Mystical Babylon Availed, Part 1 – Part 2
A Call to all the People of God to come out of Babylon.
REvel. 18.4. And I heard another voice from Heaven, ſaying, Come out of HER my People, That ye be not Partakers of her Sins, And that ye receive not of her Plagues. This Call is the Call of God our Saviour unto all his People in Myſtical-Babylon (Papal-Rome) to come out of HER. Come out of her my People: which Call of Chriſt was given by an audible voice, And I heard another voice from Heaven ſaying, &c. And this Call from Heaven is urged and enforced upon the People of God by two Cogent Arguments or Reaſons, 1. That ye be not partakers of HER Sins: 2. That ye receive not of her Plagues.
Two things in this Call need Explanation, 1. What this voice was? 2. What it is to come out of HER? To both theſe I ſhall ſpeak briefly, and then proceed to ſpeak more largely of this Call.
Firſt, This voice hath Heaven's Authority, It was from Heaven, to wit, the voice of Chriſt in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel ordinarily, and by the powerful Efficacy of the holy Spirit alſo, 1 Theſ. 1.5. For our Goſpel came not unto you in Word only, but alſo in Power, and in the holy Spirit, and in much aſſurance. So had the voice of the Angels of God by whom Chriſt then Spake unto his Servant John, Rev. 14.6.—13. with a loud voice, ver. 7. which St. John heard from Heaven, ver. 13. And ſo have the voice of the faithful Miniſters of God, by whom Chriſt alſo now ſpeaks unto his People, Luke 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me, &c. to wit, Heavens Authority.
Secondly, To come out of HER, is to Seperate themſelves from the Church of Rome, which is now become a falſe Church, called the great Whore, and Mother of Harlots. 2 Cor. 6.14.—18. ver. 17. Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye Seperate, ſaith the Lord. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt would have his People to be Seperated under the Goſpel from the unbelieving Jews, and their falſe worſhip (which Chriſt calleth vain worſhip, Matth. 15.8.9.) And St. Paul did Seperate the Diſciples from the Jewiſh Synagogue of unbelievers, Acts 19.8, 9. And alſo from Idolatrous Gentiles, that worſhip Images, (as the Church of Rome doth) and from their Idol-Temples, Churches, and Chappels, For the Gentile Papiſts, and Church of Rome, their Pope, Cardinals, Jeſuits, and all the Roman-Prieſts do tread under foot the holy City, Rev. 11.2. Jeruſalem, viz. the Church and People of God, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, Levit. 20.24.26. and 26.12. I will dwell among them, and walk among them, And I will be their God, and they ſhall be my People: wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye ſeperated ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean Thing, &c. The Papiſts Images, Croſſes, Crucifixes; their Conſecrated Wafers, holy Waters, and Saints Pictures, the Image of the Virgin-Mary, and of our Saviour upon the Croſs, unto which Images the Papiſh Prieſts and people fall down and worſhip; yea their Ave Maria, and prayers to Saints deceaſed, all their holy Bells, Beads, Prayer-Books, and Candles, &c. are all as an unclean thing, and ought to be ſeperated from, and not touched by the People of God, whom Chriſt calls upon with a loud voice to come out from among them.
Theſe two particulars explained the Argument which Chriſt urgeth to inforce this his Call unto his People followeth, That ye be not Partakers of HER Sins, and that ye receive not of HER Plagues. As if Chriſt had ſaid, I do by the voice of my faithful Miniſters Call and Command you my People to Come out of Myſtical-Babylon (Papal-Rome) and to Separate your ſelves from the Church of Rome, which is fallen, is fallen from her Apoſtolical Purity in Doctrine, Worſhip, and Diſcipline or Eccleſiaſtical Government, and is become an Harlot, a falſe Church, the great Whore, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, The Synagogue of Satan, the Habitation of Devils, the Hold of every foul Spirit, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. But if you my People (as if Chriſt had ſaid) will not obey my voice, nor hear my Call, If you will not come out from the Church of Rome, and ſeperate your ſelves from the Papiſts, and leave going to and worſhiping in their Popiſh Temples, Churches, Chappels, and private Cloyſters, Nunneries, Priories, Religious Houſes, Meeting-places, and holy Roods of Auricular Confeſſion, &c. then in the firſt Place you will be Partakers of their Sins, that is, you will become guilty of their Will-worſhip, and ſpiritual Fornication, Rev. 17.2. of their Idolatries, Adulteries, Thefts, Murders, &c. Rev. 9.20, 21. And of their Impenitency added unto their Iniquities. And in the next Place you ſhall receive of her Plagues, Death and Mourning and Famine, &c. Rev. 18.8. And theſe ſhall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without Mixture into the Cup of his Indignation, Rev. 14.9, 10, 11, 12.
The Motives and Incouragements I ſhall propound to the People of God to Come out of Myſtical-Babylon, and to Seperate from the Church of Rome are theſe, 1. You cannot come to Sion, until you come out of Babylon, Iſa. 35.10. And the Ranſomed of the Lord ſhall return and come to Zion with Songs, and everlaſting joy upon their heads. 2. You cannot worſhip God in Spirit and Truth, unleſs you firſt ſeperate your ſelves from falſe Worſhip and Worſhipers, John 4.22, 23, 24. Ye worſhip ye know not what,—The true worſhipers ſhall worſhip the Father in Spirit and Truth. 3. You cannot enjoy Communion with God, whilſt you hold a Communion with Idols, and Image-worſhipers 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17. What Communion hath Light with Darkneſs? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye Seperate, ſaith the Lord.
Conſider whilſt you continue in Babylon, (the Church of Rome) you are under the Guidance of the Pope and Roman-Prieſts, who are ſo far from being infallible Guides, (as they pretend) that they are erroneous, falſe, and blind Leaders of the blind into Perdition; The Roman-Prieſts are thoſe falſe Teachers, Seducers, Deceivers; which were foretold by the Apoſtles of Chriſt, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2. and 2 John 7. and 2 Tim. 3.13. and 1 Tim. 4.1. and 1 John 2.26. Theſe things have I written unto you concerning them that Seduce you. Therefore look to your ſelves, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 John 8. verſ. Beloved (ſaith he) (a)1 Epiſt. of Joh. 4.1, 2. &c.Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they be of God, for many falſe Prophets are gone out into the World. You may do well to Conſider alſo, what Diverſities, and Diviſions in Principles, Opinions, and Practices in Religion there are at this Time, in the World, eſpecially among Teachers, falſe Teachers, who privately bring in Damnable Hereſies: And many follow their pernicious ways, 2 Pet. 2.1.23. By Reaſon of whom the WAY of TRƲTH is evil ſpoken of. Now God hath in great Mercy unto the Souls of his People out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace, and marvelous loving Kindneſs towards them, (That they might not be led away with the Errors of the Wicked), appointed them a threefold Guide, which God hath plainly declared in the holy Scripture of Truth to direct, lead and guide his People in the WAY of TRUTH until they come to Heaven: namely, 1. His holy Spirit, 2. His written Word, and 3. his faithful Miniſters.
Firſt, God hath given his holy Spirit unto his People, Gal. 4.6. To lead them, Rom. 8.14. and guide them into all the Truth, John 16.13. and to Teach them all things, John 14.26. and 1 John 2.20, 27. And leaſt his People ſhould be deceived, deluded, or ſeduced by Satan's tranſforming himſelf into an Angel of Light, or by falſe Apoſtles, deceitful workers, (who are his Miniſters) tranſforming themſelves into the Miniſters of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.13, 14, 15. God hath Secondly given his People a Sure Word, (his written Word to Guide them, Pſalm 43.3) 2 Pet. 1.14. Unto which, they do well, if they take heed, as unto a Light, that ſhineth in a dark place, &c. And thus God Councelled and Cautioned his People of old by his Prophet, Iſa. 8.20. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony; If they ſpeak not according to that Word, it is, becauſe there is no Light in them. And the Apoſtle teſtifies, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. That all Scripture is given by Inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, and for Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, &c. And thirdly, God hath alſo given his people able Miniſters of the New-Teſtament, not of the letter only, but of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. and Epheſ. 4.11, 12, 13. And he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, for the work of the Miniſtry, &c.Heb. 13, 7, 17. foreign &c. And God Set them in his Church, 1 Cor. 12.4, 28. to be Guides unto his people, (b) Heb. 13.7, 17. Remember your Guides, ver. 7. Obey your Guides, ver. 17. And ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your Souls, as they that muſt give account. Will any godly wiſe Man or Woman judge in themſelves, that it is ſafe for them to forſake and refuſe this threefold Sure Guide of the Spirit, Word, and Miniſtery of Chriſt,Math. 24.4, 5, 11.23, 24, 25.21. Act. 20.29, 30. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.2, 3. 1 Joh. 4.1, 2, 3. which God hath ordained, and to give up the conduct of their Souls unto the Church of Rome, to be guided by her Laws, Canons, Councels, Popes, Cardinals, Jeſuites, and the reſt of the Roman-Clergy, who are blind Guides, and Anti-Chriſtian Miniſters: and ſo to hazard their own eternal Salvation? which falſe Teachers, and their falſe and damnable Errours, Doctrines, and Practices our bleſſed Saviour and his holy Apoſtles have forewarned us of in the Scripture of Truth.
2. A Call to the Kings of the Earth to hate the Whore, to make her Deſolate, and to burn her with Fire.
MY Warrant to give this Call to the Kings of the Earth is that Prophecy, Rev. 17.16. And the ten Horns, which thou ſaweſt upon the BEAST, theſe ſhall hate the Whore, and ſhall make her deſolate, and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh, and ſhall burn her with Fire. The ten Horns are thoſe ten Kings, which had formerly agreed, and given their Kingdom, Power, and Strength unto the Beaſt, Rev. 17.12, 13, 17. until the Words of God ſhall be fulfilled. Theſe ten horns are the Europaean Kings of Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England, &c. who have formerly ſubmitted themſelves and their Kingdoms unto the BEAST (the Popes of Rome) and to the Church of Rome (that great Whore and Mother of Harlots) As was here fore-Propheſyed, and as all Hiſtorians have teſtified. But it is the Revealed Will of God recorded in the Scripture of Truth, That the ten Horns ſhall hate the Whore, &c. And upon this Scripture Ground I take this humble boldneſs to give this CALL unto the Kings of the Europaean World to hate the Whore, &c. And the Reaſons, which I ſhall humbly Propoſe to them are theſe, viz. 1. Becauſe it is the Revealed Will of God that they ſhould ſo do (in this very Scripture, Rev. 17.16,) and They ſhall do ſo. 2. Becauſe, the great Whore (the Church of Rome) hath given her golden Cup, full of Abomination and filthineſs of her Fornication, into the Hands of the Kings of the Earth, and cauſed them to drink, and they and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of HER Fornication, Rev. 17.1.2, 4. 3. Becauſe SHE (the Church of Rome) hath Raigned over the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 17.18. Depoſing Emperours, and Kings; putting down one, and ſetting up another, at the Pope's Pleaſure (who is HER Head, Lord, and Law-giver) as hath been proved, pag. 3.10, 11. of this Treatiſe: and appears(a)Century 8. Pope Zachary depoſed Childerick King of France. Gregory the 7th, depoſed Henry the fourth, Cent. 11. Pope Sylveſter the third Excommunicated Henry the fifth, Cent. 12. Pope Innocent the 4th, depoſed the Emperour Frederick 2d. Century, 13. Pope Gregory the 2d, depoſed the Emperour Leo Iſaurus, becauſe he was againſt Images. Baron Annal, ad annum 730. Num. 5. and ad annum 593 Num. 86. and Tom. 8. ad An. Chriſti, 593. Num. 86. Non modo deponi, ſed etiam excommunicari, & in aeterno examine damnari Decrevit. Damnatio & Excommunicatio Hen. 8. by Pope Paul the 3d. & Elizabethae. by Pope Pius the 5th. The Title fixed to the Pope's Bulls. 4. Becauſe SHE hath ſhed the blood of the Prophets, Saints, and Martyrs of Jeſus, Rev. 16, 6, 7. and 17.6. and 18.24. Therefore Reward her even as ſhe Rewarded you; and double to her double, according to her Work, Rev. 18.1, 2, 3, 5 6, 7, 8, 20, 21-24. And of all the Nations in Europe, no Kings, or Kingdoms have more juſt Cauſe to hate, and to be Avenged on Myſterie, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, that great WHORE, the Church of Rome, and her Head the Pope, that BEAST, and the Roman-Prieſts, the falſe Prophet, than this our Nation, King, and Kingdom; If his Royal Majeſtie, and his great Council Aſſembled in Parliament ſeriouſly conſider all the Papiſts former Plots and Conſpiracies againſt the Kings and Kingnom of England; but moſt eſpecially this late bloody traiterous deſign of Popiſh Recuſants, even this damnable and Helliſh Plot (b)The Votes of the Houſe of Commons approved by the Lords in a Conference, Novemb. 1. 1678.contrived and ſtill carrying on by them to Aſſaſſinate the King, to ſubvert the Government, and to Root out the Proteſtant Religion, and all the Proteſtants in England.
All which I moſt humbly ſubmit to the Wiſdom of the King's Majeſtie and his great Council when Aſſembled in Parliament, for whom I daily pray.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hanserd Knollys, Mystical Babylon Availed (1679)