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. 8.

And all that dwell on earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lamb, &c.

YOu have heard that upon the recovery and healing of the wounded head of the Catholick Church, sundry effects followed; the Dragon gave unto the Beast a four fold power, Power to speak great things, power to continue and to be active 42. moneths, power to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them; Power of soveraignty and Autho∣rity over all Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations, and that even to worship, that all that dwell on the Earth shall worship him, believing as the Church believes, and neither more nor lesse, submitting themselves in conscience to all their decrees, and expecting their salvation in the fellowship of that Church, which is divine worship peculiar onely to the Lord Jesus. In the words now read, you have these that worship the Beast, that is, that give this divine honour to the Catholick Church, to believe as they believe, to submit their consciences to the power of this Beast, taking up all their observations for wor∣ship, for Government from them, not from God, and looking for their salvation in reconcilement with this Church; I say these men that doe thus worship this Beast, they are described here by their state, by their spirituall and eternall state; that is to say, they are described by a deniall of their elect estate, and that is exprest in a deniall of the proper adjunct of that state, and that is, the writing of their names in the Lambs book of life, for that is the proper adjunct of all the elect peo∣ple of God, that their names are written in the book of life of the Lamb; these men men therefore being denied this proper adjunct of an elect state, they are the refore here described by their damnable condition and state; now this therefore is here predicated of them all, that their names are not writ∣ten in the booke of the life of the Lambe, who ever they be that worship this Beast; and he saith, All did worship him, save

onely they whose names were written in the Lambes booke of life: They that did worship the Beast, had not their names written in the Lambs book of life. So then this book in which their names are said not to be written, it is set forth by the end, and by the subject of it.

1. By the end, It is the Book of life: Not that it was a li∣ving book, but because they that are written in that book, are written unto life, that they may live to eternity to grace and glory.

2. It is described by the subject, It is the Lambs Book of life; either he is the possessor of it, God giving it to him that he might take notice of all the names therein, and keep them safe to salvation: or else he is the subject of it, as being the first and principall person who is written in it; for he of old hath been observed to be the head and cheif of the elect of God, in Ephes. 1. 4. He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, therefore he chose him first, and us in him, as he is well pleased, first with Christ, and in Christ with us, Mat. 3. 17. whether you speak of Gods everlasting complacency, or of the manifestation of it in effectuall vocation, it is in Christ that he is well pleased; first with Christ, and in his name with us, so he is said to be fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1. 20. So therefore it is said to be the book of the Lamb, the Lambs booke of life, because that the book is given to him, and because also that he is the principall person, that is first, and primarily, and fundamentally written in this book. I say it is first given to him, as if all the persons that God in∣tends life unto, he did give them as it were in a scroul or book to the Lord Jesus, (but of that I shall speak a little more by and by.) In the mean time I speak now to the Analysis of the Text; but if you shall not tras••••••e it, whose names are not writ∣ten in the Lambs Book of life (but as it is here and indeed so it holds in the Originall) the Book of life of the Lambe; Though it be the like sence, then it may hold out a further notion and meditation, and that is this.

1. That the Lambe is the subject of that life whereof it is said, it is the Book of life of the Lamb.

2. He is the Author of it, to the elect people of God, in John 14. 19. that holds forth both that he is that life to us: Christ as

God-man is the subject of this spirituall and eternall life; and his man-hood, so receives it as a common vessell to all his elect members, and because he lives, we shall live also, there∣fore he is the Author both of giving and preserving this life to his heavenly Kingdome.

Now by this Lambe, I need not tell you is meant Christ the Lambe, without spot, John 1. 29. We are redeemed by the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe without spot, 1 Pet. 1. 19. This Lambe is here described by his suffering which was slain, was put to death, a violent death: and that suffering of his is amplified by the ancient vigour and efficacy of it, slain from the beginning of the world.

Now the note that first offers it selfe from this verse is this.

That such whose names are written in the lambs book of life,* 1.1 they all and they onely are preserved from the worship of the Beast: For here it is said, That all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him, saving they whose names are written in the Lambes Book of life, they shall not worship him; but all whose names are not written in the book of the life of the Lambe, they shall worship the Beast: So then they whose names are written in the Lambes book of life, they doe not worship him; (for if their names be written there, they are expresly exempted;) but they that doe worship him, they are said not to have their names written in the Lambes book of life: So that such whose names are written in the Lambes book of life, they and all they, and they onely are preserved from the worship of the Beast. It is a speech to the like purpose that you read in Rev. 17. 8. and upon the like occasion: The Beast that thou sawes•• was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomelesse pit and go into perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder (whose names were not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the world, &c.) They admire and adore him, where he tells you of an ancient act, hee doth not tell here when it was written, there he doth, that ancient book wherein from the foundation of the world they were written, and therefore before the world such as were written in the Lambes book of life, were lockt up to be preserved from the adoration of the Beast, and

all the rest were left to worship the Beast.

For opening this point, here a Question or two may be mo∣ved for explication of the termes of the Doctrine (which have been a little expounded before.) First▪

Quest. 1. Then it may be demanded, what is this Book of life?

Answ. You read in Scripture of sundry books according to which our eternall state stands or falls (if I may so call them) that are said to be opened at the judgement day, whether at the last judgement, or some representation of the last judge∣ment, it is all one for the Doctrine: In Rev. 20. 12. it is sayd, When the Thrones were set, the Books were opened; and another book, which is the Booke of life: So here is one book, according to which, his Saints were judged, besides the booke of life, but that also was opened. These bookes are truly observed by o∣thers, to be first the book of Gods Providence, in Psal. 139. 16. which is also called in Mal. 3. 16. the booke of Gods Remem∣brance, wherein he takes notice of all persons and actions; that is, keeps as exact account of them as if they were written before him in a book, which day by day were fashioned, &c. In the providence of God there was a deliniation of all creatures and actions that should come to passe. There is truly also the booke of conscience; for also in that God registers all our actions, according to which we shall be judged, the conscience bearing witnesse about our persons and actions, so farre as they are enlightned by God. And you read also of another booke; The word that I have spoken, that shall judge them at the last day, John 12. 48. he shall judge all the world by it, Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel: These books will be opened; the booke of Gods Providence, the booke of the Scripture, and the book of conscience, by which we shall be judged.

But there is also the booke of Life, by which wee shall be judged, in Rev. 10. 12. Now for the book of life that hath a double exception in Scripture, for sometimes it is put for the Church register, in which all are registred, as those that were the living in Jerusalem. Isa. 4. ••. It is said, Every one that remaineth in Hierusalem shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Hierusalem: Or as the word is in the

margent or bigger Bibles written, To life in Hierusalem; In the Originall it is capable of both constructions, Every man capa∣ble of life is written in Hierusalem:

There is a book written of them that live there, of which it is said, Psal. 87. 6. the Lord will recount when he writteth up the people, that this or that man was born there: Of this book also you read in Ezek. 13. 9. where the Lord doth threaten the false Prophets, that his hand shall be upon them that see vani∣ty, and devine lyes; they shall not be as members of my peo∣ple, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house o•• Israel; they shall neither have fellowship with Church nor Common-wealth: There is a writing, therefore a Register, a Record of them, which in the Old Testament were counted Geneologies, and very carefully did they keep them; that if they could not shew their pedigree from this Geneology, they were as polluted. Ezra 2. 59. as also vers. 62. where he tells you of sundry that came in among the people of Israel; but be∣cause they could not find their names in the Register, they were left aside till they could finde further proof of their pe∣digree; they might be received as other Proselytes, but not as native Israelites, who were counted of the Church from the line of their Parents, and some of the sonnes of Barzilli, some of the Priests, they thought it more honour to fetch their pe∣digree from their father Barzilli, whom David had advanced to sit at his Table; and they thought it more honour to be counted of the house of Barzilli, then of the order of Aaron: And they, when they would have presented themselves to the Priests office, they were not received: why? because they were not found in the Churches Register, and they had no di∣rection from the Word to take Noble mens sons to be Priests, but only of the sons of Aaron: So this is the book of Life, it is called The writing of the living in Hierusalem; This is the book of life, the Church-book, it is nothing but a counter∣pane of the book of life, but not exactly agreeing to it; some∣times we put in more then God doth, and sometimes lesse: There be that belong to life whom we do not receive: Others they do not present themselves, or we do not receive through some failings in them or us; but if they belong to life, they

are written in the Lambs book of life, they may not be writ∣ten in the Church book; but this is not the book here spoken of, the book of the life o•• the Lamb: The Church is the body of the Lamb, but they cannot discern who are his: The Lord knows who are his, so do not we, nor the members of the Church, therefore you heare here of a distinct booke of the Lambs book of life, of which book it is expresly written, Rev. 20. 15. That whosoever was not found written in the Lambs book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.

All men therefore that are written in the book of Life, or in the book of the Lamb, they are written to life. Now this we cannot say of the Church-book; for as hath been observed of ancient time, there are many wolves within, and many sheep without: Sometimes the Church hath cast out her most precious members, both Officers and Members, sad experience hath made it true in our times, therefore that is not a certaine rule, that if a man be left out of the Church, he is left everlastingly, unlesse there be such contempt of means of grace, as in those whom the Lord hath branded for such whom he takes no pleasure in to eternity: For it is said, who∣ever was not found written in the Lambs book of life was cast into the lake of fire; Therefore this is some other then that booke of the Church: What book is that? no other but the eternall record and register of Gods election, that is, the Lambs book, whoever is not found, he is indeed cast out into the lake of fire, being shut out from salvation by Christ, and then what hope of salvation is there in himselfe?

Now of this book it is, of which Moses speaks, Exo. 32. 33. If thou wilt not forgive the sin of thy people, then blot me out of the book which thou hast written; not which the Church hath written, but which thou hast written, which the Lord hath written of life in Christ, in which the Lord hath written all the names of his Elect: This is the book out of which hee desires to be blotted out of; such was the extasie, I cannot say of his zeale, but he was filled with such ardent zeale, that rather then such a reproach should be cast upon God, that he was not able to bring them to the Land of Canaan, let him be blotted out of the book which he had written, let damnation it selfe fall up∣on him, rather then the name of the Lord should be reproa∣ched

by the uncircumcised Heathens; and in that sence Paul wisheth himselfe separate from Christ, for his brethren, his kins∣men according to the flesh, Rom. 9. 3. He doth not say, he would be cast out of the Church; but he found, that zeale for the whole Church, and for the Lord Jesus, that rather then the Gospel of Christ should be hindered, if it may stand with Gods liking, he could rather wish such a wretch as he should be cut off, then that the whole body of his people should be cast off: This is the Lambs book of Life, called the book of Life, not because the Lord stands in need of a book, but because those whom in his eternall purpose he hath decreed to save, his un∣changeable purpose doth fixe them as fast in his remembrance, as if they were written in a book before him: For that end his decree hath taken such particular notice of them, that if they were written in a book before him, they could not be more stedfastly and particularly recorded.

It is a phrase borrowed from men, that when they would remember such a man, or such a freind, they set them down in a booke; God stands not in need of books, but his clear, and everlasting love to them is such, that they are engraven as on the palmes of his hands, as the Shew-bread was present before the Lord continually, which represented the 12. Tribes, that his eye might be upon them from one end of the week to ano∣ther, and the word which the Septuagints use for Shew-bread, it is translated as the word which the Apostle useth, Rom. 8. 28. and the Greeke Translators and Hebrew expresse it, it is the bread of Gods purpose, or of Gods face, and what is his pur∣pose? it is not with him as it is with us, that whiles we speak of one man, we forget another; but his purpose is alwayes the same; and these being the bread of Gods purpose, they are ever before him from one end of the week to another, and from one end of the year to another, now that is the meaning of the Question, what is the Booke of life? It is the booke of Gods eternall election, that is, it is the register or record of the names of all whom God hath chosen to life and salvation in Christ.

Quest. 2. If you shall aske why it is called the Lambes Booke of life?

Answ. First, because the Lord hath given this booke to Christ, and all the names of his elect by name to be brought to salvation, and kept in a state of salvation to imortality, and therefore you shall read in Scripture, when God puts forth an eternall love to his people, wrought eternall salvation for us, I mean when he did eternally elect us to grace and glory in this eternall election of his, there was accompanying an eter∣nall donation in giving them to Christ, Christ knew his fa∣thers counsel from eternity, and the Lord gave them to Christ by him to be brought, and he undertaking that they shall be brought to salvation, the Lord requiring that he should keep them to immortality; he shall work the means and apply the same effectually to the end of the world: This is evident from those Scriptures that speak of the grant, and of the gift of them to Christ before their effectuall calling, though donati∣on go before that; for from that love of God by which he gives us to Christ in our effectuall calling, he gives us Christ, and faith to receive Christ; but before this, there is a giving, a donation of us to Christ, as John 6. 37. All that the Father gi∣veth me, shall come unto me; So this coming to Christ is belie∣ving on Christ, and it is so exprest in ver. 35. He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that beliveth on me shall never thirst: To come to Christ, is to belive on his name; thus much doth hee expresse himselfe; that all that the Father give him in his eternall counsell, they shall come unto him, to wit, in effectuall calling him: the Father will draw none but whom in his eternall counsell he hath given to Christ; and whom he drawes, I will not cast out, in ver. 37. to 44. So then when this act of Gods eternall election passed on those whose persons are designed to grace and glory, hee gave all by name to the Lord Jesus, as if they were particularly registred in a booke: And he promised, that in fulnesse of time, he would draw them to him, and required that the Lord Jesus should keep them under his wing to imortality; it is called therefore the Lambs booke of life, because he is the subject receptive of it.

Answ. 2. And again, it is called the Lambs booke of life, because he is the head of all Gods elect; they are all elect in

him, not besides or out of him, not as actually believing in him, for it is long before any work of ours, Rom. 9. 11. Not of workes, but of him that calleth, the children being not yet born, nei∣ther having done good or evill, that the purpose of God according to e∣lection might stand. Election i•• before any worke of ours, God gives us in his eternall councell to Christ, but we are not then in him by faith; faith is an effect of our election, not the cause of it: As many as were ordained to eternall life believed, Acts 13. 46. 48. But this is the thing; It is a true distinction that some give in that case; we are in Christ, not by actuall existence in beleiving; nor as so considered, but by virtuall comprehension: the Lord looks at us as in him, we are not in him by faith; but the Lord comprehending us in his ever∣lasting decree, we are in him by Gods charter, even children not born, the Lord hath wrapped us in his everlasting armes, in his electing love, promising in time to give us faith to be∣leive on him, and therefore to come to him, and to give him to us that wee may live in his sight; therefore it is the Lambs book of life, as he is the sonne of man, the sonne of the Virgin Mary, to be united to the second person in Trinity, long be∣fore his humane nature was in being.

Answ. 3. And it is called also the book of the life of the Lambe; if you have respect of referring to Christ this life, then you take Christ as he is the subject of this life, in John 14. 19. Because I live, you shall live also; I live, and then you live: and he is the author, the efficient, the procreant, and conservant cause of life in us to eternity; the Lord hath given us eter∣nall life, and this life is in his son; He that hath the sonne hath life, 1 John 5. 12. So you see the meaning of these words, these persons that are thus given to Christ, elect vessels to grace and glory that are given to Christ, they are preserved from the worship of the Beast, and none but they, they onely; for this purpose you read that false Christs (whereof Anti∣christ is chief) Mat. 24. 24. They shall deceive many, yea if it were possible the very elect: It implies thus much, that none of them shall be deceived by all false Christs, but all others shall be de∣ceived; earthly minded men, and such whose names are not written in the Lambes book of life, they shall be deceived, the

Beast shall go into perdition, and they with him, Rev. 17. 8. Not but that for a time they that are Gods elect may be taken with a fond admiration and adoration of the Beast, to beleive as the Church of Rome believes, and may look for peace of consci∣ence from the dispensations of the Church of Rome; it may be so as Bilney and Latimer, that were marvellous devout to that Church; though it pleased God that Bilney, you may read it in his Epistle to Bishop Tonstall, that being troubled in conscience, he had taken all the courses that their Religion enjoyned him; had made confession to the Preists, and they enjoyned him pennance and whipping of himselfe, but for all these his wound bled as fresh as before; till in the end he took an English Testament, as it was translated by Erasmus, not with any intent to finde any thing in it that might ease his trouble, but because he was a perfect Latinist; but reading that place in 1 Tim. 1. 15. these words did so affect him, that immediate∣ly the Lord letting him see his love in Christ Jesus: The Lord (saith he) let me see that I had taken a wrong course all this while; I have sought for salvation where it was not to be had, and prayed those to whom he spoke, not to take it ill, for it was not out of any neglect of them, but out of his faithfulness, having had experience, that the course they prescribed, that was not the way; but it so farre prevailed, as that he was marvellously esteemed; but he was taken up by Latimer, he made Bilney hear him Preach a most fearfull Sermon against Lutherans, that were then better then he; yet Bilney saw that he had zeal, but not according to knowledge, and he knew not how to come within him; but he went to him in private, and desired to speak with him, and he must not say him nay; then he up and tells him what a miserable wretch he had been, how he had wounded his conscience; how he had confest his sin to this and that Preist; how unprofitable all those meanes were to him which they prescribed; and there was no means in the world to finde peace till the Lord applyed that everla∣sting redemption in the bloud of Christ; why saith Latimer, he comes to seek for pardon from me to his soul; and saith he, I saw I stood in more need of being taught by him, and therefore stiles him in his Sermon Saint Bilney, that caught his

soul, and revealed that to him which he never heard of. There∣fore it is possible that Latimer and Bilney may be devout Ca∣tholicks for a time; but now when this electing love of God puts forth it selfe in the fruits of it, which is effectual calling; now they are fully satisfied that all this devotion, beleiving as the Church beleives, they see they are so farre out of the way, as faith is contrary to sence and reason: So that those whom God reserved and chosen to life, they are preserved from totall and finall adoration of the Beast, they may for a time through ignorance worship the Beast, as the best of Gods servants in those times did, and many times have been most zealous for the Catholick cause; and yet when the Lord hath called them effectually to his grace, then, not one that are written in the Lambs book of life doe worship him; so that though they worship him before, yet now they do not, when they come to see their folly, and have the love of God made known to them.

The Reason is first taken from the experimentall knowledg of every child of God effectually called,* 1.2 from the evident ex∣perience that he hath of the vanity of the Roman Catholick Church, and of the emptinesse of calling on any to look from Church power, to heale or wound the conscience, as of them∣selves, further then they dispence the Ordinances of Christ: and then it is not they, but Christ in them, and for them to look for salvation in the communion of that Church, and in reconcilement to that Church; They are so experimentally beaten off from that, and possest of the contrary by their own experience, that you need not take them from adoring the Beast; for they see it is a Beast, and they shall as wel utterly de∣stroy their souls, as worship the Beast; and therfore the love of Christ constrains Bilney, and he draws Latimer, and Latimer draws others, till they have propogated the truth of God to all ages. But that, though it be one reason, yet it is the least.

Let me shew another reason why the elect of God,* 1.3 after the electing love of God comes to be dispenced to them in out∣ward execution: For, before it may come to passe, they may worship the Beast, but then they will not doe it finally: but when the electing love of God is shed abroad in their hearts,

then they will not do it; and the reason of that (you cannot give a demonstrative reason but from this) to prevent impos∣sibility, it is not possible that they should: now there are three fundamentall reasons of the impossibility of it; two proper∣ties there are in Gods electing love: There is in Gods election, first, immutability, as God himselfe is unchangeable, Mal. 3. 6. so are his decrees unchangeable, the foundation of God stands sure, 2 Tim. 2. 19. and what he hath purposed, he will bring to passe: The counsell of the Lord is true for ever, in Psal. 33. 10, 11. he disappoints all the decrees of men, but his own counsels they take place for ever in every age, therefore it is not possible that any of his should perish; and perish they should, if they should worship the Beast; but it is not possible, his unchangeable decree keepes them.

Again, there is another property in his electing love, which is the efficacy of it, for Gods electing love doth choose us out of the world, John 15. 19. And if he choose us out of the world, the efficacy of that is, that it delivers us from the evill world: God electing us out of the world, hath redeemed and delive∣red us from this present evill world, Gal. 1. 4. Now if the e∣lecting love of God be of such efficacy, that when he elects men of his grace, he will in fulnesse of time deliver them from the world, then they shall not run headlong to the worship of the Beast, whom their hearts cannot close withall; the Lord redeemes them from that vaine conversation received by tra∣dition from their Fathers, I, though there be such efficacy in the bloud of Ancestors, yet the electing love of God redeemes them from that: But that will more appear in the second Reason.

And that is the faithfulnesse of Christ, and the efficacy of of his redeeming bloud. All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me, and those that doe come unto mee, I will by no means cast out, John 6. 37. Of those that thou hast given me, I have lost none, but the sonne of perdition, that (but) is not an excep∣tive, but an adversative; he that was never given, was lost, he did not bring him on to salvation; For this is the will of the Fa∣ther that sent me, that of all that he hath given me, I should loose nothing, &c. John 6. 37, 38, 39. That is, his faithfulnesse, and

with his faithfulnesse there is such efficacy in his bloud, that though the bloud of Ancestors run very warme, that a man would choose to live no better life, nor keep a better house then his Father or Grandfather, but wish their souls might be but as safe as theirs, when men are once redeemed by the bloud of Christ, and that is sprinkled upon their consciences, then the bloud of Christ is warmer then the bloud of Ancestors: though the Religion of our Fathers should be strong in the hearts of devout Catholicks, as in Bilney or Latimer, then a∣lasse for our poor Fathers, what is become of them? they pity them, and see plainly, that unlesse the Lord led them a further way then the Religion of those that taught them, they are gone everlastingly, and then they wonder that God should e∣ver choose such a dunghill, thee and me, that they see a broad difference between the Religion of their Ancestors, and that which they see now; but that is the efficacy of the bloud of Christ, there is that efficacy in it, that it washeth away all re∣lations to Fathers, to antiquity, and universality, he is cru∣cified to them all; God forbid (saith the Apostle) that I should glory save in the crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, Gal. 6. 14. So that though all the world runne after the Beast, they will not; the world looks at them as base unworthy creatures, and so they look at the world.

And there is a third fundamentall Reason,* 1.4 and that is ta∣ken from the power and presence of the Spirit of Gods grace, in the hearts of his people. We are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, 1 Pet. 1. 5. That is, by the spirit of God, and by the power of that spirit, he keeps our faith, and by faith keeps us in the way of his ordinances, and in the way of sanctification to salvation: Little children, yee are of God, and you have overcome these Antichrists; why? for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world, 1 John 4. 4. The power of God is in you, they are of the world, and the world is car∣ryed away with them; you are of God, and you hear them not; for greater is he tha•• is in you, then he that is in the world. These are three fundamentall Reasons which are indeed the demonstrative cause of the impossibility of them to be finally

carried to the worship of the Beast, the election of God will not suffer it, the unchangeblenesse thereof, the faithfulnesse of Christ, the efficacy of the blood of Christ, and the power of the spirit, and that which flowes from it is the experience of Gods love, and the vertue of their faith in Christ: Their faith is unchangeble, not possible to be rooted out, in Luke 22. 31, 32. I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not: It may be shaken, but it shall not finally fail; I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me, Jer. 32. 40. and that is the proper act of faith: Be not high minded, but fear; his mercy is suffici∣ent for us, trust steadfastly on the grace of Christ; and though Peter seemed not to trust on the grace of Christ, yet in his worst state he knew that all the courses of Satan were vanity, and he durst not but in his heart believe that Christ was the Messiah: so all the elect of God know the Beast is a Beast, and the Ca∣tholick Roman Church is a Beast, and the head of that Beast is a beastly head, and they know that their Doctrine is sensuall, and carnall, and that they all shall go into perdition; and withall, their experience doth evidently convince them, that were it not in a pang of temptation in which they are not able to abide by it, yet by a renewall of the blood of the Lord Je∣sus sprinkled on their souls, they are brought a fresh to see the work of Gods grace stirred up in them; but otherwise their constant course is, as in Rev. 14. you hear them coming as on a stage, representing the Lambe in their carriage and conver∣sation, and follow the Lambe wheresoever he goes: but for the Beast, a stranger, they will not follow; but both their faith and experience yeild them a third cause, and that is, the spirit of God carying them an end: My sheep hear my voyce, and they follow me; but they know not the voyce of strangers, they see a difference between good and evill; and therefore if they hear a man speak, and doth not speak of salvation by him, but of the world, or of himselfe, they will not follow him, John 10. 45. Thus you see the Reason why none of them worship the Beast: But on the other side, all the rest of the world doe, meaning where Antichrists power comes, speaking of those times when there was great power given to him, to speak great things, and no man might say, Sir, why do you

so: in that time when he had power to be active forty & two months, when he had power to make Warre with the Saints, and to overcome them, and when all Nations worshipped him, and did not shake off that Religion; but in former times, before reformation of Religion, this was an universal practice; they all, Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues gave their power to the Beast; and the reason of that was, from Gods just judgement, for their not receiving the truth in love, therefore he gave them over to strong delusions to believe lyes.

Secondly, from the efficacy of Satan in the power of deceit∣full sophistry, and doing wonders.

And thirdly, by the plausiblenesse, trumpery, and bravery of that Religion, so suitable to carnal reason, that they were carried away thereto, and it could not be, but they should be carried away by the man of Sinne.

The use first may then be thus much;* 1.5 If all that dwell on Earth, whose names are not written in the book of life, do worship the Beast, and none are excluded but those whose names are written in the Lambs booke of life, then this will unavoidably follow, that a Papist by his Religion cannot go beyond a Reprobate; what he may, and renounce his Re∣ligion, is another matter, as Bilney and Latimer sometimes did; they were written in the Lambes booke of life: but by his Religion, take them that do believe, as the Catholick Roman Church believes, and believe no more, but practice that which that Religion directs them to, and goe no further, and they continue and live and die in that, then I must pro∣nounce it from the Text, they cannot go beyond a Reprobate, the reason is evident from the Text; for if none of them whose names are written in the Lambs booke of life doe wor∣ship the Beast, and onely they do worship the Beast, whose names are not written in the Lambs booke of life, then if they be not written in the Lambs booke of life, the Text is very strong & clear in Rev. 20. 15. Whosoever was not found written in the Lambs Book of life, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone: But those that worship the Beast, are not written in the Lambs, booke of life, that is in the Text: Here are two propositions

very evident; All that are written in the Lambs booke of life doe not worship the Beast: But those that worship the Beast, are not written in the Lambs baok of life. Then the conclusion is, They shall be cost into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone: That if it appear that this Beast is the Roman Catholick Church, and the head of this Beast is the Pope: The conclusion will be most evident, that no man living and dying a Papist, can go beyond a Reprobate: I dare not say, but some that are igno∣rant, whom devotion hath carryed to that Religion; it is possible some of them when they come to death, may see the vanity of that Religion of worshipping Saints, and of confi∣ning their Faith to them, but that is not by their Religion: but if they dye in that Religion, and if their faith and wor∣ship be thrust upon them from the Roman Catholick Church, and they worship Saints and Angels, and believe in their owne merits for their justification, I do pronounce to you, that a Papist, living and dying a Papist, cannot go beyond a Reprobate; I meane such an one was not written in the Lambs booke of life: And they that are not, are cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, that is the issue: And therefore what a fearfull thing is it in such that do all they can to re∣concile Nations to the Church of Rome, and are mad upon Romish religion? what desperate service do they undertake, to bring men to such a religion as destroys many millions of soules? It is true, Those that are written in the Lambs booke of life; God looseth none of his sheep: but it is evident they are bloody Butchers of many Christians not chosen, yet devout Christians, many an one under pang of Conscience, with sence of many sinfull passions and lusts, are not able to get out but by a Priests absolution; and if they be covered with a Fryars coule, they hope they shall do well enough: Such a conscience as can be opened and healed by such wooden keys as these, if they know no more, such cannot be saved.

I will not enlarge it, but it were necessary to be pressed and urged in some places, look not at it as a matter of curi∣osity and circumstance what Religion a man dyes in, and think as some States-men doe, that if it were not for hot-spur'd Jesuites on the one side, and hot-spur'd Puritans (as

they call them) on the other side, Protestants and Papists might be easily reconciled. These are the whisperings of flesh and blood; but that which is written in the word, doth bear expresse testimonie against such a conclusion: For if Jesuites were removed, and Puritans too, yet if there were any left that thought they could worship the Church of Rome, as they require, that you must believe as they believe, your faith is built upon the Church, and upon the dispensation of the keyes of that Church, such a faith and obedience as fals short of Christ Jesus, that all salvation is to be expected from him, if both Jesuites, and those they call Puritans were removed, if there were none, but that take up their faith and obedi∣ence in that worship they hold forth: I say there is not any one of them that so live, and so dye, knowing what they be∣lieve, that can be saved. Indeed you read in Rev. 3. many know not the depth of Satan, and it is another matter what God may dispence to them in private; but men that know what they do, and believe according to the doctrine of that Church, and worship according to the direction of it: I say, men living, and so dying, there is not one of them whose names are written in the Lambs book of life, and therefore shall be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

This may teach us a true ground of any mans preserva∣tion from the pollutions of the world,* 1.6 bewitching polluti∣ons; sometimes a Catholick Strumpet carries all the world after her, as in those times: Sometimes the world swallows up the Church, and every man thinkes him happy, if hee may be clad with thick clay; others are taken up with provi∣sions for their belly, and sensuall Epicurean lusts, there be a world of such people: Now what doth preserve the people of God, that they are not carryed away either with the Ca∣tholick religion, or with worldly ambition, they are not taken with these: but see the vanity of them; what, are any of us better then those that have been bewitched by these? but what puts the difference? The originall difference is, God hath written them in the Lambs book of life, and what hee hath written, he hath written, as Pilate sayd: Hee hath written such to life, and his decree is irrecoverable: My counsell shall

stand, and I will do all my pleasure, Isa. 46. 9, 10. Therefore there is the Originall, from thence it flows, the Lord Jesus Christ concurring with the Fathers counsell, he hath given us re∣demption from the blood of Ancestors, and redeemed us from the present evill world, and will seek up every stragling Lamb, and presents us spotlesse to his heavenly Father, and then the spirit of God, by which he works all in the hearts of his people that receives us, for Christ and the spirit; for Christ comes and takes possession of us, and so thereby girds up our loyns to a dependance on him, and his grace, that we are preserved and saved from those fearfull temptations that overcome others, and all the world are over-whelmed withall.

It may teach us the marvellous freedome of the love of God;* 1.7 and therefore to admire the wonderfull love of God, the cause of all this our preservation from such prevailing e∣vills as swallow up the whole world; how doth it appear? why, I pray you consider, when the Lord wrote down thy name, or mine, or any mans name, who stood by at his elbow (if I may so speak) to put him in mind of my name or thine? he thought of us, if our names be there, and he set us downe, and he delivered us to Christ Jesus by name; what ever thy name is, he took notice of thy name; such a man in such a place, he will live in this or that Countrey, he is one, take notice of him, lay down a price for him; in fulnesse of time send a spirit into this heart; if he live in a Popish Countrey, save him from Popery; If in a worldly Countrey, save him from the world: where ever he lives, save him from himself, and bring him to my heavenly Kingdom; but what was there in us that could commend us to God? or what could there in us but what he appointed, but what he should put into us; he could not fore-see any thing, but that hee must work it, therefore it must certainly be his undeserved love that must take notice of them, and give them so to come to Christ, and all that the Father hath given him shall come unto him. The Lord will draw them, and then they shall come; in the meane time he keeps them from his Fathers eternal donation, in John 17. 17. Those whom thou hast given me, I have kept. Hee

hath not lost any, but one that was not given him to keep, he prays to God to keepe them through his own name, he keeps them by his own spirit, and this was agreed on from the foundation of the world, when this book was written; and it was not written yesterday, but before the foundation of the world, Rev. 17. 8. His thoughts were about thee and me; and whoever is written therein, a matter of much praise and glory to God, that he should have such marvellous pre∣cious thoughts to us. Psalm. 139. 17. How precious are thy thoughts to me O God. And so in Psal. 40. 5. we read of the precious thoughts of God towards us; that hee should have such thoughts, when time yet was not, neither we nor our fa∣thers; and all he did fore-see in thee and me, would but pro∣voke his wrath; what was good he must work, and that was from his counsell: If you see any vanish away, or fall away from his grace, and from his Saints, and he hath no pleasure in them, they are not given to Christ, you see he is the giver of them; but if men be not given to Christ, they will fall a∣way: All that the Father gives me shall come unto me, it is my Fa∣thers will I should not loose one of them. If men will not hearken to the Bishop of their souls, the Lord Jesus Christ, see the des∣perate danger thereof, and the originall root, They are not written in the Lambs book of life.

It may be of singular comfort to all the elect of God,* 1.8 whose names are written in the book of Life: It is a great comfort that a man is written to life, hee might have beene written to death, had not the Lord been pleased so to doe: You read in the Epistle of Jude, vers. 4. Of certain men crept in unawares, who were of old ordained to condemnation: The word in the Originall is, fore-written, written afore-time to destructi∣on: Now I say, that a man is not written to destruction, but to life, and to life in Christ; not as Adam, that was to stand by his own strength, and so long as he useth grace well, he shall live; but if not, he shall dye: and he so used it, that if God give him not life in Christ, he dyed for ever: This is in Adams covenant, not in Christs, that was for a man to live by his own righteousnesse: Do this and thou shalt live, Levit. 18. 5. How wofull was our condition in this case, but to be writ∣ten

to life, and to life in Christ; that is, Because hee lives, we shall live also: I am the way, the truth, and the life: And by this being written in the Lambs book of life, that the Lord should think upon us, when we had no thoughts of him; nay had no being, that he should then undertake for us; that when the Father gives us, he will receive us; and by receiving us, keep us spotlesse to his heavenly Kingdome, that he wil pre∣serve us from possibility of damnable Errors: They shall seduce if it were possible, the very Elect, Mat. 24. 24. But there is no pos∣sibility; what a marvellous matter is it, that it is not possi∣ble that any of those that are given to Christ should be sedu∣ced; it is such a mercy that may swallow up all discourage∣ments, all afflictions, all blasphemy of a mans good name and state, and wealth, and health, and all whatsoever; this may support him, that it is not possible he should be se∣duced: For the Lord knows who are his, the foundation of God stands sure; the Lord hath written it, and he is more constant then Pilate, or the Kings of Persians and Medes: The Law is written and established by the Kings Ring, and God is more stedfast then any of the Kings of the Earth, what he hath written shall be accomplished; the Lord will draw them to Christ, and Christ will keep them, not one of them shall perish, not one of them shall worship the Beast; or if they do, they soone see their folly, and are recovered out of all snares, they shall not prevaile against them.

It may be of instruction and exhortation,* 1.9 to provoke you to make your election sure, then you make your sal∣vation sure, and preservation from Popery and the world, and from the Devill, and from your own corrupt Nature, sure that you shall not be carried captive with the polutions of the times and places you live in, though hundreds run from God one way, and ten thousands another way, & fall off hi∣ther and thither, yet you shall still be preserved: in John 6. 68. where our Saviour asked his Disciples, will ye also go away? when many of those that were his Disciples went away and fell off from him, being offended from something which he had spoken to them, and that was that Doctrine that we have now in hand, and some other corolaries from it, they walked

no more with him; then saith Christ to the rest, will yee also go away? Peter answered in the behalfe of the rest;

Lord, to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternall life:

As who should say, whether shall a man go to mend himself? Thou hast the words of eternall life? and having the words of eternall life, how shall they do better else where? so it be∣hooves us then as we desire, to be preserved from all apostacy and backsliding from God, notwithstanding all the temptati∣ons of the flattering world, or busie world, or from the de∣stroying world, by persecution, and flattering by prosperity, and busie world, by the cares of the world, and continuall cumber about the world, and distempers in our hearts on that ground, in such a case as this what shall preserve us? If our names be written in the Lambes book of life, truely we shall be preserved, that neither the world, nor our passions and lusts shall prevail against us. My father (saith Christ) is grea∣ter then all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand: and I and my Father are oue, my Father and I will keepe them, Joh. 10. 27, 28.

Obj. You will say, it is a needlesse exhortation to make our election sure, if that be not done long ago; for it is not begun in this world, but long before; it is concluded long be∣fore, or else we are not written in the Lambes book of life; one of these two is concluded in Heaven: Christ knows those that are given to him by his Father, before he knows them by name, John 10. 14. It is worthy of memory that Christ knows them all by name, that argues the particularity and singularity of them, as he knows all the Stars in Heaven, so doth he much more know all his elect; if he know them all by name, hee then particularly observes them, and pre∣vents us with blessings of goodnesse, and preserves us from pre∣vailing evills, but if it be recorded of God, is it not in vain to exhort to make it sure.

Answ. If it were in vain, methinks the Apostle should not have used it, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Then that is it that lyes upon all Christians; some think it is not possible, but then it were a vain exhortation, Make your calling and election sure; if you do, a wide and open door of entrance shall be minished unto

you; well then though I cannot make sure my election in it selfe, for it is sure in it selfe; but the Question is, whether it it is sure to me, that is my duty, for he knowes who 〈…〉〈…〉, and knows them by name, and keeps them in his name, and hath given his Angels charge over us, and they will all watch over us, and therefore our Saviour in Luke 10. 20. saith to his Disciples, Rejoyce not in this that the Devils are subject unto you, but that your names are written in Heaven. Our election is sure enough in heaven, no stormes will alter it there: But now (in a word) can we make our election sure? the Apostle intimates when you make your calling sure, you make your election sure: your calling, that is but the actuall execution of this eternall election; but they are so neere, that many the Lord puts them one for another, he tells his Disciples, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, John 15. 16. he means of his selection, his calling them out of the world, then he doth communicate his electing love to such; it is wrought for us before in Christs death, in Gods councell, and in his effectuall redemption, wrought for us on the Crosse: but yet it is not manifest to our consciences till calling, but make your calling sure, and then election is sure: When you are called according to his purpose, Rom. 8. 28. that is this book of life, that is his purpose, that we are in Gods purpose written to life, look to that he hath saved us, and called us, Not accor∣ding to our workes, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 1. 8. that is the book of life and grace; of free grace, purposing us to life; and you read in Rom. 8. 30. Whom he predestinated, them he hath called; and whom he called, them he justified: now if a man be effectually called to grace that doth search election, let me briefly touch it, that which makes sure calling.

1. In our effectuall calling, there is a declaration of Gods love to the soul in Christ Jesus by the spirit of grace, in the doctrine of the Gospell, for that is Gods call; in our calling, God calls for his part by his grace and spirit, and we answere that spirit, by that faith, which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts; I say, God calls effectually to his grace by manifesting the rich grace of God in Christ, electing freely,

calling freely, from the obedience of sinne and Satan, to the liberty of the sons of God, as to those in Queen Maries time, when they wandered up & down like Lambs in a large place: Bilney he fetches in that one word in his lost and forlorn con∣dition; He read this promise, and the spirit of God applies it; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chiefe: This being applyed by the spirit, it falls on him with power, and he sees the goodnesse of God in Christ, and the vanity of all things else: and seeing so much glory in Christ, and in particular to him also, this lets him see the vanity of all other courses; for this manifestation of Gods spirit doth effectually and manifestly open our eyes to see, and hearts to believe what the Lord offers, for faith is said to receive what the Lord gives of grace; here is then that which makes call∣ing sure, for otherwise how can we know it, but by the ma∣nifestation, and declaration, and revelation of the Spirit: The things that eye never saw, nor eare heard, nor e∣ver entred into the heart of man, but he hath revealed them by his spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. As no man knows the things of man, but the spirit of man, so no man knows the things of God, but the spirit of God: And we have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are free∣ly given us of God. The spirit of God it is that searcheth all things, even the deep things of God, and reveals them to us, and lets us see the treasures of grace, and lets us see them thus ap∣plyed, this is the ground of effectuall calling, God calling by his spirit, and we answering that call, and from both these springs another fruit of our effectuall calling, which is likewise a certaine pledge of it that being thus called: Bles∣sed be God (saith the Apostle) that hath called us to the fellowship of his sonne actually and effectually.

2. Thence it comes to passe, that wee choose the Lord for our God: We have none in heaven but him, nor none on earth that we desire in comparison of him: Away then with those beautifull Strumpets, and all works of iniquity, and wayes of dark∣nesse, wayes of ambition, these are all blasted; now I desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. and now it is, that he rejoyceth in nothing, save in the Crosse of

our Lord Jesus Christ, Gal. 6. 14. Now this electing love in that we elect God, we could never choose God, had not he cho∣sen us, and in some measure discovered what his electing love was to us, this brings the heart back again to choose him, and none but him: now that is another security of our election, and therein it differs from all others; a man may have a kinde of sanctification by common gifts, which will leave him still to work for himselfe, but this is to abuse the very gifts of God, which the spirit hath wrought in us, though they be not such as accompany salvation, still we are not lift up above our selves, but when we are called effectually to Christ; now no motion swayes us, but as we see the will of God in it, we cannot beleive as the Church beleives: but we beleive our brethren and the Church, as we see the Church follows the foot-steps of the will of God; If I now please men (saith the Apostle) I am not the servant of Christ, 1 Thes. 2. 4. Nor of men sought we glory, when we might have been burden some, as the Apostles of Christ: If a man be left to fast for himselfe, or pray for himselfe, or worke for himselfe, and all is for himselfe, that he work•• from a principal respect unto him∣selfe, truly this will darken a mans effectuall calling; and if it be his constant course, doubtlesse his heart is not right with God: It is true, in a pang of temptation a man may be wheeled about, as Peter and David, yet the sight of Gods e∣lecting love quickens them to see their sinne, how farre they are turned aside from God; but there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soul is bent, as it were, with the point of a compass touched with a Load-stone, it may be jogged by windes and stormes, yet it lookes still to the North pole; though you may shake it from its course, yet let it but stand a while, it will directly look to the North pole, there it will stand; so it is with all the children of God, they cannot but worke; for Christ in John 16. 14. He shall glorifie me, for he shall receive of mine, and give it unto you: So that the heart that is sincere, it workes from Christ, and for Christ, and with Christ; I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, 1 Cor. 15. 10. So that you see what the manner of Gods people in this case is, they are from Christ, and for Christ, and with

Christ, and it is a seal of Gods election; the highest seal is, God knowes who are his, and that seal he manifests by his spirit in the Gospel, it is the spirit that seals up our adoption, and here is another seal we set to our seal, while we cleave to him with all our heart and soul, and seek after him, and have none in heaven but him, nor on Earth that we desire in comparison of him.

And thirdly, the last assurance of a mans election and cal∣ling (which I shall name at this time) is that which Peter himselfe doth expresse, in 2 Pet. 1. Give all deligence to make your calling and election sure; How shall they do that? he tels us in ver. 5. Moreover adde to your faith virtue, and to virtue know∣ledge, &c. He reckons sundry sorts of graces, and he calls up∣on them to adde grace to grace and one degree of grace to a∣nother; and (saith he) if these things dwell in you, and abound, by this means an open entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as if men that did not grow in grace, and g••ow from grace to grace; if they get to heaven at length, they must mend their p••ce, thrust and croud for it; but if these things be in you and abound, so an open entrance shall be ministred unto you; as if the great gates of Heaven were opened to you: there must be a growing, you are blind else, and cannot see afar off; you shall not see your state, un∣lesse you grow from faith to faith, and from knowledge to knowledge, then an open entrance shall be ministred to you, that you shall die in full assurance of faith, and of the love of God: And thus shall a man make his calling and election sure; and by so doing, he shall make sure to himselfe his pre∣serva••ion from this world, and shall be translated to everla∣sting rest wi••h the Lord in due time, where there shall be nei∣ther false Prophet, nor Jesuit••, nor worldlings, whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctr. 1.
• * 1.2

  Reason 1.
• * 1.3

  Reason 2.
• * 1.4

  Reason 3.
• * 1.5

  Ʋse 1.
• * 1.6

  Ʋse 2.
• * 1.7

  Ʋse 3.
• * 1.8

  Ʋse 4.
• * 1.9

  Ʋse 5.