A modest enquiry into the mystery of iniquity by H. More.

CHAP. XVII.

1. That this Opposition against the Divine Grace of Charity is a most substantial Limb of Antichristianism, and the Character of them without the Holy City. 2. That that repeated Catalogue of abhorred Titles in the Apocalyps is plainly a Synopsis of the main Characters of the Antichristian Polity we describe. 3. The confirmation of the truth of our Idea of Antichristianism therefrom. 4. A summary Re∣presentation of this Idea in the Oppositions and Defeatments of the Privative Ends of the Gospel, as also of those noted Offices of Christ. 5. Of his Divinity and other holy Titles. 6. Of the Divine Life in Root and Branches. 7. A Parable to set out the salvage Injustice and Cruelty of this Antichristian Synagogue. 8. The Apodosis of the Parable. 9. That we have set out the Idea of the most real and essen∣tial Antichristianism that can be; with an Answer to what may be ob∣jected to the contrary. 10. That it is that very Antichristianism that is foretold in the Prophets, the clearing whereof necessitates us to an inspection into them before we make any punctual Application of our Idea to the Apostasy of the Church.

1. THat this last Limb therefore of our Description, comprised in such things as are notoriously opposite to that Heavenly Vertue of Charity, is a very substantial Limb of Antichristianism, I think it is im∣possible for any one to doubt: And therefore it is no wonder that the chief Character thereof which is writ in letters of bloud, I mean that of Bloudy persecution, which I last of all insisted upon, is entred into that black list of Names which are excluded out of the Holy City of God; Without are Dogs, and Sorcerers, and Fornicatours, and Murtherers, and Idolaters, and every one that loves and makes a lie. Which I doubt not but is a Synopsis of the chief Oppositions to the Holy City, or Body of Christ; and therefore what can this other Body be but the very Body of Antichrist?

2. And I look upon that brief comprehension of those detestable Titles as the more considerable and more exactly computed, because the same summe, though not the same words, seems to be reckoned up in two several places; for where the words differ, yet reckoning one thing with another, we shall find the same extent of sense taken in. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are of equal extent with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

For, as I had occasion to note above, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will answer to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, such persons being understood in both as are seducible by false Doctrines and feigned Legends contrary to both the Word of

God and common sense, and have their spirits intimidated and basely en∣slaved and befooled with superstitious Falsehoods and Lies. And then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 answers to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in both are understood such as coin false doctrines for the profit of their Church, and invent lying Legends, and obtrude supposititious Reliques upon the people to pick a peny out of their purses. And lastly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are both included in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Dogs. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which intimates Unbelief of Religion, is included in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as they are Brutes, Religion being the property of a Man. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or abominable, for masculine Ve∣nerie, is included also in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but with a particular respect to their Species, the Dog being so furiously lustfull as to spend promiscuously upon either Sex.

And now for the rest of the Titles in each Catalogue, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are all one, saving the terminations of the words, which alters not the sense at all: but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 exquisitely the same. And therefore the Synopsis is plainly the same in both places.

3. Wherefore enslaving Superstition, Infidelity or Atheism, Foul uncleanness of either kind, Lying Legends, and Doctrines false even to Impossibility and to the plain contradicting of Scripture, the worst of Murthers, the bloudy Persecution of the Saints, professed Sorcery or In∣cantation, or a pretence of doing more wonderfull things then the greatest Magicians of Aegypt, and lastly, gross Idolatry and open Image-worship; all these, I say, being as well noted, and so signally, to be the opposites of the Holy City, which is the Church of Christ, as so execrable in the sight of God as expressely to be doomed or sentenced to be cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone; I conceive that my Idea of Antichristianism being made up chiefly out of these parts, and explicitely comprising them all, besides other particulars of the like nature, it cannot be denied but that it is a true and perfect Idea thereof even upon the testimony of Holy Writ.

4. But I dare briefly appeal to any mans Reason that has imbibed but the first Rudiments of Christianity, and knows but common sense, and has read any ordinary Carechism, has the least spark of Grace in his heart, or any relish of what is holy and divine, whether the nature of those things of which I have composed this Idea of Antichristianism be not essen∣tially and intrinsecally Antichristian.

For, to take again a compendious view of what we have more largely exspatiated in, and thereby to give judgement more safely on the whole matter; what Hypothesis can be framed more Antichristian then this? That a pack of men (phansy them as numerous as you please) should hold together under one domineering Head, that would trample upon Princes, and tread upon the necks of Emperours, and kick their Crowns off with his foot, and under pretence of being Successours to Christ and his Apostles, (though Christ told the boasting Jews (who yet were un∣questionably the posterity of Abraham) that they were of their Father the Devil, because they did his works) claim notwithstanding an Infalli∣bility of Judgement and Right of ordering all the affairs of the world in reference to Christ's Spiritual Kingdom; but yet in the mean time in

very truth seek nothing but the encrease of their temporal Honour and Power; and to this end undermine and defeat the whole design of the Gospel, not acting according to the Laws of Christ, but making such Institutes and countenancing such Practices as bring in most wealth for the support of the Magnificence of this Tyrannical High-priest, that takes it to be but his due to ride upon the necks of Princes. And therefore every gainful sin, and serviceable to this purpose, shall be made a Law, (though never so point-blank against the Laws of God and Christ) and all those sa∣cred purposes of Christ's coming into the World shall be trode upon for a foot-stool to lift this pack of Impostours into the Throne, that they may the better trample upon all the people of the Earth.

That is to say, Whereas Christ, by his Gospel, came to silence idolatry throughout the world, these Deceivers, for their own advantage and profit, will set up openly in their Churches as gross Image-worship as ever was amongst the Heathen. Whereas Christ came to free the people of God from the yoke and burthen of Mosaical Ordinances; these Oppressors of Mankind will load their bodies and Consciences with more numerous and tedious Superstitions and Ceremonies then eve•…•… Moses commanded, and put them to a drudgery and slavery worse then the Aegyptian Task-masters did the children of Israel in their soarest bondage.

Whereas Christ was given to the world by his Father to be an absolute King, from whose Decrees there can be no appeal, nor any annulment of dispensation with his Laws; a perfect High-priest, who by the Sacrifice of himself once made, and self-effectual Intercession, is an all-sufficient Recon∣ciler of us to God; a Prophet and Teacher, whose Instructions and Pre∣dictions are all infallible Oracles: this King of Babylon (for so I will call this Tyrannical Seducer) with his Hypocritical Assistants, shall pretend that Christ has given up his Kingdom to them, and that they have the very same Power that Christ himself, can dispense with or abrogate those Laws he has made, or appoint Laws quite contrary to them, o•…•… have au∣thority to put what sense upon them they please: which is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nulling of Christ's authority as he is Law-giver and King, and the greatest Trea∣son and the most contemptuous that can be committed against his Hea∣venly Majesty. This false High-priest with his several Orders of levite, as if that one offering of the Body of Christ, which he himself made once, were not sufficient for the atonement of the World, nor yet his sole In∣tercession, in virtue of his Infinite Merits and Passion, available for our re∣conciliation with God, pretend (to the high dishonour and vilification of Christ's own offering himself up once) to offer him up in their own hands really and bodily every day in a manner; and, as if the Intercession of Christ and his own inestimable Merits were of themselves maimed and defectuous, clap to them, to piece them out, the Merits and Intercession of mere Mortals, such as could merit for none but for themselves, nor in∣deed have got to Heaven but upon the sole merits of their loving Saviour, whom they are made thus to confront in his incommunicable Office. And lastly, This false Prophet with the rest of his devoted Impostours, to the end that their own lies and misleadings of the people may not be discovered, but withall to the unsufferable reproach of that great and true Prophet the

Lord Jesus, and the unspeakable injury of his cordial Followers, withhold those lively Oracles delivered by him and his Apostles from the know∣ledge of men, not without gross revilements and disparagements cast upon those Holy Writings: then which nothing can be more outrageous against the Prophetick Office of Christ.

5. Again, Whereas the Divinity of Christ is plainly and punctually and of set purpose asserted in Scripture, to assure us of the allowableness of that Religious Worship we doe to him; it being his peculiar Royalty or Prerogative, as being not mere Man, but God; nay his Godhead being ascertain'd to us by that argument of Adoration due to him, Worship him all ye gods: yet this perfidious Antichristian Hierarchy will not stick to undermine this Prerogative, and, as much as in them lies, to proclaim to the world that he is no more then mere Man; for, as if they had found an allowed instance of Men-worship in him, they will give Religious worship to hundreds of Saints as well as to himself. Whereas Christ is described in the Prophets as the Prince of Peace; these falsely-pretended Successors of his, or rather the Seed of Satan, who was a man-hater and murtherer from the beginning, will prove themselves Fomenters of dissentions and com∣motions, and causers of embroilments of Nations and Kingdoms in War, upon their politick and pragmatical Machinations for the unjust Interest of their own holy Crew. Whereas Christ was the Light of the World; these will study to keep the world in Ignorance, that they may the better tyrannize over them and inslave them. And whereas Christ professed himself to be the Truth; these will make it their business to fill the world with Falsities and Lies, so they be but so contrived as is most fit for the holding up their Interest, Pomp and Power in the world.

6. And thirdly and lastly, Whereas the chief and most indispensable End of Christ's coming here upon Earth was to enliven the world with that Life which is truly Holy and Divine, wherein are comprised those four Heavenly Graces of Faith, Humility, Purity and Charity; as for the first, This Pseudo-christian Church, by reason of the multitude of their lying Miracles and gross Legends and falsified Reliques, their incredible Stories of Purgatory, and shameless Impossibility of Transsubstantiation, (all which tend to the Profit and Interest of these Seducers) bring things to such a pass, that if all the counsels of Hell were laid together, they could not invent any thing more destructive of Christian Belief, and more mischievously insinuating that Religion is onely a Fiction found out to inrich the Priest and make him powerful and honourable.

And then for Humility; Their Supreme Patriarch being so very high, and wrought to that high pitch by such frauds and forgeries, by abetting and countenancing such Treasons, Murthers and Villainies, by raising such Seditions and Confusions in Christendom; and this Sacerdotal Monarchy exercised with that haughtiness and unparallel'd pride, this Supreme Levite so grossly and rudely treading upon the necks of Princes, and making the greatest Emperours his foot-stool in his displeasure, and his Sedan-men or Chair-carriers when he is at peace with them; and the whole constitution of their Hierarchy, in the several pomps and degrees thereof, being rather a fiery rack of inflaming Ambition to set all mens

spirits on the tenter-hooks in their reaching after the bewitching prizes which are ever flaring in their eyes, then an allowable frame of a modest order of Government to keep up wholesome Discipline in the Church; can we imagine any complexion of things more contrary to the Spirit of Humility then this?

And then again for Purity; For this lofty High-priest to stoop so low as to set his Seal to the allowableness of Fornication, by receiving an annual Tribute from the Whores of his Metropolis; and to enjoy•…•… coelibate to his Priests, as if he meant to drive them into the nets, that these Nuns of Venus may never want trading; to fill the world with Monasticks, and to set light by all kinds of debauchery, so that the Laws of the Church be observed; is the most effectual method imaginable to make Christendom a Cage of unclean birds, and so quite to wither or lop off that Branch of the Divine Life which we call Purity.

And now, lastly, for Charity: What can be more contrary thereto, then to interweave into Law or Religion not onely what is naturally unjust, but barbarously cruel; not onely killing those who are innocent, but tor∣turing to death with the most salvage torments even those who are the most dear and faithful members of Christ, and even for that very reason, because they approve themselves to be so; and that which will make the Barbarity of these Successours of the Devil still more odious, they en∣snaring men in the point of that Mystery which was the Pledge of the greatest Love of Christ that could be expressed, and was intended for the most endearing and agglutinating Cement of all those that are called by his Name, that they should upon this very score be united to one another with the sincerest love and affection that is possible? Now therefore that this sacred Pledge of Love and Amity and Unity in the Church, I mean the Sacramental Body and Bloud of Christ, (which is a lively Commemo∣ration of that ineffable Love of his to his Church in laying down his Life for us) should be made the main Engine and Artifice of entrapping, and afterwards of cruelly torturing and butchering, his most faithful Members; what more horrid, more execrable, and more Antichristian Abuse can there be of our Lord Jesus, or what Hostility against him more damnable or Diabolical?

Nay what conspiracy against Humane Nature can be more tragical or direful, or what so palpable a plot to make Mankind mere slaves and vas∣sals, and to take away from them that Privilege by which alone they are distinguishable from brute Beasts?

7.

Suppose there were a numerous crew of odly-habited people, in∣habiting a certain vast Wood or Wilderness, that would give themselves some phantastick Title, to make the better show of Sanctity, as, sup∣pose, The Knights of the Holy Grove, or The Priests of the Infallible Spirit, or the like; and should take up a resolution amongst themselves to be accounted Unerring in whatsoever they unanimously averred for true; and should agree together and determine (for the gainful vending of so marvellous a commodity) that there is so great virtue in such a form of certain Magical words, which they know how to use, that if one of their Sacred Order speak them over any of those pure, white, round

Pebbles which easily are found in Rills and Brooks, straight-way this little Stone, though it retain still the same colour, magnitude, figure and hardness that it had before, yet (so wonderful is the mystery) is most as∣suredly turned into an Eagle, whence this kind of stone also is called the Eagle-stone.

Upon which supposition, let us further imagine that these Infallible Knights, meeting (as it is usual) Travellers upon the way, and declaring this wonder-working power of their Order, and shewing them one of these stones, and having said the charm over it, protesting that it is really become an Eagle, (though it be not visibly changed at all from what it was before) may sometimes light upon some honest plain-hearted pas∣senger that may flatly deny the Exploit, and contend that the inchanted Stone is no Eagle, but a Stone still. Whereupon we will suppose that these Knights of the Holy Grove blowing their Bugles will cause whole Swarms of that Sacred Order to come out of the Wood, who shall avouch upon the Honour of their Infallible Knighthood that the Miracle is really performed, and that which this incredulous Stranger contends to be still a Stone, is in very truth that Royal Bird of Jupiter. But that such should be the honest stoutness and plain-heartedness of the envi∣roned Stranger, that notwithstanding all this he should persist in his for∣mer opinion, alledging that he cannot believe that to be an Eagle, wherein he can discern neither bill nor taions, head nor foot, wing nor tail, bone nor flesh, but is in every thing as much Stone as before; and that therefore they shall never perswade him of this Magical Transmuta∣tion, there being no proof thereof but their own Testimony, and that point-blank against the manifest evidence of Sense and Reason. Where∣upon if these Knights of the Grove, putting on a grim Vizard of en∣raged Zeal in behalf of their own Traffick and Reputation, should fall up∣on this innocent man, and slay him, seizing upon what he has, his Mony, Cloaths and Gelding, as lawful Booty; would not these Knights or Priests of the Infallible Spirit be accounted in the judgment of all the world a pack of bloudy Impostours, a crew of High-way-men, co•…•…∣spiring to rob and spoil honest Passengers that goe that way?

8. What then shall we think of those numerous Swarms of this pretend∣ed Infallible Church we have described, that will be ready to quarrel with any Christian passenger in his pilgrimage through the Wilderness of this World, if he deny the Transsubstantiation of a round white Wafer into a perfect Man, when a Priest has said certain words over it, though the Wafer, upon the most exquisite examination of our Senses, be not changed one jot from what it was before? Yet upon the boast of the In∣fallibility of this Church, a man must believe it against all Sense, Scripture and Reason, or else die the most cruel kind of death that Malefactors are ever put to. Who cannot but look upon such a pack of men as these as not onely Antichristian, but Anti-humane, tanquam jur atos humani gene∣ris hostes, an accursed company of bloudy Thieves and Robbers, and sworn conspirators against the sons of Adam, who with might and main endeavour to maul them and martyr them, to subdue them and enslave them both Body and Soul, and more cruelly to tyrannize over them then it is fit for any man to doe over brute Beasts?

Can any thing be imagined more Antichristian then this, or more con∣trary to that noble and Divine Spirit of Charity and sweet Benignity that was so conspicuous in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is so frequently in Scripture styled the Son of man, as to whom appertains that expected Kingdom of Peace, of holy Love and of Humanity?

9. Wherefore from this short draught I think one may discern that I have given a very true and faithful Idea of that which is real and essential Antichristianism; and truly I think to the highest pitch imaginable. For to excuse the matter in saying, that this Pseudo-christian Church does not openly deny Christ or his Gospel, does not persecute every one that bears the name of a Christian, and, lastly, does not set up Images to the Deities of the Pagans, Mars, Venus, and the rest: to these I briefly answer.

To the first, That it were not their Interest to deny the whole Truth of the Gospel; for then their Power and Credit would fail in the world: But it were the Interest of the Church of God they did so; and therefore they are the worst enemies that can be, doing more mischief under the colour of friendship then any declared enemy can. Besides that there are pregnant proofs in the Scripture, that Antichrist is to be a Christian in ex∣ternal Profession, not a Pagan or any other Alien from the Church.

To the second, That their not killing all that are called Christians, shews that their Malice and Cruelty is more exquisitely opposed and di∣rected against Christ, in that their spight is onely against his true and sin∣cere Members. For those that are spared are not truly Christ's Servants, but this High-priest's vassals, or at least are taken to be so by him, else they could not escape his sury; so that his opposition to Christ is onely more judicious and adequate, not less fierce nor malicious.

And to the last, that they worship the Images or Persons, not of Ve∣nus, or Neptune, or Mars, but of the Blessed Virgin, S. Peter, S. Paul, &c. Suppose a mighty Potentate, and as vertuous as mighty, should put out severe Edicts against Adultery and carnal Fornication; and that some guilty of the fact should apologize for themselves to their Prince on this wise, It is true indeed, Great Sir, that we have committed Fornication, but beseech you to take notice of the excusableness or justifiableness of the circumstances. For we are not such gross and course-grain'd Fornicators as defile themselves with any Flesh, but onely such as we have (and that upon high desert) a very great respect for and entire love to, and that the rather for their near Relation to your Highness, namely, your Daughters, Sisters and Neeces, and others that are more near then ordinary. Would not such an Apologie as this enrage the Prince with the greater wrath against their wicked Leudness?

How odious then and ridiculous would such a Plea be touching this Spiritual Fornication with the nearest Relations and Friends of our Blessed Saviour? Can Spiritual Adultery, which is Idolatry, committed upon the Blessed Virgin, upon S. John and others, be more tolerable then upon Diana, Apollo, and other Mortals canonized by the Heathen?

Nay indeed would not this latter be but onely simple Fornication, or Adultery, (there being no aversation in such unsanctified persons from

the receiving of Divine honours) but the former an execrable Rape, they committing Idolatry or Spiritual Fornication against the wills of these Holy Saints they thus blaspheme and abuse?

So that I see not the least reason left to doubt but that I have decyphered the Idea of the most perfect and most detestable Antichristianism that can be.

10. And thus having fully perfected the Draught of the Idea of Anti∣christianism, I might, according to the method I intimated, make Appli∣cation thereof to the state of the Church apostatized thereinto.

But because some men are so very hardly brought off to believe that any degeneracy of the Christian Church, so long as they do still formally pro∣fess Jesus to be the Christ, can amount to the production of that famous and signal Antichrist the Prophecies seem to point at, whom they with all peremptoriness contend to be an open Denier of Jesus, and as express an Assertor of himself to be the expected Messias, no pretended Successor nor Disciple of the true Christ; I think it very convenient, before I pro∣ceed to the Application of my Idea of Antichristianism, to make a more exquisite search into the Prophecies, and thence to demonstrate (as I hope) with unexceptionable evidence, That such an Antichrist for the main, as is represented in that Idea, is also prefigured or fore-told by the Holy Prophets, that is to say, such an one as, doing such abominable vil∣lainies as I have instanced in, yet professes himself to be Part, nay Chief, of the Body of Christ, which is his Church.

For unless I doe this, I know that such is the shuffling disposition of Ignorance and Falshood, that they will think they can evade all by saying, That I have indeed made an operose Description of A true Idea, but not of The true Idea of Antichristianism, such as my Title pretends to: that is to say, That the Church does indeed very naughtily, and in some sense Antichristianly, in these miscarriages; but it will not amount to the making up the Antichrist properly and signally so called, and pointed unto by the Predictions of the Prophets.

Which therefore we are necessitated to search into before we goe any further; and are the more easily induced so to doe, the Method being in∣differently natural either way. For the first intended Method was, After this Description of the Idea of Antichristianism, to make punctual Ap∣plication thereof to the Apostatized condition of the Church; to discover who is de facto that grand Antichrist; and then to apply the Prophe∣cies to the Events, to shew that they also do indigitate the same that my Idea does discover. My present purposed Method is, After this De∣scription of the Idea of Antichristianism, to make search into the Prophe∣cies; to find out that their prefigurations of Antichrist are in the main strokes (for neither are the Prophecies concerning Christ predictions of all his particular actions) most manifestly answerable to the Idea we have given, and that the Antichristianism which they foretell of is a Degeneracy or Apostasy of the Church still formally professing Christianity, accor∣dingly as we have described things in our Idea: and then, in the last place, to make a more punctual Application of our Idea of Antichristianism, thus justified by the agreeableness it hath with the Prophetick Pre∣dictions,

unto the Apostatized state of the Church for so many Ages to our own times. Which will be a more plenarie eviction of the stupendious veracity of the Prophecies. And it is as good and natural a method to prove the Truth of the Prophecies by the Fulness of the Events, as to illustrate the Nature of the Events by the Application of the Prophecies.

But in the mean time there will be a necessity in this present search to have recourse unto Events, in some sort or other; for who can explain a Prophecie without any recourse to Events? But all the History we need to have recourse to being either such as is distinct from any part of this Idea we have delineated, (and therefore to be brought into view in the interpreting of such passages as require it) or else being but a general knowledge of those Limbs of Antichristianism I have described, of which scarce any are ignorant or unpersuaded of for the main; we may without the least confusion or obscurity (partly by referring to this Idea in things that want no proof, and partly by producing History where occasion re∣quires) apply our selves to our intended search into the Prophecies for a more full demonstration of the truth of our Idea of Antichristianism. Which having finished, we shall make a more punctual Application there∣of, for the more undeniably convincing the guilty, and for the clearing the innocent from all such unjust Aspersions.

Notes

• Rev. 22.
• Revel. •…•…1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. and 22. 25.