Thirty-One Select Sermons, Sermon collection · Sermon 3
Babylons utter ruine, THE SAINTS Triumph.
At a Thankſgiving for the victory of Ireland, againſt the Iriſh, Aug. 29. 1649.
REVEL. 18.2.
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, &c.
THE great works of the Saints in this life, are to believe Gods promiſes, and to ſerve his providence, and reflect his praiſes; and it is the great thing that God doth expect as the fruit of all his marvellous works, that when his works do praiſe him (that is) give matter of praiſe, his Saints ſhould bleſs him, Pſal. 145.10. and for this cauſe there are three titles given unto the Saints in the Scripture.
Firſt, they are ſaid to be foreign thoſe that take delight in the works of the Lord: they being all of them wonderful and glorious, and only to be admired: whereas other men only ſtudy the works of men, and be taken with them, but they only take pleaſure in ſtudying the works of God.
Secondly, they are called foreign taking pleaſure in them, they ſtudy them and ſearch into them, that they may find out all the excellency and glory that is in them; which at firſt ſight no man is able to find out, Pſalm 111.2.
Thirdly, they are called, foreign the Lords Recorders, Iſa. 62.6. they received the promiſes of God, and their accompliſhment; & of theſe things the hearts of the Saints are a faithful Regiſter; his mercies are written in their hearts as well as his Laws: the one that they may ſerve him; and the other that they may rejoyce in him.
Now you that have pleaſure in the works of God, ye are come before the Lord this day to enter an eminent National mercy upon publike record; and if ye ſearch into it, after a diligent ſcrutiny ye will find there are theſe ſix things ſpecially to be obſerved therein.
Firſt; it is a return not only of late, but of antient prayers: It is one of the great Queſtions that the Saints of God have as matter to diſpute in all the mercies that they receive, whether they have them as effects of providence, or as the heirs of the promiſe: whether they have of them only a jus Politicum, or Evangelicum? the one indeed non fundatur in Gratiâ; but the other is: now if it be given in anſwer to prayers, it is a birth of the promiſe, which the prayers of the Saints help to deliver, Iſa. 37.3. but ſpecially when mercies have been long delayed, and the anſwers of prayers have been long deſerr'd: whe… Abraham had prayed for a child twenty years then to have the promiſe ſpeak: and when thechildren of Iſrael had prayed 70. year, then when they were even out of hopes, and gave their prayers for loſt, now to be anſwered in them, made them to be like them that dream; to recover an old debt, and to receive a ſhip ſafe home and richly laden that hath been long at Sea, and we know not what was become of it, it comes home with the greater joy: Why doth the Lord delay the anſwers of the prayers of his people? not that he doth not intend to grant them; for Bernard, Bernard.Priuſquam engr…ſſa eſt oratto ex ore tuo, ipſe ſcribi jubet in libro ſuo.
But he doth wait to be gracious. Now delaying of the mercy doth raiſe the price of it; now ye come to reap of the harveſt of many of your prayers that are paſt and gone, that you even now gave for loſt: there is a twofold joy that the Scripture ſpeaks of as tranſcendent; the joy of harveſt, and the joy of ſouldiers when they divide the ſpoil: and truly there is matter of both theſe joyes in this mercy adminiſtred to you; for you divide the ſpoil of the enemie, and with all you reap to your ſelves the harveſt of all your former prayers and petitions: Oh how did the pulpits in times paſt ſound with ſuch words as theſe, Lord, remember bleeding and dying Ireland; Lord, this is Ireland that is a caſt-out peopl…, hat none cares for; but when thou makeſt inquiſition for blood remember them, &c. and thoſe prayers which were put up from many a gracious heart, which are now anſwered, though now many of them haply are diſpleaſed and diſcontented with the return of their own prayers.
Secondly, it is a mercy given in when all things were deſperate, and even all hope of a deliverance was gone: Now is God a help found in the needful time of trouble: when the enemies power and confidence was high, and they ſaid Ireland is our own: we will purſue them, even take them and ſatisfie our luſts upon them: we will ſurely root out the Engliſh name from amongſt us, and we will try if they can ſwim into England: it may be their faith will bear them up, as that partie hath alwayes ſcoffed at godlineſs in all their ſucceſſes; but be no more mockers leaſt your bonds increaſe.
Now when you had not an Armie in the field, the whole Kingdom was their own, and not a Garriſon left in the whole Kingdom but one and that brought to the very brink of deſtruction alſo, and muſt have been ſurrendred ſpeedily after they made their approaches to it; Now God gives in the mercy, now doth the Lord judge his people, and repent him concerning his ſervants: when he ſees that their power is gone, and that there is none ſhut up or left, Deut 32.36. when there is no Army in the field, no ſouldiers in garriſon: now is the time that the Lord doth appear, and take to himſelf his great power and raign.
Thirdly, when the Lord doth therein exceed the expectations of his ſervants; a deliverance they hoped for, but not ſo great, not ſo ſudden, ſo that when it came they ſeemed as men that dream, and they can ſcarce believe that God would do ſo great things for them, when the Lord is come to do them: when the ſon of man comes, ſhall he find faith upon earth? its a faith in reference to the coming of Chriſt for to take vengeance on the Churches adverſaries, Iſa. 64.3. thou didſt great things for us which we looked not for; for God doth not anſwer prayers according unto our hopes, but according to his own mercies; as he doth not reward our ſervices according to the meaſure of our duty, but in the mouth of mercy, Hoſ. 10.12. a man doth ſow in duty, but he doth reap—in ore—miſericordiae.
Fourthly, when it is by the hand of thoſe whom they have oppreſſed; when the witneſſes that were ſlain ſhall riſe again, and they ſhall deſtroy their perſecutors by the ſword that comes out of their mouthes, then it is the greater mercy, and far the greater confuſion unto the enemy; Iſa. 41.15. When the worm Jacob ſhall threſh the mountains, and when the arm of the Lord ſhould be made bare in it, and his hand more immediately ſeen, beyond the purpoſe, courage and intention of men, they are engaged before they are aware, and victorie is won before they know they are engaged in a Battle: when the Lord ſhall bend Judah for him, and fill his bow with Ephraim, and they ſhall have the honour of the conqueſt, that have had their great ſhare in their Torments, and were by the enemies deſigned for deſtruction, and they ſhall fall by their hand, it makes the mercy far the greater.
Fifthly, when it is ſuch a mercy as lets us ſee ſtill that God owns the ſame cauſe, and however men warp and turn too and fro, yet the good old cauſe in which the people of God were engaged againſt the Antichriſtian party, the Lord owns that cauſe ſtill, and gives unto his people hereby hopes of a ſettlement: For the Lord Chriſt when he rides forth in the conqueſt of the Goſpel, he doth ride forth conquering and to conquer (not all at once) but by degrees, and doth give to his people yet a ground of their faith to ſee, if they be of the ſeed of the Jews before whom they have begun to fall, they ſhall ſurely fall; God hath given us therein, Hoſ. 2.15. the vally of Achor for a door of hope; it is true that Achor was a pleaſant vally, and it was ſweet in it ſelf; therefore it was joyned with Carmel and Baſhan; but yet it was much more ſweet in reference to the hope: for it was at the firſt entrance into the Land of Canaan, and as the firſt fruits gives them poſſeſſion of the whole.
Sixthly, it is ſtill a carrying on of the grand deſign that the Lord Chriſt hath to do in the world in the latter daies; for Chriſt in glory hath not only Saints to gather home to himſelf, and to bind them all up in a bundle of life, and he doth raign for their ſakes, for he is the head over all things for the Churches ſake: but the Lord hath alſo enemies to be ſubdued; he muſt raign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet, and he will be faithful as the Fathers ſervant in the one, as well as in the other: therefore, Rev. 14. there is a harveſt of all the Saints to be reaped, and there is a wine preſs of wicked men at the ſame time to be trodden, &c. Now the great enemy unto Chriſt in the latter daies of the world is, that wicked one foreign that Baylon the great, the Mother of Harlots. Now ſo far as this tends to the promoting of that great deſign (as it doth exceedingly) ſo far ſhould the Saints of God rejoyce therein: for they muſt by degrees go into p…rdition: and though all the former ſubjects would be fit matter for our meditation throughout this day, and might have given us ſeveral Conſiderations of very publike concernment in reference to the mercy of the day, yet at preſent I have choſen this rather to draw out your praiſes thereby: concerning which I ſhall preſent you but with theſe three conſiderations.
Firſt, the leaſt return that you can make of a mercy, is praiſe to God for it; and it is all that the Lord doth expect of you. Hoſ. 14. and we will give thee the calves of our lips: it is all the promiſe, that the Lord would have his people make to him in the time of their ſtraits. Afflictions they are ſtupefactive and of a confounding nature, and they cloſe the mouth, J…r. 8.14. let us enter into our fenced Cities, and let us be ſilent there, for the Lord our God hath put us to ſilence: but mercies they are of an expanſive and dilating nature, and they open the mouth: as Hannah, not only her heart, 1 Sam. 2.1. was filled, but her mouth was enlarged alſo.
Secondly, if you do not return praiſes for mercies, God will ſurely add Judgements unto mercies, and will turn his hand againſt you, do you evil after he hath done you good: Hezekiah received a mercy, but he did not render according to the mercy: and this brought a Judgement upon him and upon the whole land, 2 Chron. for let me tell you, of all things God can leaſt bear the deſpiſing and contempt of his mercies: there are two things that are very terrible to the Saints, and that they are afraid of, and would be preſerved from. Firſt that they reap not curſes from the Ordinances of God, which are uſually the great means of bleſſing. Secondly, that they have not Judgements grow out of mercies, becauſe of their unanſwerable walking under their preſent enjoyments.
Thirdly the praiſes of the Saints are as terrible unto the Churches enemies as their prayers: you think it is your duty to pray often: truly it is your duty to praiſe God alſo: for Pſal. 8.2. out of the mouth of Babes and ſucklings he hath ordained ſtrength to ſtill the enemy and the avenger: it is ſpoken of Satan, and of all ſpiritual enemies. So the children of Iſrael, 2 Chron. when they praiſed God in the beauty of Holineſs, God ſet ambuſhments, & they deſtroyed their enemies with the ſword that proceeded out of their mouths, Orabilibus telis, and that is as much by their praiſes as by their praiers: therefore if you would not have the preſent mercy prove a future judgement, and if you would have the work go on, let me exhort you as you did give in your aſſiſtance in prayer for this beginning of mercy, ſo let not your praiſes be wanting: with-hold not them for the perfection of it: So let all thy enemies periſh oh Lord, but let them that love thy name be as the Sun going forth in its ſtrength.
And now I addreſs my ſelf unto the words: out of which I would ſpeak ſomething as matter of your thankfulneſs and meditation ſuitable unto this preſent occaſion. Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen: there are in the words four things to be opened.
Firſt who it is that ſpeaks?
Secondly who this Babylon is of whom it is ſpoken?
Thirdly why called Babylon the great?
Fourthly why its put in praeterito pro futuro? is fallen: and why its ſet down by way of ingemination? is fallen, is fallen, &c.
Firſt who it is that ſpeaks it, ver. 1. it is an Angel that came down from Heaven, having great power, &c. By Angels ſome do expound the heavenly hoſts, thoſe miniſtring ſpirits, that are ſent forth for the good of the Elect: which are therefore called principalities and powers, becauſe of that great and that glorious government that the Lord hath committed unto them, during the Mediator Kingdom of Chriſt, Ezech. 1. the ſpirit of the living creatures is in the wheels: ſo that they have a great hand in the government and the adminiſtration of all things below: and in this doth their degrees of glory conſiſt, in officio, in the office in which the Lord Jeſus doth imploy them: they differ not in their nature at all, but only in their office, as Zanch. obſerves: anſwerable unto what the Lord Jeſus will employ them in: for they are the great inſtruments and officers in the ordering of all things; and when Chriſt ſhall give up his Kingdom, then ſhall they lay down theirs: for Cor. 1.15,28. he ſhall put down all rule, authority and power, Calvin.de principatu Angelico etiam intelligitur; all power and authority that was ſet up by the oeconomical Kingdom of Chriſt, ſhall at the giving up of that Kingdom be laid down: and therefore according unto the particular ſervices, in which God doth imploy the Angels, ſuch a great work is committed unto one Angel, and another great work is committed unto another, 2 Dan. 10,21. Zach. 6.8. the Inſtrument of Vengeance went forth into the North: So Rev. 7. there are four Angels that held the four winds, that they muſt not blow upon the earth: that is, motus bellicos, & Impetus hoſtiles: and ſome there are that ſound the Trumpet unto war, and then if the Angel go out before them, he ſtirs up all the Inſtruments amongſt men, and all things ſhall ſucceed accordingly to that ſaying of Opera divinae providentiae Angelico adminiſterio geruntur, anſwerable unto the work; ſo there is an Angel to whom the great care of it is by Chriſt committed; for they are miniſtring ſpirits ſent forth for the good of the Elect.
Some by Angels underſtand meſſengers and Inſtruments raiſed up amongſt men, whether Magiſtrates or Miniſters; and ſo Brightman, Brightmanvir aliquis praeſtans & egregius, qui ſubito, nec expectatus adveniet, quemadmodum res quae coelitus delabuntur. Suddenly and unexpectedly, as if he had diſcended from heaven, ſome great inſtrument that the Lord would unexpectedly raiſe up▪ which I ſhould not underſtand of any individual perſons, and bring it down to this man and the other, as the ſeven Angels full of vials unto Rome: not to ſeven individual perſons, but for ſeven ſorts of Inſtruments, …nd officers, that God would ſucceſſively raiſe up for to finiſh that work, which ſhould though they be many, all concurr as one perſon to effect that about which they are employed. Now I ſhall chuſe to put both theſe together, and to underſtand it of heavenly Angels, which the Lord Chriſt imploys in theſe adminiſtrations, which have the firſt hand in the work: and alſo all men, all ſorts of inſtruments and officers, that thoſe Angels do ſtir up and imploy; for the Spirit of the living creatures is in the wheels; and when I am gone forth the Prince of grace ſhall come: therefore the Angels, and the Inſtruments ſtirrd up, and acted by the Angels, the Lord looks upon as but one perſon, &c. So that firſt the ruine of Rome and all the Roman power is committed unto an Angel; and therefore if all the power of the earth were engaged for it to ſupport Rome, yet this Angel is a mighty Angel, and he will ſurely deſtroy it: and if an Angel hath undertaken it, he will not want inſtruments, thoſe that he will ſurely in all ages ſtir up to effect it.
Secondly, Romes ruine as it is the work and office of the Angel, ſo it is unto the Angels matter of joy and triumph: for as the converſion of the Saints is joy to the Angels, ſo is the deſtruction of the enemies alſo; but eſpecially unto thoſe Angels that are employed as officers therein, as Ezech. 9.1. there are foreign unto the Angels the ordering of that great work was committed; and therefore they are ſaid to have the charge of it; the Babyloniſh Armie did the work, but the Angel that had the charge of it ordered it.
Secondly, of whom is this ſpoken? it is ſpoken of Babylon, Rev. 17.12.3. there is a woman ſeen riding upon a ſcarlet-coloured Beaſt, full of names of blaſphemy, having ſeven heads and ten horns; and this woman hath written upon her forchead, myſterie, Babylon the great the mother of Harlots: who is it? ver. laſt, its that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth: Now this could not be litterally Babylon; for that was deſtroyed many hundred years before Johns time; but this is Babylon in a myſterie; the City that now rules over the Kings of the earth, and that was only Rome; a woman that did ſit upon many waters; (that is reigned over Kingdoms and Nations and people, &c) and this woman is brought in riding, which is an Emblem and expreſſion of power and authority throughout this whole book: Now what is the Beaſt that the woman rides upon? it is regnum ſive imperium Romanum, which becauſe of its blood and its cruelty, hath been alwaies expreſſed by a Beaſt with a ſcarlet colour, &c. and this hath three names given to it throughout this book: for all the old enemies, that were ever any of the antient perſecutors of the Church, is to be found in her, the blood of all the Saints; therefore is ſaid to be found in her, becauſe in her was the cruelty of all former perſecutors to be found, Rev. 11.8. ſpiritually Egypt, & Sodom: not litterally Sodom; for their filthineſs called Sodom, and for their Idolatry Egypt and Babylon: for there is all Idolatry, Sorcery & Cruelty; ſo that the evils that have been in all former perſecutors, is to be found in them: and therefore it is called Babylon by way of alluſion, as the Churches of Chriſt are called Zion and Jeruſalem, and the Iſrael of God, Rev. 7. the Lord keeping to the old names: ſo the enemies alſo are called Egypt and Babylon, the Lord keeping unto the old names and antient reſemblances: So then Rome and the power thereof, is here meant by Babylon: for it is to be underſtood in a myſterie, or in a ſpiritual ſenſe.
Thirdly, why is it called Babylon the great? I anſwer it is called ſo upon a double ground.
Firſt, becauſe of the greatneſs of its ſtrength, and glory; it was the ſtrongeſt and the moſt fortified place in the world; in ſo much that when the Lord did employ Cyrus in the work, it was thirteen years ſiege, that they were fain to cut the River Euphrates into chanels, and draw it dry, and enter the Citie by the chanels of the River; in that pit where Beltſhazer the King and the inhabitants of the City were found to be all of them buried: and ſhe was the original of the Nations unto which they did all bring their glory: and ſo it is with this Citie, the merchants and the great men of the earth trade with her, as Rev. 18.3. ſo that to ſee Romam in ſlore is one of the gloriouſeſt ſights that this lower world could afford, which Fulgentius admiring, raiſed up his heart higher by this conſideration, FulgentiusQuantum ſplendeat coeleſtis Hieruſalem, cum adeo fulgeat terreſtis Roma? &c.
Secondly, it is alſo Babylon the great, becauſe of the greatneſs of their power, and dominion: She did ſet upon many waters, and did rule all the Kings of the earth, as Babylon did ſay of old, Are not my Princes altogether Kings? and therefore, becauſe of their dominion, they are called the great City, and the great City that rules over the Kings of the Earth; and yet this great Lucifer, ſon of the morning, muſt fall from Heaven and be brought down unto the duſt.
Fourthly how is it ſaid, is fallen? put in praeterito;
Firſt it is put in the Preterperfect; and that is ordinary with the Hebrews.
Secondly by way of Ingemination: and they do imply, Firſt certainly: for it is a ſpeech of faith, ſpeaking of things to come as if they were already paſt. Secondly it notes the ſuddenneſs of it; it was at hand; as Chriſt ſaid, it is finiſhed, that is, it was now neer to be ended; and ſo, it is fallen: that is, ſubito ruitura.
Thirdly it notes an utter ruine and deſtruction in the fall; for it is fallen, it is fallen; (that is) it is greatly, eminently, utterly fallen.
Fourthly, it is a deſtruction generally publiſhed over all the world, and with a great deal of joy ſpoken of by the Saints, as appears afterward, when they give God the glory of taking vengeance of the great whore, &c. for the repetitions in Scripture do really note great affection, Pſal. 22.1. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Pſal. 137.7, Down with it, down with it to the ground: as Sam. 18.23. Abſolom my Son, my Son: and Iſa. 28.10. precept upon precept, line upon line, &c. the expreſſion is taken from Iſa. 21.9. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, &c. its ſpoken of antient and litteral Babylon, and it is applyed unto myſtical Babylon, Rev. 14.8. there we have a threefold diſcovery of Antichriſt. Firſt, there is an Angel flies with the everlaſting Goſpel; and they do publiſh the Doctrine of the grace of God in Chriſt, openly againſt all the inventions of men: and denounce Judgements againſt all Idolatry, &c. Secondly, Rome not repenting thereof, now the Lord declares it to be Babylon, and a Church of God no more, and now it is fallen. Jam Ruinae Babylonis jaciuntur fundamenta: and now the Lord having declared it to be Babylon, doth begin to prepare war againſt it. Thirdly, then the people of God riſe higher, and declare no communion with her, and that whoever doth receive her mark and Image, he ſhall drink of the pure wine of the wrath of God, without mixture: Luther.efficiam brevi ut Anathema ſit eſſe Papiſtam: Luther.
But now the work is at hand; there is none of the enemies of Chriſt ſo great as myſterie Babylon: and there is none of his enemies towards whom he hath uſed ſo much patience and long ſuffering, bringing them to deſtruction but by degrees: ſeveral vials have been pouring out upon her; degrees of wrath poured out upon them, and yet every one of theſe degrees is a fall of Babylon: but yet the laſt and utter ruine of it is to come: but it haſt ens, for the word is gone forth of the mouth of the Lord, that he will have war with this Romiſh Amaleck, and never have peace with it, till it be deſtroyed: He hath ſaid, Great Babylon is fallen, &c.
Hence the Obſervations are Three:
Firſt, Rome, myſterie Babylon ſhall certainly fall.
Secondly, It ſhall utterly fall, and be broken with breach upon breach, and deſtroyed with a double deſtruction.
Thirdly, The fall of it the Saints of God look upon as matter of the greateſl joy and Triumph; Babylon is fallen, is fallen; it is a joyful voice to be heard in Sion by the inhabitants thereof, and they that ſtand with the Lamb thereupon.
Doctrine.
The Doctrine from hence is: Rome, that is, myſtical Babylon ſhall certainly fall: which will appear if you conſider theſe particulars:
Firſt, conſider the enemie that hath ſet himſelf againſt Rome; is one that is able to effect it, and that is the great and the Almighty God: and if he lift up his hand to reap, if he whet his glittering ſword, he will ſurely make a ſlaughter, Rev. 18.8. ſtrong is the Lord God who judgeth her: it is true, Babylon hath all the ſtrength of the earth on her party, the Kings of the earth do bring their glory to her, and give their power and ſtrength to the Beaſt; it is foreign, all their natural power and ſtrength is given to her, and all their civil power and ſtrength or authority: and therefore a man would think it impoſſible for any to make war with the Beaſt: But they have a ſtrong God againſt them, and he hath undertaken it, and the Lord will never make peace with Rome: this is that ſpiritual Amalek with whom God will never make peace from Generation to Generation: there be ſome of the enemies of God that ſhall be converted in the latter daies: and many of thoſe Kings the Lamb ſhall overcome, not by their deſtruction, but by their converſion: for he will uphold them afterward, though they had been his enemies: but with Rome he will never have peace, but will be a profeſſed enemy unto them for ever: the enmity between God and them is like the enmity between the ſeed of the woman and of the Serpent, that ſhall never be reconciled, never have an end.
Secondly, look upon the cauſes of their deſtruction: and they are mainly four, and all of them will bring eminent deſtruction with them:
Firſt, becauſe they corrupted Religion, and that both in doctrine and worſhip: they have made all the Nations of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication; and this they have done in a golden cup: they make fair and ſpecious pretences, and call themſelves the Church of God: Romae venduntur omnia: nihil tamen agas ſine lege & formula ſanctiſsimi moris: Lud. Viv.Ludov. Vives. Religion in Doctrine and worſhip is very dear to God, and he will not have it to be corrupted: and therefore he is an utter enemy unto corrupters; but this is the mother of Harlots; and of all the abominations of the earth.
Secondly, becauſe the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; Rome hath been the great corrupter of Kings, and of all men that have been eminent in authority; and this is their laſt refuge, Rev. 16.14. they ſend forth their Emiſſaries unto the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole world: it is a great influence that they have had upon the authority of the world: Now Kings they ſtand in the place of God, and bear his Image in reſpect of government: to have them corrupted is a great provocation unto God, and a great occaſion of deſtruction unto the world.
Thirdly, by reaſon of her merchandize, the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through her delicacies: what is this merchandize? it cannot be meant of merchandizes in a litteral and proper ſenſe: where it is ſaid, ver. 11.12. the merchants of the earth ſhall weep and mourn over her, &c. not that men ſhall merchandize no more for gold, and pearl, and precious things, which ordinarily merchants trade about: the merchandize of them ſhall not ceaſe when Rome ſhall be deſtroyed: for the world ſhall continue, and trading ſhall ſtill be. In the 13. ver. we read part of their merchandize to be the ſouls of men: Brightmanquae nullo modo in propria vocum natura haerere, ſcimus nos. It is ſpoken of ſpiritual merchandize, making ſale of the things of God, and the Ordinances of God, and the ſouls of men for their own gain and advantage: which is unto the Lord a great provocation: Rome is another Tyre: as Tyre was the Mart of the earth for temporal things ſo is this City nobile emporium rerum ſpiritualium, and men grow great and are advanced by this merchandize, &c.
Fourthly, for her cruelty, Chap. 18.24. in her was found the blood of the Prophets, and of all the Saints that were ſlain upon the earth; and God will not ſuffer the blood of his Sains to lie unrevenged the cry of blood the Lord cannot deny to hear, though it be but the blood of men: but much more the blood of Saints: for precious in his ſight is their blood; he hath a bottle for their tears, much more will he make inquiſition for blood: and if the blood of any one of his Saints be ſuch a burthen that God cannot bear it at the hands of men; how much more when the blood of all the Saints ſhall be ſhed, the Prophets and Martyrs of Jeſus? Specially conſidering that their cruelty ſhall grow, and they ſhall be mo…e bloody towards their end; for whereas, the witneſſes before did but propheſies in Sack-cloth and aſhes: now they muſt have a time to be killed, and that with the greateſt cruelty and revenge: they ſhall rejoyce over them, and keep their dead bodies upon the earth, and no man ſhall bury them.
Thirdly, it is the great deſign that Chriſt hath in the latter daies of the world, to deſtroy this Beaſt; the laſt enemy, Dan. 7. is the fourth Beaſt: and in the fourth Beaſt there is a little horn that ſhall be more ſierce then his fellows: and ver. 11. before that the words that the horn ſpake, I beheld till the Beaſt was deſtroyed: all the Roman power doth periſh in the little horn: in the deſtruction of Antichriſt, all the Roman power ſhall be utterly broken: there were ten horns that did ariſe upon the riſe of the Beaſt, and there was government given them, and power ſucceſſively: but when this little horn ſhall be deſtroyed: never a horn ſhall ſtand up in the place thereof any more; and therefore, Rev. 16. we ſee the vials that are poured out are but degrees of wrath upon Rome Antichriſtian, and we have ſeen many of them in a very glorious and unexpected way already accompliſhed, and therefore we have great cauſe to truſt Chriſt for the effecting of the reſt; and he will turn the heart of the Kings againſt them that they ſhall hate the whore; they that did ſupport her, they ſhall become the greateſt inſtruments to deſtroy her; as the ſeals have had their effect upon Rome Pagan, and the Trumpets upon Rome Chriſtian, ſo ſhall the vials upon Rome Antichriſtian; for this book of the Revelations doth mainly concern Rome: for there is a double propheſie; fata Eccleſiae & Imperii: and they are the two great works Chriſt hath in deſign after his aſcention.
Fourthly, it ſhall ſurely be deſtroyed, becauſe they ſhall never repent, Rev. 16.9,11. When the vial is poured out upon the world, they were ſcorched with ſire; exceedingly enraged, and they blaſphemed the name of God which had power over theſe plagues, but they repented not to give glory: and upon the ſeat of the Beaſt, they Blaſphemed God becauſe of their pain, but repented not of their evil deeds; and the ground of it is, becauſe moſt of them generally, they that embrace the Doctrine and worſhip, are reprobates: and the Scripture doth make it a dangerous ſign of reprobation, Chap. 13.8.17.8. They that wonder, who are they? ſuch whoſe names are not wrote in the Book of life from the foundation of the world: Now if men be under the hand of God in wrath, and one judgement doth make way for another, God will puniſh them ſeven times more: ſurely they muſt be utterly deſtroyed at the laſt: ſo it was with Rome, one Judgement makes way for another: and one vial doth prepare and fit the ſubject for another: So that as unto the Saints one mercy doth but prepare the ſubject, and open the door unto another, ſo alſo to ungodly men one judgement makes way for another, and their hearts are hardned unto their own deſtruction.
Fifthly, it is the expectation of Chriſt, and all the Saints, and all their prayers have been poured out this way. Firſt it is the expectation of Chriſt, he is ſate down at the right hand of God, foreign, expecting the reſt, which God hath promiſed him, that all his enemies ſhall be made his footſtool; and Chriſts prayers ſhall be heard, and his expectation ſhall not be fruſtrated, nor made void; and all the Saints have laid up prayers for it, for Rev. 16.1. the vials come out of the Temple: there is a double voice in this book, a voice from the throne, quod immediate a deo proſiciſcitur; and out of the Temple, cum precibus ſanctorum Impetratur, BrightmanBrightman. Therefore all the degrees of wrath that Rome hath had upon her, hath been from the prayers of the Saints, and not by their Power, and it hath been their expectation long ago, that Rome ſhould be utterly ruined: LactantiusHorreo dicere, dicam tamen, quia futurum eſt, Romanum nomen de terra amovebitur.
Now God that hath raiſed this expectation in the hearts of his people, and drawn out this ſupplication, he will not fruſtrate their expectations, he will fulfill their petitions.
Doct. 2.
All the Roman Power ſhall utterly fall: they ſhall be deſtroyed with double deſtruction, Jer. 17.18. and the ſword ſhall be double upon them, Ezek. 21.14. Babylon is fallen, is fallen:
Firſt the deſtruction of Babylon as from God, it ſhall be pure wrath, without mixture, Rev. 14.10. they had a cup of fornication with which they made all Nations to drink; Now God hath a cup of indignation alſo, that which they muſt all drink, and it is poured out without mixture; if water be mixed with wine, it breaks the force of the wine, ſo that it doth not ſo ſoon bring a man to drunkenneſs as pure wine does: this notes ſummum poenae ſeveritatem, judgement without mercy. Here the judgements of God that he executes upon men, have mercy mixed with them; there is a mixture of light with all their darkneſs, non dantur puraetenebrae: but in Hell there ſhall be judgement without mercy, and fury without compaſſion: and truly the judgement that ſhall come upon Rome ſhall have a great reſemblance of the Torments of Hell with it: and therefore their judgement is very terrible.
Secondly, it ſhall be an utter deſtruction, which ſhall be the more Tormenting becauſe it ſhall be in the height of their hopes, Rev. 18.7. when ſhe ſhall ſay, I ſet as a Queen, and am no widd…w, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow: the thoughts of Babylon have been and ſtill are high, and are eminently confident of victories and ſucceſſes, and yet ver. 8. her plagues come in one day, as Sodoms with fire and brimſtone, Rev. 14.10. they ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone; God will as it were rain Hell out of Heaven upon them: he hath fire and brimſtone for this ſpiritual Sodom, that they ſhall not know it till it comes upon them: when they think themſelves ſafe, then ſhall judgement come, and Babylon ſhall fall into the Sea like a mill-ſtone ſuddenly and irrecoverably.
Thirdly, the judgement ſhall come upon all parties, and upon all degrees and conditions of men that joyn with them; all thoſe that do partake of their ſins, ſhall have a ſhare of the plagues: there is a vial upon the earth, that is upon the common people.
Secondly upon the Sea alſo there is a vial, the juriſdiction of Rome.
Thirdly, upon the rivers, their miniſters and Inſtruments that advance this authority, all the miniſterie of Rome that carry abroad this power over the world.
Fourthly, upon the Sun, all Princes and Magiſtrates, and all powers ſo far as they hold of Rome.
Fifthly, there will be a vial alſo upon Rome it ſelf, the throne of the Beaſt; in the Lords time, all this will be accompliſhed, and the day haſtens apace, and there is no degree from the higheſt to the loweſt that ſhall eſcape: no place ſhall protect a man; for the vial is poured out by the Lord, and there is no eſcaping.
Fourthly, there is an utter deſolation deſcribed; it ſhall become an habitationfor Devils, which love to be in ſolitary and deſolate places, and it ſhall be a cage for every unclean and hateful bird; as Sodom was, it ſhall be a monument of wrath unto all the world, Iſa. 13.19,20. Rev. 18.22,23. The voice of Harpers and Trumpeters ſhall be heard no more in thee, &c. and the light of a candle ſhall ſhine no more at all in thee, &c.
Fifthly, God will ſtir up the Inſtruments of vengeance to do their utmoſt to deſtroy them; as he had before put it in the hearts of the 10. Kings to ſet her up: ſo ſhal he alſo put it into their hearts to caſt her down, they ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire, Rev. 17.16. and Rev. 18.6. reward her as ſhe rewarded you, double upon her double: and if the Lord put a principle of vengeance into the hearts of men, and command them to do it, ſurely the deſtruction may be exceeding fearful, when the Lord does bid and command men to be cruel.
Laſtly, it ſhall make way for their eternal deſtruction. For a man to undergo Temporal afflictions, though they be grievous, yet it were not ſo much, ſo his ſoul might be ſaved in the day of the Lord: but when death goes before, and Hell follows after, this is the greateſt miſery: Now this is the condition of all that follow the Beaſt, and receive his mark, whoſe names are not written in the Book of the Lamb; and therefore Rev. 19.20. the Beaſt was taken and the falſe Prophet, and they were caſt alive into a Lake that did burn with fire and brimſtone: Truly then it is terrible when judgements do make way for a mans everlaſting deſtruction, and eternal ruine.
Doct. 3.
The deſtruction of Rome, and every degree of it, the Saints of God do look upon as matter of joy and triumph: the righteous ſhall be glad when he ſees the vengeance that ſhall come upon Rome, and ſhall with a holy ſcorn ſay, as they do upon the fall of litteral Babylon, Iſa. 14. How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, ſon of the morning: Rev. 19.1. There is a voice of much people in Heaven: Heaven that is put for the Church, ſaying, Amen Hallelujah, becauſe the Lord had judged the great whore, &c.
But, what is there in their deſtruction that is ſuch matter of joy? to hear of the ſhedding of blood, and the deſtruction of many thouſands, and thoſe many of them poor ſouls very unfit to dye? to ſee them in garments rouled in blood, is this matter of joy? a man would rather think you ſhould rather ſit down and ſigh, to the breaking of your loins. There are many things in it matter of joy and triumph unto the Saints; as firſt they rejoyce in the Judgements of God, Rev. 19 2. True and righteous are thy judgements; for thou haſt judged the great whore; they do taſte a ſweetneſs even in the judgements of God, as Ezek. 3.1. it was in my belly as honey; even that roll which contained nothing but bitter lamentations, yet it was very ſweet to him: the Saints love to ſee Chriſt with his ſword girt upon his thigh: and cloathed with a veſture dipt in blood, and treading the wine-preſs alone, travelling in the greatneſs of his ſtrength, Iſa. 63.1,2.
Secondly, becauſe God hath appeared for the Churches cauſe, and hath owned their quarrel, and hath avenged the blood of his ſervants at their hands, Rev. 19.2. when God doth appear for them, and doth not leave them unto the will of their enemies, but doth awake as a Giant in the behalf of his people, this hath alwaies occaſioned ſongs and rejoycing in his people; the Lord hath triumphed gloriouſly over the horſe & his rider, Exo. 15. not that they do triumph meerly upon the account of their own ſafety: but they triumph becauſe God hath triumphed over his enemies: elſe to ſee ſo many drowned in the mercyleſs grave, who would not have pittyed them?
Thirdly, of all the Churches enemies that ever were, this is the crueleſt enemy; the fourth beaſt is worſe then any of the former; and in the fourth beaſt the little horn was more fierce then his fellows; they have been alwaies drunk with blood, and their endeavour was to weare out the Saints of the moſt High.
Fourthly, it ſhall be the laſt enemy; for as ſoon as they ſhall be deſtroyed, the ſeventh Trumpet ſounds, and then ſhall the myſtery of God be finiſhed: it hath been an enemy to the Church of longeſt continuance of any: their oppreſſions have lain longeſt upon the Church of God; and the longer a burthen doth lie and hath been complained of, the greater mercy you would count it to have it taken off: if to be 430. years in Egypt, and 70. years in Babylon, be a long time for the people of God to indure: yet this is a bondage that laſts 1260. daies in the greateſt tyranny and rage that can be: they Tread down the Temple, Rev. 11.1,2.
Fifthly, when this enemy ſhall be deſtroyed, the cup of her fornication ſhall be removed, by which the men of the earth, but ſpecially the Kings of the earth have been made drunken, Rev. 18.11. Now there is no man ſhall be their merchants more: they had Chap-men abundantly before, but now there ſhall be a dealing in that trade no more: the ſame God that did caſt out Satan in the Pagan way of Idolatry, will alſo caſt out Satan in the Antichriſtian way of Idolatry: but they ſhall not deceive the earth by ſuch ſorceries any more: for there is by this means a cloud that hath filled the houſe, and no man could enter into the Temple, Rev. 15.8. there was no conſiderable number of menconverted, there was ſuch a darkneſs and a ſmoake upon the ordinances of God and all his diſpenſations: but all ſhall be removed.
Sixthly, Laſtly from the glorious fruit and conſequences that ſhall follow upon the deſtruction of Antichriſt, the people of God will have great cauſe to rejoyce and praiſe God: Ile name only theſe four.
Firſt then the Kingdoms of the world ſhall become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11.15. there ſhall be multitudes converted unto the Lord.
Secondly it ſhall be the inlet of all the promiſes: now Chriſt ſhall be called, the word of God: he was ſo before, but now he is called ſo for the accompliſhment of it: as Exod. 3.6. by the name Jehovah God was not known unto them.
Thirdly, then all perſecutions ſhall ceaſe, Rev. 20. Satan ſhall be bound, ſo that he ſhall not ſtir up the world to the perſecution of the Saints, as he had done in times paſt.
Fourthly, New Jeruſalm ſhall come down from God out of Heaven; there ſhall be that glory of the Church that the Kingdom and dominion under the whole Heavens ſhall be given up to it, and they ſhall poſſeſs it for ever and ever, Dan. 7. the mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be exalted on the top of the mountains; there is a triumphant ſtate of the Church that is yet to come in this life: when all the glory of the world ſhall be brought unto the Church and people of God.
Ʋſe.
Seeing God hath in a degree accompliſhed this in this late mercy, do you rejoyce with Triumph, and ſay great Babylon is fallen; for they are ſome of the moſt blind and Jeſuited Papiſts in the world, and thoſe that profeſs o…herwiſe, yet they do enter upon the Popiſh intereſt, and engage in the ſame quarrel with them; and take heed you be not deceived with vain words; we ſee how not only this, but the neighbor Nations do declare againſt them that ſeek to promote that cauſe of tyrannie and oppreſſion which you have hitherto fought againſt: let not your diſcontents carry you to the quite contrary point of the compaſs: and your zeal againſt ſects and hereſies, make you to ſuccor their prophaneſs, and to enter upon their intereſt, and thereby to deſtroy that which you have endeavoured to build, and to pluck down with your own hands, that which you have ſo much with your purſes and prayers laboured to ſet up. Ile only ſpeak briefly to theſe five particulars, to quicken you in this duty of praiſing God.
Firſt it is a command that God doth give to all his Saints to rejoyce at Babylons downfal, Rev. 18.20. rejoyce over her thou heaven; univerſa ſanctorum multitudo, all the Saints, but ſpecially the Prophets and the Apoſtles, the ſaithful Preachers of the word of God, let not them be laſt in their joy and praiſes, that had the great hand and were firſt in praying for it: it is your duty, and it lies as a command upon you, and if you make conſcience of other commands, do not for fancies diſpence with this.
Secondly, they be Romes merchants only that be ſad at it; let them ſay, Rev. 18.10. Alas alas that great City Babylon, that mighty City: this doth not befit the Sons of Zion, but the merchants of Babylon; and truly let me tell you, a man may receive the mark of the beaſt in his right hand, and may ſtrongly promote the Popiſh intereſt, that doth never wear…t by profeſſion in his forehead.
Thirdly, if Babylon ſhall fall, then come out of her my people, ſaith your God: when Rome doth fall, now is the time to preach that Doctrine: there may be many of the Elect of God that may deliteſcere, and be enſnared by Rome ſome way or other, that do not wholly follow the Beaſt, and receive his Image: but how ever now God goes forth in Judgement, come out of her: let me exhort you in the name of the Lord, do not cleave to Rome: now you will ſurely partake in her plagues, if you do joyn with her in her ſins: and if you take part with her now, you come in at the worſt time when it is falling, when Popery is falling: now ye that have been againſt it, prayed againſt it, fought againſt it, and now by a wile to be brought into it to ſupport it, when it is falling, now its Judgement is at hand, it is the greateſt vanity that can be.
Fourthly: then a man were better with patience ſuffer with Sion, and the Churches party a while: rather then joyn with the Romiſh partie and be ruined with them in his end, Rev. 14.12. here is the patience of the Saints; ye ſhall ſuffer a while and be trodden down by them, and you muſt ſtay for the full accompliſhment of this promiſe for your deliverance; but I will ſurely come and will recompence all your patience; and therefore be nor diſcouraged and faint in your minds, let not your hearts turn back unto Egypt, and hanker after Rome, and thoſe remnants of Baal, which God will ſurely deſtroy.
Fifthly, how abundant ſhould you be now in prayer for theſe two reaſons?
Firſt, becauſe the time draws neer, now your prayers ſhall not be long unanſwered, Dan. 2.19. and ye ſhall be ſure of a gracious anſwer.
Secondly, the Lord doth let you ſee, that he hath begun the work; now follow him: the Promiſes do begin to bring forth, let us not be wanting to aſſiſt them in the birth: if ever you would pray, do it now, when God is doing the mercy: and you may expect a preſent return: the Judgements of God upon his enemies and yours do invite your prayers.
Laſtly, beg of God for your Governors, that they may never comply with Rome: which hath brought ſo great miſeries upon all Chriſtian Princes and eſtates, complying with Rome upon Politick reſpects, thoug not upon Religious: O let us abhorr it, and deſire God to keep their hearts from it: for Rome ſhall periſh Babylon ſhall fall; and truly there is no partie be the what they will be, and let his reſpect be what it will, that do comply with them, but they will fall with them; for they are the people of Gods curſe, with whom God will never make peace, and therefore neither ſhould we: Queen Elizabeths Motto was, No peace with Spain: So I ſay, No peace with Rome: and truly that is the way to have peace amongſt your ſelves, and to have your work carried on ſtrongly, when you do firmly ſtand with the Lamb upon mount Sion; and be not ſhaken ſometimes this way and ſometimes that way: ſavouring this way, and then another, as it ſerves our Politick ends: God is with you whileſt you be with him; and if you be through for him he will be ſo for you; if you be not, the Lord will ſurely leave you to periſh by that hand with whom you ſinfully comply: as the people of Iſrael did when they complyed with Aſſyria: if they will go to King Jareb, or go to Egypt for help they ſhall ſurely by the ſame hand periſh, and the Judgement came upon them from their helpers in the end.