The Retired Mans Meditations, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Shewing in particular, the workings of the myſtery of iniquity, in the conſciences of the children of the firſt Covenant, to the ripening of them unto perdition and final falling away from God.
NExt unto thoſe we have deſcribed in the Chapter foregoing, the Devil hath another ſort of ſubjects, as we have already ſhewed, that eſcape this firſt ſnare and danger of being drawne aſide and ſeduced unto prophane and unrighteous luſtings and operations: ſuch, who in that reſpect may have beene found exerciſers of good conſcience, and to have walked therein with Paul, having proceeded from under the firſt diſpenſation, into the Rule and Dominion of the Law, as owning themſelves in a profeſſed ſubjection and conformity thereunto; that is, to what is righteous, holy, ſpiritual and good in its nature and kind, not only as it is within themſelves but as they are made righteous in another, terminating in the very knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt himſelf according to the fleſh, by meanes whereof they come to eſcape the pollutions of the world, and to be purged from their old ſins; but are ſtill in a wavering, unſtable ſtate, ſo as to be capable of turning aſide from the holy Commandment delivered unto them, and to have a latter end worſe then their beginning, as by wilfull ſinning after their receiving in this manner, the knowledge of the truth, they come to loſe the benefit they once had of the ſacrifice and blood of Chriſt as the atonement and propitiation for their ſins, through Gods forbearance towards them.
Theſe do not, as the former, deteine the truth in unrighteouſneſſe, or in oppoſition to righteous and holy operations, but rather, quite contrary, deteine the ſpirit of falſhood and deceit in and under all their righteous and holy actings, making a faire ſhew in the fleſh a long time, to the deceiving both of themſelves and others, whilſt as the Temple of God, they ſuffer a falſe ſpirit to inhabit them in the roome of Chriſt and of God, ſhewing himſelf to be God, or perſonating the likeneſſe and ſimilitude of God, in and under which he oppoſes and exalts himſelf above all that is called God.
In theſe, iniquity works not plainly and down-right as in the others, but mysterouſly, as lying under all manner of formes of godlineſſe whatſoever, from the moſt ſenſual and bodily to the moſt ſpiritual and Angelical, diſcovering no oppoſition at firſt nor for a long time againſt godlineſle, as it ſhines forth in the dreſſe of formes, worldly rites and inſtitutions that are legal or evangelical as to the letter of them; and as it appears in the loweſt or higheſt figures and ſimilitudes of God that can be given by the tongue of men or Angels. But they have a root of gall and bitterneſſe in and under all this, ſpringing up againſt godlineſſe in the power of it, and as in its perfection of beauty it begins to dawne and approach in the firſt fruits that the Saints enjoy by the Spirit of adoption, which is to ſhine forth more brightly and fully at Chriſts ſecond coming.
The coming of Satan into theſe, is after he hath beene once caſt out of them, as a ſpirit of groſſe and open uncleanneſſe, Mat. 12. 43, &c. by the power of Chriſts firſt appearance, as the ſtronger then he; who when he is thus caſt out, walks about in dry places, ſeeking rest and finding none, ſeeking a place where he may be fixed and ſure to abide, which he findes none ſo prepared to be, as thoſe who have beene once in a large and high manner enlightned and cleanſed, after all which they may ſo fall away, that it may become impoſſible to renew them againe to repentance, being ſuch to whom there remaines no more ſacrifice for ſinne, but a certaine fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, to devoure them; into this houſe therefore whence he was caſt out, he thinks it his beſt way to return, and when he is returned into this his houſe againe, he finds it to be for his purpoſe, as that wherein he may reſt undiſcerned and unſuſpected, being empty, ſwept and garniſhed, and then he goeth and taketh ſeven other ſpirits more wicked then himſelfe, more fierce, cruel, and full of rage againſt the power of godlineſſe, and they enter in and dwell there as in their reſting place, out of which they ſhall never be driven or ejected more.
Of this number are all Hypocrites and Apoſtates, all that receive the grace of God in vaine, who though they have both faith and a good conſcience, yet not ſuch as will abide triall, or can be held by them without wavering, and therefore ſuch as at laſt will faile and come to ſhipwrack in a ſtorme, being but as the houſe built on the ſand. Theſe are they that begin well; Start at entrance into the race ſet before them, with the true Saint; running well a good while in the ſame; going together to the fleſhly Tabernacle of Chriſt or houſe of God as friends, as appears by that laſt plea of theirs, where they ſay, Lord, Lord, have not we eaten and drunk in thy preſence, propreſied in thy Name, and in thy Name caſt out Devils, and done many wonderful works? yet at laſt, they go forth from the true Saints, becauſe they were never of them, as to the divine birth and ſpiritual ſeed, having never beene made partakers of the divine nature, as the true heirs of God according to the promiſe are, in purſuance of the great and precious promiſes, declared in the New and everlaſting Covenant, to the cleanſing them from all filthineſſe of ſpirit as well as of the fleſh; which the other came ſhort of, having had only a cleanſing or waſhing away of the filth of the fleſh.
Nevertheleſſe through ſuch cleanſing only, and waſhing away of the filthineſſe of the fleſh, they gaine the appearance, viſibility and reputation of the right Saints, in the judgement of mans day, or of ſuch profeſſors, 2 Cor. 10 12. who meaſuring themſelves by themſelves, and comparing themſelves with themſelves, are not wiſe, but though Virgins, as cleanſed from the filth of the fleſh, yet prove at laſt but fooliſh Virgins, having oile in their lamps, but none in their veſſels; holding all the grace and receivings of light from Chriſt upon a fading tenure which will not endure nor hold out to the end, in time of greateſt need, even at the bridegroomes ſecond appearance; who are therefore diſtinguiſhed, in the ſeven Churches mentioned in the ſecond and third Chapters of the Revelation, from thoſe that overcome, as the true heirs do; who are therefore made pillars in the houſe of God, never to go forth more; whereas theſe that made up a conſiderable party in every one of thoſe ſeven Churches, were ſuch from whom the Candlestick might be removed, and whoſe names might be blotted out of that life they in the BEGINNING received.
Theſe therefore are Chriſts excommunicated ones, the branches that have beene once in the Vine, and have partaken with the good Olive-tree in its fatneſſe, but afterwards have proved to be ſuch branches as were fit to be cut off, prepared by their great and high illumination for the fire of more dreadful vengeance and wrath; in whom the Devil tranſformes himſelf into an Angel of light, by meanes whereof, theſe his Miniſters do become falſe Apoſtles, deceitful workers, transforming themſelves into the Apoſtles of Chriſt and Miniſters of righteouſneſſe, whoſe end is according to their works; an end that deceives them, as well as they by their works deceive the world.
All theſe, under the various formes and viſibilities of Saint-ſhip wherein they are found throughout the whole world under the name of worſhippers and ſervants of God (whether more or leſſe refined, whether Seraphicks in Angelical brightneſſe; or Senſualiſts, in meere bodily exerciſe, which profits little) are embodied and incorporated together as into one Temple or houſe of reſt unto the falſe ſpirit or great deceiver, through whoſe ſubtilty and dexterity they are beguiled, to ſinne againe after the ſimiliude of Adams tranſgreſſion; that as the Serpent beguiled Eve, ſo are theſe alſo corrupted in their minds from the ſimplicity that is in Christ Jeſus, 2 Cor. 11. 3. drawne by the taile of the great Dragon, out of their heavenly habitations, unto a revolt and backſliding with him into a fixed enmity againſt Chriſt their true Husband, to the committing of whoredome and lewdneſſe with a falſe ſpirit, as adulterers and adultereſſes: which adulterous brood of hypocrites and back-ſliders that the Devil hath in all ages propagated and multiplied by occaſion of the ſame meanes that Chriſt ordeined to bring to life and lead unto ſalvation, are compared in Scripture to the holy City where our Lord was crucified, ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt, the Iſrael after the fleſh, which Eſay complaines of, ſaying, Had not the Lord left us a ſeed, we had all beene like Sodome and Gomorrah; referring to Deut. 29. where Iſrael Gods covenanted people, v. 3. that had ſeene with their eyes, the great temptations, ſignes and miracles which he did, were not yet ſo ſecured thereby, v. 18, 19, &c. but that amongſt them, (even that enlightned people) might ſpring up a root that bears gall and wormwood, that though they hear the words of the curſe, declaring the wrath of God againſt the falſhood, uncleanneſſe and deceitfulneſſe of ſpirit which they live in towards God under all their righteous and holy operations, makes them nevertheleſſe bleſse themſelves, ſaying, We ſhall have peace, though we walke in the imaginations of our owne hearts, adding drunkenneſs to thirſt. In which caſe the Lord declares that he would pour out his fury upon them, to make them as Sodome and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger and in his wrath. And, Deut. 32. 32, 33. this generation of men, in their good beginning as well as in their backſliding accurſed end, are at large deſcribed; where their Vine is ſaid to be as the Vine of Sedome, and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes, grapes of gall; their cluſters, bitter; their wine, the poyſon of Dragons and the cruel venome of Aſpes; their choiſeſt food and miniſtrations leading to the chambers of death, and tending to the bowing downe of the back alway. Is not this (ſayes God) ſealed up among my treaſures, and laid up in ſtore with me, in the proper time, to be revealed, when they ſhall be conſumed by the breath of Chriſts mouth and brightneſſe of his ſecond coming?
This is the great City, BABYLON the great, who is fallen, is fallen, from the glory of her firſt ſtate in communion with Chriſt himſelf in his firſt appearance, and by the firſt Covenant, and through Satans ſeducements and beguilings is become the habitation of Devils the hold of every foul ſpirit, and cage of every uncleane and hateful bird. For all Nations, or all ſorts of men in all Nations have drunk more or leſſe of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, or have made themſelves drunk with the wine of this falſe ſpirit; and the Kings or eminent ones of the earth, men of renowne for godlineſſe and vertue have committed fornication with her, and the Merchants of the earth are waxen rich through the abundance of her delicacies, even all that are for gaine from their quarters; that count gaine godlineſſe, or are followers of godlineſſe for earthly rewards, and as they gaine by it ſome way or other in this world.
The Devil muſter's ſtrong of the inhabitants of this City, from the loweſt and ſoureſt ſpirited legaliſt, to the largeſt, looſe, ſpiritual Apoſtate and wanderer from the truth, (who center in one common intereſt of enmity to the Croſſe of Chriſt and the glory that followes in the power of an endleſſe life, by attaining the reſurrection from the dead) taking in all hearts and conſciences upon what pretence and cauſe ſoever, that do faile of the grace of God, and inſtead thereof, have ſome root of bitterneſſe ſpringing up, to their ſpiritual defilement and corrupting of their way towards him that is riſen from the dead, and offers to marry them unto himſelf by an everlaſting Covenant.
In this I ſhall not need to enumerate, in regard the univerſal Apoſtaſie of the latter times will be the beſt interpreter hereof, and will ſignifie, as it were, by name, the ſeveral diſtinct profeſſions that will be herein concerned, whether of ſuch as are zealous of Ordinances, ſhut-up under them, or of ſuch as are looſen'd from them, living above them in a falſe, deceitful ſpirit.
This ſort of Satans inſtruments and ſubjects are deſcribed, Rev. 13. 11. and repreſented by the other beaſt which John ſaw coming out of the earth, who had two hornes like a Lamb, to ſignifie the likeneſſe he bears, in all his actings, unto Chriſt according to the fleſh, or in his firſt appearance; but however, keeping the fierceneſſe and cruelty of nature, that was in the firſt beaſt, by ſpeaking as a Dragon. For indeed, this is ſtill the firſt Adam or natural man, new waſhed in the blood of Chriſt, and healed of the deadly wound at firſt given to him, and all his poſterity by the fall: through which healing he comes to be wondered at, or admired by the reſt of the world that are made partakers of this change (as if theſe men were ſo the mighty power of God, that nothing could withſtaud or make warre againſt them) to the puffing of them up, in this their cleanſed, healed ſtate of nature, and emboldening them to open their mouth in blaſphemies againſt God, to blaſpheme his Name, his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, and to proſecute theſe their words with execution, to the making warre with the Saints and overcoming them. So as what with the power of the firſt beaſt and the power of this ſecond, the Devil rules and hath his dominion over all kindreds, tongues and Nations, and all that dwell upon the earth ſhall worſhip him, whoſe names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb ſlaine from the foundation of the world.
This ſecond beaſt, which is the firſt, conſidered, as having the deadly wound thus healed, as waſh'd from the filth of the fleſh, is therefore armed with the ſame power which the firſt had, for publick acting in and by the uſe of civil Rule and Government; exerciſing all the power of the firſt beaſt before him, or in ſuperiority to him and by way of greater eminency, cauſing the earth and them that dwell therein, to worſhip the firſt beaſt, or the old Adams image and perfection, as having the deadly wound thus healed. In which adminiſtration great wonders are wrought, ſo that he maketh fire to come downe from heaven upon the earth in the ſight of men; preſenting to the judgement of man, the fire and zeale of holy actings and righteous operations of the right impreſſion, exactly anſwering unto Rule, whereby they that dwell on the earth are deceived, taking this image of God, in which they appeare and ſhine forth, for the higheſt and beſt diſcovery of God they are to arrive at; which thus miſtaken and abuſed, is compared, Rev. 13. to the making of an image to the beaſt, which had the wound by a ſword and did live; having power to give life to that image in righteous and holy actings, in which, to cauſe the old Adam or firſt beaſt, to ſpeak and go forth in ſuch vigour and perfection, as not to beare with any that will not receive the image of the beaſt, and take his mark in their right hand or in their fore-head, in their actings or profeſſions; denying liberty to any to buy or ſell, to have any worldly commerce, that have not the mark or name of the beaſt, or the number of his name. All this he does from the great credit he hath gained in the ſight of men, by giving plaine evidence and viſible teſtimony of the life that is brought into this image and of the ſpiritual gifts and enlightnings from heaven that accompany it, as a fruit and effect of Chriſts owne workmanſhip, which therefore he would exalt above all that is called God, cauſing all to fall downe to it and worſhip it, as the higheſt and fulleſt diſcovery of God, beyond which he will allow nothing to be owned or received; though this image be but the number of a man, of the firſt man, made of the earth earthly; as the ſumme of his natural perfection, which all the children of wiſdome know how to count, finde out and unriddle.
This ſecond beaſt is the ſame with the little horne, Dan 78. before which there were three of the first hornes plucked up by the roots and behold, in this horne were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth ſpeaking proud things: and, v 11. I beheld, ſayes Daniel, becauſe of the voice of the great words which the horne ſpake, (even words againſt the moſt high) v. 25. who ſhall weare out the Saints of the most high and think to change times and lawes; I beheld (ſayes he) untill the beaſt was ſlaine and his body deſtroyed and given to the burning flame, v. 11.
All which does lively deſcribe the uſefulneſſe of this ſecond heaſt, as he is diverſe from the firſt, being ſet out and adorned with the purity and perfection of the firſt Adam (renewed upupon him by the blood of Chriſt,) to make warre with the true Saints of the moſt high, and to weare them out with his cruelty and rage, pretending to viſible Saintſhip himſelf, and by the power of his Rule and Government in the Magiſtracy, (that is ſubſervient to him) to give Lawes and Rules in Gods worſhip under colour of warrant from the Scriptures, making himſelf Umpire of all controverſies in matters of Religion, and declarer of Hereſies, Blaſphemies, and the like; in the exerciſe of which power he ſpeaks great words againſt the moſt high and tramples as duſt under his feet the ſpiritual ſeed or inhabitants of the heavenly Jeruſalem, thinking upon this faire pretext to change times and Lawes, and over-turne all that ſtand before him, in the managing of ſo glorious a deſigne as to bring in upon the prophane wicked world the Kingdome of Chriſt; and at the ſame time, to ſlay the right heirs that the inheritance may be his, and that he may reigne, as ſitting upon Chriſts throne, when he cannot any longer carry it, as detected and laid open in the falſeneſſe of his owne ſpirit and principles.
This ſecond ſtate of Antichriſt and his Kingdome, is that which John, Rev. 17. beheld, with a holy kind of wonder and great aſtoniſhment, as little ſuſpecting ſo foul and unchaſt a ſpirit unto Chriſt, ſhould come forth in ſo fair and neere a likeneſſe and ſimilitude to him in life and operations, and therefore deſcribes it under the name of the great Whore whom God was about to judge, that is, to lay open and to deſtroy.
She is found ſitting upon many waters, to wit, people and multitudes, Nations and tongues, inhabitants (as we have ſaid) of the holy City, ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt, with whom the Kings of the earth or Princes of the world, (men in the honour and dignity of the firſt Adams purity and principles,) have committed fornication, truſting to this beauty, and reteining it in oppoſition to Chriſts heavenly appearance (as unwilling to veil it, and let it fall into the grave with Chriſt, that the way thereby into the moſt holy might be ſet open) making all the inhabitants of the earth drunk with this wine of her fornication.
This is the Character of that unchaſt ſpirit that acts and influences the ſubjects of this branch of Antichriſts Kingdome, under a fair ſhew in the fleſh, a likeneſſe and conformity in life and actings, unto Chriſt himſelf. But the beaſt that carries this Whore, is the ſpirit of man, made drunk with the wine of her fornication; who in his actings of underſtanding and will, whether in his private or publike capacity of a Magiſtrate and Ruler, gives up himſelf to the ſervice, intereſt and love of this Whore, or Antichriſtian ſpirit; which beaſt (compared with the other) is ſet out in an adorning of ſcarlet colour, yet full of names of blaſphemy, having ſeven heads and ten hornes, the like power of man by counſel and force to carry on the deſigns of the old Dragon, as the firſt beaſt hath.
The woman that rides this beaſt, or this falſe ſpirit that influences this ſort of enlightned men, makes a very faire ſhew, and is exceeding beautiful and alluring to the eye and judgement of man, being arrayed in purple and ſcarlet colour, decked with gold and precious ſtones and pearls, many admirable and excellent ſpiritual gifts received from Chriſt, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthineſſe of her fornication, and upon her forehead, written: Myſtery, Iniquity, or Babylon in myſtery or its hidden deceit; Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.
But under all this tempting, enſnaring glory, ſhe is famous and eminent for two things, whereby Antichriſts work is exceedingly advanced and carried on by her, after ſuch a dexterous manner as could not poſſibly be contrived by the firſt beaſt. with all his power. For this woman perfumed and decked with excellent ornaments and gifts; as ſhe is deſcribed to the full, Prov. 7. 10, to the 24. and Eccleſ. 7. 26. is exceeding skilful at inveigling and drawing in numbers and multitudes into her nets and fnares; and when they are once caught; ſhe leads them as the Oxe to the ſlaughter, fatting them to deſtruction; and
Secondly, this falſeneſſe of ſpirit with which ſhe entices and enſnares men, is alwayes accompanied with a fixed implacable rage and enmity againſt the chaft Spouſe of Chriſt, ſo as ſhe is found drunk with the blood of Saints, which is ſo ſweet to none as to this ſort of men, under and by whom the Lord was crucified at Jeruſalem, and concerning whom he ſpeaks when he ſayes, Behold, I ſend unto you Prophets and wiſe men and Scribes, and ſome of them ye ſhall kill and crucifie, and ſome of them ſhall ye ſcourge and perſecute from City to City, that upon you may come all the righteous blood, ſhed upon the earth from Abel to Zacharias; and againe, Oh Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, Thou that killeſt the Prophets and ſtoneſt them that are ſent unto thee: how oft, &c. Luke 13. 34. Matth. 23. v 34, to 38.