Antichrist Stormed, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Proving that literal Babylon in Chaldea, was a Type or Figure of Rome Papal or the present Church of Rome, and that in many particulars.
WE having shewed and clearly evinced by an induction of fifteen particulars, that Rome Papal is Mystery Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth, she having all the marks or characters directly meeting in her, that are by the holy Ghost given of that great Whore; we shall in the next place briefly consider, how the acts and progress of the Romish Church, do most fitly and fully comport with other Types, and Prophecies of her in the holy Scripture, and first with literal or Chaldean Babylon, from whence I find most writers conclude, she had the name Babylon, given to her, in respect of the growth, acts and deeds of that old Babylonian Monarchy, which we shall now open and run the parallel in divers particulars as followeth.
I. Literal Babylon had a great Head or King ever her, called a Head of Gold, also Lucifer or Son of the morning.
So likewise Rome Papal hath a great Head or King over her, called the Universal Bishop, whose power is magnified above the powers of Emperors, and all Kings and Princes of the Earth.
II. Literal Babylon had dominion over many Countreys or Provinces.
In like manner Rome Papal hath had dominion over many Countries or Kingdoms, no less than the Territories or Jurisdictions of ten considerable Kingdoms, called ten Horns, (… we have shewed.)
III. Chaldean or Literal Babylon, fell under a four-fold circumstance, in respect of her Supream Head, viz. Nebuchadnezzar. (1.) That he was, when in great Pride he insultingly said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majesty. (2.) He was not, when by the Watchers, and the Holy Ones he was toss'd from his Throne, and made to eat Grass with Oxen till seven times past over him. (3.) Yet he was, When his Reason, and the Hearts of his Nobles, and Glory returned to him again. (4.) He went off finally, when God brought the Medes and Persians against his Successor, into whose hands the Kingdom was translated.
Rome, or Mystery Babylon, is foretold by the Angel to fall under a four-fold circumstance also, in respect of the Beast that is said to carry the Whore, and make War with the Saints; and the Beast which thou sawest was, is not, and yet is, and shall go into perdition, Rev. 17. 8. (1.) He was of old in his Pagan state, triumphing in great glory and grandeur, but received a wound, yea a deadly wound in one of his Heads, viz. in his sixth Head (which was the Pagan power) in Constantine's time, and so he was not. The Christian Emperors having the Government of the Roman Monarch; and to the same purpose speak our late Annotators on the 13 chap. of Rev. v. 3. and chap. 17. 8. It must, saith he, be the sixth Head, viz. the Pagan Emperors who had that mortal wound, and that wound was the Conquering the Pagan Emperors, and the abolishing of Paganism and Idolatry, and putting an end or stop to Persecution, which was done by the seventh Government, viz. the Christian Emperors, He yet is, i. e. his wound was healed by the rising of the eighth Government which was of the seventh, who appeared in a new dress, viz. a beast with two horns like a lamb but spake like a dragon, which was the Antichristian power or Papal Rome, and more particularly the Pope; time (the best opener of these great Mysteries) has fully discovered these things to …. (4.) He shall go into perdition, i. e. be utterly destroyed by the bright appearance of the Lord Jesus, and be cast at last into the botomless Pit after the 42 Months are expired; so that in these four respects Chaldean Babylon, it appears, was a lively Type or Figure of Papal Rome, who from hence also shews her self to be Mystery Babylon.
IV. The Chaldean Kingdom or Literal Babylon Invaded Judea, Besieged and took Jerusalem, and trampled it under foot, &c. Even so in like manner the last Beast, the Pope and Papal power hath Invaded the City of the living God, or true Gospel Church, taking away all her sacred Rights, Laws and Priviledges, and not only Besieg'd her, closely Block'd her up, but trampled under foot the Holy City for a long space of time, Rev. 11. ….
V. Chaldean or Literal Babylon, was a mo… lofty, proud and imperious people called the Lady of Kingdoms, and the glory and beauty … Excellency, for which God doth severely threaten her, Isa. 13. 19. Behold I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith … Lord God of Hosts, &c. Isa. 50. 31.
So in like manner Rome who is Myster Babylon, notwithstanding her horrid crime and most amazing wickednesses, is a v… proud and imperious people, exceeding all … the Christian World, saying in her Heart, sit a Queen, am no Widow, shall see no sorrow; for which haughtiness and pride the Lord will suddenly remember her with Judgments and sore severity, he being now risen up to make Inquisition for Blood, and to avenge upon her the injury done to Sion, Rev. 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her.
VI. Chaldean or Literal Babylon set up Images, and had Idols of Silver and Gold, Wood and Stone, to which they bowed and worshipped, which were also representations of the Gods and Saints whom they adored, to wit, of Bel (which was Jupiter) and Nebo and Succoth berioth, and the like, and such who would not bow down to her Images, she threatned to cast into the Fire, into the burning fiery Furnace, Jer. 5. 30. Jer. 10. 3▪ - 9. Isa. 46. 1. Dan. 3. 6.
Rome in this shews her self to be her Antitype very plainly, for hath she not ordained to her self Temples, Images of Christ and the Virgin Mary, and other Saints, nay; and not only these but the Crucifix, but especially the great Idol of the Mass? so that whosoever will not own that most ridiculous Idolatry of a piece of Bread consecrated by the foul Mouth and unhallowed Hands of their cursed Priests, to be their God and Saviour, must be burned at a Stake, these Idols they tell us ought to have due honour given to them, because the honour which is given to them is referred to the Prototype whom they do represent, and these abominations she kisseth, as Idolaters of old were wont to kiss the Calves; lighteth Tapers before them as the Literal Babyloniam did Candles before their Images, &c.
VII. Literal Babylon or Chaldea were not only a people of great Pomp, Pride and Covetousness, but had also great Riches and Treasures. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is …ome, the end of thy Covetousness, Jer. 50. 37. 51. 13.
So in like manner Papal Rome is not only … people puft up with pride and vain-glory, but as 'tis said of Mystery Babylon she is very rich, being arrayed with Purple, Scarlet, Gold, Pearl and precious Stones. But she sits also upon many waters; to wit, People, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues. But is very covetous as well as proud, and full of treasures, for besides the gifts she boasts were first given to her in the time of Constantine the Great, she hath made a prey upon the Nations thro' her fearful covetousness, and not only a prey upon Nations and Kingdoms, but a spoil upon Saints and Holy Martyrs, and hath had the Gifts of Kings, and vast Revenues setled upon her Orders and Clergy; nay, and she has peeled the people by selling Pardons and Indulgences, and raising Peter-pence, besides vast sums for praying poor Souls out of the scorching flames of Purgatory; nay, so horrid covetous is she, that she is not willing any should go to Heaven without great Gifts of Money to Holy Church; besides, much Money comes in by tolerating Whores and Whoredoms, (which thing is notoriously known to be done in many Cities of the Popedom) by which slights she is grown-so exceeding rich and full of treasure, that she can afford a Golden Cup to present her intoxicating Wine in, to be cloth'd (as we said before) with Scarlet, deck'd with Gold, Pearl and precious Stones; yea, she maketh the Merchants of the Earth rich who Trade with her, she doth indeed as fully answer to the Type in this, as Lam. 1. 10. stretching forth her hand upon all the pleasant things of those Countries and Kingdoms where she hath sate as a Queen.
VIII. Literal Babylon made the worst of men among the Nations and Provinces, chief Officers and Rulers, those that were rais'd to Preferment were Enemies to Gods people, and to his ways of worship—Her Adversaries prosper (that is, the Adversaries of Sion) and are the chief, &c.
This Character hath Rome Papal upon her, for she hath all along made base and vil… men Rulers and Chief among the people, not suffering any men to bear Office in Kingdom, Cities or Corporations, but such vile timeserving Persons that would Sacrifice all Justice▪ Right and Honesty to her cursed Will and unsatisfied Lust, no nor indeed have so much as a Vote, to chuse Persons to bear Rule i… Government, nor comfortably to buy nor …ell unless they would relinquish all Goodness and Religion, and receive the Mark of the Beast in their Foreheads or right Hands, viz. publickly to profess, or privately subscribe to …ud Injunctions and Commands of the Beast, the against their Consciences, and inconsiste… with their Religion. Who can be Cardina… unless they do own the Pope? Who can b… Kings without being in danger of being deposed or poysoned that subscribe not to the S… of Rome? Who can sit safe as Governo… over Cities, &c. where she sits as Queen Regent, without truckling under that Yoak o… Subjection which she puts on the Necks of all her Vassals; nay, Pope Martin the Fifth i… his Bull added to the Council of Constance (… Pareus tells us) Prohibits all Roman Catholicks to suffer any Hereticks to have any dwellings in their Countries, or to make any Bargains, or use any Trades, or to perform to them any Civil Offices, which makes good th… word, Rev. 13. 16, 17.
IX. Chaldea or Literal Babylon made the ways of Sion to mourn, hindred men to come to her Solemn Assemblies, made her Ministers to sigh, defiled the godly Women, and ravished the Virgins in the Streets of Jerusalem, and burned down the Houses and Dwellingplaces of Gods people, starving and famishing of them, and miserably destroyed them by several cruel deaths, hanging their Princes by the Hands, and caused the Faces of their Elders not to be honoured, &c.
Rome Papal, or the Romish Church, in all these things hath exceedingly out-done Literal Babylon, that so she might make it appear she is her direct Antitype, and that they were but her Fore-runners in these respects, for this Mystical Babylon hath with a witness made the ways of Sion to mourn for these twelve hundred years, hindring all she could in every Kingdom from coming to their Solemn Assemblies, driving them into corners, frightning and dispersing their Auditors by Fines, Imprisonments, Banishments, and other cruel Usages; pulling down their Churches and publick Meeting-places, causing her faithful Ministers to sigh, and Pastors to mourn, because they might not Preach to their poor afflicted Flocks, and the people grieve, because they could not hear the pleasant voice of their Pastors by reason of violence, &c. She hath also been guilty of that most horrid cruelty of forcing both Ministers and people from their dwellings, labouring to starve or famish both their Bodies and Souls too, and not contented to burn their Bodies to ashes, but has ofttimes burn'd their Houses, Towns and Cities, as Germany hath wofully experienced, and England also, witness the burning of the famous City of London, Southwark, and its adjacent places; who knows how many Fires she hath kindled in the space of twenty eight years last past in this Island? And then for ravishing godly women and chast Virgins in a beastly manner, she hath imitated old Babylon, nay, far exceeded her, that she might shew to all she was her Antitype in these villanies. They have ravished Women before their Husbands Faces, Maidens before their Parents Faces, as you have heard, openly in the Streets in the sight of the Sun, and then imbruing their barbarous Hands in their Blood, as divers Histories do declare.
X. There is one thing more in Chaldean Babylon in respect of her ruin, which I think not amiss here to add, viz. We find God by the Prophet speaks of her sudden destruction, Jer. 51. 8. Babylon is suddenly fallen, and that also she shall be destroyed by an Army out of the North Countreys, For lo I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an Assembly of great Nations from the North Countrey, and they shall set themselves in array against her, from thence she shall be taken, &c. Jer. 50. 9. From hence we may conclude as some, to judge that those people who shall be the Instruments in the Hand of God to destroy Mystery Babylon shall be the people in these Northern Countreys, as Brandenburgh, Sweedland, Denmark, the United Provinces; together with England, Scotland and Ireland; and it may be hoped the people of these Nations and Kingdoms, (some of which were always accounted as Horns of the Beasts) do already begin to hate her, and are preparing War against her, and that from hence her ruin shall suddenly come; and it may be a just and righteous thing with God thus to order the matter, since she hath such an Implacable hatred of these Northern parts, because of that which she calls the Northern Heresie, and hath of late without all doubt, designed and secretly resolved utterly to destroy these Protestant Countries, and to make these Kingdoms and States desolate, but God hath, and will put it into their Hearts to agree and fulfil his will, i. e. Hate the Where, and make her desolate, eat her Flesh, and burn her with Fire, Rev. 17. 16. and so avenge the righ…eous Blood she has publickly and secretly poured out like water; nay, I am very confident a very short time will make this thing to appear, and it shall as fully be made good in the Antitype as it was in Type, concerning the Medes, &c. Nor shall they do it alone, I mean the common people of these Countreys, with their heads and renowned Heroes, but Gods choice and beloved ones in these Nations shall joyn in with them, and so fulfil also what is said in Jer. 51. 20, 21. Rev. 18. Thou art my Battle Ax, with thee will I break in pieces the Nations, and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms, &c. Come out of her my people, reward her as she hath rewarded you, double upon her, &c.
XI. Chaldea or Literal Babylon, carried away into captivity Judea, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, or the Church and People of God, and there held them for the space of seventy years, a prefixt time by the Almighty, and when that set time was come to an end, the Lord brought them back, and caused Cyrus to make Proclamation f… the rebuilding the Temple and Holy City Ezra 1. 1. 2. So likewise hath Papal Rom… captivated the true Israel and holy people … God, and held them also under sore oppress… on and persecution, for the space of 126… years, a set time also prefixt by the Lord, a… when that time is expired, (to which Peri… 'tis hoped we are arrived) the Israel of G… shall be delivered, and our captivity shall be returned, but as they gradually returned out of the Literal captivity, so shall the Lords people out of their Spiritual captivity; and as it was said of them, When God brought back at first the captivity of Sion, they were as those who dreamed, Psal. 126. 1. So likewise are we at this very time, under this most amazing providence of God, who hath begun to deliver us from the cursed yoak of Mystery Babylon; and now also you shall see, I doubt not, Liberty proclaimed (as it were) for the rebuilding of the holy Temple the second time, the work having been obstructed by those Sa…ballts and Tobiahs of our times, and the work shall go on in the hands of our renowned Zerubbabel, and that not so much by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, Zech. 4. 6, 7. and the great Mountain on the other side of the Flood shall become a plain.
XII. Literal Babylon or the Chaldean Monarchy, was brought down not only suddenly, but with great vengeance which they could not avoid by all their craft, subtilty, nor strength, and also in such an hour as they little thought of, when Belshazzar was feasting with his Concubines, and drinking Wine in Bowls and Vessels, taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem, Dan. 3. 1, 2, 3. praising the Gods of Gold and Silver, of Brass, Iron, Wood and of Stone, doubtless they thought themselves very safe, and little dreamed of their sudden overthrow, till the han… writing came out of the Wall,—The sa… night w… Belshazzar the King and the Chaldeans slain, and Darius the Median took t… Kingdom, &c. Dan. 3. 31.
So in like manner shall Rome or Mystery Babylon, not only suddenly in one hour com… down, but with great vengeance, which s… shall not be able to avoid, nor put off with … her craft, subtilty nor strength, but as a mil▪stone is cast into the Sea, so with violence sh… the great City Babylon be thrown down, a… shall be found no more at all, Rev. 18. 2… and that too when she thinks her self safe an… secure, and seems to fear no danger, but sai… in her Heart, I sit a Queen, shall see no so…ro… nor know loss of Children, nor Widdow-hood … more. And somewhat like this sudden fall, can't but think we have seen of late, (in … ▪pect of Babylons fall) in England,▪ the te… part of that great City, and as suddenly … may hope it will come upon her in ot… places in due time.