The Propheticall Intelligencer, ſhewing the cauſes why all corrupt Churches of Chriſtendome ſhall paſſe away, or depart; and all their Sees of corrupt Doctrine, and Diſcipline ſhall be aboliſhed, and that the holy City of the Church of new Jeruſalem is now comming downe from my God out of Heaven.
SOme falſely gather, that this is to be underſtood of the Church Triumphant, after the reſurrection, but what need the Church then to be deſcribed, to be comming downe from heaven? it ſhould rather be ſeene going up to it. And what need ſhall there be of gates, a Wall, and City, and a Tree, when all the Saints ſhall be as the Angels of God in heaven? and equall unto them? Math. 22. Luke 20 But the Holy Ghoſt doth not paint out unto us here, that Angelical happineſſe of the Saints to come. For it is ſpoken of matters to be done in this life upon earth, as the ſequell shall declare, for it is ſpoken of a new church that shall be upon earth. For the glory of the heavenly, and pure Church, cannot bee ſeene, nor conceived off the heart of a mortall man, 1 Cor. 2.9. Neither can it be ſet forth with words of compariſons of earthly things, but ſeeing it ſhall be an heavenly Church, therefore the glory and dignity of it, is commended in heavenly things, and yet the deſcription thereof maketh a way to comprehend in our mindes, heavenly felicity, for if the glory of the Spouſe be ſo great upon earth, what manner of things, and how excellent are thoſe which God have prepared for his Saints, in the fulneſſe of joy? truely our mindes are too dull, and dimme, to meditate of theſe things, let us turne our eyes to contemplate of this bleſſed paradiſe, which ſhall openly be ſeene in the world, as 2 Eſdras 8.52. For unto you is paradiſe opened, the tree of life is planted, Rev. 2.7. The time to come is prepared, plenteouſneſſe made ready, the City builded, v. 18. and reſt prepared, perfect goodneſſe, and abſolute wiſedome, the root of evill is ſealed up unto you, Dan. 9.24. the weakeneſſe, and moth is deſtroyed from you, and into hell fleeth corruption to be forgotten, Rev. 21.8. Sorrowes are vaniſhed away, and in the end is ſhewed the treaſure of immortalitie, v. 4. I follow him as he goeth with Scripure.
Now the interpretation of the new heaven, may be taken out of Heb. 12.26. whoſe voyce did then ſhake the earth, but now he hath denounced, ſaying, yet once more will I ſhake, not the earth onely but alſo heaven, where to ſhake heaven and earth, is by the interpretation of the Apoſtle, to abrogate the former Church worſhip, & Temple, to caſt off the earthly people, of all Nations, that would not receive him by a New birth, Joh. 1.11. Io. 3.3. And ſo he will caſt off all people that are earthly, of all Nations whether of the Churches, or heathen, that will not receive his counſell to buy of him gould, tried in the fire, to make them rich. 1. Rev. 3.18.The lively2 faith of the merits of Chriſts death in our baptiſme for remiſſion of ſinnes, and white raiment (juſtification) to cloth them, that the ſhame of their nakedneſſe might not appeare, and eye ſalve of the ſpirit in the ſcriptures, that men may ſee Heaven is by a borrowed ſpeech taken for the Temple, the legall worſhip, and the Church of the Jewes, whereof the Temple was a ſeate and dwelling place, the ſhadow of heavenly things, Heb. 8.5. and we know that the Church is called the Kingdome of Heaven, in many places of Scripture, as Pſal. 107. Mar. 4.2. So that ſhake heaven, is to aboliſh the viſible Church, that were of the Jewes, or are now of the Gentiles.
Matth. 13.41.43. Luke 10.9. Col. 1.13.For where God will ſhake the heaven (firſt of the Church) and the Earth (of unbelievers) they ſhall be aboliſhed, Heb. 12.27. but once more ſaith the Lord, will I ſhake the heaven. 1. Of the Church, and the Earth, 1. Vnbelievers, Ergo they ſhall be aboliſhed.
By the Earth is meant in that place, men, corrupt unbelievers, as O Earth, heare the word of the Lord. Ma. 1. O men that are earth, of all Nations of the Earth, and all the Kingdomes of the Heathen, ſhall be ſhaken as Hagg. 2, 27. as well as the Churches, For behold ſaith the Lord I have begun to plague the City which my Name is called upon, and ſhould you eſcape, you ſhal ſurely drinke. Iere. Mi. So God will ſhake the heaven of the church of Chriſtians, and ſhould the Earth of Turkes and Heathens eſcape, they ſhall be overthrowne. Con. To ſhake the earth therefore is to ſhake the corrupt unbelieving earthly people out of their places, as he ſhooke the Iewes heaven of the church, and the Earth of the heathen, becauſe they received not one baptiſme into Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſinnes, but deſpiſed the counſell of God againſt their owne ſoules, and to make a church, and therefore he ſhooke them downe Luke 7.30. Eph. 4.5. Act. 2.38. Ro. 6.3. So that heaven you ſee is put for the Church, and the earth, for all corrupt unbelieving people, Therefore as God ſhooke the heaven, and the earth after Chriſts death, for their not receiving of him by baptiſme into his death, as Ioh. 1.9.10. Gal. 3.27. For every ſoule that will not heare that Prophet (1. To be baptiſed in his Name, if he have not, for the remiſſion of ſinnes, Act. 2.38.) Shall be deſtroyed among the people, and they were deſtroyed from being the church and people of God, and became the Synagogue of Sathan. Rev. 2.9. God rejected the old church of the heaven of the Iewes, and ſet up a new heaven of the Church of the Gentiles, that did receive Chriſt by baptiſme, and faith, as the 3000. did, and the Churches of all Nations. So when God ſhall have mercy upon the forlorne forſaken Nation, and make them partakers of ſalvation by Chriſt, he ſhall ſhake the former heaven of the corrupt, Idolatrous, dead, lukewarme churches of the Gentiles, becauſe they believe not one baptiſme into Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſinnes, as Act. 2.38.22.16. Rom. 6.4. and make the dignity and honour of the holy City of the New Ieruſalem, of Iewes and Gentiles, to be ſo glorious, as a new heaven and a new earth. Hence I gather this Doctrine,Obſervati ∣ on. That there ſhall be a new church of the new Jeruſalem upon earth, and this I prove by Eſay 65.17. For behold I am about to create, new heavens, and a new Earth, as if he ſhould ſay, I will inſtitute a more pure church, faith and worſhip in ſpirit and in truth, and I will take unto me a new people in the Aſſemblies, wherof I will be worſhipped, and honoured, and I will make a new Earth of new creatures, for if any man be in Chriſt he is a new creature, 2 Cor 5.17. For old things are paſſed away behold all things are become new, 2 Cor. 5.17. which ſhall be3 moſt plainely verified, when the old churches paſſe away, and the new Jeruſalem appeare, as Eſay 43.19. Behold I will doe a new thing in the Earth, now it ſhall ſpring forth, ſhall yee not know it, when may ſome ſay, Anſ. Rev. 21.5. Behold I make all things new, and he ſaid to me write, for theſe words are true and faithfull, 1. There ſhall be a new heaven and a new Earth, a new church, and people, for he that ſat on the Throne, bad Iohn write it, and he hath given me a minde to know him that is true, and for to write of things that are true, for if it be true, as it is••th Behold I make all things new, then that muſt be a new church, or elſe al things ſhall not be new for as the new heaven and the new earth, which I will make, ſhall remaine before me ſaith the Lord, compare the place with this, and you ſhall finde it agree with this, and cannot agree to the former churches of Epheſus Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Phyladelphia, Laodicea, for they ſhall paſſe away, but the church of new Jeruſalem ſhall remaine, For to him that overcometh in the Churches, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God, and ſhall goe no more out, and write upon him the Name of the new Ieruſalem, that cometh downe from my God out of heaven, Rev. 2.12. but when is this to be? when the lukewarme Angell that is neither cold nor hot is ſpued out of Chriſts mouth,Rev. 3.16. in Laodicea of England this new Church is to appeare, but now the lukewarme Angels are ſpued out. Ergo. It is now to appeare, I could prove this by many Arguments but I ſet downe but five.
Reaſon. 1The cauſes why the Churches of the Gentiles ſhall depart, and all their Sees of iuriſdiction and the new Ieruſalem appeare,
Ma. For if there ſhall be an holy City of new Ieruſalem come downe from God out of Heaven, trimmed as a Bride, for her Bridegroome, then there muſt be a new Church upon Earth, for by new Ieruſalem, is meant the Church of God. Mi. But Iohn ſaw the holy City, the new Ieruſalem come downe from God out of heaven. Rev. 2•.2. Con. Ergo. there muſt be a new Church upon earth.
Reaſon. 2Ma. That City which ſhall be foure ſquare and, ſhall be meaſured by an Angell a man, with a golden reed, 12000. Furlongs, muſt needs be upon Earth, for there is neither ſquares nor furlongs, nor reedes, nor men meaſurers of any thing there, for all was prepared for thee, before the foundation of the world, Matth. 25, 34. Mi. But the Church of the new Ieruſalem, ſhall lye foure ſquare, and be meaſured by an Angell, a man, with a golden reed, 12000. Furlongs,Con. Ergo it muſt needs be upon earth for there is no ſquares, reeds, or Furlongs, or men meaſurers, in actuall glory.
Reaſon. 3Ma. That City which ſhall have twelve gates, and twelve Angels, and the Names of the Tribes of Iſrael, 3. On the Eaſt, 3. On the North, 3. On the South, 3. On the Weſt,Mi. muſt needes be meant of a Church or City upon Earth, for there is no Eaſt nor Weſt, North, nor South, in actuall glory, or but twelve gates, or but twelve Angels, for there is more then twelve Legions of Angels there, but the Church of the new Jeruſalem, ſhall have twelve gates, and twelve Angels, and the names of the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, 3. to the Eaſt, 3. to the North, 3. on the South, 3. on the Weſt, as Rev. 21.13. Con. Ergo, it muſt needs be a City, or Church upon earth, and•t ſhewes it muſt be a Church of the Iewes, baptized and made new creatures, for the Gentiles have not twelve Tribes, and if there be any gates in heaven, they were•t made long before their were any tribes of Iſrael. v. 12.13.
Reaſon. 4Ma. That City which ſhall have a Wall, with twelve foundations, and in them the Names of the Lambs twelve Apoſtles, muſt be new Church upon earth build on the4 doctrine of the twelve Apoſtles,Mi. for the Apoſtles can be no foundation of a Wall of a City in heaven, for it was made before there were Apoſtles, before the foundation of the world. Matth. 25. But the new Ieruſalem ſhall have a Wall, with twelve foundations, and in them the names of the lambe twelve Apoſtles, as v. 14. Con. Ergo. It muſt be a new Church upon Earth.
Reaſon. 5That City which ſhall have the Nations that are ſaved, to walke in the light of it, and the Kings of the Earth, to bring their glory and honour to it, muſt be a new Church upon Earth. Ma. For the people that are ſaved, they ſhall not need to walke in hea•en, for they ſhall be as the Angels of God in heaven, which flie or paſſe in an inconceivable time, as the body of Chriſt to heaven, and the things of the Earth ſhall bring no honour or glory to heaven, for heaven ſhall give glory and honour to them. Mi. But the Church of the new Jeruſalem shall be ſuch wherein the Nations that are ſaved, shall walke in the light of it, and the Kings of the Land shall bring their honour & glory to it, Rev. 21.24 (i. e. they shall account it their honour, and glory to be Citizens of new Ieruſalem, and bring their ſubjects to it.) Con. Ergo it muſt be a new Church upon Earth. I could give more reaſons if theſe be not ſufficient.
Objection. Shall there be a new Church upon earth, Then ſay the Anabaptiſts, Browniſts, Seperatiſts, Familiſts, Adamites, Millenaries, Antitrinitarians, Arminians, Socinians, Sectaries, and Selectaries. (all which are commonly notable Phariſes, and by a ſuperabundance of religion,Which have no aſſurance of ſalvation, for out of the church is no ſalvation nor aſſurance of it. like ſcabs and warts, by the abundance of humors, grow out of the body of man, ſo by the humours of their braine, doe theſe grow out of the Church, and ſeperate from it. ) then we will goe make a New Church.
Anſwer. You are greatly deceived not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, for firſt it muſt come downe from heaven from my God, Ergo, man cannot build it. 2. That which is of God, ſhall ſtand, for God is the builder and founder of that City. Heb. 11. But the worke or Church that is of man, shall come to naught, Act. 5. Thirdly, The Church of new Ieruſalem, muſt be built 12000. Furlongs in length, breadth and height you cannot build none ſo great. Fourthly, The New Church muſt be built of pure gold, like unto cleare glaſſe, but you have got none of that to build with, for the gold growes, in the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3.18. Which wee have forſaken. Fifthly, You have no Iaſper ſtone for your wall, nor fine linnin which is bright and pure, the juſtifications of the Saints, to trime your Church with, but your Bride hath got a menſtruous garment of mans righteouſneſſe, that ſayes ſtand a part I am holier then thou, or I will ſtand a part, and ſeparate from you, thus you have neither gold, nor precious ſtones, nor white raiment to trime your Church, but your builders are all divided, and your language confounded, before you begin you shall build a Babel for the New Church comes from heaven, and the builder and founder of it is God, and the government of it muſt come from God, before we shall have one, as I tould you, three yeares ſince in my Epiſtle to the Booke of the bloud of the Lambe, but you believed it not, but thought you should have had a better Reformation, and government before this time, but are deceived, and not I. It followeth for the firſt Heaven, and the firſt Earth, are paſſed away.
Queſtion. What shall the other Churches then of the Gentiles faile & come to decay, for hath heaven noteth out the Church, as you have proved? Anſwer. We need not trouble5 our ſelves to prove it, for the diviſions of all Churches and people againſt themſelves doe ſhew it, for they are ſending one another to hell as faſt as they can, by ſword, perſecution, hatred, envy and malice; diſſention, hereſies, ſects and ſchiſmes and drunkenneſſe, and covetouſneſs, they make poſt haſt to hell-ward. For where the heaven of a Church is divided againſt itſelfe, it cannot continue, Matth. 12. But the Church of the Lutherans, and of Calviniſts, and of Papiſts, and of Engliſh, are heaven of Churches that are divided againſt themſelves. Ergo, they cannot continue, they are heavens that are waxed olde, as a garment and as a veſture ſhall hee change them The Pope and all his Idolaters, and his ceremonies, the dead faith conſubſtantiated Lutherans, and the luke-warme faith of the Engliſh and Calviniſts, ſhall be ſpewed out of Chriſts mouth, Rev. 3.10. And the Heretickes, Seperators from the Church, with the profane unbelievers, ſhall be rooted out. Ma. For every plant which my heavenly Father planted not ſhall be rooted out, Matth. 15.15. Ma. But they which will not buy gold, white raiment, and eye-ſalve, are plants which my heavenly Father hath not planted. Con. Ergo, they ſhall be rooted out.
Queſt. As touching the reformed Churches; What, ſhall the receiving of the Jewes bee the eſtranging of the Gentiles from being Churches? as if caſting away the Church of the Jewes was the reconcilement of the world. i. e. Of the Churches of the Gentiles, Rom. 11.15. Anſw. It is very plaine, becauſe the Apoſtle certifieth us in that place, that there is a certaine fulneſſe of the Gentiles to be made up, which is to be at the calling of the Jewes, verſ. 25. for if John ſaw the former heaven and the former earth departed, then you muſt appoint them a time to paſſe away in. And when the luke-warme Angels of Laodicea is ſpewed out of Chriſts mouth, i. e. which is the laſt Church of the Gentiles, they ſhall paſſe away for being any more churches; for the former heaven are the Churches of the Gentiles which he ſaw departed Ergo, they ſhall paſſe away.
Object. The Gentiles which are ſaved ſhall walke in the light of the new Jeruſalem?
Anſw. Anſw. Then they ſhall leave the candle-lights of the Churches of the Gentiles (which are called Candleſticks, Rev. 1. they were of, and walke in the light of the new Church that ſhall be on earth, and be one with them. For bleſſed is he that doth his commandements, that his right way may be in the tree of life, that bee may enter in through the gates of the City, Rev. 22.14.
Object. And the Kings of the Earth ſhall bring their glory and honour to that Church of the new Jeruſalem.
Anſw. An. This makes againſt you alſo: for if they doe ſo, then they ſhall leave to honour their olde Churches, and their governments, and ſhall honour the holy City, to be the only true Church. And as we have had Kings of England, that above all the Kings in Chriſtendom have been Kings of Jeruſalem. So wee shall have againe Kings of England, that shall be Kings of the Church of new Jeruſalem. Let our King hearken to this, for the Kings of the earth ſhall bring their honour and glory both, verſ. 14. The cauſes why the Churches of the Gentiles shall depart, and their Sees and the Church of new Jeruſalem appeare.
Object. It ſeemes there ſhall be a flouriſhing Church of the Gentiles, when the Jewes ſhal be called. For ſaith Paul, If the caſting away of the Jewes were the riches of the Gentiles, or the reconciliation of the world, what ſhall their aſſuming be life from the dead? I anſwer, it is true; for the Lutherans that eſcape the bloudy Civill warr, and turne, ſhall ariſe out of the dead faith, and the Calviniſts and the Engliſh ſhall ariſe6 out of the luke-warme faith, to walke in the golden ſtreet of the lovely faith of the merits of Chriſts death in one baptiſme for the remiſſion of ſins, as the 3000. did, Acts 2.38. and ſo Papiſts and Heathens ſhall ariſe out of their idolatrous and ſuperſtitious faith, and embrace the true faith of the new Jeruſalem of the Jews and Gentiles, v 24.
Out of which words we gather, that the fulneſſe of the Gentiles is not a certaine end of their believing at the calling of the Jewes, as if faith ſhould utterly fall away among the Gentiles; as nothing can be powred more into a full veſſell: but that there ſhall be a more plentifull comming in of all the Nations of the Earth, leaving their olde, dead, luke-warm and Idolatrous Churches, and ſhall obey the true faith of the Church of the new Jeruſalem, as Zach. 14.9. The Lord ſhall be King over all the earth in that day, there ſhall be one Lord, (and one faith, and one baptiſme ſaith Paul, Epheſ. 4.5. whereas now wee have many) and his Name ſhall be one, i.e. and the name of his Church ſhall be one, new Jeruſalem, Rev. 3.12. God will write it on them, and one Shepheard, and one ſheepe-fold, John 10.16. and Iſa 25.7, 8. And the Lord ſhall deſtroy in this mountaine the covering that covereth all people, and the vaile that is ſpread upon all, i. e. the vail of ignorance of their baptiſme into Chriſts death for the remiſſion of ſinnes, Rom. 6.3. Acts 2.38. For few have this vaile of infidelity removed, and the Lord ſhall wipe all away all teares from their faces, and he will take away the rebuke of his people out of the earth, i. e. at the calling of the Jewes, as Pſalm 77.9, 10, 11. For the Kings of Tarſhiſh and of the Iſles ſhall bring preſents, whereof the King of England and Scotland and Ireland is a King of the Iſles, Ergo, he that is or ſhall be King, ſhall bring gifts to the new Jeruſalem, and the Kings of Sheba and Saba ſhall bring gifts. Yea all Kings ſhall worſhip, all Nations ſhall ſerve him. Ergo, the King of England, and the Nation of the Engliſh, or elſe all ſhall not. For ſuch a contradiction cannot be true, that all ſhould ſerve him, and ſome ſhould not; that all Kings ſhould ſerve, and all Nations, though it be not ſaid every particular man of every Nation, for many ſhal be caſt into the lake, as verſ. 8. & 27. But all the Kings of the Earth ſhall be Citizens of the new Jeruſalem, for none ſhall be counted a true King, except hee embrace the faith of the new Jeruſalem; that as heretofore the Kings of the Earth have counted it their honour to be Citizens of Rome, and to have brought honour to Rome, and crowned there, ſo they ſhall count it their honour and glory to be Citizens of the new Jeruſalem, and bring their Subjects to it. The King would have no Preſbytery, and the Parliament will have no Epiſcopacy, and the Independents will have none of both. You may heave and ſhove, and plot by policy to ſet up a government, but you ſhall ſet up none, as I have told you three yeares ſince, untill the Church of new Jeruſalem appeare, that ſhall have a government from heaven: for all your labour will be but to pull downe each other, for you are divided, that your houſe cannot ſtand, much leſſe ſet up a houſe or government in ſuch a diviſion, and you will ſay hereafter I could ſee further into a milſtone then you.
Object. In this common reſort therefore of the Nations, how ſhall the firſt heaven, i. e. the Church among the Gentiles paſſe away? muſt we diſtinguiſh the Nations thus? ſome are Heathens, and ſome Chriſtians, ſhall there be an acceſſe made of thoſe as the propheſies declare, and doe it ſignifie a departure and revolt of theſe?
Anſw. The viſion which theſe words declare, point at ſome ſuch matter; for it is ſaid the firſt heaven parted away, for what other heaven is there amongſt men, then th•7Church amongſt us Chriſtians; for the church is called heaven, as in many places of Scripture, as in page 1. The promiſe made to Philadelphia, of the Calviniſts, namely that it ſhould be a pillar in the Temple of God, never to be caſt out, Rev. 3.12. It was, if they held faſt that faith that they had, and did not let any man take their crown from them, i.e. the crowne of their baptiſme,The gold of heaven. which is made of the pure gold of heaven, the merits of Chriſts death in one baptiſme for remiſſion of ſinnes, which that church in many places have loſt, by taking a ſecond baptiſme for no remiſſion, but for diſcipline, and therefore ſhall have a grievous deſtruction, as 2 Pet. 2.1. their peace with Spaine which procures it, for whilſt they were at war with Spaine, their Sectaries and Hereticks all held together againſt the common enemie: but now they will all fall apieces as England doth, and the ſword deſtroy them.
Queſt. One asketh this queſtion, to what end was this promiſed to Philadelphia, as a proper and peculiar benefit, if all the reſt enjoy the ſame together with her?
Anſw. I anſwer, it belongs to her no more then it doth to all the reſt, for what I ſay to you ſaith Chriſt, I ſay to all, Mark. 13. ſo what I ſay to one Church, I ſay to all; for the Lutherans few names, and the Engliſh, that overcome, and bold faſt that they have, and let no man take away their Crown of baptiſme, ſhall be made a pillar of the Temple, and have the name of the new Jeruſalem written upon them as well as the Philadelphians. For all the promiſes are yea and Amen to them that believe and are baptized, as well as to them. For hee that believeth, and is baptized into Chriſts death for the remiſſion of ſins, ſhall be ſaved: and the Philadelphians ſhall be no more, Mar. 16.16. And this appeares to be ſo by the ſaying; Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches, not to the Church.
Doct. Now out of theſe words thus diſcuſſed, I gather, that the former heaven, or the Churches of the Gentiles that are now viſible, ſhall depart and paſſe away, as by many reaſons.
Re. 1Ma. For where there is an unfruitfull fig-tree that cumbereth the ground, the deſtiny of it, when it hath been digged and dunged, and yet bringeth forth ill fruite, it is to be hewne downe, that another may be planted as the Jewes were. Mi. But the viſible Churches of the Gentiles have been unfruitfull fig-trees, that have been digged and dunged, and yet have brought forth ill fruit, as idolatrous, dead, and luke-warme fruit, as Rev. 2. & 3. ch. Con. Ergo, their deſtiny is to be cut downe,Con. that another may be planted.
Re. 2Ma. For where the Husbandmen looke ill to the Vine-yard that was let out to them, there it ſhall be taken away, and let out to others, as the Church of the Jewes was to the Gentiles, Matth. 21.41. Luke 13.6. Mi. But the churches of the Gentiles are Vineyards that have been let out to Husbandmen. i.e. Angels, that have looked ill to them. For by the Vineyard let out to Husbandmen, is meant the Church, as the parable declares, and the Husbandmen were the high Prieſts, Scribes and Phariſes, of the Jewes, and the Idolatrous, dead, or luke-warme Biſhops or Paſtors of Chriſtians, Rev. ch. 2. & 3. Con. Ergo, the churches of the Gentiles are Vineyards, that ſhall be taken away from them, and let out to others. i.e. to the Jewes. For the Kingdome of heaven ſhall be taken away from you (ſaith Chriſt) and let out to others. i.e. the Church, which is not only given to the Jewes, but alſo to the Gentiles, that have abuſed the Church as they. Re. 3Ma. For where Chriſts Miniſters are beaten and ſtoned and killed, there Chriſt ſaith he will deſtroy thoſe murtherers, and burne up their City. Mi. But in the Churches of the Gentiles, as of Rome, France, Germany,Ma. Mi. of the8 Lutherans, and of England, his Miniſters have been killed, beaten, and abuſed with ſundry perſecutions,Con. Ergo, he will deſtroy thoſe murtherers, and burne up their city, you ſee a ſhrewd argument, why Rome, Paris, and many cities of the Lutherans, and London, should be burned.
Re. 4Ma. For where the Church hath been abuſed, and evill intreated a long time, she will bethinke her ſelfe of truſſing up her ſtuffe, and forſake them, and goe to another people, as the church of the olde world forſooke them, and got into the Arke, and the church of the Jewes forſooke them, and went to the Gentiles, and the Church of Papiſts forſooke them, and went to the Lutherans, Calviniſts and Engliſh. Mi. But the Church have been abuſed and evill entreated a longtime of the Gentiles. Con. Ergo, ſhee will forſake them and goe to another people.
Re. 5Now thoſe heavens that waxe olde as a garment, and as a veſture ſhall hee change them, and they ſhall be changed, ſhall paſſe away, becauſe they are impure in his eyes, Job 15.15. Now this cannot be ſo properly meant of the ſtarry heavens as of the Churches; for how should they be impure in Gods eyes, which never ſinned; neither can any shew, that God ever imputed any ſin to them, or curſe, as to the Earth for Adams ſake; for they are as God have made them, and they all continue by his appointment.
But the Church of the old World waxed olde, and the church of the Jewes, and the heaven of Papiſts, Lutherans, Calviniſts and England, are waxed olde, becauſe they are impure in his eyes, for he ſaith he hath ſome things againſt them. Ergo, they ſhall paſſe away. For the heaven of the viſible Churches of England, Lutherans and Calviniſts, are not only uncleane at this day in a ſmall manner. (Now miſtake mee not, to thinke that I meane the juſtified people of God of all theſe 3. churches, for I believe they are cleane every whit.
The cauſes why the viſible Churches shall depart, and the Church of new Jeruſalem appeare perfectly righteous, and holy without ſpot before the Throne of God. But of the outward viſible Church, and all ſeparate Synagogues, that call themſelves churches of Hereticks, Sectaries, and Schiſmaticks, which I count farre worſe then the ſeven churches, becauſe Chriſt wrote to theſe by name, and hath his Elect amongſt theſe, but he writes not to the other; and if the Fathers ſay true, hee hath not God for his Father, that hath not the church for his Mother; and the Scripture ſaith, (God added to the Church ſuch as ſhould be ſaved. ) yet I ſay the viſible church is uncleane, not in a ſmall manner, though it be called by ſo glorious a name, as heaven, which is ſpoken in reſpect of the darke dungeon of hell, of the Jewes, Turkes, Heathens, and Papiſts, then for any heavenly cleareneſſe of the glory of God in gold of the merits of Chriſts death, in one baptiſme, for a perfect remiſſion of ſinnes, or for the glory of the Lambs white rayment, juſtification for an everlaſting righteouſneſs, Shew me a church on Earth that is found in the faith of theſe three, gold, white raiment, and eye-ſalve, & Phillida ſolus habebis, let her be thy Love.
Re. 6Ma. For the Church is defiled with a falſe faith, or reigning ſinne, there the church is uncleane, and shall therefore be removed. Mi. But all the churches of the Gentiles are defiled with a falſe faith, or reigning ſinne, for why should Chriſt ſay elſe, hee hath ſome things againſt them,Con. Ergo, they are uncleane in Gods ſight, and shall therefore be removed. For what foote ſteps of one baptiſme for remiſſion of ſinnes, and of a white raiment, Juſtification doe remaine? For doe not all viſible Churches hold they muſt goe knocke at heaven gates every day to get a pardon for their ſins, as if9 they were not forgiven, as Col. 1.14. Rev. 1.6. And to wipe off olde ſcores, as if God did ſcore up ſinnes every day, till they pray; and they muſt goe get God to caſt all their ſins into the bottome of the Sea, as if they were not caſt into the bottom of the red Sea of Chriſts bloud already, Mic. 7.19. in baptiſme into Chriſts death, Acts 22.16. And confeſſe God is angry with them for their ſinnes, and ſee ſinne in them, and puniſh them for the ſame: is not this to ſer•e an angry God? as all heathens, Turkes and Jewes doe, and not a reconciled Father, which if it were to get remiſſion of ſins to the conſcience, I would not fault it but to the perſon, as if that were not reconciled: it croſſeth Coloſſ. 1.21. And the article of the Creed. i. e. I believe the remiſſion of ſinnes: as for the Lutherans of Sardis, they are in the dead faith, and their works not perfect before God, Rev. 3.1.2. Their dead workes of hatred to the Calviniſts declare their dead faith: And as for the Engliſh luke-warme Laodiceans, they hold as the Biſhop of Canterbury did at his death, he ſaid he hoped God would forgive him his ſinnes. Now ſuch as the faith of the great Angel was, ſuch is the faith of moſt people of the Church. What heathen, Jew, Turke, Papiſt, or Devill, had not as good a faith as this, to ſay I hope God is mercifull, and will forgive me my ſinnes; he might goe to Purgatory (if there were one) for all this faith. The decay in knowledg of one baptiſme for remiſſion of ſins, and in the Articles of the Creed, they doe not preach or pray in this faith, that we have redemption, as Coloſ. 1.14. And that our ſinnes are forgiven us for his names ſake, 1 John 2.12. It is an hard thing to finde a Miniſter, that hath aſſurance of ſalvation, or that can tell where he had remiſſion of ſins,; for few of them believe they were made in their baptiſme members of Chriſt, children of God, and Inheritors of the Kingdome of heaven, or believe, that in the white raiment, they are ſo cloathed, that God beholds no ſhame of nakedneſſe of ſin in them. And ſeeing this faith is loſt, what new Errours ſpring up every day, and broached in many places, olde ones are called backe from hell by hereticks, Anabaptiſts, Papiſts, Familiſts, Adamites, Arminians, Socinians, Browniſts, Seperatiſts, all the profeſſion of unity & ſpirituall peace turned to bloudy and civill Warre in all the churches in Chriſtendome. Theſe are fearefull ſignes, and evident Prognoſtications, that the Churches are departing.
Re. 7Ma. For where the churches are fallen from the trueth, it is an argument the church ſhall depart from them. For thus ſaith the Lord, Remember from whence thou art fallen, Rev. 3.5. Or elſe I will remove the Candleſticke out of his place. Mi. But all the viſible churches are fallen from the truth, as Papiſts to idolatry, Lutherans to a dead faith and workes,Re. 3.1.2. and the Engliſh and Calviniſts to a luke-warme faith & reigning ſin, uſury or drunkenneſſe; for it was never known that the truth did continue in any one church above 100. years, but they fell from it, as the homily of our church of the perill of Idolatry. 3. p. c. it is 100. yeares ſince England received the truth, and therefore the time is come by their owne confeſſion, that they should fall from it. Con. Ergo, it is an argument the church ſhould be removed.
Re. 8Ma. Every kingdome, city or houſe divided againſt it ſelfe cannot ſtand, but come to nought, Matth. 12. Mar. 1. Mi. But all the former churches of the Gentiles, are kingdomes, cities or houſes divided againſt themſelves, witneſſe the Papiſts, Lutherans, Calviniſts, and Engliſh. You ſee what fighting and writing there is now one againſt another. Con. Ergo, they cannot ſtand, but come to nought.
Re. 9Ma. For where the Sunne ariſeth, the light of the candle muſt depart, for the light of the Churches of the Gentiles, was but as candles, for the churches were but golden10 Candleſticks, Rev. 1.6. Mi. But the light of the New Jeruſalem is as the light of the Sunne, that shall never goe downe, and their light of the Sunne shall be 7. fold, and as the light of ſeven days. Con. Ergo, the light of the churches of the Gentiles muſt vanish, becauſe their light is but as candles.
Object. Some ſay it is not ſaid the former heaven and the former earth went away, but that they departed, as if theſe words did not reſpect the churches of the Gentiles at all, but the legall worship of the Jewes onely. For a man may call that the firſt heaven by right, as which was inſtituted by God himſelfe in the beginning of the World, a little time after the floud. But the Chriſtian people among the Gentiles was neither the firſt heaven, neither were their Ordinances which are obſerved of them, the firſt Ordinances that were delivered from heaven unto the church, ſo that ſome would have it taken in this manner, as if it were ſaid, although this people of the Jewes did thirſt after their olde rights and worſhip all this while of their rejection, and did make their bragges of it, that the time would come when they should have power given them one day to exerciſe their former worſhip freely, after their old manner, which is the thing they have boaſted of till this day. Yet in this reſtoring of the Jewes, they shall ſo wholly frame and apply themſelves to the will of God, that they shall willingly renounce their ancient cuſtomes, uſed in the ſervice of God, which they shall then acknowledge to have had their end in Chriſt, and by this meanes they shall make it plaine to all men, that the firſt heaven and the firſt earth which they hoped to ſee againe, was departed, was paſt for ever.
Object. The Pope that would have Saint Peters chair to remain to the end of the world, and all Sectaries that would have their church way as they falſely call it, and all other that are loth their churches should depart, like this interpretation beſt.
Anſw. But this is falſe to this place of Scripture. For the firſt heaven cannot be meant of the Churches of the ancient Jewes, but of the churches of the Gentiles; theſe are my Reaſons.
Firſt, becauſe the olde church of the Iewes was not called by the name of heaven, for John the Baptiſt and Chriſt were the firſt that preached the kingdome of heaven to be at hand, therefore the firſt heaven muſt belong to the Gentiles, for the laſt ſhall be firſt, and the firſt ſhall be laſt; i. e. the laſt Church of the Gentiles shal be the firſt heaven, and the firſt church of the Jewes shall be the laſt new heaven.
Secondly, If this should be expounded of of the Jewes church, then there should have been no heaven of a church among the Gentiles, ever ſince Chriſts time. But onely the firſt heaven hath been among the Jewes all this while, and the Gentiles have had none in the 7. churches, although Chriſt wrote to them, yet they were no heaven or church; too abſurd.
Thirdly, this muſt be underſtood of the church of the Gentiles, becauſe the Jewes were broken off, as Rom. 11.15.24. i. e. from being a church, and the Gentiles graffed in, and made an heaven.
Fourthly, for the Kingdome of heaven which was offered to them, and preached among them: but they put it away from them, Acts 13.46. The Kingdome of heaven was taken away from them, and given to the Gentiles above 1600. yeares, and therefore the Jewes could not be the firſt heaven, becauſe they did not receive it when it was offered, but deſpiſed the counſell of God, & therefore if the firſt kingdome of heaven was given to the Gentiles, then the firſt heaven belongs to them. For as Chriſt came to his owne, but his owne received him not: ſo the kingdome of heaven was preached to them, but they received it not.
11The cauſes why the Churches of the Gentiles ſhall depart and the Church of New Ieruſalem appeare.
Note Fiftly, This cannot be meant of the Iewes that they are now the firſt heaven becauſe as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of Oxen, doth God take care for Oxen. 1 Cor. 9.9. So doth God take care for Iewes, that are made the Synagogue of Sathan. Rev. 2.9. For that which is ſo is not an heaven. Therefore the firſt heaven that paſſed away is to be underſtood of the Church of the Gentiles, for the true Church of the Gentiles, was the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 3. & Matth. 13.
Now the cauſes why the firſt heaven of the Churches of the Gentiles depart are theſe. Cauſes why the Churches of the Gentiles depart.
Firſt the church of Epheſus was a famous heaven, watered with the bloud of the Martyrs, in the 10. perſecutions, of the primative Church, built upon the baptiſme into Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſinnes, and faith in the ſame as Act. 2.38. Act. 8. Act. 10. Act. 16. and Act. 22.16. and on the love of God ſhewed in the ſame as Eph. 5.25. Tit. 3.5. Rev. 1.6. But becauſe they forſooke their firſt love of Chriſt. 1. e. Their firſt Baptiſme, wherein the firſt love of Chriſt was ſhewed to take a ſecond Baptiſme, which they did by the counſell of the Hereticks, Pelagians, and Donatiſts, that all that were baptized by Hereticks, muſt be baptized againe, and becauſe they did not know, who was baptized by Orthodox men, they rebaptized the people, which was iniquity of ſo high a nature, a ſinne againſt the worke of the Holy Ghoſt, that Chriſt removed the Candleſtick of the church out of that place, by the Turke, and ſo that heaven is departed.
2. The church of Smyrna, though a famous rich conquering & reigning Church, in the time of Conſtantine the great, for it was rich as the Lord ſaid. Rev. 2.9. i. e. In the faith of one Baptiſme for remiſſion of ſinnes, as the Article of the Niceen Creed declares, but in time they followed after Epheſus, as all the other churches of Greece, they forſooke the truth of one Baptiſme, the firſt love of God declared. Tit. 3.5. (as many now doe in theſe dayes) by forſaking their firſt Baptiſme into Chriſts death for remiſſion of ſinnes, for it was never knowne that the truth did continue in one place, above an hundred yeares, but they forſooke it, or fell from it into ſome falſe faith, or reigning ſinne. Ma. 3. The church of Pergamus. 1. e. Of old Rome is departed from being a church, becauſe they maintained the doctrine of Balaam. i. e. Idolatry and fornication, and the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans, by Stewes & whoredome. Mi. Therefore Chriſt fought againſt them, with the ſword out of his mouth, andCon. they are departed from being true church for where God fights againſt a church, for ſinne by the ſword out of his mouth, it muſt depart from being a true church but the church of Pergamus was ſuch, Rev. 2.16. Ergo. Fourthly, The church of Thiatira, of new Rome. is departed from being a true church, becauſe ſhe ſuffered the woman Iezabel amongſt them, which was a Witch, a whore, and a murdereſſe, and though God hath given her ſpace, yea the longeſt ſpace to repent of any other, yet ſhe repented not of her witchcraft, in bewitching men to Idolatry. not of her whoredome and abomination, nor of her murdering the Saints, for the ſcarled coloured Whore is drunke with the bloud of the Martyrs. And therefore Chriſt hath made her the Synagogue of Sathan. Rev. 3.9. becauſe they〈◊〉themſelves Iewes or a catholique church, and are not, becauſe they have had time to repent and did not, they ſhall be deſtroyed. They are divided againſt themſelves, France againſt Spaine, and Spaine againſt it ſelfe, it muſt downe. Now if any12 will account the Martyrs, and true believers that lived for 200. yeares before Luther, that ſuffered the manners of the Iezabel of Rome amongſt them, that ſhould have been put away out of the church as Luther, and Calvin, and England did, I account it the truth, but that which is ſpoken to Iezabel, is ſpoken to Rome, as their ſinnes declare,
The church of Sardis of the Lutherans, is departing becauſe they are in the dead faith, which brought forth dead workes, that were not perfect before God. Rev. 3.1.2. and dead in love to the Calviniſts, and in love one to another, their faith of conſubſtantiation is a dead faith, that believe not their workes are perfect before God, by juſtification, neither can they believe ſo that live in hatred and perſecution of their brethren the Calviniſts, that church is divided againſt it ſelfe, thus the Sweeds and Danes both Lutherans, were at Warre one with another lately, which have shot downe the one ſide of their church, from within, and a Papiſt the Emperour, and a Calviniſt is undermining the other ſide, for both Papiſts and Calviniſts fight againſt the Lutherans, and they fight one with another, truly if one ſtone of a church should fight againſt another, could it ſtand, no, it muſt fall. Sixtly, The Phyladelphian church of the Calviniſts, is paſſing away, becauſe they have not held faſt that they had, for they had the true faith, and one baptiſme into Chriſts death for remiſſions of ſinne, taught by Calvin, and that doctrine eſtablished amongſt them, but many of them have not held faſt that they had, but have let the Anabaptiſts take their crowne, for the crowne of a chriſtian is his baptiſme, for therein are all the Elect crowned,Rev. 1.6.5 10. with the crowne of pure gold, of the merits of Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſinne, and made Kings and Prieſts to God their father, Rev. 1.9. for as no man is a King, before he be crowned, ſo no man is a King and Prieſt to God, till he be baptized, many of them have loſt this crowne, by turning Anabaptiſts, and Sectaries, a Papiſt, a Lutheran, and an Anabaptiſt are pulling downe the one ſide of their church, and a Sectary and a Drunkard are cutting and beating downe the other ſide, therefore it cannot ſtand, for Anababtiſme and drunkenneſſe, will deſtroy any church, whereſoever they grow, witneſſe the churches of Greece, and Munſter, and many places in Iermany, for Hereſie is like Ivie, that kills an Oake by growing over it, and then men cut downe Oake and Ivie too, and ſo where Hereſie is ſuffered to grow in a church, it kills the church by overgrowing it, & then God will deſtroy the church, and hereſie too, as shall be ſeene by the church of Calviniſts in ſuffering Anabaptiſts, it will be the deſtruction of the church of Holland.
The church of Laodicea, of England is paſſing away, for Chriſt ſpues the Luke-warme Angels, people that are lukewarme in the faith of their baptiſme, for remiſſion of ſinnes, and in the white raiment, for England hath been divided againſt it ſelfe, and alſo Scotland, and Ireland fights againſt them both, and divided againſt it ſelfe, alſo, The Papiſts and Cavalleers, have shot great holes in the one ſide of our church, to get an Epiſcopacy, but cannot, becauſe Chriſt ſpues it out of his mouth, an Anabaptiſt ſtands as it were with a rope to pull downe the ſteeple, for he called it firſt a Steeple-houſe, and the Hereticks, Sectaries, and Selectaries, have pulled up all the foundations, as inſtance, Baptiſme, the Creed, the Lords prayer, the Decalog••, the Euchariſt, and Chriſtmas day, and the Euchariſt which hath bin as a foundation, of all the ſeven churches ever ſince the Apoſtles time, and ſo divided as I know not whether the King and Parliament will be reconciled ever, but the Preſbyters and Independents will never, for their quarrell is begun, and will never13 end, for they ſcould, can ſuch a church ſtand, no, it muſt depart and paſſe away, for the people have ſo many frothings of religion in their braines, ſo many opinions and Hereſies that they will fall from being a church, to be a Babel, for as the Babilonians having a ſtrange phantaſie, would begin to build a tower, to reach to heaven, yet had no good materialls, but made brick inſtead of ſtone, and had ſlime inſtead of morter, this was mans invention, and it came to confuſion, for God confounded their language, & ſcattered them, ſo many Hereticks & Sectaries have got a conceipt in their crowne, to goe make a new church as a Tower to reach to heaven, for they would all goe to heaven, if they could goe their owne way, and they have concocted brick of the Browniſts braine, inſtead of doctrine, and they have diſcipline of phantaſie inſtead of morter, I am not againſt doctrine or diſcipline if they be from heaven, but our new church-mungers have no good materialls of gold, white raiment, and eye-ſalve from heaven to build with, but the new Ieruſalem muſt be builded of pure gold, like cleare glaſſe, Rev. 21.18 Of the gold of the merits of Chriſts death in regeneration, for remisſion of ſinnes, and of white raiment, to make the Bride trimme, and eye-ſalve of the Scriptures, that every thing may be done according to the patterne ſhewed in the mount of Gods word. But doe you thinke blinde men are fit to build a church? you will ſay no, no more are all the Phariſes of our time, of all Sectaries and Hereticks, whoſe froathing faith, or fancie, makes them boyle out of the church, which are blind leaders of the blinde for they leade many from Chriſts ordinance, for remiſſion of ſinnes, and blind in the aſſurance of ſalvation, for they know not where they had remiſſion of ſinnes, but runne after every winde of Doctrine, and know not whether they shall be ſaved or be damned, or goe to heaven, or to hell, are you fit men, to build a church that are all ſo blinde that you cannot ſee ſpirituall things, ſo here ſayes one, wee will build this way, ſo there ſays a ſecond, we will build that way, ſo here ſayes a third, we will build another way, all of you ſay ſo, for you cannot ſee the New Jeruſalem, but are divided. Ergo. you cannot ſtand but come to nought. Matth. 12.
I proceed, of the overthrow, and departing of all corrupt Sees of Iuriſdiction.
And there was no more ſea, or the ſea was extant no more.
Now what is meant by the word ſea in this place? we muſt finde out this ridle, or enigmaticall metaphor, or elſe we shall faile to finde the new Jeruſalem, for it muſt not be founded on a ſea, for it commeth downe from heaven, from my God, but the ſeas are upon the Earth or the Earth upon them, for they make but one globe, as Coſmographie declares.
Now this cannot be underſtood of the materiall ſea, as if when the new Jeruſalem come downe from God out of heaven, there should be no more ſeas, for ships to ſaile in, for then how should the Kings of the Earth, bring their honour and glory to the new Jeruſalem, if there were no more ſeas, to ſaile on, which dwell beyond Sea, as v. 24. And how ſhould men goe downe to the Sea in ſhips and occupy their buſineſſe in great waters, if there were no more materiall ſea of waters, to faile in, wherefore as God made heaven and Earth, the Sea and all things therein, ſo long as the Earth ſhall remaine, there muſt be a materiall Sea, for God hath founded the Earth upon the Sea, and prepared it upon the flouds, Pſal. 24.2.
This cannot properly be underſtood of the molten Braſen Sea, which Salomon made, 2 Chron. 4.25. For the Prieſts to waſh in, which ſhall not come into the new Jeruſalem, for that Sea of Braſſe, and that legall ceremony, or worſhip never14 came into the heaven of the church of the Gentiles, therefore much leſſe ſhall it come into the holy city of the church of New Jeruſalem, which ſhall be moſt free from all legall cermonies, It is true that the Jewes have a proper Sea of their owne of Braſe, even till this day: which is moſt groſse, foule and darke, like to the rageing Sea, that the wicked Jewes are like, which foameth out mire and dirt, Eſa. 57.20. for they caſt out many forged doctrines, out of their owne braine, and legall deviſes, as touching a Mesſias to come, and a legall worſhip with ſacrifices, and righteouſnes by the law, and many other heads of corrupt doctrines which ſhall all depart from the Jewes, and ſhall never come into the heavenly Jeruſalem, neither was this in the church of the Gentiles, and therefore this Sea, here ſpoken of, muſt be ſuch an one, as was in the heaven of the churches of the Gentiles, that ſhall be no more.
Thirdly, for the Sea here ſpoken of, is ſuch as the heaven was, as Meyer noteth, a metaphoricall heaven, and a metaphoricall ſea, and that is the ſea of the Iuriſdiction of corrupt doctrine and diſcipline or government, which have been in the heavens of the churches of the Gentiles, in their ſeas, for what hath been more common for theſe many 100. yeares, then to talke of the holy Sea of Rome, and for the church of England, to talke of the Sea of Canterbury, and the Sea of Yorke, and of the Biſhops Sea, as ſuch an impropriation, belongs to the Sea of Norwich, and ſuch a land to the Sea of Eli, and appeales were made to the Sea of Rome, and ſo were our appeales from one Biſhops Sea to another, but there ſhall be in the new heaven and in the new earth no more Sea, Ergo. there ſhall be no more Sea of Rome, or Canterbury, or Yorke, and of Biſhops, or Lutherans or Calviniſts Sea, for all Seas of Iuriſdiction of government, of a corrupt diſcipline, and doctrine, ſhall now depart, and not enter into the holy Church of the new Jeruſalem, and that this is the meaning of the place, theſe are my Reaſons.
Reaſon. 1Ma. For if the materiall heaven and earth ſhould paſſe away, the Sea muſt not remaine, for the Earth muſt be with the Sea, for it is founded upon it,Mi. ſo if the metaphoticall heaven, and Earth of the Church and people paſſe, ſo muſt their Sea (of Iuriſdiction) as text, but the firſt heaven and the firſt earth of the Churches ſhall paſſe away, Rev. 11.1. Con. Ergo, ſo ſhall their ſeas of Iuriſdiction, for if a Church depart, then the government alſo muſt depart with it, and where the government of a church depart, the church commonly departs with it, for if a Kingdome depart or paſſe away muſt not the government depart with it? Reaſon. 2So if a church depart, that had the government of an Hierarchie of a popedome, Epiſcopacy for Preſbytery or Independent, or any other government, for the Sea or diſcipline of a church cannot remaine, where the church depart, except you can make an accident remaine without a ſubject, for ſublato ſubjecto tollitur etiam accidens quta accidentis eſſe eſt ineſſe, for take away the ſubject and the accident of it is taken away, becauſe the being of an accident, is to be in the ſubject, as true reaſon, and the beſt Phyloſopher ſhewes.
Reaſon. 3Ma. For if we ſhall have an holy city of new Jeruſalem (i.e. a new church) come downe from heaven, trimmed as a Bride for her Bridegroome, then we muſt have a new government from heaven alſo (which muſt not be a Sea, for that was old, and not from heaven) or elſe it will not be very trimme long. Mi. But we ſhall have a church of New Jeruſalem come downe from heaven, trimmed as a Bride for her BridgroomeReaſon. 4Rev. 21 2Con. Ergo. we muſt have a new government, or elſe it will not be trimme long, for if it be true that God ſaith, behold I make all things new, then there can be15 no more a Sea of Rome, Iuriſdiction, or of an Epiſcopacy, or Lutherans or Calviniſts, or of any other Church that ſhall paſſe away, for all theſe are old, and in that he ſaith a new covenant, he hath abrogated the old. He. 8.13. And that which is diſanulled and waxed old, is ready to vaniſh, ſo in that he ſaith, I make all things New, he hath abrogated the old churches, and ſeas. But it is true that God ſaith behold I make all things new, v. 5. Ergo, there can be no more Sea of Romes Iuriſdiction, or of an Epiſcopacy, or Lutherans, Calviniſts, or of another Church, that ſhall paſſe away for then all things ſhould not be become new.
Reaſon. 5For every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted out. Matth. 15.13. But of the Sea of Romes Iuriſdiction, or diſcipline, or of the Epiſcopacy of England, or of the Sea of Lutherans, or Calviniſts, are plants which my heavenly Father hath not planted, if you ſay, they be, prove it if you can. But you cannot, for the Sea of Rome, was ſet up by the Pope and Papiſts, the Sea of the government of the Biſhops, by the Proteſtants of England, and the government or Sea of the Lutherans by the Lutherans, and the ſea of the Calviniſts by the Calviniſts, now if the counſell of Gamaliel (approved on in Scripture) be true, then they muſt all come to nought. For every counſell or worke of man ſhall come to nought, but that which is of God ſhall ſtand, Acts 5.28. But the Popedome or Sea of Rome, Sea of an Hierarchie of Biſhops, Sea of Lutherans and Calviniſts, are counſels and workes of men, Ergo. they ſhall come to nought, but the church and government of the New Jeruſalem from God ſhall ſtand?
Reaſon. 6Where a great voyce ſhall be heard out of heaven, ſaying, behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, there the church muſt be governed by the Oracles of Gods word, and not by a ſea of diſcipline of men, for the Oracle is in the Tabernacle, but in the New Jeruſalem there ſhall be a voyce out of heaven, ſaying, behold the Tabernacle of the Lord is with men, Rev. 21.3. Ergo, there the Church muſt be governed by the Oracle of Gods word, and not by a Sea of diſcipline of men.
Reaſon. 7For as fiſhes ſwimme and live in the Sea, ſo have Chriſtians ſailed, ſworne and lived in the Sea of Rome, Canterbury of Lutherans and Calviniſts, for they lived and walked in their Iuriſdiction government, diſcipline, for as the Sea have drowned many that have ſailed in it, ſo that Sea of Rome, and of Canterbury, and of Lutherans, & Calviniſts, that have drowned many mens faiths in perdition, that ſailed in them, they are worthy to be no more, but the Sea of Rome have drowned mens faith in Idolatry and purgatory, and the Lutheran Sea have drowned mens faith in confuſtantiation, & dead faith and workes to the Calviniſts, & the Sea of our Epiſcopacy, and ſea of Calviniſts, have drowned many faiths in Lukewarmneſſe. Ergo, they are worthy to be no more, all theſe have drowned the faith of one baptiſme into Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſinnes, for if this faith had ſwome in other Seas, what needed a Popes pardon a purgatory, a pilgrimage, conſubſtantiation, and workes not perfect before God, and a luke-warme faith without aſſurance of ſalvation.
Reaſon. 8Thoſe Seas that have devoured abundance of ſubſtance of poore Chriſtians, and worthy to be no more. But the Sea of Rome by purgatory, pardons, and pilgrimage and the ſeas of Lutherans, and Calviniſts, and of our Epiſcopacy, by licences, viſitations, and courts, have devoured abundance of ſubſtance of poore Chriſtians, Ergo. they are worthy to be no more.
Of the overthrow and departure of all the corrupt Seas of juriſdiction of the churches of the Gentiles. For as the Sea compaſſeth the Land, and ſendeth Springs16 or Rivers to all parts of the Land, to water it. So did the See of Rome and of Canterbury, and of the Lutherans and Calviniſts, pa•ſe through all the parts of their Dominions, to water them with their Juriſdiction. For who was free in any Popiſh kingdome from Saint Peters pence, or Inquiſition Court, and Ma•ſe, and power of the Pope, and who was freed in our Hierachy of the Epiſcopacy, from the high Commiſſion, Chauncellor, or Commiſſaries courts, Synods, Licences, or Parators, or freed in the Lutheran or Calviniſts Sees, from their Iuriſdiction and Diſcipline.
Now if the See of the Iuriſdiction of the Hierarchy of England be ſo departed that it can be no more; then the Sees of Lutherans and Calviniſts, and of Rome, muſt follow, becauſe the Text ſaith, there ſhall be no more Sea.
But by the decree of God, Rev. 3.16. and by the vote of Parliament, and the Oath of the people, the See of the Iuriſdiction of the Hierarchy of England is ſo departed, that it can be no more. (For though King & Parliament were agreed to ſet up an Epiſcopacy or Presbytery, but the Independents and Souldiers would never endure it, for they rout them where they come) Ergo, the Sees of Lutherans and Calviniſts, and of Rome, muſt follow, becauſe the Text ſaith, there ſhall be no more Sea. Judgement is begun at the houſe of God for their See, what shall become of the wicked See of Rome, even that which came upon olde Babylon, shall come upon the new Babylon of Rome. I will maintaine thy cauſe, and take vengeance for thee. I will dry up her Sea, and make her Springs dry for the people of Gods cauſe, Ier. 51.36. See O heaven rejoyce of her; for God will puniſh her to be revenged of her for your ſakes. For when a mighty Angel tooke up a great ſtone like a mil-ſtone, and caſt it into the Sea, ſaying, with ſuch violence ſhall that great thy of Babylon be caſt, and ſhall be found no more, Revel. 18.20, 21. If the great city of Babylon of Rome ſhall be ſo caſt, what ſhall become of their See. He that believes not that Rome is Babylon that ſhall be deſtroyed, hath not ſo good a faith as the Devill, who knows it is his habitation, verſ. 2. and an hold of all foul ſpirits.
Reaſon. 10For as the Sea uſeth to roare, preſaging ſtormes, which cauſeth Marriners to beware, Pſ. 46.3. But he breaketh the raging of the Sea, when the waves thereof doe roare, Jer. 31.35. So when Martin Luther powred out his viall of Doctrine of free Iuſtification, how did the See of Rome, and Leo 10. roare againſt him with his execrable bull: but the Lord brake off part of that See, and it became a Lutheran, Calvinian, and Cantuarian See. And when the Lutheran See began to roare againſt the Calviniſts for conſubſtantiation, and perſecuted them, the Lord hath broken that See with one breaking after another. And when the See of Canterbury roared againſt the white-raiment chriſtians, and Non-conformiſts, ſuſpending them, and caſt them into priſon. On worthy Prin, Doctor Baſtwick. And though a Shepheard got a piece of an eare out of the mouth of a lion, Amos 3. yet our Lion loved roſt cheekes and eares ſo well, that he left never a piece. Therefore the Lord hath broken the waves of the Cantuarian and Epiſcopal See when it roared, and that See ſhall be no more; and the See of Lutherans, that have roared at the Calviniſts, ſhall be ſtilled, and the See of Rome that have roared and devoured the Martyrs of Jeſus shall be dryed up, and shall be burne, and be no more. For as Chriſt rebuked the materiall Sea when it roared againſt his Diſciples, he ſtilled it. So becauſe waves of the Metaphoricall ſeas that have roared againſtReaſon. 11his people, he will ſtill them, and they shall be no more; for as the raging troubled Sea caſteth out mire and dirt, Eſa 57.10. So have the troubled See of Rome Lutherans, Calviniſts, and of Canterbury, been like this troubled Sea, for when any17 troubled their ſeas, by writing or preaching the truth, they conceived it was againſt them, how have they foamed out mire and dirt of bloud and perſecution.
Reaſon. 11Now if there shall no uncleane thing enter into the new Jeruſalem, then no ſuch miry di•ty Seas shall come into it,Ma. as the See of Rome, Lutheran, Calvinian, or Epiſcopall See, for they are uncleane. Mi. But there ſhall no uncleane thing enter into the new Jeruſalem, Rev. 21. Con. Ergo, no See of Rome, Lutheran, Calviniſt, or Epiſcopacie shall come into it, for they are uncleane. We finde when the ſecond Angel poured out this Viall upon the ſea, and it became as the bloud of a dead man, and every living thing dyed in the Sea, Rev. 16.3. That is, when Calvin had powred out his viall upon the ſea of Romes corrupt juriſdiction and Doctrine, for a Calvinian governement. For Luther a former Angel had poured out his viall of Doctrine upon the earth. i. e. upon earthly Papiſts, and there fell a noiſome grievous fore upon the men that had the marke of the beaſt, upon them, and worshipped his image (i. e. upon Papiſts, which worship the Pope, and call him their Lord) and made them ſore. i. e. in conſcience, by hatred, malice, envy, railing and perſecution of the truth of Luthers Doctrine. But when Calvin I ſay had powred out a viall of Doctrine upon the See of Romes corrupt Juriſdiction and Doctrine, then the See of Rome became as the bloud of a dead man; for then they began to fill their See of Rome with bloudy maſſacres, as of France, Germany, Netherlands, and the bloud of the Martyrs of England; that as when Moſes ſtretched out his rod over the waters of Aegypt, and all was turned into bloud, and all the fiſh in the waters dyed, Exod. 7.20, 21. So when Calvin the ſecond Angel had powred out his viall of Doctrine on the See of Romes diſcipline and Doctrine, they became ſo mad as to murther and maſſacre the Proteſtants, (for the Pope was more mad at Calvin then at Luther, as the Papiſts more hate the Calviniſts then the Martiniſts) then all the fiſh in the Popes See dyed, for their Sea was become as the bloud of a dead man: for they made all the Catholikes believe that they should merit heaven by killing the Hugonits, and they muſt doe all for the Catholike cauſe, and ſang a Te Deum for the murdering of multitudes of Saints, and thus was the See of Rome become as the bloud of a dead man, and thus all the fish of Papiſts of the ſea of Rome dyed in the faith and in conſcience For he that hateth his Brother is a murtherer, & you know that no murtherer hath eternall life, or of faith abiding in him, 1 Iohn 3.15. But all that lived in the See of Rome hate their Brethren, and are murtherers, by rejoycing at the martyrdome of the Saints of Ieſus. As for the maſſacres of France, Germany, and now in Ireland, ſo that all Papiſts muſt needs dye, and cannot live by faith in the ſea of black bloud, which is alſo a ſea of Idolatry, by Idols of ſilver and gold, and wood, and ſtone, by Indulgences, pilgrimages, purgatory, prayer for & to the dead, a ſea of whoredome,Re. 9.20 fornication, and witch-craft. How could any thing live in ſuch a corrupt ſea of doctrine and diſcipline, when they made all guilty of the murther of Martyrs under the name of Hereticks: and they killed the life of faith into one baptiſme into Chriſts death, for remiſſion of ſins, by teaching no man could have aſſurance of ſalvation: but he muſt goe to Purgatory for his ſinnes, except it were ſuch a fish as could bring up above twenty pence in the mouth, or ſome great piece of money; ſo that as no fiſh can live mari mortuo, in the dead Sea. So no true faith can live in the dead, bloody idolatrous See of Rome. For all men may ſee, that per accidens, it was turned into a bloudy, dead, and rotten ſtuffe, by rejoycing at the murthers of the ſanctified. And concerning our luke-warme ſee of Juriſdiction and Hierarchy of England,18 You will graunt, that it ſhall be no more; for Chriſt hath ſpewed out the Angell and his Epiſcopacie out of his mouth for luke-warmene•ſe in faith and conſcience. For they made a net of 110. articles, to have inſnared many ſoules, and to have catched many faiths in a new Oath of &c. to be Jure Divino, and to have tyed mens conſciences to a raile, and to cringings, and to an high Altar, and to ſo many Popes weedes of mans braine. How could any good fiſh live in ſuch pudled waters of a luke-warme ſea, but would have dyed in faith or conſcience; therefore becauſe Chriſt hath ſpewed the Angell and his Hierarchie out of his mouth, there ſhall be no more luke-warme ſea. And the See of the Lutherans is become nought, and ſhall paſſe away, for it hath a name it lives, but is a dead See, lyes in a dead faith, that their workes are not perfect before God; for they hate their brethren the Calviniſts, for conſubſtantiation. They ſleepe in ſinne, for they will not be awaked out of the dead faith, though Chriſt become upon them as a Thiefe, that is, by the judgement of a robbing, killing, and deſtroying warre; for the Thiefe commeth not but to ſteale, and kill, and to deſtroy, John 10.10. If thou wilt not repent, and remember what thou haſt heard of (i. e. by the ſpirit of Martin Luther) and received of the white raiment juſtification, to make thy workes perfect before God, and of one baptiſme into Chriſts death for remiſſion of ſinnes. Chriſt will never leave comming upon thee as a Thiefe; for he hath been upon thee as a Thiefe in judgement, to plunder thee by a civill War, and as a Thiefe to kill thee ſometimes, man, woman, and child, & he will come upon thee as a Thief to deſtroy by the Turk: For Chriſt threatened your church, that he would come on you as a Thief, and now you ſee he is come; and now ſee Rev. 16.15. Behold I come as a Thiefe, and therefore he will never leave comming on thee as a Thiefe: and therefore repent, and buy gold, white raiment, and eye-ſalve, or elſe the Turke will come to deſtroy thee, becauſe thou keepeſt not Chriſts garments, but walkeſt naked in ſin. Alſo the Presbyterian See of Calviniſts will be aboliſhed for ſuffering Drunkards, Uſurers, and prophane, and eſpecially Anabaptiſts to ſwim in their See. Doe you not know, that the denying of their firſt baptiſme was the cauſe why the Lord ſent the Turke into the church of Greece, and removed the Candleſticke of the Church out of that place, becauſe they forſooke their firſt love, i. e. their firſt baptiſme, wherein the firſt love of Chriſt is ſhewed, Epheſ. 5.26. Tit. 3.5.
Of the overthrow and departure of all corrupt Sees of Juriſdiction of the churches of the Gentiles, for baptiſme is good enough by whomſoever a man be baptized. If they have faith to believe they were then waſhed from their ſins in Chriſts bloud, Revel. 1.5. For hee that believeth, and is baptized into Chriſts death for remiſſion of ſinnes, ſhall be ſaved, Mar. 16.16. It is not ſaid in mans ſtate, or in Infancy, baptized by a faithfull Miniſter or a Judas; for ſecum valet, if he believe: for baptiſme adminiſtred in the name of the Trinity, the Father baptized, the Son baptized, & the holy Ghoſt baptized; for if there come true faith that they are waſhed, ſanctified, & juſtified that evidence it. Now therefore if Chriſt be, and will come as a Thiefe with the Turke, upon Germany, for that greateſt Church deſtroying ſinne of the Proteſtants, for denying their firſt baptiſme, what ſhall become of your Sees then? my Text tells you they ſhall be no more, neither Epiſcopall, Presbyteriall, or Independent, but a new Jeruſalem, and a new government from heaven.
I have thought fit to admoniſh our brethren the Lutherans and Calviniſts, that I conjecture by Scriptures that the Turke ſhall come and deſtroy Germany. Reaſon19 ſaies hee is like to come, for his Empire from ſmall beginnings hath riſen to ſuch greatneſſe by the diſcord of Chriſtians which you ſee to be in Germany, and you know that Soliman the Turke did come with 250000. men, and beſieged Vienna, but the ſins of Germany was not then full, and for the Proteſtants ſake the Turke was defeated and overthrowne by the Proteſtants, and driven out of Germany, (mark ſaith Foxe what victories God gives to reformers of Religion.) But now your ſinnes begin to be full; hee will come againe, for your ſins, and diſcord procure him. The conjunction not of ſtars, but of Scriptures I judge by, are theſe, Rev. 3.1, 2, 3. Rev. 16.15. Dan. 11.41, 42, 43, 44. For the firſt of theſe, you know that the church of the Lutherans is the counterpain of Sardis. For you, as they have a name you live, but are dead, i. e. in the dead faith, that have no aſſurance of ſalvation by remiſſion of ſins. For you believe not your workes are perfect before God, verſ. 2. for how can you? when you live in hatred with the Calviniſts, for the errour of conſubſtantiation, and they with you, v. 3. Remember both of you what you have received, i. e. one baptiſme into Chriſts death for remiſſion of ſinnes, and heard of Luther out of Chriſts word, of free Juſtification to make the tree good, & the fruit good: but you have not held faſt your firſt baptiſme, but many among you have given heed to the doctrine of Devils, to deny your firſt love, i e. your firſt baptiſme, and have not repented of this ſin, as Epheſus did not, i. e. the Church of Greece, for which God removed the Candleſticke out of their place by the Turk. Therefore becauſe thou didſt not watch in the faith of thy baptiſme into Chriſt, he is come upon thee as a Thiefe, and will come by the Turke, and ſpoile thy Candleſtick in thy place; and thou didſt not know when he would come upon thee as a thief. Now you know that a Thief commeth not but to rob, to kill, and to deſtroy, as Joh. 10.10. You ſee Chriſt is come upon you with a judgement as a Thiefe, firſt to rob you, becauſe you have not kept Chriſts garments unto you by faith, that were given you in baptiſme, Gal. 3.27. Therefore he hath been upon you with a plundering, robbing, and ſpoyling civil war, and he hath been upon you as a Thief to kil you. For many places have bin put to the ſword, men, women, and children, by Tilly and others, and he will come upon thee as a Thief to deſtroy by the Turk. For behold I come as a Thief, and therefore wil come all the 3 ways of John 10. I tell thee Chriſt will never leave comming as a Thiefe to ſteale, kill, and to deſtroy, untill thou awake out of the ſleep of this ſinne, and repent, and keep Chriſts garments unto you, that you walke not naked, without a wedding garment given in baptiſme, and they ſee thy filthineſs, Rev. 16.15. And for Dan. 11.41. at the end of time, (i. e. of the churches of the Gentiles now at hand) The King of the North (i. e. the Turke ſaith Brightman, and I judge ſo too; for the Turke lyes North of the place that Daniel writ in) hee ſhall enter into the pleaſant Land (this cannot be meant of the Land of Canaan, for the Turke hath poſſeſſed that for many yeares, Ergo, the pleaſant Land muſt be the church of Chriſtians in Germany, where is a true Church) and many countreyes ſhall be overthrowne, many churches of Idolatrous Chriſtians, beware Hungary, Poland, & Tranſylvania, that are in his way to Germany: But theſe ſhall eſcape out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the chiefe of the children of Ammon. Now this cannot be meant of the materiall Kingdomes of theſe 3. ſpoken ſo often on in Scripture, for they were deſtroyed long ſince, as the Scripture declared they ſhould be, and thoſe places are in the hands of the Turke already, from Tauris to Syria and Ægypt, & therefore ſhall not eſcape out of the Turkes hand, as if he ſhould not come there, for thoſe places are in the Turkes hands already, or waſte, as Geography and Scripture declare. But this is to be underſtood of the Spirituall Edom, Moab, and Ammon, of idolatrous Chriſtians: for the ſpirituall Edom is Italy. For 1. as the Edomites came of Iſaac, but were now Idolaters. So the Italians came of the Church, but are Idolaters. 2. As the Edomites were alwayes hatefull to the Iſraelites,20 ſo are the Italians to the Proteſtants. 3. As Edom would have killed Jacob, and his poſterity, was bloudy minded to the Iſraelites: ſo have the Italians killed, and are bloudy minded to the Proteſtants. 4 As Edom rejoyced at the day of Jeruſalem, ſaving, down with it even to the ground. Pſ. 50.So have the Italians at the day of the Proteſtants, of the Palatinate, Bohemia, and of Ireland, rejoyced to kill them, and ſay down with their Church even to the ground, and yet ſhall eſcape out of the hand of the Turke; for the deſtiny of Rome is to be burnt by the Proteſtants: for reward her as ſhe hath rewarded you (i. e. Proteſtants, not Turks) give her double, and in the cup ſhe filled to you (of bloud and fire) give to her, Rev. 18.6. And the ſpirituall Moab is Idolatrous Spaine. For 1. As the Moabites were affraid the Iſraelites would eare them up, when they ſay over againſt them, Numb. 22 So have the Spaniards been affraid the Proteſtants would e•t them up that lay over againſt them. 2. As the King of Moab ſent for Balaam the falſe Prophet, that was near the children of his people, to curſe the people of God, believing he whom he bleſſeth is bleſſed, and he whom he curſeth is curſed; ſo hath the King of Spaine believed that the falſe Prophet Balaam of Rome that is nigh the children of his people whom he bleſſeth or curſeth, is ſo. 3. As the King of Moab fought againſt the true church of the Iſraelites, ſo hath the King of Spaine againſt the churches of Proteſtants. 4. As wee have heard of the pride of Moab, his ſtoutneſſe and his arrogancy, Eſay 16.6. Jerem. 48. So wee have heard of the pride of Spaine, the proudeſt Nation in Chriſtendome; for onely by pride doe men make War. Pro 49.5. The Moabites would not let the Iſraelites dwell with them. For the Lord ſaid, let my baniſhed dwell with thee, Iſa 16.6. but they would not. So the Spaniards will ſuffer no Proteſtants to dwell with them. For in the Councell of Toledo, they made this Decree for the King; Nullum non Catholicum permittere in ſuo regno degere: and he that breakes that Law, that none, that is not a Catholike to permit him to live in his Kingdome, If any King ſuffer it, let him be accurſed, Maranatha, before the Eternall God, and be made the fuell of eternall fire. I could give 20. reaſons out of Scripture why Spaine is the ſpirituall Moab, and may hereafter. And the chiefe of the children of Ammon (i. e. Of the ſpirituall Ammon of France) ſo that I cannot tell whether all France ſhall eſcape the Turke. Bloud may purſue ſome part of them for their bloudy Maſſacres, ſee Ez 35.6. Becauſe thou hateſt not bloud, bloud ſhall purſue thee For as the Ammonites would grant no life to the Iſraelites at Jabeſh Gilead, but upon condition of putting out their right eyes, ſo the Ammonites of France would grant no life to the Proteſtants, but upon this condition of pulling out their right eye of faith, and therefore ſlew them. Secondly, As the King of Ammon abuſed the Embaſſadors of David, ſhaved off halfe their beards, cut off their garments by the butocks, & ſent them away ſhamefully entreated, ſo hath the King of France dealt with the Embaſſadorus of Jeſus Chriſt, the Miniſters of the Goſpell, ſhaved off beards, and heads, and garments, and ſhamefully entreated their. But Chriſt will avenge it. 3. As the Ammonites have been one of the greateſt enemies to the church of the Iſraelites, in fighting and joyning againſt them: ſo have the ſpirituall Ammonites the French been againſt the Proteſtants. Witneſs the bloudy Maſſacre of France, Dan. 11.42. And he ſhall ſtretch out his hand on the countreys, and the Land of Aegypt ſhall not eſcape. i. e. The ſpirituall Aegypt of Germany ſhall not eſcape the Turke. For 1. as Aegypt forgat Joſeph, that had ſaved their lives by a great deliverance; ſo Germany hath forgot Fredericus Earle of Palatine, how hee ſaved their lives, and the Imperiall City Vienna, by a great deliverance, from the Turk, 1529. though he beſieged it with 20. aſſaults. 2. As the King of Aegypt ſaid, come let us deale wiſely with the Iſraelites to keepe them in bondage, leaſt they be too ſtrong for us, and if there be War, to joyne with our enemies. So hath the Emperour and his Councell plotted to deale21 wiſely with the Proteſtants, to keep them in bondage, left they ſhould be too ſtrong for thē, and joyn with their enemies 3. As the Aegyptians kept the Iſraelites in bondage to work in bricke and clay, and burn it, and made them weary of their lives; ſo have the Germans made the Proteſtants cōſciences work in brick and clay of the Maſs, and burn them in the kill of Purgatory, and have made them weary of their lives in ſerving the Papiſts Idolls 4. As the Aegyptians would not ſuffer the Iſraelites to goe ſerve the Lord according to the true Religion, nor ſacrifice, nor keep a feaſt to the Lord, leſt he come upon them with peſtilence or ſword, Exod. 5.13. ſo would not the Popiſh Germans ſuffer the Proteſtants to ſerve the Lord according to his word, and keep a feaſt to the Lord, and ſacrifice in both kinds, for which he is come upon them with peſtilence and ſword. 5. As the Lord ſent 10. plagues on the Aegyptians for oppreſſing, & not ſuffering the Proteſtants to ſerve the Lord, ſo hath he brought 10. plagues on the Germans, becauſe they oppreſſed, and would not ſuffer the Proteſtants to ſerve the Lord. 6. As the Aegyptians purſued the Iſraelites into the red ſea, and were drowned, ſo ſhall the Germans that have purſued the Proteſtants into the red ſea of a bloudy war, be drowned in a ſea of bloudy War. 7. As the Iſraelites when their country was overthrowne, went into Aegypt to dwell there, contrary to the Word of God, that ſaid, you ſhall return to it no more, and ſerved the Queen of heaven. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, behold I will ſend and bring Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel, and he ſhall ſmite the Land of Aegypt with death, captivity and ſword, and he ſhall array himſelfe in the Land of Aegypt as a Shepheard putteth on his garment, & depart in peace, Jer. 43 10, 11, 12. So becauſe many Proteſtants in Germany, when their countreyes have been overthrown, are returned to Aegypt to Idolatry, whereof God hath ſaid to the Proteſtants, you ſhall return to it no more, 2 Cor. 6.17. But they have ſerved the Queene of heaven by Ave Maries. Now becauſe they agree in ſin, the Lord hath a King of Babel the Turk, that will ſmite the Land of Germany, and array himſelf with the land of Germany, as a Shepheard putteth on his garment, and return, for ſo Dan. 11.43. He ſhal have power over the treaſure of gold & ſilver, and over all things of the ſpirituall Aegypt of Germany, & departed but ſcarce in peace. For Daniel ſaith that the ridings out of the Eaſt & north ſhal trouble him, Dan. 11.44. That is, the tidings of the Eaſtern Jewes called firſt, for the 3. gates to the Eaſt ſhew it, Rev. 21.13. and of the Northern Jews converted. 2. that the river Euphrates ſhall be dried (as Rev. 16.12. ) & make the laſt Jewes a paſſage into the Turkes Dominions, which ſhall trouble him, and cauſe him to return: and he ſhall go forth with great wrath to deſtroy (for it is the battel of God) and root out many: for Chriſt will dip his garments in bloud, Rev. 19.13. But he ſhall be overthrown, for he ſhall come to his end, and none ſhall help him, Dan. 11.45. For at that time Michael the great Prince that ſtandeth for the children of thy people, i. e. the Jewes. And there ſhall be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was, i. e. the hour of temptation, Re. 3.10. and thy people (the Jewes inwardly) ſhall be delivered, every one that is written in the book of life, baptized into it, & believe.
Now the word but, the tidings out of the Eaſt, that ſhall trouble him, muſt be when he takes the ſpoile of Aegypt, which muſt be at the time of the Jewes converſion. Therefore muſt be underſtood of another Aegypt, then that which he won, v. 5.13. When Zelimus going to war in Perſia, and Gaurius King of Aegypt troubling him, he returned ſuddenly, through Syria, & ſlew the K. and took the whole kingdom of Aegypt, and poſſeſſeth it to this day, and therefore ſhall not goe to take the ſpoil of his owne Country. But it muſt be underſtood of another Aegypt that he ſhall take the treaſures of, at the time of the calling of the Jews, when the tidings ſhall trouble him, & that is Germany. For old Aegypt would be too near, and therefore he is like to be ſent a further journey, from the River Euphrates, that the new Chriſtians may have better oportunity to enter into his Dominions. And22 for Edom, Moab, and Ammon mentioned in Scripture to come to deſtruction & deſolation, Mal. 1.3. They lay upon the borders of the Iſraelites, & always troubled them. So have Spain, Italy, and France lain upon the borders of the Proteſtants, and troubled them For as the Apoſtle ſaith, doth God take care for Oxen? So doth God take care for Edom, Moab, & Ammon, or thoſe dragons that dwell in them? as Mal. 1.3. To make mention of their eſcape from the Turk, when he ſhall array himſelfe with Aegypt? for thoſe Kingdoms never were Edom, Moab ▪ and Ammon, to the Proteſtants to trouble them. But he meaneth of the ſpirituall Moab of Spain, as Amandus Polanus calls it, of the ſpirituall Edom of Rome, and of the ſpirituall Ammonites of France, which lay upon the borders of the Church of Proteſtants (and have ſome people of God to goe out of them) which have been as great enemies and troublers of the Proteſtants, as theſe were of the Iſraelites For what uſe should we make of the Scriptures that ſpeak of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, If there were not ſuch Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, to the Proteſtants as they were. And thou London, I have been much troubled for thee, I could shew thee how thou haſt taken thy bane. Thy Epiſcopacy is fallen before Romes, and I feare thy City will. For there are 3. things that mine heart feareth, and my face is afraid of the fourth. Treaſon in a City (as firing an houſe willingly) the aſſembly of the people, and falſe accuſation (of the brethren and truth) theſe 3. are heavier then death, Eccl 26.5. Preludiums of ruine, but diviſion overthrows all. O thou City divided within and without: how canſt thou ſtand, & Chriſt ſay true, Matth. 12.25. O London wash thy heart from wickedneſs, thou maiſt be ſaved? how long shal thy wicked (and dividing) thoughts remain in thee, Jer. 4.14. Labour to keep the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of peace. Take Chriſts counſell, to buy of him gold, white raiment, and eye-ſalve, and be zealous of theſe, and repent. For behold I ſtand at the door & knocke, and will not leave knocking at the door of thy heart, except thou open the door, & hear his voyce, let him in to ſup with thee & thou with him, Rev. 3.18, 19, 20. You are divided for a Presbytery, & and Independent government, and ſome for the old. I have counſelled you to agree, but you will not, but will have one. Well, upon theſe conditions I may conſent. Firſt you shall prove your government to be from heaven, for it is propheſied that England shall have a government from heaven, that shall laſt till the day of Doom. But I am ſure the new Jeruſalem comes down from heaven, Rev. 21.2. and therefore the government muſt come with it. 2. That you shall find above one good Preacher for every Shire, to make your Claſſes or governors of, which if you can do, you will shame all the Parliaments that have allowed our bookes of Homilies to be a good and wholſom doctrine. For theſe are the words of the 3d. part of the perill of Idolatry, p. 56. l. 23. It hath been continually true, & will be to the worlds end, & in our time, and herein our country too true, that every Shire should ſcarcely have one good Preacher, if they were divided. Mark, if there ſhall not be above one good Preacher for every ſhire, where will you find governours for your Church. 3. That none ſhall be choſen for a Governour that hath no aſſurance of ſalvation. For how ſhould hee ſet other men to heaven, which knows not whether he ſhall come there. 4. That no man ſhall be choſen a governour of a Church that is an Uſurer, or ambitiouſly deſire it, for they are moſt unfit for it, as Abimilech and Abſolom were. Therefore agree, for you have pulled down one government, and you shall not ſet up another, nor that again that you had. For I believe my Text, though you doe not: There ſhall be no more Sea. I tell you plainly you shall not ſet up, but pull down each other, til the new Jeruſalems government come down from heaven & that shal be it that shall reigne. The Presbyters have overthrown the Bishops, & the Independents will overthrow the Presbyters, and the Independents are divided, and shall overthrow the Anabaptiſts. But the new Jeruſalem shall overcome all, For there ſhall be no more Sea. Written by I. E. Paſtor of the New Jeruſalem.