture, for an uncertaine but a very great number, Numb. 14. 22. they tempted me ten times Job. 19. 3. Ye have reproched me ten times, that is, very many times Rev. 2. 10. Ye shall have tribulation ten dayes, that is, many dayes; a certaine time for an uncertaine; and the whole visible Church is described by tenne Virgins, that is, a numerous multitude of professors, Math. 25.

2 I take in the instruments and agents of Kings and Princes, because the horne properly ariseth from the head, and those instruments of violence and fury sent from their heads and Commanders are aptly meant also by hornes.

3 Because of the number here are but seaven heads; but ten hornes, not so many heads as hornes, and so there are more Executors then Princes, more Instruments then Captaines and heads and Generals, and the title aptly bringeth them in all.

The Church of God is among the wicked as among so many horned beasts of great power and Doct Hurtfull men to the Church are as hurtfull beasts to men.place to hurt and oppresse: See Psal. 22. 12. Many Buls have compassed me, even mighty buls of Bashan and vers. 16. doggs have compassed me; as a fearefull Hare beset with a kennell of doggs is in great p. 189danger: so the weake Woman here beset with fierce and ravenous beastsand: vers. 21. Save me from the Lions mouth and from the hornes of Unicornes. Hence Dan. 7. the calamitie of the Jewes is from the foure Beasts; that is, those great Monarchs and Rulers, described under the name of sundrie beasts, which with strong hornes fought one against another, but all against the Church: and every where tyrants are called in Scripture Lions, Beares, Unicornes, Wolves, for their cruelty in themselves, and for the oppression of the people of God.

Mat. 10. Our Saviour forewarneth his disciples of their condition; I send you as sheepe among Wolves; and these have force and power far above the sheep. To come to the times here aimed at: how was the Church in the beginnings of the New Testament pushed and goared with the hornes of these beasts, such as Herod the son of Antipas, who beheaded Iohn; and Herod Agrippa, who slew Iames with the sword, and persecuted Peter delivered by an Angell, Acts 12. Such were Felix and Lysias, and Festus, who used their hornes, power and places to persecute Paul and Christians in those daies. And after these, how lamentably was the Church wasted by the Romane persecuting tyrants, even those ten Imperiall hornes, and other savage dragons, untill Constantine, who all imbrued themselves till they were all red with the blood of many thousands of Christians!

In regard of the wicked themselves, who all of them by nature are furiously and impetuously like Reas. 1.bruit beasts carried against grace and piety, and as little restraint have they in themselves as furious beasts unlesse God by common grace restraine them, or by speciall saving grace change them, and make them of Lions, Wolves, Beares, Cockatrices; Kids, Lambs, and p. 190harmles creatures. Isa. 11. 6. For so there the Prophet stileth men in their nature, because their enemies are so cruell and sanguinary, more like beasts then men. Godly men go soft pace in the way of godlinesse, because they have a restraint in their reliques of flesh present with them; but wicked men, without restraint of grace, as bruit beasts, rush upon mischiefe, as the horse into battaile; If the godly walke they can run; if the Saints runne: they can fly; if the godly bee foot men: they are light horsemen.

In the Church. 1. The sins of the Church often strengthen and sharpen and multiply the hornes of Reas. 2.the dragon. Psal. 81. 13. 14. O that Israel would have walked in my waies, I would soone hauehave humbled their enemies: through the whole story of Judges so often as Israel sinned God gave them into the hands of oppressors. cap. 4. 2. cap. 2. 14 cap. 6. 1.

2 The afflictions of the Church make the Enemies lift up their hornes when they see and heare of their troubles and foyles, when they see that their prayers and exercises of religion cannot help them, especially when they see God for their humiliation leaveth them as a prey in their hands, this maketh them exult as against Christ on the Crosse, He trusted in God, let him deliver him; want of grace, yea hatred of grace maketh them insult where they should pity; not thinking the same or worse things may be fall themselves. Lam. 24, 5. and 2. 15.

3 The continuall estate of the Church is to bee in the world as a wildernesse, wherein what can they looke for but to be environed with wild and furious beasts; that is, evill men, who for their disposition are as wild and fierce as Tygers, Lions, Leopards, Cockatrises, because both of their power and desire of hurting and making a pray and spoile of the Church.

p. 191The world, in which the Church is a stranger, Reas. 3. How the world addeth strength to the hornes.affordeth to her natives all her aide and mighty meanes to furnish them against the Church, which maketh them advance their horns on high, in pride and fury against the Church, for they have

1 Carnall wisdome, prudence, policy in martiall exploits; and whereas a good conscience can go but one way; they can shift into a thousand by waies which is their advantage.

2 They have multitudes, power and strength of arme, and flesh, wherein they boast and glory.

3 They have armories, defenced Castles, Citties, and can want no weapons of death against the Woman.

4 They have treasures, revenues, wealth, large possessions, gold of India, which are the sine ws of warre.

5 They have friends, allies, confederates, holy leagues, auxiliary forces, and supplies, and in these they lift up their hornes, and are made very strong and bold, for, those that have no part in God, glory and pride themselves in every thing, but God.

Quest. But what doth the Lord all this while to suffer the dragon thus to exercise his rage and domineere over the Church? can he help all this, and will he not step out for his Church?

Answ. The Lord hath sundrie good ends of this his providence. For,

1 He so ordereth the matter as that the Church must be conformable to her head, and the servants The Lord suffereth these hornes for five ends.not above their Master; Christ himselfe was in the wildernesse with wild beasts, expecting the great dragon to set upon him, as he did in three horrible and hellish temptations: and through his whole life he was beset with these horned beasts, among whom p. 192the principall was Herod Ascalonita; who as soone as he was borne, sought to slay him, and devoured all the Infants of Bethelem, hoping he had bin within his net: And Pontius Pilate the Romane President, who with the Scribes, Pharisees, and chiefe …iests, crucified and put him to death, and yet who can deny that he was the Son of his Love, and most deare unto his Father?

2 He doth it not to extinguish, but exercise; not to destroy, but trie their faith, patience, and graces: for grace is like gold, the oftner tried in the fire, the purer. Rev. 2. 10.

3 To acquaint them both with their owne danger, and so to stirre them up to a constant watching, as also to let them see their owne impotency and weaknesse, so to drive them out of themselves, to relie on his strength and power: who is onelyonly able to overmatch these mighty hornes in mans eie.

4 To weane them from the love of this world to which wee are all naturally wedded; and to hye themselves through it as through a dangerous wildernesse. So Davids soule was weary with dwelling in Mesech.

5 To advance not onelyonly the patience of God, suffering his enemies to rise to such a height; but also to manifest his great care, and provident eye over his Church, by whose almighty power this small flock of sheep is safe amongst a drove of wolves Lions, and a whole foxest of foxes and dragons.

Take notice of the perpetuall condition of the Vse. 1.Church and her dangerous estate, that wee may not marvaile or take offence at the tumults and hostile forces, raised against the Church at this day.

1 Let not the might and power of the enemies gathereed against her dismay us, nor their great and p. 193puissant armies and Captaines; nor that royall and imperiall forces are raised against this poore Woman utterly to destroy her; this is no new thing, that mighty hornes, and the highest of all humane power should lift up themselves against her, she hath from the beginning beene acquainted with such tryals.

Nor let us startle at the multitudes of enemies & Princes, and armies, that stand about her; it is not the first time that ten hornes at once have assaulted and pushed her; nay, seldome shall yee see this Woman but in the midst of these ten hornes, al ready to make a present spoile of her.

Neither let the fiercenesse and savage disposition of them against her be strange to us: seeing they are the dragons hornes, dragons are guided by no law but by their owne fierce and truculent nature, flying upon their prey without all pity: but no cruell and truculent beast or dragon is so fierce against men, as wicked men are against the Woman: no law of nature or nations, no bond or tye, no respect of sex or age stoppeth them, but pitilesly without all mercy, the dragons seize upon young and old, male and female, high and low, nocents or innocents, if they fall in their way; whosoever professe the feare of God and true religion against them they are gathered: See it in one example: Haman, because Mordecai will not bow to him because he was of another religion, getteth to the King, enformeth against all the Jewes, as having a law and religion of their owne contrary to the Kings: and it was not for the Kings profit to suffer thē: presently without any course of law, no man being heard, nay no man complaining, but Haman privatly slaundering; the King delivereth the whole nation men, women and children some 2. or 3. thousand persons to death and bloody buchery p. 194al in a day (but that God prevented it) a thiefe or guilty fellon shal have a due course of law, & shal not be condemned unheard: sometimes pity spareth a seditious and rebellious multitude that have deserved death, because they are many. After warre and hot blood, the most furious enemies will spare such as are overcome, though they would have spoyled and not spared them in hot blood.

In sacking and taking cities the Conqueror often Witnesse the most outragious and savage cruelty of Papists against Magdiburge this 1631.in humanity spareth women & children, when their lives are in their hands: But in this cause of Religion, these horned dragons put off all humanity, & cloath themselves with barbarous & more then brutish cruelty; no humanity nor humility, no intreaty nor sex, no age nor place can plead for one drop of pity; As in plentifull examples both old and new, might be proved, namely, the French Massacre, 1572. and our owne powder Treason.

Quest.But what, shall the Church be devoured by so many and potent horns? how can a silly weak woman be safe among them?

Ans. No: this Woman was never yet overcome by them, nor shall be, she may be tyred, terrified, pusht, wounded by them; but not overcome: 2 Cor. 4. 9. and 6. 9.2 Cor 4:92 Cor 6:9For,

1 The dragons great power is but limited and restrained: The Church cannot bee overcome by ten thousand hornes.as Satan must not touch Iobs wise, and Laban against his owne evill intention is commanded, Gen. 31. 24. Take heed thou speake nought to Iacob save good: So can they doe nothing against Iacob which is not good, or shall not be turned to good.

Though their power be great, yet there is a greater 1 Because their great power is limited by a greater.and over-ruling power, which curbeth them both in the attempting, proceeding, and ending of their intentions. Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Gentiles p. 195can attempt nothing against Christ, but what the hand and counsaile of God hath before determined to be done. Act. 4. 27. In the executiō this over-ruling power can blunt their hornes at his pleasure, If Esau be come forth with a band of men to revēge on Iacob, this power can turne their hearts to favour his brother: in the end they are over-ruled, for wheras they would make no end of pushing and goaring, he will have them go no further then he please. And the rod of the wicked shall not alway lie on the lot of the godly.

2 The hornes of the dragon have great power, but being set all against God & his Saints, it cannot prosper 2. It is set against God.Job. 9. 4. Who was ever fierce against God and prospered? their power shall never effect all their wils, being so contrary to the will and counsaile of the Almighty: their will is to destroy and roote out the Saints of the most High, but his will and counsaile is onelyonly to chasten them: their will is not onelyonly to destroy the person, but the faith also, & fortitude; but they can doe neither: for though they may prevaile against the persons of some members, yet never against the person of the Woman the whole Church, and those that are overcome of them in respect of life, are never in respect of faith, the gates of hell cannot prevaile against that: so as though they be slaine they are never overcome.

3 Although mighty hornes are raised up against the Woman, yet hath God raised up for her a more 3. The woman hath a more mighty horne of salvation.mighty horne of salvation. Luk. …. 69. Even the horne of David, stronger then they all, the greatest enemie of the Church is but as Antiochus, a little horne to him.

Ob. But here are ten hornes, what is one horne to so many?

Answ. Christ our Lord and head wants not a sufficient p. 196number of hornes to encounter the dragons ten hornes, Rev. 5. 6 the Lambe hath 7. hornes: though the dragon seeme to exceed in number, yet doth not; for the number of 7 is a number of perfection, and argueth in Christ perfection of power, which is not in the number of ten, whether it be taken definitly or indefinitly in the dragon, and there is not one of these 7. but is stronger then all the dragons ten. And besides, whereas the dragons hornes are confined to his heads, which they exalt and carry aloft; our Lord Jesus hath many hornes, comming out of his hands, Hab. 3. 4. that is, Omnipotent in all his works, especially in his battailes against the dragons ten horns, for he hath atchieved an admirable victorie over principalities and powers, and made show of them openly as a triumphant Conqueror on the Chariot of his Crosse; and at his ascension professed that all power in heaven and earth was given to him.

4 Although the dragon hath his hornes and agents 4 God hath 4. Carpenters to scatter the 4. hornes.every where, so as the Dove of Christ knoweth not where to set her foot to rest safe from them; for there be 4. hornes which scatter Judah in all the 4. quarters of the world, Zach. 1. 20 yet vers. 21 God hath 4. Carpenters or workmen with tooles and axes to strike off these hornes, that is, as the dragons hornes are in all quarters to scatter and wast the Church: so the Lord hath every where instruments to batter them: although the Lord could do it with any one instrument, or by never a one; yet for the full consolation of the Church, he described them to be as many, and in as many places to resist, and suppresse them.

5 Though these hornes of the dragon be many and powerfull, yet God doth often turne them one against another, as the Midianites swords were thrust p. 197into their fellowes sides: and shall at length easily 1. Turneth them one against another.and certainly breake all their hornes lifted against him and his Church, as in Haman, Herod, Pharob, Iudas, Iulian, Zenacherib; A proofe how he brake in pieces the Antichristian horne in our Fathers daies; some persecutors died suddenly, as Annanias, some with their guts falling out, as Iudas, some with lothsome excrements finding unnaturall waies, by the mouth & nostrils, some brake their necks, some became frantick, none escaped without repentance, though for a while they held up their heads and hornes aloft.

Quest. But what meanes may this Woman use against all these hornes for her safty?

Answ. 1 She must know as all humane power We must despaire of our strength.cannot resist those mighty hornes, and therefore must utterly dispare of her owne strength, for wee fight not against flesh and blood; but against spirituall wikednesse also in high places, nor against weaklings but against the strong man armed, Luk. 11. 21. Who is resolved to keepe his hold; against the Prince of the world, yea the god of the world, and not against one enemie or two: but ten horns, an infinite army of principalities and powers, with all his aids and abettors, which are the great and innumerable worldly hornes, all at his command against the Church, and her Head Jesus Christ: What is the world but Satans armorie? and our adversaries are not more puissant, and numerous, as wee are few in number, weake in our selves, weaker in our sinnes, utterly unable to resist their hornes, and assaults, Impar congressus, as Saul to David, he is a man of war and the other a stripling; therefore we must despare of our strength.

2 Fly to the strength of God which wil make us And fly to the strength of God.conquerors: acknowledge that salvation is the p. 198Lords; the dragon hath his strength from earth, the Woman hath her strength from heaven, by prayer. David comes to Goliah in the name of the Lord and foyleth him: so let us disparing of our selves be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Ephes. 5. 10. wee shall be able to doe all things through the help of Christ strengthening us. Phil. 4. 13. Colos. 1. 11. we are strengthened through him. &c.

3 The dragon is strong by humane confederacies and alliance; we must confederate with God by As also confederate with God.daily renewing our covenant by faith & repentance; strengthen our league and union with God, who will give us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15. 57.

4 Leane upon the promise of God who hath undertaken to breake for his Church all the hornes of the wicked. Psal. 75. 10. Even all these ten hornes shall be broken; distrust not the promise but believe and be safe; faith will be an honourable victory for it apprehendeth the power which brought Christ safe from the wildernesse, and wild beasts, and shall bring the Saints safe through all

An admonition to the enemies Psal. 75. 5. Lift not Vse II. Enemies not to lift their hornes so high. Foure Reasons.up your hornes high.

1 what are they in nature but savage beasts and dragons; nay the wildest of the beasts retaineth more goodnesse in his nature then the wicked man doth in his; Christ was more safe in the wildernesse I.among wild beasts then in the world among wicked men; the beasts in the wildernesse acknowledge their Lord and hurt not him; But if hee come among wicked men, Iudas will betray him, the Jewes will accuse him, Pilate will condemne him, the common souldiers will crucifie him: Daniell was more safe among the Lions, then among his enemies: so was p. 199Paul too, who had better escaped the beasts at Ephesus then the men; Lazarus found the dogs more pittifull then Dives. The beast knoweth and feareth those that doe him good: but these, worse then beasts, neither know nor acknowledge God nor his people, from whose hand and for whose sake they hold all they have.

2 What are they in Gods account?2.

Obj. He favoureth and prospereth them.

Sol. Though they seeme to cary all before them, and are men of place and power, and all men stand in awe of them, yet in Gods account they are but beasts amonst men, their strength and power but as the raving and pushing of horned beasts.

3 How are they crossed in their owne account! they shal never have their wils against the Woman, 3.nor shall never destroy her faith and fortitude: their intended mischiefe shall effect her good: By tearing with their teeth they would utterly devoure her, but as Ignatius, let wild beasts teare and grind her it is but to make fit bread for the Lords table.

4 Though now Papists and Antichrists hornes be lifted up, God seeth and sustereth, and smileth, he seeeth 4.and hath let his servants see their day comming; the sins of the Church do a little while put it off, but Gods word is as a hatcher lifted up to knocke both the head and hornes, and the strong arme of God shall make good his word, and ere long these tenne hornes shall hate the whore and make her desolate. see Revel. 17. 16.

And seaven crownes on his heads]

The 5. and last propertie by which the dragon is described is by his great conquest & victories, together with his high rule and authoritie which he exerciseth and usurpeth in the world against the Church.

p. 200By crownes or diadems is meant 1. in generall, the whole kingdome of darknesse which Satan by the greatnesse of his power usurpeth, not upon inferiours and vassalls onelyonly: but upon the chiefest Monarchs, and potentates of the earth, whose crownes after a sort become his crownes.

2 The many victories and great conquests, which partly by fraud, and partly by force, he hath carried away amongst earthly Princes, and carnall professors, for who weare crownes but Conquerors?

3 Here especially is meant the supremacy or supreme By seven crownes what is meant.majesty of the Romane dragon or Empire, subduing under it the Princes, provinces, nations, by innumerable victories, but especially prevailing against the Church, and primative Christians, as so many Conquerors.

The number of the crownes are 7. according to Doct.the number of his heads, and all his 7. heads are crowned because his subtilties have so often prevailed.

The dragon usurpeth and exerciseth kingly authoritie and regall power in earth by which he often prevaileth against the Woman the Church. This our Saviour teacheth, both in the style that he giveth him, and also by the state which he ascribeth unto him; for as great Princes have many great titles which declare their might: So hath the dragon; he is called Joh. 14. 30. foreign, the Prince of this world; and Ephes. 2. 2. the Prince of the aire, Epes. 6. 12. foreign, the Lord of the world, and 1 Cor. 4. 4 foreign foreign ▪ the god of this World. And his estate is described no lesse magnificent, then his titles; for he hath not foreign, a house, but foreign, a Luke 11. 21. foreign.Luke 11:21Court like a Prince, not only his palace in hell where he commandeth the inferiour devils, but one erected here on earth in the hearts of wicked men: Nay he p. 201hath not onelyonly a Court but foreign, a Kingdome, Math. 12. 26. If Satan be divided his kingdome cannot stand; thus the Scripture speaketh of him as a crowned King and great Monarch.

Quest. But wherein doth the dragon exercise his Princedome?

Answ. This kingdome of the devill is partly spirituall, partly corporall.

1 He rules and playeth Rex chiefly spiritually and 1. 2 Tim. 2. 26. foreign.2 Tim 2:26inwardly in all the children of disobedience, acting and moving them according to his pleasure. In al unregenerate men all the dragons heads are crowned, for, 1 He hath conquered and subdued their persons, The dragon exerciseth Princedome. 1. Spiritually. Three wayes.their minds by ignorance, their wils by rebellion, their harts by hardnesse, their whole man by lusts.

2 He setteth up his edicts, his will is their law, and they are moved at his pleasure, as slaves and captives. 2 Tim. 2. 26. and how just is it that they who will not be ruled by the will of God in his word to salvation; should be left to the will of the devill to destruction; his servants are they whom they obey.

3 As a crowned King is not content to rule according to his owne will, but his subjects must take up armes in defence of his title, and whensoever he commandeth, must fight his battels: So doe and Rom. 6. 17.Rom 6:17must unregenerate men give up their members weapons of unrighteousnesse and fight for sinne against grace; and are ready as voluntaries to maintaine abet strive for and defend the lusts of sin, and beare weapons against heaven and Jesus Christ in whose name Rom. 6. 13.Rom 6:13they are baptized: & this is the forlorn estate of any wicked man; that his person is in the power of the devill, and he being a slave, his whose life is a homage to the dragon, and his whose power and strength warreth against God his Creator. Now the p. 202dragons heads are crowned, and he set upon his throne.

II Outwardly and corporally the dragon useth Kingly authority, thrusting on his counsailes by secular 2. Corporally.power and prevailing with wicked Kings and tyrants to execute all his bloody edicts against the Woman, and therefore is called foreign, the strong man; not onelyonly because he is admirable strong in himselfe, but because he commandeth secular powers and getteth their forces and weapons drawne against the Church, hence is he said to have foreign, & foreign, vessels, and instruments, and armour, that is, as Chrysostom interpreteth, wicked mē & Potentates that fight as leaguers and confederates with him. If this great Centurian bid Cain rise up and slay his owne naturall brother, Cain must and will doe it; against all laws of God and nature. If he command Pharoh to slay the seed of the woman, and oppresse the Woman her selfe, hee is in pay under the Devill, and must doe it: If hee command Nero, Domitian, Trajan, and the rest of the crowned heads (at whom our text aimeth) to shed like fearce and sanguinary dragons, the blood of the Christians, till the streets of Rome ran with blood, as Jerusalems did in Manasses time: they readily give their crownes to the dragon, and execute all his designes. If he command Popish Princes and Captaines to persecute with fire, and sword; with bloody Inquisitions, Massacres; with force and fraud, the holy religion of God; these slaves and tyrants must and will give their crownes to the dragon, and the beast, and in savage manner make no end of effusion of Christian blood, but would barbarously wish (as one of them) to ride their horses to the bellies in the blood of Protestants. Thus the dragons heads are crowned in al those Kings and Princes, that are enemies p. 203to the Church, and exercise their power in peace or war against her.

From Satans malice and contrariety to Christ and Reas. 1. The dragons power contrary to Christs. Sixe instanceshis Kingdome, and all he claimeth, as in these particulars.

1 If Christ be Lord of all, the dragon will claime all. Math 4. All these things will I give thee, for they are mine: Dare he so before Christs face challenge his right, and will he not behind his back?

2 If Christ have a kingdome of light which tendeth to gather the elect and destroy the wicked: The dragon hath a kingdome of darknesse cleane contrary, which tendeth to destroy the elect if it were possible, and to gather all the wicked to him in his owne damnation.

3 If Christs kingdome be ample and large from East to West, and from sea to sea, Psal. 2. 8. and 72. 8 The dragon will compasse the earth, Job. 1. and getteth the harvest of the world, leaving but a few gleanings for Christ.

4 If Christ require spirituall worship, being a spirituall King, the dragon will require the same, Math. 4, If thou fall downe and worship me; And that which he could not obtaine of Christ he winneth of all the wicked in the world, who worship the beast and the dragon, Rev. 14. 3.

5 If Christ call his kingdome inwardly by his spirit and without by the ministry of Angels and men: So will the dragon rule and move his subjects, partly by inward motions and suggestions, and partly by wicked angels and wicked men, who are all bad agents and factors for him.

6 If Christ ordaine power, and authority, and raise up Kings, and give them crownes and scepters; that as they rule by him so they should rule for him; and for the upholding of his title and kingdome: p. 204The dragon in speciall despight of this ordinance prevaileth with them to bend their power against Christ and his Church from whom and for whom they received it.

Is from the subtilty of the Dragon, who knoweth Reas. 2. Satans subtilty in getting his heads crowned.it is the greatest advantage to his kingdome if he can get all his heads crowned; for his experience hath taught him three things.

First, that if he can get in great ones, hee gaineth in them all their inferious, who follow the motion of the great wheeles: If Rehoboam commit adultery, all Iudah will sacrifice under every greene tree.

Second, that his kingdome being of this world, as himselfe is the god of the world, so his kingdome standeth by secular power, and worldly meanes; well he knoweth that truth needs no secular arme, for it hath a stronger power and arme for it; but falshood needeth worldly power and policie to uphold it: if his heads be not crowned they cannot long prevaile.

Third, if he can get his diabolicall edicts once crowned, they shall passe almost unquestioned, and that generally; and bee they never so unlawfull and wicked against Gods pure worship, against Gods holy Sabbaths; yet they shall prevaile not onelyonly against the wicked, who shall shew themselves good subjects in their blinde and impious obedience; but especially against the godly, who shall bee pursued with all the wrath of such superiours, as rebels, seditious, disobedient to Rulers and Princes; as Daniel, against whom they could picke no quarrell, but in the matter of his God.

From the desert of the Church: for her sinnes Reas. 3. The sinnes of the Church often crowne the dragon.crowne the Dragon, God in justice appointing them to be the rodds of his wrath, by whom hee whippeth his owne children: for whereas the promise p. 205is, that the Church, obeying the commands of God, he will make her the head, and not the tayle, and shee Deut. …8. 13.Deut 8:13shall bee above and not beneath. By her disobedience her adversaries become chiefe, and those that hate her in affections, and those that oppresse her in action, get the staffe into their hand; and have power as crowned Dragons over her. Lament. 5. 5. and especially, cap 1. 5.

From the justice of God against the dragon himselfe Reas. 4.both head and members, that they may runne on headlong to their perdition: For, the more power and greatnesse they have, the more they grow in malice and madnesse against the woman; and the more victories they attaine against the Church, the more they exult and triumph, and sooner rise to their height, and fill up their measure that the Lord may awaken himselfe, and rise up as a Giant, and pursue and breake them, and cast them as rodds into the fire as he hath ever done.

Note the good service that every wicked man Use. 1.and enemy of God and his Saints doe in the world; he is of no other use and service, then to hold the crowne upon the Dragons head. For, as every good subject must stand to the death to uphold the crowne and dignity of his lawfull Prince: So doe these rebells, and revolters from Jesus Christ uphold the crowne and dignity of this usurper.

Object. God forbid there should be any such, we are all Christians, &c.

Sol. Yes, the Dragon hath a number of good subjects that strongly and mightily uphold his crowne, while they will protest and professe the contrary.Rom. 6. 20. Signes of such as uphold the dragōs crown and dignity.Rom 6:20

Quest. But how may we know them?

Sol. 1. He is free from righteousnesse, that is, de sacto, non dejure; he will have nothing to doe with that, let grace wooe him and perswade him, it can p. 206prevaile nothing at all, let the Spirit of God perswade 1 Enemies to the motions, and perswasions of the Spirit.him to humility, obedience, conscience: he is an enemy to the Spirits motions and perswasions; but let the Dragon instigate him with wicked motions, and cogitations, hee is a ready agent: as Iudas rejecting the good motions of the Spirit, the devill entred into his heart to betray his Lord; and it was soone done. Let the word perswade him to change his master; and of the slave of the Dragon, become the Lords free man; Hee resisteth the word, the Spirit of God, which inspired the holy Prophets, and Apostles, moveth us to speake the same word, and the wills of beleevers to obey it: But the Dragon moveth them to scorne, and contradict our doctrine, and so resist the holy Ghost, as Steven telleth his adversaries: and why? because we light not candles to the Sunne, nor confirme the Kings word by some of the guard, nor prove the truth of Gods Spirit, by men and humane spirits, Eph. 2. 2. These sonnes of disobedience walke after the Prince that ruleth in the aire, and being of impure cogitation, and conversation, how is it possible but they should judge amisse of the truth? Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded: Can a blinde man judge of colours?

II. They walke according to the course of this world, Eph. 2. 1. Frame themselves in religion and manners 2 Walke according to the course of the world.to the times, to please men, can sweare, drinke, scorne, raile, speake filthily, sing beastly songs: for of so wicked a Prince, all the servants are extremely wicked, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience, moveth, and acteth in them, as the soule in the body, there is no service of sinne commeth amisse: and when the devill ceaseth to draw his slave from evill to worse, wee may hope better things of them.

p. 207III. They are beleevers of lyes, 2. Thess. 2. 10. 3 Beleevers of lies.They that are carried away by the effectuall working of Satan, or given up to beleeve lyes; carryed away with Priests, Jesuites, Seducers, to beleeve all false doctrines contrary to truth, as transubstantiation, salvation by merits, purging of sinne by penall workes, and humane satisfactions, worshippings of Angels, Saints, images, crosses, and a million of dotages, being carryed about with flattering teachers to beleeve lies.

IV. Persecuting of godly men, and ministers, there Satans throne is, and there the dragon is crowned, 3. 4 Persecutors of godly men.Revel. 2. 13. Good subjects will not indure him to be spoken against which they love well, therefore they hate godly preachers, and cannot abide to heare the abominations of popery, and Antichrist to be detected; but our Preachers, say they, lye as fast as their dogges runne: these uphold the dragons crowne, and resist the crowne and dignity of Jesus Christ, what ever they prate to the contrary.

In beholding the battell of the woman, against so Vse II. True Church not alwayes discernable by externall splendor.many crowned adversaries, learne not to esteeme of a Church by externall splendor, pompe, wealth, or glory; which is a note of the Antichristian Church. Here wee see the Dragon hath seaven Crownes, Dan. 11. 31. 36. Antiochus a wicked man, that shall magnifie himselfe against all that is called God, and speake marveilous things against the God of gods, yet hee shall prosper, and have armies stand on his part; and Antichrist typified in Antiochus, who magnifieth himselfe above all that is called God, and hath on his head written names of blasphemie, hath his armies standing with him, Italy, France, Spaine, and many crownes, to thrust forward his Antichristian lawes, and decrees. It is true, wee grant there is an internall splendor and glory of the Church, p. 208consisting in the ornaments of faith, charity, patience, and other vertues, as also in the purity of sound, and wholsome doctrine: and this splendor, because it constituteth the true Church, it can never want; and yet even in this it may be greater, or lesser, as the doctrine is more carefully preserved, or otherwise.

But that outward splendor, and glory, which consisteth in peace, wealth, and multitudes of professors; this may be hid, oppressed and obscured; for,

1 This maketh for the good and safety of the Church, sometimes to be hid, and obscured, for Reas. 3hereby God preserveth his Church, which were it all and alway knowne, all the hornes, and the crowned Dragons would assault it at once to destroy it utterly.

2 The greatest glory and splendor of the Church, is that which appeares not to the eye of flesh, but to the eye of faith, which is patience in afflictions, and constancy in faith, this is her victory 1. Joh. 5. 4.

3 The greatest splendor of the Church, is not that which the world can afford her, but that which she hath frō Christ, & in w^ch she is likest unto Christ, who had small rest or reputation in the world, Fulget Ecclesia non sua luce, sed Christi lumine, & splendorem sibi accescit de Sole justitiae: As the Moone shineth from the Sunne, Ambr. Hexam. Lib. 4. cap. 8. Christ himselfe had neither forme nor beauty externall to be desired: and the Church his Spouse is glorious, but within; and the eye of faith can espy glory in ignominy, Christ crowned on the Crosse▪ and a glorious shining and victory of faith through the bolts and chaines of beleevers.

Not to disesteeme the Church and Kingdome of Vse III. The Church not inferiour to her crowned enemies.Christ, as if shee were under hatches, or inferiour p. 219to those crowned enemies, which rise against her; or disabled to make her party good against them: Here consider the Church, 1. in her person, 2. head, 3. estate.

1. The Dragon hath seven crownes on his heads, 1. Not in her person.but yet a Dragon still: but this Woman is a crowned Queene, as wee have heard, ver. 1. not of noble only, but of divine descent; and crowned, not by men, with a crowne of Gold and Pearles; for so high is her estate, as shee treadeth all such trash under her feet; but by God himselfe, with a crowne of twelve Starres, the doctrine of the twelve Apostles, which is more durable, precious, glorious, and invincible, then all the crownes and kingdomes of the world. 1. They be crownes corruptible and fading; This is unwithering: 2. In them much unrighteousnesse in getting and holding; This a crown of righteousnes: 3. they are dead or dying crownes; This is a crowne of life, Revel. 2. 10. which no death commeth neare; which all the kingdomes in the world cannot put off for one day.

2. Consider the Church in her head, and there we 2. Not in her head.shall see her farre more victorious then the dragon, for all his 7. crownes: indeed the dragon is called foreign, Luke 11. 21. but in the next verse Christ is called foreign, a stronger then he. And be it that this strong mā hath a strēgth above all men, as namely of all the wicked angels; yet it is but strength created: the woman hath in her head a creating strength; for, Esay 9. 6. the Prophet calleth him …ll Gibbor, the strong God.

The dragon is called foreign, the Lord and Prince of the world; but Jesus Christ our head is above and beyond him in infinite degrees, for hee is foreign, the Lord of all, and heire of all things, Rev. 18. the dragon is potent, but our Lord is omnipotent: p. 220The dragon hath many crownes and kingdomes, but they are all shaking, and shall bee shaken to pieces; one of them prevaileth against another, and one of them is eaten of another, but on Christ his crowne shall ever flourish; his kingdome is unshaking, an everlasting kingdome, all the crownes on earth, and all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against the happines, neither of the head nor least member.

3. Consider her in her lowest and most afflicted estate, which is most questionable, even in that she is 3. Not in her lowest estate.more than a conquerour, Rom. 8. 37. Looke at her at worst, and then she is crowned; what if with a crowne of thornes, a crowne of persecution and Martyrdome, as Iob called his suffering his crowne.

1. What other crowne can the Saints expect, seeing their Lord Christ wore no other, and yet even then was he overcome?

2. God is more graciously present with them, as their crowne, and they are now more glorious than if they had a crowne of gold. If a man had seene the three children walking in the fiery furnace, and a fourth walking with them like the Sonne of God, was not this a more glorious sight then to gaze upon Nebuchadnezzars golden crowne? faith can see the faith of the Saints conquering and tormenting the tyrants, while they torment them, as Christ on the crosse tormented the devils, while they tormented and crucified him.

3 The consolations of Gods Spirit are never so neare, warme and sensible to the Saints, as in their sharpest trials, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on them, crowneth them with mercy, and sustaineth 1 Pet. 4. 15.1 Pet 4:15their hearts with such cordials and comforts, as all other crownes cannot procure.

4. The conquest and victory even in Martyrdome and suffering is a most glorious crowne, while by p. 221faith and patience they triumph over all adversities, and overcome most when they seeme most overcome; now Christ hath crowned their graces by their fiery trials: crowned his owne victory in them, and also their persons, lifting them up to sit with himselfe in his owne Chariot of triumph. A ground of patience and contentment establishing the godly minde whether it looke without or within it Vse IIII.self. 1 Without it self, while it beholdeth the prosperity and advancement of wicked men, that their wicked designes prosper for a time, and prevaile, and that mischief is so nimble & quicke, marvaile not seeing it hath all the power of hel and the world to put it forward; many hands make light worke. Psal. 37. 7. Fret not thyselfe for him that prospereth in his way, &c. If a man would compact with the dragō as they do, hee might thrive in the world, and be preferred as they. Every corporation preferreth his own citizens, and were they of the world the world would love hir owne. Neither let godly men be discouraged to see the increase of the wicked, never was the dragon so victorious; numbers fall to Atheisme, numbers to Popery, multitudes to carnall policy and selfe-seeking. God suffereth the dragon to crowne all his heads, and prevaile against those whose names are not written in the booke of life.

2. Within, the godly minde beholding his owne abasement and opposition in the world; how little of Rev. 13. 8.Rev 13:8Gods worke he can doe, how little thanke he hath for that he doth, what reproaches and wrongs hee must pocket and put up for doing his duty, might make him weary and faint if he did not apprehend the true cause of all, namely that hee must strive against many crowned adversaries, principalities and spirituall wickednesses, wicked Princes, and worldly Potentates, and wicked persons, who commonly p. 222can get the edge of the lawes, & of the sword directly bent against the kingdome of Christ and his members. It were hard if some of these seven crownes could not fetch in a godly man: for of the innocent Sonne of God himself, the Jewes could say, We have a law, and by that law he must die, John 19. 7. If they can finde none, it is easie for crowned dragons to make one, as against Daniel, and Haman against the Jewes, and Pharaoh against the Israelites. And the Saints must not be discouraged, though they are to strive with unreasonable men, that are not guided by truth, humility, charity, or Christianity; but by fury, railing, pride, pretences of law, threatning, and violence; the dragon will shew not his hornes only, but his crownes to.

See wee the wicked of the world giving up their crownes to the dragon, and with all their strength Vse V. Wee must learne to sit and hold the crowne on Christs head.and power, and authority, setting their crownes on the dragons head; wee on the contrary must learne with all our power to set up and uphold the Crown and Scepter of Christ in our selves and others, for as all the limbes of the dragon reioice to see him crowned and domineere to the ruine of the Church; so let all the children of Sion reioyce in their King, Psal 149. 2. Shall the Papists triumph and glory whē the Antichristian forces prevaile against the reformed religion, and shall not wee when the woman prevaileth against the dragon?

Quest. How may I uphold Christs Crowne and Scepter against the dragon?

Ans. 1. Cast down thy Crowne at the feet of the Lambe, and worship him that sitteth on the Throne, as the Seniors, Rev. 4. 10. this is done by 2 practices.

1. If thou deny thy selfe, and diselaime whatsoever is in thy selfe, as being void of all power and 1. Cast 'downe thy crowne at his feet.strength to attaine any thing that is good.

p. 2232. If thou ascribest all power to God and Iesus Christ of creation, and providence, of preservation, yea of finall victorie against all enemies, whom hee will make his footstoole, and set his feet upon their neckes and crownes, as Ioshua did.

II. Alow thy heart for his throne and chaire 2. Set up his th… one in thy soule.of state, that in it he may sit and command: and beware of resisting his person or entrance, or peaceable possession in thy soule. Psal. 24. open thy gates that the King of glory may enter; avoid whatsoever would hinder his peaceable entrance, or cōtinuance; especially in foure things.

1. Infidelity; for Jesus Christ is no way received but by faith, Iohn 1. 12.

2. Impenitency; he dwelleth no where but in an humble and contrite soule.

3. Raigaing sinne…, which are as iron gates and percullices to keepe out Jesus Christ out of his kingdome, and hold the sinner in rebellion against his Sove. aigne and King: where any sin raigneth, there Christ cannot raigne; and as no man can serve two contrary masters, being enemies; so no man can bee subject to two kings, enacting contrary lawes.

4. Idolatry; what communion betweene Christ and Antichrist, 2 Cor. 6. 15, 16.

III. Take the oath of allegeance to Jesus Christ to submit to his lawes willingly: David tooke this 3. Take the oath of allegeance to Christ.oath, Psal. 119. 10. I have sworne, and will performe to keepe thy righteous judgements: A seeming subject is most pernicious; such as the Pope and Jesuites have catechized to refuse the oath of allegeance to our Soveraigne, they are among us, but not of us. Such subjects to Christ are wicked men and hypocrites, Christians onelyonly in name and profession, are counterfeit; are in the Church, but not of it. 1 Joh. 2. they want all the notes of good subjects; which are,

p. 2241. To know and attend to the lawes, and word of his King: the word of the Law and the Gospell, is the municipall lawes of this kingdome, called the word of the kingdome; a good Christian will attend to the word preached, as a good subject to his Kings Proclamation.

2. To obey his lawes, yeelding obedience to the whole law, in true indeauour, so did David have respect to all the Commandements, Psal. 119. 6. and also faith and repentance to the Gospell.

3. Neither this by constraint, but as a willing people, Psal. 100 of unwilling, made willing; drawne by the Father, as the sheepe of Christ, to heare his voyce and follow him.

IIII. Resist the Dragons incroachments upon this Kings kingdome: know the enemies, the Devill, 4. Resist the dragons incroachments upon Christ.world, sinne, Pagans, Papists, Heretiques, Atheists; they would pull thee from allegeance to former slavery: furnish thy selfe with weapons against all the enemies of the kingdome, which are the word, faith, hope, love, righteousnesse, patience; especially prayer against the kingdome of darknesse, and the proceeding of the enemies of the Church: Hester must stand up and intercede for her people: let us not faile at this time. Shal the Pope injoyne a fast for the prosperity of the warres against the Church, and wee shamefully neglect it?

[And his tayle drew downe the third part of the Stars.]

Having spoken of the five properties, by which we have heard the Dragon described, wee come to the second part of the description, which is by two effects.

The former against the Starres of heaven, in this verse.

The latter against the woman, in the next verse.

For the meaning, every word is mysticall; wee p. 225must stand a while in the interpretation, in which are foure things to be considered.

First, what is meant by the Starres of heaven?

Ans. Fondly doe the Papists understand here by the dragon, Lucifer, drawing downe with him in his fall many Angels, which they say are meant by Stars of heaven, not attending the scope of the place: for I reade not in all the Scripture where Satan is called Lucifer: Calvin cals it a grosse ignorance, to father Satans name upon Isa. 14. 12. but it is called by this name, Rev. …2. 10.

1. These Starres fell to earth after Iohns prophesie, whereas they fell before mans sall.

2 These starres fell in the Church, when the battell was pitcht against the woman, but Satan fell, and his angels, before there was any Church in the world, or before there was any mention either of Christ or his Church.

3. Those fell with the dragon, these cast downe by the dragon.

4. These starres were cast downe by the dragon to the earth; from mysticall heaven to mysticall earth: but those Angels were cast downe by GOD, from heaven into hell, where they are reserved in Iude 6.Jude 1:6chaines of darknesse to the judgement of the great day, and both taken in their proper acceptation: But this place is an allusion to Dan. 8. …0 where Antiochus Epiphanes a type of Antichrist, is said to cast the starres unto earth and tread upon them: where he calleth by the name of the Host of heaven those whō our Euangelist calleth the starres of heaven, that is, the Ministers and Pastors of the Church, called by this name, as we have declared verse 1.Pastors of the Church called starres, why.

1. As they are set in their orbes by God, and receive their light from the Sunne, and move in their certaine order and station; so are these set in their severall p. 226stations, to keepe the watch of the Lord by a perpetuall decree, so long as day and night succeed one another.

2. As they shine in the darknesse of the night, so doe these give light to the Church in the darke night of this world; partly by doctrine and partly by holy example Matth 5. 14 Ye are the lights of the world, and the light of the starres is not for themselves.

3. As starres are eminent and in high place above the earth, so the Pastors and Teachers are in eminency as starres of heaven, both in themselves in respect of divine and heavenly light and gifts of wisdome and knowledge, especially of sanctitie and heavenly conversation; as also in respect of the high regard and reverent respect which faithfull Pastors have amongst true beleevers: for as they have the highest place in the Church of God; so, walking worthy their place, they have the highest place in the hearts of beleevers. Now these starres set by God in their orbs, shining in so high place, are said to be drawne downe, and throwne to the earth.

11. The second thing in the meaning is, How the starres are said to be cast downe to the earth?

Ans. To fal frō heaven to earth, here is not to be taken literally, but it is in matter of religion to fall frō Starres fall from heaven to earth, Three wayes.a heavenly profession and hope, to carnall and earthly counsels and courses, and then the Pastors are said to fall from heaven to earth, when they fall backe in their 1. judgement, 2. affection, 3. practice and conversation.

1 Then in judgement they fall and faile, when 1. In Iudgement.the light that was in them is turned to darknesse; when they turne away from divine and heavenly truth, to errours, lies, mens fancies and traditions, to doctrines of libertie, to please carnall mindes, and turne from substance to superstition.

p. 2272. When in affection they change the love of the 2. In affectionword into the love of the world; they affect the winning of wealth and ease, above the winning of soules: in stead of minding divine studies, to save themselves and others, now they minde earthly things: in stead of the love of Christ which they seemed to professe and expresse in feeding his I ambes now they are carried with selfe-love, seeking and feeding themselves only: here is a lamentable …all of starres from heaven to earth.

3. When in practice they exchange their godlines 3. In practice.with gaine, their piety and sanctimonie into earthlinesse, covetousnesse and worldlinesse; their conversation which seemed, and should have beene in heaven, into earthly, fleshly, and unfruitfull courses: This is a woefull fall of the starres, which have lost their station, as pernicious to the Church, and to thē selves as if the starres in heaven should fall upon the earth.

III But how, or by what meanes could the dragon cast downe such excellent men, that shined by By the dragons tayle what is meant.the light of holy doctrine, and conversation, as bright as the starres in the heavens.

Ans. By his taile: by which word are there implied all those base artes, & wicked instruments, & meanes Cauda est, 1. Naturalis pars anima…is. Exo. 4. 4 2 Metaphorica, Deut. 18 15. pro ignobili, imbecilli, vili. 3. Mystica, Apoc 9. 10. & in hoc loco.Exod 4:4Deut 18:15Rev 9:10by which the dragon casts down the stars, and these are three, which the word most expresly implieth.

1. By force and tyranny: Dragons have more force in their tayles than in their jawes; and therefore this is a figurative speech, befitting the nature of a dragon, when by the rage of persecution and bitter war, and wrath, by their fire and sword, and cursed cruelty, the dragon forces many of the Pastors, who had shined, and ought still to have done in their places, to fal frō their shine frō their doctrine, holy professiō, holy conversatiō, first to corrupt & earthly doctrine, p. 228then to corrupt and earthly life and behaviour, such as other men of earthly mindes and professions, have undertaken and expressed.

2. By flattery and insinuations, by which, as by a dragons tayle the Pastors were beaten downe: for as dogs do use to fawne and flatter their masters with their taile; so the dragon not by open force onelyonly, but by secret fraud and insinuation assaileth the stars; namely by many faire promises, and sugred perswasions, making offers of wealth and preferment, favor, and what else the world can bestow on her favorites; by which meanes hee drew many ambitious, pompous, and c…vetous teachers from their former study, and care in propagating the truth, and from their diligence and labour in advancing the salvation of men unto earthly studies and cares how to build their owne houses, and feather their owne nests, not caring that Gods house lay waste.

3. By poyson and infection: much poyson lieth in the taile of a serpent, the dragon poysoned a great number more with heresie, and poysoned opinions, against the truth of Christian religion, for which end he daily stirreth up heretikes, and false apostles, and false teachers, who being furnished with all arts to deceive, draw a number of the starres away, from sound and heavenly truth, into the apostasie of earthly and impious doctrines, cleane contrary to the Scripture, and to the person, natures, and offices of Jesus Christ. Thus the Prophet Isay 9. 15. saith, The false prophet which teacheth lies, is the taile: calling him so in foure respects.

1. For basenesse and contempt: let them beare False Prophets called the Taile in 4. respects.themselves aloft in conceit of their wit and learning, and others admiration of them.

2. For their base flattery and playing the parasites, and sawning upon patrons and Princes, as dogs p. 229on their masters with their tailes, for a bone or a crust.

3. For their inconstancy and mobility, as a dogs taile wags and moves easily on this side and that, so they in their doctrine and conversation are here & there, and buzzing every where for an advantage.

4. Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects, for as venomous beasts hide their venome in their tailes, by which on occasion they doe much hurt and mischiefe; so false and corrupt teachers, by eloquence, sophistry, and base shifts hide the poison of false and erronious doctrine, by which they infect and taint the Church of God: for which cause, Isa 59. 5. false doctrine is compared to the egges of Aspes, which if they bee eaten bring most present death; and broken, sendeth forth a Basiliske: that is, is most perniciòus, both Autoribus, to those that invent and devise them; and also Auditoribus, to those that receive and digest them: it bringeth eternall destruction to both as certainly as if they should eate the egge of a Basiliske, which is most deadly of all serpents, slaying men onelyonly with her sight and poysonfull vapours that sparkle out of her eyes.

In the times next after the Apostles, at which the The best interpietation of a prophesie i, the accomplishment of it.spirit of God here more expresly aymeth, how the imperiall dragon bestirred himselfe, and how many starres he drew down, stories are not silent to relate.

1. Infinite numbers by persecution, as Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 3. when wicked Dioclesian commanded the Christians oratories to be demolished and laid even with the ground, the Scriptures to be burnt, the Bishops to bee cast in prison, and compelled by torments to renounce Christianity, and offer unto Idols; many suffered death constantly: Sed alij infiniti animis prae formidine perculsi facile post primum impetum p. 230prorsus tandem succubuerunt.

In the seventh persecution under Decius, we read of Serapion and Nichomacus, who through their tyranny renounced Christianity; and Cyprian de lapsis lib. 2 cap. 8. mentioneth Ena…stus a Bishop in Aftrike, and Nicostratus a Deacon, who made shipwracke of faith, and as starres fell for feare from heaven to earth.

2. Many starres were throwne downe by the flattery and faire perswasions of this imperiall dragon. How faithfull Policar…e was by Ir…narchus Herodes, and his father N…cetas taken up into the Chariot, going In that fourth persecution under Antoninus Verus.to judgment, and perswaded to favour himselfe and his old age; and sweare by the Emperours good fortune, which he resisted, appeares, Euseb. Hist. li. 4. cap. 1…. And …liny in an Epistle to Trajan Emperor, enformeth him that he had a Libell containing such names as were wonne from Christianity, and content to doe sacrifice with incense, and wine to the gods, and to Trajans Image, & to blaspheme Christ: And how infinite a number were won from Christianity, in the last presecution under Dioclesian, were easie out of stories to recite.

3. Many more were throwne downe with the porsonfull taile of the dragon, namely of heresies and false doctrines: for the horse which was white for integrity of Apostolicall doctrine, was not only red by bloody persecutions of tyrants against Christians; but was shewed to be blacke for the mournfull and sad estate of the Church, by reason of many and Revel 6. 5.Rev 6:5mighty heretikes, who all of them by all their wit and strength obscured the light and truth of Scriptures, and shooke asunder with the foundation of religion the faith of many: every yeare of the first three hundred producing some monstrous heresie or other; amongst which that damnable Arrianisme p. 231had so poysoned all the world, as it seemed but one Arrian; and so prevailed against the starres, as there were scarce five Orthodox Bishops in the world, & Athanasius the chiefe of them ill intreated and banished; yea so poysonfull was the taile of the dragon, that the ancient fathers that lived in those times, neare the Apostles, had almost beene drawne away, and hardly escaped. Witnesse Ireneus inclined to Chiliasts, or Millinaries: Tertullian a Montanist, Origen caried away into many foule errours, much discommended by Ierome, &c.

Fourthly, in the meaning: Is the number of the stars cast downe by the Dragon, not all, but a third part; an indefinite part put for a great number, that seemed holy men and zealous, and stood in the firmament of the Church in great shining and brightnes, were cast downe with the Dragon.

Quest. Why did hee not cast downe all?

Ans. Not all; because he cannot cast downe any of All the starres not cast downe: Three Reasons. Ecclesia est cor mundi, primum vivens, & ultimum moriens.the elect or fixed starres: it is impossible to seduce any of them.

Secondly, not all: for then hee had cast downe the whole Church depending upon them; for there must be a Church so long as the world continueth.

Thirdly, not all: because many of them were held in Christs right hand, Chap. 1. 16. and none of those can hee cast downe; for none can take them out of his hand. But a third part, he cause they were not upheld by Christ, but left unto themselves and their owne strength, and to temptation; and so, soone by the power of the Dragon cast downe: for no man ever stood long against the Dragon by his owne strength: Commit thy selfe in tryall to Gods hand and power: pray with David, Uphold me Lord, and I shall be safe.

The chiefe ayme of the Dragon is against the Ministers p. 232and faithfull Pastors of the Church, that The chiefe aime of the dragon is to cast down the starres.hee may throw downe to earth the starres of heaven.

It is true, he is fierce and furious against all godly mē, of all cōditions, & scorneth not a cōquest against the weakest and meanest Christian; but his speciall malice is intended against godly Ministers, such as in higher places, as in their orbes, shine as starres in piety, faith, fortitude, and sincerity of doctrine and life.

1 Kings 22. 21 He offereth himselfe to be a lying spirit in the mouth of Abahs Prophets; and striketh downe with his taile 400 at once: Zach. 3. 1. Satan stood at Ioshuas right hana to hinder him and resist him in his Ministery.

Luke chap. 22. verse 31. the dragon desired to winnow the Apostles as wheat how he resisted the Apostles in all their Ministery, appeareth in the whole Storie of their Acts, and in their Epistles, 1 Thess. 2. 18. we would have come to you once or twice but Satan hundred us.

How the starres were cast downe by imperiall dragons, we have shewed: in after ages how the starres were cast downe in the church of Rome according to that prophesie: Revel 6. 13. they should fall as the leaves of a figtree shaken with a mighty winde.

When their pompous Prelates, Cardinals, Patriarkes, How many starres in the Romish church were cast downe.and Popes, forsaking and giving up their office of preaching, became earthly Princes, studying policies and lawes, and imployed themselves not in Pulpits, but on seats of justice in disciding mens civill inheritances, and in matters of state; yea, and whereas they should have laboured and confined themselves to the Gospell of peace; not onelyonly maintained, but also often in person acted civill warre and p. 233bloodshed, and leaving the simplicity of the servants and Ministers of Christ, they take on them the state and pompe of Princes, in Princely Palaces, Princely revenues, Princely diet, Princely attendants, Princely pleasures of hunting, hawking, dicing, &c.

Now the starres are falne from heaven, and from their heavenly function to earth, viz to the seeking and enioying earthly pleasures, profits and imployments, in which no secular man can bee more busie. Carnall things are all they care for, and all they savour, and now they are become like other worldlings, called the Inhabitants of earth; and our owne experience giveth too many testimonies to this truth, in which the dragons taile hath prevailed to draw away many shining starres, men once of learning, zeale and industry, but now through their owne worldlinesse, greedinesse, ambition, or though their owne feare, flattery, or threatning of times, are growne mere politicians and worldlings, scarce retaining any savour of their former zeale and grace; perhaps zealous against nothing more than grace and zeale.

The dragon is therefore more especially furious against the starres, because of their shining and Reason.light of grace above others. Where grace is more abounding, there the dragons envie more aboundeth; the more bountifull Gods hand and eye is, the more envious is his; the richer the booty is, the more audaciously will the thiefe adventure for it. A starre of the sixt and smallest magnitude in respect of place and gifts, if hee shine faithfully shall not escape the dragons assault; but his chiefe ayme is against the starres of the first & second magnitude, since the Apostles, his taile is most stirring against them, as Luther, Calvin, Beza, p. 234Perkins, men in their times of incomparable light of learning and sanctity, and yet how now cast downe and darkned by the dragon?

Because God hath specially appointed the function Luke 10. 17. Reas. 2.Luke 10:17on of the Ministery to batter the kingdome of the dragon, 2 Thess. 2. last. Ioshua 16. 20. and to advance the Scepter of Christ. It is no marvell that seeing they most hinder his purposes, & kingdome, that hee by all meanes hinder, crosse, and cast them downe, as Moses by Ia…as, &c.

His universall malice to mankinde, who, he being the prince of darknesse, would keepe in a perpetuall Reas. 3night of sinne and darknesse, and therefore with the uttermost of his power would withhold from them all the shine of the Sunne, Moone and Starres; he can afford them no light at all of holy doctrine, or holy example: If he can change the light with darknesse, how great is that darknesse?

His despight to God, whom he would have most dishonoured by his chiefe and next servants, of whō Reas. 4.he justly expecteth most honour and service; if hee can bring it about, none shall betray the Sonne of God, but his owne Disciple, and none shall so much pull downe the kingdome of Christ, as the master builders that should set it up

The hight of the starres: his policy hath taught him, that if he can cast them downe hee throweth Reas. 5.many downe with them; if he can winne Aaron, he is sure of all the people to make and worship the Calfe; they are Leaders, if he can mislead them, hee misleadeth a multitude in every one of them: they are Shepheards, if hee smite them with his taile the sheepe are scattered: They are Standard bearers, if he can cast downe the Standard the bands are soone defeated. Cedars fall not alone but many shrubs are crushed with their fall Besides, hee knoweth their fals p. 235are more scandalous, more exemplary; and that they who in goodnesse will neither follow rule nor example, will make their example in evill a rule sufficient. Besides, he knoweth that as a man falling from a great hight seldome riseth againe, or not without great hurt; so these falling from holy and heavenly doctrine to humane constitutions, to externall ceremonies and worldly contentments; seldome or never rise to any good service, but prove greatest enemies of all.

To teach the starres watchfulnesse against this sly, Use. 1.busie, wrigling taile of the dragon, which maketh the lives of godly Ministers very troublesome.

Q. How may wee prevent the hurt from them?

Ans. 1. By preparing 'for persecution and triall, How the stars may prevent their casting downe, by five practices.2 Tim 2. 3. suffer afflictions as a good souldier of Jesus Christ. Act. 20. 24. Paul was ready to goe to Jerusalem though nothing but bonds did await him. The starre keepeth his place be it never so much beset with cloudes, and windes, and tempests; forecast then, the first in any storme against the Church, is the sincere preacher, he is in the foreward and face of the enemy.

2. Love not the world, deny thy selfe, let the world be crucified to thee, & thou to the world, else wert thou a companion of the Apostles, as Demas, or an Apostle or Disciple at the side of Christ, the taile of the dragon will cast thee to the earth; why else did learned men change with the times?