Exposition of Revelation 13, Part 16
Rev. 13. the laſt verſ.
Here is wiſdome, Let him that hath underſtanding count the number of the beaſt, for it is the number of a man, and his number is ſix hundred threeſcore and ſixe.
THeſe words are ſome part of the deſcription of the ſecond Beaſt which aroſe after the former, continued from the 11th. verſe of this Chap. unto the end of it. The former beaſt (as you have often heard) is the Roman-Catholick viſible Church, deſcribed at large from the firſt verſe to the end of the 10th. The latter Beaſt is the head of the Catholique Church, the Biſhop, or Antichriſt of Rome, and he is here deſcribed,
1. By his Originall; He came out of the earth.
2. By his reſemblance; which is three-fold; To the Lamb in his hornes; To the Dragon in his tongue and ſpeech, and to the firſt beaſt in his power; He exerciſeth all the power of the firſt beaſt.
3. As he is deſcribed thus by his Originall, and by his reſemblance, ſo he is deſcribed by his great power, and his power exerciſeth it ſelfe in divers acts. Firſt, He exerciſeth all the power of the firſt beaſt. Now the firſt beaſt being the Roman Catholique Church, he exerciſeth all the power of the Roman Catholique Church, that look what the Roman Catholick Church can do, the Pope can do with them, or without them: He can call Councels, and make their Canons authenticall; He can make Lawes to bind Conſcience, he can make Lawes to bind whole Churches, as well as the Aecumenicall power of the whole Councell: He can forbid any other doctrine, or worſhip, or government, but what himſelfe eſtabliſheth: He can adde to the Scriptures the Ap…crypha, and he hath infallible power to judge Controverſies: Hee can binde and looſe Conſcience; he can depoſe Kings, and diſpoſe of their Kingdoms, and he can abſolve Subjects from the oath of Fidelity: He hath power to pardon ſinne, and to ſell out pardons to them that buy them. All that the firſt beaſt can do, he will do, and more; but yet he doth it (as the Text ſayes) in the ſight of the firſt beaſt; that is, in the face and countenance of the firſt b…aſt; He is ſo modeſt, that he will not take all that honour to the head, but the whole body, and derives all that honour expreſly to himſelf.
The ſecond act of his power, He cauſeth all that dwell on the earth to worſhip the firſt beaſt.
The third act of his power; He doth great wonders, even to call downe fire from Heaven in the ſight of men. Not the fire of Acceptance, which Eliah brought to conſume the Sacrifice; but the fire of Vengeance upon the Rebellious, as the Prophet called for fire upon the Captains that came to attach him.
4. He doth by his miracles deceive all that dwell upon the earth.
5. He cauſeth them all to make an Image like unto the firſt beaſt. The firſt beaſt (as you heard) was the Roman viſible Catholicke Church, then the image of the beaſt are all ſuch like models and forms of Churches as are Dioceſan Churches, National Churches, and Provinciall Churches.
6. He cauſeth all men to worſhip that Image, that if any will not worſhip that Image (Churches of that mold) they ſhall be delivered to the ſecular power, and ſo they ſhall be killed.
Laſtly, He will not ſuffer any Commerce, nor civil Commerce, much leſſe Eccleſiaſticall communion, but to them that have the mark of the beaſt, or the name of the beaſt, or the number of his name, verſ. 16, 17.
They muſt ſwear, or perform ſome loyalty to the Church of Rome. The mark of the beaſt, the carriage of the beaſt in the Originall: All that have received Religious Orders, have received the mark of the beaſt, all their religious Orders leave an indelible Character upon them, ſo that all that are entred into religious Orders, are ſworn Catholiques. The name of the beaſt, what is it? Though they be not of the religious Order, yet they profeſſe themſelves to be Roman Catholiques, and profeſſe ſubjection to the head of that Church, and ſo to his doctrine and worſhip, though it be be to Saints and Angels, and to his government, as that which binds the conſcience, the name of the Beaſt is a Roman Catholicke, ſubmitting himſelfe both to the Church, and to the head of that Church, and that for conſcience ſake.
But for the number of his name, it was reſerved to this dayes exerciſe: Wheras the holy Ghoſt having ſaid that he would permit no man to buy or ſell, but ſuch as had received the marke, or his name, or the number of his name; he doth in this laſt Verſe declare what this number of his name is, which at leaſt they muſt have, or elſe they cannot have commerce: Now this number he firſt doth amplifie or illuſtrate, and then expreſſe it.
He doth illuſtrate or amplifie it,
Firſt, by the adjunct of wiſdome needful for the underſtanding of it; Here is wiſdome.
Secondly, the duty of men that have underſtanding to count it.
And thirdly, He doth amplifie it by the ſubject, or by the efficient of it, It is the number of a man: This is his illuſtration: It requires wiſedome to count it: It is the duty (though) of them that have underſtanding to ſearch it out. And when they do count it, they finde it the number of a man.
In the Second place he doth expreſly deſigne or diſcipher out the number, and that is in the laſt word, his number is ſix hundred threeſcore and ſix.
The place is very obſcure as any in the word, and therefore the holy Ghoſt tels us, here is wiſdome to finde it out: but withal, here is a command that every one that hath received the leaſt meaſure or talent of wiſdom ſhould endeavour it, and he doth incourage men to find it out.
But were it not that the Lord hath ſaid, If any man want wiſdome let him aske it of God, and it ſhall be given him, James 1. 5. And were it not that God hath given Chriſt to be our wiſedome to declare to us the whole councel of his Father, 1 Cor. 1. 30. And were it not that the providence of God in the invitation of ſundry brethren, hath put me upon the handling of this book, and now it fals in order to be opened; for my own part, I think I ſhould never have choſen this Text to have ſpoken to whilſt I had lived: But now ſince we are come to it, in our interpretation of this book, and the wiſdome of God is perfected in the weakneſſe of his ſervants, I ſhall therefore endeavour by the helpe of God, and by the light of his wiſdome, to expreſſe ſuch meditations as God hath ſuggeſted to men, and leave them to your further conſideration, and ſpiritual diſcerning and judgement.
The note then is ſhortly thus much.
To finde out the number of the Beaſt requires heavenly wiſdome,Doctrine. and yet ſuch as have received any wiſdome ought to count that number, and upon the acount ſhall find it to be the number of a man, in ſum ſix hundred threeſcore and ſix.
This is the ſum, I wrap up all in one Doctrine, that handling the Doctrine in the parcels, all the parts of the verſe may be opened therewith.
Firſt, I ſay to finde out this number is wiſdome, it requires heavenly wiſdome; Here is wiſdome: And God accounts not the wiſdome of this world wiſdome, but fooliſhneſſe; he ſpeaks therefore of that which in Scripture language is wiſdome, not Mathematical, nor Airthmetical wiſdome; for what great wiſdome would it require to count this number, it ariſeth out of ſix, and is multiplyed by ten, this is ſuch wiſdome as any mean Arithmetition might count, ſix times ten is 60. and ten times 60. is 600. and ſix times one is ſix, the wiſdome therefore lies not there. But to ſee how this count diſciphers the Beaſt, and by that means to give more perfect intelligence of the Beaſt, and of his nature, then by his marke and name alone could be gathered, that requires heavenly wiſdome, but wiſdome therefore it doth require▪ It requires a mans beſt underſtanding to enquire what the holy Ghoſt hath ſaid of this number: and though it require much wiſdome, yet the counting of this number is both poſſible, and neceſſary: if it were not poſſible, the holy Ghoſt would not ſay, Let him that hath underſtanding, count the number of the Beaſt: Hee is wont to ſay, Let him that hath an eare, hear what the ſpirit ſaith: but here he ſaith, Let him tha… hath underſtanding count the number of the Beaſt. And it is alſo neceſſary for him, not of neceſſity to ſalvation, without which a man cannot be ſaved, but (neceſſitate precepti) neceſſary in regard of Gods command: Now becauſe there are none of Gods commandements that are vaine things, but weighty, therefore they are either very neceſſary to ſalvation, or very expedient: ſo that a man ſhall be much weakened in his ſpiritual progreſſe, (eſpecially in Popiſh times, or in ſuch times where men live in the Image of Popiſh Churches, National or Dioceſan,) if he be ignorant thereof, he ſhall finde it to be much expedient to count the number of the Beaſt.
And further I adde, it will be found to be but the number of a man: What is the meaning of that? I will not trouble you with variety of interpretations, briefly the number of a man: I ſuppoſe it is here oppoſed to that which ye read of in Rev. 21. 17. where he tels us, The new Jeruſalem was meaſured, an hundred and fourty and four cubits, according to the meaſure of a man, that is of the Angel: here he doth not ſay ſo, the number of a man, that is of the Angel: but it is the number of a meere man, a carnal man, and therefote in ſum this number wil proove but an humane invention, it is therefore called the number of a man.
And finally, he ſaith this number is ſix hundred threeſcore and ſix. Six hundred ſixty ſix is not in the Original in ſo many words, onelyonly three greek letters are put for theſe three numbers, foreign. Now it is true in the Greek account they do reckon numbers by the letters of the Alphabet, and from the firſt letter Alpha to Iota, they are for ſingular units, for Alpha is one, and Beta is two, &c. and they put in Sigma and make that ſix, Iota is the tenth letter, and ſo is ten in number; and from Iota to Rho, they are reckoned by tens, as Cappa is twenty, Lambda thirty, Mu fourty, &c. and ſo till you come to Rho and that is one hundred, and then the reſt that follow are ſo many multiplied, as Sigma is two hundred, Tau three hundred, &c. and foreign ſix hundred. So that if theſe be underſtood as holding out the numbers, as here the words expreſſe, then foreign is ſix hundred, foreign is ſixty, foreign is ſix; which being ſummed together they make up ſix hundred ſixty ſix.
Now a man would wonder that the holy Ghoſt ſhould delight in ſuch Arithmetical riddles; but ſince it pleaſeth him thus to expreſſe himſelfe, we muſt not look at it as a cabaliſtical curioſity, nor as an unſearchable myſtery: but they that labour herein, ſhall finde that which may ſolace themſelves and others: For though by the arme of fleſh no man ſhall be ſtrong, yet by the wiſdome of God the ſervants of Chriſt ſhall ſee light, and babes ſhall ſee the myſtery of it. Therefore to cleare up this point, ſo far as God ſhall give light, conſider with me I pray you ſix or ſeven ſeveral obſervable paſſages of the holy ſtory of the Revel…t…on, that may h…lp us in ſome meaſure in enquiring and counting this ſum of ſix hundred three ſcore and ſix, what it may point at. Let it not be weariſome to you; for though to us that are Miniſters, we think we are moſt properly in our element when we preack Chriſt, and the need of Chriſt; yet foraſmuch as Antichriſt is oppoſed to Chriſt, and is an enemy to Chriſt, the one contrary may be the better known by the other, and no part of Scripture but is worthy our conſideration, we may not be ſo ſquemiſh as to neglect to ſeek what may be the councel of the holy Ghoſt in this point. Obſerve therefore what the Scripture doth obſerve about this number.
Firſt, you ſhall obſerve this, to finde out the meaning; that ſuch as have this number they all have liberty of commerce, either in the Catholick Roman Church or in the Image of that Church; they may trade with them, whether in ſpiritual or temporal buſineſſes, they will not grudge you; you are a currant market man among them; you are a vendable commodity, and you may paſſe with them, and your mony is good ſilver, as in Verſe 16, 17. But if you be not a Preiſt of their order, nor a Roman Catholick, nor have his number, you may not buy, nor ſell; that is ſomething then.
Secondly, Marke this, that this number of the name is the degree of commerce with the Roman Catholick Church, for ſo he doth diſcend, Verſe 17. No man may buy or ſell but thoſe that have the marke, or the name of the Beaſt, or the number of his name: As who ſhould ſay, they were of the loweſt, they were the leaſt ſort of them, yet to them it did pertaine that had the number of the name: yet there is ſo much real difference between them, that he ſaith plainly, They that receive the mark or his name, they ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: And they ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in preſence of the Lamb: And the ſmoak of their torment ſhall aſcend up for ever and ever, and they ſhall have no reſt day nor night, Rev. 14. 9, 10, 11. Which ſhews if they continue in it, they cannot be ſaved: There was a cry of the Angel with a loud voyce, If any man worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, &c. It ſhews the danger is very great to receive the mark of the Beaſt or the name of the Beaſt: But the number of his name I do not read of any ſuch judgement pronounced to be inflicted upon them: though it be great wiſdome to avoyd it, and it will wonderfully advance their heavenly good to get free from it: For wherein lies wiſdome but in attaining our cheife good, and to know the beſt means that leads to that good, & that is in communion with God in his Ordinances purely diſpenced; that is a ſecond thing.
Thirdly, there is this recorded of this number of the name, that the choiceſt chriſtians and the beſt chriſtians, they gave God thanks for victory over the number as well as over the Beaſt, Rev. 15. 2. They got victory over the Beaſt, and over his Image, and over his marke, and over the number of his name, ſo that they ſung the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the ſong of the Lamb, ſaying, great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty, &c. They had got the victory over the number of the name of the Beaſt, and they are more abundant in thankſgiving for deliverance, then they that had onelyonly victory over the marke, and that is their Preiſtly order or profeſſion of Roman Catholick Religion; ſo that this will come neare ſome Churches, conformed to the Image of the Beaſt, that is, National, Dioceſan, or Cathedrall Churches; but theſe have got victory over that, not onelyonly over the Beaſt and his Image, and his mark, and his name, but alſo the number of his name.
The fourth obſervable thing in Scripture is (I am occaſioned to gather up little bea…s of wiſdome which the holy Ghoſt hath ſcattred that ſo we may gather up this account) that this number of his name is not ſaid to be the number of his years; It is neither the number of his years when he began, nor the number of his years when he ſhall end: They cannot make it the beginning of his years; for though there be ſome that thought that Antichriſt did firſt ariſe to a name in the year 606. yet they cannot cleare it by ſtory. It is …, in 606. or rather 604. Boniface took upon him the title of cheif Biſhop, that is, ſpiritual advancing, which was a part of Antichriſt, yet Antichriſt was begun; and 606 is not 666. there is 60. years difference; and it is like the holy Ghoſt would not have varied ſo much in ſuch an expreſſe number, therefore this number is not for the time of the beginning of this beaſt. Neither is it the end of his years, for the beaſt continues ſtill to this time, which hath been almoſt a thouſand years ſince 666. But ſome ſay in this round number, ſomething is omitted, as when we ſay 88. we mean 1588. yet in Scripture phraſe ſuch ſmall numbers are not regarded, we ſpeak to thoſe that know what we ſpeak.
But the Scripture requires us to uſe wiſdome in finding out this number: but what wiſdome were it for the holy Ghoſt to leave out a thouſand, as we leave out when we ſay 88. for 1500. the holy Ghoſt doth not ſo here. And beſides, I would faine learn of any man of that judgement, what victory the Saints got, either the year when Antichriſt began, or when he ſhall end. What victory have we got? or ſhall no body conflict with this number of the beaſt but thoſe that lived in the year 666? or that ſhall live in the year 1666? In Rev. 15. 2. They got victory over the Beaſt and his Image, and over his name and number of his name, before the pouring out of the ſeven vials; So that I cannot ſay this is the number of the period of the beaſt, that thoſe are the number of his name.
And for a fifth thing, there is this further to be obſerved in it, that it is not the number of the followers of the beaſt, but the number of the beaſt: If it were the number of his followers, then it would be leſſe then the number that followed the Lamb; for they are ſaid to be an hundred fourty and four thouſand, in Chap 14. 1. And had the beaſt had no more but 666. then he had a leſſe number to fight for him, then the Lamb had to fight for him: but in Verſe 8. of this chapter, he tels you, All that dwell upon the earth ſhall worſhip him, whoſe names are not written in the Lambs book of life: And the world was never ſo hapy, as to leave but 666. reprobates in it in any generation, therefore that cannot be the meaning.
Sixthly, whereas he ſaith, this number is the number of a man, and the number is ſix hundred threeſcore and ſix, he doth apparently put a difference between that and the name of the beaſt; for hee doth expreſly diſtinguiſh them in the former verſe, for he ſaith, The marke of the Beaſt, and the name, and the number of his name, Verſe 17. They are three diſtinct things: So in Chap. 15. 2. where he ſaith, They got victory over the beaſt and his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name: And more yet, expreſly in Chap. 14. 9, 10, 11. He denouceth vengence to them that receive his mark or name, and yet not damnation to all that receive his number; ſo that the number is not his name, it is a diſtinct thing from the name, as the adjunct is from the ſubject. Then it will follow, me thinks (but I referre it to men of better judgement) it cannot be that either Latinus ſhould be the number of the name, or (Eccleſia Catholica) the Roman Catholick Church; yet upon theſe points do our chief and late Expoſiters run: But (leaving them their due honour) it doth not ſatisfie me, becauſe Eccleſia Catholica is the name of the firſt beaſt; and the name is one thing, and the number is another thing. And Latinus is one of the names of the ſecond beaſt, of Latinus Epiſcopus, the name of the Biſhop of Rome; therefore it being his name, it is not the number of his name: So then all theſe things be conſidered, theſe obſervations being laid down, attend to a ſeventh obſervation for the clearing of the meaning of the text, and for opening the true … of it;
Obſerve this,
7. That this number is expreſly oppoſite to the number of the Lamb in the next verſe, in the following Chapter: The number of the Beaſt is one thing, and the number of the Lamb is another thing: For enough this be not the number of the Beaſts followers, ſixe hundred threeſcore and ſixe, yet it is the number of the Beaſt; and the number of the Lambs followers is an hundred forty & foure thouſand, what will that hold forth? You ſhall find what the Holy Ghoſt intends expreſly in that number in ſome other parts of this book, that this hundred forty and foure thouſand hath his originall and riſe from 12. And 12. multiplyed by 12. will ariſe from ſo many ſcores to ſo many hundreds, and 12. times twelve-thouſand is an hundred forty and foure thouſand. So that that is the number of an hundred forty and foure thouſand, the baſis of the number is 12. and multiplyed by 12. it will ſtill be derived into the ſame 12. Now thus doth the Holy Ghoſt lead us by the hand to conſider of more diſtinctly; In Rev 12. 14. 16. He tells us, The walls of the City had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apoſtles of the Lamb, and the City lyeth foure-ſquare, and the length is as broad as the breadth, &c. He meaſured the City with the read, 12000. furlongs, the length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equall. There he layes the number according to the number of the 12. Apoſtles, the foundation of the Church of the living God: And further, ma…k how he multiplies on that 12. ſaith he, They are all equall, twelve thouſand furlongs in breadth, twelve thouſand furlongs in length, twelve thouſand furlongs in height: Which argueth ſtill, that as the City of the new Jeruſalem is built upon them, ſo it is multiplyed from them: And when he comes to meaſure the wall, he tells you in verſ. 17. that it was an hundred forty and foure: Juſt the Lambs company; Still the whole Fabrick of Jeruſalem is 12. the foundation of the number is Apoſtolicall, it is numbred by 12. and multiplyed by 12. It ariſeth ſtill but to Apoſtolical ſimplicity, their number, and their meaſure, and their order, in all their dementions; when you have ſummed it up to the higheſt, their Laws and Orders that they ſet up, you ſhall finde 12. there, and you ſhall finde no more. Now then what is the number of the Beaſt? You ſee what the Lambs number is, An hundred forty and foure thouſand: what is the Beaſts number? It is ſixe hundred threeſcore and ſixe, it falls ſhort in the beginning, ſixe of the firſt 12. There is nothing Apoſtolical in it from the firſt riſe: And as the riſe is not the Apoſtolicall number, and conſtitution, ſo neither is the multiplication of it, for ſix is not multiplyed by 12. but by ten; for ſixe unites being multiplyed by tenne, make 60. and ten times ſixty is 600. So all the multiplications is by ten, not by 12. the Apoſtolick number is not here. It is true, 666. runs roundly, and hath a comely proportion in it; where ever ye look, ye have ſixe, and it is p…etty pleaſing to the fancy, and eaſie to remember; 144. is not ſo round a number, neither for apprehenſion, nor for memory. But yet wee are not at the bottome: What ſhould be the reaſon that the Holy Ghoſt ſhould fingle out the number ſixe, and multiply it by ten? why doth the Holy Ghoſt put it upon ſixe? Seven had bin no Apoſtolical number, nor 10. multiplyed by 20. But why doth the H. Ghoſt pitch upon ſixe, and the multiplication of ſixe by ten? Why you that are converſant in the Latine Bible look Junius his notes, and he tells you; whereas all the Catholique Church was formerly governed by five books of Decretalls, Boniface he did compile a ſixth book of Decretalls, and called it Sextus (you that have the book of Canons may finde it) which being (ſaid the Pope) a perfect number, and therefore being added to the former books of Decretalls, it maketh up a certain plat-form of direction for all matters of practice and manners in the diſcipline of the Church, and ſo it is a perfect number of all things to be done in the Church, both for doctrine, worſhip, and government: ſo the Popes Canons are ſummed up in his Sextus, there is the reaſon why he makes ſixe the foundation; all their Adminiſtrations are founded and meaſured out from their Canon…Lawes, which are all wrapped up in ſix volumes, and the ſixth is the moſt compleat of them all.
Now if you will aske why this ſixe comes to be multiplyed by ten? If ye obſerve it, all the government and maintenance of the Roman State is by tenths, by tithes; all the people muſt give the tenth to the Prieſt, and the Prieſt to the Biſhop for the mayntenance of the Catholicke Church, and ſo the whole Government comes to be multiplyed, maintained, and eſtabliſhed.
Thus you ſee what the number is, and the reaſon why the Holy Ghoſt calls it ſo, and how he doth oppoſe it to the contrary number of that which is delivered by the bleſſed Apoſtles, and followed by the holy Saints of God from one generation to another. Put then all theſe together, and all will amount to this; That whereas the number of Chriſt upon which both his followers are built, and his Church, and all the Dimentions and Adminiſtrations of it: Their foundation, their gates, their length, heighth, and breadth, all of them are founded in the Apoſtolicall doctrine: For Chriſt prayed for his twelve Apoſtles, and all that ſhould believe in his name through their word, John 17. 20. It is the comprehenſion of all Saints to the end of the world, whereas they are built upon Apoſtolicall ſimplicity, both for their State and Church-adminiſtrations, they are all built upon twelve, and multiplyed and enlarged by 12.
On the contrary, all the Roman Catholickes they are built upon the Popiſh Lawes and Decrees, all which require ſubjection to the Popiſh Church, and ſubmiſſion to that Church, and to the Pope as the head of that Church, receiving doctrine, and worſhip, and diſcipline from that Church, and that was founded in ſixe, on the ſixe books of their Decrees, and it is multiplyed according to the ſame books, to mayntayn all the Clergy, from the Pope to the loweſt Pariſh prieſt: And it is wiſdome to find this out, and it requires heavenly wiſdome to ſee the dangerous ſtate of this, and yet they that have wiſdome may finde this out; and when they ſearch it out, They will finde it but the number of a man, not of the Angel, or of the Apoſtles, or of any meſſenger of God.
I remember the ſpeech of one of the Saints of God,Parker. That it is a moſt unworthy thing that the Church of Chriſt ſhould be governed by the Lawes of Antichriſt (and ſuch were all their ſixe books) and it is moſt unworthy, that both the Church it ſelfe, and all the Images of it, that they are all governed by theſe ſixe bookes; and it is moſt unworthy that Antichriſt ſhould govern all the Adminiſtrations of the Church; that if a man be cited, it ſhall be by a Latine writ; and if he appeare, he ſhall be proceeded againſt according to Canon Lawes; and if he be cenſured, it ſhall be a Canon Law, and in Latine, and ſo ſhall his Abſolution be; and what pertayns to their whole government, it is but founded in theſe ſixe books of Decretals, and count them, and you ſhall find them but the number of a man; nothing but meerly the wit and policy of men, either to keep unity as they ſay (but tyranny in government) or to enrich men with fees, or maintayne the honour of ſome Cathedrall perſon, it is all but meer humane invention. Now for a man to ſee not only the Roman Catholicke viſible Church to be a Beaſt, but that the Pope the head of it is a beaſt, and the image of that Church is a beaſt; Dioceſan, Provinciall, Nationall, and Metropolitan Churches are but images of this great beaſt, and to ſee all the numbers and rights they thruſt upon the Church by Canons, they are but the number of the beaſt, the number of a man, humane inventions; what is appointed by the Church, whether Croſſe or Surplice, or kneeling at the Sacrament, they are but the multiplication of Canons, Canon multiplyed on Canon, but it is ſtill but the power of the Canon, this is great wiſdome to find it out: And it behooves thoſe that have wiſdome to conſider it; and they that conſider it, ſhall find it but a meer humane device, one as well as another; and they will conſider which way the State goes, and which way the State leanes: Though ſome poor hearts think they are bound to obey the Lawes of the Kingdom, and ſome good ſouls many times will be tampering with them too much; but he that ſhall obſerve it, ſhall find it but the number of a man when he doth find it: He ſhall find thus much, that if he do believe as God is wont to teach to his people, they ſhall not have the liberty of Commerce in buying and ſelling, nor leave in ſpirituall or temporall occurrances and dealings with them.
For the uſe of it:Ʋſe 1. Firſt, let it be ſome word of encouragement and comfort unto all the ſervants of God, that have got the victory over this number, though with their loſſe, not to look at their loſſes as an unexpected thing, or new matter, but prophecyed of above 1500. years agone. John wro…e of it in his time, what you loſt in your liberties in the Church wherein you lived, it is no more then what the Lord foretold you, that you ſhould not have liberty to buy and ſell if you did beare witneſſe againſt the beaſt, and his mark, and name, and number of his name; then there is no abiding for you in any Church in Chriſtendome, which is either Catholicke, or framed after the image of it, as Nationall, Dioceſan, or Cathedral, or Provincial, it is not poſſible you ſhould get the vict… over theſe things, and have liberty of commerce. It is not enough that we have caſt off the Pope: and what is an image of Popery (which we ſometimes have ſubmitted unto) and have born againſt it, and it is not enough to abhor the name of a Papiſt ſo far as we have been corrupted: It is well that ye have born witneſſe againſt the Hierarchy and the papall government; but may we not hearken to the Canon of the Church maintained by a whole National Councel? and may we not yield to the orders of theſe Canons, and beare witneſſe to the number of the Name? Suppoſe the Croſs, or Surplice, or kneeling at the the Sacrament, many Chriſtians have ſtrong reaſonings about this, that they may keep their liberty of Commerce, their buying and ſelling, and will not God have mercy and not ſacrifice?
Though ſuch Godly chriſtians in their weakneſſe have ſuch reaſonings, yet beleive it we are to bleſſe God that hath given us to ſee that there is no correſpondency to be kept with Rome: If you have the number of his name, this is not that which the holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of as damnable hereſie, you may live and dye in that judgment, and be ſaved, therefore he doth not pronounce fire and brimſtone to ſuch; they think in conſcience they may yeild to this and that, as being the command of Caeſar, or of the Church; the Lord ſpare you as the Apoſtle ſaith; But if a man will adore the Roman Catholick Church or the Pope the head of it, and ſubmit in conſcience to be guided by their Laws, he renounces his ſalvation in ſuch a caſe; that a man ſhall pin his faith upon the Churches ſleeve, and his hope, and Government, and courſe of life on the Churches ſleeve, this is the way to everlaſting damnation: And therefore in thoſe Churches that are even Images of Antichriſt, it pleaſeth God to keep his ſervants ſo far, that they dare not take all their Laws for doctrine without queſtion, nor all the ways of their Government as the Government of Chriſt, that God opens all the hearts of his faithful ſervants to ſee: But yet for the number of his name; It is (ſay they) but a few trifling things, they are made a matter of ſix, as Croſſe, and Surplice, and kneeling at the Sacrament, and bowing to Altars, and the name of Jeſus, and ye will have ſix in the end, and what will be multiplyed on that ſix, the Lord knows: But for you here, look at it as a ſpecial mercy, that you ſee the vanity of receiving the number of his name, and that you have this deliverance from it; that though you have loſt your buying and ſelling, that if you were there, you might hardly be ſeen in the Market, and in many of thoſe Churches you will hardly be allowed, yet you have loſt no more then ought to be forſaken.
There are that have ſometimes put X for the croſſe, and foreign a long letter in wrinkles for the Surplice, and foreign for the proportion of a man bowing, but I would not limit the counſell of the holy Ghoſt ſo ſtrictly: But take all that is numbred by their Canon Law, and it will come all to one reckoning; they are but the number of the beaſt, whether the Pope dictate them, or they receive them; and though they cut of his head for ſaith, yet for diſcipline, and order, and circumſtances they ſtill retaine him, and theſe are the number of the Beaſt; therefore bleſſe the Lord that hath ſhewed you theſe to be evils, and ſaved you from ſuch prevailing evils.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. for your preſent condition, learn thus much, It will not be ſafe for ye to receive the Image of any other Church, then that which Chriſt hath eſtabliſhed, and this is grounded upon 12. upon the Apoſtles doctrine, and multiplyed by 12. increaſed with the increaſings of God, bleſſed be his name, therefore it being ſo, hold faſt this forme, and be not removed from it: If you fall to adore National, or Dioceſſan, or Provincial, or Cathedral Church-government, then you will fall to number by 6. and multiply 6. by 10. in the end it will come to paſſe all this ſhall be maintained by tenths, ſuch ſetled endowments and preſerments, and then it may be you ſhall have liberty of buying and ſelling, of traffique and trading; the Beaſt of Rome will allow you ſome liberty that way; yet believe it, it is a ſpecial part of your wiſdome to know this, and the danger of it. If a man in his ignorance ſhall yeild to theſe things, God will pardon it; but if a man know theſe things, and willingly give way to them, the Lord will require it at his hands: Conſider therefore this number, and avoyd it, though it coſt you all your liberties, the Lord will ſay, this onelyonly is a wiſe people, that renounce not onelyonly the Beaſt, but the Images of him, and his marke, and the name Catholick, and Roman Catholick, and conformity to all the number of his name; If ye eſtabliſh your hearts in theſe ſpiritual reſolutions, here is wiſdome; and thereof how ſhould it provoke the hearts of Gods people to be ſetled in conſcience about ſuch points as theſe, though it may be your countrey-men will count you fools in runing ſuch deſperate ventures, that you would hazard your fortunes, and at length bring a noble to nine pence; you ſhall bring your ſix hundreds to ſixties, and your ſixties to ſixe: No matter what they think of it, ſo long as ye ſhall keep the Apoſtolical number, and multiply by their rule; the holy Ghoſt ſaith, Here is wiſdome, and he that hath underſtanding, let him ſo eſteem that here is wiſdome; and it was wiſdome to come hither: and he that came for this end, never made a better bargaine in his life, then to come over for this, becauſe he would have no more to do with the Beaſt, and his Image, and his name, and the number of his name; I ſay thou haſt made a wiſe bargaine, if thou wilt take the word of the holy Ghoſt for thy ſecurity; he ſaith, here is wiſdome.
Thirdly,Ʋſe 3. it may teach us that are come hither to ſee that the Lord acknowledgeth our wiſdome in the abrenuntiation which we have made from theſe inventions of the ſonnes of men: The Lord did foretel us what ſhould be our caſe, we ſhould not have liberty to buy nor ſell, neither be ſeen in Church nor Market, and he counts it wiſdome to remoove on theſe termes: but if we ſhall have flittering mindes to go back againe, the Lord will write upon it, here is a foole, this their way is their folly, Pſal. 49 13. When men in their hearts wax weary of the Churches of Chriſt, and of the diſcipline of Chriſt, and look at them as fulſome and empty things for want of feeling the life of Chriſt, and wiſdome of Chriſt, run on fooliſhly and prepoſterouſly, and truly take a courſe to overthrow their communion they have with Chriſt, and make ſhipwrack as much as in them lies of all that which they have undergone, of all our ſufferings and tryals: Saith the Apoſtle to the elect Lady and her children, in 2 John 8. Look to your ſelves, that ye looſe not thoſe things which ye have wrought but that ye receive a full reward. That as you have made a wiſe bargain and a ſafe, & bin at ſo much charge, and have been freed from the image of Antichriſt, and the remnant of his image, and the remnant of his number (we have cauſe to bleſſe God for it.)
And though we may think of mending our ſelves here or there, yet you will finde it a difficult thing to finde 12. multiplyed by 12. in any place under Heaven, that is, either your foundation ſhall not be Apoſtolical inſtitution, or your adminiſtration apoſtolick doctrine: That chriſtians ſhould be the foundation of Churches, as the Apoſtles require, Saints by calling, and to build on ſuch, and to adminiſter ſuch according to the word of God: Yea though the Lord ſhould be pleaſed to give our Countrey-men free paſſage of a Parliament, (as now we have ſpeech of it) and though they be a wiſe Nation, yet ſuch is the very frame of the State, and of the Sonnes of men, that if the Lord give free paſſage of a Parliament, you will find it a very difficult thing, to have the State ruled by Apoſtolical judgment, to reject all devices of men, to ſhut out the greateſt part of a kingdom from the Lords Table, you would finde rebellions multiplyed exceedingly, if they were of the ſpirit that they were of in Edward the ſixths time. And when you are gone out of the Countrey (not that I would flatter the Countrey, the Lord knows we our ſelves here, have need to grow more ſpiritual daily; but yet in reſpect of the Churches of God, and adminiſtration of things here, though we faile and go aſide, we have the rule to ſhew us the way back againe:) I ſay when you are gone, go whether you will, you will have much ado to finde materials, and more ado to finde forme and adminiſtration: as that it may be in cold blood, you will fit and mourn by the waters of Babilon, and hang your Harpes upon the willowes, and ſay, how ſhall we ſing the Lords ſong, the ſong of Zion in a ſtrange La…d? Therefore let it provoke us to hold faſt what we have received and not to be taken off with faire pretences, to turne aſide to one hand or the other; if we be in a ſtate of wiſdome, let us keep in it, and beleive it, whatever takes you to a contrary courſe to things as they ſtand; if the holy Ghoſt ſay this is wiſedome, then I am ſure the contrary of it muſt needs be folly.
Fourthly,Ʋſe 4. it may teach us (in the fear of God) to have an eye to our brethren in our native Country, to conſider thoſe defects that thoſe which reformed religion before us did leave in the recovery of the Country out of the jaws of Antichriſt; (you ſee what the Lord requires of us, that we ſhould have nothing to do with the number of the Beaſt) Though they cut off the head of the Beaſt, from being of any ſoveraign power to them, yet they took too much liberty for forme of worſhip, and for the number of the Popes name, and of Government by Canon Laws, yea the whole Church diſcipline by the Popiſh Canon Law, onelyonly with this deſtinction, that whereas the Pope enjoyed it before, now the King he claims headſhip over the Church aſwel as the civil State, and he deriveth the Church-power to the chief Biſhops, and they worke upon it more and more; and though it be true, both Henery the eighth, and much more Edward the ſixth, and Queen Elizabeth, all theſe did ſet ſo many Councellors, ſo many Divines, and ſo many common and civil Lawyers to cull out of the Popes Decretals ſuch Canons as were moſt fit for Government, and moſt of ſuch as cut off Popiſh ſupremacy, yet they could never agree of it, and ſo they admit them as the Popes Canons only; yet ſo that whereas reference of Eccleſiaſtical matters was to the Pope, now it is to the King as ſupream head and Governour, but the Popes Canons are the government of the Church. Now what was the reaſon? There was an unſafe principle in their hearts, that they thought it lawfull to take the Laws of the Roman Church, and that any King might have power to make Laws to govern the Church, as well as the Pope had. It is true, he hath power to make Lawes as well as the Pope had, and better; but the truth is, neither the Pope, nor King hath power to make Laws to rule the Church, but it muſt be by the Laws of Chriſt.
Whatſoever is not of the number of 12. is ſuperadded, and will never proſper; but this principle making them willing to admit ſuch things, though they were the chiefeſt of the Kingdome, that were appointed for that worke, yet they could never agree: But had they received a little more light and wiſdome to cut off the number of the Beaſt aſwel as his head, it would have prevailed for the liberty of Gods Ordinances and purity of Doctrine: I ſay this being wanting to them, let it not be wanting to us; but through the mercy of God, the ſervants of God have taken no ſmall paines to clear up ſuch things; what the Laws are in the Church of Chriſt by which Magiſtrates and others are to be guided, how far civil Government may reach, and how farre it may not go, ſtill reſerving this fundamental principle, to hold them cloſe to the direction of the holy Ghoſt by the 12. Apoſtles; and this being the pious care of our Magiſtrates, and of the Churches, this wiſdome will by the bleſſing of God be eſtabliſhed; that that which other Nations have not attained to this day, may by the bleſſing of God be reached by us: and yet though the Elders are to enquire and to commend to them ſuch rules as may eſtabliſh it, it pleaſeth God not to give as yet paſſage to our purpoſes; appoint one day, a ſtorme of raine hinders; appoint the ſecond day fortnight, then a ſtorme of ſnow prevents, that it is tough work to eſtabliſh things of this nature; it is difficult, as if the Lord would have them eſtabliſhed in a ſpirituall way, as Moſes the Law by 40. dayes faſting, he had the ſpirit of God and larger meaſure by much then we, yet the Lord requires ſerious humiliation of him. And therefore ſince I heard that there hath been a ſeaſonable motion to commend ſuch a thing to the State that the whole country do in ſpecial maner ſeek God at ſuch a time againſt the conſultation of the general Court; and this weighty point falling in for ripening of mens thoughts for the Laws of the Country and limitation of juriſdictions both of Church and Common-wealth, the Lord ſaith, he will be ſought unto by the houſe of Iſrael. Therefore I think the motion is ſeaſonable and was glad to hear of it; and thought to commend it to our honoured Governours that ſit at Stern, and all other Churches (but we that are preſent have no power but in our own Church, nor that but with the conſent of the Church) that if it be thought convenient this day ſeven-night might be ſet apart to ſeek the face of God, that we may take time both to ripen our conſultations, and to prevaile with the Lord to proſper our conſultations and adminiſtrations, that this matter which ſo much concerns poſterity may be eſtabliſhed; for my own part, while we live I am not greatly ſolicitous thereabout, yet for future we know not what Governors may ariſe, and what may be put upon our poſterity; needful therefore that things were put in a right frame, that whatever men ſay, yet the Lord may ſay here is wiſdome, and here is neither marke, nor name, nor number of name, but all carried according to the laws of the 12. Apoſtles, and this will require ſome humiliation, and if Moſes ſtood in need of 40. days, we much more of one day. And for our native countrey, we do not know what conflicts there may be there about the number of the name of the Beaſt; we are come from them in bodily preſence, and therefore cannot helpe them by a word of advice; but this we may do, put up ſupplications to heaven, and we may intreat the God of wiſdome, and the Prince of peace, that he would put in amongſt them that they may ſee the whole fabrick, root and branch of the man of ſin, that ſo there may be a perfect combination of the two great Nations, that the Parliament may be for the better, not for the worſe, but purity of ordinances (if it be the bleſſed will of God) may be eſtabliſhed; however we ſhall finde a bleſſing, and ſome of our brethren ſhall fare the better: and if things wax clearer and zeal warmer▪ they will begin to ſuſpect the number as well as the name, and as the head of the beaſt; otherwiſe the three innocent ceremonies (as they call them) they are grown to ſix; and being multiplyed by ten, they may grow to 60. yea to 600. for ought I know: Let us help them what we can by Prayer.
FINIS.