Antichrist Stormed, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Wherein is clearly proved that all the marks of mystery Babylon doth fully meet in, and agree to Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome.
FIrst of all let it be considered, Babylon is set forth by a Woman, which Imports either a single Person ranked in the feminine Gender; or a body of People related to some Head, Husband, or publick person, to whom she is joyned in Wedlock, by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract, as Eve was related to Adam, & therefore called woman; or as Judah & Israel, who were Joyned in Covenant with God, and therefore called a woman, or as the true Church now Marryed or Joyned to Christ, and therefore called a Woman. A single Person as Eve was, she cannot be, because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions, doth no way Comport with it: she must therefore be a body of People, related to some Head, Husband, or Publick Person, as Judah and Israel of old was, who are often called by the Title of a Woman: and in like manner Babylon, before the Degeneracy, where a People, Joyned in Matrimonial Contract, by Gospel Covenant and Profession to the Son of God.
1. Mystery Babylon (it appears from hence) Imports a body of people that were once united in a solemn Gospel Covenant to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a woman and I saw a woman set, &c. And the woman was arayed in Purple and Scarlet, &c.
Parallel. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a body, a great body of People, which before their apostacy were a true Church, by Gospel Covenant and profession united to the Son of God as her publick head and husband, Rom. 1. 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints.
2. Mystery Babylon is a City, a very great Mystical City in a threefold respect.
1. In respect of power, Rev 17.
2. In respect of people, Rev. 18. 10. 16. 18, 19, 21.
3. In respect of place, or Residence, where this power and people is seated, City being indefinitely taken for either of these, or comprehending all, as in these Instances, Psal. 121. Isa. 14. 31. Acts 19. 28.
Parallel. So likewise the Church of Rome is a City, a very great mystical City, and may be so called in a threefold consideration.
1. In respect of power, which is twosold; 1. Civil. 2. Ecclesiastical, signified by two horns like a Lamb.
2. In respect of people, which are great, the fame of which people as a mystical City or Church was great before the power and chief dominion of the place was joyned with it as a Church which came in by the Apostasy, Rom. 1. 8. First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole World. And since they adulterated from their primitive Purity, and become Antichristian, they have been and still are a great people, no united body calling themselves a Church of Christ in respect of number and for fame coming near them.
3. Great in respect of place or chief residence where this power and great people are seated, and by way of eminency, as a Mystical City, it may indeed well bear the Bell away. For what people have given further occasion to be spoken of in respect of power, people and place of chief residence throughout the whole world as Rome has, as will hereafter be made more evident.
III. Mystery Babylon is not only a mystica… City and Woman, but a bad Woman and City, a City of Confusion. For so the word Babel or Babylon signifies, viz. Evil or Confusion
Parallel. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a mystical Woman, City, but a very evil Woman, a City indeed of confusion; there is the name of the lamb much spoken of, but his doctrine contemn'd slighted and under valued and his Laws and Ordinances trample… upon, and notoriously violated, his institution not regarded, nor his example imitated, either by the Bishop himself, his Cardinals or inferior Orders, they having his humility and self-denial only in their mouths, but none of it i… their hearts, like those the apostle speaketh of who in words profess they know God, but in work… deny him. For under this verbal and pretended humility lies covered the greatest pride in the world, and under this verbal meekness and self-denial the greatest oppression, cruelty, superstition, covetousness, vain glory and love of the world that ever was manifest, as appears by their pompous and glistering garbs, their cruel persecutions, and the vast sums of money brought in from all parts of their dominions, by sleights, cunning and deceitful Cheats: Besides a meer hodg-podg of principles, one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against, and cries down; which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible, and that cannot err. Besides the strange mixtures in their visible worship, of traditions, and humane inventions, of lying and diabolical tricks, of blessing by a Cross, Pardons and Indulgences for money, consecrating holy water, and cleansing by it, which are too numerous and tedious to relate, and less needful to mention, because so well known to all men. And let any people in the Christian world pretending to religion be compared to them, for supernumeraries, trifling & …nsignificant ceremonies crouded into their pretended worship; Nay, let all the people in the Christian world be laid in the ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect, and they will be found inconceivably wanting, for which we have this Reason to …udge her to be Babylon or the City of confusion.
If there is more confusion (in contrariety of principles, practices, contradicting pretensions, supernumeraries, foolish and unscriptur… inventions crouded into their visible worship in the Church of Rome, than is to be found amongst any sort of people pretending to Religion, in all the world besides, then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Baby lon or City of confusion; But there is more confusion in the forementioned respects to be found in the Church of Rome than in any other Church or people in the world pretending to Religion: Ergo Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon.
IV. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth … a Woman, and City of Confusion, but is also called A WHORE, a word which carries in it, one of the highest Impeachments, yet no other that was given to Israel, Judah & Jerusalem in the days of old upon the very same reason? Isa. 57 3. and 16. 17. and Hos. 4. 8. 5. 3. For they being joyned in covenant with God (as a woman is to an husband) to be the Lords, to serve him in Obedience and Subjection, did like to an adulterous Woman, break Wedlock, and set up other Lovers, or Idols in his stead, and continued so a long time, till a Bill of Divorce w… given, and God proclaimed them Adulteresses, and that he was not their husband, nor they his wife, but a whore and divorced; Yet it is observable, that they, tho they worshipped Idols, cryed, The Temple, the Temple of the Lord are we, and would by all means be accounted the Church of God.
Paral. Even so in like manner Rome Papal, or the Church of Rome, is not only called a Woman; But according to Scripture History, and notorious matter of Fact, she is a whore, having utterly adulterated from what she was once, and so may justly bear that brand or black name, for in the Apostles time she joined her self to the Lord, to be his, by firm tyes of a Gospel covenant and profession, and as a renowned Spouse of Jesus Christ, owned and professed him in the time of heathenish Rome, and received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them, and withstood the fury of the Emperors, suffering Persecution, and had their faith spoken of throughout the whole World; but yet after all this, like Israel of old, She left God, Jesus Christ, and almost all his Holy Laws, and Ordinances, and made Idols to her self of Saints, Angels, Reliques and Images, upon which she doted, and forsook the Son of God, upon the working and appearance of the vile person or man of Sin, who exalted himself into the place of Christ; and became her head, by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was, that she retains nothing of what really appertains to true godliness, but the bare names of God, Christ and Christian Religion, having corrupted the true worship of the Son of God, her first Husband, and notoriously abandoned obedience and subjection to him, taking this vile person the Pope to be her head, and chief guide, and setting him up in the place of, and in dignity above Christ, her first head and only guide of her youth, and yet (like Israel of old) still cryes, The true Church, the Holy Catholick Church, and Mother Church are we; having on her forehead a strange mystery written, i. e. God, Christ, Truth, Verity, Unity, Universality, Infallibility; And yet with that on her forehead, and in her heart too, is written, Devil, Pope, Lying, Blasphemy, Idolatry, Deceit, Perjury, Blood and Horrible Cruelty towards the best of men, professing Christ and Religion in uprightness and truth: for which her abominable Idolatry, and change of her first Head and Husband, and setting up this vile Person with which she commits most horrid lewdness or Spiritual Whoredom, together with the Kings of the Earth, she is ranked by the Holy Ghost, amongst the worst of Women, and stil'd the great Whore, and as her type and predecessor of old, a well favoured Harlot, but since her Spiritual Adultery and Whoredom hath been so apparently proved upon her, by many worthy and eminent authors, or Protestant Writers, we shall conclude this black character with this following Argument and proceed to the next mark.
If there be no body of professing People, in the Christian World, that have so apparently, declined, or adulterated from what they once were, deserting the holy headship, doctrine, example, and right government of Jesus Christ, having set up another visible, publick, and universal head of the Church, in room and stead of him; whose Power, Laws and Edicts, are preferred above and before the authority, laws and precepts of the Lord Jesus Christ, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done: then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon, or the great Whore spoken of.
But there is no body of professing people in the Christian World, nor throughout the Earth, who have so apparently declined, adulterated, and deserted the Holy Headship, Doctrine, Example and right Government of Jesus Christ, ut supra, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done.
Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome, is mystery Babylon the great Whore.
If any should think this argument not weighty, let them shew if they can, that some other people different from the Church of Rome, have made as great or like change in point of Religion and Headship, and matter… thereto pertaining, so as this black character of Whore, great Whore, may more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them, and we must confess our argument not weighty, but till then, we conclude it carries conviction in the Bowels of it.
V. Mystery Babylon is not only set forth by a Woman, City of Confusion and Whore, but also a great City, and great Whore, and the great City was divided, &c. Rev. 16. 19▪ And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City, Rev. 17. 18. I will shew thee the Judgment of the great Whore, Rev. 17. 1. I think it necessary to reassume this character again, the Spirit of God noting this as a most eminent mark of her.
Paral: Now that the Church of Rome is not only a Whore and Mystical City but a very great City, and Whore, will yet appear more evident.
1. She hath a great name; no name so great in the Christian World, as the name of Rome; she is called a Queen, and being joined by Contract to her universal Head, viz. the Pope or Man of Sin, she would seem to be far greater than Emperors, and temporal Princes, and pretends a power to give them their Crowns, and set them upon their Heads, and kick them off again at pleasure.
2. Great in Power. She gives Rules and Laws to Kingdoms, advances her Ecclesiastical Edicts above Temporal; she sets the Pope, and the chiefest of her Sons, above secular Jurisdiction; makes them unacountable, and pretends a power, to Absolve, to Bless and Curse at her pleasure, and without controversy the lesser is blessed of the greater.
3. Great in multitude. There are no People besides, that are in a spiritual united Body, and visible community, professing Christianity, comparable to her, for multitude, or the vast numbers of her Children.
4. Great in actions, vile actions, such as deposing and poysoning Princes, fomenting jealousies, raising Wars, setting Nations together by the Ears, invading rights and properties of Nations and Kingdoms by subtile insnarements, and cunning stratagems, making tumults and uproars, contriving Masscres, burning Cities, and carrying on dreadful devastations, where she is gain-said; and that which adds to her greatness, is that invincible confidence she hath, that all persons and things are made for her, and given to her, so that all things she doth are allowed as Legal and Just in Heaven, tho the actions are most vile and as unhumane as any can be, in the Judgment of any undeceived mortal: from whence we shall frame this argument.
Arg. If there be no united Body of People, or visible Community in the Christian World, that is so great in name, power, multitudes, and actions, vile actions, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath been, and still is—then the Church of Rome is mystery Babylon.
But there is no united Body of People, or Community in the Christian World that is so great in name, power, multitude, and actions, vile actions, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome.
Ergo Rome Papal is this great City, Whore or Mystery Babylon.
VI. Mystery Babylon is said to sit upon many Waters, which is expounded to be People, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, Rev. 17. 1, 17. And he said unto me, the Waters which thou sawest, where the Whore sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, &c. which according to the learned Mede, Peter Du Moulin, and other famous Protestant writers, is more than a third part of the ten considerable parts, which the Roman Monarchy fell into, not long before the Pope that man of Sin, and Head of mystery Babylon, assumed the imperial Seat and Throne, which afterwards became ten Kingdoms with Crowned Heads, assisting the Beast against the Lamb, and Persecuting of the Saints, distinguished into ten Kingdoms of the Empires, I. of Germany. II. France. III. England. IV. Scotland. V. Denmark. VI. Polonia. VII. The Kingdom of Spain. VIII. The Kingdom of Navarre. IX. The Kingdom of Hungary. X. The Kingdom of Naples and Sicily.
All which Rome Papal had in possession, as our French author saith, in the days of Pope Leo the tenth.
Paral. So then it appears evidently that the Church of Rome has directly this mark of Mystery Babylon also, she sitting upon many Waters, viz. people, multitudes, nations, and languages, that she sate upon, or ruled over, more than one third part of the ten, which was formerly under the Roman Empire, in its civil state, is evident, which… (more▪ than one third part) hath since fallen into ten Kingdoms, under the Government of ten Crowned Heads, and have all agreed to give their Power to this last Beast (as they received power as Kings one hour with him) according to what was foretold, which makes good what St. John …n the Apocalypse hath made known; as also Daniel concerning the little horn, which had … mouth speaking great things, whose looks were more stout than his fellows, Dan. 7. by whom three of the first horns of the Roman power in its civil state, were pluck't up by the roots, and in their place succeeded ten Kings or Crowned Heads, who have their Crowns given to them by this last Beast; (and as they had their Crowns given by, and hold their Kingly power under the Pope, little Horn, last Beast, or man of Sin,) in requital of his fatherly care in giving his Sons so great a Patrimony, so they give their power to him, and ingaged against the Lamb, in making War with, and persecuting the Saints of the most High, and will do so till the VVord of God, or Prophecy of Daniel, and Revelations of St. John, &c. is fulfilled; which ten Crowned Heads answer to the ten Toes in Nebuchadnezzars Image, and to the ten Horns in this 17th of the Apocalypse, which are so concerned in the Beasts Kingdom; and who will at last by the gracious providence of God (that is some of them) be overcome by the Lamb, and turn to hate the Whore, and make her desolate, whom before they for a long time join'd with and supported, and for whose pleasure they did persecute the Saints; which ten States or Kingdoms are by our French author Peter du Moulin, (in his book called the accomplishment of the Prophecy, page 345.) distinguished, as we before shewed; all which Kingdoms, as King James the First, in his learned works makes out, took their rise with Rome Papal, upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its civil state, the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many waters, viz. people, multitudes, nations and tongues, or people of several languages, which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation, and Jurisdiction of Papal Rome, as 'tis known there have been and still are Papists in the World, which doth fully answer to the very letter of the text, viz. The Waters which thou sawest whereon the Whore sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, Rev. 17. 18.
2. This is very evident yet further by her making all the European Kingdoms, and Merchants thereof Rich, that traffick by Sea, by the great expence of all commodities, which are swallowed up, by reason of her pride and bravery, which could never be effected, unless she had nations, and multitudes, under her jurisdiction to contribute to her great pride and luxury.
3. A third Instance to confirm it is, the numberless number of good Christians she has prey'd upon and murdered, in most of these Kingdoms for no other cause, but for witnessing against her Idolatry and Usurpation, which shews what power she had over these nations, and tongues, &c.
4. And lastly, The vast sums of Money she has extorted and squeezed from these Kingdoms and Nations, to uphold her pretended right, preheminency, and usurpation over them, which you have an account of by several worthy Writers, who fully witness to the truth of what we say upon this respect.
And from the whole we shall draw this argument and proceed.
Arg. If there be no Body of people, professed Church or State in the World (under any single denomination) that sits upon, i. e. commands, or bears rule over people, multitudes, nations, and tongues, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth; then Rome Papal or the Church of Rome, is Mystery Babylon.
But there is no Body of people, professed Church or State (under any single denomination) that sits upon, i. e. commands, or bears rule over people, multitudes, nations, and tongues, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth; Ergo Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is Mystery Babylon.
To the establishing this argument, let it be considered that the whole state of the Christian World consists but of these two parts, viz. the Church of Rome considered as Head and Body, and those who dissent from her, who are so inconsiderable, whether the Waldenses, Albingenses, Hugonots or other parties of Protestants, that no one party of, nay if we put them altogether, can be said to sit upon, i. e. command, or bear Rule over people, multitudes, nations, and tongues, to answer to this Character of Mystery Babylon; the Waldenses and Hugonots, have been and still are a Persecuted People; the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States, or Kingdoms, or people of many languages; Great Britain (tho a Protestant State or Kingdom,) comes not up to answer this character, much less the seven united Provinces that of late times revolted from the Crown of Spain; so that if Rome Papal hath done so, and no other people that dissent from her, have ever yet nor could do the like, then this proves Rome Papal that great Whore viz, Mystery Babylon that sits upon many Waters, &c.
VII. The seventh mark or character of Mystery Babylon is this, viz. She is such a Whore, that Kings and great men of the Earth, are said to commit Fornication with her; see the text Rev. 17. 2. With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication, i. e Spiritual Fornication▪ or Fornication in a mystery, or after a mysterious manner, such as Jerusalem of old was charged with, 2 Chron. 22. 1. Isa. 16. 26. Which was a following like Idolatry that this Woman Babylon hath done, viz. corrupting the true worship of God, and adoring Idols, or making of Images and Representations of the true God, by which they pretended to worship him; and so great was her Fornication that 'tis said she did corrupt the Earth with it.
Paral. Now that Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath this black mark and character upon her, is most evident, viz. such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth, have committed Fornication with her, she having corrupted the Earth with her filthy Fornications, they following her abominable Superstition and Idolatry.
1. For First, Hath she adored the Pope, as her Lord God, universal Head, and infallible Bishop, setting him up above all Laws? The Kings of the Earth have been so intoxicated, with the cup of her Fornication, that they likewise have done the same.
2. Hath and doth she worship the Virgin Mary, Angels, and many departed Saints? Even so have and do many of the Kings of the Earth likewise.
3. Hath she adored Images, the Crucifix, the Host, and Pictures of pretended Saints? Even so she has caused the Kings of the Earth to do likewise.
4. Hath she foolishly, and Idolatroully de based her self with the adoration of the Relick… of known and unknown Saints? So the very same has she caused the Kings and great men to do also.
5. Hath she grosly, and superstitiously worshiped the true God, in a false manner? By crouding in an innumerous train of detestable, and foolish fopperies into his worship, and pretended service, which he never ordained, as Candles, Candlesticks, Altars, Vestments, Spittle, Salt, Oyl, Holy Water, Beads, and a world of such like trumpery? So have the Kings and Noble ones of the Earth done and still do; as the Emperour of Germany, Kings of France, Spain, Portugal and England, formerly and of late also; from whence we will draw this argument.
Arg. If there be no Body of people in the Christian World, pretending to a Church State, that have set up Idolatry to such a degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have jointly agreed, and complied, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done, then Rome Papal or Church of Rome, is this mystery Babylon spoken of.
But there is no Body of people in the Christian World, pretending to a Church State, that hath set up Idolatry to such a degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, &c. hath done, Ergo the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon.
To reinforce this argument, let any man that will become an advocate for the Church of Rome, shew that any people, differing and dissenting from the Church of Rome, are guilty of like Idolatry, with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as aforementioned, and we will reject this argument; but if this Character doth more fitly, nay directly meet in Papal Rome, our argument is good and unanswerable.
VIII. Another Scripture Mark and Character of Mystery Babylon is this, i. e. she doth not only cause the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her, but she hath intoxicated the minds and hearts of multitudes, and corrupted great part of the World, with the Wine of her Fornication, even the common sort of people; see Rev. 17. 2. And the inhabitants of the Earth, have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, &c.
Paral. That Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath not only caused Kings of the Earth, and great men, to commit fornication with her, by dancing after her Pipes, in all her mysterious allurements, and detestable errors, but hath also intoxicated the Minds and Hearts of multitudes, and miserably corrupted and bewi…ched great part of the World, or common sort of people, by her erroneous and wicked doctrine: O what a world of poor people hath she a long time deceived, and made to commit Spiritual Fornication with her, in Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and lastly in England and Scotland too, besides many other Countreys!
1. As first, Is it not a strange intoxication, that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth, should believe, that a wicked man should be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Christ, as if God had no more regard to the Honour of his own Name, and the good of his Church, and Dignity of his Son, than to substitute a Child of the Devil, (as all wicked men are) to be Vice-gerent to the most holy Jesus, in the highest transactions that relate to Heaven and the Souls of Men? Surely if God shut Judas out of his Bishoprick for his wickedness, tho an Apostle, it can't stand consistent with his truth and holiness, to set up or allow of a wicked and imperious Pope, got up to the highest pinacle of pride, and make him the Immediate Deputy, and successor of Christ, and to impose a Wolf as Shepherd upon the universal Church.
2. One who saith that he is an infallible Judge, to determine Articles of Faith, and indued with power to Impose them, upon great Penalties; so that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith, Consciences, and Souls too; which the Apostles disclaimed.
3. Is it not a strange intoxication, that such a multitude of poor People should believe, that the Church cannot err, tho God and Thousands of good Men, see and fully know, there are not such abominable Errors in Principles, nor such villanous Enormities, cursed Actions, cruel and immoral Practices, in the World? Nay, such that Turks and Infidels do abhor. Yet this doctrine that the Church is infallible, and cannot err, the poor deluded multitude believes, and hate, nay kill, others that oppose it, and venture Body and Soul upon it.
4. Is it not a strange intoxication, that such a multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth, should believe, that the Pope tho never so wicked, nay a priest (tho he be a treacherous villain, a contriver of Murther, and an abominable Adulterer) hath power to absolve his equals and fellow Sinners from all their Sins, tho directly committed against God; If he come to confession? tho the pretended penitent keeps his old evil habit, of wickedness still; contrary to what God and Jesus Christ in his blessed Word saith; where 'tis recorded that 'tis God alone that forgiveth Sins, and blo…eth out our iniquities, and that a man must be born again; i. e. the evil habits must be changed, and all wicked practices must be forsaken; or no forgiveness nor entring into the Kingdom of heaven, John 3. 3.
5. Is it not a strange piece of Witchcraft and Intoxication, that such a multitude of the inhabitants of the Earth, should believe that there is a Purgatory, which is no part of Heaven nor Hell, and that men may be redeemed out of it with Money? tho God saith, The redemption of the Soul is precious, and ceaseth for ever, Psal. 49. i. e. After the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all, and that 'tis only the Blood of Christ which purges and cleanses from all sin, 1 Jo. 1. 9. and that we are not redeemed with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot.
6. Is it not a strange Intoxication, and a clear demonstration that the Inhabitants of the Earth have drunk of the Wine of this Whores Fornication, that such a multitude of poor Souls should believe, that a filthy and wicked Priest, by speaking a few Words can not only make Bread and Wine sacred, but also turn and change the Bread into the real Body and Blood of the Son of God, and make whole Christ of a pittyful Wafercake, by a charm of five Latin words, viz. Hoc est enim corpus meum; and this transubstantiated Idol they fall down before, & adore as their Maker, anathematizing and cursing all that shall deny this Idol of indignation, to be adored with the highest degree of Divine Worship, which is proper to God only, for she saith 'tis her God, as she singeth in her Roman Missal.
Plagas sicut Thomas non intueor, Ri…mus St. Thom. adsac…. Eucharist.Deum tamen meum te confiteor. Wounds as Thomas did I not see, Yet do I confess thee my God to be.
In this, as one observes, they out-do the vanity of the Heathens, who thought none was so witless, as to believe, that that which is eaten is a God, yet this God of theirs these Canibals devour, even Flesh, Blood and Bones in their conceit, the poor deluded multitude believieng contrary to their own natural Reason, and all their sences, that they eat real Flesh, when they eat that Wafer-cake, the substance nor quality being changed, the Form, Colour and Taste of Bread remaining after the Words of Consecration.
7. Is it not a strange Intoxication, that such a multitude of people should believe, that evil and idle doctrine of hers, viz. that no person, how good and pious so ever he be, can be saved, out of the Pale of their polluted, ungodly, and devilish Church, notwithstanding 'tis a great doubt and question whether any member of such a false Church can be saved, sith the Holy Scripture saith, that no Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God; and again, that If any man worship the Beast, and his Image, and receive his mark in his Forehead, or in his Hand, the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God, &c. Rev. 14. 9, 10. And he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone, in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, &c. Besides, considering the Scripture directly holdeth forth that all who are born again, or truly regenerate, shall be saved, let them be of what Church they will, provided they are sound in the essentials of the Christian Faith, and not guilty of Idolatry, for certainly the new birth comprehends, a change of all such erroneous principles, as well as of other evil and corrupt habits and wicked practices.
8. Is it not a strange kind of Spiritual Intoxication, that such a number of the Inhabitants of the Earth, should believe, that 'tis no Sin to Lie, Swear, and For-swear, to Kill, Slay, and Murther, such they call Hereticks (tho never so Godly) if it be for the cause of Holy Church, with a thousand things of the like nature, which the people do believe, and dare not disown upon their Salvation, but boldly adventure to ingage at all opportunitys to Fight, and make War, burn Citys, lay waste Countries and Kingdoms, and destroy by Massacres, and all manner of Murthering ways, all Ranks, and Degrees of Men, who oppose the horrid principles of this vile Church, and cursed practices of these Sons of Belial. Nay they will go boldly to their own deaths, when convicted and justly condemned for such like villanies, and deny to day what they were convicted of yesterday, and tho never so notoriously guilty, yet will take it upon their Death, they are as innocent as the Child unborn; what can this be, tho they drink it down as sweet Wine, but an Infusion of the rankest and most deadly Poyson that the lowest celler of the bottomless Pit can afford, the very Wine of the Whores Fornication, and the most dangerous Intoxication in the World? Which is attended with this aggravation, i. e. the best medicines of the wisest Physicians will not recover them; for Babylon having made the multitude drunk with this sort of Poysoned Wine, how rare is it to have any to come to themselves, or to their right minds again? And to shut up this Head take this argument.
Arg. If no people in the Christian World have made the multitude of the common People, or Inhabitants of the Earth drunk, i. e. corrupted and Intoxicated their minds with wicked Lyes, Falshood, and detestable Doctrines, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done; Then Rome Papal, &c. is Mystery Babylon.
But no People in the Christian World, have made the multitude of the Inhabitants of the Earth Drunk, i. e. corrupted, and intoxicated their minds by wicked Lies, falsehood, and detestable Doctrine, such as before mentioned, as the Church of Rome hath done. Ergo Rome Papal is mystery Babylon.
IX. Mystery. Babylon is said to sit upon a Scarlet-colour'd Beast; and this Beast is full of the names of Blasphemy: And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast, full of the names of Blasphemy, &c. Rev. 17. 3. So that it appears the Woman and the Beast are distinct; by the Woman is meant the false Church, by the Beast is meant the secular power or civil state, or the Antichrist, or that Government that is the eighth, and of the seventh, who assumeth both the Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority by whom the Whore, false Church and Worship is supported: That the Beast and Whore are distinct is evident,
1. From other Prophecies relating to the same thing.
2. From the letter of the text.
3. From arguments grounded on reason.
4. From the confession of the Whore her self.
1. From the Prophecies in the Scripture describing the same state of the Roman Monarchy, Dan 2. the latter part of the Image is partly Iron, and partly Clay, two states that were really distinct, that could never so in corporate as to become one.
2. From the letter of the text, I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast, full of the names of Blasphemies. The colours of the Royal and Imperial vestments, as the Angel declared them distinct, so the Apostle saw them distinct.
3. They appear to be distinct from argments grounded upon reason. For,
(1.) The Beast is in the Masculine Gender, the Whore in the Feminine Gender.
(2.) Because the Whore isRev. 17. v. 11. 6. 16. said to ride upon the beast, the one carrying the other.
(3.) The horns being of the Beast, 'tis said, shall hate the Whore; if they were not distinct the Whore must hate her self, and eat her own flesh, &c. which is nonsensical.
(4.) The Beast shall abide, tho in captivity, after the Whore is thrown down and destroy'd.
4. From the plain confession of the Whore her self, they are distinct, who saith I sit a queen, I am no Widdow, &c. Ergo, she has a Head or Husband, which is the vile Person, little Horn and Ecclesiastical Beast, or that man of Sin St. Paul declared should rise after the then present Romish power which did lett, was taken away, which the primitive Fathers, as Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, and others understood to be the Imperial power in its pure, civil, iron or unmixt-state or Legs of the Image, Dan. 2.
Paral. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, hath not only drawn into Idolatry the Kings of the Earth, great men abusing God, his Son Jesus Christ and the Christian Religion, and the blessed books of the Old and New Testament, but she hath made the lower and ruder sort of the people drunk too, (as hath been shewed.) And 'tis no wonder she thinks she may do any thing, having a dispensation from heaven (as she pretends.) which the Pope keeps the Keys of, fearing no power on Earth.
And now that she hath the secular power to support her, upon which she sits or rides in great pomp, is evident, and that they are really distinct, for what of the secular power is still left at Rome, is under the conduct and management of the Church, there being no civil administration of Justice or exercise of Laws, but what is authorized and allowed by the Pope, the Head of this Ecclesiastical State; to make this further evident, the Pope doth not only exercise a power of appointing seculars at Rome, and near to it, but he claims the like supremacy abroad in other Kingdoms; if the secular Princes fall off from him, or will not be reconciled to him, and own him as head of the Church, he will excommunicate and depose them, and takes away their Crown… and Sceptres from them; that the Pope is a temporal Prince, as well as an ecclesiastical Bishop, i. e. makes Laws, exacts Tribute, raises Souldiers, and acts a Monarch, is notoriously known; which fairly affords him the title of Beast, that his Royal and Scarlet Robes, the Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shoes, with the Vestments of his Cardinals, is Scarlet; so that ye need not doubt but here you have the Scarlet coloured Beast; besides no man can reasonably doubt, that what the Civil power claims the Ecclesiastical power exercises, and that this Princely Pope is in the Masculine, and this Harlot or false Church in the Feminine Gender is owned by all partys.
That the Church state doth sit upon, ride, and govern the secular at Rome, Italy, and all its Territories; that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widdow, but hath a head, called his Holiness, or supreme ruler of the Church, is so evident, that we cannot find them upon any file of record of controversy. There remains therefore, no more to be done here, sith this black character of Mystery Babylon doth so well meet in the Romish Church.
Arg. If there be no visible state in the Christian World, that doth so apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast or a great secular power, clothed in Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal doth, then Rome Papal … Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon. But there is no visible state in the Christian World, that doth so apparently sit upon, command, and govern the Beast, or secular power, cloth'd in Scarlet Vestments, as Rome Papal or Church of Rome. Ergo Rome Papal &c. is Mystery Babylon.
To reinforce this argument we challenge any Papists, Atheists, or any else to shew where there are any other people or party to whom these Characters agree as well as with Rome Papal, and then we will let this argument sall.
X. The Beast that Mystery Babylon sits upon, commands and governs, is not only clothed in Scarlet, but is also full of the names of Blasphemy, Rev. 17. Paral. Now that the Church of Rome hath this mark also of Mystery Babylon is evident, viz. that the Beast cloathed in Scarlet that bears up that whorish Churhc, is full of the names of Blasphemy; this appears by his ascribing that to creatures which belongs to God and Jesus Christ only, and in divers other respects.
(1.) When the cursed Beast is called our Lord. God the Pope, *cum inter. in glosl. extr. Job 22. in Liv. 2.and whatsoever he doth, no man may say to him, Why do you this? And whosoever obeyeth not his precepts incurreth the Sin of Idolatry, doth he not in this shew himself indeed to be God? What greater Blasphemy can there be?
(2.) When he is called universal Head of the Catholick Church is not this Blasphemy against Christ, who alone is the head of the universal Church?
(3.) When he is called the Lamb of God, he Light of the World, the Root of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
(4.) When the orders of the Church, Oral Traditions and Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater authority than the Holy Scriptures; Cardinal Hositis in his Advertisement to King Sigismund hath these expressions, If they (that is, the Hereticks) say it is written, that is the voice of the Devil, speaking in his members; *De expresso dei verbo.they call the Scripture Paper and Parchment, and that 'tis an absurd thing to attribute more authority to the Scripture than to the Church, which they call a nose of Wax, which suffers it self to be turned hither or thither as a man pleaseth, and that the Scripture is the Daughter and their Church the Mother; is not this horrid Blasphemy against God, and the Holy Spirit who gave the Scripture forth, and whose sacred off-spring they are?
(5.) When the Virgin Mary, Angels, and Saints, are invocated with Prayers and Addresses, that only belong to the Divine Majesty, as if those creature were infinite, and could hear us at so great a distance as Earth is from Heaven, which they could not do if perpendicularly over us, much less from all parts of the World, over which they cannot be; whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Omnisciency, and Divine adoration to Creatures, which is only due to the Creator, is not Blaspemy?
(6.) Whether it be not Blasphemy, as well as Idolatry to say that Images ought to be worshipped, with the same honour and worship, which is given to him whose Image it is. For so Azorius affirms, and Bellarmin saith that Images are not only to be worshippe… †Epiphanius horis. 97. per totum.as they are exemplars, but also properly and by themselves, so as the worship may be terminated i… them.*de Imag. 1. 2.
(7.) To conclude with this mark, Whether it be not Blasphemy with a witness, to affirm that a Priest can make a whole Christ of a Wafer Cake, by uttering a few words? And is not this to exalt the man of Sin above God himself? For this which they affirm i… to do more than God indeed can do; see M… Pools Dialogue p. 109. there are some thing… which it is no dishonour to God, to say he cannot do them, because they are either sinful (so God cannot lie;) or absolutely impossible: God himself cannot make a man alive and dead at the same time, God cannot make the whole to be less than a part of it; he cannot make three to be more than threescore; he cannot make a Son to beget the Father, he cannot make the same man to be born at two several times, (as Popish Authon confess;) and therefore he can't make the same Body to be in two several places (much less in two thousand places at one and▪ the same time;) to which we may add, Can God make that to be that, which it is not? All know the Bread is not Flesh, but really Bread after Consecration.
Arg. If no people in the Christian world are born up and supported by a Scarlet coloured Beast, full of the names of Blasphemy, maintaining from him such blasphemous Opinions, than Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, then Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon: But there is no people in the Christian world that are born up by such a blasphemous Beast as the Church of Rome is; Ergo Rome Papal as Mystery Babylon.
XI. Mystery Babylon is not only said to sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast, full of the names of Blasphemy, but also that she is adorned with great pomp and outward glory, Rev. 17. 4. And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet, and decked with Gold and precious Stones, and Pearl, &c.
Parallel. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome▪ doth not only sit upon a Scarlet coloured Beast, &c. but she is also beautified and adorned with great pomp and external glory, beyond any people calling themselves a Church of Christ in all the Christian world: This is such a visible brand and mark upon this people, and well noted by all, that much we need not speak to it; for all the world knows the Church of Rome delights in outward Gaudery, being a people whose Worship is filled not only with detestable Tradisions, and blasphemous Doctrines; but also to please the carnal and sensitive Eye, she se… it off with rich and costly Pictures, curious… drawn, and other outward gallantry. (2.) Loo… into the Patrimony of consecrated Saint there you shall find riches and honour, th… not durable riches and righteousness. (3.) Loo… upon their Garbs and Vestments, and the… you shall find her Popes and Cardinals g… stering in cloath of Gold, and adorned li… Emperors and splendid Princes; nay, and are some of her Priests and Heads of Parti… What think you (saith one of the Anti… Fathers) of this Man the Pope sitting on hi… in his Throne glistering in Purple and clo… of Gold—sitting in the Temple God, shewing out himself as ifBernard. were a God; her Priests are ado… in such costly Habiliments, that for riches th… might become the highest Order of … Jewish Priesthood. (4.) Look on the Inst… ments and Mode of their Worship, and the you shall find rich Altars, and Candlesticks Gold, the Vessels for Oyl, and Po…s of P… sication, as if their Predecessors had been Solomon's Temple. (5.) Look into … Churches, and there you shall find great o… ward glory and bravery. (6.) Enquire co… cerning her Revenues and vast Incomes, a… there you will find she out-does all Comm… nities in the World.
Arg. If no people in the Christian World hath such riches, splendour, outward pomp and bravery in the maintenance and management of their Worship, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath: Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is this gaudy Harlot, or Mystery Babylon. But there is no People or Church in the Christian World, that hath such riches, splendour, outward pomp and bravery, in the maintenance and management of their Religious Worship, as the Church of Rome hath; Ergo the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon.
XII. As Mystery Babylon is thus adorned with outward pomp, and external riches and glory; so likewise another mark or character the Holy Ghost hath laid down of her is this, i. e. upon her fore-head a name is written, MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Mother of Harlots may refer in part to external Whoredoms, but chiefly 'tis to be taken in a mystical sense, i. e. she breeds and brings forth Spiritual Harlots; viz. unclean Communities.
Parallel. That this Character meets directly in the Church of Rome, is very clear, upon her forehead denotes (as our late worthy Annotators observe) the open guilt …nd impudence of this Spiritual Harlot Mystery Babylon, that is, there is a Mystery in what follows in her name—the Great, not to be understood of the Chaldean Babylon, but of a City or Policy under the Gospel, as cap. 11. 8. she is called Spiritual Sodom and Egypt; so in a spiritual or mystical sense she is called Babylon, because a City like to Babylon for Idolatry and Persecution of God's Israel. Not a meer Harlot, but one that breed▪ up Harlots, and nourishes Idolatry, communicating it to others; and this is the true name of Rome instead of Mother Church▪
1. Here is a name written in capital Letters, and written upon her fore-head, so as to be read of all, i. e. there is no way to hide o… cover her Whoredoms, or to defend or deliver her self from being the Mother of Harlots▪ if this were not to be seen and read by all inlightened Christians and Professors, it would not not so much concern us; for if the Book of the Revelations were not written for the Christian World, it leaves us at an uncertainty; nor are we in a capacity to make a Judgment in this great case, who this great Who… is.
2. Nay, and if this Babylon were a small and private People and Community of Christians (or such who pretend themselves so to be) she could not be called Great Babylon▪ and Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth.
But Rome is a great People, a great Whore, or false Church; and her detestable Spiritual Adultery appears obvious to the whole World; nay, her Images and Idolatry causes both Jews and Turks the more to hate and abhor that Christian Religion which she professeth, (as it has been manifestly made known by many worthy Writers.)
3. And for Mystery, see what we have said in the first Chapter of this Treatise, wherein is opened that strange Mystery of the Romish Church. Is it not this Mystery Babylon that says she is the true Church, by pretending to Visibility, as one of the chief Evidences thereof? and yet 'tis positively said That the true Woman or Church of God was for the space of 1260 years in the Wilderness, Rev. 12. where she was hid all that time, or abode in an obscure condition. Is it not a Riddle and confus'd Mystery, that she being Queen Regent, riding upon the Beast in state, all along, and yet that very poor and distressed Woman, that fled into the Wilderness, and abides there in a suffering condition all the time of the Beasts Reign.
Is not this a Riddle and strange Mystery▪ that one pretending her self to be the only true Church of God, and Mother of Peace, Purity and Charity; and yet notoriously known to be the breeder, bringer forth, and cherisher of Division, Falshood, most▪ Bloody Butcheries, and Barbarous Cruelties and Murders.
4. She is called Babylon, or Babel, i. e. Confusion; and doth not this agree to the Church of Rome? doth she not openly shew her self to be the absolute Antitype of old Babel?
1. In devising and setting up another way to Heaven (than what God hath ordained and appointed; viz. a Tower of their own raising) not by Christ alone, but by the demerits of their own good works; and you know what some of those works are that she calls meritorious, which is, to destroy and cut the Throats of such she calls Hereticks, i. e. godly Protestants: This is the way she ha… found out for the Salvation of her dear Children.
2. In plucking up, or endeavou…ing to rase out the true Worship of God, as old Caldea… Babylon did, and setting up Idolatry in the room of it.
3. The Church of Rome may well be called Babylon, in respect of her Doctrine▪ Principles, and Modes of Worship, which i… such a jumble, strange mixture, and heap o… Human Inventions, that may well go fo… …onfusion it self (see our third mark) in her orders, diversities, and long muster Roll of officers, that are so numerous, as well as un…criptural, that if mixture, and confusion be …ny where, 'tis to be found in this pretended Church, where you have Pope, Cardinals, Priests, and Arch-Priests, Bishops, Lord Bishops, and Arch-Bishops, Deans, and Arch…eacons, Suffragans, Patriarchs, Abbots, Friars, Monks, Nuns, Seminaries, Jesuits, followers of St. Francis, Jansenius, Augustine, Capu…hins, &c. and what not, this Romish Har…ot hath received some of her jolly Church …relats, with their exorb…tant power from her heathenish Predecessors, Romu…us Livius l. 1.and Numa Pompilius who made Flamins, Arch-Flamins, and a Pon…ifex maxim…s, to sacrifice unto the Gods; and some of her ceremonies she has taken from other Infidels, as the shaving of Priests Crowns like the Priests of Isis and Serapis in Egypt, nay for confusion and filthy abomination she has out-done Heathen Rome, for Numa, the King of the Antique Romans, forbad them to think that the▪ Image ofPlutarch in Numa. God had the shape of a man, or form of other living Creatures; yet this mother of Idolatry alloweth the Image of God the Father, in form of an old Man, and Holy Ghost in form of a Dove, tho the holy Prophet, inveigh… ingBellar. de Imag. Sanct. l. 2. c. 8. Isa 40. 18. against this detestable vanity, demandeth, To whom will ye liken God? Or what similitud… will ye set up unto him?—Yet this whoris… Church to these teachers of lies (as one observes) and counterfeits of God, to the shame of Christians, adoreth these Images, or rather the Devil in them, whose worship it is, and so fulfils that which is written of her, Rev. 9. 20. That men would not repent of the works of their hands, and of the worship of Devils, and Idols of Gold, and Silver, and Br…s…, and of Stone, and of Wood, which neither can see, neither …ear, nor go.
As she appeareth in all these things to be Mystery Babylon the great, and abomination of the Earth, so (as worthy Mr. Ainsworth observeth) in her Divine service, she has Babels very language, an unknown Tongue; so is it an Idol wholly made (as the Scripture speaketh) according to her own understanding; and is all the works of the crafts-men, the Prelates and Popes, the lovers of this great Whore who have patched together in their several ages the limbs of this deformed monster, the Mass and Canon thereof, a sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead; with the Litany and Collects, An…hems and Responds, and in this Liturgy, God and his Angels, Apostles and Martyrs, and Confessors with he Saints, and she Saints (and some, that had Satans sanctity,) are wrapt up together, with a Stage-play like worship, with musical instruments to make them merry, as Nebuchadnezzar; with melody celebrated the dedication of his Golden Image, which Portal, and Missal, these Artizans have framed, exceeding all superstitions, abominations, and confession, that ever were in the World, the meer device and forgery of their own Brains, by the help of the Devil, provoking God to Jealousie and Wrath, which suddenly she must pertake of without mixture.
4. Mother of Harlots. Hath not Papal Rome this very character upon her forehead? It meets in none as in her, all Protestants of what denomination soever, utterly disallow of Fornication, Whoredom and Adultery, in persons of any Ranks whatsoever, maintaining constantly that Marriage is honourable in all: whereas the Church of Rome, 'tis noto…iously known, gives publick toleration to …bominable Whoredoms, and the most shame…ess and unatural Bestialities as ever were in the World, but this Epithet, Mother of Harlots, …ay more properly refer to Spiritual Adultery, …nd that the Church of Rome is a Mystical Mo…her is very plain and evident, for do not all her Children own her to be the Mother Church? …nd therefore
1. Protestants are exhorted to return into the bosom of their mother.
2. All polluted and national Churches in the European Kingdoms sprang from her, as the Churches of France, Spain, Portugal, &c. and do call her Mother.
3. All corruption in Doctrine and Discipline, were bred and brought forth by her, she is certainly the Mother of all these cursed titles, and errors following, viz. Universal, Supream, Infallible Head, Holy Father the Pope, his Holiness, in the abstract—our Lord God the Pope, unerring Church▪ Priestly Absolution, selling Pardons, Indulgences, Dispensations, adoring the Crucifix, worshiping of Images, Anointing, and sprinkling of Holy-Water, the adoration of the Mass, nay and the adoring the Devils own Engine, i. e. the Cross or Gibbet whereon the Devils Emissaries killed or crucified the Lord of Life and Glory, for the curse of the Law was▪ to be done away by … cursed Death upon a tree, o… Gal. 3. 13.which whosoever was hanged▪ the curse of God was upon him; this death the innocent Lamb, Jesus Christ suffered f… our sakes, at the hands of wicked Sinne… Pilate and the Jews, the Children of the D… vil; who used all exquisite torments to mak… his death miserable, Crowning him wi… Thorns, piercing his Hands, Feet, and Sides with Nails, and a Spear, hanging him on the Tree until he died. And this pretended Tree or Cross, Thorns, and Nails, with other counterfeits of them, this Mother of Harlots, teaches her Children to adore and honour, with as good Ground and Devotion (as one observes) as the Ophites or Serpentories, are said to honour the Serpent the Devils instrument, for to bring man to the knowledge of good and evil. And that all the World might take notice, that Rome is the City, where our Lord was crucified, this Mother of Harlots doth proclaim, that the Cross was that Altar, whereon the great Sacrifice Christ▪ was offered: whereas the Scripture teacheth that the bodies of those Beasts whose blood was brought to make reconciliation in the holy place were burnt, without the Host, or Camp of Israel, and not on the Altar which stood before the door of the Tabernacle, according to which figure Jesus also, that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood, suffered without the Gate of Jerusalem, which was a reproach; yet will these Godeaters, and crucifiers of our blessed Saviour▪ make the cursed Cross, to be the Altar most holy, and so greater than Christ the sacrifice, as being that which sanctified him, for the Al…ar sanctified the offering. And hereupon they call the Cross blessed, and ascribe unto it worthiness to bear the Talent of the World, they account it among the most precious Reliques, and not only the whole, but every piece thereof; they adore it, salute it, pray unto it, and trust therein for Salvation, crying, Hail, O Cross, our only hope, increase thou to the godly Righteousness, and unto sinners give pardon; save thou the company gathered together in thy praises; yea, the very sign of this Idol made in the Air, upon the forehead, or over any thing is Sacred and Ven…rable, and hath force to drive away Devils, and do many like feats: wherefore this abomination hath prevailed above other, and is like Beel…ebub Prince of the Devils, the Badg of the Beast, and Character of Mystery Babylon, Imprinted in Churches, Chappels, Altars, Houses and High ways, in Books, Writings, in Prayers, Sacraments, in Garments, Bodies and Souls of Men, both Quick and Dead; nay, nothing is well hallowed without it, no Sacrament perfect without it. And this great honour hath the Cross, because the Devil, and his Instruments, Killed or Crucified our Saviour upon it; so that a marvel it is, how Judas lips scaped honour, seeing he also was Satans instrument, to betray Christ with a kiss, wherefore this Spiritual Egypt, Pseudo Catholick Church, deserveth more toquis nescit Vo…usi, Bithinice qualia demens Egyptus Protent a colat, &c. J…venal sat. 15. be branded by some Satyrist, for worshiping monsters, than the first Egypt, whose less impiety a Heathen Poet did deride.
4. As she is the Mother of Harlots, and Mother of all corrupt Doctrine and Detestable Errors, &c. So also is she Mother of all personal vices, and fleshly abominations, as horrid Oaths and Blasphemies, most astonishing perjury, and subtil equivocation, hypocrisies, uncleannesses, lying, subornations, secret poysonings, stabing, throat-cutings, adulteries, covenant-breaking, and what not; are these things allowed amongst Protestants? No certainly; yet they are not only allowed by this Whore, but esteemed merito…ious, if it be done for the good, and promo…ion of Holy Church; and for these things may she not rightly be called Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth?—Which I shall conclude with this Argument.
Argu. If this name Mystery Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, in all these respects we have noted, doth not so fully and fitly agree to any People as they do to Rome Papal or Church of Rome, then Rome Papal &c. is Mystery Babylon; but this name Mystery Babylon, the great Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, in all these respects noted, does not agree so fitly and fully to any people in the World as to the Church of Rome. Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon.
XIII. But further, to put it out of all doubt, who this Whore is, 'tis said she was drunk with Blood; this is another Mark and Character the Holy Ghost hath given to know her by. And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered with great admiration, Rev. 17. 6.
Now if the Church of Rome be guilty here, or hath this black Mark and Character upon her, she is the unhappiest Church and People in all the World, and gives cause enough to Angels, as well as to the Apostles and Holy Men to wonder, i. e. to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended, the Daughter of the great King of Heaven and Earth, the only chast Spouse of the Lamb, the Mother of all Peace, Holiness, and Innocency, not only defiled with all those foul and abominable errors, Idolatries, and detestable pollutions, but also guilty of so much Blood of Saints, and of the precious blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, and not only guilty of Blood, but also drunk with Blood, yea drunk with such Blood; but that this the Church of Rome is guilty of nothing is more clear, which indeed gives cause to every good man in the World to abhor her. And that we may make this most evidently to appear,
1. Consider what it is to be drunk.
2. What things do necessarily contribute to it.
3. Shew what the true and proper signs of it are.
4. Whether such things can be fixed upon the Church of Rome.
1. To be drunk is to take in excessively any thing as disorders nature in its course and operations; this we take to be a general definition of it, including the proper and metaphorical notions thereof.
2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it, are,
(1.) Great and vehement desire or thirst after it.
(2.) Plenty of the thing thirsted after.
(3.) The greedy taking their fill of it.
3. The signs of drunkenness, are
(1.) When the faculties are so disordered, that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them.
(2.) When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect.
(3.) When they have cast off all considerations of their own, and others good, and for bear no mischief but what they are restrained from by force.
(4.) That these things are evident in the Church of Rome will appear,
1. Because she hath shed a Mass, a very great Mass of Blood of Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus; who is able to account the numbers of them that she hath murthered in all parts of the Christian World, only upon the account of Religion, particularly in Bohemia, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Low Countrys, England, Scotland and Ireland?
'Tis enough to peirce an heart of Stone to hear of the barbarous crueltys and devilish inhumanities exercised for more than five hundred years upon the poor Waldenses and Albingenses, by the hands of this Bloody Whore or Romish Harlot, besides the wonderful numbers and multitudes of them, for according to the account I have met with in History, hundreds of Thousands, nay some millions of those Godly Christians were most unhumanely butchered by the bloody Papists, Children Born of her own Body, nay, in every street of this great City, the Blood of the Saints hath run down like a River; were this not notoriously known to the whole World, I could give an account of the vast numbers slain in Bohemia, in France, and in Ireland, of late years, where there were not fewer than two hundred thousand souls sacrificed, to allay the thirst of this Bloudy Whore.
So that it is out of dispute, she hath the first signs of a most filthy, shameless, drunken Strumpet, i. e. she has been excessive in drinking of innocent Blood; and 2. Not only so, but she has drunk so much, that she is intoxicated, and disordered, that she would never submit to the best reason that could be given her, for she has been so mad, that none could disswade her from exercising her cruelties (on the Bodies of the Saints, whose Blood she thirsted after) in as unhumane a manner as incarnate Devils could devise; as if to murther them was not sufficient, nor could it satisfie her, but she would have them die many deaths, as hanging by the Feet, by the Hands, by the middle on a Beam, by the Hair of the Head, on Tenters, pouring melted Lead on their Heads, Boiling in Caldrons, rosting alive, and burning alive.
The poor Waldenses living in, and about the valleys of Piedmont, about the year 1560 were most cruelly and barbarously murthered; to allay her excessive thirst, some were stript stark naked and whip'd to death with Rods of Iron, others drawn through the Streets and Burnt with fire brands, some thrown down an high Tower, and some cut in pieces with sharp Knives, fourscore persons had their Throats cut, as Butchers kill their Sheep, threescore Women were so cruelly rackt, that the Cords pierced their Arms and Legs to the Bones, and then being cast into Prison they all died except nine of them; young Virgins were Ravished in a Barbarous manner until they died, Children were pull'd alive out of their Mothers Bellies, and the Breasts of many Women cut off, so that the Infants died of Famine; and many other strange kind of tortures, for many years together multitudes of those Godly Waldenses indured.
And the Albingenses who professed the same doctrine and principles, were all along in the like or worse sort and manner (if possible) butchered; in the City of Bezier, there were, saith my author, threescore thousand persons slain, the Priests and Fryers going about the Streets in the mean time with Crosses and Banners, and singing, Te Deum Laudamus; in the year 1655 in the Valley of Lucerna and other places, this bloody Strumpet thirsting still after the Blood of the Saints, and like a filthy drunken wretch caused an Edict to be put forth, that such who would not turn Papists within three days, must take what would follow, and indeed that was bad enough, as you may see in Sir Samuel Morelands History of that late Persecution, it began Jan. 25. 1655. upon which some Thousands of those poor Souls were forc't to fly for their lives in the depth of Snow, when all the Valleys were covered with Water, there being amongst them some Women with child, others newly delivered, some sick and diseased, Children crying and lamenting, Old Men and Women, some decre…it leaning on their Staves, all dragged or forc't over the Ice & Snow▪ &c. with bitter tears, sighings, cries, and wringing of hands, beating of Breasts, mourning and complaining of the cruelties of those merciless Papists, but alas so drunk with Blood before, that they like brutes regarded none of their cries, no more than the bleating of Sheep; but this is not all, no sooner that they were forc't from their ha…itations, but their houses were pillaged, rifled, and ransackt of all that was left, and this not sufficient neither, to satisfie their rage and cruel thirst, they fell upon them, putting them to all manner of unhumane and cruel deaths they could devise; so that in a few days they destroyed near thirty thousand Souls in one place, they most cruelly tormented an hundred and fifty Women and Children, and afterwards chop'd off the Heads of some, and dash'd out the Brains of others, some had their Feet nail'd to Trees with their Heads downwards, one antient Woman they ript up alive, putting a sickle into her privy parts, and so slit up her Belly, after which they dragg'd her about, and at last cut off her Head; other Women had their Breasts, Noses, Privities and Hands cut off, and so left miserably to perish; Another they stab'd in the Soles of his Feet, then cut off his Privities and Fry'd them, giving them their comrades to eat as a delicate dish, then they seared his Wounds, with flaming Candles, cut off his Ears, and to…e off his Nails with burning Pincers, to make him renounce his Religion. and then ti'd one of his Legs to a Mule, (being yet alive) and drag'd him about the Streets, and after all this, they bound a Cord about his Head, and twisted it with a stick till his Eyes and Brains burst out, and then cast his Body into a River; An Old Woman had her Hands and Nose cut off, and so was left alive, some had their Bodies cut all into pieces, and their limbs strowed in the high-ways, some had their flesh sliced from their Bones, & chop't like minced meat; little Infants were thrown down steep Rocks, whereby they were dash'd to pieces Some Children they tore limb from limb before their Parents faces, others they flead off their Skins alive, in another place they took eleven Protestants, and heating a Furnace they forc'… them to throw one another into it, till it came to the last, and him they threw in; If these are not signs of one drunk with Blood, I know not what is. But time would fail me to tell you of all the cruel deaths, and sufferings of this poor people, for that it contains a great volume.
In Bohemia, Poland, and Lithuania, the sufferings of the Lords Witnesses were as great, and their cruel usages as Bloody; besides, in one or two of those places they began very early, about 977. where my Author says Godly Ministers, and other Pious, Holy, and Godly People suffered such Barbarities, and Inhumanities from this Harlot, that the Ears of a Christian cannot hear, nor his Tongue relate them, without the greatest abhorrency and indignation; Some of them were Stoned to death, others hanged upon a Beam, with a soft fire made under them were Roasted to Death as well as Hanged, they Hanged one Minister up by the Privy Members being seventy years old, and burn'd his Books under him; Another they laid on his back, ramming his mouth full of Gunpowder, set Fire to it and so blew his Head all to pieces.
At a Town called Meldorp a Godly Minister was forc't out of his Bed, and to go some Miles on Foot in Frost and Snow, upon the Ice bare-footed and bare-legged, beating, cutting, and slashing him, and pricking him with their Halberts, andat last they cruelly roasted him to death; They yoak'd some Ladies and Gentlewomen together like Beasts, and forc't them into Woods, where they were ravished and abused, and then had their Hair and Ears cut off and disfigured, they forc'… some poor Christians to eat their own Excrements, and if any refused so to do, they thr… them down their Throats, till they were choaked, they cram'd the secret parts of several Women with Gun powder, and setting fire to it most barbarously tore their Bellies and Wombs thereby; Others they hung up by the privy parts; some they plained the faces off with Chisels; others they made … put on Boots filled with scalding Oil, and then roasted their legs over a fire; Some men the… Gelt in the presents of their Wives and Children; Some had Gags put into their Mouth and then put stinking Water and Piss down their Throats through a Tunnel, till the… Bellies swelled like a Tun, whereby they perished in a miserable manner; They sawe off the Legs of some alive; a Godly Minister they bound upon a Table, and placing a C… so that she scratcht his Guts out of his Belly with her Teeth and Claws, till he miserable died. In Lithuania 1643. this Whore thirsting still for more Protestant Blood, great slaughter was made without regard to Aged Sex; here many had their Skins flead of whilst they were alive; Others had their Hands and Feet cut off; The Bowels of divers were also taken out alive; Others having their Shin-Bones bored through, they poured melted Lead into the wounds of others, whom they had cut in the Head, and other parts of their Bodys; Some had their Eyes pulled out, and multitudes were hanged in divers places, nay, and the poor Protestants accounted it a mercy and great favour, to be killed outright without any other torment.
Should we come into France, and give an account of the horrid cruelties of this great Whore there, it would, if possible, exceed what you have heard, the Blood of ten thousand this cursed Strumpet has drunk off, (as it were at one draught) there, and not a jot more satisfied than she was before; here they roasted young Children, ravishing Women and Maidens in such a shameless manner, and barbarously killing them afterwards, that 'tis not fit to be spoken.
A black smith had his Head laid on his own Anvil, and then his Brains beat out with Hammers, also a young Woman was forc't (after they had ravished her) to take hold of a Rapier, wherewith one of the Villains thrusting her Arm, made her kill her own dear husband, some Women with child were rip'd up, and divers buried alive. I migh come to the siege of Rochel, and tell you what misery some thousands suffered by famine; some hundred thousands of poor Protestants, have been barbarously murthered by her means in France, and tho of late she hath not put many to death, yet they have exercised all manner of new invented ways to destroy their Souls, and the Souls of their Children too. I might also speak of the Spanish Inquisition and of the hellish torments thereof, as also of the crueltys of this Whore, exercised on the poor Heathen in America by the Spaniards, where they destroyed more than 20 millions of Souls, as appears by History besides, they put them to all manner of cruel deaths they could devise, but I am weary of relating these dismal stories; besides, they are generally well known, together with the Massacre in Ireland where no less than the Blood of two hundred thousand persons could satisfie the Blood of this craving Locust, and sh'd in as barbarou… a manner as you have heard in other places. … might also mention the Bloody Persecutio… here in England in the reign of Queen Mary… wherein many holy and gracious Prelates an… People were burned to Ashes, for witnessing to the Truths of Jesus Christ; all which fully shews, that this second mark of drunkenness▪ drunk with Blood of the Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus, meets in the Church of Rome.
Thirdly, She has the other mark of drunkenness upon her also, i. e. she matters not who she abuses, and exercises her cruelties upon; she has sometimes cut off her own dear Children, viz. Roman Catholicks, amongst such she calls Hereticks, as it happened at Bezier, and other places, crying out, Kill all both Catholicks and Hereticks, saying, the Lord knows who are his; nay, she has made the Wife to kill her Husband, the Husband to murther the Wife, Children to destroy their own dear Parents, and Parents their Children, …f these things do not shew she is drunk, drunk with Blood, what can? From whence … shall draw this argument and conclude.
Arg. If there be no body of people or community of Christians in the World, who have been guilty of so much Blood, Blood of Saints …nd good Men, even so as to be drunk with Blood, as the Church of Rome are; Then …he Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon. But there is no people or community of Christians, …hat are so guilty, &c. as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is. Ergo the Church of Rome … Mystery Babylon.
XIV. Mystery Babylon hath one mark more whereby she may be known, i. e. She … said to sit upon a Beast, that hath Seven Heads and Ten Horns, the Seven Heads …em to signify (as the Angel opens it) seven sorts of soveraign governments as well as hills▪ read the Text, And here is the mind that hat… wisdom, the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth; And there ar… seven Kings, five are fallen, one is and one … not yet come, but when he is come, he ma… continue a short space; And the Beast that w… and is not, even he is the eighth and of the seve… and goeth into perdition. Rev. 17. 9, 10, 11▪ Besides all that we have said, it we find n… Papal Rome here viz. having this characte… upon her, we will acquit her for ever, for t… city that is built upon seven Hills is Rome nay, you will find that all Authors do general assert that Rome is the only City in the Wor… that is founded on seven Hills, and fame for it by its old Poets (as it is noted by … late Annotators) as Ovid, Virgil, Hora… Propertius; The names of these Hills a… known, viz. Palatinus, Quirinalis, Ave… nus, Celius, Veminalis, Esquilinus, Capit… nus; But the seven Heads do not only (as … said before) signify seven Hills or Mountai… but also seven Kings, that is, seven sorts governments, which ruled or were to rule that City where the Beast reigned, that ca… ried this cursed Harlot (the term Kings, Scripture signifying rulers, whether the government was in a single person, or more, … Deut. 33. 5.) Now that Rome hath had Sev… sorts of distinct soveraign governments in her, is so notoriously known that the Romanists can't deny it. …. Kings (Romulus being the first King,) II. Consuls, III. Tribunes, IV. Decemvirs, V. Dictators, VI. Emperors that were Pagans. VII. Emperors that were Christians, five of these were fallen or gone off the stage before St. John received his Revelations, the Government of the Pagan Emperors was in being at that very time the seventh was to appear and to continue but a short spaco, viz. the Christian Emperors government; For it cannot be the Papal power for that was not up in St. Johns time so not the sixth Head. And as the Papal power for that reason, could not be the sixth Head, so for a very good reason it could not be the 7th Government, because whensoever that appeared it was to continue but a short space; which cannot intend the Papal power, but answereth to the Christian Empire, for that government did continue but a little while comparatively, but 'tis evident the Papal power has continued longer, than any of the other sove…ignties▪ ▪that wont before: and if the Papal power be not the sixth Head nor the seventh, then it must needs be the eighth, which is of the seventh and …oes into perdition, …fe it can't be any power at all of the fourth … Roman Monarchy; But a power it is, yea, and a great power too of the fourth or Roman Monarchy; And that which carrys the Whore, according to the express letter of the Text, and so acknowledged by the best of exposition, so that in the whole by the Woman, City, or Whore, that sitteth upon the seven Mountains, and where there hath been seven several sorts or forms of Government is meant Rome, there is no cause to doubt, for the great Sons of Rome themselves, as Baronius, Bellarmine, and many others do confess the same, but would defend their Mother from being Mystery Babylon, by putting it off to Romepagan, which we have clearly detected in the first chapter of this treatise; And therefore do affirm that Rome Papal is neither the sixth no… seventh sort of government, but is the eighth and of the seventh. The Christian Emperon in an overheated zeal and bounty to the Roman Bishops, giving him the advantage by getting that power which through policy and pride he attained to in the end, & so he comes to be the last Beast or eighth Government, in which there is a secular and an Ecclesiastical power, joined together which makes up … Beast, a blasphemous Beast (who hath two Horns like a Lamb, which is this twofold power but a mouth like a Dragon) and a Whore, a most devilish drunken and bloody Whore. &c.
Arg. If Rome Papal or Church of Rome, be born up by a secular power which hath had seven soveraign governments in a City, seated upon seven Hills or Mountains, then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon the great Whore.
But Rome Papal or Church of Rome, is born up by a secular power, which hath had seven soveraign governments in a City, seated upon seven Hills or Mountains.
Ergo, Rome Papal, &c. is Mystery Babylon.
XV. There is yet one mark or character more of Mystery Babylon; i. e. she is said to be that City that reigned over the Kings of the Earth; and the Woman that thou sawest is that City that reigns over the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 17, 18.
Now that Rome is such a City that since St. Johns time hath for several hundred of years, reigned over the Kings of the Earth is so evident none can deny, nay, and that Rome Papal hath governed a great part of Italy, her self owneth, ever since Constantine who gave it (as she saith) as a Patrimony to St. Peter, and that she hath governed or hath had her Kingdom over Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Portugal, England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. is clear so that their Kings have been governed by her, whom she would they killed, and whom she would they saved alive, whom she willed they worshiped, and so became guilty of drinking the Wine of her fornication; whom she willed they set up, and whom she willed they pulled down, when she willed they raised Arms, and when she willed they laid them down again; what shall we say? The Church of Rome hath had such power over the Kingdoms of Europe, th… the power and wills of Princes have been controuled and over-ruled, when in any considerable case, they have gone contrary to the sense and interest of the Church, and to such a degree, as they have sometimes made th… do penance, resign up their Crowns, and receive them again as an act of kindness, that he set them upon their Heads with his Foote such is the Pride and Grandeur of St. Peter Chair. See our first Chapter.
If the Church of Rome is that People, Woman or Church, that above all others in the World, hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth, then Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon.
But the Church of Rome is that People, Woman or Church, that reigns and hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth.
Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome Mystery Babylon.