The Whole Faith of Man, Pages 101-152

The Whole Faith of Man · Pages 101-152

p. 101Fifthly, They that take Tithes bring in the ſervice of the Law, which is done away, 2 Cor. 3.11. and the Levitical Prieſthood which is changed, Heb. 5.6, 12. and ſo deny Chriſt come in the fleſh; and forced maintenance, bringeth in compelled ſervice, which is abhorred by God, and good men; therefore Tithes, nor any forc'd Maintenance, is not the Maintenance of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, neither let any man ſay, that the Magiſtrate hath power to force men to pay Tithes, from that of Chriſt, Matth. 17.27. and from that of Paul, that we are to pay cuſtome, to whom cuſtome belongs; I ſay, that in all civill things, we ought ſo to do, and rather then to offend, to pay upon a civil account, though it be not due as Chriſt did; but when it is required upon a ſpiritual account, as Tythes, or any forced maintenance for Miniſters, we may and ought to refuſe to pay, and the Magiſtrate ſins againſt God, if he force men to pay it; for the Magiſtrate, as a Magiſtrate, p. 102hath not, nor never had power to judge in ſpiritual caſes, Luke 22.25, 26. for that is by the Lord given to the Church, Mat. 18.17, 18. and he, as a Member of the Church, hath power to judge, as every Member hath, and no more; but more of this in another place.

Alſo, take notice of that Ordinance of Chriſt, of waſhing the Saints feet, it is commanded by Chriſt, and a bleſſing promiſed to them that do it, Exod. 13.14, 15, 16, 17. and therefore it ought to be done, and it ſetteth out Chriſts humility, and puts us in mind of the ſame; ſo declaring that the wayes of Chriſt are ſelf-denying wayes; and this is a ſelf-denying thing, and therefore ſerveth to humble the creature, and to beget familiarity, and love one with another, it being done decently and in order.

Alſo, as James ſaith, Is any among you afflicted, let him pray, is any merry, let him ſing, is any ſick among you, let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray for him, and anoint him with oyl in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith ſhall ſave the ſick, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him up; and if he have committed ſin it ſhall be forgiven him; Acknowledge your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed; for the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, if it be fervent, James 5.13, 14, 15, 16, p. 10317, 18. Mar. 6.13. You may ſee there is faith required in the actors in this Ordinance, and agreement, and then the Lord will make good his promiſe; for he is faithful and cannot deny himſelf.

Alſo Prayer with Faſting is a duty for the whole Church, Iſa. 58. Luk. 5.33, 35. Act. 14.23. eſpecially for every Saint in private, entering into the Cloſet, or ſome ſecret place, that he be not ſeen of men, Mat. 6.5, 6, 16, 17, 18. Let every child of God be often in this duty, 2 Cor. 6.5. he will profit very much thereby, they that neglect this duty, will not ſtand, or very hardly ſtand in theſe laſt times; the Lord put all his people upon this duty, that we may be able through grace to ſtand before the Son of Man, Luk. 21.36.

Alſo, the way to deal with Members of the Church if they ſin againſt God, is as followeth.

Firſt, if it be a private treſpaſs, he that treſpaſſeth is to be told of it, as in Mat. 18.15. And if he repent he is to be forgiven, Luk. 17.3. for we ought to be like our heavenly Father, and if he hear not, he that is treſpaſſed againſt, is to call … with him, one or two more as in Mat. … 16. But if he hear not, then tell it to the Church, and if he hear the Church, ſhe is alſo to forgive him, 2 Cor. 2.7. but if he refuſe p. 104to hear the Church, let him be unto the Church as a Heathen man, and a Publican; Alſo note, he that ſinneth privately is ſpeedily to be brought to the Church; the next Church meeting after he hath ſinned if poſſible.

Firſt, becauſe we are not to ſuffer ſin upon our brother, but plainly to rebuke him, Levit. 19.17.

Secondly, becauſe he may not pray, that doth not confeſs his ſin, and be reconciled to his Brother, for if he bring his gift to the Altar, Chriſt, and remember that his brother hath ought againſt him, let him not offer it, but firſt be reconciled to his Brother, Math. 5.23, 24. Heb. 13.10.

Further I ſay, he muſt be brought to the Church the next meeting, for elſe the Church will have communion with him that lieth in his ſin, and he will be in fault, that brings him not orderly to the Church.

Alſo they that ſin openly, are to be rebuked before all, that others alſo may fear, 1 Tim. 5.20. And ſo Paul blamed Peter before all men, Gal. 2.11, 14. And he that is admoniſhed by the Church, and doth not hear the Church, is to be delivered to Satan, and ſo to withdraw from him; yea, not to have ſo much company as to eat common food; and ſo the Apoſtle exhorts and commandeth the Corinthians, to deliver the p. 105Fornicator that had his Fathers wife; And if any man that is called a Brother, be a Fornicator, or Covetous, or Idolater, or Railer, or a Drunkard, or an Extortioner, with ſuch a one eat not, 1 Cor. 5.3, 10, 11. And ſo he commands the Theſſalonians, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, to withdraw from every brother that walketh diſorderly, and not after the inſtructions, which they received of him; and if any man obey not their ſayings, that they ſhould note him by letter, and have no Company with him, that he may be aſhamed; yet count him not as an enemy, but admoniſh him as a Brother, 2 Theſ. 3.6, 14, 15.

So it is plain, that they that ſin, and will not hear the Church when they are brought before them, ſo as to confeſſe their ſin, and turn from it, yea, to make reſtitution if they be able, if they hear not, the Church is to deliver to Satan, or to withdraw from him, or them, and then to admoniſh him two or three times ſolemnly, and in the fear of God, not counting him as an enemy, but admoniſhing him as a brother, with all long ſuffering; and if he then neglect to hear the Church, ſhe is to reject him, and to let him be as a Heathen man, and a Publican; and a man being ſo rejected, or ſo cut off, I do not ſee how he can repent, yea, I am very much perſwaded, that he will never repent.

p. 106I ſay, the Church muſt admoniſh two or three times, before ſhe do reject or cut off, becauſe ſhe ought to be like her heavenly father, merciful as he is meriful, and long ſuffering.

Again, he that is an Heretick, ought to have the firſt, and ſecond admonition, before he is rejected; therefore all other ought to have two or three admonitions before any are rejected, or cut off, Titus 3.10.

Alſo I ſay, that the man that is under dealing, being three times wiſely, and ſeriouſly admoniſhed by the Church, and rejected; I do not ſee how he can repent: Firſt, becauſe whatſoever the Church binds on earth, ſhall be bound in heaven, and whatſoever they looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in heaven; now a man being once alive through believing, and then through ſin, become as a heathen and a Publican, or as a dead man, and ſo bound, how can he live again, except a man twice dead may live again, Jude 12.

Secondly, No man cutteth a naturall member from a natural body, except it be rotten, and ſo endanger the whole body; even ſo alſo, in the ſpirituall body, the Church is to cut off them that will endanger the whole body, ſo as to carry them to hell, Mat. 18.8, 9. So a member of a natural body being cut off, cannot be ſet on again; ſo when a Church hath rejected, p. 107or cut off a member, how can it be received in again.

Thirdly, If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maranatha, had in execration, yea excommunicate to death, 1 Cor. 16.22. or as ſome tranſlation reads it, that the meaning of the word may be this, let him be accurſſed even to the coming of the Lord; that is to ſay, to his deaths day, even for ever; now he that loves not the Lord, is he that keepeth not his commandments, or his ſayings, John 14.15, 23. and he that ſinneth, and will not hear the Church, being ſo often admoniſhed, as the Lord hath appointed in his word, doth not keep the ſaying of Chriſt, and ſo loves not the Lord; therefore is to be rejected or excommunicated unto death, till the Lord come; ſo according to that in Prov. 29.1. he that being often reproved, hardneth his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy.

Alſo mind well, that the power to judge differences, and to deale with Members, lyeth in the Body, the Church, not in the Officers deſtinct a part from the Church; This will plainly appear.

Firſt, becauſe the Lord commands, Mat. 18.17. That the offender, and his offence, be brought to the Church, that they may judge p. 108it; now the company of Elders are not the Church, 1 Cor. 1.2. Therefore they have not the power apart from the Church.

Secondly, the Apoſtle writing to the Church of the Corinthians, commands them when they are gathered together in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by the power of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to deliver the Fornicatour (that had his fathers wife) to Satan, 1 Cor. 5. to the 6. Mark, he doth not command the Elders to do it, but the Congregation, being gathered together to do it; therefore the power lieth not in the Elders alone, but in the Congregation.

Thirdly, The Lord Chriſt ſaith, that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles, exerciſe Lordſhip over them; and their great ones exerciſe authority upon them, but it ſhall not be ſo among you, but whoſoever will be great among you, ſhall be your ſervant, and whoſoever will be cheife of you, ſhall be ſervant of all, Mark 10.42, 43, 44. And therefore the Elders who are the cheife ſervants, are not to exerciſe Lordſhip over their Brethen, therefore not to rule without the Body, the Church, for if they ſhould rule without the Body, it would be like that evill that Solomon ſpake of, Eccl. 10.7. Servants upon horſes, and Princes walking as ſervants upon the earth; and ſo p. 109indeed it hath been, and is where the Pope, and Lord Biſhops, and Presbytery hath the power, they make the members of their National, Generational way, ſlaves to ſerve with great burdens, and many of them are very ignorant.

But although it be ſo, that the power lieth in every particular Body, the Church, to govern according to the word of Chriſt, yet underſtand that with conſent the Elders, and Meſſengers are to rule in love, and are to be obeyed, by every particular member, they exhorting and commanding duty, and declaring the ſence of the Church, according to the word of Chriſt, Heb. 13.7, 17. and alſo, the Body, the Church, may command the Elders, or Paſtours, and Meſſengers, to look to their Miniſtry, which they have received in the Lord, that they fulfil it, Col. 4.17. And alſo note, it is good and ſafe for a particular Church, in things of high concernment, to call for, or deſire help from ſiſter Churches, and ſo Meſſengers who are to take care of all Churches, in an eſpecial manner, are to go in ſuch caſes, Act. 15.

Queſt. Hath not the Magiſtrates power in the Church, to ſet apart her Officers, and to puniſh Offenders as he ſeeth good, yea, with death if he pleaſe.

Anſw. No, for Chriſt hath not ſaid any p. 110where that he ſhould ſo do, now if Chriſt have not ſaid it, nor it be not in the Law and Teſtament, as it is not, it may not be, Iſa. 8.20. Heb. 1.5. Nay, for the Magiſtrate to ſet apart Officers in the Church, croſſeth the Law of Chriſt, which is, that the Church, by a free choiſe, ſhould ſet them apart as it hath been ſhewed before.

Again, Magiſtrates may not puniſh offenders, as in point of conſcience, for Chriſt commands the contrary, Mat. 13.30, 38. For there he ſaith, that the children of the kingdome, and the children of the wicked one, ſhall both grow together in the field of the world, till the end; yea, the Jewes that blaſpeme againſt Chriſt, are to be ſuffered, for they are beloved of God, for their fathers ſake, though they be enemies to the Goſpel, Rom. 11.28. and when the fulneſs of the Gentiles is come in, all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, as it is written, ver. 25, 26. So then the Jewes be to have liberty, that is plain, therefore all ought to have liberty of conſcience, that's as plain.

So then the Magiſtrate hath not any power in the Church, more then any other member, but the power lieth in the whole Church, to caſt out offenders, as hath been ſhewed; but in all civil affaires, as all ſins againſt the ſecond Table, yea in all things that be civil, that helongs to the p. 111Common-wealth, the Magiſtrate is ſupreme, and the whole Church is to obey him, and honour him, as the ſupreme in every civil thing, for the Lords ſake, 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 15. paying cuſtome to whom cuſtome belongeth, and tribute as he, or they hath and doth appoint, Mat. 22.21. Rom. 13. from ver 1. to 10. Yea, let them not diſpute who is Cheif Magiſtrate, no not by any means, by warr, but rather ſubmit to the cheif Magiſtrate in being, in every Nation.

So then from all this that hath been ſaid, it doth appear and that very clearly, yea moſt excellently from the Scriptures of truth, that God is a God of love and mercy, and is long ſuffering, and the riches of his goodneſs, and bounty doth abound moſt freely, and graciouſly, towards all men, and would have none periſh, but would have all come to the knowledge of the truth, and be ſaved: and that the way of Chriſt is a way of love, in that he laid down his life for all men, yea though they were and are enemies, he tenders the word of the Goſpel, even glad tydings of peace, beſeeching by himſelf, and by his ſervants, (though they do abuſe them) to be reconciled to God; O how meek, and lowly in heart was the Lord Jeſus? how doth his love, and goodneſs appear, in that he being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with him, made himſelf of no reputation, and p. 112took upon him the forme of a ſervant; and was made in the likeneſs of man, and being found in the faſhion of a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs; And ſo the Lord of life and Glory, by whom all things were created, beſeecheth the creature, to be reconciled to God, and ſo to obey him in love, and walk up in the way of the Goſpel, which is a way of love; for the love of God being ſpread abroad in the heart, men having from the God of love received gifts, the love of Chriſt conſtraineth to preach the Goſpel, and to feed the flock of Chriſt, and to ſeek up them that go aſtray; and the Saints in love miniſter and communicate unto them what they want, and ſo Miniſters are choſen in love, and their Doctrin is heard in love, and received in love, and the poor relieved in love, and them that ſin are dealt with in love, and their meetings of the Church, and feaſts are in love, and their Communion in Breaking of Bread is in love, & ſo al duty is to be done (without murmurings, and diſputings) in love, & ſo Faith in Chriſt is available working by love; & ſo the children of God receive the kingdome as a reward in love, given by the God of love; ſo all the way of Chriſt is a way of love, & his word is the Doctrine of love; So let all the Saints conclude with the Spouſe, his mouth is moſt ſweet, yea, he is altogether lovely, Cant. 5.16. p. 113And ſo this way of love, which is the good old way of the Goſpel, was of old at firſt confirmed by ſigns, and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghoſt, according to his own will, Heb. 2.4. Therefore let every man in the fear of God walk therein, and they ſhall find reſt for their Souls, Jer. 6.16. Yea, let every member of the Church of Chriſt, put on the whole Armour of God, having their loynes girt about with truth, and their feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace; and praying alwayes with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance, Eph. 5.13, 14.15, 16, 17, 18. O that every one would lay it to heart, and with fear and trembling, work out their Salvation; for in theſe laſt dayes, will be perrilous times, 2 Tim. 3.1. and many that have taſted of the good word of God, and been enlightned, ſo as to beleeve the truth, will fall away from grace; yea, from the true faith, ſo as that eternal death will be their portion; yea, ſome have fallen from the faith, therefore it is no new thing.

Firſt, the warnings in Scripture proves this, exhorting men to take heed that they do not fall away from the grace of God, Heb. 12.15. and theſe warnings and exhortations are given to ſuch as have received the truth, ſo as to believe, as it appeareth, Heb. 2.1. 1 Cor 10. from p. 1146. to 12. Heb. 3.12. reads it thus, Take heed Brethren, leaſt at any time there be in any of you, an evil heart, and unfaithful, to depart away from the living God, Heb. 4.1. 2 Pet. 1.5. Chap. 3.1, 2, 3. Jude 3. Rev. 3.2, 3. All theſe are warnings given in Scripture, and very many more might be brought, which exhort men to take heed that they do not depart from the truth, which would be in vain, 2 Cor. 6.1. if men could not fall away, therefore they may, 1 Theſ. 3.5.

Secondly, Threatnings, if any do fall away prove this, Rev. 2.21, 22, 23. Hebr. 10.26. reads it thus, If we ſin willingly, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for ſin: and chap. 6.4, 5, 6. is very full to this purpoſe, 2 Pet. 2.20, 21. For if after they have eſcaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, they are again intangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worſe with them then the beginning; for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteouſneſs, then after they have known it, to turn fom the holy commandment delivered unto them, Rev. 3.3. Ezek. 18.26. you may read alſo, which plainly proves this point.

Thirdly, This appears by examples in Scriptrue of ſome that did fall away from the truth; yea, from the true faith, as Judas, Matth. 26.25. p. 115Acts 1.17, 18. and Demas, 2 Tim. 4.10. and Balaam who ſpake excellent things by the help of the Spirit of God, as the other Prophets of the Lord, Numb. 24. Jude 11, 12. and ſome making ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience, 1 Tim. 1.19. and Hymeneus and Phyletus, who concerning the truth have erred, ſaying, the reſurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of ſome, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18.

Fourthly, The Scripture ſpeaking prophetically, faith expreſly, That in the latter times ſome ſhall depart from the Faith, 1 Tim. 4.1. and 2 Tim 4.3, 4. and 2 Theſ. 2.10. 2 Pet. 2.1. Jud. 14, 15, 16. All theſe Scriptures do foretell of ſome, yea, many in the latter times ſhall fall away, ſo as to depart from the faith, and give heed to Doctrines of Devils, and ſhall privily bring in damnable hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them; and many more places might be brought for this purpoſe.

Fifthly, The Metaphors, and Proverbs in Scripture proves this alſo, as Prov. 26.11. Mat. 5.13. Mark 9.49, 50. and Mat. 12.43, 44. and 2 Pet. 2.20, 21. that in Peter ſheweth, that they which have been freed of their vomit, and have been waſhed, yet turned as a Dog to it again, as a Dog to the vomit again, and the Sow to the wallowing in the mire.

Sixthly, if this were not ſo, no man could ſin p. 116againſt the Spirit, nor none could be Reprobates, for the ſin againſt the Spirit, is a ſin of knowledge, and againſt the conſcience, they do that which they are convinced they ought not to do, as it appeareth, Mark 3.22, to 31. compared with John 7.20, 28. And alſo no man can be a Reprobate, except he have known the truth, or ſinned willingly againſt that he knoweth, as it appears, Rom. 1.28. 2 Cor. 13.5. 2 Tim. 3.8.

Object. But it is but a ſeeming faith they fall from as the Scripture ſaith, Luk. 8.18. That ſhall be taken from him, which he ſeemeth to have.

Anſw. That if it be but a ſeeming faith, then they do well in falling from it, but Paul ſaith to Timothy, 1 Tim. 1.19. That ſome did make Shipwrack of Faith, and a good conſcience; and he exhorteth Timothy, to abide in that faith, which others have made Shipwrack of; And for that in Luke 8. the ſence of it is, that they that do enjoy the light, or talent, that is given them, ſo as to hear the truth, and ſeem to make a good uſe of it, but do it not, I ſay, God will take away that Talent, or light, becauſe he ſeemes to improve it, but doth it not; that this is ſo, it will appear if you compare Luk. 8.16, 17, 18. with Mat. 13.12. and Chap. 25. from verſ. 24. to 30.

p. 117Object. But Paul ſaith, that he is perſwaded, That neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor any things could ſeparate him from the love of God; alſo, he demands, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? for God Juſtifieth, Rom. 8.

Anſw. Paul as he is a believer is parſwaded, that nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate him from the love of God, which is in Chriſt, and ſo are all true believers perſwaded; but if they depart from the faith, nay if they do not go on adding to their faith vertue, and knowledge, &c. as it is 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7. they loſe that perſwaſion, as Paul acknowledgeth, that he himſelf might become a caſt-away, if he kept not his body under ſubjection, 1 Cor. 9.29. It is true none can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect, for God doth and will juſtifie; but there is no man or woman Elected, but in and through beleeving, 2 Theſ. 2.13. as it hath been ſhewed, and will appear if you mind the Scriptures, for the Apoſtle tells the Epheſians, that they were Elected, yet the Lord Jeſus ſaith to them, Rev. 25. that if they do not their firſt works, he would remove their candleſtick; and John exhorts the Elect Lady, and her children, to look to themſelves, that they loſe not thoſe things they have gained, but that they receive a full reward, 2 John 8. p. 118And ſo he that continues in the faith to the end, he ſhall be ſaved; for the juſt ſhall live by faith, Heb. 10.38. But if any draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him.

Object. But it is impoſſible to deceive the very Elect, therefore men cannot fall from the true faith, Mat. 24.24.

Anſw. Chriſt ſpeaks of ſuch, as make their calling and election ſure, by adding to their faith vertue, and to vertue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, &c. abounding in the bringing forth of fruit, giving all diligence to continue therein, according to 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. they that do ſo ſhall never fall, for the Lord God will give grace, and deliver them from the evil of temptation, making a way to eſcape, that they may be able to bear it; and ſo there is no condemnation to them that walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit; and ſo none can lay any thing to thoſe that ſo through Grace perſevere to the end, God juſtifieth them, who can condemn them? yea, an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto them abundantly into the everlaſting Kingdome of our Lord, Pſal. 84.11. 1 Cor. 10.13. Rom. 8. But,

Further obſerve, that ſuch as have believed the Truth, and do run well, are called, The elect of God, 1 John 1.8. and are written for Heaven, p. 119in the Book of Life (which is the New Teſtament) if they go on, adding as aforeſaid; but if they turn again to folly, and ſo turn from the holy Commandement, and ſo come to be dead, yea, twice dead, their names are blotted out of the Book of Life, Gal. 5.7. Exod. 32.33. Rev. 3.5. chap. 22.19. and this will be fulfilled upon many in theſe laſt dayes; for Chriſt ſaith, That falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets ſhall ariſe, and deceive many, Matth. 24.5, 11. Now if they were not in the way to life, they could not be deceived, for they cannot be deceived and led out of the way, which were never in it; ſo then this is the way of the new Covenant, they that through grace walk up after it, are written for life, and them that do not abide in the truth of it, are written for death, for the Lord will be with men, while they be with him, but if they forſake him, he will forſake them, 2 Chron. 15.2. John 15.2, 10. So men are elected in Chriſt through believing the truth, but they that depart from the faith depart from their election, and choice, for God hath choſen the godly man for himſelf, not perſons ſimply, but godly perſons, and decreed to ſave them that ſo make uſe of his Grace, ſo as to hold faſt their confidence to the end, Hebr. 3.6. and no other.

Object. But the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Rom. 11.29.

p. 120Anſw. It is true, For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life, John 3.16. And while we were yet ſinners Chriſt died for us, Rom. 5.8. So that God gave his Son freely for the world, and ſo he cals men freely to believe, that Chriſt died for them, and gives time and ſpace to all to hear, and repent, and this he doth, whether men believe, and repent, or no; ſo it is Chriſts death that makes the peace with God, but it is made out by Faith, Rom. 4.16. And ſo eternal life is the gift of God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, for in and through Chriſts death, comes forth the glad tydings of Peace, and ſo by him are all things, 1 Cor. 8.6. for in him we live, and move, and have our being, and by Chriſts death we are ſaved alive, and are made able to believe; ſo that juſtification is not of works, but meerly of grace; yet underſtand, that Scripture in Rom. 11.29, ſpeaks of the houſe of Iſrael, how that the Lord God hath decreed to call the Jews, and the whole Houſe of Iſrael, and make them one Nation, and a glorious People, and of this he will not repent.

But for the clearing up of this, underſtand, that when the fulneſs of the Gentiles is come in, then the Deliverer ſhall come to Sion, and ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob, Iſai. p. 12159.20. Rom. 11.26. Chriſt the Redeemer ſhall come, and gather the out-caſt of Iſrael, and the diſperſed of Judah from the four corners of the earth, Iſai. 11.12. And make the two Nations, of Iſrael, one Nation, neither ſhall they be divided into two Kingdomes any more at all, Ezek. 37.22. And perform the good thing to Iſrael, even the new Covenant, according to that in Jer. 31. Behold the dayes come, ſaith the Lord, that I will make a new Covenant with the houſe of Iſrael, and with the houſe of Judah, not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers, when I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the Land of Egypt, (which my Covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them) ſaith the Lord: But this ſhall be the Covenant, that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael after thoſe dayes, ſaith the Lord; I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people; and they ſhall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, ſaying, know the Lord, for all ſhall know me, from the leaſt of them to the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſin no more. And ſo a Nation, even all them that remain of Iſrael, ſhall be born at once, and ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Iſai. 66.8, 9, 10. p. 122Rom. 11.26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.

Object. But if any ſhould ſay, That theſe Scriptures were made good unto Iſrael, when they returned from the Captivity of Babylon.

Anſw. That cannot be, becauſe both the Houſes of Iſrael returned not at that time, and ſo could not be made one Nation; but when theſe Promiſes are made good, the two Nations are made one, and ſhall abide ſo forever, and ſhall be moved no more at all out of their own Land, Jer. 31.40. Conſider well the 37. of Ezekiel, eſpecially from the 16. verſe, to the end.

Alſo it cannot be, that theſe Scriptures can be fulfilled in the converſion of the Gentiles, they being ſo made Jews, for theſe Promiſes are made to the Houſe of Iſrael, and the Houſe of Judah, and the converted Gentiles are not called the Houſe of Iſrael, and the Houſe of Judah, in no place of Scripture.

Thirdly, Theſe things that are here promiſed to Iſrael, and Judah, cannot be made good to the Gentiles, becauſe the fulneſs of the Gentiles is to be come in, when theſe things ſhall be made good to Iſrael, Rom. 11.25. There the Apoſtle ſheweth, that he would not have us ignorant of this Myſtery, (leaſt we ſhould be wiſe in our own conceits) that blindneſſe in p. 123part is happened to Iſrael, until the fulneſs of the Gentiles be come in, and ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, as it is written.

Fourthly, Theſe Scriptures in the 11 of Iſa. 11. to the end, and chap. 59.20, 21. chap. 66.8, 9, 10. and Jer. 31. and Ezek. 37. and the Covenant in this place ſpoken of, doth belong to the houſe of Iſrael, and the houſe of Judah, and that will plainly appear, if you note well thoſe Scriptures mentioned, for Paul ſheweth us in the 11. of the Romans; All Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, as it is written, There ſhall come out of Sion the Delieverer, and ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob; for this is my Covenant unto them, when I ſhall take away their ſins. So the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the 59 of Iſai. the .20. applying it only to the houſe of Iſrael, and that the Covenant of the Lord is to them; ſo as to take away their ſins; yea it is plain, that he ſpeaks of the houſe of Iſrael after the fleſh, becauſe he ſaith, as concerning the Goſpel they are Enemies for your ſakes, but as touching the Election, they are beloved for the fathers ſake; ſo you may ſee as concerning the Goſpel, they are Enemies, but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers ſakes; that is, for Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob ſakes, for the Lords Covenant is with them, and ſo they are choſen, yea he ſpeaks of them w^ch ſhould come of them, which p. 124then were concluded in unbelief, ver. 32. which was the Jewes; therefore he ſpeaks not of the Converted Gentiles, but of the houſe of Iſrael according to the fleſh, for the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, verſ. 33. So I ſay, the Lord God hath determined to call Iſrael, and of this he will never repent.

Again, this doth further appear, that God will call again Iſrael after the fleſh, and teach them according to the new Covenant, ſo they ſhall know him and worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth; for Zechariah ſaith, Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, it ſhall yet come to paſs, that there ſhall come people, and the Inhabitants of many Cityes; and the Inhabitants of one City, ſhall go to another; ſaying, let us go ſpeedly to pray before the Lord, and to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts, I will go alſo; Yea many People, and ſtrong Nations, ſhall come to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts, in Jeruſalem, and to pray before the Lord; Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, in thoſe dayes, it ſhall come to paſs, that ten men ſhall take hold out of all Languages of the Nations; even ſhall take hold of the the skirt of him that is a Jew, ſaying, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you, Zech. 8.20, 21, 22, 23. And Micah faith, in the laſt days it ſhall come to paſs, that the mountaine of the houſe of the Lord ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and it ſhall be p. 125exalted above the hills, and people ſhall flow unto it. And many Nations ſhall come and ſay, come and let us go up to the mountaine of the Lord, and to the houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his wayes, and we will walk in his paths; for the Law ſhall go forth of Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem, Chap. 4.1, 2. But now men ſay, that theſe Scriptures were fulfilled when Judah retured from Babylon, for the Jewes after their return from Babylon never enjoyed ſuch things unto this day; (ſearch and ſee) and theſe Scriptures ſay, that they ſhall be fulfilled in the laſt dayes; and the Scriptures do not call them the laſt dayes that were before Chriſt came in the fleſh; therefore not fulfilled; but before the houſe of Iſrael ſhall be called ſo as to believe the Goſpel, as it hath been ſhewed, the Goſpel of the king dome muſt be preached in all the world, for a witneſs unto all Nations, Mat. 24.14. according to Revel. 14.6. And I ſaw another Angel flie in the middeſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel to preach unto them, that dwell on the earth; and to every Nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; And this muſt be a little before, and in the time of the fall of the Whore of Babylon, and the riſing of the man of ſin, the Antichriſt, as appeareth in verſ. the 8, 9. And to this agreeth, Mark 13.10. The Goſpel muſt firſt be preached p. 126among all Nations; compared with Mat. 24.14. and then the end ſhall be; So the Goſpel a little before the end ſhall be preached in the pure way thereof to all Nations; ſo the fulneſs of the Gentiles ſhall come in: But it doth and will ſo come to paſs, that now in this laſt of the laſt dayes, the Goſpel that is and ſhall be preached in the pure way thereof, and the Whore of Babylon falling, that the ſpirit of Antichriſt doth and will more and more appear, and the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin will come forth, whoſe coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders, 2. Theſ. 2. for the Antichriſt or Man of Sin, is not the Whore of Babylon; and for the right underſtanding of this truth, mark well theſe ſeven Particulars.

1. Firſt, Who is this great Whore of Babylon, and where her chief ſeat hath been, and is?

2. Secondly, Her fall and the means, how and by whom?

3. Thirdly, What is the ſpirit of Antichriſt, and who hath that ſpirit?

4. Fourthly, That the Antichriſt will be a ſingle perſon.

5. Fifthly, The manner of his riſing, and when?

p. 1276. Sixthly, Some of the great things he will doe.

7. Laſtly, His fall, when, and by whom?

Of theſe things in order:

But firſt I freely confeſs▪ That many honeſt men, fearing God in thoſe latter times, have been miſtaken in ſaying, that the Romiſh Whore of Babylon is the Antichriſt that the Scripture ſpeaks of; but men may ſee in this latter part of the laſt time, with a diligent and ſerious ſearch of the Scriptures, through grace, that the great Whore of Babylon is not the Antichriſt; And it being ſo, that God having ſhewed it me through the Scriptures, I being not accounted of in the world, knowing that God doth great things by them that are not eſteemed among men, that no fleſh ſhould glory, &c. And conſidering, that this which I do in this work may be ſeaſonable, and for much profit to the People of God, and for the praiſe and glory of God; I ſhall ſhew in brief, that the Whore is not the Antichriſt: And for the clearing up of this truth.

Firſt, you may ſee who this great Whore of Babylon is, by noting her chief ſeat where it is, and that is at Rome, for John ſaith, Rev. 17. That the great Whore of Babylon, which ſitteth upon many Waters, is that City which p. 128reigneth over the Kings of the earth; now Rome only was the chief City, and reigned over the Kings of the earth, when John wrote the Revelation; for when Chriſt was born, Auguſtus Ceſar taxed all the world, Luke 2.1, 2, 3. And when Paul appeals to Ceſar, they ſend him to Rome, Acts 25.11. Chap. 27.1. and 28.16. So it is plain by theſe Scriptures and many more, that when John wrote the Revelation, that Rome reigned over the kings of the earth; therefore the chief ſeat of this Woman the great Whore, the Mother of Whoredomes, is the City of Rome: ſo then the Pope and his Cardinals, Biſhops, with the reſt of the Clergy, (as they call themſelves) and all Miniſters that have Ordination from them immediately, or by ſucceſſion, which ſtand in a Nationall way, is the Whore that ſits upon many Waters; which is People, and Multitudes, and Nations, and tongues, Rev. 17.15.

Secondly, The Church of Rome, and all Nationall ſtanding, is truly ſaid to be Whoriſh, becauſe ſhe bringeth in members, and accounteth them of the Body or Church of Chriſt by Generation, and ſo maketh her Church Nationall; whereas the Church of Chriſt is by Regeneration, or new birth, Titus 3.5. And ſo not National nor Dependant, but particular, or Independant.

p. 129Thirdly, This appeareth fully, that the Church of Rome is a Mother of Harlots, and all National Churches that ſpring from her, are Whoriſh, and ſo are her daughters becauſe ſhe baptiſeth or ſpringleth upon a fleſhly account, and ſo accounteth of her Members in a fleſhly way by generation, and ſo brings in Infants in a lineal way, bringing in the old covenant in a confuſed manner, and ſo receiveth falſe ſeed, and ſo knoweth her members, and her children in a fleſhly way, contrary to the expreſſe way of Chriſt, as Paul ſheweth, Rom. 9.8. ſaith he, They which are the children of the fleſh are not the children of God, but the children of the promiſe are counted for the ſeed. And 2 Cor. 5.15, 16, 17. he ſheweth, that ſince the death of Chriſt, Henceforth know we no man after the fleſh, yea though we have known Chriſt after the fleſh, yet now henceforth know we him no more; therefore if any man be in Chriſt he is a new creature; old things are paſſed away, behold all things are become new.

Fourthly, The Church of Rome, the Lord Biſhops, and Presbyters which ſpring from her, for they hold their Ordination which they had of her, and their Infant-Baptiſme which the Church of Rome adminiſtred to them, and ſo ſhew themſelves to be Whoriſh; they have forſaken the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, (the Head) p. 130and his wayes, and have gone a whoring after their own inventions, as Iſrael did, Pſal. 106.39. For the Lord Jeſus aſcended up on high, and gave gifts to men; and ſo ſends forth a Miniſtry by gifts, for the gathering together of the Saints, for the work of the miniſtry, and for edification of the body of Chriſt, till we all meet together in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, &c. Epheſ. 4.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. But this Harlot contrariwiſe brings up her Miniſtry to humane learning, in ſending them to the Univerſities, and there they learn Philoſophy from Ariſtotle, a Heathen Author; and ſuch like, and for them that are gifted by the Lord, if they preach, ſhe forbids them. But on the contrary, note alſo, that the Miniſters of Chriſt miniſtring by gift, Rom. 12.6, 7. being qualified according to this, 1 Tim. 3. and Titus 1. and approved by the Congregation of the Lord, they are Choſen by them, and Ordained, and ſo made Biſhops, or Elders, Acts 1.21. to the end, chap. 6.3. and 14.23. But this Harlot makes her Miniſters, or rather Lords, without the conſent of her Pariſhes, and forceth them in upon them whether they will or no, and ſo her Maintetenance is by Tythes forced from men, bringing in the old Prieſthood; yea, in the time of the Law they did not impriſon men, if they did not p. 131pay their Tythes that we find, and yet ſhe doth; and ſo this Romiſh Harlot hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of her fornication; her Children are children of fornication, according to the fleſh by generation, a carnal ſeed conſiſting of Pariſhes, many of which conſiſt of Swearers, Liars, Drunkards, Whoremongers, and ſuch like; and a humane carnal miniſtry forced upon the people, and forced maintenance, and alſo her poor is maintained by force, and forcing men to worſhip with her, or elſe Fines, impriſonment, Baniſhment, or Death muſt be their portion; and alſo ſhe hath changed the Ordinances, and the manner of adminiſtring them, and the ſubject, and ſo her way is not the way of love, and ſo not the way of Chriſt, and yet ſhe ſaith in her heart and word, I am, and there is none elſe, I ſit being a Queen, and am no Widdow, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow; and ſo let every one weigh well what is ſaid, that the Saints at Rome were once famous, Rom. 1.8. but in time they departed from their eſpouſed Chriſt the Lord, and ſo came to change the Ordinances; and yet ſhe pretends to be the Spouſe of Chriſt, having a ſhew of all the Ordinances, or the names of them, for Believers baptiſme, ſhe hath Infants ſprinkling, and for Laying on of Hands, ſhe hath Confirmation, or Biſhoping, but the Presbyters have left this out, and in this p. 132they are nearer Antichriſt then the Lord Biſhops; and for Breaking of Bread, or the Lords Supper, that is in part miniſtred unto the People, or Pariſh, and ſo to the wrong ſubject, being not penitent, nor baptiſed perſons; and inſtead of the true Call to her Miniſtry, ſhe hath a humane way as hath been ſhewed, which is not mentioned in Scripture; and ſo Tythes and forced Maintenance, inſtead of that which is by free gift; and inſtead of ſinging with the Spirit, and with the underſtanding alſo, 1 Cor. 14.15. ſhe hath ſinging in Rhime, in a carnal formall way, many together without underſtanding, the Pſalms being collected into Engliſh meeter, by Tho. Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others; and ſo ſhe hath a glorious ſhew, and a golden cup, and through the Popes ſupremacy, and the Peter-pence, and prayer to Saints, and doctrine of Purgatory, and ſuch like trumpery, the Clergy is very rich, proud and covetous; and thus all may ſee the way of the Whore is National, Generational, Fleſhly, Carnal, Humane, after mens traditions; thus ſhe goeth a whoring after her own inventions; and ſo you have a brief diſcovery of the Whore of Babylon, which is the Mother of National Churches, her Daughters, and abominations of the earth, and is drunken with the bloud of the Saints, and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jeſus, Rev. p. 13317.5, 6. & that is & will be the cauſe of her fall, and that brings me to the ſecond thing, even the fall of this Whore of Babylon, & the manner how and by whom; and for the clearing up of this;

Firſt, conſider that this Woman ſits upon a ſcarlet colloured Beaſt, full of the names of blaſphemy, which had ſeven heads and ten hornes, Rev. 17.3. Now note, that five of them heads, or kings were fallen, when John wrote the Revelation, and the ſixt was then in being, verſ. 9, 10. Now this Woman the Harlot, was to ſit upon the ſixt head, and hath ſo done a long time, and ſo the beaſt that had ſeven Heads carrieth her & beareth her up, forthe Magiſtrates have ſupported her all along; underſtand alſo, that the fixt Head of the Beaſt hath reigned ever ſince the writing of the Revelation, but now is partly ſtrong and partly broken; & that the ſixt Head is not fallen, is plain if you note well, for the ſeventh Head when he cometh, he muſt continue a ſhort ſpace; now that head of the Roman Monarthy which is in being, hath continued long, even from before the birth of Chriſt; for Rome was governed by Emperours before the birth of Chriſt, Lnke 2.1. and the imperial power ſtandeth yet, though it be tranſlated into Germany; therefore the Imperial Head cannot be the ſeventh Head, becauſe that hath continued long; and that the ſeventh Head continueth p. 134but a ſhort ſpace, note, Rev. 17.10. Five are fallen, and one is, and another is not yet come, and when he cometh, he muſt continue a ſhort ſpace; Alſo mark well, that the power of the Pope and his Clergy, cannot be the ſeventh Head, for they have continued long.

Secondly, the Whore cannot be any of the Heads of the Beaſt, becauſe ſhe ſits upon, and is carried by the Beaſt that hath ſeven Heads, and ten Horns, ſo ſhe cauſeth the Beaſt to ſerve her, and maketh the Beaſts and the Kings of the earth ſlaves to her, to do her will; ſo then the ſixt Head of the Roman power is not fallen, though it be in part, and the ſeventh Head is now ariſing, which will take away the ſixth, and doth, will, and muſt give ſome liberty to preach the Goſpel, and to adminiſter the Ordinances in the old way thereof; and ſo the Lord God will bring things to paſs; for not one jot or tittle of his word ſhall fail; and ſo in the riſing and reign of the ſeventh Head, and the ten Hornes, the Angel ſhall flie in the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel, to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every Nation, and kindred, and tongue and people; ſaying with a loud voyce, fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worſhip him that made heaven and earth, the Sea, and the fountaines of waters, Rev. 14.6, 7. So the Goſpel p. 135and the way thereof being preached, the Nations will be enlightned, and ſo God will put it into the hearts of the ten Hornes, or Kings, to hate the Whore, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked and ſhall eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire. Rev. 17.12, 16. So through the preaching of the Goſpel in the pure way thereof, the great Whore of Babylon falleth, and ſo the hour of her judgment is come; and to this agreeth that in Rev. 14.6, 7, 8. which ſheweth, that after the Goſpel is preached to the Nations, then ſhall follow another Angel ſaying, it is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon the great City, for ſhe made all Nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, ver. 8. Much more might be ſpoken to this, but let this ſuffice as touching what the Whore is, and her fall, the manner how, and by whome?

In the next place, note diligently what the ſpirit of Antichriſt is, and who have that ſpirit; now John in his firſt Epiſtle, Chap. 4. And ver. 3. doth declare what the ſpirit of Antichriſt is; namely, every ſpirit that confeſſeth not that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh is not of God; and this is that ſpirit of Antichriſt, whereof you have heard that he ſhould come, and even now already is in the world. Alſo underſtand, that John did not intend the heathen that never did beleeve, nor the unbelieving Jewes, which never did acknowledge p. 136Chriſt come in the fleſh; but thoſe have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, that went out from the Church of Chriſt, Chap. 2.18, 19. John ſheweth them that it is the laſt time, and as you have heard, that Antichriſt ſhall come, even now are there many Antichriſts, whereby we know that it is the laſt time; They went out From us, &c. So that the ſpirit of Antichriſt, is that ſpirit that is found in them that have been enlightned, and have known the truth, and go out from the Church of Chriſt, and in a myſtery deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo Paul ſpeaketh of the Antichriſt, or Man of Sin, 2 Theſ. 2.7. ſaith, The Myſtery of iniquity, doth already work &c. and Peter ſpeaking to the Saints, ſaith (in his 2 Epiſtle. 2.1.) there ſhall be falſe teachers among you, who Privily, ſhall bring in damnable hereſies, even denying the Lord that Bought them, and bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction; So the ſpirit of Antichriſt denyes Chriſt come in the fleſh ſecretly, and they that have this ſpirit, ſay, Chriſt is come in their fleſh, and ſo ſay the light within them is Chuiſt; when at the beſt it is but the light of nature, and in many the ſpirit of errour; their light being become darkneſs, being delivered up to ſtrong deluſion, to believe lyes, thinking they have Chriſt in them, when it is a ſpirit of errour, and ſo pervert the ſence of the Scriptures, declaring the Annointing, and the p. 137Annointed to be all one, teaching up the ſpirit of Chriſt, apart from the Body of Chriſt, to be the Chriſt, or rather the ſpirit of error in them, to be the Chriſt come in their fleſh; & ſo in a very deceivable ſecret way, deny Chriſtcome in the fleſh, in ſaying, he is the Chriſt that is within them, which is an evil ſpirit, ſo applying the Scriptures that ſpeak of the ſpirit of Chriſt dwelling in men, to be that evil ſpirit in them; ſo declaring that ſpirit of errour in them apart from the body, or fleſh of Chriſt, to be the Chriſt, & ſo deny Chriſt come in the fleſh; but note well, what the Scriptures of truth ſaith, they declare that Jeſus Chriſt was ſlain, Act. 2.22, 23. Chap. 3.15. Chap. 4.10. in Chap. 5.30. Peter who was full of the holy Ghoſt, ſaith, the God of our fathers hath Raiſed up Jeſus, whom ye flew, and hanged on a tree; & Paul ſaith to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. Firſt of all, I delivered unto you, that which I received, how that Chriſt died for our ſins, according to the Scriptures, and that he was Burſed, & that he Aroſe the third day according to the Scriptures; So it is plain, that the ſpirit apart from the body or fleſh of Chriſt, is not the Chriſt; & therefore again note, what Paul ſaith, 1 Tim. 2.5. There is one God, & one meditatour, between God & man, which is the Man Chriſt Jeſus; and Heb. 10.10. ſheweth, that the Hebrewes were ſanctified by the offering of the body of Jeſus Chriſt, ver. 19.20. Seeing therefore brethren, that by the p. 138Blood of Jeſus, we may be bold to enter into the holieſt; by the new and living way, which he hath conſecrated for us through the vail, that is, his Fleſh. So that Jeſus, that was Baptiſed of John in the River Jordan, was anointed with the oyl of gladneſs above his fellowes, Mat. 3.13, 16. Pſal. 45.7. So Jeſus the Saviour is the annointed of God, for he gave him not his Spirit by meaſure. John. 3.34. and ſo the ſpirit of the Lord did reſt and abide upon the Man Chriſt Jeſus, Iſa. 11.2. John 1.32. So then the ſpirit of God, or of Chriſt, apart from the Body of Chriſt, is not the Chriſt.

Therefore moſt abominable is that which men ſay, that that which is in them is Chriſt, when it is a ſpirit of errour, and ſo men may ſee how through this Myſtery of iniquity, men come to ſay they are Chriſt; for conſider, if the ſpirit in ſome man be the Chriſt, what hindreth him to ſay he is Chriſt; and therefore ſome one preſumes to ſay he is Chriſt; Let no man miſtake me, for I ſay that the ſpirit of God doth dwell in the Saints, & that Chriſt doth dwell in their hearts by faith; but note, that faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11.1. So the juſt live by faith, and look for the Son of God from heaven, whom he raiſed from the dead, even Jeſus who delivereth us from the wrath to come. But to return, ſo as to ſhew yet further, who hath the ſpirit of Antichriſt, & they p. 139are ſuch as race out the Ordinances of Chriſt, which came in being when Chriſt came in the fleſh, which plainly declare Chriſt come in the fleſh, dead, and riſen again, as baptiſme of Water, and Breaking of Bread, which doth declare the Lords death till he come, 1 Cor. 11.26. Rom. 6.34. Col. 2.12. Now there are a ſort of men which ſay, to know or acknowledge Chriſt in the practice of thoſe Ordinances, is formal and ſleſhly. low, and carnal, and ſo reject the counſel of God, and will not be Baptiſed; and ſo not walking up in the Ordinances that did come in being, when Chriſt came in the fleſh, and do ſo excellently declare him come in the fleſh, and are to continue untill Chriſt come from heaven, and change our vile bodies, and make them like his moſt glorious body, Phil. 3.20, 21. I ſay, thoſe that do ſlight and reject thoſe Ordinances, and ſay, they are formal, and will not practice them, have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, & do deny Chriſt come in the fleſh; becauſe they will not practice thoſe Ordinances that declare Chriſt come in the fleſh; yea, more fully then the Whore, for ſhe hath a ſhew, and ſo a remembrance of the Ordinances; though ſhe have changed the ſubject, & the manner as aforeſaid; but Theſe root out the very being of them (as much as in them lieth) and ſo deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, & ſo are diſcovered to have the ſpirit of Antichriſt. Alſo thoſe that have been en, p. 140lightened, and have believed the Reſurrection of the body, and alſo the eternal Judgment, and then come to queſtion it, and deny it, and ſay the Judgment day is come, have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, for Chriſt being put to death in the fleſh, and riſing again from the dead, ſo bringeth in the Reſurrection of the Bodies of all men, & then cometh in the eternal Judgment, according to that in Act. 17.30, 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteouſneſs, by that Man whom he hath appointed, whereof he hath given aſſurance to all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead; ſo as by man came death, by man came alſo the Reſurrection of the dead; For as in Adam all die, ſo in Chriſt ſhall all be made alive, but every man in his own order; the firſt fruits is Chriſts, afterward they that are of Chriſt, at his coming, 1 Cor. 15.21, 22, 23. So Chriſt being come in the fleſh, the Man Chriſt, Saviour, died and roſe again, and ſo comes in the Reſurrection, and no otherwiſe; therefore they that have been enlightned in the Reſurrection, & the eternal Judgment, and come to ſay they are in the Reſurrection, or that it is paſt already, and ſo deny the Reſurrection of the body, deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo have the ſpirit of Antichriſt; and therefore John writing to the Saints, warning them that they take beed of the Antichriſtian ſpirit, that they be not p. 141deceived, exhorteth them thus; Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning; if that which you have heard from the beginning ſhall remaine in you; yea alſo ſhall continue in the Son, and in the Father, 1 John 2.24. read alſo for this purpoſe the whole Chapt. Now that which they heard from the beginning, was the beginning word of Chriſt, (according to that of Paul, 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. which he delivered firſt of all to the Corinthians, That Chriſt Died for our ſins, according to the Scriptures, &c.) and the firſt Principles of the word of God, which is the Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, to wit, Repentance from dead works, and of Faith towards God, the Doctrine of Baptiſmes, and of Laying on of Hands, and of the Reſurrection of the dead, and of eternal Judgment, Heb. 5.12. Chap 6.1, 2. Now theſe Principles of the teachings of Chriſt, came in being, by and through Chriſt, being manifeſt in fleſh, his death and Reſurrection, as hath been ſhewed before; therefore, whoſoever tranſgreſſeth, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Chriſt, hath not God, for he denies Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo he hath the ſpirit of Antichriſt, 2 John 6.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and ſo there was many that had the ſpirit of Antichriſt in the Apoſtle Johns time, and ſo many Antichriſts, they are ſaid to be Antichriſts, becauſe they have the ſpirit of the Man of Sin, the p. 142Antichriſt, 1 John 2.18. Chap. 4.2, 3. But the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin, ſhall be poſſeſſed will the Spirit of the Devil, above his fellows, and ſo is ſaid to be, The Antichriſt, The Man of Sin; And ſo having in part declared what is the Spirit of Antichriſt, and who hath that Spirit, I come now to the fourth thing which is,

That Antichriſt will be a ſingle perſon.

And for the proof of this; firſt conſider how the Antichriſt is ſet out in Scripture, in the ſingular number, not in the plural; as the Man of Sin▪ 2 Theſ. 2.3. not men, and Iſa. 14.16. Is this the Man that made the earth to tremble, and did ſhake the Kingdomes, the Son of the morning, and Son of perdition? not ſons; the vile Perſon, not Perſons, Dan. 11.21. Iſa. 24.12. there fell a great Star from Heaven, not Stars.

Object. This in Iſa. 14. was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel of Chaldee.

Anſw. That cannot be, for after this power, that is there ſpoken of is faln, the whole world is at reſt, and is quiet, they ſing for joy; yea, the Furr-trees rejoyce at thee, and the Cedars of Lebanon, ſaying; ſince thou art laid down, no feller is come up againſt us, verſ. 7.8. Now the world did not enjoy ſuch a reſt as is p. 143there ſpoken of, ſo as that no Feller came up againſt the People of God no more; for ſince the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and that Monarchies fall, there hath come up many fellers, or deſtroyers of the Jewes, and the believing Gentiles, as is clear, that Antiochus and the Romans againſt the Jewes, and the Whore of Babylon againſt the Chriſtians; and again the Apoſtle in 2 Theſ. 2. takes up the ſame words in ſubſtance, and applies them to the man of ſin, which is the Antichriſt; therefore that in Iſa. cannot be fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar; (for this compare Iſa. 14.13, 14. with 2 Theſ. 2, 4.) though he might be a type of Antichriſt.

Secondly, it appears that the Antichriſt will be but one man (though many have his ſpirit, and ſo many Antichriſts) becauſe it will ſute beſt with his way of deluſion, for he will pretend he is the very Chriſt, and will cauſe fire to come down from Heaven on earth in the ſight of men, Rev. 13.13. and ſo he will endeavour to imitate Chriſt in all things, for as the Lord Chriſt ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that Obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: ſo the Antichriſt, will make fire come down from heaven in the ſight of men, he will endeavour p. 144to make all the Scriptures that ſpeak of Chriſts coming, and of his raign to meet upon him; So his coming will be after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſigns, and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableneſs of unrighteouſneſs in them that periſh, becauſe they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved, 2 Theſ. 2.9, 10. So, as there is the Man Chriſt Jeſus, the Son of the living God, which came in his Fathers name, Mat. 16.16. John 5.4, 3. without ſin, 1 Pet. 2.22. So there will be the Man of Sin, the Antichriſt, which will come in his own name, and profeſs to be the Chriſt, but will be directly an enemy againſt Chriſt and his People.

And ſo I come to the fifth thing; which is, the manner of Antichriſts riſing, and by what means; for the clearing up of this; Firſt, conſider that the Goſpel, and the way thereof, is to be purely preached, and the Ordinances rightly adminiſtred, and ſo the Angel is to fly in the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and People, Rev. 14.6. And ſo the Goſpel being preached to the Nations, and the Ordinances Adminiſtred in the good old way, according to the Scriptures, men come to be enlightened, as many are in theſe p. 145nations where the Kingly power is fallen, that did ſupport the Whore, and would not give liberty of conſcience; ſo I ſay, as the Goſpel comes to be miniſtred, in the old way thereof, men come to be enlightned, the power of the Whore falleth, and men ſlighting, and rejecting the truth, and alſo many of them that do receive and obey the truth, fall and depart from the faith, and ſo receiving not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved; for this cauſe God doth, and will ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe a lye, 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11. And ſo are given up to the Spirit of Antichriſt; and ſo the Apoſtle Paul ſheweth, that the day of Chriſts coming ſhall not come except there come a falling away firſt, and that man of ſin be revealed, the ſon of perdition, 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8. Chap. 2.3. and ſo the Spirit ſpeaking expreſly, that in the latter times ſome ſhall depart from the faith, giving heed to ſeducing Spirits, and Doctrine of Devils, ſpeaking lies in hypocriſie, having their conſcience ſeared with an hot Iron; forbidding to marry, &c. as in 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. And the Apoſtle Peter writing to the Saints in his ſecond Epiſtle, Chap. 2.1, 2. ſheweth, that there ſhall be falſe teachers among you, who ſhall privily bring in damnable Hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon p. 146themſelves ſwift deſtruction; and many ſhall follow their pernitious wicked wayes; by reaſon of whom the way of truth ſhall be evil ſpoken of; and Chap. 3.3, 4. he ſaith, that there ſhould be ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts, ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming, &c. and ſo men tranſgreſſing and abiding not in the Doctrine of Chriſt, fall from the faith of the Goſpel; and ſo the ſpirit of God departs from them, and an evil ſpirit is ſent unto them, which is the ſpirit of Antichriſt, ſo out from them that thus fall away, and go out from the Church, 1 John 2.19. and ſo ſeperate themſelves, ſenſual, having not the ſpirit, as Jude hath it, verſ. 19. and alſo from them that have been enlightened, and have neglected to walk up in truth, and ſo reject the counſel of God, as the Lawyers and Phariſees did, Luke 7.30. ſo I ſay, from them that ſo fall away, and neglect to hear and obey the Goſpel, from them ariſeth the Antichriſt, or man of ſin.

Again, the ſixth Head of the Roman Monarchie, which is the imperial, or Kingly power, hath alwayes, and doth by the guidance of the Pope and the National Miniſtry (which rides upon the Beaſt as hath been ſhewed) perſecute men for their Conſciences, and ſo hath let and hindered the Goſpel from being preached, and p. 147the Ordinances from being rightly adminiſtred, and ſo the light of truth was exceedingly kept back, and but few received it, and them that did receive it, ſhe perſecuted, ſome ſhe put to death, others ſhe baniſhed, or cauſed to fly into ſtrange Countries, and into howling wilderneſſes, others impriſoned, and fined, and ſo ſhe cometh to be drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus, and ſo the Goſpel could not be declared in the pure way thereof, to every Nation, kindred, tongue, and people, Rev. 14.6. And ſo alſo, if any did ariſe that had the ſpirit of Antichriſt, ſhe took him off alſo, and ſo ſhe pluck'd up much wheat, and tares alſo, contrary to that of Mat. 13.29, 30. Let both grow together until Harveſt, &c. So the ſixt Head of the Roman Monarchy being rid upon, & guided by the Whore, did let the Goſpel from being preached, and the Antichriſt from riſing; and ſo I think that the fixth Head did hinder the coming in of the man of Sin in the Apoſtles dayes, for the Emperours being heathens then, perſecuted the Saints, and ſo that ſixth Head ſupporting, and carrying the Whore alſo, ſo as that it did let, and will let, until it be taken out of the way, 2 Theſ. 2.6, 7. but now the ſixth Head being in part taken away; and the ſeventh Head ariſing, he giving ſome liberty p. 148of conſcience, the Goſpel is preached, and truth appears, and many receive the knowledg of it, and obey it, and many fall away from it, and ſo the ſpirit of Antichriſt ariſeth, and ſo the ſeventh Head of the Roman Beaſt ſhall take away the ſixth Head, and ſhall continue a ſhort ſpace, Rev. 17.10. and ſo the ten Horns alſo ſhall ariſe in one hour with the beaſt that was, and is not, even he is the Eighth, and is of the Seventh, verſ. 11, 12. and ſo is the little Horn that Daniel ſpeaks of, Dan. 7.11, 24, 25. and the laſt power, or Beaſt, the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin, and ſo the ſeventh Head and ten Horns, or Kings giving liberty, the ſervants of God ſends forth the truth as it is in Jeſus, miniſtring in the Goſpel glad tidings of the Kingdome to the Nations, men come to know the truth, and ſo are enlightened with it, and ſo many may come to ſhine as Stars, and yet fall away as the Antichriſt, or man of ſin, himſelf will be ſome notable man ſhining as a Star for a time, yet afterward falling from the truth, according to that in Rev. 8.10, 11. The third Angel ſounded and there fell a great Star from Heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters, and the name of the Star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters p. 149became Worm-wood, and many men dyed of the waters, becauſe they were made bitter. So the man of Sin falls from the truth, or true Church, as a great Star from Heaven, burning like a Lamp, through Satans transforming himſelf as into an Angel of light, and ſo falls upon the rivers, and fountains of waters, ſo that he maketh them bitter: ſo the ſweet promiſes of the Goſpel; and the way of Chriſt, in which men ſhall be made partakers of the waters of life, and ſo made glad in the City of God, are ſo made bitter like Wormwood, changing the taſte of them, ſo that many men die of thoſe waters, according to that of Jude 12. Twice dead plucked up by the roots; and thus he cauſeth men to fall, ſo that the third part of the Sun is ſmitten, and the third part of the Moon, and the third part of the Stars, ſo as the third part of them is darkned, and the day ſhone not for a third part of it, nor the night likewiſe, Rev. 8.12. The Sun is hear compared to the Church, becauſe the Church or Saints through Chriſt are ſaid to be the light of the world, Mat. 5.14. and ſo Jacob who is called Iſrael, according to Joſephs dream, is compared to the Sun, Gen. 37.9, 10. The Moon I take to be the world, or the Whore, the falſe Church, which hath her light from the true Church, as the Moon hath her light from p. 150the Sun, the Stars are the eminent teachers in the Churches, Rev. 1.20. and this in the eight chapter before ſpoken of, is an allegory, becauſe the waters are ſaid to become Wormwood, and yet men drink of them, which cannot be, if they were made Wormwood; therefore it is Allegorical, that the word of the Goſpel in the miniſtration of the Prophets is compared to water, look Ezek. 34.18, 19. Iſa. 55.1. Rev. 22.17. So then a many of the Church will fall from the faith, and the Stars, the Elders, or chief teachers alſo, and many of the World, or falſe Church that ſhall be enlightened, and will not obey, ſhall be darkned, and ſo ſhall loſe that light they have, and ſo ſhall be given up to groſs darkneſs, and ſo after a great falling away from the truth; So the man of Sin, the Antichriſt is revealed, and getteth the power and rule by flatteries, after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſigns, and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableneſs of unrighteouſneſs; and So oppoſeth & exalteth himſelf above all that is called God, or is worſhiped; ſo that He as God, ſitteth in the temple of God, ſhewing himſelf that he is God, Dan. 11.21. 2 Theſ. 2.3, 4, 9, 10. And ſo I come to the ſixth Particular, which is,

Some of the great things that the man of Sin willdo, with his falſe Prophet.

p. 151Which in the firſt place take what Daniel ſaith of him, ſetting him out by a little Horne, Chap. 7.8, 11, 24, 25. he ſaith, That he ſhall ſubdue three Kings, and he ſhall ſpeak Great words againſt the moſt high, and ſhall wear out the Saints of the moſt high, and think to change times and lawés; and they ſhall be given into his hand, untill a time, and times, and the deviding of times; And ſo he ſhall reign in full power three years and a half, for time is taken for one year, times, for two years, and half a time, for half a year, as in Dan. 4.25. ſome tranſlation reads, for ſeven times, ſeven years, and ſo the woman Cloathed with the Sun, that flies from him into the wilderneſs, and is there three years and a half, Rev. 12.1, 14. ſo he ſhall preſecute the Saints of the moſt high, ver. 11, 17. and the falſe prophet cauſeh the firſt beaſt whoſe deadly wound was healed, to be worſhipped, and he doth great wonders, ſo that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the ſight of men; & deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by means of thoſe miracles, which he ſhall have power to do in the ſight of the beaſt; ſaying, to them that dwell on the earth, that they ſhould make an image to the beaſt, which had the wound by a ſword, & did live; & had power to give life, or breath to the image of the beaſt, that the image of the beaſt ſhould both ſpeak, and cauſe that as many as p. 152would not worſhip the image of the beaſt, ſhould be killed; and he cauſeth all both ſmall and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to give a mark in their right hands, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or ſell, ſave he that had the marke, or the name of the beaſt, or the number of his name, Rev. 13.11, to 18. So the Beaſt that hath a wound with a ſword, that is, the ſeventh Head is ſlain to death, yet he having another which is of the ſeventh, and is the eighth, and ſo liveth; and ſo it is the Beaſt that was, and is not, and yet is, and ſo the falſe Prophet ſhall by miracles, cauſe the world to worſhip the Beaſt, the man of ſin, the Antichriſt, as God, ſitting in the temple of God, ſhewing himſelf that he is God, 2 Theſ. 2.4. and cauſe as many as will not worſhip the beaſt or his image, to be killed; and ſo the fallen Star before mentioned, which is the Beaſt, the Antichriſt, aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs pit, the key of the bottomleſs pit being given him, he openeth the bottomleſs pit, and then ariſeth a ſmoak out of the pit, as the ſmoak of a furnace, and the Sun, and the air, will be darkned, by reaſon of the ſmoak of the Pit, Rev. 11.7. Chap. 9.1, 2. and neer the end of his raign, when the ſixt Vial is poured, or pouring out, then ſhall come three unclean ſpirits like frogs out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the p. 153falſe Prophet; for they are the ſpirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty; and he gathered them together to a place, called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon, Rev. 16.12, 13, 14, 16. which is into the Land of Canaan, according to Joel 3.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Multitudes, multtudes in the valley of deciſion; and ſo I come to the ſeventh particular; which is.