The Temple Measured, Part 13
Concerning the retention of unnatural mediums or means of Worſhip invented by Antichriſt: or mediums neither natural according to the firſt Commandment, nor Inſtituted according to the ſecond Commandment.
VNnatural mediums or means of Worſhip forged by man (though but in circumſtances) are forbid in the ſecond Commandment. 1. To chuſe a medium leſs effectual, when another more effectual may be obtained, is carnal preſumption. A medium in ſome circumſtances natural, is (in unnatural circumſtances) no other then an humane Inſtitution, never tolerated in the Word of God; though Gods own Inſtitutions were tolerated, and might be in point of honorable obſequy due unto them. 2. Such as are Antichriſtian, being badges of falſe, Religion, and in ſtate Idolothy tors, do not only weaken, but alſo pollute and defile the Worſhip of God; appurtenances of Abomination never allowed in Gods Worſhip. 3. They are ſcandalous to the weak, and harden the Papiſts in their Idolatry. The cutting down of Groves, the breaking in pieces the Brazen Serpent, may not carry ſo far as to ſtrike at natural mediums of Worſhip, in caſe they are polluted. The Law of Moſes touching ſuch things, ſeems to have ſome intimate relation to the Ceremonial purity of the Jewiſh Church; yet they contradict the uſe of ſuch things in circumſtances of abuſe.Rom. 14. The Apoſtle forbids the eating of lawful meats in circumſtances offenſive. The example of Chriſt and the Saints in Scripture doth oppoſe all active obedience to mans Traditions, in the Worſhip of God. To inſtance in kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, it is unnatural to a table Prayer, to the Inſtitution of the feaſt, though it be not a direct Inſtitution of it ſelf. Chriſt applieth and preſſeth ſitting at Table (Luke 22.) as ſignificant, at leaſt connaturally with the feaſt it ſelf, it being connatural to the nature of the feaſt. Sitting at the Paſsover was an Inſtitution, elſe how came ſtanding (which was Inſtituted at the firſt) to be abrogated? eſpecially conſidering the eating of unleavened bread (which in part ſignified the ſame with ſtanding) was all along retained. And if the Table at the inſtant of the Sacrament be ſignificant, why not ſitting at the Table? Reſt is frequently an Emblem of our bliſs in the kingdom of God, and ſitting down in the Kingdom of God (in Scripture phraſe) is Analogical thereunto,Mat. 8.11. Rev. 3.11. Luke 22.30. and 13.29. The Jews had a Land of reſt, both we and they a Sacrament of reſt, Heb. 10.12. and 4.1, 2, 3, 4, &c. and why ſhould we ſwerve from the example of Chriſt, and joyn iſſue with Antichriſt? When there appears no natural occaſion of alteration, nay when it appears that the practiſe of our Lord was moſt conſonant naturally to his Inſtitution. I do not ſuppoſe ſitting to be an abſolute Inſtitution; yet it is clear that a Table geſture (as circumſtances may neceſſitate) is ſignum natum, dependent upon an Inſtitution (ex hypotheſi) a natural medium, and an Inſtitution correſpondent to the Sacrament. To draw to a period. Antichriſt hath been and is to be diſcovered by degrees. Truth is the daughter of time. Achan was taken firſt in the Tribe of Judah, Ioſh. 7.then in the Family of the Zarhites, then in Zabdi, laſtly Achan the Son of Carmi was taken in his own perſon. God hath by a ſupetnatural lot of providence directed the witneſſes of truth in the Reformed Church hitherto, and yet all Antichriſtian Achaniſm is not diſcovered, truth daily revives out of the ruine and ſmoke of Popery. The Proteſtant Church is (as Phyſitians ſpeak) in neutralitate convaleſcentiae. Many Babyloniſh garments, fat Beaſts for Sacrifice are ſtill reſerved, though Amalek be ſlain: the throne of Satan in reſpect of Epiſcopal Authority remains; Agag is yet alive, though a Captive. How can it be but that the Ark ſhould totter all the while it is put into the new Cart of new Doctrines, and new Ceremonies of Papal preſumptions? All the duſt of Popery muſt be drunk up with juſt indignation,Deut. 9.24. and waſhed away with the water of Chriſts blood, and Iſraels Repentance, before God will be reconciled. It is for want of zeal that we do not feel the ſtink of all the Reliques of Popery, and ſtop our noſes until they are interred, Ezek 39. There was a Levite in the time of the Judges that went after his Concubine to ſetch her home,Iudg. 19. & 20. but …agring and delaying in eating and drinking was benighted, and forced in his return to turn into Gibeah, where his Concubine was polluted, and deſtroyed by men of Belial. The Elders of the Church are fitly repreſented by this Levite, in precedent ages they have been too negligent in expediting the Church to his home, and too indulgent to themſelves in eaſe and earthly pleaſures: hence the Church hath been benighted with Popiſh ignorance, defiled and deſtroyed by Antichriſt, by men of Belial. Now let the Levite beſtir himſelf, and give notice to all the Tribes of Iſrael concerning this Abomination. This muſt be done by diſmembring the Romiſh Church or Concubine,Iſa. 66.8. and by ſending the parts thereof of all Popery over all Iſrael. A voyce of Propheſie from the City, from the Temple muſt be heard againſt it. We have been a long time comparſing the walls of Jericho with ſilent patience. Now it is high time for the Prieſts to blow the Trumpets, and for all Iſrael to ſhout together. After the three days and half of extremeſt affliction (Rev. 11.) the witneſſes ſhall put off their Sack cloth,Multum intereſt gladio an arte ſolvatur nodus. Antichriſt ſhall come down. The zeal of the Tribes in Iſrael, haſtned the fall of Benjamin; there is hope if all Iſrael would concur to the burning of Achan, and all that belongeth to him, Babylon were come to an end.1 King. 17. Mal. 4.5. Matth. 3. The Miniſters of the Reformed Church, the witneſſes of truth, are eminently the antitypical Eliah. John the Baptiſt was the Eliah of Chriſts firſt coming;Rev. 11. & 12. the Proteſtant witneſſes the Eliah of his ſecond coming. They correſpond in their Wilderneſs habitation, Wilderneſs habit, and Wilderneſs dyer, they correſpond in Prophetical Power, and Prophetical Doctrine. Eliah prayeth and it raineth not, and he prayeth and it doth rain; the witneſſes have the like power, Rev. 11.6. Eliah brings down fire from Heaven, ſo do the witneſſes, Rev. 11.5. Eliah Propheſieth concerning the deſtruction and extirpation of the ten Tribes, the witneſſes of the deſtruction, deſolation, and extirpation of Apoſtatixed Chriſtendom. The Lord hath been a lopping and felling a long time, but now the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree, Antichriſt and Antichriſtianiſm ſhall be cut down, and plucked up by the root, and caſt into unquenchable fire. The Pope, like that grand Hypocrite Abſolon, hath conſpired againſt our David, and to make the Kingdom ſure unto himſelf, hath openly adulterated the Viſible Church; but he ſhall be taken, even by the long hair of his Phariſaical Doctrines, and ſhall be deſtroyed, and hanged up, to perpetual ſhame and contempt, Daniel 12.2.