A Map of Rome, Sermon 2

A Map of Rome · Sermon 2

p. 29ROMISH EDOM.

Amos 1.11, 12.

Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Edom, and for foure, I will not turne to it, because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pitie, and his anger spoyled him euermore, and his wrath watched him alway.

Therefore will I send a fire vponupon Teman, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Bozrah.

IN these verses is contained the fourth example of Gods seuere iudgement against the neighbour nations of his people Israel: namely vponupon the Edomites, which dwelt in Arabia, and confined vponupon the South coast of Iudea. Wherein wee will obserue three generall poynts.

1 A threatning: For three transgressions of Edom, Diuision of the text.and for foure, I will not turne to it.

2 The equitie of it: Because hee pursued his brother, &c.

3. The execution of iudgement, vers. 12. Therefore will I send a fire, &c.

I. First of the threatning:Exposition. For three transgressions of Edom, and for foure:] Here is a certaine number put for an vncertaine: and it may be considered either ioyntly, and so three …nd foure make seuen,Numerus septenarius iuxta aliquos est numerus …rf…ctus. and then by this number is vnderstood, first, the multitude and magnitude of p. 30their wickednesses, being in ripenesse and perfection: secondly, the greatnesse and heauinesse of their punishment, as Leuit. 26.21. I will punish you seuen times more for your sinnes. Or seuerally: and then this is the sense: If after once or twice their prouoking of me they had returned, I was readie to returne and giuegive them pardon: but now the fourth time prouoking me, that is, going on in sinne still, and adding obstinacie and impenitencie to their sinne, I will beare them no longer.

Here note by the way, that the Lord is not suddenly moued to punish euen his enemies. He speakes to a man (saith Iob) twice and thrice. Iob. 33.14.Job 33:14But after men a long time hauehave persisted with obstinacie in diuers and grieuous sinnes, then at length he reckoneth for many together: thereby manifesting both his patience in forbearing, and his iustice in smiting.

I will not turne to it.] First, I will not turne my selfe any more in my louelove, nor by my Spirit, vntounto them: I will not offer my selfe in patience to expect them any more. Secondly, I will not turne them to my selfe by repentance, but leaue them to themselues, to enioy their sinnes so many and so enormious, till my swift and seuere iudgement ouertake them.

Note here, that of all iudgements the most seuere is to be left and forsaken of God; when he is so farre prouoked as he will not returne. This one threat (I will not turne to it) is an epitome of all miserie.

II. Now of the equitie. These Idumeans were stubbornly wicked, and heaped vp sinne vponupon sinne. But especially they are here threatned because of their crueltie and fiercenesse against the Church of God, set downe in foure particulars: 1. In respect of the persons: He pursued his brother. Esau was the naturall brother to Iacob, yea a twinne of the same wombe at the same time; so as the Edomites and Israelites were cousin-germans, of two brethren, Esau and Iacob: yet as Esau hated his brother extremely, with deadly hatred plotting his death, euer after p. 31he got the blessing from him: so was this imbred hatred deriued into his posteritie against the posteritie of Iacob, forgetting they were brethren, and of brethren. Therefore it is said, he cast off all pitie, and put off all humanitie, naturall affection and all bowels were laid aside: so is the word, violating euen the law of nature. N…. ham…n.2. In respect of the extent of his wrath: it turned to fiercenesse and crueltie, no sparke of compassion left; called furie and rage, Psal. 137.3. while they cried, Downe with it, downe with it, euen to the ground. 3. In respect of the effects: which in the text are two: first, sword and slaughter: secondly, spoyle and robberie: They spared neither life, nor goods, but as theeues both slew and rifled them. 4. In respect of the time: His anger was euermore, and his wrath alway; as a cruell beast hauing taken his prey will neuer let it goe: so Edom neuer let Israel goe free, no time wasted his wrath, which continued, perpetuall, and irreconciliable. Obiect. There was often truce and peace betweene them. Answ. No: in warre he spoyled, in peace he watched him, saith the text.Gal. 4.29.Gal 4:29 Thus he that is after the flesh persecutes him that is after the spirit with an endlesse hatred; the wicked, the elect; the Edomites, the Israelites.

III. The third generall is the execution of iudgement: Therefore I will send a fire] God will send. God reuengeth his. Fire in Scripture is vsually put for a most grieuous plague, by sword, or famine, or pestilence.foreign. Or we may take it in the letter, fire, that is, extreme slaughter and desolation, eating vp the countrey as fire doth stubble. For fire is a name of efficacie as well as of nature: as Num. 21.28. A fire is gone out of Hesbon, and a flame out of Sihon, that is, the enemie wasting the fields and countrey, as an outragious fire. VponUpon Teman] The Metropolis of Idumea, so called of Teman the sonne of Eliph…s, the sonne of Esau, Gen. 36. Palaces of Bozrah.] A citie in the borders betweene Moab and Idumea: sometime ascribed to one people, and sometime to the other, for their vicinitie. This notes the extent of the iudgement, which shall reach to p. 32the vttermost border of Edom, no part shall escape. This iudgement is at large described, Obad. 10.11. Thy strong men, O Teman, shall be afraid, because eueryevery one of mount Esau shall be cut off by slaughter: for thy crueltie against thy brother Iacob, shame shall couer thee, and thou shalt be cut off for euer.

So much for the sense of the words: Now to the application.

Edom is a speciall type of the kingdome of Antichrist, aboue all other the enemies here threatned,Antichrist resembled by Edom. who were all more open, lesse hurtfull and hatefull. The Hebrewes thinke, that the Romans came of the Idumeans: how true that is, I will not dispute: Sure I am, if they bee not of the naturall discent, they are of the spirituall (or vnnaturall) and so like as by the one wee may see the expresse picture of the other: that looke as it is said in Gen. 36.8. This Esau is Edom, so wee may as truly say, This Romish and Antichristian Esau is Edom. The similitude betweene them we will consider, 1. In their persons: 2. In their sinnes: 3. In their iudgement.

First, for their persons they are as like as like may be; in foure respects:Antichrist and Edom like in their persons, foure waies. 1. Esau stroue with Iacob in the womb: whereof when Rebecca asked the Lords counsell, the answer was, Two manner of people shall be diuided out of thy 1bowels. Noting a continuall fight in the wombe of the Church.Gen. 25.23.Gen 25:23 No marueile, if the Esau of Rome striue now against the Church, seeing euen in the wombe, before hee was borne into the light, he stroue to hinder the birth of the Church in the daies of the Apostles: for Antichrist worketh already, 2. Thess. 2.7. although the Romane Empire held him then by the heele, and hindred his birth: but not long after he was borne into the world, and the 2man of sinne reuealed, vers. 8. 2. Esau was red, and therefore called Edom, betokening his bloody dis…osition: And the Romish Edom is figured by a woman in skarlet, and a purple whore, whose garments are died in the blood of the Saints; wherwith she also her self is drunken, …. 17.6. p. 333. Esau was rough, hairie as a beast; which betokened 3his sauage, truculent, and cruell nature: so a right owner of mount Seir. Besides, he was a mightie hunter, as hungrie as an hunter, rauenous, insatiable:Verse 30. Lagnat. feed me (saith he) or let me swallow at once thy pottage: so the word signifies: as Camels are fed by casting gobbets into their mouthes. The Romish Edom and kingdome of Antichrist is described (Reuel. 13.1.) by an hideous and monstrous beast, which was like a Leopard, most cruell, vntamed, and most hurtfull to mankinde, which (as Basil reports) will most furiously teare in peeces men, yea a paper that hath but the image of a man. This beast of Rome is likest vntounto the diuel, who prosecutes with most deadly hatred the image of God in man. The feete of this beast are like Beares feete, for roughnesse, and crueltie, and tearing: and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, for rauening and deuouring of Christian men: which the lamentation of the whole Christian world can better expresse than my words, or all Rhetoricke in the world. This was prophecied of Esau in his fathers blessing, Gen. 27.40. Thou shalt liue by the sword: so did the Idumeans, a sauage and cruell people. So do the Romish Idumeans only support themselues by fire and sword, the surest arguments when all other meanes faile. Intimated also by the ten hornes. 4. Esau was a cauiller at Iacobs name, and a liar, in that he said he had taken away the blessing and birthright, both 4which, himselfe had passed away; and a false perfidious person, who, though he sold the birthright, and passed it away by an oath, yet he made but a scoffe at it, and had no purpose to performe it: nay he contriued and hatched the death and murther of his brother, if once the daies of his fathers mourning would come, so to recouer his birthright againe. The Romish Edom will not allow the true Church of Christ the name of Christ, but calles the religion by which we worship the God of our fathers, Acts 24.14.Acts 24:14heresie. He hath passed away his right to the blessing, by being the head of Apostasie, and complaines that we challenge p. 34it. He is false and perfidious, no way to be held to any promise, by oaths or vowes, but he hath euer a secret tricke or reseruation,N…n obstante. to play fast or loose at his pleasure. Hence the beast is said to hauehave seuen h…ads, that is, fulnesse of fraud and subtiltie, to ouer-reach and abuse the Church of Christ: and, to recouer his power againe, will plot the death of so many Kings and Kingdoms as stand in his way.

Thus are they like in respect of their persons.

…tichrist and Edom like in their sinnes.Secondly, they are as like in respect of their sinnes: that the Lord may say, For three transgressions of the Romish Edom▪ and for foure, I will neuer returne to it in merciemercy, 1. Prophanenesse.but will send a fire and vtter desolation. One transgression is prophanenesse, as Esau preferring the present profits and pleasures of this world, yea their belly before true religion:Quid non regina pecuma donat? and now all sinnes are set to sale; any thing lawfull for mony; they can pardon for mony that which God will neuer pardon, yea and sinnes before they bee committed.2. Idolatrie. Another transgression of Romish Edom is idolatrie, as base idolatrie as euer was in Edoms posteritie; which hath quite cut them off from God, who for their spirituall whoredome will neuer returne to them any more.3. Merits. A third transgression, for which God will neuer returne to it, is vaine confidence in their owne merits, which cuts them from Christ, and quite casts them out of Gods fauour:4. Crueltie. Gal. 5.4. The fourth, and last transgression is deadly and endlesse crueltie against the people of God, and the Church of Christ: as the Lord would not returne to Edom especially for his extreme crueltie against his brother, in word and deed, neuer dated, by sword and spoyle euermore.

Now that this is a sinne in these Romish Edomites, for which God will neuer returne vntounto them, let vsus see in our owne glasse, and compare Edoms crueltie in the text with our owne Champions of Antichrist, and Dukes of the Romish Edom: and wee shall see the face, fauour, affection of the one in the other: nay we shall see old Edom p. 35red, but our late Edomites in skarlet, of a farre deeper dye in blood than they.

They are like one another in that:Crueltie of our Edomites and old Edomites compared. 1. Old Edom pursued his brother, to whom all naturall bonds did binde him, and to whom he owed homage: New Edom pursued neerer brethren than they. Iudea was but a neighbour to Idumea (neere neighbours indeede, but fortie 1miles from Ierusalem, and so in all humanitie should hauehave been louing to them:) but these were neerer than neighbours, vipers within our owne mothers bowels, bound to our Common-wealth in all bonds of loyaltie and subiection, as Edom should hauehave been an homager to Iudea, being subdued by Dauid, 1. Chron. 18.13. yet against all lawes of God, na…u…e, and nations they crie, Downe with it, &c. 2. Edoms chiefe spight was not against any ignoble place, or village, but against Ierusalem the citie of 2God, for pleasure a paradise, for spatiousnesse sixe miles about,Iosephus. for multitude of people fifteene hundred thousand inhabitants, for beautie the eye of the world. Adde hereunto the Temple, the Sanctuarie, Aarons Rod, Vrim, sacrifices, praises and worship, whereby it became Gods delight. Yet old Edom cries, Downe with it, downe with it euen to the ground. The same was the voyce and practice of our late Edomites, against our Ierusalem the eye of the world, against our Temple, Church, State, and Land; they strucke at the heart, and sought to let out the life-blood. 3. Old Edom, when strangers cast lots vponupon Ierusalem, was as one of them, Obad. 11. that is, when Babel made sure of 3Ierusalem, Edom being too weake of himselfe ioyned with Babel, and, when the Babylonians entred, Edom was farre more cruell than they: for, whereas Babel would hauehave been contented with the citie and the spoyle, the Edomites would not be contented but with blood: for so saith the Prophet, Thou shouldest not hauehave stood in the crosse waies to cut off them that should escape. Obad. 14.Obad 1:14Our late Edomites, when the Spanyards or any enemie should cast lots vponupon England, were as they: and, that nothing but p. 36blood would serue them, appeared not only in the bloody terrible blow, but also by standing in the crosse waies, readie prepared to the slaughter when the blow should be giuen. 4. Old Edom spared none, he shewed no pitie to 4his brother, but was altogether without naturall affection: And these vnnaturall Edomites were pitilesse, not onelyonly to such as they made their enemies, but euen to their friends, allies, kindred, both in the flesh and in their faith. For one asking the question what should become of the Catholikes in the House, &c. Answer was made, they would send them all to heauen in a fierie chariot, and so prouide for their ease.

Yong Edomites with vsus farre surpasse the old in crueltie: fiue arguments.But will you see wherein old Edom was farre inferiour in crueltie to the late Edomites? All Arts (they say) are growne to perfection of late daies: and so is the art of Iesuitical rebellion and treason. These Iesuites or Esauites goe beyond all their predecessors in their art. As for example. 11. Neuer was any wickednesse acted so cruell, but a man by studie could giuegive it a fit name, as the Spanish Inquisition, the Massacre in France, the butcherie of the Merindolians, all by Papists. But this was so matchlesse a crueltie, as no name can fit it: a chaos of confusion, a masse of euill,The powder-plot a villany without name. a sinke, a roote of mischiefe, a contempt of all laws, diuine & humane; it was eueryevery thing that hath any wickednes in it, perfidiousnes, robbery, sacriledge, homicide, parricide, fratricide, regicide, idolatrie, paganisme; the whole traine of iniquitie, and diuellishnes it self in the Abstract; a Catholike crueltie, a crying, a roring, yea a thundring sinne of fire and brimstone, as his Maiestie calles it, in his speech, 1605. 2. Edoms indeede was an 2vnnaturall crueltie: but they were heathens, without the true knowledge of God. These late Edomites professe religion, and such a religion as out-boasteth all in sanctitie and piety: nay, they were their religious men. Obiect. Why, but they were but a few vnfortunate Gentlemen. Answ. Happie wee they were so vnfortunate. But these were but the lesse wheeles: Catesby, Faux, Percy, and p. 37their fellowes were but petty traytors, nimble and actiue as mischiefe vseth to be; but the Priests and Iesuites were the great wheeles, which not seeming to moue, moued them. But what should moue these? Answ. That ponderous and waighty plummet and Lead, the Popes Breue.The Popes leadden Bull sets all mischiefe on worke. For the primus m…tor of all these treasons is the Pope and Popery it selfe. Faux in his confession said it was meerely and only for religion, and for his conscience sake, denying the King to be his Soueraigne, as being an hereticke: and, for reliefe of the Catholique cause: and, hee had heard Masse and receiued the Sacrament, for acting the matter and for secrecie. 3. Edom exercised his cruelty by open 3warre, wherein either warning to prepare, or intreaty, or truce, or flight, or deliuering the Citie vp, might hauehave satisfied the enemie, and saued their liues. But these Edomites (more cruell then euer any Scythian) digged out of the depth a pit of mischiefe, yea out of the bottome of hell; no more league could be made with them than with hell it selfe, or the graue which is inexorable. Olde Edom ioyned with Babylonians, men whose designes might hauehave beene preuented: Late Edom ioyned himselfe with furies and hellish ghosts in the caues of darknesse, digging a new hell of sulphurious fire, with wide mouth to open it selfe, and deuoure three Kingdomes at once. Olde Edom cried of Ierusalem, Downe with it, downe with to the ground: young Edom would raise it from vnderunder ground. 4. Olde 4Edom, although they shewed no pitie to their brethren, yet they spared Zedekiah the King, and the Prophet Ieremiah, and many Nobles liues whom they carried into Babel. Our young Edomites spared neither King, who had neuer drawne blood of them for their religion, nor Queene, nor Prince, nor Nobles, nor Counsell, nor Iudges, nor Bishops, nor Gentrie, nor young, nor olde, no not their owne; the stroke of the blow had beene like the blow of Duke Medina his sword, of which he professed, his sword knew no difference between Catholicks & hereticks. 5. Old Edom raised but the materiall walls of the p. 385Citie and Temple: these digge to blow vp the foundation not onelyonly of stately Palaces, but of all Churches, and of the whole Common-wealth: especially that foundation layd in Syon, of Gods pure worship: And, rather than this true religion shall stand on the foundation, his Maiestie defending it, his Nobles guarding it, his Lawes strengthening it, the Ministerie preaching it, and his Subiects professing it, all shall by one vnexpected and terrible blow be vtterly and pittilesly destroyed: and, when they had done this, they would like honest men lay it all on the Pu…itanes, whose throats must be all cut for it.

Vse. 1 That religion good, which Antichrist persecutes.This speaks for our religion, that certainly it is Christs, seeing Antichrist and his limmes doe so rage against it. It was Gods Israel, his sonne, his Lot, his hallowed thing, which Edom was so cruell against. Therefore wee say of Romish Edom as Tertullian said of Nero, That religion must needes be good which Nero so persecuteth, which the Pope so persecuteth.

Vse 2. Bloody religion, wicked religion.To detect and detest so wicked and bloody a religion, set vp by subtilty, held vp by violence and cruelty: for it is not from the bad constitution of their persons, but of their doctrine, and refined religion by the fiery wits of late Iesuites and Priests; as I can cleare in an hundred seuerall positions of theirs, if there were any doubt. Christ would not hauehave his Disciples call for …i…e from heauen against that Citie which receiued him not,Luk. 9.54.55.Luke 9:54Luke 9:55 as Elias did: Much lesse may they bring a sparke from hell, to blow vp three Kingdomes at once.

Vse 3.To blesse our God for deliuering vsus from that intended cruelty, and neuer forget his wonderfull mercy. Oh happie 5. of Nouember, wherein our Sunne should hauehave been turned into blood; wherein our name should hauehave beene ch…nged into Ichabod; wherein had beene set vp againe the abhomination of desolation. 1. Sam. 4.21.1 Sam 4:21A day when the great Citie should hauehave beene a Beacon to all the land, and all the … to the whole world. A day which should hauehave burnt … an Ouen, Mal. 4.1. What had a Bonfire of 200. in one p. 39day beene to this? The Massacre of France, in which thirtie thousand were murdered in one monethmonth, had beene but a play vntounto it. Farnesius might now hauehave had his minde fulfilled, and hauehave ridden his horse to the saddle in English blood. But God for his owne Name sake turned it into an honourable and glorious day, a day of ioy and gladnesse to all true-hearted English-men.

When Esau came with 400. men toward his brother Iacob, minding no doubt to performe his long-intended malice, God so ordered the matter, that he was not able to giuegive him an ill word. Why? what was the reason? Iacob had all night before wrasted with the Angell, and preuailed, and got a blessing from him, which was, Thou hast preuailed with God, thou shalt also preuaile with men. Gen. 32.28.Gen 32:28The cause why Romish Esau being appointed and all prepared, could not hurt an haire of our heads, was, that some wrastled with God by prayer, and left him not till he had giuen vsus the blessed deliuerance. The Catholiques were deuout and earnest to set it forward, so many as they durst trust, and the rest implicitè ▪ not knowing their meaning: But their prayers are like their religion, and their religion like that of the deuout women, who raised Tragedies against Paul. Well, when Iezabell proclaimes a Fast,Acts 13.50.Acts 13:50 let Naboth looke to his Vineyard. When Catholiques are deuout, and busie at their Beads, let vsus looke to our selues; Wee neede not feare those weapons, but other that are a preparing. It is the wisedome of a prudent Captaine that feares an vndermining, to vndermine and preuent the mischiefe by a crosse traine: and so was famous Vi…nna preserued against the Turkes. If Papists lay secret vndermining traines, to ouerthrow vsus, prayer and repentance will be a crosse traine, that vndermines the vnderminers. If we can preuaile with God, we shall be sure to preuaile with men.

Thus farre of Edoms sinne: Now of Edoms punishment, and the similitude of it with our Edomites.

Edoms punishment is set downe in the Text, 1. By the p. 40certainty,Antichrist and Edom like in their punishment. 2. By the seuerity of it: It is certaine; For, 1. God will doe it, 2. He will not returne. And it is seuere; 1. Hee will send a fire, 2. A deuouring fire, vnresistable, 3. VponUpon Teman, the Metropolis or mother Citie, 4. On the Palaces of Bozrah: a fire wasting the whole land.

In all these we hauehave a liuely pourtrayture of Gods iust iudgement vponupon the Romane Edomites, which shall not be lesse certaine than seuere.

1. For certainty.The certainty of the destruction of the Kingdome of Antichrist is manifest:

I. In that the Lord will doe it: for he hath spoken it, Reuel. 17.17. The words of God must be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Babylon. Now by Babylon in that Chapter and Prophecie, is not to be vnderstood the Babel of Chaldea, neither do the threats befit that Babel, which was fallen and destroyed before: but the mysticall Babel of Rome, which succeedeth and exceedeth that in cruelty. This I will not stand to proue, because we hauehave it plainely confessed both by Bellarmine and Ribera, the learnedst of the Romish Church, that Rome present, is mysticall Babel. Iohn (saith Bellarmine) eueryevery where in the Apocalyps calleth Rome Babylon; because (saith hee) onelyonly Rome in Iohns time had the rule ouer the Kings of the earth, and secondly, was the Citie set on seauen hills, which agrees to no other Citie. What therefore I am to speake of Babylon in the Reuelation, I shall aptly and properly speake of Rome, by the learnedst of the Papists owne confession. And the reason, why the Spirit of God by allusion doth call it Babylon,Rome termed Babylon, why? is by way of similitude; Because as that Easterne and Chaldean Babylon did a long time oppresse the Church of the Iewes, so this Western and Italian Babylon hath kept, vnderunder most horrible oppression and thraldome the Church of the Christians.

This Babylon must be so certainely destroyed as if it were done already: Reuel. 14.8. It is fallen, it is fallen, saith the Angell. True indeede, it is already accomplished in part: it is fallen, 1. In the purity of doctrine, 2. In p. 41the estimation which once it had. 3. In authority: but this prophecie notes the certainety of her fall by an outward ouerthrow. And this Babilon must be certainely destroyed, because God the great Iudge of the world hath passed sentence against her, which only waites the execution; Reuel. 18.20. Reioyce ye heauens ouer her, for God hath giuen your iudgement on her. Againe, if any meanes can bring hir destruction, she shall be destroyed: If death, sorrow, famine or fire can destroy her, these shall come on one day; and if all these were vnable, the strength of God is able to pull her downe, Reuel. 18.8. for strong is the Lord, which will condemne her: Now if God set against a man who can rescue him? Iob. 33.13.14.

II. The iudgement is certaine, because, as the Lord would not returne to Edom, so neither wil he returne to Romish Edom: for, 1. He is too far prouoked: the sentence is past and therefore irreuokable. 2. This leopard, as shee is called, Reuel. 13.2. cannot change her spots. 3. Edoms teares found no repentāce, Heb. 12.16.17. no more shall these, nor by any meanes will God call back his anger.

The seuerity of Gods wrath against the Kingdome of Romish Edom is not vnproportionable to the iudgement of the Syrian Idumea. 1. In the kinde, a fire;2. For seuerity by which is signified an vtter desolation: 2. A deuouring fire, which signifies the incurablenesse of her estate, she shall neuer rise from vnderunder the iudgement. 3. The chiefe subiect is Teman, the Metropolis, signifying the vtter ruin of Rome it selfe: 4. It shall reach to the Palaces of Bozrah, noting the generality of the iudgement through all the Kingdome of Antichrist.Most probable that Rom… shall be destroyed with materiall fire, for fiue reasons.

First, the destruction of Rome shall be by terrible fire, euen in the letter it is most likely; though some of great note thinke not so: for, 1. It is said, Reuel. 17.16. the ten hornes which thou sawest, shall hate the whore, and make her desolate, and naked, and burne her with fire: and chapter p. 42118.8. she shall be burnt with fire. By which oracle of the holy Ghost it plainely appeares, that the Christian Princes, which hauehave been in such league with Rome, shall at length make warre against the very city of Rome, take it captiue, spoile it, famish it, and at last burne it with fire. 22. Harlots by the law of God were to bee burnt with fire, as we see in the example of Iudah and Thamar, Gen. 38.24. But Babylon is the mother of whordoms and abhominations of the earth, Reuel. 17.5. yea the great whore, with whom the Kings of the earth hauehave committed fornication, 3verse 2 therefore &c. 3. She as Ashur hath a long time bene the rod of Gods wrath, by which the Church hath beene scourged, and corrected for many ages: and now must bee cast into the fire, broken and burnt. 44. There is no other nitre or meane… to purge that idolatrous city: We would hauehave cured Babell, but she would not bee cured therefore she shall neuer be purged, Ierem. 51.9.Jer 51:9but all her 5drosse and trash shall passe the fire. 5. By the law of retaliation she must be consumed with fire: for whosoeuer durst mock or resist her, or any of her decreees, was presently adiudged to fire: burning was the peculiar punishment of Gods Saints, whom shee condemned for heritickes. Of Syrian Edom it was sayd, As thou hast done, it shall be donne to the, Obadi. 15.thy reward shall returne vponupon thine own head; and of the Romane. Wi…ked Papists make the furnace seuen times hotter than Nebuchadnezzars but here is a furnace heated by God himselfe for themselues. They deuise an vnnaturall fire and furnace vnderunder the Parliament, to consume the innocents of three Kingdomes: but giuegive her double (saith the Spirit) to that she hath done: first,Reuel. 18.6.Rev 18:6 ten Kings shall set vponupon her and burne her with fire, and after this, God himselfe shall cast her in to an hellish and supernaturall si…e, for all rhe cruell and blasing fires which shee hath kindled in all countries, pitil…sly to consume the bodies of God… Saints The preludiū here of was seen in our Edomite Captines; they lay fire and powder for others, but the fired powder flies in their owne face.

p. 43Obiect. Antichrist must be destroyed with the sword of the Spirit, and the breath of the Lords mouth, not by carnall weapons.

Answ. 2. Thess. 2.….2 Thess 2The cleere shining of the Gospell shall detect the mysterie, wherein Antichrist worketh, and lay him naked, and discouer his frauds, by which hee gulls the world: the truth shall warre, and preuaile against his heresies. But this hinders not,Antichrist to be ouerthrowne with the sword temporall as well as spirituall. but that the Princes of Europe (seeing the infinite wrongs sustained by him) shall ioyne to set the seate of Antichrist on fire: considering the Scripture affirmes it so manifestly, as euen the Papists themselues subscribe to the generall truth of it: for these be the words of Ribera: Romam non solùm ob pristinam impi…tatem, sed & propter ea quae postremis temporibus commissura est, magno incendio perflagraturam, adeo perspicuum est & manifestum, vt ne stultissimus quidem id negare possit. And the text is plaine, that the Kings, Marriners, and Merchants shall stand and see the smoake of her burning, Reuel. 18.9.

Obiect. But this seemes impossible: for we see Kings and Princes sticke fast to support her, as Spaine, France, and many Kings of Europe.

Answ. God can and will doe it,Euen by Kings that are or were his friends. who hath horses and chariots of fire to besiege her withall, if meanes should faile. But God will doe it by them, Reuel. 17.17. For he hath put into their hearts, to fulfill his will. And by many meanes God can effect it: 1. Hee can soone conuert them from their Antichristian and Papisticall superstitions to the truth, as sundrie of them are already. 2. It may be, that sundrie of them which yet retaine Romish idolatrie, may for some other causes turne against the Pope and waste Rome, as for his vniust claimes, his horrible pride and tyrannie, his treasonable practices against them, pardons to kill them, &c. and thus by Charles the 8. and Lewis the 12. Kings of France, was Rome sacked and spoyled, and the Pope opposed: as also by Charles the 5. his armie. And is this vnlikely, when not onelyonly the Popes p. 44Agents and Priests shall giuegive the Sacrament and absolution to gunpowder-traytors? but Iesuites teach it lawfull, yea meritorious to kill Christian princes, nay Popes themselues so proclaime it, as Sixtus Quintus of the villaine that murthered Henry the 3. of France.

Obiect. But then this prophecie may seeme to be in part fulfilled.

Ouerthrow of Rome not partiall, but totall.Answ. No, this fire of Edom must be a deuouring fire (which is the other part of the similitude) that must quite consume Teman the Metropolis: so this first against Rome must be as a fore-runner of the fire of hell, it must be vnquenchable, and agreeing with that fire of the Syrian Edom: Obad. 18. A fire shall be kindled in Edom, and deuoure them, and there shall be no remnant of the house of Esau: for the Lord hath spoken it. This ruine of Rome shall be like the ruine of Iericho, which can neuer bee re-edified: and is notably shadowed in Reuel. 18.21. by the casting of a milstone into the sea: noting both the swiftnesse and irrecouerablenesse of their estate, no more to be raised againe than a milstone can rise out of the bottome of the sea and float againe. Yea the eternall desolation of Rome is noted by denying such things to be euer any more in her, which a citie cannot be without, viz. A milstone shall not be heard in her, nor the light of a candle seene, nor any crafts-man, nor any voyce of ioy, nor any bridegroome, or marriage, or procreation. A poore citie it is, or none at all, where none of these are.

Obiect. But the state of Rome is the strongest state in the world,Magnificence of Rome no whit secureth it. for wisedome, wealth, strength, and many of our great ones goe backe to them: so as you speake vnlikely things.

Answ. 1. God will honour himselfe by eff…cting his will in vnexpected and vnconceiuable meanes: Hee is wise of heart to lay vnknowne pipes and meanes for his purposes.Zach. 4.2.Zech 4:2 And herein it shall be like Edom, Obad. 8.9. In that day I will destroy the wise men out of Edom, and vnderstanding from the mount of Esau, and thy strong men O p. 45Teman shall be afraid: neither is there wisdome or strength that shall helpe against the Lord. 2. God by themselues, if others be sla…ke, can hasten their destruction; as it was with Edom, Obad. 7. The men of thy confederacie, and they that were at peace with thee, deceiued thee. So our late Edomites were detected by themselues, euen by their owne confederacie. 3. What if some go to thē, and giuegive them a little lightning before their death? See we not such infamie cast vponupon them all by their daily practices and plots, as all the water in the sea can neuer wash away? Yes, we see with our eyes, that they gaine not, but fall, notwithstanding all their supplies of succours.

To comfort the poore Church of God, in that,Vse. 1 Comfort for the Church of God. when the enemie marcheth furiously like Iehu, God sets in, and prouides for his safetie. Reuel. 10.10. Iohn hauing before prophecied of many mischiefes to befall the Church, by Antichrist and the Turkes, both conspiring against it, in this Chapter brings Christ in a vision for the comfort of the Church, thus described: An Angell, namely of the Couenant, our great Mediatour; comming from heauen, to make himselfe better knowne, and neerer to his Church; clothed with a cloud, not onelyonly in our humane nature clouding & vailing his Deity, but still obscured by the world; with a rain-bow on his head, a signe of reconciliation, an assurance that he will remember his couenant, as Genesis 9.15. and a token, that although stormes and tempests be vponupon the Church, yet Christ at length will driue them away, and reduce the calme of it, and a faire season; his face as the Sunne, shining as in his transfiguration, to his Church; his feete as pillars, for strength, of fire, because of his efficacie and force to ouercome all difficulties. He is a constant stander as a pillar, and fierce, for his Churches good. A sweete meditation against all fierie, furious, and sulphurious plots of the enemies of the Church. He hath the Rain-bow on his head, his feete are pillars of fire, and further, he sets his foote on the sea and earth, to note the subiection of the sea, and earth, and all the creatures, and p. 46all the world vntounto him.

VsUs… 2. Terror for the Church of Rome.The iustice of God shall one day magnifie it selfe against that bloodie seate, citie, and kingdome of Antichrist: for, 1. He that is the vnmercifull maintainer of all treasons, and supreme head of all heretikes, must needes be fearefully destroyed. 2. He that is concluded to be more merciful than Christ, because Christ deliuered none out of Purgatorie; and more powerfull than God, because God makes but creatures, he makes y^e Creator, shall dearely buy that and other such blasphemies. 3. Pride (wee say) must hauehave a fall, and, the higher the pride, the lower the fall. He that hath fought against the Kings of the earth,Reuel. 19.16.Rev 19:16 yea against Christ the King of Kings, the tenne hornes shall fight against him. Hee that out of his horrible ambition hath made mightie Princes hold his stirrop, leade his horse, become his footmen and foot-stoole, shall one day be paid for all. He that hath taken from them, Imperiall Crownes, Purple, Scepters, Kingdomes, shall by them (ere long, I doubt not) be left desolate and naked. Hee that hath long ouerborne them with the bragge of his primacie, and set himselfe aboue all that is called God, shall by them be made to drinke of the cup of their Supremacie. They that hauehave giuen the Saints blood to drink, shall hauehave blood to drink, herein like to old Edom, Obad. 16. Edom drunke vponupon mine holy mountaine: and the heathen must drinke them vp, and swallow them, and they shall bee as though they had not been. Pharaoh drownd the Israelites children, and was drownd himselfe. The same fire lickt in the enemies, which they made so hot for the three children of God. Humans gallowes catcht himselfe. Catesby, Rockwood, Grant, deuisers of the powder-plot, by their owne powder were almost blowne vp, yea made vnable for their own defence: and the same day Catesby the first deuiser, and P…rcy the chiefe actor were killed with one bullet shot with powder.Iudg. 17.Judg 17 As I hauehave done (said great Adoni-bezek) so God hath done to me.

p. 47From all this it followes,Vse 3. All deuices of Papists insufficient to susteine their bloody monarchy. that all the balme in Gilead cannot heale them: not the ten hornes or Kings, not the seuen heads, not his power and bloody war…es, his Spanish Inquisition, his Massacres, his two trayterous Colleges, his Buls and Excommunications, his Councell of Trent, his Order of Iesuites; not his blacking of the liues and practices of his aduersaries, not his iugling with Images, his false miracles and legends, his lies and equiuocations, his falsifying of all authoritie, and the like, can still vphold his tottering state, down he must for all his props, he must dye in the midst of his Physicians; we must expect it, pray for it, and reioyce in it.

Come out of her, my people, come out of her:Vse. 4 Separate from them spiritually and corporally. for it is a people ordained to destruction: Reuel. 18.4. Be not partakers of her sinnes, lest yee partake in her plagues. Come out in affection, in action, and in habitation, both by spirituall and bodily departure. God is carefull of his people: he would not hauehave Lot destroyed with Sodome, nor Israel in Babylon, Iere. 51.45. nor the Iewes in Ierusalem at the destruction thereof: A voyce was heard (saith Iosephus) to leaue the citie, which many beleeued, and sled into Pella, and they that would not, were al miserably destroyed. Little Mice (they say) presaging the ruine of an house, doe flie out before hand. Let vsus by diuine instinct be so wise for our owne safetie: flie communion & companie with Papists.Reuel. 18.2.Rev 18:2 For Rome is called an habitation of diuels: if a man would dwell among diuels, let him dwell among Romanists. And it is no schisme, but Gods commandement. Neuer heare such whisperings, as speake of a reconciliation of our religions, for that cannot be. Yet hate not their persons, but their sinnes; and pray for the men. It is dangerous to trauell among them, much more to intertaine neere and intimate acquaintance with them. Therefore feare to make or meddle with them: leaue them to Gods iudgement, which must needs be executed.

The end of the second Sermon.