The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Book 6
The ſecond part of the ſixth Viall. VIALL.
16. REVEL. 12, Ver. to 14.
XII. And the ſixth Angell powred out his Viall upon the great River Euphrates, and the water thereof was dryed up, that the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared. (13.) And I ſaw three uncleane ſpirits like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon &, out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, (14.) For they are the ſpirits of Devills working miracles, which goe forth unto the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole World, to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty.
IN theſe words (as ye have heard) is deſcribed the powring out of the ſixth Viall of Gods wrath. Deſcribed it is by the ſubject, upon which it was powred forth, and ſecondly, by the effect which enſued. The ſubject was the great River Euphrates. The effect that followed it, was firſt the drying up of the waters thereof: and that amplified by the end, that the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared. The ſecond effect was a warlike expedition, or preparation thereunto; ſet forth by the principall Commanders, the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, and by the inſtruments, who are here ſaid to be for their nature Spirits for their quality Ʋncleane, for their number three, for their reſemblance like Frogs, for their original comming out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet: And that amplified by the cauſe; for they are the ſpirits of Devills. And Laſtly, they are deſcribed by their effects; which are three. 1 They worke miracles. 2 They goe forth to the Kings of the earth, and of the World to gather them to Battell, and thirdly they doe gather them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Thus is this war here eſpecially deſcribed by their principall Commanders, and inſtruments It is deſcribed alſo by the watch-word, which the Lord giveth unto his ſervants againſt the battell in that time, B hold I come as a theefe, bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, leſt hee walke naked, and they ſee his ſhame.
We entred into theſe words the laſt day; And ſhewed you whom this Angell was, what is meant by the River Euphrates, who are the Kings of the Eaſt, and the way prepared for them: in a word (onelyonly to make way to that which remaines) you heard this ſixth Angel that powred out this Viall upon the great River Euphrates, cannot well be underſtood of the Jews powring out the wrath of God upon the Turkiſh Dominions; For it is evident from the laſt verſe of the 15 Chapter, that no man can enter into the Temple till theſe 7 Vialls be powred out. The Iewes therefore ſhall not be called till the ſeventh Viall be powred out.
And they that powred out theſe Vialls were ſuch as came out of the Temple, 15 Chapter 6 Verſe, Out of reformed Churches, girt with golden girdles of truth; and clothed with pure, and white Linnen, which is the righteouſneſſe of the Saints. They that powre out of theſe Vialls are godly Chriſtians, profeſſors of the truth in ſincerity. Now the Iewes cannot enter into that eſtate till the ſeven plagues be fulfilled. Againe ſuppoſe the Kings of the Eaſt be the Iewes, as they are more then probably conceived by enterpreters; yet they cannot be the Angell that powred out this Viall: For the Angel that powred out this Viall he dries up the waters, and makes way for their comming in, therefore it is not they that powred out this Viall.
Yee have heard that the River Euphrates cannot be properly meant of that River Euphrates that watered old Babell; becauſe the wrath of God is not upon materiall Rivers, and Fountaines of waters, but onelyonly upon ſuch perſons as dwell neare them, or may be watered by them: but the R…ver it ſelfe cannot be it. It is not taken here for one of thoſe Rivers and Fountaines of water which were turned into bloud, in the 18 Verſe of this Chapter by the third Angell: for then if it had been ſo underſtood the wrath of God had been powred upon him in the third Viall, not in this ſixth. The rivers there meant are ſuch popiſh Emiſſaries, and Prieſts, as doe carry the popiſh Doctrine up and downe the Country; now Euphrates waſhed Babylon; and his rivers are dried up when Babylon is taken: now Babylon comes to be taken, and deſtroyed in the next Viall, not in the ſixth Viall, as ſome have hertofore taken it: But Euphrates therefore being that which watered the City of old Babell, it muſt be ſomething that doth the like office unto this new Babell, unto Rome: that waters the throne of the Beaſt; that waters the ſeat of antichriſt. And yet (mind ye) ſo waters it, that if the waters thereof be dried up, there is way made for the Kings of the Eaſt to come in, and conſequently way made for the ruine of the Turkiſh Empire, and Monarchy; For as yee heard theſe ſeven Vialls come in, in order as the ſeven Trumpets did; to remove the ſeven judgements they brought in; looke how the ſeven Trumpets ſounded, and by their ſounding brought in ſeverall graduall judgements, ſo juſt in the ſame order are theſe Vialls powred out, and the former judgements removed. As the firſt Trumpet brought a plague upon the Earth, ſo the firſt Angell powred out a Viall upon the Earth, to remove that plague. The ſecond Trumpet ſounding brought a judgement upon the Sea; The ſecond Angell powers out his Viall upon the Sea; and ſo the reſt: The ſixth Trumpet (as yee heard) let looſe the foure Angells, the foure Turkiſh Families bound by the river Euphrates, which brought in the Turkiſh apoſtacy, and tyranny into the World. This Euphrates is ſuch a river as waters Babell; and the drying it up did of old make way for the ruine of Babell. So will the drying up of this Euphrates dry up the force, and ſtrength of the new Babylon; and ſo of the Turkiſh tyranny alſo. In one word, yee have heard, that which hath been the ſtrength and fence of the Turkiſh Dominion hath been the ſtreames of corruption and falſe worſhip in the Babiloniſh, for ſo yee read in the ninth Chapter of this booke, and the 20 and 21 verſe: That for all this ſaith the Text, notwithſtanding the letting looſe of the Turkes from Euphrates, yet they repented not of the workes of their hands, that they ſhould not worſhip Devills, and Idolls of Gold, and Silver, and Braſſe, and Stone, and of Wood, &c. Neither repented they of their murthers, nor of their ſorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their Thefes: So that its evident the Turkiſh Empire was raiſed up, and ſtands to this day, as a ſcourge of God upon the idolatries, and ſuperſtitions of the Church of Rome, and upon their murthers, and witch-crafts, and thefts, by which the whole Chriſtian world hath been abuſed theſe many hundred yeares.
So that then the Angell that powred out this Viall yee heard to be thoſe ten Chriſtian Kings, of whom ye read more at large in the next Chapter: that ſhall dry up this Fountaine: that is to ſay, the ſtreames of antichriſtian worſhip, and pollution; ſhall ſtop the courſe of it. They ſhall ſtop the courſe of thoſe Murtherous inquiſitiones; They ſhall ſtop the courſe of thoſe Thefts; and indulgences and pennances: they ſhall ſtop the courſe of of thoſe Whoredomes, wherewith Babylon hath beene made drunke; the cup of her Fornication. Now when this ſtreame of corruption is dryed up by the reformation of proteſtant Kings; it ſhall come to paſſe, that there will be a way made for the Kings of the Eaſt to come in: for yee heard, that by the Kings of the Eaſt are properly meant the Iewes: as being of old called Kings, A royall Prieſthood: ſo that way is made for them by this reformation of religion in Chriſtendome; The removing of thoſe abuſes (to wit) of the corruption of religion, and popiſh ſuperſtition, and idolatry, way is made for their converſion: and doe but dry up thoſe ſtreames, and then you leave Babylon dry; and you leave the Turkiſh Monarchy weakened: for the ſtaffe of the Turkiſh Monarchy is the ſuperſtition of Antichriſtianiſme.
From hence therefore yee have heard already theſe two notes gathered, and handled: the firſt is this, that the dayes are comming, wherein Chriſtian Princes ſhall dry up the ſtreames of antichriſtian corruption in Religion; And thereby alſo dry up the Fountaines of the ſtreames of the Turkiſh tyranny.
Secondly, yee have heard this note (alſo) gathered, and handled. That upon the drying up of the ſtreames of corruption of Antichriſtian religion, and of Turkiſh Tyranny, way is made for the converſion of the Iewes, the antient people of God.
Of theſe two wee ſpake the laſt day; and thus much was needfull to be repeated, that yee might underſtand where wee are. To proceede to the next note then, the third that concernes this Viall, but the firſt at this time: Let me firſt gather the note and then ſhew you how it riſes out of the Text: then give ſome grounds of it, and make uſe of it as the Lord ſhall helpe, the note is this.
Upon the drying up of the ſtreames of the corruption of religion Doct. 3 in Chriſtendome, the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, ſhall ſend forth their choiſeſt inſtruments to ſtir up, and gather together, both Popiſh, and Pagan Princes, unto a great battell, to withſtand the reformation of Chriſtians, and the converſion of the Jewes.
This is the ſumme. See all theſe points expreſly, and diſtinctly delivered, and fully, in theſe two Verſes, the 13 and 14. For further then ſo I ſhall not goe at this time. And this one note opens both theſe Verſes, and all the paſſages therein.
Firſt yee ſee upon the powring out of this Viall upon the river Euphrates, and the drying up the ſtreames thereof, that is upon the drying up of the corruptions of religion, ſuperſtition, Idolatry, Murthers, and Whordomes: reſtraining and drying up all ſuch Fountaines, what followes? He ſaith the Beaſt, the Dragon, and the falſe Prophet, ſent out of their mouthes three unclean ſpirits, like Frogs; which goe forth unto the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty.
To open this doctrine, and the words a little.
Firſt for the Dragon yee have heard it noted before (from the 12. Rev. 9. verſe) him to be the old Serpent, Satan: but taken chiefly as he doth act, and govern, and dwell in the Roman ſtate: And therefore he is deſcribed to have ſeaven hads, and ten Hornes, in the third verſe of the 12 Chapter. But take him as he is Satan ſpiritually, and he hath neither heads, nor hornes. Take him as he governes Rome and ſo he hath ſeven heads, and ten hones. The ſeven heads are ſeven hilles: And the ten hornes are ten governments, who then is the Beaſt? the Beaſt (as ye have heard) he is deſcribed by the very ſame Characters, ſeven heads and ten hornes, 13. Rev 9. verſe. It is ſaid to be him to whom the Dragon hath given his power, and his ſeat, and great authority; it doth therefore hold forth the Roman ſtate; not Rome Pagan nor Rome Chriſtian (as yee have heard) It remaines therefore to be Rome antichriſtian: which is that? The Roman viſible Catholique Church: thats the firſt Beaſt, which claimes all the power by pretence of religion, which old Rome, and the Roman Monarchy claimed by force of armes. Who is then the falſe Prophet? The falſe Prophet hee is never mentioned before in this booke, not by name; and yet hee is ſpoken of here as well knowne: It appeares therefore, this falſe Prophet is the 2 Beaſt in 13 Rev. 11 verſe to the end: The ſecond Beaſt there is ſaid to worke Miracles: in the 13 Verſe he doth great wonders, &c. And 18 Verſe he deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth, by the meanes of theſe miracles, &c. And the ſame yee ſhall reade of the falſe Prophet in the 19 Rev. 20 Verſe, The Beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beaſt.
And them which worſhiped his Image, &c. The deſcription is the ſame of the falſe Prophet, and of the Beaſt: both of them holding forth the head of the Roman Church: The falſe Prophet Balaam, the Biſhop, (or Antichriſt) of Rome. So that it doth imply thus much, that the Dragon, and the Devill himſelfe did ſtir up, not the Pope onelyonly, but the whole Catholicke Church, to gather into ſome councill, or ſome other ſolemne meeting, ſome chiefe concurſe of them, who by common content ſhall (out of their mouthes) that is to ſay, by their commands, their Cannons, and Decrees, for that is out of their mouthes: out of their commands, out of their edicts, out of their injunctions, ſhall ſend forth their uncleane Spirits; Spirits they be for nimbleneſſe and activity, Spirits they bee for impetuouſneſſe, and ſtrength, Spirits they be alſo for cloſe and cleanly conveyance: There is no ſtoping the gates againſt Spirits, yee cannot ſo ſtop the Cinque-ports but they will in; they will enter into any Court, Princes Palaces, or great mens Houſes; theres no hindering of them, they have a cleanly conveyance, and ſecret and cloſe paſſage. And they are alſo Spirits of Devills. It is not the ordinary word Devill, but Daemon, the which is wont to expreſſe Spirits for their knowledge, and learning: They are learned ſpirits, and yet Devills for their deceit and miſcheife: Ye are of your Father the devill, & the works of your Father ye will doe, Iohn 8 44. Liers for deceit, & Murtherers for miſcheif; theſe are the ſpirits he ſends forth, which ſurely comming as they doe, out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, they are not ſpirits properly ſo called: They are therefore Emiſſaries ſent forth by them, men of nimble wits, and parts, active for nimbleneſſe, and cloſe conveyance: and full of deceit and miſchiefe. And theſe are the ſpirits are ſent forth: and here ſaid to be three ſpirits comming out of their mouthes, not as if one came out of the mouth of one, and another came out of the mouth of another; but all three of them came out of all their mouthes together at once. It is not rightly tranſlated here, that he ſaith he ſaw them comming out; for the word comming out, is not in the originall: but hee ſaw them out of thoſe mouthes, out of thoſe mouthes they had came; thence they had their originall, and from thence they ſprange.
Much inquiry there is who they ſhould bee: I will not trouble you with variety of mens judgements, The Dragon is no more here the Turkiſh Empire then before, but the Dragon here is hee that is before called Satan, acting Rome, and ſo hath ſeven Heads, and ten Hornes; which are the Armes of Rome, as yee have heard before, not of Conſtantinople: And it is hee that conſults, and conſpires with the Beaſt of Rome to ſend forth theſe three uncleane Spirits. Now if you ſhall put all together that hath beene obſerved by different Interpreters, and conſider withall what kinde of ſpirits the Catholique Church, and the head thereof (the Biſhop of Rome) hath troubled the Church withall, yee ſhall finde they all fall under three ſorts: three ſorts of ſpirits they doe all iſſue from; and theſe have all inſpired and breathed into them the very Character of the nature which is found in the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet. There are many rables of popiſh orders, which were endleſſe to name now: But they are all ſummed up in three Heads: for all the other are but hangbies, and traines to them: all the Emiſſaries of Rome, the ſpirits whereby ſhee hath troubled the Church, they all fall under theſe three, either Cardinalls, Biſhops, or Jeſuites: and under the Jeſuites I ranke all regular Fryers, they are all of them of one nature, regular men, Cloyſter-men; of which the Jeſuites are the cheife; and I would rather inſtance the Jeſuites, becauſe the reſt of that rabble (the other orders of Fryers and Monkes) they are deſcribed not under the name of Frogs, but under the name of Locuſts, chirping Creatures, as the Frogs are Croking: and both come out of the bottomleſſe pit: But the other are more like to Locuſts, in the 9 Revelations 3 to 11. They be both of them miſcheivous, both the Locuſts, and the Frogs too; but the Frogs are a little too dull for this kind of imployment, which is attributed to the Frogs: but theſe three the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, ſend forth the Cardinalls, the Biſhops, and the Jeſuites: yee ſhall finde the quinteſſence of nimble wits in theſe Spirits; active and nimble ſpirits, yee ſhall finde them cloſe and ſecret in their conveyances, like ſpirits: no part can be ſo ſecretly watcht but they will enter in, no Gates of Princes Pallaces ſo ſecret but thy will enter them. And uncleane they be as neither fit for meat nor for ſacrifice: as uncleane Beaſts were. They are neither fit for Church nor Common-wealth: neither fit for the one nor the other, neither for meate nor ſacrifice: uncleane alſo ariſing out of the mud; uncleane in their Doctrine, rooting out the Doctrine of Life; uncleane in their converſation, as all falſe Teachers more or leſſe bee, Iude 8. and 10 Verſe. And making the Countries uncleane where they come: they let looſe the raines and open a doore unto all Licentiouſneſſe and Prophaneſſe. Three unclean Spirits like Frogs. This deſcription of them likening of them to Frogs doth exclude them from the Locuſts, for they are not Amphibia (as they call them) ſuch as can live upon the Waters or Earth: for Locuſts love not to be in the Waters; but theſe are indifferent on Earth or Waters: Therefore theſe three can indifferently live either upon the waters, or upon the Earth; and even as well in the one as in the other. It is indifferent to them whether yee imploy them in Church worke, they can domineer there; or whether you imploy them in ſtate matters, they are as free, and as buſy there, in the Courts of Princes, and the ſtates of Commonwealths, and as impetuous there, and as active there, and as cunning, and as dominering, and Lordly there as they are in the Church.
And therefore looke as were the plagues of Egypt (which is called Sodom) ſo are theſe plagues of ſpirituall Sodom. The Frogs they came upon them cunningly, and would come into the Kings Pallaces, and no place could be kept free from them: Even ſuch are theſe three uncleane ſpirits, no place can they be kept out from. And like unto Frogs are they for their continuall croking; nothing but one kinde of tune: their own matters they never leave croking of not like theſe Frogs here in America that have a ſeverall tune in each part of the yeare, but they are alwayes in one, or two, or three at the moſt; either the Catholique viſible Church, or the Pope the Judge of controverſies, or of viſible ſucceſſion. And then looke as yee ſee it is with Frogs they are moſt buſy with their notes when it growes darke, and in the heat of the day they are a great deall more ſilent, for then they get them downe into the mud; ſo it is with theſe uncleane ſpirits, they ly cloſe if the light of the Goſpell ſhines forth brightly; And if it grow warme in the zeall of the ſpirits of Chriſtians, then yee here no newes of them, but they are in ſome muddy places then, they are huſht then: I if you ſhould come with a Torch in the midnight they are ſilent and ſtill then.
But now when there is want of light, or want of heat of Religion, then it is indeed that theſe ſpirits are moſt croking, and tumultuous, and unquiet: but otherwiſe if the ſpirits of Chriſtians and States-men grow warme in Religion, ther's no noiſe nor newes of theſe ſpirits; ſo theſe are the three uncleane ſpirits that come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet. And theſe three have left a ſpice of their own nature in them, the Devill hath left a ſpice of his murther and malice againſt religion, and well ordered government tending to diſorder; the Catholique Church hath left them hir ſtate and preheminence, hir Lordly Dominion and ſpirituall ſupremacy, and authority, carying all before him; The falſe Prophet hath left them corrupt Doctrine and corrupt worſhip; Theſe corrupt all where they come, and with cleanly conveyance in the Name of the Lord, and thus ſaith the Lord: when indeed it is nothing but the meere inventions of the ſinfull falſe hearts of the ſonnes of men. To goe on a little further in the expoſition of theſe ſpirits.
They are the ſpirits of Devills, That is to ſay all of a devilliſh nature; they are not Gods ſpirits: men they will be accounted to be, but they are ſpirits of the bottomleſſe pit, the ſpirits of Devills, Devills for learning, and Devills for deceit, and Devills for miſcheife.
Working miracles,] It is a proper worke of the ſecond Beaſt, but they are all but lying wonders, they come (ſaith the Apoſtle Paul) with all power of ſignes and lying wonders. 2 Theſ. 2.9. And theſe being all thus furniſht, the Text tells you,
They goe forth unto the Kings of the Earth] by Earth in this booke is meant the Earthly Religion, and ſo to the Princes of Earthly religion they goe forth, therefore they goe unto the Kings of the Earth, And of the whole World] They doe not containe themſelves in the limits of Chriſtendome, but the other Princes, the Princes of the whole world (that is to ſay) to Pagan Princes, They would have power to prevent (if it were poſſible) this great miſchiefe to themſelves, that they might cruſh theſe Chriſtian Kings that brought in the reformation; Therefore they goe forth to the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole World, To gather them to battell, To the battell of that great day of God Almighty.] That's not the laſt judgement, (as ſome have thought) there will be no warring then; but every day of great execution is called a great day of God Almighty. But that we ſhall ſpeake to (God willing) when we come to it, of that great day of God Almighty.] But what day is that? yee have it expounded in the 19. Rev. 17. It is the day of Gods great Supper; that yee may eat the fleſh of Kings, and the fleſh of Captaines, and the fleſh of mighty men, &c. This is the great day of God Almighty, on which theſe worldly and wicked, theſe Popiſh and Pagan Princes with all their power, and all their forces, and armies they are able to make, ſhall come forth againſt the Lord Jeſus, and againſt theſe Chriſtian Princes, that have beene ſerious, and ſtudious in the reformation of Religion, and in the drying up of theſe ſtreames of corruption. Thus you ſee the words opened, and the plaine and true meaning of them. I cannot ſpeake of the comming of Chriſt now, and of the gathering together to the great battell of Armageddon, and I would not open more then I am able to finiſh at this preſent. Therefore now conſider the Doctrine againe, and the truth of it, how it doth plainly ariſe from the words of the Text.
Upon the powring out of the ſixth Viall (that is to ſay) upon the drying up of the current, and ſtreames of the corruption of Antichriſtian religion, or Chriſtian religion (for Antichriſtian religion is but the corruption of religion in Chriſtendome,) The Dragon (that is to ſay the Devill) and the Beaſt (that is to ſay the Roman Catholique viſible Church,) and the falſe Prophet (that is to ſay the Pope the head of the Church) did ſend forth out of their mouthes (that is to ſay out of their commands) three uncleane ſpirits, (that is Cardinalls, and Biſhops, and Jeſuites.)
To ſtir up the Princes of the Earth, and of the whole World, (that is both Popiſh, and Pagan Princes) to a great battell. To what end? ye may ſee by the occaſion of it, is was upon the powring out the Viall of the wrath of God upon the ſtreames of corruption of religion, therefore they would turne the ſtreame againe, to prevent the way of the Kings of the Eaſt (that is) the converſion of the Iewes, by bringing in old Idolatry and ſuperſtition, ſpirituall Adulteries and Whoredomes, and Witchcrafts, for the maintenance of the Sea of Rome.
Thus you ſee the point plaine from the Text, neither is there any difficulty that remaines for the opening of it, that I doe diſcerne.
Now then for the Reaſons of the point, and ſo briefly to come to the uſe. The reaſons are two, why that upon this drying up of the ſtreames of corruption of Religion theſe three great commanders ſhould thus ſend forth ſuch kinde of Emiſſaries, inſtruments that will bee active, and nimble to gather ſuch a fearfull Battell againſt the Lord, and againſt his ſervants.
The firſt reaſon is taken from the nature of their Kingdome. Rea. 1 Antichriſts kingdom is contrary to the Kingdome of Chriſt, his Kingdome is not of the Earth, theirs are from beneath; his Kingdome is not of this World, But theirs are of this World, Theſe are of the World, ſaith Iohn ſpeaking of Antichriſt, in the 1 Ioh. 4. Chapter 6 Verſe. And therefore (minde yee) the weapons of their warfare are carnall, full of malice, and full of envy, and devilliſhneſſe; their inſtruments are not ſpirituall, but carnall, and worldly. And therefore being thus ſhaken as they are, their returne is not to Faſting and Prayer, or the power of the holy Ghoſt, or the power of ſpirituall gifts, or ſo forth; theſe are eſtranged from them: And now they fall to carnall policy and worldly power, and devilliſh engines, and inſtruments, theſe are fit for this uſe. This is one Reaſon.
Rea. 2 The other reaſon is taken from their implacable malice and hatred againſt the reformation of religion, and the converſion of either Iew or Gentile, to the ſaving knowledge of the Lord Jeſus, there is nothing more grevious to theſe ſpirits then the proſperity of religion, they gnaſh their Teeth for paine in the former Viall, this is that will vex them more then all the reſt, to ſee theſe Rivers dried up, and theſe ſtreames dryed up, and now the holy City of Rome blaſted; this doth ſtirre them up to implacable malice, and miſchiefe: and now they care not who they confederate withall, ſo they may cruſh the Chriſtian Princes and hinder reformation; It was truly propheſied of by the Apoſtle Paul, That evill men and ſeducers ſhall wax worſe and worſe, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3, 13. So it is with theſe evill men here, if they ſee they cannot get victory over Proteſtants, though they have pretended warre with the Turke for the recovering of the holy Land, yet now they will conſent with him; they ſticke not who they agree with, ſo they may mantaine their war. To come then briefely to make ſome uſe of what ye have heard: the uſe of the point is thus much.
Ʋſe 1 Firſt, it may teach every noble wit, and every active ſpirit, and every man of cleanly conveyance, not to pride himſelfe, much leſſe to bleſſe himſelfe, in ſuch gifts and parts: what ever they be pride not your ſelves, bleſſe not your ſelves in them; you ſee heere is a Generation of nimble ſpirits, and active wits; cleanly ſpirits, ſpirits of as neat and cleanly conveyance as ever the World ſaw; men full of wit, and full of dexterity; men good for Church (as they count it) notable there; and not able for the Common-Wealth; they are marvelous fit for all kinds of imployment in their owne wayes, and thats very large for their owne ends; and yet ſee they are but made inſtruments to the Dragon to the Beaſt, and to the falſe Prophet: ſo that verily if a man now ſhould take pride in his gifts, and bleſſe himſelfe in the activeneſſe of his ſpirit, and cleanly conveyance, aplaud himſelfe in ſuch kinde of inlargements as theſe be, I tell you the Devill hath as quick wits as you are; and as active ſpirits as you are; and men of as dexterous conveyance as you can be; And therefore never pride your ſelves in theſe, they are ſuch as are as fit inſtruments for the Devill as for Chriſt, and many times the Lord Jeſus takes leſſe delight in ſuch as theſe, then hee doth in plainer and ſimpler men; Yee ſee your calling Brethren. (ſaith the Apoſtle Paul) in the 1 Corinthians 1.26. How that not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. It is I ſay (therefore) an abaſement unto all fleſh, and unto all the glory of the fleſh; all fleſh is as Graſſe, and the goodlieſt of fleſh and bloud, is but as the flower of the Field that fadeth away: take it at the beſt its but a Flower, but take them as they may bee improved by Satan none more miſcheivous, none more active inſtruments for the Devill, for ſinne, for Corruption then theſe fine quicke wits and ſpirits bee, Theſe nimble wits, theſe active ſpirits; pride not your ſelves in theſe things I ſay; theſe are the moſt dangerous if the Lord ſet not in to take hold of them; pride not your ſelves (therefore) in theſe things, The more learned and witty you bee, the more fit to act for Satan will you bee if the Lord leave you, the more neat handed, and quicke witted and nimble ſpirited you bee, the more notable, and profitable will you bee for the Devill, if hee take hold of you: pride not your ſelves (therefore) in theſe, much leſſe allow your ſelves in ſacrificeing of theſe to Satan; But ſee you doe ſacrifice your wts, and ſpirits, and dexterity, and what ever you bee, or have as a living ſacrifice to Chriſt Jeſus, to his advantage: or elſe they will bee improved to the ſervice of the Devill, and his inſtruments, The great and monſterous Beaſt, the Roman Catholique viſible Church, and the head thereof, the holy Father the Pope as they call him.
Secondly, it may take off the fond doting of the ſonnes Ʋſe 2 of men upon the lesrning of the Jeſuites, and the glorie of the Epiſcopacy, and brave eſtate of the Prelates. I ſay bee not deceived with theſe pompes, and empty ſhewes, and faire repreſentations of a goodly condition before the eyes of fleſh and blood, bee not taken with the applauſe of theſe perſons, yee have many at this Day, that ſtand and wonder upon the reading of the Jeſuites, at the witty inventions, and marvelous dexterity of judgement. They are ſtrong perſwaders, and ſtrange practitioners of what they take in hand: marvelouſly are men taken with the ſtrength of their judgements, and the ſtrength of their wits; And dote mervalouſly upon the Cardinalls, and upon the Biſhops, and upon the Jeſuites, and upon holy Catholique Mother Church, and their holy Father the Pope. Theſe are the gods many of them doe adore.
I pray doe but looke well upon them all, what are they? all of them? Let but the holy Ghoſt give his judgement of them, (who is onelyonly wiſe) let his Counſell bee taken, and what? They are ſpirits indeed, but uncleane ſpirits, ſpirits of Devills, that come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, the Roman viſible Catholique Church is in the eſteeme of the Holy Ghoſt a monſterous Beaſt (as yee heard in the 13 Chapter Revel. 1 Ve.) And the head of the Popiſh Church a falſe Prophet. And what are theſe nimble wits, and goodly glorious perſons yee ſpeake of? uncleane ſpirits neither fit for meat nor ſacrifice, neither fit for Church nor Common-Wealth. Oh ye will ſay they are fit for both; But ſaith the holy Ghoſt they are Frogs, and not Church-men (as they call them) and uncleane, and not fit for civill uſe: neither fit for Church nor State; but fit to corrupt both, and breed corruption in both: Frogs they are and their Songs are much what as Frogs are, if yee mind them their note is alwayes much at one, either viſible ſucceſſion, and that's one note; the Judge of controverſies, which they ſay muſt bee the Biſhop of Rome, and the Roman Catholike viſible Church the holy Mother Church as they call it, theſe are their notes, their Song, but it is but a Frog-like Song what ever they thinke: and yee ſhall ever finde it, that when Religion hath been moſt lightſome, and Princes and States-men have beene moſt warme in Religion, then yee ſhall here no noiſe of theſe Frogs, they ly cloſe in the mud; But when Religigion growes darke once, the ſhadow of the Sunne growes low, and large, when Chriſtians wax cold, and Courtiers begin to be Popiſh, or carnall, or I cannot tell how conformable to the corruptions of the times, then they begin to croke loud, and all things muſt be as they will have them: but I ſay take them as they be, and they are but uncleane Frogs, that doe corrupt both Church, and State. And (mind yee) they are confederate with the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet. Yee ſhall finde it in time that they will be confederate with Turke, or Ruſſian, Indian or Infidell, they will be ready to confederate with them all, and make no ſcrupill of theſe things. And yet they (as men thinke) are the onelyonly Patriarkes, and make the greateſt ſhew of religion: bee not deceived, you ſee how the holy Ghoſt deſcribes them. And let thoſe that are of God learne what they are.
And thirdly, this may ſerve to teach Chriſtian Princes, Ʋſe 3 and States, that when Religion comes to bee reformed, they muſt looke for battells, and great battells: There is no hope that Satan will reſt, the Dragon cannot reſt when his Kingdome is ſhaken; And hee hath ſuch of his confederacy, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, that cannot be ſtill, Eſpecially when the ſtreames of Rome begin to decay: the ſtreames that doe water and refreſh Rome. Then looke for Warres, and Tumults of Warres, great Warres, muſtering up of Popiſh Princes, and their Armies, and pagan Princes, and their Armies, there will be no backwardneſſe in theſe earthly ſpirits, in this caſe, to the captivating of all (if it were poſſible) to the maintenance and ſupportance of Rome.
And laſt of all, and ſo I make an end. Let this bee Ʋſe 4 the laſt uſe. It may ſerve to be ſome ground of ſtay unto Chriſtian Princes, and ſuch as ſhall bee inſtruments of this reformation which this ſixth Angell brings with him, Inſtruments of this waſting and drying up of the corruptions of Religion which ſhall waſte Rome; I ſay though great Warres may ariſe from all the chiefe Princes of the VVorld, both Popiſh and Pagan, and a great day of battell it will bee when ever thoſe dayes doe ſhine forth (as haſteing they be,) why yee ſhall finde this to be the comfort of it, a great day it ſhall bee, It is ſo ſaid in my Text, but not a great Day to the Beaſt, nor a great Day to the Dragon, nor a great Day to the falſe Prophet, (They looke for a Day of it,) but it ſhall be a great day of GOD Almighty: men are afraid if they ſtirre they ſhall bring Warres about their Eares, true they ſhall doe ſo, they will ariſe at once: but though the battell will bee great and terrible, yet never the leſſe moſt comfortable to the People of God: It will bee a great Day indeed, but a great Day of the Lord God Almighty, that hee may offer a great ſacrifice to himſelfe by the hands of his ſervants, that all the ſoules of prey and the beaſts of prey may all of them come, and eate the fleſh of Kings, and the fleſh of Captaines, and the fleſh of mighty men, and the fleſh of Horſes and of them that ſit on them; and the fleſh of all men, both free and bound, both ſmall and great; It will I ſay bee a great Sacrifice to the Beaſts of prey, and the foules of prey: It ſhall be a great day indeed, but it ſhall not be a great day to the Papiſts, not a great day to the Dragon, nor to the Romiſh Catholique Church except it be a great day of their deſtruction, and that it will be indeed, as yee ſhall ſee when this battell is to be fought in the nineteenth Chapter, and they ſhall never trouble the World more, that will be the iſſue of it; The Dragon is reſerved to a further day; but hee ſhall bee bound for a thouſand yeares, and afterwards ſhall make a great battell with the Saints, but after that ſhall be taken, and then caſt into the lake forever: But this will be a great day of God Almighty, wherein hee will powre cut all the Vialls of his wrath upon the enemies of God, and his people; that the Name of the Lord GOD Almighty may bee prayſed from the riſing of the Sun to the going down thereof.
And therefore great and wonderfull are the Workes of the Lord that hee doth reſerve for after ages, wherein the loftineſſe of man hee will lay low, but his name onelyonly ſhall be exalted Eſay 2.2. Speaking of a farre leſſe day then this that I am now ſpeaking of; It will bee a great day to the glory of God, and the good of his people; To the inlargement of the Church of Chriſt, but of deſtruction to the enemies of the Lord Jeſus: That they may be overthrowne, and taken and caſt into the bottomleſſe pit, never to riſe up againe.