An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent servant of the Lord, Mr. John Cotton ... ; taken from his mouth in short-writing, and some part of it corrected by himself soon after the preaching thereof ; and all of it since viewed over by a friend to him ... wherein some mistakes were amended, but nothing of the sense altered.

Rev. 13. 7.

And it was given unto him to make warre with the Saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations,

WHen the Devill, that is to say, the Dragon, could not find any longer resting place in heaven, that is to say, he could no longer enjoy Soveraign and divine worship as the great God (Constantine and his Suc∣cessors having brought in Christ and his worship alone in¦stead of all the gods of the Gentiles;) He therefore to re∣venge himselfe, makes warre against the Church, that were the rooters out of Pagan Idolatry: This warre, because he could not manage by himselfe, it being very strong, he there∣fore raiseth two Beasts out of his power, the first and second Beasts in this Chapter; the first, from vers. 1. to the 10. The second, from vers. 10. to the end of the Chapter. It was a third Roman State, not Rome-Pagan, nor Rome-Christian, but Rome-antichristian, that is to say, the Roman visible Ca∣tholick Church. This is described many wayes, by a wound given him upon one of his heads for a season; that when Rome was sacked, he was almost in a forlorn estate, and des∣pairing of recovery; but being healed, the effects were

1. The worlds admiration after the Beast.

2. Their worship both of the Beast, and of the Dragon, which is Satan himselfe.

The third event is Power, or as the word signifies, Authority (ver. 5, 6, 7.) And this Power and Authority did stretch forth it selfe to three employments.

First, He had power given him to speake great things and blas∣phemies; He might speak blasphemy by authority.

The second power that was given him, was to continue, or to be doing, to be acting and working all in all, for the number of 42. moneths, which in the former Chapter is de∣scribed by dayes, and the dayes meant years, 1260. yeares, which have been at large spoken to.

The third power and authority given him, was, To make warre with the Saints; and that not a vain and loose war, but an effectuall prevailing war, a victorious war: It was given him to make warre with the Saints, and to overcome them.

There was also a fourth power given him, and that was dominion over all the Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations: All Chri∣stian Kingdomes, they did all of them submit their Crowns and Scepters to this Beast, the Roman Catholick visible Church, whereof the Pope is the seventh head, for he had seven heads, and ten horns: Five of them were fallen, the sixth then which was the Caesars, and the Pope he was the se∣venth. Two of these Powers have been opened; Power to blaspheme; and Power to continue, and be doing.

I come now to the third Power or Authority given to this Beast, and that is, to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them.

The note then is shortly this;

The Roman visible Catholicke Church had power to make warre against the Saints,* 1.1 yea and to overcome them. They are in a man∣ner the words of the Text, explained in their true meaning.

The warre that he speaks of (as I conceive) in this place, is not a spirituall warre (though that also this beast did make, for he caused all that dwelt upon the Earth to admire and adore him, and that was spirituall war:) But he speaks of such a warre here, the effect whereof is killing with the Sword; Hee that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword, vers. 10. As if God would reward him in his owne kind: He that slayes many thousands of Christians with the

sword, that is, by the power of warre, he himselfe shall at length be destroyed by warre also: So that he speaks of a war fought by Arms, by slaughter and blood-shed, by open ex∣pedition of Military persons fighting in the quarrell of this beast against the Saints of God. There is another warre men∣tioned in the 17. Chap. of this book, where it is said, this Beast, and the ten Horns, that is, the Christian Kings, that shall give their power and authority to this Beast, shall make warre with the Lamb; and they which are of the Lambs side, are called, and chosen, and faithfull, and here they are call∣ed Saints: But there you shall see it is not the same kinde of warre, but differing there from what is here; for there it is sayd, They shall make warre with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall o∣vercome them; but here it is said, He shall make warre with the Saints, and overcome the Saints: So that one of these warres he speaks of, when he that hath smitten others, he shall be smitten himselfe; that is, towards the end of his Authority; then the Lamb shall make warre, and overcome him; but in the meane time he hath power to make warre, and overcome them, it is therefore a bloody warre: And it is not said that he began this war as soon as he began to do; for here are sun∣dry acts and passages of Authority, before he comes to this transcendant power to violent warre: Hee was admired and adored in the consciences of all Roman Catholicks; Hee had done many things, spake great blasphemies many a day, and yeare together: And in the end he receives also this power, to make warre with the Saints; that he was able to muster up such an Army of his owne, or his Horns, that is, those Prin∣ces that were obedient to him, as he was able to make warr. Now this Scripture (I conceive) was accomplished in his wars against the Waldenses and Albingenses in the 12. Century after Christ, they held all things conformable to the Scrip∣tures, and the Fathers, as they called them, and every way Orthodoxall, only they blasphemed the Church of Rome, this Beast could not tell what he had against them otherwise; but otherwise he commended them for their honesty, piety, and good dealing, and there was nothing culpable in their doing, but that they spake against the Church of Rome: now

against them did the Pope and the Catholick Church procure many expeditions of sore warre for many yeares together, and in conclusion rooted them out of the Countrey, and scattered them up and downe, some to some part of France, some to Bohemia, some to Germany, some to England, and some to one place, and some to another: though the Papists did confesse that the people were not rooted out, but scatte∣red; and where-ever they came, they propagated their Reli∣gion, that it was more and more spread where they came; but they overcame them, for they slew (as stands upon Re∣cord) about ten hundred thousands of them, and did burn up their Cities, and Cattell, fel'd their wood, that there might be no more Hereticks nestled in that wildernesse; and they did take a course that Midwives, and Mothers, and In∣fants in the womb, all should be slaughtered by fire and sword, that there might be no more continuance of that Generation: So that in this War the Pope did mightily pre∣vaile, and prospered so farre, that he spread all Christendom, and in one battle did overcome a great many of the Saints: Whereupon the Waldenses being warned by a Religious man sent by the Bishop of Tholouse, to confesse the hand of God a∣gainst them for Hereticall pravity, in blaspheming the Roman Catholick visible Church, and continuing so long in it, and to turn to the Catholick Church: For their de∣fence, to answer the Temptation that was put upon them, said they, it is written, The Beast shall make war with the Saints and overcome them; therefore it is no argument of Gods being against us, in respect of our Religion, for he may acknow∣ledg us Saints, though we be slain to this day; and therefore though there were but a handful left, they would rather dye, then yeeld to conformity to the Church of Rome. So you see the point opened: For the Reasons,

First, how this Beast comes to have this power to make warre.

Secondly, how the Saints come thus to be warred upon.

And thirdly, how they come to be overcome (for all these would be opened.)

First,* 1.2 this beast had power given him to make warre by se∣verall

hands; First, the devout subjection of the ten Christian Kings to him, that gave their kingdoms and swords into his hand, Rev. 17. 17. God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their Kingdoms unto the Beast: The principall Kings of Christendome in those dayes came and gave their power to the beast, and by their power he was able to do wonders against all.

A second reason and cause of his power to war against the Saints,* 1.3 was, because of the prosperous successe which they had in the warre against Christians a hundred yeares before, and that was in an expedition of Godfrey of Bulloign in Greece, and Duke Dalbo, that went forth to recover the holy Land (as they call it) to overcome the Turks and Sarazens, and God∣frey Bullen, a Christian Prince, as they call him, they made him King at Jerusalem, there he continued, and prospered mightily in this war, and held it for many years together: and Christian Princes seeing the prosperous successe of this War which he had raised up to recover the holy Land, and the Sepulchre of Christ; therefore upon the same tearms that he did procure that Expedition against Infidels, he doth pro∣cure warre against these Hereticks, and out of the same noti∣on there were gathered an innumerable company.

A third Reason was from the zealous Sermons of Fryars and Monks,* 1.4 exciting all Christendom to this Warr under the Standard of the Crosse in promise of equall pardon, as if the Expedition had been against the Sarazens, thence came he to make such authority to make Warre with the Saints, that if he call for it, it is done: He agrees upon it in his own Coun∣cell, and he gives instruction to all Abbots and Fryars, and Governours of religious Orders, that they should send out chiefe Preachers to call upon all the people, as in Psal. 94. 16. Who wil rise up for me against the evill doers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of Iniquity? Sometimes complay∣ning of the slacknesse of men to holy zeale for Gods glory, and maintenance of purity of Religion, and sometimes a necessity of taking part with those that are Infidels abroad, and Hereticks and Schismaticks at home; They found their Explication amounting to that use, that whereas there had

been many Hereticks nestled up in this Countrey, therefore it pleased him and the Apostle Peter to stirre up the Bishop of Rome to vouchsafe the like plenary pardon to those which would go to warre against these Hereticks, as those which had prevailed against Infidels; and the premise of pardon did so farre prevail, that they shortly gathered together 300000. that in hope of plenary pardon of sinne did give up them∣selves to go on upon their owne charges; they would sell goods and Lands for pardon of sin, and peace of conscience: And in those dayes men were wont to be troubled at the Ser∣mons of the Fryars and Monkes, and never found setled peace by pardon from Christ Jesus, and never thought to look for pardon where it was: and they told them it was to be had by bestowing their goods and lands thus; and those Fryars and Monks did so inculcate and drive the nayl to the head in the hearts of people, that they were never at rest till they went about this Expedition, there were raised a matter of ten Captains, Simon Munford was one, a notable instru∣ment for the Devill and this great Beast.

The last Reason was,* 1.5 the superstition of those times, the deep devotion and dejection of spirit that was in the bodies of Christians in those dayes in regard of their spiritual estate: They being deepely convinced of sinne, and sharply reproved by the Fryars and Monks, who had a notable dexterity to sting the consciences of men, and wound them by the terrour of Gods wrath, sometimes for their great exactions, some∣times for their incest; sometimes for their whoredome, and neglect of the Ordinances of the Church; and they had things so full against them, that it made them strictly devout, and so were taken up in devotion to this great Beast, and the head of it, that all the world admired and adored him for his ad∣mirable and transcendant power, and keyes that he had to heaven (as they thought••) they all yeelded themselves, some their bodies to fight, and some that had not sufficient to maintaine themselves, other good Catholicks were ready to cast in some more, some lesse, to maintaine them, according to their abilities, and happy he that could make something to make warre aginst these Hereticks: So that lay all these

together, and you will see how he had this great power to make war with the Saints. Here was a great and vast change from the Institution of Christ, who confined all Churches in∣to one Congregation, that all may heare, and all may be edefi∣ed, that one Parish Church should grow to that vastnesse, to levy 300000. to the warre, and that by a word of his mouth to have them all mayntained without grudging, for every man did thinke the worke as pious, a marvellous change: and well doth the holy Ghost say, Hee had great power, that the power of that Church should reach over all Churches, and shall have such an influence into Kings, that look what they shall dictate, all shall be ready, body, and goods, and life, and all to maintain them; you see the reasons of it, how he comes by this power.

But secondly, how comes he to make War against the Saints?

There is a double reason for that,* 1.6 one is taken from the profession, and practice, and conversation of these Saints: This was their practice, They followed the Lamb, as in the next Chapter; I looked, and loe a lambe stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred fourty and four thousand, having his Fa∣thers name written in their foreheads: These are they which are not defiled with women, for they are Virgins: These are they which follow the Lamb whether soever he goeth: They kept themselves undefiled of this Antichrist of Rome, were not defiled with the whoredome of this great beast; in all things they consen∣ted with the Doctrine of the Primitive Church, and their hy∣pocrisies, and whoredomes, and coveteousnesse, were things that would by no means be borne; therefore the Pope, who was the great head, discerning he was thus contested against, and (as they say) blasphemed, he thinks he does nothing, though he destroy Turkes, and Sarazens, and Aegyptians, and whoever took the Sepulcher of Christ, as long as those Here∣tickes at home were not subdued, therefore he thinks it as me∣ritorious a worke to subdue them, as ever to fight for the ho∣ly Land. But there was another thing that made the war, for no warre can be made but by levying of Forces on both part••.

And therefore a second was,* 1.7 their taking up of Armes, in the just defence of their liberties, both of conscience and out∣ward man: For if the Catholick Church had raised up all these Forces, and they had quietly submitted themselves like sheep to the slaughter, there had beene no warre then, there had been massacres: It would have amounted to that as the massacre in Paris, that a man did not lift up his hand, but they were slaughtered like dogs in the street: Though they come with fire and sword, yet unlesse they resist with fire and sword, it cannot be said to be war: Some set in against them, though their weaknesse caused them to presume, but it was to weak a businesse for flesh and bloud; Wee wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities and Powers, and spirituall wickednesses: They which trust to flesh and bloud shall be deceived; as these men, they stood out, and sometimes prospered, while the Earl of Tone, and some other Princes joyned together, though they were but few, they prospered; but war is not one Battel or two, and in the end they were overcome, and this Beast prevailed; and that's the reason of the 2^d part, how he came to make warre against the Saints.

For the 3^d, How came he to overcome them? Truly not by strength, he had very little that way; but

First,* 1.8 he overcame them by their a little too much confi∣dence in the arme of flesh: when they see the King of Aragon set on, they come to be a little set on by the power of the King, and a great Battell recoyled by trusting to the arme of flesh. You read in Heb. 11. 34. That by faith the Saints waxed valiant in Fight, turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens; but when our faith runne in another channell, that we grow confident not in the Lord Jesus, by trusting in him, but on the arme of flesh; we know what is said in Jer. 17. 5. Cursed be the man (ye though he be a good man) that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arme, and whose heart departeth from the Lord: It withers, it cannot stand against the potent Army that rise up against them; though their enemies were never lesse in number, nor never lesse provided, yet they prevailed more then ever before.

The second Reason was, by their attention to politick and deceitfull Treaties of peace; for when they saw the men were good Souldiers, valient in battell, and able to fight it out, and they found the 3000. that were to fight for plenary pardon three years, had served out their time, and they had got as they thought, their souls saved, they would go home now, and they had got peace by this carnall confidence of theirs: So they perceived this war would be troublesome, and the Hereticks were like to prosper, therefore they gather in the cheif Leaders to Treaties about peace, and great pitty that such bloud should be shed; therefore for the honour of Rome it were needfull to cease the warre, and so would draw their cheif Leaders to firme leagues of Peace, and then they kept their best Generals in Prison; and thus when they had got them to yeild to their pretences, then they had their neckes under their girdles, and their throats under their axes, they might hew them out of measure: Insomuch that the King of France hearing of such cruell massacre, he sent to know what their Religion was; and though he sent expresse charge that none of his Souldiers should offer violence to them, yet they concealing his Letters, they went on in massacring the poor Saints, and scattering them up and down, in so much that they prevailed, partly by the Saints cleaving to the arme of flesh, and by trusting their false pre∣tences.

And there is a third Reason mentioned in the 10. vers. saith he, Here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints:

It was Gods pleasure to make it the season of the Patience of the Saints:* 1.9 It was the season wherein Antichrist should swell to his height, and the Saints be brought low, and their Patience be tryed to the utmost; and it being a time of the Saints Patience, it must needs be a time of their suffering; and suffer they did with much patience: but yet they were not utterly exterpated, for some fled to France, and some to Eng∣land, and so propagated Christian Religion, which after tur∣ned to the conversion of many, John Husse, and Jerome of Pragues Doctrine grew and spread more, till God raised up Luther to set forward the power of the Gospell. Thus you see the truth of the Doctrine.

For the use then,* 1.10 First it may serve to let us see whence is the power of waging war; for the Text saith, it was given; To him it was given to make war with the Saints: All men cannot receive this, as our Saviour saith in another case, but they to whom it is given. It is not an easie matter for any to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to wage war, it requires great store of persons, and great store of Treasury, and Fountain to maintaine both; And besides all this, it require•• no small measure of Wisdome and Policy to undertake such designes: all these you see the Lord gives, and gives them to those that his soul take no pleasure in, and to those that in his esteem are men of beastly spirit••, yet he gives them power to make warre: He may blesse himself in his rule and bravery that they were able to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against Infidels, and after against Heriticks as they called them, but indeed the Saints of God: but you see God gave power unto this Beast, which is therefore no cause of tri∣umph or glorying that he hath recived such a power, for you see it may be given to these that are enemyes to the Lord Jesus.

Secondly,* 1.11 observe this much, That the Lord himselfe doth acknowledge even his poor children on Earth to be that which is commonly by priviledge sequestred to the holy Saints in Heaven; He calles them Saints.

We think Saint-ship is a peculiar priviledge to the Saints in Heaven, when they have ended their dayes in peace and a good conscience, then they are accounted Saints and An∣gels; but the Lord accounts them Saints while they live upon the Earth, whiles they are the Church Militant, a warfaring Church; while men undertake warre against them, and overcome them by warre, even then they are called Saints. And which is wonderfull, Saints when they are overcome, and that by their owne sinfulnesse; for they loose not the Saintship, when they loose the victory. The Lord looks at his poorest children here as Saints, though there be a miserable body of death hang about them, that they cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this Body of Death, Rom. 7. 24. Yea though they complain of their Pride, and Passion, and Lusts, and Hypocrysie, and many of∣fences

they finde against themselves, though they think them∣selves more flesh then any, though they thinke themselves (as Paul did) Carnall, sold under Sinne, (Rom. 7. 17.) yet then the Lord accounts them Saints when they are en∣compassed about with a body of Sin:

Yea which is worse then that, when they give way to their own Sinnes for a time, and doe withdraw their confidence from the Lord in this and that act, and put their trust in the arme of flesh: When they are so childish as to trust Popish pretences, when they are warred against, and overcome by enemies, and by their own folly; as David saith in Psal. 69. 5. O God, thou knowest my foolishnesse, and my Sinnes are not hid from thee. The Lord knew it, but yet he did not know it to hurt them, and loath them, and dishearten them: but yet they are Saints, and such as he account to be his, and not onely in regard of Regeneration, and the holinesse of Christ, but in regard of the fruits of holinesse begun in them, as he saith, Rev. 14. 4. These are they which are not defiled with women. They are sincere in their course, and keep faith and a good consci∣ence in the main, and where they do fail, they judge them∣selves: Indeed in darknesse of Temptation they may be surprised, but they judge themselves for it, and God looks at them as though they were without fault before his Throne; when it comes to the Throne of God, the Lord Jesus covers it with the Robe of his Righteousnesse; and in the intenti∣ons of their hearts and endeavours they are according to God; if they be carried aside, it is by humane frailty.

Now this is comfort that the Lord accounts them Saints when they are warred against, (as here in the Text) and all the world thinks it a matter justly deserving Salvati∣on to shed their bloud like water, then doth the Lord beare witnesse they are Heriticks. So that let every christian soul carry this home with him, that it is not every act of unbeleif that makes a man no Saint, for these trusted too much upon the forces of others, and if they had prevailed, for God never failes any that put their trust in him; never do the Saints fail in any expedition to men but when they faile in trust to God, 1 John 5. 4. This is the victory that overcometh the world,

even our Faith: He that believeth in the Sonne of God for Redemption and Protection, and turnes not asside, whether he go forth with many, or with few, it is all one for that; if it were but David with a sling and a stone, he shall prevaile a∣gainst Goliah: The Lord is faithfull, never did any faithfull soul perish till his faith failed and shrunk; and then when Peters faith shrinks, he begins to sinck. But it may be a ground of much consolation to any Saint of God, the Lord doth not dissaint a man, or cast him out of the Catalogue of Saints for this and that failing, but still they are Saints, a Saint in peace, and a Saint in warre, even when they are overcome; when they are in calamity, and the plowers plow upon their backes, and make large furrows, they are the Saints of God, still leaning to the Voice and Councell of the Lord; and when they start asside to Popish pretences: Onely when they cleave to the Lord, and trust steadfastly upon him, then they prosper and flourish; but if they begin to shrink in their faith, and to harken to pretences and terms of peace, then wonder not if you see them overcome, yet still faith is invin∣cible, and their cause and Religion is propagated by their dis∣pertion, it was not destroyed. And therefore if the Lord ac∣counts us Saints, it behooves us to be ashamed of every passage of our lives that doth not become the Saints of God. When Religion came low, and Antichrist overspread the world, the Lord accounted his faithfull ones to be Saints; in this battel there was a Generation of Saints whom he owns: and there∣fore how much more should we that live in dayes of peace and liberty, bring forth fruits of holinesse in our conversati∣on, that the Lord may account us his Saints whoever came to make war against us.

Thirdly,* 1.12 this may serve to teach us the lawfulnesse of chri∣stians waging warre in their own just defence. You see it e∣vident here, the Beast did make warre against the Saints, and did overcome them at length, though at first the Saints over∣came them, and killed divers of them; they stood upon their own defence, and it it is not laid to their charge, but still they are accounted Saints while they make warre: It is true, their confidence in the arme of flesh, and listning to Popish

pretences was an argument of weaknesse, and timerousnesse, but it was not their failing to resist: and had they not heark∣ned to those suggestions brought to them by those that lye in wait to deceive; had they not leaned to humane policy, and trusted to humane strength, they had certainly prospered. It is true indeed, when the Laws of a State are armed against Re∣ligion, though christians be fewer, or more in number, they are to submit, and not take up armes; and that was the constant practice of the Primitive Church, the Laws of the Empire being for Idolatry, they willingly suffered, though they were more then the rest. Or secondly, when the Laws of a State are ordayned for Religion, private christians must lift up their hands, to right the abuse of the Laws, and there∣fore David being a private person, he would not lift up his hand against Saul, the Lords Annointed, though he did a∣gainst Law. But yet neverthelesse, if the Law be for the maintenance of Peace and Trueth, and true Religion; and Governours and Princes will against Law, and beyond Law, and consequently against the Oath which themselves have taken to maintain the Laws and Religion, if they will make warre against the Saints, and Religion, and Truth, or against the way of Justice and happinesse, which they are sworn to maintain; now in such a case as this, It is as lawfull to take up armes of defence, as it was for these men to take up war in their own just defence.

Now they are not private persons, but in the place of the Country: The Lord he put the power of the sword into the head of their Guides & Leaders where they lived; and though they were by former Lawes engaged by way of Homage, yet now they may take up the sword of their own defence and maintenance, in witnesse bearing to the Truth to the last bloud: In such cases the case is much altered, for their Prin∣ces and supream Governours, they are all subject to the Laws and Oath of the Kingdome, and they have no power but ac∣cording to the Lawes which are made: If therefore they take up a power against Law, and contest with the people of God, then this power which these holy men did exercise to maintain their peace against all opposition to be raised against them is lawfull.

For a fourth use;* 1.13 it may teach all the people of God not to measure a cause by the event, nor persons by accidents that do befall them, lest they should condemn the generati∣on of the Just. It was a grievous temptation Asaph lay un∣der, to see the ungodly prosper, and have what their hearts could desire, and himselfe plagued all the day long, and chastned every morning, Psal. 73. 3. to 13. and by this meanes he condemned the generation of Gods children: But no mat∣ter though the Beast prosper, and the Saints are overcome, yet the Beast is a Beast when he prospers, and the Saints are Saints, though they be overcome; therefore let us not judge of things according to their appearance.

Fifthly,* 1.14 It may teach all the Saints in this Countrey, or where-ever, not to trust the pretences of deceitfull men, es∣pecially such as are not sound in Religion, and take heed also how you trust upon your own strength (let me put them both together for brevity sake): We know not how soon a∣ny of us may be tempted in this kind, what warres may be raised against this Countrey (though wee have none for the present, nor feare none) yet in time we know not what may come: what, are we better then our Fathers? The Beast of Rome still lives, his 42. moneths is not yet out (though his power he much weakned) but his Agents still live: He is a∣ble to blow a coale to those that look for salvation from him, to do this great and glorious service to the Catholick Church and cause: And if it please the Catholick Church, then it grows a great businesse to root out Hereticks, to blast them by censures of Excommunication, and Civill State; if it were so, we stand upon our own defence you see. It be∣hooves you therefore, as you desire to be faithfull to God, to Religion, to your Churches and Common-wealths, to your Wives, Children, Estates, as you desire to be faithfull to his Ordinances, to the Kingly, Priestly, and Propheticall Of∣fice of Christ, to attend to that which these Saints neglected, that is to say, to attend to the word of Faith, and to the wisdome of God: Trust not upon the experience of your Captaines or Souldiers, to fight by Land or Sea: Trust not upon your Castles or Vessels by Sea, any thing you have, or

may have: Trust not upon the pieces of Ordnance, they are all vaine things to save if you stand in need (and yet of use.) Be prepared in this kind, that you may be instrumentall to Gods providence, but trust not in them, they are but the Arm of flesh: And if Wars come against New-England, it will be from Principalities and Powers, and flesh and blood will not be able to with-stand them: They will be Principalities from Hell, or the great Beast, the Catholick Church, or from the Image of this Beast, otherwise there is no feare of any War: but if any War do come, trust not in those means you have, nor though all the Natives in the Countrey were on your side: and if any great Protestant States should offer you help, use them, but do not trust in them. It was the way of over∣coming the Saints of God, they trusted on the arm of Flesh, and that was their great folly, and that brought the hand of God against them; therefore see your Faith be sincere, and upright to him.

Secondly, Leane not to the wisdome of carnall reason, nor trust not to faire pretences, you shall have your liberties longer established, only something or other you must give way to, and some principall ones must be singled out to treat of peace, but it was the ruine of this State: It behoves the Saints to sanctifie God in their hearts, to trust upon his grace, to cleave to the word of God; trust what the Lord saith, and not what deceitful men say: It was a grave saying of an ancient Prince in England; Obey according to the Law, and you obey the King: but if you obey what comes suddenly out of his mouth, or against Law, you obey not me as King: And that is it which Christian Religion teacheth; no Religion teaches a man more to obey Kings in wholsome Laws; to obey them, it to obey God in them, for Princes are subordinate to God himselfe. The people do concur in making some Laws in e∣very Common-wealth, and Princes have transcendant pow∣er over the People; and God forbid any should spring out of this Countrey to plead against their Governours, and wea∣ken their forces, but keep their Scepters fresh from one Gene∣ration to another; yet this is the best service done to Kings, service according to God: If Laws be made, let a man yield

active obedience to them, if they be good, and passive if they be evill; but against Law, contrary to the stream of Law, to make a man think himselfe bound, in such a case it is to flat∣ter Princes and Powers, and not to yeeld professed subjection to them. Therefore it behoves the people of God to know upon what terms they stand, that wee may carry our selves like loyall Subjects and Christians, that the name of God may not be dishonoured by any weaknesse of ours, and start∣ing aside on any hand or other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctr. 3.
• * 1.2

  Reason 1.
• * 1.3

  Reason 2.
• * 1.4

  Reason 3.
• * 1.5

  Reason 4.
• * 1.6

  Reason 1.
• * 1.7

  Reason 2.
• * 1.8

  Reason 1.
• * 1.9

  Reason 3.
• * 1.10

  Ʋse 1.
• * 1.11

  Ʋse 2.
• * 1.12

  Ʋse 3.
• * 1.13

  Ʋse 4.
• * 1.14

  Ʋse 5.