A Catholic Catechism, Chapter 13
CAP. XIII. Of the Anti-Church, and its Oppoſition in every Thing to the True Church.
Queſt. IS there not an Anti-Church, or Antichriſtian-Church, that ſtands in Oppoſition to the True-Church?
Anſw. There is, and hath been ſo for many Ages, and that hath taken upon it in the moſt Publick way, to be the Church of Chriſt, the Houſe of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth.
Queſt. With what Advantages hath it been arm'd thus to take upon it ſelf at all the Name of a Church?
Anſw. It having riſen out of the True Ancient Apoſtolick Church, that received the True Chriſtianity from the Apoſtles at Rome, and the Faith of which, as the Apoſtle Paul witneſſes, Rom. 1. 8. was ſpoken of throughout the World; it hath retain'd the Scriptures, and the Fundamentals of Chriſtianity, the Writings of the Firſt Chriſtians and Apoſtolical Men, and ſo hath continued to do from that very time of the Apoſtles to this Day, and hath alſo actuated the Truth of the Scripture, and thoſe Fundamentals of it, according as its Intereſt hath led it, in ſome Ages more, in ſome leſs, as ſhall be preſently more diſcovered.
Queſt. Having then the Scriptures, thoſe Fundamentals of Chriſtianity, and the Diſcourſes of the Ancient Fathers, and Doctors upon them, in ſuch a length of time, with what reaſon can it be looked upon as an Anti or Antichriſtian-Church?
Anſw. With very great reaſon, becauſe by a multitude of Additions, fowleſt Idolatrous and Superſtitious Corruptions, and falſe Interpretations upon the Scriptures, the Fundamentals of Chriſtianity, and the Diſcourſes of the Ancients ſhamefully interpolated, and by Spurious Writings under their Names deſpited, it hath turned whole Chriſtianity into a very contrary thing to it ſelf: while therefore it holds thoſe points of Chriſtianity, and the Records of it in veneration, and yet ſupports all its Falſhoods thereby, it becomes perfectly an Antichurch, or Antichriſtian: It hath in regard of thoſe Articles of Truth it holds and actuates, ſo much, as to have the Name of a Church, and Chriſtian; and yet having them ſo falſified, corrupted, and changed from themſelves, it becomes a Mock-Church, a Mock-Chriſtianity, that is, an Antichurch, and Anti-chriſtian, in deſpite of the True-Church, and True-Chriſtianity: And as to its Actuation of Truth, it hath ſo Actuated Truth, as to Actuate by Truth its own Falſhoods, and Lies upon Truth.
Queſt. How then did it riſe to ſuch an Eminency and pretence of being Catholick and Publick?
Anſw. The many Concurrences of Divine Providence, under his deep and unſearchable Judgments in the Government of the World, in relation to that ſtate he had appointed for his Church, I leave to the Hiſtory of the Church and Roman Empire in thoſe times; by which may be underſtood, how the Papacy took the advantage to Exalt it ſelf, not only above the Epiſcopal Chairs then in an Ambitious Conteſt for Supremacy, but above all that was called God, that is, the Imperial Power it ſelf, and ſo ſet its Foot upon the Necks of Chriſtian Princes throughout the World, till the great Cheat began to be detected; and all this, by and upon pretence of being the Vicar of Chriſt, or the Head of the Catholick, that is, the Roman-Church.
Queſt. Theſe things I confeſs not ſo convenient to my Inquiry; I deſire only to know, how, in the middle of ſo many horrible Corruptions, this Antichurch could be ſo bold, as to vaunt it ſelf the Ʋniverſal Church of Chriſt.
Anſw. Taking the utmoſt benefit of its Antiquity in the Chriſtian-Faith, and Fundamentals of it; and eſpecially of the Conſpicuouſneſs and Famouſneſs of its State, and in the mean time the Corruptions growing up by degrees, and not ſo obſervably as at once, (for Papal Rome was not built in a Day,) It uſurped the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as its own; the Key of Knowledge, in its Infallibility; the Keys of Power, in opening and ſhutting Heaven Gates, ſo as that in the Darkneſs then overſpreading the World, and the Church, Ignorance, the Mother of Falſe-Devotion, ſo bewitching the Minds of Men, that they all wondered after the Roman-State, as new modelled under the Beaſt Arm'd with two Horns, like thoſe of a Lamb, counterfeiting Power from Chriſt the Lamb, but that ſpake as a Dragon, purſuing all its pretendedly Chriſtian Decrees with the extreameſt Salvageneſs of any of the greateſt Earthly Tyrants, but all under a Mask of the Catholick Apoſtolick Church, by which Faſcination of Zeal to the moſt excellent Religion, though ſo Vitiated, Princes and People Surrendred their Power to this great Sorcereſs, uſing at once all the Frauds and Cheats of Falſe-Propheſie, and the Arts and Policy of the moſt Deſigning Univerſal Monarchy: Thus while this Antichurch ſtole into Power by the beſt appearances of True-Religion, and ſecured it by all the Blandiſhments of a Meretricious Religion; it found it ſelf ſo ſtrong, as to force its Falſe-Religion by its Power; and uſing both together, raiſed the Grandeur of both a Secular and Spiritual Tyranny to ſuch a height.
Queſt. But how did the True-Church in this time Actuate Truth, or agree with thoſe Characters of being the Houſe of God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth?
Anſw. It was by the might and prevalency of this Secular and Spiritual Tyranny ſo ſuppreſſed, that it was in a manner known only to God, who reſerv'd a number to himſelf in the midſt of ſo great a Defection, wherein that promiſe was made Good, the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt his Church: Expoſing and Actuating Truth, pure from thoſe Corruptions, is hardly and very hardly to be found in Hiſtory, in any of the Lines and Motions of it, in the moſt dark and doleſom period of that Defection.
Queſt. How was it with the True-Church recovering it ſelf from this great Darkneſs?
Anſw. God raiſed up by extraordinary Meaſures of, though but an ordinary preſence, ſuch, who by Indefatigable ſearches into his Truth, and Word, and thoſe Records of Chriſtianity that Antichurch was concerned to preſerve, becauſe, as was ſaid, it could not without ſo much of a Church, be an Antichurch; and by bold Publications of it, ſhook ſo that Inchanted City, that a tenth part of it fell: And by the great contrivance of Providence, even the chief of that Antichurch were forc'd, by way of Repercuſſion, to raiſe greater Light, by endeavours to defend themſelves, from Scripture, Antiquity and Reaſon, by the Summons of all, that Learning, Wit and Induſtry could levy in their Defence; ſo that they were neceſſitated to awaken out of that Barbarity and Ignorance in which they had been ſo long drown'd, and to Actuate even Truth more fiercely, that they might together with it make as potent and prevalent as they could, and give countenance to thoſe great Falſhoods they had interwoven with it: From all which broke out ſuch a light in the World, that Princes rowz'd themſelves, and no longer crouch'd down under ſuch an intoxicated Servitude, which had long gall'd and pinch'd them, but that they knew not how to rid themſelves from it, till the Sorcery was laid bare, which ſtill gave greater ſcope for the diſplay of Truth.
Queſt. Could the Scripture be inconſcious, or ſilent concerning ſo great Revolutions in the Church of God, as theſe?
Anſw. It is in all True Reaſon moſt impoſſible; and therefore it is a mighty Argument, that thoſe great places of Scripture, that do ſo notoriouſly agree to ſuch a purpoſe, as the Diſcovery of this Antichriſtian State, are juſtly apply'd to it by Proteſtant Interpreters.
Queſt. If you pleaſe, point me to the chief of thoſe places you refer to?
Anſw. I will do it very briefly, as being too large for the preſent purpoſe to enumerate many, or enlarge upon any of them: But what more proper to delineate ſuch a State, than the Apoſtaſie the Apoſtle deſcribes, 2 Theſſ. 2. 3. and 1 Timoth. 1. 4. or than the Church in the Wilderneſs, Revel. 12. 14. the Witneſſes Prophecying in Sackcloth, being ſlain, and lying dead three Days and a half, True Chriſtianity being in all appearance extinct: The meaſuring the Altar, the Temple, and thoſe that Worſhip in it, ſignifying the cloſe Retirement of Pure Religion, and the outward Court left to be trodden down by the Gentiles, or Heathen Chriſtians, and their impure Rites, and Worſhip; and therefore excluded from thoſe ſtrict meaſures true undefiled Chriſtianity is enclos'd within, Revel. 11. 1.
Now upon all theſe Repreſentations of ſuch a State of the Church, ſo exquiſitely ſhadowed and reſembled, and compared with that deep plunge and immerſement of Chriſtian Religion in the time of the Popiſh Midnight, who can but believe, theſe, with many concurrent Delineations in all thoſe forecited Scriptures, were on purpoſe to give the Portraicture of that ſo Fatal Apoſtaſie, that believes it at all to be Propheſied in the Book of God? and who, that conſiders the weight of the thing, can but believe it foretold, if there be any thing prophetick of the State of Chriſtianity to the end of the World? As it moſt evidently appears there is.
But if any be ſo incredulous, as to ſuppoſe ſuch a State of Chriſtianity beneath the prefigurations of the Divine Spirit, he cannot, if he be indeed a Proteſtant, but agree, that nothing does with more Art and Divine Skill Pourtray, and Draw to the Life ſuch a Devaſtation of Chriſts True Religion, as all Hiſtory knows Popery hath made, and as far as it can prevail, does now, and would do much farther, and in its very Frame is conſtituted ſo to do.
Queſt. But ſeeing you ſuppoſe theſe Types of Popery may be applyed another way, though it is, I confeſs, very hardly to be ſuppoſed; yet I deſire, if any thing hath fallen under your Obſervation, that can be leſs avoided, to make plain, how different a Religion Popiſh-Chriſtianity is from the Scripture-Chriſtianity, you would give me leave to ask what it is?
Anſw. I muſt needs commend your Rational Enquiry, for I know neither the Veneration given to any Religion by the Natives of it, nor the ill Words againſt any Relion by thoſe that are Strangers and Enemies to it, ſhould conclude againſt it: The Profeſſors of every Religion are ſtartled at any reproach of their own Religion, as at horrible Blaſphemy, but freely ſpeak ill of a diverſe from it: Mahometans call themſelves Believers, and Chriſtians Infidels. Popiſh Religion calls it ſelf Catholick, and Proteſtancy a Grand Hereſie, and Schiſm. Judaiſm charges whole Chriſtianity with Cheat and Impoſture: It is therefore neceſſary, we ſhould have ſome Magnetick Needle to point us to the True Religion, and to the True Chriſtianity, ſeeing its Name is not only diſtributed to many, but ſo ſolemnly divided into the Popiſh and Proteſtant Profeſſion of Chriſtianity.
Queſt. What then can be our Invariable Northpole in Religion, in ſuch a Wide and Tumultuous Ocean?
Anſw. I hope you have not forgotten what was at firſt given in Inſtruction concerning Natural and Revealed Religion, their exact Agreement with one another, and with all our Faculties; ſo that no Religion in the World can deſerve the Name of a Religion, but looks monſtrous and horrid, only ſo far as it borrows ſome or more of the Grand Principles of our True Religion; nor can be at all Weighty and Conſiderable, but is vain and ridiculous, if it receive no Ballaſt from True-Religion.
That then, which was accounted for in the beginning, being remembred, I ſhall eſpecially apply my ſelf to aſcertain True Chriſtianity in contradiction to the falſe, or Popiſh Chriſtianity, by that which will much aſcertain all True Religion alſo in General, and difference it from all Falſe Religion.
Queſt. I much deſire to have ſome ſuch Teſt, as you ſeem to intimate and promiſe?
Anſw. I cannot furniſh you with a better, ſurer, and more lively, than that Emblem of the Divine Spirit, repreſenting the New Jeruſalem by a four-ſquare City, the Length, and the Bredth, and the Height of which are equal: The Walls, and the Gates, and the City it ſelf amounting to ſo many Square, Solid Furlongs, all exactly regulated by the Number Twelve, all of Maſſy-Gold and moſt precious Pearil, Rev. 21.
Queſt. The very General view of ſo rich an Embleme much affects me, but I deſire you to lead me into the Application of it to each Particular purpoſe, and in the firſt place, what am I to underſtand by the City?
Anſw. It is evidently told us, it is the New Jeruſalem that is coming down from Heaven, the True Church Seated in the Chriſtian Religion; for ſo the Apoſtle Paul aſſures us, the Chriſtian Church ſo Spirited with True Chriſtianity is Jeruſalem, which is above, the Divine and Spiritual Jeruſalem, which is free, and is the Mother of us all, if True Chriſtians, Gal. 4. 26.
Queſt. What do you underſtand by the Foundations, the Wall, the Gates, the City it ſelf?
Anſw. I am not bold, or curious in purſuing Emblems too cloſe, but underſtand, in general, by the whole of all theſe, the Doctrine, the Worſhip, the Rules of Life, the Diſcipline of the True Church.
Queſt. What are we directed to, by all being reduced to the Number Twelve?
Anſw. It is very evident, the Twelve Apoſtles of the Lamb give the Honour to the Number Twelve; for the Prophets and Apoſtles, that is, the Truth miniſtred infallibly by them, is the Foundation upon which the True Chriſtian Church is built, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the Corner-Stone; and ſo to ſhew True Religion hath been always Subſtantially the ſame, The Twelue Tribes of Iſrael, and the Name of Jeruſalem, the People and City of God of old, are Recorded with Honour, as expreſſive of the True Church, fixed in the True Religion in the Times before Chriſt.
Queſt. Why are all things in the Chriſtian State deſerib'd to be of Pure Gold, and Precious Pearl?
Anſw. To teach us by ſenſible things the tranſcendent Purity and Worth of Chriſtian Religion, and the equal Purity and Worth of all things in it, of a moſt tranſparent clearneſs, being all Spiritual, Intellectual, full of Light and Truth, and ſo to be received and enjoy'd by Purity, and Intellectuality, or Cleareſt Underſtanding, Wiſdom, and Prudence in the Knowledge of this Divine Revelation, and by greateſt Innocency, Cleanneſs and Heavenlineſs of Heart, Affections, and Life.
Queſt. But can this be ſuppoſed to be the preſent State of the Church of God, as it is here upon Earth?
Anſw. This is the certain and moſt unalterable Conſtitution and Deſignation of God concerning it, and whoever plants it lower, in any of the Things before Named, viz. the Doctrine, Worſhip, Rules of Life, or Diſcipline, contradicts the very thing it ſelf, or degrades and embaſes it, though it muſt be acknowledged, its being thus prepared and adorned as a Bride, muſt be from Heaven, in ſome juſt ſeaſon appointed by the Father: This is yet always the Tryal of the True Church, and the True Religion, although the Church be not yet perfected to it.
Queſt. But you ſeem to have forgotten the City, and all the Parts of it lying Fourſquare, and being ſolid ſquare meaſure, for ſo it muſt be, if the Length, Bredth, and Height are all equal?
Anſw. I did not at all forget it, but ſuffered your Queſtions to lead through all, I leſs deſign'd, that they might come to the Principal Character of the True Religion and the True Church, ſo exactly adequate to one another.
Queſt Will you then more fully explain this Similitude?
Anſw. That I may the better do it, I muſt repeat it from the very Ground and Bottom of it, which is, that God makes uſe, as he pleaſes, of all the Knowledge and Science …hat is in the World, to Miniſter to Divine Knowledge, … which he principally intends to Inſtruct, as being moſt abſolutely neceſſary for all, of what condition ſoever: As then Mathematicks is the moſt Demonſtrative Science, and ſome things in it are of moſt retired and fine Speculation, ſo are others moſt known, and neceſſary to all imployed in Mechanicks: Thus God hath been pleaſed to depoſite ſome Prophetick Truths in the moſt myſtick parts of that Learning, and ſome of the more general uſe in the moſt known and acquainted parts of it; now thoſe that are more ſecret, and not ſo neceſſary, I ſhall leave to thoſe that are moſt fitted thereunto: But what is moſt plain, and imports what is moſt neceſſary for all, I will inſiſt upon.
As then Number and Meaſure are means Ordained for Humane Nature, and principal Inſtruments of Reaſon, to come to the moſt certain knowledge of things, and to be ſecured, they are, and continue what they juſtly ought to be; ſo True Religion is thereupon preſented to us under exact Number and Meaſure, falling in one with another, the Number Twelve multiplied into a Square Cube of Twelve thouſand Furlongs.
And as the Fourſquare Figure does ſo bind, and is ſo compact with it ſelf, that it cannot receive the leaſt Addition, but with the loſs of its Square, nor the leaſt Diminution, but under the ſame Forfeiture; thus True Religion is ſo perfectly it ſelf, that it can neither be added to, nor diminiſhed from, but with a proportionable loſs of it ſelf: God was pleaſed upon this account to chuſe this Figure for the Altar under the Law, for the Breaſt-Plate of Judgment; this was the Meaſure of Solomons Oracle, how far the Meaſures in Ezekiel agree, I leave. The Heathen by Natural Wiſdom had ſuch a Senſe of the ſo Juſt to it ſel, Fourſquare, that they called a Good Man, foreign, of a Fourſquare Man.
And laſtly, as Solid Square Meaſure is in all parts of it, and throughout every part, exactly Square, and gives the moſt certain account of the whole content of a Body; ſo is True Religion in all its Parts exactly ſo it ſelf, and every Part of every Part is reduced to the ſame exactneſs; for ſo the Length, Bredth and Height of it are equal, and ſo is the True Church exactly adequated to True Religion: The Faith is therefore ſaid to be at once delivered to the Saints, becauſe it can receive no New Meaſures, and it is called, the Common Salvation, or Doctrine of it, becauſe the Univerſal Standard is one.
This then is the Meaſure of a Man and the Meaſure of the Angel: For by that Wiſdom, that is natural to a Man, in which Beaſts have no ſhare, that is, to Number and Meaſure, is made plain to us Angelical Number and Meaſure, that is, the Number and Meaſure of True Relion, as the Angel delineated it, beginning in the Apoſtolical Twelve, and Multiplied by it ſelf to an exact Square Figure or Meaſure; Square in the whole product, Square in every particular part, and of that juſt content. And with this exact Number Twelve, ſo Fourſquare, agreed the Altar, Temple, and they that worſhipped therein; when the outward Court was left out of Meaſure, to be trodden under Foot by Heatheniſh Idolatry, and Superſtition, diſguis'd under Popiſh Chriſtianity; of which whenever it ſhall be perfectly freed, it ſhall appear in that Glory here deſcrib'd. All richeſt Pearl, pure Gold, moſt tranſparent Jaſper, that is Brighteſt, Cleareſt Truth, and of the exact Apoſtolical Number and Meaſure.
Queſt. Is there no farther Improvement to be made of this Divine Symbole, the Fourſquare City?
Anſw. Thereis, when I have firſt obſerved to you Falſe-Religion is out of all Square, juſt Meaſure, and even Number; it is a conſtant and perpetual Odd, wandring from True Religion, and the juſtneſs of it to it ſelf; and that both in Doctrine, Worſhip, Rules of Life and Diſcipline, ſo that it is impoſſible in it to Meaſure one thing from and by another, or any one point of any of theſe by it ſelf, uneven in the whole Product, uneven in every part; uneven in the Roote: The moſt ſignificant Emblem of the Popiſh-Church, which having the Fundamentals of Chriſtianity, hath yet loſt the Apoſtolical Twelve, by innumerable moſt irregular, …d wild Additions, and deformed every Single Article of Truth by moſt diſagreeable Corruptions of it; and therefore, as a Man moſt Learned in Numbers hath demonſtrated, the Number 666, a Number no way to be reduced to a Fourſquare Figure, is the moſt Fit, and Significant Hieroglyphick of it, and indeed, of all Falſe-Religion, that muſt have ſomething of Truth, to make it a Religion; but as it is falſe, is an Odd from that Truth.
Queſt. Let me now deſire the moſt plain and uſeful Application of this Parabolick Scheme?
Anſw. You ſhall have it; and it conſiſts in obſerving Four Prime Characters of the True Chriſtian Religion, that may be as Four Equal ſides of this Fourſquare, and of the Church adjuſted to it; from each of which may be meaſured to each of the reſt, and the Equality, or Inequality, will diſcover the Truth or Falſhood of all that is brought to the Tryal.
1. The Tranſcendant Holineſs, Goodneſs, and Purity of the Doctrine, Precepts of Worſhip, Rules of Life, Diſcipline, is one ſide of this Chriſtian-ſquare, with which whatever does not Square, is convicted not to be of that Doctrine and Religion; whether it look towards God, in all the Higheſt, moſt Honourable Apprehenſions of him, ſuitable Diſcourſe, Worſhip, Love and Obedience; or whether it look towards Men, in all Juſtice, Righteouſneſs, Mercy, Compaſſion, Charity, Benevolence, Beneficence; and theſe, as they reſpect all the particular Offices of Life; Publick, of Magiſtrates, Subjects; or Private, as of Parents, Children; Husband, Wife; Maſter or Servants: The Peace and Welfare of Mankind are treaſur'd up in the Law of Chriſt; or laſtly, whether it look to a Mans own Perſon, in Soberneſs, Purity, Continency in the Thoughts, the Words, the Actions. The Honour and beſt State of the Mind and Body are provided for by this Doctrine that is after Godlineſs, not only in the World to come, but in this Life: Whatever now does not agree with theſe wholeſom words, is detected not to be Chriſtian; which is all Truth, Virtue, and Praiſe.
2. There being nothing more intimate to Man, in this fallen ſtate, than the Senſe of Guilt, and knowledg that he is a Sinner, the whole platform of Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt is become like the Original Law of Righteouſneſs, by which Man was formed, and Anſwers to it in all the Attributes of Perfection; as therefore the Plot of Reſtoration by the Son of God infolds it within it ſelf, and anſwers every way exactly to it, ſo that very Law and Doctrine of Holineſs owns the Reconciliation and Attonement by that great Sacrifice, as Equilateral to it ſelf, the Dimenſions of one being found correſpondent in the other, and each to be Tryed one by the other; ſo great a Sacrifice would be unneceſſary, if it had not ſo great a Law to anſwer; ſo great a Law can be anſwered by ſo great a Sacrifice, and only by that: It muſt have that; it can need, it can acknowledge no other. So then, the one may be Meaſured by the other: The Holineſs, Purity of ſuch a Law violated, requires ſuch an Effectual Pacification, and Purgation of Conſcience, ſuch a Renovation as Chriſtianity ſets before us. Such a Sacrifice, ſuch a Renovation or Sanctification by the Divine Spirit from it, teaches us, what an excellent Law was violated; ſo often therefore is the Lamb made the Title of our Lord and Savour, ſo often it is Signally Recorded in the Revelation; and the Names of the Apoſtles of the Lamb are ſaid to be written in the Foundations of the New-Jeruſalem, to ſhew the weight of the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Sacrifice in the Blood of Chriſt, and the Holy Spirit breathing in and from it, in Renovation and Sanctification.
3. The Liberty that Jeſus Chriſt hath brought in by his Goſpel, is another Equilateral Character of his True Religion, to be Meaſured by each of the former, and it alſo Meaſures them: It is not a Liberty from Holineſs, it is not a Liberty from cloſe application to the Redemption of Chriſt, and not to need it, on any pretence whatever; but it is a Liberty from any Impoſition that is Ceremonial, and does not by its Intrinſique Worth and Goodneſs, or by its Supreme Ordination from God, center in the true Perfection of the Mind, Conſcience, and whole Soul: yea, whatever God himſelf had Commanded the Jews, is not only reverſed, but deſpiſed for the ſake of Chriſtian Liberty, if it does not ſquare with it, ſo that no Yoak of Ceremonial Bondage is laid upon us by God himſelf; that which had been, is taken away, and a Yoak of humane impoſiing is under the Goſpel-Anathema: the Doctrine of Godlineſs, of Redemption by Chriſt, may be juſtly meaſured by the true perfection of Conſcience. To do well in things intrinſically good, according to the Rule of Chriſtianity, and being inwardly purg'd and atton'd by the Chriſtian Sacrifice, do alſo truly meaſure this Liberty: for on one ſide, the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. He that in theſe things ſerves Chriſt, is acceptable to God, and approved of Men: It is not applying to the Blood of Bulls and Goats, that can never take away ſin, but to the Blood Offered by the Eternal Spirit, which certainly makes the comers thereunto perfect: On the other ſide, this Liberty lays not open the Incloſures of a Holy Life, nor removes the Barriers of Juſtice againſt Sin, if not ſatisfied and attoned by Faith in the Blood of Chriſt.
4. Laſtly, That which anſwers to each of theſe Characters of True Religion, is, that it hath no Secular Intereſt, no Intereſt of this preſent World, that it looks not upon the things that are ſeen, that are but for a Moment, but on the things that are not ſeen, that are Eternal; ſuch is the Godlineſs, ſuch is the Sacrifice, ſuch the Chriſtian Liberty, that their Uſes and Ends are too great and large to center in Earthly things; and though themſelves are the True Intereſt of the preſent ſtate, yet they no way make it, or the Grandeur of it, an Intereſt, but ſeek a Heavenly Country, and City; even as the Lord of this Religion ſaid, My Kingdom is not of this World: Now as this meaſures each of the other Characters, ſo each of them meaſures it; ſuch a Tranſcendant Holineſs and Purity can alone ſee God in Eternal Habitations; ſuch a Sacrifice alone can have its Blood enter into the Holy Place made without Hands, having obtained an Eternal Inheritance; ſuch a Blood ſpeaks alone in the Heavens, better things than the Blood of Abel; a Conſcience ſo free, ſo perfected, hath boldneſs to enter into the Holieſt, and none elſe: Theſe are all fitted and Conſecrated to Eternity, and Eternity to them; Light and trivial Holineſs, Inſignificant Ceremonies, and Rites of Purgation; a cumber of External Obſervations, invented by Men, can never enter within the Vail, nor endure for ever. And on the other ſide, by ſuch Divine Things to graſp at this World, and a Patrimony on Earth, is as groſs and out of Square; ſo that theſe things exactly meaſure one another, and ſquare together.
Queſt. How is the Four-Square City, or the True Church, adjuſted to theſe Dimenſions?
Anſw. In all theſe things I before mentioned, in having theſe, and theſe only, in its Doctrine, its Worſhip, its Practice and Obedience, its Diſcipline or Government.
Queſt. How is the Falſe Church out of Square to all theſe?
Anſw. In that retaining the Profeſſion of the Chriſtian Religion, conſtituted according to theſe, and pretending an Imitation of them, and the Miracles atteſting them, it hath been moſt extravagant from them, by its Traditional Additions and Counterfeits of them, every of which are a Violation and Irregularity from one or all of theſe Characters, or equal Sides, of True Religion, a great Lie upon them, with which they can never be brought to agree, being not only an endleſs Variation from, but a flat Oppoſition to them, and a deſpiting them with themſelves, ſo ſtrangely, ſo monſtrouſly mis-ſhapen, and that in ſo great numbers, that as in mockage to the many excellent things our Saviour did and taught, ſo many, that if they were all written, the World it ſelf could not contain the Books that would be written; even ſo, if all the numerous and prodigious excurſions of the Antichriſtian Church, and Antichriſt the Head of it, from Chriſtian Religion, by its indeterminable ſwarm of New pieces of Antichriſtianiſm, ſhould be written, the whole World it ſelf would not be able to contain the Volumes that would be written.
Queſt.But does not the Profeſſion of ſo much of the Chriſtian Religion in ſuch an Eminence, like the City upon the Hill that cannot be hid, give it the Reputation of a moſt Famous Church, if not the Catholick, as it calls it ſelf?
Anſw. Chriſtianity ſo abuſed, as in the Popiſh Religion, is infinitely the more diſhonoured for the Eminence of the Antichurch, that ſo expoſes it; and it is only the Eminence of Antichriſt ſitting in the Temple of God, and the exalting himſelf above all that is indeed and truly God in his Church, and ſhewing himſelf, that he is God, in his Oracles, Wonders, and Miracles, but they are all but one great Lie of this Son of the Father of Lies, the Image of the God of this World, the Son of his falſhood and perdition, contrary to Chriſt the Son of the Father in Truth and Love. But if any one receiving Chriſtianity or the Scriptures from the Antichurch, and meaſuring them in and by themſelves, ſeparates True Chriſtianity from the Antichriſtianiſm, and retains it Pure; it is but like the Service God received from the Falſe Prophet Baalam, when he Prophefied Truth, into whoſe Place and Office Antichriſt ſucceeds, and is therefore ſtyled, the Falſe Prophet, Revel. 16. 13.
Queſt. What then can this pretended Catholick Church be, in relation to the True Catholick Publick Religion?
Anſw. It can be no other, upon ſtrict account, than the Synagogue of Satan, the Pſeudocatholick Antichurch, in a Damnable Hereſie from, and hatred to the General Aſſemby, and Church of the Firſt Born, written in Heaven, united with the God of Truth and Love, and the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love, in a Helliſh Schiſm and Separation from the Apoſtolick, Catholick Church, of which God and Chriſt are the Head.
Queſt. How can it be believed, that ſo great a Lie upon Chriſtianity ſhould be received by ſo large a proportion of the Chriſtian World, or that Perſons of ſo vaſt Abilities and Comprehenſions ſhould ſo deceive others, or be themſelves deceived?
Anſw. Scripture has taken all the care poſſible, to Arm us againſt this Objection, which is indeed very great: It calls this Apoſtacy, a Myſtery of Iniquity, and to aſſure us, the Apoſtle Paul, and the Divine Perſon in the Revelation, point to the ſame Thing; upon the Forehead of this Adulterous Church is written, Myſtery; (Now a Myſtery, if it were preſently underſtood, and all eaſie and plain, were no Myſtery:) It hath the Energy of Deluſion, in cauſing Men to believe a Lie; it is the whole Deceit of unrighteouſneſs; it ſets up a great Stage of Counterfeit Miracles that it vaunts upon; and that it might have that Reverend Face of Antiquity to deceive with, and ſay it comes from a far-off Ages; It was a Myſtery that was then at work, in the Apoſtles time.
Laſtly, It hath its effect upon them that may be Chriſtians, and receive Truth; but not the chaſte unproſtitute Love of Truth alone.
Queſt. But it ſeems impoſible, that any parts of the Chriſtian World, that have been once diſabuſed, ſhould return any more under ſo great a Deluſion?
Anſw. There are very great hopes, that God, who hath Commanded his Light to ſhine out of this Darkneſs, will interpoſe by the perpetual Brightneſs of his own appearance, and by that Divine Breath of his Mouth in his Word, againſt the return of ſo great a Darkneſs. This ſet aſide, there are ſo many Reaſons of fear, and ſuch poſſibilities of laying a Train of Cauſes reaching to ſuch an Effect, that there can be no place for Security, but in the Almighty Providence, and yet what Degrees of that deadly Scourge may fall on the Proteſtant World, God only knows; we know our Sins deſerve very ill.
Queſt. What is the greateſt Security, under the Divine Grace and Providence, againſt ſo great Deſolation upon True Chriſtian Religion?
Anſw. A perfect Acquieſcency of the Proteſtant Nations upon the Fourſquare of Divine Truth, and Reſolvedneſs not to move from thence. For as a Fourſquare never removes from its own Baſe, becauſe it is All Baſe; ſo they that are Squar'd to it, and ſettled upon it, never move: For it always bears them alike with it ſelf, and by its own Juſtneſs recalls them, if they offer to wander: meer angry prejudice againſt this or that Falſe Religion, is not enough, without being thus grounded upon Truth; Entertainment of Truth with any Addittaments will ſecure no Man, for he that receives one Addition, may receive another: He that receives Truth lying Fourſquare with it ſelf, is called back by that Even of Truth: He that adds one to it, and makes it Odd, may go on indefinitely, as Popery hath done, becauſe he hath forſakent he Juſt Even that ſhould ſtay him: He can no longer wait for the Voice of Truth, that by it ſelf always anſwers it ſelf, but to what is not like it ſelf it will not anſwer, but diſcover it to be off from this Square; it will not on any reſpects hearken to any thing different, becauſe it will not be ſollicited to move from it ſelf: So that upon the whole, the Laws of Symetry and Commenſuration are the great Security of True Religion, and aſcertain the True Church both to it ſelf, and all Beholders. For Additions to Religion, like Surds or Irrational Figures, incommenſurable to the Rational Square, can never be reduc'd to this Fourſquare of Truth, but are like the Deaf Adder, that will not hearken to the voice of Reaſon, Charming never ſo Wiſely: Nor can they ever be reduced to a certainty or exactneſs with themſelves, but are one thing to day, another to morrow. But Divine Truth, is foreign Rational, Certain, Expreſly it ſelf, Deaf indeed to any thing elſe, but in it ſelf it is Teſterday, and to Day, the ſame for ever.
He therefore that daily ponders, meditates upon, hath a juſt Meaſure of the Fundamentals of Divine Truth, and does all things in a Regular Square with them, ſhall know the Doctrine that is of God; all the Fruits of the Tree of Life, though they are various, yet come all within the Apoſtolick Twelve, and he that hath a Spiritual Guſt, exercis'd to diſcern betwixt Good and Evil, by taſting any aright, will taſte all, and find them Apoſtolical, and know whatever pretends, and is not, and ſo reject it: He will know all the Gates of Wiſdom and Truth, and the Angelical Guard attending at them, and go in and out by them, but the Diſorderly Breaches and Gaps, that Wild Beaſts, or Deceitful Foxes have made, he avoids, knowing they exceed the Apoſtolick Twelve, and are therefore dangerous, and pernic…ous; and whatever Apparation of Angels may be at them, he knows it is only Satan transformed into an Angel of Light, and his Miniſters transformed as the Apoſtles of Chriſt, as the Miniſters of Righteouſneſs: Thus the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apoſtles Numbred, and Meaſured exactly by it ſelf, is the Security of the Twelve Tribes of Iſrael, that is, of the True Church.