Not Lawful to Hear of Have Spiritual Communion With the Church of England, Reason 3
The third Reaſon.
VVHatſoever Miniſterie is ſuch, as none can heare it or have any ſpirituall communion with it, but in ſo doing he ſhall worſhip the Beaſts image (ſpoken of in the Revelation) and receive his mark in his forehead or hand: that Miniſterie may none hear or have any ſpirituall communion withall.
But the preſent Ministery of the Church-aſſemblies of Engl. is ſuch as none can heare or have any ſpirituall communion therewith, but in ſo doing he ſhall worſhip the Beaſts image, and receive his mark in his forehead or hand:
Therefore none may heare or have any ſpirituall communion with the preſent Miniſterie of the Church-aſſemblies of Engl.
The firſt part of the Reaſon is evident, becauſe whoſoever doth ſo worſhip or receive as there is ſayd, bringeth himſelf vnderunder the fierce wrath of God, as it is written, If any worſhip the Beaſt and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or hand, the ſame ſhall drink of the wyne of the wrath of God, yea of the pure wyne which is poured into the cup of his wrath, and he ſhalbe tormented in fyer and brimſtone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe, and the ſmoke of their torment ſhall aſcend evermore, and they ſhall have no reſt day nor night, which worſhip the beaſt and his image, and whoſoever receiveth the print of his Name. Rev. 14.9.10.11.
That the truth of the ſecond part of the Reaſon may better appeare, we are firſt to conſider what is meant by the Beaſt and his image here ſpoken of; what by the worſhipping of it; and what by receiving his mark in the forehead or hand: and then to apply it to the preſent purpoſe. And firſt, that theſe and the like ſpeaches are not to be taken litterally, but in a myſticall and ſpirituall ſignification, the Spirit of God teacheth vsus in playne words in divers places of this book, Rev. 14.8.9. with chap. 17.5.15.18. and 11.8. and 1.20. beſides that it may be ſhewed by neceſſary collection alſo, as will appeare in that which followeth.
By Beasts, the Scripture often figureth out men & kingdomes, of beaſtly qualities and conditions, ſo reſembling them for their fooliſh ignorance, ſavage cruelty, gredynes of prey, beaſtlynes of life, certainty of deſtruction, &c. Dan. 7.17. & 8.20.21.22.23. with Ier. 10.14. Luk. 13.31.32. 2 Tim. 4.17. Tit. 1.12. And ſo here, by the beast & his image, we may vnderſtand the Romane dominiō, & Antichriſtiā hierarchie reſembling it, the body of the man of ſin, with all the offices, functions, lawes, conſtitutions, power & authority apperteyning therevnto. For which, compare this Scripture of Rev. 14. with 2 Theſ. 2.3.4.8.9. 1 Tim. 4.1.2.3. 1 Ioh. 2.18.22. and 4.3. & 2 Ioh. ver. 6.7. Rev. 11.8. and 13.1.2.5.6.11.15.16.17. and 17.1.2.3.4.5.6.7. &c. and 18.2. &c. and 19.2.20.21. &c. & 20.4. And thus have the Martyrs of former ages alſo vnderſtood it, as may be ſeen in Act. & Monum. edit. 5. p. 161 5. &c.
By worſhipping the Beaſts image, may be vnderſtood the yeelding of ſpirituall ſubjection homage & obedience to that Antichriſtian kingdome, in the lawes, rules, offices, orders, power and juriſdiction thereof. And ſo this word worſhip, is much vſed in the Scripture. Exod. 20.5. Deut. 12.30. & 13.2.4. Ioſh. 22.5.27. Iudg. 2.11. 2 King. 17.33-41. Ezech. 8.16. and 20.32. Mat. 15.9. Act. 7.43. Col. 2.18-23.
By receiving of the mark in the forehead or hand, may be vnderſtood the receiving of their ordinances & cōſtitutions, to profeſſe or obſerve them, ſo as thereby we may be knowen vntounto others (as by a mark in the forehead) or put in mynd our ſelves (as by a marke in the hand) that we apperteyne to that Romiſh or Antichriſtian kingdome. And that the mark here ſpoken of may thus be vnderſtood, and not ſimply be taken for ſome viſible characters ſet vponupon the forehead or hand, but even for ſuch accepting and keeping of the Beaſts ordinances as is aforeſaid, appeareth plainely by like ſpeach and vſe of theſe phraſes in other Scriptures. As namely,
For the one, that is the ſpeach of a mark in the forehead, ſee Ezech 9.4. Rev. 7.3. where the faithfull ſervants of God, are ſayd to be marked and ſealed in the foreheads; not that they received a viſible character or marke, but being ſuch as mourned for the abominations of others, and did themſelves conſtantly and as it were with bold faces confeſſe Gods name and truth before the world (as the Apoſtle ſayd,†Rom. 1.16. I am not aſhamed of the Goſpell of Chriſt) they were as evidently and certenly knowen by this, and in the deſtruction of the wicked preſerved by God, as if they had viſibly ben marked in their foreheads.
In a like maner alſo, when one is not aſhamed of the Beaſts wayes, of Antichriſts ordinances and conſtitutions, but receiveth and profeſſeth them, having (as the Prophet ſayth)‖Ier. 3.3. an whores forehead that will not be aſhamed, he may be ſayd to receive the Beaſts mark in his forehead, and be as plainly diſcerned of others, to be one of that body & belonging to that kingdome, as if in his forehead there were a viſible mark imprinted.
The maner of ſpeach ſemeth to be borrowed from the common practiſe of men, who for ſuch things as they would have knowen and diſcerned, do vſe to mark them in ſome ſuch place as may well be ſeen and ſoone eſpied. So in the Paſſeover the lentill and doore cheeks (as being ready to the ſight) were ſprinkled with blood, that the Angel might ſee the blood, and ſo paſſe over the houſes that were ſprinkled therewith, Exod. 12.22.23. Now in man, the forehead, or any thing therein is in moſt ſight and ſooneſt eſpyed: As when the leproſy ſprang in the forehead of Vzziah, as ſoon as the Prieſts looked vponupon him, forthwith they perceived it, 2 Chron. 26.19.20. And in this reſpect it ſeemeth the Lord commanded in the Law, that the plate whereon was graven as ſignets are graven, Holynes to the Lord, ſhould be alwayes on Aarons forehead, thereby to figure out the continuall mediation of Chriſt our high Prieſt, who appeareth in the ſight of God for vsus. Exod. 28.36.37.38. with Heb. 7.25. and 9.24.
For the other, that is, the ſpeach of a mark vponupon the hand, ſee Exod. 13.8-16. Deut. 6.7-12. and 11.18. where Moſes ſpeaking of the obſervation of the ordinances of the Paſſeover, ſayth vntounto Iſrael, It ſhalbe a ſigne vntounto thee vponupon thyne hand, and for a remembrance between thyne eyes, that the Law of the Lord may be in thy mouth: for by a ſtrong hand the Lord brought thee out of Aegypt. Exod. 13.8.9. And agayne he vſeth the ſame maner of ſpeach, towching the obſervation of the ordinance of conſecrating their firſt borne to the Lord, Exod. 13.16. And agayne, when he teacheth the Iſraelites continually to remember the words which God commanded, Deut. 11.18. By which Scriptures appeareth, firſt that by a ſigne on the hand is not meant a viſible ſigne or mark ſet or engraven vponupon the hand, but (as Moſes expoundeth himſelf) the keeping of the ordinances and commandements of God, as the Paſſeover, the conſecrating of the firſt borne, &c. Exod. 13.10.15. Deut. 6.7.8.9.12. Secondly, that the keeping of thoſe ordinances as God appointed them, ſhould be as a ſigne vponupon their hand to put them in remembrance continually of their deliverance out of Aegypt by the mighty power of God, and of their homage & ſubjection due unto him for ever.
Accordingly therefore by the Beasts mark, may be vnderſtood the keeping of his ordinances and conſtitutions. So as when men do keep and ſubmit vntounto any the ordinances of Antichriſt, as his Miniſtery, Worſhip, Religion, a Courts, Canons or the like, it is as if they received a mark vponupon their hand, to put them ſtill in mynd of their ſervice and ſubjection yeelded vntounto him.
Thus we ſee how the Scripture vſeth this maner of ſpeaking, when it would note the continual remembrance of a thing, as may be ſeen alſo by like ſpeaches in other places, Song. 8.6. Eſa. 49.16. Hag. 2.24.
And it ſeemeth (as the other) to be taken from the vſuall cuſtome of men, who becauſe the hand of a man is alwayes in his ſight, vſe therefore (when they would remember a matter) to put a ring or thread or ſuch like thing vponupon their hand, that they may not forget but ſtil be put in mynd thereof. Such alſo is that ſpeach of God in the Prophet, ſaying, I have graven thee vponupon my hand, thy walles are ever in my ſight, Eſa. 49.16. where the latter part of the ſentence expoundeth the former (a thing often vſed in the Prophets) and teacheth that in this place theſe words, to be graven on the hand, ſignify to be alwayes in ſight and remembrance. To which end may be obſerved, how the marke ſpoken of in the Revelation, is ſometimes ſayd to be received†Rev. 13.16. in the right hand, becauſe that hand is commonly the more vſed, & ſo more often in the eye and ſight of a man, then the other hand is.
And thus it appeareth, that they which keep the ordinances and conſtitutions of Antichriſt, may juſtly be ſayd to receive his mark in their forehead or hand, ſo as therby they give notice to others, as by a mark in the forehead, or be put in remembrance themſelves, as by a mark in the hand, that they apperteyne to his kingdome and juriſdiction. And this is the proper vſe of ſignes, marks, characters, and the like, by them to make difference & diſtinction, to give knowledge vntounto others, or to be put in mynd our ſelves, of ſuch things as we would have diſtinguiſhed knowen or remembred: as may be ſeene both in the continuall practiſe of men, and throughout the Scriptures. For which, ſee Gen. 4.15. and 9.12.13.14.15.16. & 17.11. Num. 15.38.39.40. & 16.38. Deut. 11.18. and 22.15.16. Ioſh. 2.18.21. & 4.5.6.7. Eſa. 30.17. Mat. 24.32.33. Luk. 2.12. Rom. 4.11.
Moreover, that this is the meaning as hath bene ſhewed, may be gathered alſo by the contrary, which is oppoſed therevnto by the Spirit of God in the ſame ſcripture, which is, the keeping of the Commandements of God and ſaith of Ieſus. Rev. 14.9.12. and 20.4. For ſo in that place are oppoſed, on the one ſide‖Rev. 14.9. the worſhipping of the Beaſt and his image and receiving of his mark, and on the other ſide*Rev. 14.12. the keeping of the commandements of God and the faith of Ieſus. As likewiſe in the ſecond commandement there are ſet oppoſite, on the one hand,‡Exod. 20.4.5. the making & deviſing of any thing in the worſhip of God, or the ſubmitting to any ſuch inventions; and on the other hand,†Exod. 20.6. the keeping of that onelyonly in the worſhip of God which he himſelf hath commaunded. Exod. 20.4.5.6. Where alſo it may be obſerved, that the ſame words, of keeping the commandements of God, are vſed in both theſe Scriptures, and†Exod. 20.4.5.6. in the one oppoſed generally to all inventions in religion whatſoever,‖Rev. 14.9-12. in the other ſpecially to the conſtitutions and abominations of the Romiſh and Antichriſtian iuriſdiction.
As the faithfull therefore which in religion ſubmit themſelves onelyonly to the truth & ordināces of Ieſus Chriſt preſcribed in his word, are ſayd to keep the commandements of God and faith of Ieſus, having this as a ſigne vponupon their hand, and being ſealed therewith as with a mark on the forehead: ſo they which in religion ſubmit themſelves to the ordinances & conſtitutions of the Romiſh Antichriſt, are accounted by the holy Ghoſt to worſhip the Beaſts image and to receive his mark in their forehead or hand. And hitherto of the expoſition of this Scripture.
Now to apply it to the matter in hand, it is to be noted,2 Theſ 2.3. &c. 1 Tim. 4.1.2.3. 1 Ioh. 2.18.19. & 4.1-6. Rev. 13. & 17. chap. &c. firſt that this Antichriſt the man of ſinne hath made apoſtaſie from the ordinances of Ieſus Chriſt. Secondly, that he hath brought in and ſet vp in ſtead thereof his owne errors & conſtitutions, the inventions & works of Sathan: and particularly, that oppoſing and exalting himſelf againſt the kingdome of Chriſt, he hath turned the Miniſtery and government of Chriſt his officers (which be Paſtors, Teachers, and Elders) into the Miniſtery and government of Archbiſhops, Lordbiſhops, Suffraganes, Chancelours, Archdeacons, Commiſſaries, Prieſts, Parſons, Vicars, &c. entring and executing their offices, not according to Chriſts ordinance, but after their owne orders, canons and conſtitutions. Thirdly, that notwithſtanding many popiſh enormities be already removed out of the land by the mercy of God, yet the preſent conſtitution of their Church-aſſemblies ſtill is ſuch as every one of them is ſubject to a provinciall Archbiſhop, to a dioceſan Lordbiſhop, to a Chancelour, to an Archdeacon, to a Prieſt, being the Parſon, Vicar, or ſtipendary Curate of the Pariſh: As alſo to a Book-worſhip deviſed by man, to the Prelates popiſh courts, ſuſpenſions, excommunications, abſolutions, conſecrations, orderings, degradations, deprivations, and other ſuch proceedings, according to their Canons and courſes: which in their order were erected and are reteyned in the Synagogues and kingdome of Antichriſt, but were never appointed by Chriſt for his Church and people to obſerve and yeeld vntounto, as hath bene proved. Whereby it appeareth, that the publick Miniſtery of their aſſemblies now is ſuch as none can have ſpirituall communion therewith, but in ſo doing they obſerve and ſubmit vntounto the ordinances of Antichriſt; and conſequently worſhip the Beaſts image and receive his mark in their forehead or hand, according as here before hath bene declared.
Yet before I conclude this point, I would advertiſe the Reader, that ſome vnderſtand this receiving of the mark in the forehead or hand, to be meant of ſubmitting vntounto Antichriſts ordinances eyther openly with a bold face, or ſecretly vnderunder hand. As alſo, that ſuch may be ſayd to receive the mark in their hand, which receive to execute any office or performe any work in the kingdome of Antichriſt by his power and hand, that is, by vertue of any authority received frō him or of any ſubjection yeelded vntounto him. Which may well be applyed to the buying & ſelling by vertue of the mark received, ſpoken of Rev. 13.17. But how ever it be for the propriety of the phraſe, yet herein do all theſe expoſitions agree, that thereby is vnderſtood the ſubmitting to Antichriſt his ordinances to be implyed, and therefore come all to one end as towching the matter in hand.
And long ſince, Iohn Claydon ſpoken of before, a Martyr of Chriſt (burnt in the dayes of King Henry the fift, in the yeare, 1415.) held that the Biſhops licence for a man to preach the word of God, is the character of the Beast, that is Antichriſt. Act. and Monum. edit 5. pag. 588. And after him agayne, Mr Ridley, another Martyr (burnt in Queen Maries dayes, in the yeare 1555.) writing largely of this matter to the Chriſtians then afflicted, ſheweth his judgement concerning it, thus:*Act. & Monum. edit. 5. pag. 1618. Doth not Paul command to the Romanes, which perteyneth to every Chriſtian ſoule: †Rom. 6.As you have in tymes paſt given your members to do ſervice vntounto vncleannes and wickednes, from one wickednes to another: ſo now give your members to do ſervice vntounto righteouſnes, that you may be ſanctified. And I pray thee good brother what doeſt thou think is to bear the mark of the Beaſt in the forehead and in the hand that Sainst Iohn ſpeaketh of? I know we ought warily to ſpeak of Gods myſteries which he ſhewed by the ſpirit of propheſying to his ſervant Iohn, yet to read them with reverence, and to pray for the ſame ſo much as God knoweth neceſſary for our time to know, I think it neceſſary and good. Wherefore what I ſuppoſe is to beare the Beaſts mark, I will tell thee, and commit the iudgement of my interpretation, as in all other things, to the ſpirituall man. I ſuppoſe he beareth the Beaſt of Babylons mark in his forehead, which is not aſhamed of the Beasts wayes, but will profeſſe them openly to ſet forth his maiſter the beaſt Abaddon. And likewiſe he beareth his mark in the hand, that will, and doth practiſe the works of the Beast with his power and hand. And likewiſe I will not let to tell thee, what I think to be ſigned in the forehead for the ſervant of God is, whereof Iohn alſo ſpeaketh, reckoning vp many thowſands ſo to have bene ſigned of every tribe: I ſuppoſe he is ſigned in the forehead, for the ſervant of God, whom God hath appointed of his infinite goodnes, & hath given him grace & strength, cōstantly to confeſſe him, & his truth before the world. And to have grace & ſtrengh to cōfeſſe Chriſt, & the doctrine of the Croſſe, & to lament & mourne for the abominations of Antichrist, I ſuppoſe is to be ſigned with Tau, whereof Ezekiel the Prophet doth ſpeak. Thus I ſuppoſe theſe Prophecies are ſpiritually to be vnderſtood: And to look for other corporall marks to be ſeen in mens foreheads or in their hands, is nothing els but to look that there ſhould come ſome brute beaſt out of Babylon, or ſome Elephant, Leopard, Lyon, or Camell or ſome other ſuch monſtrous beast with ten hornes, that ſhould do all the wonderfull things ſpoken of in Iohn: And yet of a beaſt ſpeaketh Iohn: But I vnderstand him ſo to be called, not for that he ſhalbe any ſuch brute Beaſt, but for that he is and ſhalbe called the child of perdition, which for his cruelty and beaſtly maners, is called the beast. The carnall Iewes knew there was a promiſe made that Elias ſhould come before Christ the Meſsias (the annoynted of God) to prepare his wayes; they knew alſo there was a promiſe of Meſsias, that he ſhould come and be a King, and reigne in the houſe of David for evermore: But they vnderſtood all ſo groſſely and carnally, that they neyther knew Elias nor Meſsias when they came: for they looked for Elias to come downe from heaven in his own perſon, and for Meſsias to come and reigne in worldly pompe, power, riches, glory: whenas the prophecies of both were ſpiritually to have bene vnderſtood: Of Elias that he ſhould come, not in perſon, but in ſpirit, that is one that ſhould he indued with the ſpirit and gifts of grace of Elias, which was in deed Iohn Baptiſt, as Chriſt himſelf did declare to his Apoſtles: And of Meſſias reigne, all the Prophets were to be vnderſtood of the reigne of his ſpirituall kingdome over the houſe of Iacob and the true Iſraelites for evermore. And ſo by their groſſe and carnall vnderſtanding, they miſtook both Elias and the true Meſſias, and when they came, knew neyther of them both. So likewiſe I feare me (nay it is certayne) the world that wanteth the light of the ſpirit of God (for the world is not able to receive him, ſaith Iohn) neyther doth nor ſhall know the beaſt, nor his marks, though he rage cruelly and live never ſo beaſtly, and though his marked men be in number like the ſand of the ſea. The Lord therefore vouchſafe to open the eyes of the blynd with the light of grace, that they may ſee & perceive and vnderſtand the words of God, after the mynd of his Spirit, Amen. Thus farre Mr Ridley.
And Mr Bale (an exile of Chriſt) vnderſtanding by the Beaſt the great Antichriſt, and by his image thoſe governours which take vponupon them his blaſphemous titles, names, authority, or defence: applyed it alſo, thus,*Image of both Churches vponupon Rev. 14.9. To receive the Beaſts mark in their foreheads and hands, is both to agree to ſuch decrees, traditions, lawes, conſtitutions, acts, and proclamations, as they vnderunder thoſe titles have made, onelyonly for their owne covetouſnes and pompe, and neyther for the glory of God, nor yet for the right maintenance of the Chriſtian common wealth: And alſo to be ſworne to the ſame, to ſubſcribe to it, to give counſel or ayde to it, to mainteyne it by learning, to minister in it, to execute vnderunder it, to accuſe, puniſh, & put to death for it, or to think it lawfull and godly with ſuch like.
Thus have I ſomewhat largely noted down the ſayings of theſe Martyrs of former times, as being of good weight to the matter in hand. For although Antichriſt was not then ſo fuly diſcovered nor ſo deeply wounded, as ſynce he hath ben and wilbe yet daily more in this latter age of the world (in which reſpect we are not now to be preſſed with every thing which they then cōming newly out of the darknes of Popery did receive and allow): Yet by theſe teſtimonies alledged and other the like in their ſtories, it may appeare how vprightly they judged, and how faithfully they walked even vntounto death, according to the meaſure of light reveiled vntounto them: in which reſpect they will riſe vp in judgement to condemne this age, wherein notwithſtanding that Antichriſt be plainlyer manifeſted and more conſumed, as yet ſtil he wilbe more & more til he be aboliſhed,†2 Theſ. 2.8. Rev. 14.6.7.8. by the brightnes of Chriſts appearing in the light and power of his Goſpell: yet as if no ſuch thing were or ſhould be, or as if men‖Eſa. 6.9.10. Mat. 13.14.15. Act. 28.26.27. had eyes and ſaw not, eares & heard not, harts and vnderſtood not, who is there that do not ſtill take pleaſure in that vnrighteouſnes of Antichriſt, diſobeying the truth of the Goſpell of Chriſt, & worſhipping the image of the Beaſt, and receiving his mark in their forehead or hand? For which howſoever men do plead, yet let all remember and conſider, how the Spirit of God hath foretold the end and fruict therof to be this, to ſtand vnderunder the wrath and judgement of God, to be tormented before the holy Angels and before the Lambe for evermore.
Rev. 14.9.10.11. with 2 Theſ. 1.8.9. & 2 Theſ. 2.3-12.