A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Note

A Paraphrase on the New Testament · Note

An Advertiſement.

READERS,

I Here give you notice, (which I deſire you not to forget in the reading of this Paraphraſe,) that it is but ſome General Notes, and not a proper Expoſition of the Revelations, which I offer you. And that I here confeſs to you, that very much of it I underſtand not: And if this offend any, that ſay I ſhould have better ſtudied it. I only ſay, 1. That you ſuffer fools gladly, ſeeing your ſelves are wiſe. 2. That I am far below Dionyſius Alexandrinus, and moſt of the Ancient Fathers, even Auguſtine himſelf, who profeſſed that they underſtood it not: Yea incomparable Calvin profeſſeth that he underſtood not the Thouſandth Part of it; And his Partner Beza would give us little of it, next to none: And both refuſed to write a Comment on it. 3. I honour them that know more than I, and contradict them not: I had rather ſay too little (where other men have ſaid enough) than ſay more than I know. 4. It is not through meer ſloth, that I am ignorant: Women and Boys think they know herein what I do not, who have ſtudied it leſs than I, but I confeſs that Deſpair is much of the cauſe. Forty four years ago, when I was but young, I ſtudied it (I doubt too ſoon) and read Brightman, Napier, Pareus, &c. and after that Mede, Potter, and many more, beſides ſuch Treatiſes, as Downamus de Antichriſto, Broughton, and other ſuch, beſides the anſwerers of Bellarmin, &c. I met with many Divines and Lay-men, who had choſen it out for the chief ſtudy of their Lives, and I found ſo great diverſity of Opinions, five of the moſt confident going four ways, and ſo little proof of what they moſt confidently aſſerted, that I deſpaired of being ſo much wiſer then they, as to come to ſatisfaction, if I ſhould lay by more neceſſary ſtudies, and make this the buſineſs of the reſt of my Life, which yet I durſt not do. Afterwards I converſt with my fellow Labourer, Mr. Nath. Stephens, who hath written of it, and was much upon it in his diſcourſe, but I durſt not be drawn to a deep ſtudy of it: And when ſince I read Mr. Durham, Dr. Moor, &c. and Grotius, and Dr. Hammond, and many Annotators, I confeſs deſpair, and more needful buſineſs, made me do it but ſuperficially: And when I had for my own uſe written the reſt of this Paraphraſe on the New Teſtament, I propoſed to have ſaid nothing of any more of the Revelations, than of the three firſt Chapters, profeſſing that I underſtood it not. But after, being loth to omit wholly any part of the New Teſtament, and thinking that the renewed ſtudy of that, which ſpeaketh ſo much of the New Jeruſalem, might be ſuitable to a pained dying man, I thought of it more ſearchingly than I had done heretofore, but have not now either the ſtrength of Wit, or length of time, that are neceſſary to ſo hard a work, and therefore preſume not to oppoſe others, but refer the Readers to them that have more throughly ſtudied and expounded it, than I can do: But yet I thought that thoſe Generals, which I underſtood, might be uſeful to unlearned Readers, though they made them no wiſer than I am my ſelf; while thoſe, that are above me, have enough higher to read.

If any be offended that I name ſo many mens Opinions; I anſwer them, 1. Had I known which of them was right, I would have mentioned that only: But when I know it not, (and their difference tells us that they know it not themſelves,) how can I honeſtly be ſo partial as to name one, and paſs by all the reſt? And how ſhould I know which that one muſt be? When Lira had given us the Expoſition of much of it, he plainly tells us, that theſe are other mens Expoſitions, but he thinketh them improbable, and if ever he come to underſtand it himſelf, he will tell us the true meaning; which if he had not ſaid, I ſhould have thought that Lira deliraſſet, though the ſaying be, Si Lira non Liraſſet, totus mundus deliraſſet. My Friend, Mr. Matth. Pool, in his Synopſis, hath recited greater diverſity of Opinions than I have done; where the arguments for them may be partly ſeen, which my ſhort notes muſt not take in.

The points which are too hard for me, are theſe eſpecially.

I. Whether the Dragon, Beaſt, or falſe Prophet, or Whore, be the ſpecial Antichriſt? And whether the caſe of Antichriſt be here much, or at all, medled with?

II. Who is the firſt Beaſt? Chap. 13.

III. Who is the ſecond Beaſt?

IV. What is the Image of the Beaſt?

V. What is his Mark received, and what his name, and what is the number of it received?

VI. What is the Whore?

VII. Who are the two Witneſſes? and where, and when killed?

VIII. What is the binding of the Dragon, and the thouſand years reign, and reſurrection, and where?

IX. What, and when, and where, is the Army againſt the Holy City, and the Wars at Armageddon?

X. What, and when, and where, is the New Jeruſalem?

I. As to the firſt, I long took it for granted, that Antichriſt is here ſpoken of, even the ſame mentioned by John in his Epiſtle, and by Paul, 2 Theſ. 2.2. But, to my admiration when I ſearcht, I could find neither the name of Antichriſt, nor an aſcertaining deſcription of him; ſo that I began to think better of the moſt Learned Judicious Hierom. Zanchy, who took Mahomet to be the Antichriſt, though the Popes Crimes might allow us to take him for one of thoſe other Antichriſts, of whom John ſaith there were many. And if any find him here characterized, as called the Beaſt, the falſe Prophet, or the Whore, I will crave his pardon, for my chooſing to take up with the Scripture Names. I am not wiſer than the Revealer of theſe things, in naming ſuch as he here ſpeaketh of; why are not the Names here given us ſufficient? I will explain the word [Antichriſt] where I find it; and the words, [Beaſt, falſe Prophet, Whore, &c.] where I find them. I dread fiction and addition. Of the Deſcription I ſhall ſpeak after.

II. Who is the firſt Beaſt, is of great importance, of which I find many opinions: Thoſe of the Fathers, and the Papiſts, I paſs by: Theſe now among us ſtand chiefly in competition. 1. Thoſe that ſay, it is the Roman Empire as containing both the Pagan, and the Papal State: 2. Thoſe that ſay, it is the Papal Civil Power only, as upheld by Popiſh Princes, the ten Kings: 3. Thoſe that ſay, it is only the Papacy, or Antichriſt, who is the firſt Beaſt, as in Civil power, and the ſecond, in Eccleſiaſtical. 4. Thoſe that ſay, it is only the Pagan Empire. (Others I paſs by that ſay, 5. It is the Greeks Eaſtern Empire; 6. Or the Turkiſh Empire; 7. Or a future unknown Antichriſt; 8. Or the Devil.)

I. Mr. Mede ſaith, the firſt is the common opinion, but not true, he is for the ſecond; and Mr. Durham, and many of late, for the third, and all of them againſt the 4th. I ſhall not further mention their reaſons againſt each other, but only thoſe that are brought for the Papacy, either alone, or with its ſupports, and thoſe that are brought againſt the 4th opinion; (which is for the Pagan Empire.)

I. They ſay that the firſt Beaſt muſt needs be the Papacy (or its ſupports.) 1. Becauſe John ſaw the riſing of it, ſo that it was then to come: But Pagan Rome was before. 2. Becauſe he ſucce…ſeth the Dragon in his Seat. 3. It is the Pope that owneth the names of Blaſphemy. 4. He is adored. 5. He only healeth the wounded head. 6. He is contemporary with the ten Kings with crowned horns. 7. He is contemporary with Babylon, which is Papal Rome. 8. All the Texts agree to Papal Rome. 9. He is Antichriſt, who is to ſit in the Temple of God. 10. That which hindred, was to be removed before his Revelation, which was the Empire as Pagan.

II. And they ſay, it cannot be the Pagan Empire. 1. Becauſe that was riſen long before. 2. Becauſe it was not that Power, which was the ſixth head, but the ſeventh and eight, and aſcended out of the bottomleſs pit, with whom the ten Kings were to receive Kingdoms. 3. Becauſe the Pagan Empire was not contemporary with Babylon. 4. This Beaſt was to continue 1260 years, whereas the Pagan Empire continued but 360. 5. It had not the ten crowned horns. 6. The Roman Pagan Empire was lawfully obeyed, being of God, but ſo is not the Beaſt. 7. The things ſaid Chap. 19. agree not with it.

And here the ſixth doubt is coincident, what is the Whore? For if it be only Papal Rome, then, ſay they, the Pope is the Beaſt. And this they prove. 1. Becauſe it is a myſtery, which Heathen Idolatry was not. 2. Antichriſt ſits in the Temple of God. 3. Becauſe it is that Rome, that muſt be for ever deſolate, and a place for Devils and Serpents &c. 4. The fall of Babylon was to be, after the faithful were come out of it: 5. Pagan Rome ſold not Souls, nor made the Nations drunk with the Cup of her Fornication. 6. She was not married to Chriſt, and therefore could be no adultreſs. 7. She had no falſe Prophet, as here deſcribed, to ſeduce and work Miracles, but did all by force &c.

II. But becauſe it is an advantage to the Reader, to know the Judgment of men in the Connexion of the parts, and Mr. Brightman ſeemeth to have done his Work, with as Pious a Zeal and as great Learning and deep ſtudy as any man, I ſhall ſum up his opinion about this matter, Having on Daniel ſtrongly proved (after Calvin) that the paſſages, commonly expounded of Antiochus are miſtaken, he ſaith that it is the Romans Power that they mean, who were above all called Gods, that is, all Princes, and that the Abomination (not making, but) made Deſolate, was the utterly caſting out the old Jewiſh Temple-Worſhip, which was good till abrogate, and Abominable afterward: That this was done by the deſtruction of the Temple, but perfected in Julians time, by Gods overthrowing it, when he attempted to re-edifie it. And on Rev. 13. And forward he ſaith, 1. That Antichriſt, the Pope, is both the firſt and ſecond Beaſt, and Latinos his name, &c. 2. That the firſt 1000 years began with Conſtantine, who was the Man-child, and bound the Dragon. 3. The binding him is that he ſhall no more ſet up Heatheniſm. 4. But Antichriſt began at the ſame time, and reigned al… the while that the Dragon was bound, even from Conſtantine; And the Church was in the Wilderneſ…. 5. The firſt Reſurrection began 1300 when Marſil. Patavinus, Wickliff, and others, began Reformation (But I am perſwaded that thoſe, after called Albigenſes, and before Bagandoe, were before Conſtantine; Reynerius confeſſeth that they called themſelves Apoſtolicks, and ſaid they were from Silveſters, that is, Conſtantines time: Why then is Wickliff (who hath many errors) ſet above them?) 6. The reſt of the Dead in Popery roſe not by Reformation. 7. The ſecond death is Hell fire. 8. A ſecond 1000 years, of Church Reformation and Proſperity, began then at 1300, when the Dragon was let looſe: Antichriſt began at his binding, and the happy 1000 years Reformation at his looſing. 9. His looſing ſet up the Turk, Gog and Magog, (Scythians,) to a War againſt the Saints. 10. The Camp of the Saints was Europe. 11. The Holy City was the Converted Jews, and the place of the War in Judea, where the Turks ſhall wonderfully be utterly deſtroyed, (by Michael the Angel of the Jews.) 12. The Beaſt that deceived the Turk, is the Turk himſelf. 13. The Beaſt, and falſe Prophet in Hell with him, is Antichriſt, who falls a little before him. 14. The Judgment and ſecond Reſurrection, Chap. 20.11. are the full reſtoring of the Jews. 15. The Dead, ſmall and great, judged are the Jews, that till now rejected Chriſt. 16. The Sea and Earth giving up their Dead, are all Countrys ſending home the Jews converted. 17. Death and Hell, caſt into the Lake, are Turks and Papiſt that ſhall detain the Jews no longer. 18. The Thrones and Reign of thoſe dead, is the deſtruction of their Enemies on Earth. 19. Only elect Jews ſhall be in that Church: 20. What the firſt Heaven and Earth is, that ſhall be done away, he doth not know, but thinks it is the old Jewiſh way of Worſhip, which ſhall ceaſe as their converſion. 21. No more Sea, is no more falſe Doctrine 22. No more Death, is no more ſharp puniſhment, and that the ſting of death ſhall be taken out: 23. And the new Glorious Jeruſalem, deſcribed in the 21. and 22. Chapters, in this City or Church of the Converted Jews at Jeruſalem, the reſt being reſtored with them. Why I incline to Learned Mr. Calverts opnion, that the converſion of the Jews is long ago paſt, the obſtinate Jews being moſtly deſtroyed by Titus and Adrian, and the Chriſtian Jews being very numerous quickly, and all, that ſtayed in Judea, as much made the Kingdom of Chriſt, by Profeſſion, in the days of Cyril, Juvenal and after, when their Country was repleniſhed with Biſhops, Churches and Monaſteries, and many abroad ſince then Converted, (as Lira, Tremellius and others were,) as other Chriſtian Kingdoms were, (where ſome ſtill are Infidels, I have ſhewed on Rom. 11.)

But the moſt wonderful part of the expected Miracle is, that all theſe Thouſands, if not Millions of Jews, that live ſcattered through the World, and now are the moſt vile, and Barbarous, ignorant and worldly Perſons, living among Turks, and Papiſts, where they hear not the Goſpel, ſhould all without Preaching or Teaching be not only Converted at once, but made, ſuch Wiſe and excellent Chriſtians, as are fitter to conſtitute a Glorious Church, than we that have bin taught ſo long. If God have promiſed that not only a Nation, but a New Jeruſalem, ſhould be thus born, or come down from Heaven, in a day, it muſt be believed: But doubtleſs it will be a Miracle incomparably excelling all that Chriſt and his Apoſtles did; yea Millions of Miracles at once: And therefore we may expect ſuch proof as faith needeth in ſo ſtrange a caſe. And as God is no reſpecter of Perſons, ſo the Jews never proved, ſince Abrahams days, under the Law, under Judges or Kings, or ſince, ſo wiſe or excellent a People, as may prognoſticate ſuch Advancement. And God uſeth to work by means, Chriſt and his Apoſtles converted none without the Word: And Paul ſaith, how ſhall they believe on him, of whom they have not heard? and how ſhall they hear, without a preacher, and how ſhall they Preach, unleſs they be ſent? And theſe expoſitors tell us not that Preachers ſhall be ſent to the ſcattered Jews, into all Turkiſh and Papiſts Lands, to learn the Languages, and convert them at once. It is worth the Readers peruſal, c. 7. p. 217. how he juſtly derideth Bellarmine, as ſuppoſing that Antichriſt will put down Gods Worſhip in all the Earth, telling him that he hath an hundred forty eight Thouſand Thouſand times five hundred fifty Thouſand nine hundred and nine Miles to travel, to do it, (and ſo much have Univerſal Popes and Councils, to take charge of,) which will hardly be done in three years and a half: And yet killing mens Souls is a leſs work than to make them alive.

Its doleful to think what Satan hath gained by corrupting the Church, by wicked Biſhops, making that his Game, when Pagan Power fell; partly by tempting in Worldly wicked men by Wealth and Honour, and partly by making Ungodly Princes the chooſers of Biſhops, (and Ungodly Patrons the chooſers of Prieſts,) and when men ruled by Satan chooſe them, Satan himſelf oft chooſeth them: Who, by their wickedneſs, Malignity and Perſecuting the beſt men, have tempted thoſe Chriſtians, who moſt hate ſin, to call almoſt all the Church Antichriſtian, and fly from it as worſe than Pagan Rome, and to loſe much of their Love to all that are called by ſuch abhorred names. Had the Paſtors of the Church bin all Holy, Humble men of Love, and not men of Wickedneſs and Blood, their Power and Intereſt would have bin the Joy of Pious men. But enough of that ſide.

II. On the other ſide, they that ſay the contrary, thus expreſs their ſenſe.

1. The firſt Beaſt is the Roman Imperial and Military Power, not as ſuch, but as the Grand Power of Idolatry, firſt, and next, as the Captivator and Perſecutor of the Chriſtian Church, of Jews and Gentiles.

2. The Image of the Beaſt is both the Idol Statues, Images, and Altars of their Idol Gods, and of themſelves, both which by their Laws were to be worſhipped with Sacrifices, and other acts of Idolatry.

3. The ſecond Beaſt is the Senate with all the Literate Idolaters and Flatterers, Orators, Philoſophers, Prieſts, Poets, Comedians, Augurs, &c. as Learned defenders of Idolatry, and repro…chers, and Enemies of Chriſtianity.

4. The name of the Beaſt, was the name of the Idol God, whom they were to Worſhip, and of the Idolized Emperours, as called Divi and Dii, and honoured by Altars and Sacrifices.

5. The Mark was a Stigma, or Badge, then uſually received by Servants, and Souldiers, and Votaries, as an obliging mark of ſubjection.

6. The number of the name was ſome abbreviating Letters, part of the mark, and here proved to be numeral; though, at this diſtance, we cannot ſay what they were, nor whether ſtill the ſame.

7. Receiving the mark is profeſt conſent, and uſually by ſuch a Badge.

8. The Woman Whore was the City of Rome, not meerly as a City, or as Rome, or as Rich, or as Powerful, but as Idolatrous and captivating the Church.

9. The Witneſſes were the Jew and Gentile, Chriſtian Teachers, Prophets, Miracle-workers and Martyrs, that had the ſpirit, as the firſt Chriſtians had, for ſignal Teſtimony to the Goſpel, Miracles long continuing in ſome degree. Theſe are their expoſitions.

Their Reaſons they begin firſt of the Whore; or the ſeat of the Beaſt, which they ſay muſt needs be Pagan Rome. 1. Becauſe it was expreſly ſaid by the Angel, who purpoſely explained it to be, the great City which ruleth over the Kings of the Earth. 1. Not a Church which is under Princes, but properly a City. 2. Not only pretenders to a Power of Church Keys; but proper Rulers by Power of Armes. 3. Not only over the Church, (oft called Heaven,) but over the Kings of the Earth, (noting thoſe without.) 4. Not [ſhall Rule] but doth Rule, as a viſible note, by which John might know the Whore.

This being ſo plain, that only violence can obſcure it, may be, ſay they, a Key to all the reſt.

2. Ch. 17.2. The Kings of the Earth had at that time committed Fornication with her; and the Inhabitants of the Earth were then drunken with the Wine of her Fornication, elſe it could not be to John a notifying mark. But the Papacy was not of many hundred years after in being.

3. John was brought into the Wilderneſs to ſee it, which was the then Perſecuted State of the Church: And it was to comfort him and that Church, in hope of a near Deliverance; for they were things that muſt ſhortly be done.

4. Her name notifyeth her [Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth;] [Babylon,] captivating the Chriſtians, as old Babylon did the Jews; [the great] as then being; (to whom the Papal Power was ſmall:) The Mother or Nurſe, and Upholder of the moſt Abominable Idolatry and Wickedneſs, not in the Church, but [of the Earth,] by Power and Learning, upholding the Worſhip of Sun, Moon, Stars, and Men; of Jupiter, Saturn, Sol, Mars, Mercury, Pallas, Venus, Neptune, and numberleſs Idols, by Paul called Devils; and the wickedneſs of life, deſcribed by Paul Rom. 1. Eph. 4.18, &c.

5. The names of Blaſphemy were hers reproaching Jews and Chriſtians with ſcorn, and aſcribing Gods names and works to theſe their Idols, and to Men.

6. The vaſt Riches and Luxury of her deſcribed, punctually agree with Pagan Rome.

7. She was then drunk with the Blood of Prophets, and Martyrs, which the Pope then was not. The Angels undertaking to open the Myſtery, muſt not be thought rather to obſcure it.

8. She had been a Perſecutor of both Jew and Gentile Chriſtians, who both gave God Thanks for her fall.

9. The Whore ſat on ſeven Mountains, But ſo did not the Papal Civil Empire.

10. The aſſiſtant Kings had not received Regal Power, being but as Servants to the Beaſt, and the Whore: But Popiſh Kings are Kings indeed.

11. They were unanimous in upholding the Whore: But Popiſh Kingdoms long ſtrove againſt the Papal Power.

12. They fought againſt Chriſtianity till they were conquered, v. 14. But ſo did not many Popiſh Kingdomes.

13. People, multitudes and Nations, more notifie Pagan Rome than Papal.

14. C. 18. They were to reward her double, as ſhe had uſed them. But ſo we muſt not do by Papiſts.

15. The Kings of the Earth lament her fall. But the more the Pope fall the more they rejoice, except the Houſe of Auſtria, and a few more.

16. Her fall cometh ſuddenly, as in an hour; but the Pope ſtandeth yet after 150 years, beginning to fall.

Moreover about the Beaſt, they ſay.

1. It is ſaid, he was, and is not, and yet is: But the Papacy was not then, nor is, after it was not.

2. The ſeven Heads of the Beaſt, had the name of Blaſphemy. But if the heads were the ſeven ſpecies of Government, the name of Papal Blaſphemy, was not on ſix of them at leaſt, but only of Pagan Blaſphemy: Therefore it was Pagan Rome, or its Empire, that they headed.

3. The ſeven Pagan ſorts of Government, were not ſeven Heads of the Papacy, or Roman Church; therefore the Papacy, or Roman Church, was not the Beaſt: For they were the Heads of the Beaſt. And the wounding of one of the Heads, ſhews that all the ſeven were Heads of one, and the ſame Beaſt.

4. [Who is able to make War with the Beaſt?] tells us, that it was by Arms that he ſtood, and not by mere Hypocriſy and deceit. That was the part of the ſecond Beaſt, and not of the firſt.

5. It is all that dwell on the Earth, (without that Church,) that worſhip him: But thoſe that dwell in heaven, and the Tabernacle, and name of Chriſt, he Blaſphemeth, v. 5.6.7.

6. They worſhip the Dragon for giving Power to the Beaſt: But by the Dragon the Text ſaith is meant the Devil; and it is thoſe Devils that Pagans thought did proſper Rome, that is, Mars, Jupiter, Apollo, &c: But Papiſt: worſhip not theſe for ſetting up the Pope.

7. The Dwellers on the Earth worſhipped the firſt Beaſt, whoſe deadly wound was healed, c. 13.12. But it was not the Pope, nor the Papal Rome, or Church, whoſe deadly wound was healed, in the Judgment of all them, that ſays, the very erecting of the Papacy was the healing of that Wound: For it was not wounded as a head, before it was in being. And if it was Pagan Rome, or Idolatry, that the Papacy healed, then the healed, and not the healing party, was the firſt Beaſt.

8. Its contrary to divers expreſs Texts, that the firſt and ſecond Beaſt are the ſame: Therefore they, that make the Pope the ſecond, muſt acknowledge another to be the firſt.

9. The number of a man, received, cannot be found of Papal Rome.

10. All that receive the mark and name of the Beaſt are (without converſion) to be tormented for ever; But we cannot ſay ſo of all that own the Papacy: Education and converſe, and prejudice againſt Proteſtants for their diviſions, maketh may think verily, that the Papal▪ Church is the beſt for its unity, and antiquity, and extent, and duration, &c: When we read the Writings of ſuch Men as Bernard, Gerſon, Kempis, Gerhard, Zutphani…nſis, Thaulerus, Sales, &c. And the lives of ſuch as Ph. Nerius, de Renti, Boromeus, &c. Yea the Writings of ſuch as Bonaventure, and divers Schoolmen, we find ſo much of truth and holineſs in them, that forbids that Judgment.

Further that it is Pagan Rome that is the Whore, and its Empire, as Idolatrous and captivating, that is the firſt Beaſt, and not the Papacy, they argue thus.

If it be Papal Rome, it is either the City as building and place, or it is the Policie. 1. Not the place called the City; for it is good as ſuch. 2. Not the Place as related to the Policie, For 1. The material City of Pagan Rome, was as much defiled as that of Papal Rome, and yet continued. 2. Elſe when the Pope dwells elſewhere, the relation would follow him. For above 100 years, much of Italy it ſelf placed the Supremacy in the Patriarcks of Aquileia. Rome may fall, and the Papacy ſtand: It hath been oft taken, and ſack't, and long poſſeſt by Goths and others: Even Charles 5. By Charles of Burbon, ſack't it.

2. If in the Policie, either 1. As related to Rome. 2. Or as elſewhere placed. And what is that Policie, that is the formal conſtitution of the firſt Beaſt?

1. It i… not Empire as ſuch; for all Power is of God, and was to be obeyed in Heathens: Elſe all Emperours would be ſuch Beaſts, (or, as they ſay, Antichriſts.)

2. It is not Empire meerly as Roman: For then both the Heathen Emperours would have been the Beaſt (or Antichriſts,) without reſpect to their ſin, And Conſtantine, Valentinian, Jovian, Theodoſii, Marcian, &c. the great bleſſings of the Church, would have been Antichriſts, or the beaſt: Or at leaſt thoſe good Emperors that abode at Rome.

3. It is not Empire meerly, as found in a perſon of bad Qualities and Life: For then every wicked Emperour and King would be the Beaſt, (or their Antichriſt,) and a Pope, that were not perſonally vicious, would be none.

4. It is not every Emperor or King, that is an Uſurper or invader: For then many Emperours would be the Beaſt.

5. It is not every one that is Ambitious, and ſt…iveth to be higheſt and above all others: For then there would be a great many Antichriſts in the World.

6. It is not every one, that in Church Power would be higheſt, for then James and John would have bin Antichriſts; and ſo would many Biſhops of Conſtantinople and Alexandria; if not many in moſt other lands among the ſeveral parties of Chriſtians.

7. It is not every one that pretendeth to, and Uſurpeth, a ſort of Power that God never giveth: For ſo do many Impoſers of moſt parties.

8. It is not every one that joineth Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Power in one perſon: For ſo did Melchizedeck; and ſo did Cyril, and other Alexandrian Biſhops, and thoſe of Conſtantinople, and what Epiſcopal Countrys have not ſuch? If you ſay, that this is a Kin to Antichriſtianity, or preparatory, I ſay, our queſtion is not What is a Kin, or preparatory, but what is it, that formally conſtituteth it?

9. It is not every one that is a Perſecutor; for ſo alas have been too many in moſt times and places, nor is it all that promote hereſie or Blaſphemy by Perſecution. For ſo did Valens, and many Arrian Kings (and Councils,) Genſericus, Hunnericus, Theodoricus, Odoacer, &c.

10. It is not all that were Idolaters in any degree, for ſo is now four ſixth parts of the World: Much leſs all inward Heart-idolaters; as are all that are Covetous, and love the World better than God, and obey man againſt him. Nor is it all that give Saints or Angels undue or ſinful Veneration: for ſo John twice offered proſtration to the Angel: At leaſt, ſo did the Council of Nice, to the Images of Saints, and eſpecially the Virgin Mary: And ſo did many of the Eaſtern Emperours, and Tharaſius drew in almoſt all the Eaſtern Biſhops; yea many were faulty long before Popery came in.

11. It is not the being of any of theſe at Rome, that conſtituteth the Beaſt or Antichriſt, which would not do it elſewhere; For Theodorick, Odoacer, and other Arrians, Blaſphemers of Chriſt, and Perſecutors in Rome, were not the Beaſt or Antichriſt. It muſt therefore (ſay theſe men) be ſomewhat differing from all theſe; which we can find in Pagan Rome, but not in Papal. If the ſame thing will make the Pope, (and all Papiſts,) to be the beaſt, that would not make another ſuch, there muſt be ſome ſpecial reaſon for it.

12. Laſtly, ſay they, it muſt be remembred, that it is confeſt to be Civil Power, and not Eccleſiaſtical, that conſtituteth the firſt Beaſt, and Rome is his Seat. Now, 1. The Empire was not ſetled at Rome, but at Conſtantinople, when Chriſtianity came in power, 2. The Popes were moſt Martyrs and Sufferers till Conſtantines time; and long after profeſſed ſubjection to Emperours, yea even to Arrians, and to Uſurpers: And Alexandria and Conſtantinople uſed as much force as they. It was 606 years before Phocas called Boniface the 3. the Univerſal Biſhop; by which he never meant, the Univerſal Emperour or Civil Governour: (No nor Univerſal Eccleſiaſtical any further than the Empire.) It was long after this, that the claim of depoſing Kings as Excommunicate, was ſet on foot by Gregory the ſeventh; and long after that, before it was determined in the Lateran Council. Moſt Chriſtian Kingdoms oppoſed it all along: William the Conquerour, and William Rufus, and others, in England: Philip, and others, in France, where it is denyed to this day, and much in Spain: The German Emperours, Henry the fourth and fifth; and Frederick and Otho long fought againſt it, and ſome of them took Rome, made and unmade Popes, and uſed them as their Subjects. The Princes of Italy, themſelves, were from age to age almoſt always in War againſt the Popes: The Eaſtern Emperours before maſtered them, till Pipin, and the two Charles' uſed the Papacy to uſurp; the Empire, and after were Maſters of the Pope themſelves: The very Citizens and Laity of Rome, from age to age, ſtrove with them for the chief Power in Rome it ſelf, and oft overtopt them, till they got Foreign Princes to help them. To this day they claim not Imperial Power over other Princes, ſave indirectly, as nullifying the Title of the Excommunicate, falſely pretending that they may excommunicate them, and that Chriſtians may then reject them as no Kings. Is all this an Univerſal Empire, and was Rome the Whore for 700 years, or not? It is ſuppoſed that Idolatry and Perſecution make her the Whore, and her Civil Power, the Beaſt. Tranſubſtantiation is the groſſeſt part of the firſt, and that is a Novelty? A few odd men wrote for it a little ſooner, but their Church owned it not by Law, till the fourth Lateran Council under Inno. the 3. almoſt twelve hundred years after Chriſt. And exceſs of Veneration to Saints and Angels, moſt Churches on Earth owned and ſtill own, (the Greek, Armenian, Abaſſine, &c.) Our Divines have proved Purgatory, and almoſt all their abuſes of that tendency, to be Novelties; (ſee Moulin de novit. Papiſm, Blondel de Eccleſ. Rivets defence of du Pleſlis, &c.) Now here we are divided. 1. Some ſay Rome was the Whore ever ſince 300: And ſo all, or near all, the Church of Chriſt in the Empire was the Beaſt, or Whore, or both: (except the few poor men in Piedmont and Languedock, for I am of the opinion, that they kept their Simplicity and Integrity ever ſince Diocleſians Perſecution,) and then all the Glory of the b…ſt Ages of the Church is darkned into ſhame, and the triumph for its deliverance from Pagan Capti…y, turned to our confuſion. (I have fully in my Hiſtory of Councils deſcribed the miſchiefs of Clergy-Ambition, but never thought that ſuch mens faults ſo overthrew all Chriſts Church in the Empire, as to make it Antichriſtian: A Holy Humble Miniſtry upheld it, while ſome ambitious carnal Prelates troubled it,) As even a Heathen Am. Marcellinus witneſſeth, ſpeaking of Damaſus's, caſe. If Chriſt had no Church viſible ſo many hundred years, then he was no Chriſt, or King, of a viſible Church, which is a ſad concluſion for oppoſers of Antichriſt. Doth he ſay worſe againſt Chriſt himſelf?

2. Others ſay that Rome began to be Babylon. the 606, under Boniface. the 3. and Phocas, (on the grounds before confuted) 3. Others begin it under Boniface the Eighth. 4. Others begin it with Hildebrands Uſurpation over Princes, between 1000. and 1100 years after Chriſt. 5. Others begin it with Innocent the third, who in the Lateran Council generally firſt owned that Uſurpation and Tranſubſtantiation, and Bloody Perſecution for it, which before were owned but by little factious Parties. 6. Others labour to prove that that Council made no Decrees, and ſo that it was not ſetled then.

Now, if Rome for 606 years, or for 1000, or for 1100 years was not Babylon, then Pagan Rome was not then, nor Chriſtian Rome; and no man knoweth when it began to be ſo: And then almoſt all our moſt confident late Expoſitions are quite overthrown. But doubtleſs John was told of a Babylon, a Whore, a Beaſt, which was much ealier than this. The ſix or ſeven ſpecies of Pagan Government, were not the Heads of a Chriſtian Papal Beaſt, that was to riſe 1000, or 600 years after Chriſt. See Biſhop Barlows Pref. to his Brutum fulmen of their Novelty.

With theſe Reaſons, this ſort of Expoſitors add the anſwer to the contrary objections. And to the firſt they ſay, that the Riſing of the Beaſt out of the Sea, doth but tell the order of the Viſion to John, and not that the Beaſt was not yet in being; and it may mean Domitian or Diocleſian, not yet come. To the ſecond they ſay, the Objecters beg the Queſtion. 3. And ſo of the third. 4. To the fourth they ſay, that foreign ſignifieth not continuance, but operation, to which ſome Copies joyn foreign, he maketh War: And they ſay, that neither here, nor cap. 11. of the Witneſſes Preaching, is meant a thouſand two hundred and ſixty years, but Days, as expreſſed, even three years and a half. 5. To the fifth they ſay, it had the ten Crowned Heads, which is the ſame States, which were Crowned Horns, when they became militant and cruel. 6. They ſay, that the Pagan Empire, as the Beaſt commanding Idolatry, was not to be obeyed. 7. They ſay, Pagan Rome is called Myſtical, not Literal Babylon; and their Myſteries of Worſhip alſo were Idolatry. 8 They ſay, that it is not Antichriſt ſitting in the Temple, but the Beaſt blaſpheming it, that this Text mentioneth. 9. They ſay, that Pagan Rome, as ſuch, is totally deſolate, and for ever, but the Papal is not. 10. The faithful came away from Babylon's Idolatry and Sin before her Fall, and were called on to avoid her moſt carefully, juſt when ſhe was falling leſt juſt then the falling Babylon fall on them: But Papal Rome, being not yet fallen, were no Chriſtians theſe 1300 years under the reaſons of that Call? 11. They ſay, Pagan Rome ſold Slave…, and bought them, and ſold Souls to Idolatry worſe than Popery. 12. They ſay, that the unmarried Heathens may be guilty of Fornication yea and of Adultery, by reaſon of God's right to them: And the Fornication here is but Idolatry, and it's ſad to conclude that Heathen Rome was ſo Idolatrous. 13. Laſtly, They ſay, that their Senate, and all the Learned Patrons of Paganiſm, and Reproachers of Chriſtianity, better anſwer the Character of the ſecond Beaſt, and falſe Prophet, than either the Pop… as pleading for himſelf, or his Agents pleading for his Civil Power.

I ſhould next have told you the difficulties that poſe me about the other Queſtions; but I fear perplexing the Readers, and muſt not be ſo large. I mention what I have done, to tell you why I underſtand not the Revelations, and cannot help it that I am no wiſer than excellent Calvin nor than a… the Ancient Fathers, (though I diſown their conceit of a future Antichriſt at the end of the World.)

I doubt not but many, in blind zeal, will call this my confeſſed Ignorance a warping towards Popery (though I have long in my Writings againſt Popery confeſt the very ſame;) This I muſt bear from them, that bear more from themſelves, and from whom the Church beareth more. It's a ſmall thing for one man to be cenſured by thoſe perſons, that cenſure hardlier almoſt all the Church of Chriſt on Earth: But when I try whether they know any more than I, I find little more than a believing that to be the ſenſe of the Revelation, which thoſe good men ſay it is, whom they moſt value.

Some will deſire yet to know more of my own Opinion: And I will freely tell it them.

I. I am much perſwaded, by impartial conſideration of the Text, that the Roman Imperial Power, as the upholder of Heathen Worſhip of Devils, Idols, and themſelves, and a Captivaters of the Church of Jews and Gentiles, was the firſt Beaſt, and that Rome in that reſpect was Babylon, and the Whore, that made all Nations drunk with her pompous Idolatry. And the whole current of the Book ſeemeth plainly to drive at this. But many of the ſubordinate particulars I underſtand not.

II. Whether the Papacy be another Beaſt, or Whore, there meant, and the Text mean two firſt Beaſt… and two Whores, or the ſimilitude notwithſtanding ſo many diſſ…militudes, and ſix hundred, or ſeven hundred, or a thouſand years interruption, make theſe two one; or whether it be Antichriſt that is the Beaſt, I will neither affirm, nor deny, but ſee no evidence to prove the Affirmative.

III. What my Judgment is of Popery, the Reader may fully ſee, 1. In one Sheet enumerating its Errours, 2. In a Book called, The Safe Religion. 3 In another called, A Key for Catholicks. 4. In two of the true Catholick Church againſt Johnſon, altas Terrel. 5. In one called, The Chriſtian Religion certain without Popery. 6. In one called, Full and eaſie Satisfaction, whi…h is the True Religion. 7. One called, Naked Popery. I… theſe ſatisfie not the Cenſurers Zeal him, that is ignorant, be ignorant, and he that is wrathful, be ſo ſtill.

IV. I do judge of Popery by the knowledge of its particular Errours and Sins, and not by the Revelations, or any thing which I underſtand not. If the Pope be the great Antichriſt, which I neither deny, nor affirm, becauſe I know not, (as I have long ago confeſſed,) I think that it is formally, as he is by claim the Vice-Chriſt, Vicarius Chriſti, and claimeth an Univerſal Soveraignty Eccleſiaſtical over the whole Church on Earth, (and not over a Nation only;) and that he began with that claim, to which his many corruptions are joyned to make up a body of iniquity: Were there no more to be ſaid againſt that Church, than, 1. This claim of Univerſal Government. 2. And the cheriſhing of Ignorance, by forbidding the reading of the Scripture in a known Tongue, without Licence, and Latine Prayers and Service, and an Ignorant Clergy. 3. And the Inhumane Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation. 4. And the vile corruptions of much of God's Worſhip. 5. And their horrid Blood-guiltineſs, by which they do uphold their Kingdom called a Church. I take thoſe Popes and Papiſts, who own all this, to be liable, before God, to greater puniſhment, than the Beaſt, and falſe Prophet, mentioned in the Revelations; it being far worſe to ſin thus under the name of Chriſtians, and Chriſt's Vicar, and holy Biſhops, than as Infidels and Heathens, to whom (as to Sodom) it ſhall be eaſier in the day of Judgment than for theſe.

V. Therefore I judge, that a Confederacy or Coalition with the Church of Rome, in any of theſe ſins, or in the very form of a Church headed by a pretended Univerſal Head or Soveraign, is to be abhorred by all ſound Chriſtians: And I am glad that this Kingdom is ſworn againſt all Foreign Juriſdiction, Civil or Eccleſiaſtical; though Union and Concord with all Foreign Churches muſt be as far kept as we are able, not partaking of their ſins. But I have long ag… (in my Key for Catholicks) propoſed the deſirable terms (not for a Coalition, but) for neighbourly Peace, that we may live in love and quietneſs, and not as thoſe that ſtill take themſelves bound to deſtroy each other.

VI. On theſe grounds I judge of Perſons according to their Perſonal Guilt, and not by the general name of Papiſts. I abhor thoſe that are wicked, and that own the foreſaid wickedneſs, but not all that are called Roman Catholicks, that live in the fear of God, and in Charity. I will try uncertainties by certainties, and not deny Fundamentals in oppoſition to mens By-Opinions. I am certain that I muſt love a Chriſtian, as ſuch, and that as much as in me lieth I muſt live peaceably with all men, and avoid all unneceſſary Diviſion, Wrath and Hatred; and I am ſure that, Bleſſed are the Peace-makers, for (whatever Errour calleth them) they ſhall be called the Children of God: I am ſure, that I muſt (unneceſſarily) ſpeak evil of no man; and that ſlandering and falſe-accuſing are diabolical works; and that …he Wiſdom is from beneath, which cauſeth Envy and Strife; and, in a word, that LOVE is Chriſt's Work and Character, and Hatred the Devils: But I am not ſure that the Church of Rome hath theſe 1000 or 1300 years been the Whore, and Babylon, meant in theſe Texts; nor that yet all Papiſts ſhall be tormented, as worſhiping the Beaſt, or his Image, &c.

I am ſure, that the Viſible Church will have ſcandals, and ambitious men; and yet that its deliverance in Conſtantine's time, and the following Ages, was a wondrous mercy, which Heaven and Earth did rejoyce in, and praiſe God …or: And it was a great part of Chriſt's coming to Reign by Chriſtian Princes, and that the Kingdoms of the World were made the Kingdoms of Chriſt: Therefore I dread the denying Chriſt theſe Kingdoms, and reproaching even the beſt Ages of his Church on Earth as Antichriſtian, leſt I deny him to have any Church Viſible at all, or tempt men to Infidelity, by ſaying that Chriſt is ſo little a King, and came to ſo little a work in the World, as to have no Church, ſave the perſecuted part, till An. 300, and the Reformers ſince 1560, ſave a few latent perſons. Men will judge of the Workman by his work, and of Phyſicians by their Cures: And though it be honourable to ſave one Soul, they will tempt men to diſhonour Chriſt, that call almoſt all his Church Antichriſtian. I would not ſlander one man, but ſhould I miſtake, and ſlander millions for thirteen hundred years together, how great were my guilt!

VII. I dread the turning Religion into a humane, hurtful, love-killing Faction. If I abhor millions and millions meerly on my uncertain expoſition of the Revelations, I cannot do it in Faith. If one ask me why I do it, and I ſay, becauſe they are of Babylon, or worſhip the Beaſt, and you ask me, how I know it, I muſt ſay that I know it not; But moſt here believe it becauſe Mr. A. Mr. B. Mr. C. &c. ſay ſo: And ſo as Papiſts found their Faith, and their hatred of us as hereticks, on the credit of their Teachers, that ſay ſo, ſo ſhall we ours on the word of our Teachers. And here I dread the effects, viz, abhorring men cauſeleſly, corrupting our Prayers and Sermons and Books, and fathering all on God, condemning all as favouring Popery, who have not contracted this hating diſeaſe; crying down many good and many harmleſs things, merely becauſe they come from the beaſt and Babylon. Temples themſelves, good Prayers, excellent Miniſters and Churches, yea Baptiſm it ſelf, have been cryed down and renounced, as Babyloniſh and Antichriſtian, and a ground of endleſs Diviſions, and ſtarting at every ſhaddow that Rome hath had to do with, is thus laid; yea the Seekers greatly countenanced that ſay, Scripture, Church and Miniſtry, are loſt in the wilderneſs, and the Church feigned to be brought into the wilderneſs, juſt when it was brought out of it, (which was the Pagan perſecution;) even the Proteſtant Churches are condemned as being yet Antichriſtian; And the Martyrs, that ſuffered by Papiſts, yea and thoſe that ſuffered in the 3d 4th and 5th Centuries by Arrians and others, are all made by many to be the Children of Babylon; And a war proclaimed between profeſſed Chriſtians, by which all the Romaniſts are tempted to hate and deſtroy us, as thoſe that would do ſo by them. And all this by the expounding the Revelations of that, which no man, that hath not more knowledge than I, can find that it ſaith, or medleth with: And that needleſly, while we have plain texts enough that condemn Popery, and all ſin, by which we may abhor bad men, without the danger of hating the Children of God. Chriſt is in our Creed, but Antichriſt is not. All the old Fathers were not Papiſts that took not the Pope for Antichriſt: But more probability of it may be gathered from other Texts than from the Revelations.

VIII. To ſay, I know not what I would know and cannot, is eaſier to me, than the dread of being guilty of the ſin threatned in the concluſion of this Book, that God will add the plagues in it to them that add to it, and blot his name out of the Book of Life, who taketh from it. (I deny not other mens knowledge, but my own: Ignorance of mens ignorance is the mortal diſeaſe of the world:) To add to the ſenſe is to add to the Book: To ſay, this is the ſenſe, when I know it not, and where five of the wiſeſt are of four minds (and Common Chriſtians take all on truſt) this expoſeth me to the dread of this heavy curſe:

If this account excuſe me not to the Reader, it excuſeth me to my Conſcience, whoſe cenſure I muſt more fear than mans, leſt I prefer my intereſt in the good opinion of partial miſled cenſorious dividers, before the pleaſing of God, and my Salvation, and that when I am going from this World to him: And if all this ſeem too much to any, the diſeaſes and danger of the Churches, the extreams of many and their ſad effects, theſe fifty years, and the confuting of thoſe who falſly interpret my Hiſtory of Biſhops and Councils, do make it ſeem otherwiſe to me.

I blame not modeſt conjectures, if men will but confeſs their uncertainty, when they are uncertain, and not make an uncertain Opinion an Article of Faith, and ſacrifice to it certain Fundamental Truth or Duty, the Churches Peace or Chriſtian Love, nor uſe it to kindle a partial, hating, dividing Zeal. Good Mr. Brightman did with a Pious Mind, determine many things very confidently, which time hath already confuted: He hath concluded that the Bleſſed Reſurrection, and time of Chriſts Thouſand years Reign in the New Jeruſalem, ſhall be 1695, eleven years hence. Thomas Rogers, and many others, have been ſhamed by ſetting times, which being paſt have confuted them. This hath frighten'd ſome others from that boldneſs, who yet in other uncertainties have been ſo confident, as that they have drawn many good People thereby to meaſure their Faith and Charity. I am far from thinking, that deeper Students are as ignorant herein as I: But I would not have all that are as ignorant, lookt upon as Aliens. And I confeſs that I am leſs able to expound Prophecies than Daniel, who yet thus concludeth, Ch. 12.8, 9. And I heard, but I underſtood not: Then ſaid I, O my Lord, what ſhall be the end of theſe things? And he ſaid, Go thy way, Daniel, for the Words are cloſed up and ſealed, till the time of the end.

Yet I ſay as Calvin, [I make no doubt, but the Revelation is Gods Word, though I underſtand it not;] and that it is not uſeleſs: Yea ſo much as I do underſtand, is of exceeding comfortable uſe: Though I know not whether the New Jeruſalem will come down from Heaven before, or at, the Common Reſurrection, it rejoiceth me that it will come: And God having condeſcended to deſcribe it, as Glorious, by corporeal Similitudes, to us that have no full Idea's of things Spiritual, it is a meet means of our comfort, by ſuch Similitudes, to conceive of that Glory; and even to imprint them on our minds, to further our deſires of that Bleſſed State, and make us Loves and long for Chriſts appearing, and cry daily, Come Lord Jeſus.

While I was writing this, there came to my hands, Iſaac Voſſius his Var. Obſervat. In which he ſheweth the magnitude of Rome, when it was in its Grandeur, (it being about 60 Miles about) and how it decreaſed, and that Conſtantine deſtroyed Rome far more, and before the Goths, by building Conſtantinople; ſo that within 80 years it was not the fifth part ſo big, as in Aurelians time: And that when Rufus and Victor wrote, there remained not the 20th part of the old City; and that now, under the Pope, it is ſo far from containing the ſeven Hills, that it is almoſt all contained in the Campus Martius, and containeth not now ſcarce the two hundredth part of the old City. And that it was fitly called Babylon the great, we read that old Babylon was near as great as Rome at the greateſt, and by Herodotus, and ſome others made greater.

It is anſwered to this, that it is the ſame City ſtill, known by the ſame Name.

But it hath not either the ſame Situation, Magnitude, Power, Dominion, and Idolatrous Fornication, by which John was to know it, nor would that deſcription agree to it now. By many ſuch reaſons I ſuſpect that the Queſtions, (who is the Beaſt? which is Babylon? and who is the Antichriſt?) are not the ſame in the Scripture ſenſe, nor muſt have the ſame Solution.

If any, that are Friends to Papal Uſurpation, and Church-Corruption; ſhall think that my confeſſed ignorance of theſe Prophecies, is any advantage to their ill Cauſe, I will further tell them, that it is far more dreadful to the Pope, and all his Flatterers, and Followers, to be plainly condemned by the known Laws of Chriſt, which all Chriſtians receive as paſt all doubt, than to be under the Dread of a dark and controverted Prophecie. To them that ſay, the Pope is the firſt and ſecond Beaſt, the Whore of Babylon, the Man of ſin, the falſe Chriſt or Antichriſt, you have the ſhift of a contempt of his words, as of a controverted uncertain thing; but who knoweth not, that the plain Law of God concludeth, that the Proud, the Worldly, the Malignant, the Idolatrous, Murderers, Perſecutors, Liars, the Enemies of Chriſts Goſpel and ſerious Godlineſs, are Satans Slaves, and ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of God? Can any man, that readeth but what Baronius, Binnius, Genebrard, and the moſt flattering of your Hiſtorians, ſay of the Popes from An. 700, till 1400, think that God owned and guided ſo wicked a ſort of Men? I again tell thoſe, that are angry at my Hiſtory of Biſhops and Councils, that I doubt not but God had, in all ages, a viſible Church of Pious Chriſtians, kept up by the lower ſort of Biſhops and Paſtors, and ſome of the higher (Patriarcks and Metropolitans,) but it was by theſe Majorites, and Ambitious Men, that corruption, cruelty and diſſention, chiefly entered; and they being uppermoſt, a few of them, by noiſe, oſtentation and domineering, paſt for the whole Church with undiſcerning Men.

And here to ſhew you how the Pope hath ſucceeded the moſt bloody Pagan Perſecutors, and outdone them, I will inſtance in a Hiſtory not ſufficiently underſtood by moſt.

Diocleſian murthered more Chriſtians than all the former Pagan Perſecutors ſet together: Among others he dealt ſo cruelly and inhumanely with them in France, and Savoy, and Retia, as forced many to ſtand upon their defence to ſave their Lives; two Commanders, Amandus and Elianus headed them, and raiſed them, that were but Country Club-men, into Arms: Much of France and Spain favoured them. Diocleſian made Herculius Maximianus Ceſar, and ſent him with an Army againſt them. In this Army was the Theban Legion, whoſe Colonel was Mauritius; at the Alpes Herculius would try his Souldiers, by Idolatrous Tricks, whether they would fight againſt theſe Chriſtians called Rebels, or not: The Theban Legion ſaid they could fight againſt bad Men, but not againſt good Men, but would rather ſubmit their lives to his pleaſure; (not being able to reſiſt if they would:) So he decimated them, and killed 70, and with the reſt of his Army quickly routed the Country-Clubmen, and beſieged their very ſtrong Caſtle, and killed them all, and overthrew their Fortreſs. Many ſcore thouſand are ſaid to be killed, and the name Bagaudae put on them in ſcorn, (like Tories and Whigs,) as ſignifying Thieves and Robbers.

And what's all this to the Roman Pope? Anſ. Theſe were the Chriſtians murthered by Diocleſians and Herculius, Pagans; the Relicks of the Fugitives continued in Languedock, Piedmont, Rhetia, &c. from age to age, till at laſt reviving to a more free oppoſition to Popiſh Tyranny and Corruption, they were murthered by the Popes,) (by Simon Montford, and his Cruſado's, and others after▪) to a far greater number than by Herculius Max. So that ſome Hiſtorians, reckon two Milions killed in all, in thoſe and other parts. And is▪ it not more wicked for a profeſſed Vicar of Chriſt, to murther Millions of poor Chriſtians, for being againſt his Tyranny and Corruptions, than for a Pagan Emperour, that had Civil Dominion, to kill not half ſo many?

I know it will be doubted by ſome, 1. Whether theſe Bagaudae were Chriſtians, ſeeing it is ſaid that they never reſiſted their Perſecuting Princes, but uſed only Prayers and Tears? And 2. Whether the Albigenſes and Waldenſes were their Succeſſors? The Hiſtory is of great Weight. I prove both parts.

I. For the firſt, ſet theſe following Teſtimonies together.

Hieronymus, in Chro. 2303. [Diocleſian took Maximianus Herculius into partener-ſhip of the Empire, who reſtored Peace to France, the multitude o… Ruſticks being oppreſt, who called their Faction by the Name of Bacauds.]

Victor de Caeſarib. [By the departure of Carinus, Elianus and Amandus, aſſaulted moſt of the Cities, waſting the Countrys, by raiſing a Band of Countrymen and Robbers, whom the Inhabitants called Bagauds.]

Eutripious Li. 9. [When the Countreymen in France had raiſed tumults, and taken the Name of Bagauds to their Faction, and had Amandus and Elianus for their Captains, Ceſar ſent Maximianus Herculius to ſubdue them.]

Pompon Let us. [Maximianus did with marvellous Speed ſuppreſ, and preſently root out, the tumults in France, which Amanilus and Elianus, on pretence of Tyranny, had raiſed, with the whole Faction of the Bagauds, by which Name the …out of the Ruſticks called themſelves.]

Paulus Oroſius Li. 7. C. 25. [When in France, Amandus and Elianus, gathering a Band of Ruſticks, which they called Vagands, had raiſed pernicious tumults, he (Diocleſian) made Maximianus, firnamed Herculius, Ceſar, and ſent him into France, who by Military Power eaſily bridled the Power, and confuſed Band, of the Countrymen.]

But Salvian ſpeaketh plainer, lib. 4. de Gubern. [The Bagauds being ſpoiled afflicted, and killed, by bad and cruel Judges, when they had loſt the Right of Roman Liberty, loſt alſo the Honour of the Roman Name: And their Infelicty is imputed to them: We impute to them the name of their own Calamity: We impute the name which we made our ſelves; and when we have compelled them to be criminous, we call them Rebels, and call them, deſtroyed Wretches. For what elſe was it that made them Bagauds, but our iniquities, and the diſhoneſty (or naughtineſs) of Judges? What but their Preſcriptions and Rapines, who turned the name of the Publick Tax, into the gains of their own Treaſure; and made the Tributary Impoſitions to be their own prey? Who, like cruel wild Beaſts, did not rule thoſe committed to their Charge, but devoured them; and were not maintained (or fed) only with the mens ſpoils, (as moſt Robbers uſe,) but with tearing the mens and, as I may ſay, with their blood. And the matter was ſo managed, that the Men that were ſtrangled, and killed by the Robbery of the Judges, began to be, as it were, Barbarians, becauſe they were not ſuffered to be Romans: For they were fain to be, what they had not been, becauſe they were not ſuffered to be what they had been, and they were conſtrained to defend at leaſt their Lives, becauſe they ſaw that they had utterly loſt their Liberty.]

See. du Freſne's Gloſſary lately printed at Paris, Vol. 2. In the word [Bagudae,] ſhewing that they were Chriſtians, See Florencius in Hottingers Eccleſ. Hiſtor.

In the Life of Abbot Bobolen, publiſhed by Chifletius in the end of Bedas works [Oroſius the Hiſtory-writer in his Hiſtory which he compoſed — affirmeth that the foreſaid Caſtle was by Maximianus Herculius overthrown to the very ground, and utterly deſtroyed; becauſe Amandus & Elianus, (Chriſtianae Cultores Fidei,) who were of the Chriſtian Religion, would not be ſubject to the Sacrilegious Roman Princes: For the ſame Maximianus, having gathered an Army of Romans, and joyning to him the Legion of the Theban Soldiours, drew towards them, that he might utterly deſtroy the Caſtle of the Bagauds; And paſſing over the Alpes with his Army, and reſting weary about Octodurum, commanded to invite all to the Fanatick Sacrifices, and to take an oath upon the Sacreds of the Gods, that they would with one mind fight againſt the troops (or companies) of the Bagauds: And the reſt of the Chriſtians whereover found, he decreed ſhould be kill'd by all men. But when this came to the ears of Maurice, Captain of the Theban Legion, viz, that Ceſar commanded them to fight againſt Chriſtians, he ſaid to him (the Emperour,) we know how to fight againſt Impious men, but to deſtroy godly men and Fellow Citizens, we are utterly ignorant; We hold our Arms you ſee, but we reſiſt not, for we are readier to die than to kill: And ſo they joy fully yielded their necks to the Executioners, and, by the Torment of their Bodies, paſt to the heavenly glory. Then Ceſar proceeding, and coming to the Caſtle of the Bagauds, ſo long beſieged it by Land and Water, till after a long time he took it, with the poſſeſſors, whom he kill'd with Sword and Fire: And ſo brought to nought the Caſtle that, beſides the ruins of the ditches, no ſigns appeared of any Fortifications. As among other Caſtles it was tumid with Munition, more excellent than the Imperial, ſo by the Roman Emperour it was brought lower by deſtruction. And the Inhabitants of the ſaid Caſtle, who (as I before noted) were Chirſtians, deſpiſing the care of their Body for the Love of God, are to be believed to have paſſed to the heavenly Kingdom by Martyrdom, ſo far this Author.

See alſo the Life of St. Maurice in Hiſtor. Lombard.

It is called (ſaith Ferrarius) Bagadarum Caſtrum; and S. Maur des Folſez, teſte Vignerio, to this day, and is pag. Gal. ad. Matronam fluv. apud Pariſios; And turned to a Monaſtery.

You may ſee more yet in Martinij Onomaſt, in the word Baquetes, for that he maketh, after Scaliger, to be their Countrey name, and their Enemies after uſed it for the Title of Rebells, and Rogues, and Seditious People.

I conclude with Martinius his words hereon, [Et talis eſt mos, &c.] Such is the manner of ſome, who being titled (or called) Clement, delight to be Inclement: The end of whoſe Reputation and Government, is as was their predeceſſor Rehobaam. Ambition and Luxury do this, ſo great weight is in that one Rule [MODERATE THINGS ARE DURABLE,] and the Prudence, in Publick and Family Government to proportion our Expences to our Eſtates, &c. But it will not be better with human affairs, as long as the Wiſdom from above is excluded, and the Wiſdom that is earthly, ſenſual and deviliſh, taketh place in the World. But yet let not the ſuffering of any evil, draw us to do any evil: For it is the greateſt evil, not to be able to bear evil.

Out of all this, it is evident. 1. That the horrid oppreſſion and cruelty againſt Chriſtians in Diocleſians time did drive theſe Chriſtians, in France, to a ruſtick ſelf-defence, under the conduct of Amandus and Elianus. 2. That it was for refuſing to fight againſt them, that the Theban Legion was decimated, (and 70 killed ſay ſome,) and with all for not ſwearing and ſacrificing to the Gods. 3. That it was the great numbers of Chriſtians, (whoſe multiplication Euſebius deſcribeth in Diocleſians daies,) that cauſed him to deſtroy them, leſt they ſhould grow too ſtrong for him (as Pharaoh did by the Iſraelites.) 4. That yet theſe ſelf-defending Chriſtians ſped worſe, and ſuffered more, than they had done if they had fled. 5. That thoſe that the Pagan Emperour called Rebells, and Seditious Rogues, ſuch writers as the Author of the Life of that Babolen doubt not to number with glorified Martyrs: How well let them anſwer.

II. But what is all this to the Popes of Rome? Anſ. It ſeemeth clearly to be the Succeſſours of theſe, that the Popes after murthered. For, 1. There is no doubt but though many that took Arms were kill'd, and their Caſtle demoliſhed, the far greateſt part were not in Arm…, and therefore ſaved themſelves by flight, and hiding, ſpecially Old Men and Women, and Children. 2. No doubt but they fled to the moſt Mountanous and deſerted parts, as ſafeſt. 3. No Hiſtory tells us of their flying ſo far as the Aged, and Women, and Weak could not go, but to Languedock, Piedmont, Rhetia, and about the Alpes. 4. The People murthered by the Popes, were found moſt in thoſe ſame Countreys, and are of the very like deſcription. That there were ſome Manichees among them, who diſgraced the reſt, and made Bernard, Peter Cluniacenſis, and Walafr. Strab. and others accuſe them hardly, it is no wonder: The Apoſtles Churches had Hereſies, Luthers Reformation was accompanied with many diſgraceful Sects; nor is it marvel that we read of no great noiſe againſt or about them, for ſome hundred years after Diocleſian, and that they were not called Albigenſes, Waldenſes, &c. till of late. For it was many hundred years after, before the Biſhops turned to perſecute their Fellow-Chriſtians openly: And when they did, theſe were poor people and harmleſs, fled (as the Britains into Wales,) where they were niether a deſireable prey, nor any great annoyance to any: And when ſome Teachers after more openly cryed down the Popes Tyranny and Corruptions, then they began to be more defamed and perſecuted. 5. Reynerius, that well knew them, teſtifyeth that they were more dangerous than new riſen Sects, becauſe they boaſted of their Antiquity, that they were called Apoſtolicks, and had continued what they then were from the days of Silveſter: And Silveſter lived in Conſtantines time, and was Biſhop of Rome about An. 314, and ſo lived in Diocleſians time; ſo that either theſe Albigenſes were the Succeſſours of the murdered Bagauds or another ſort juſt▪ like them in the ſame Country, which no reaſon can imagine. Of their Antiquity ſee more in Paul Perin, and Morlands Hiſtory of them, but eſpecially at large in Biſhop Uſher de Succeſſione Eccleſiarum.

I think then it is manifeſt by this Hiſtory that the bloody Popes and Papiſts, did murder the ſame ſort of Men, (yea three or four times more in number,) by Sword and Inquiſition (not only there but in Germany, Bohemia, Poland, &c. whither they were diſperſt,) which Diocleſian and Max. Herculius murthered; (and yet honour St. Maurice, and the Theban Legion, that would not fight againſt them, as they do St. Martin, that ſeparated from the Biſhops that were but for killing a Gnoſtick Priſcilianiſt:) And it is not the Name of a Heretick, that will Cloak ſuch hypocritical Cruelty, or deceive Chriſt, that he ſhall not know his Flock, it men miſcall them. To own Chriſt and the Goſpel, and to murder Thouſands, or Millions in his Name, as if he took it for acceptable Service, is incomparably a more aggravated crime, than the moſt bloody Pagan Perſecution was.

Obj. Theſe were Hereticks, and deſerved death. Anſ. 1. And were they worſe than Heathen Idolaters and Infidels, and muſt three or four parts of the World be put to death?

Obj. But they were Baptized, and ſo are Revolters: Anſ. 1. And do they revolt to worſe than Paganiſm? 2. Is Infant Baptiſm of ſo diſmal conſequence, as that the Pap…ſts may murther all that revolt from it. Is not this the way to make Antip…o baptiſts, or Antibaptiſts, and keep Men from Chriſtianity? But oportet Mendacem eſſe Memorem, Why then do your Hiſtorians charge them to have been againſt Infant-Baptiſm? Did you murder none till they were Baptized?

2. But what was their Hereſie, how can we know better than by your bloody Laws againſt them? The General Council. 4. at the Lat…rane under Innoc. 3. …s us, it was denying Tranſubſtantiation, (and diſobeying the Pope:) And all Temporal Lords are to ſwear, to exterm…at… all ſuch, and all others, that they w…ll call Hereticks, on pain of Excommunication, depoſition, and damnation. So that all that renounced not their ſenſes were Hereticks, and all ſuch to be deſtroyed or exterminated, and Subjects …bſ…lved from their All…g…nce to Temporal Lords … will not execute it; and many other grievous penalties are ad… And ſeeing General Councils are the Rules of the Religion of the through Papiſt, be not …nv…y with them that call both your Pope and Council, and Church, Antichriſtian, who thus exceeded Diocleſian, and Max. Herculius in their work.

Obj. But how then can you hold that the whole Viſible Church was never the Seat, or Society of Antichriſt, in any one age?

Anſ. Very well: Chriſt was Chriſt, the head of his Church, as viſible and inviſible, in every age, 1. Three or four parts of the Chriſtian World were then, and are now, from under the Pope: this very bloody Council ſaith, c. 4. That the Greeks rejected the Roman Pope, and ſo far abhorred the Latines, that if Latine Prieſts did but celebrate at their Altars, their Greeks judged them defiled, and would not uſe them again, till they had waſhed them, yea they rebaptized thoſe whom the Latine Prieſts baptized. And they once a year Excommunicated the Popes long, and they owned not Tranſubſtantiation: And they, with the Abaſſines, Armenians, and all ſuch others, were three or four times more than the Papiſts.

2. And who may not eaſily know that a Pope, and ſuch a Council called General, are not the Weſtern Viſible Church, real or repreſentative? Its not unlike that forty to one might be againſt them. King John's Embaſſador was one of the conſenters, who then was in conteſt againſt Stephen Langton, Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, and to conquer his own Lords and Kingdom, gave his Kingdom to the Pope, and took it as from him. And if ſuch a King had the choice of Biſhops, they would no more repreſent the Church there, than he and his Court repreſented the Kingdom, when he gave it away, and fought againſt it; and thoſe Biſhops that the Pope choſe did as little repreſent it, being more the Meſſengers of his will, than of the Churches: And how few Biſhops were in ſuch Councils, beſides thoſe that the Pope made or conſented to? When he, and the Emperours Henry's were in War, the Emperors Biſhops condemned the Popes, and the Popes Biſhops condemned the Emperors, and theſe Servants of two Men in power, were not the repreſenters of the Church. The multitude of lower quiet Biſhops, Paſtors and People were the Viſible Chu…ch, more than England was a Viſible Kingdom, diſtinct from King John's Court; for the Pope was but an Uſurping head, which that King then was not.

Obj. Then you make two Viſible Churches in Europe. Anſ. Yes; Chriſt had one diffuſed over the World; and the Pope made another, by Uſurpation and Rebellion, which was Regnum in Regno, as any Rebel might do that could get ſtrength, to ſet up a party in power, to call him King, in ſome part of a Kingdom.

Such an Antichriſtianity as this, I make no doubt but the Papacy did become guilty of; and none that owneth it as ſuch, and receiveth their mark, can be Innocent; but are condemned by plainer Evidence than dark Prophecies; but I will not therefore ſay the ſame, of all, from An. 304. (Or any other,) that lived before this contracted guilt, though too many at Rome, and other Countreys, prepared the way; nor yet of all called Papiſts, who own not the crimes, and Characters of ſuch men; and much leſs of all the Viſible Church in any one age: And leaſt of all of all the Viſible Church, ſince 3…4, or thereabouts. The World hath already ſeen a great deal of publick Sin and Miſery, in and by the Empires of P…gans, Moh…metans and Chriſtians, conquering and being conquered, turning and overturning. Thouſands and hundred Thouſands murdered, &c. more than I can find mentioned in Daniel, or the Revelations.

In this Judgement I am (in Pain and Languiſhing) waiting for my Change, and Hope of a World, where all is expounded, and all Wickedneſs, Malignity, and Diviſions ſhut out, and Holineſs, Love and Concord perfected, and all perfectly pleaſed in pleaſing God.

And as I can eaſily bear the reproach of thoſe that accuſe me fo… no better underſtanding the Revelations, and of all that accuſe me, of being either too little againſt Popery and Antichriſt, or too much being ſhortly to be above the ignorant obloquy of all extreams; ſo Readers, I earneſtly adviſe you, that you never take Faction for Religion▪ nor lying or betraying truth, for its defence: Let them prove that Popes have not been Antichriſts that can: It's none of my work. But if you are never ſo ſure that it is he indeed, pull him not down by calling Truth, Duty or things lawful, Antichriſtian, nor by telling men that all Proteſtants are Idolaters or Antichriſtian, if they forſake not the Communion of all our Parochial Proteſtant Churches, and of all other Reformed Churches that are as bad as they, that the Papiſts may re-enter into them as deſerted Garriſons, and find no reſiſtance: Nor by telling the World that all our Laws againſt Popiſh Recuſancy do puniſh them, for not doing an unlawful thing, which all Proteſtants ſhould refuſe as well as they. This is no likelier a way to pull down Antichriſt, than Racking and Tearing the Reformed Churches, by unlawful Snares, and ſilencing the Faithfuleſt Miniſters of Chriſt. But above all, begin not the Papal Antichriſtianity, with the beginning of the Chriſtians deliverance by Conſtantine, nor too ſoon; nor feign it to be Univerſal: Read ſuch Books, as Jewel, Rivet, Blondel, Pet. Moulin, Dalleus, &c. If you are Schollars, which prove the Novelty of Popery, and the confident offer of the preſent Biſhop of Lincoln, Dr. Barlow, (no ſtranger to Antiquity, or Books,) that he will recant and turn to them.

Let them prove by any full and concluding reaſon, that any Chriſtian Church in the World acknowledged, or the Church of Rome, her ſelf aſſumed, and publickly pleaded for, ſuch a Papal Supremacy as now they pretend to, for 1000 years, after our Bleſſed Saviour, and for my own part, I will confeſs, and retract my error.

Let them prove by any ſuch concluding reaſon, that any Church in the World (Eaſtern or Weſtern, Greek or Latine,) did acknowledge (what now the Pope and his party ſo earneſtly and vainly contend for,) the Popes Infallibility, and his Supremacy over all general Councils, for 1500 years after our Bleſſed Saviour, and for my part, I will retract what I have here affirmed, and be (what I hope I never ſhall be) their Proſelyte.

London, 1684. Nov. 12. Natali Authoris. Aetat. Suae, 70. RICHARD BAXTER.

FINIS

End of the text · Richard Baxter, A Paraphrase on the New Testament (1685)