A Catholick catechism shewing the impossibility the Catholick religion should be varied to the degree of a thought, from the measures left sealed by the apostles, without the loss of truth, and therefore the impossibility popery, or whatever else is not found in Scripture, should be Catholick : composed to the capacity of the meanest that will but consider, that they may know and be ready upon unmovable reasons, to give an apologie or defensive answer for the Catholick religion, if they are indeed of it, and be secured from temptation in times of danger.

CAP. XIII. Of the Anti-Church, and its Opposition in every Thing to the True Church.

Quest. IS there not an Anti-Church, or Antichristian-Church, that stands in Opposition to the True-Church?

Answ. There is, and hath been so for many Ages, and that hath taken upon it in the most Publick way, to be the Church of Christ, the House of the Living God, the Pil∣lar and Ground of Truth.

Quest. With what Advantages hath it been arm'd thus to take upon it self at all the Name of a Church?

Answ. It having risen out of the True Ancient Aposto∣lick Church, that received the True Christianity from the Apostles at Rome, and the Faith of which, as the Apostle Paul witnesses, Rom. 1. 8. was spoken of throughout the World; it hath retain'd the Scriptures, and the Fundamen∣tals of Christianity, the Writings of the First Christians and Apostolical Men, and so hath continued to do from that very time of the Apostles to this Day, and hath also actua∣ted the Truth of the Scripture, and those Fundamentals of it, according as its Interest hath led it, in some Ages more,

in some less, as shall be presently more discovered.

Quest. Having then the Scriptures, those Fundamen∣tals of Christianity, and the Discourses of the Ancient Fa∣thers, and Doctors upon them, in such a length of time, with what reason can it be looked upon as an Anti or Antichri∣stian-Church?

Answ. With very great reason, because by a multitude of Additions, fowlest Idolatrous and Superstitious Corrup∣tions, and false Interpretations upon the Scriptures, the Fundamentals of Christianity, and the Discourses of the Ancients shamefully interpolated, and by Spurious Wri∣tings under their Names despited, it hath turned whole Christianity into a very contrary thing to it self: while therefore it holds those points of Christianity, and the Re∣cords of it in veneration, and yet supports all its Falshoods thereby, it becomes perfectly an Antichurch, or Anti∣christian: It hath in regard of those Articles of Truth it holds and actuates, so much, as to have the Name of a Church, and Christian; and yet having them so falsified, corrupted, and changed from themselves, it becomes a Mock-Church, a Mock-Christianity, that is, an Anti∣church, and Anti-christian, in despite of the True-Church, and True-Christianity: And as to its Actuation of Truth, it hath so Actuated Truth, as to Actuate by Truth its own Falshoods, and Lies upon Truth.

Quest. How then did it rise to such an Eminency and pretence of being Catholick and Publick?

Answ. The many Concurrences of Divine Providence, un∣der his deep and unsearchable Judgments in the Government of the World, in relation to that state he had appointed for his Church, I leave to the History of the Church and Ro∣man Empire in those times; by which may be understood, how the Papacy took the advantage to Exalt it self, not only above the Episcopal Chairs then in an Ambitious Contest for Supremacy, but above all that was called God,

that is, the Imperial Power it self, and so set its Foot upon the Necks of Christian Princes throughout the World, till the great Cheat began to be detected; and all this, by and upon pretence of being the Vicar of Christ, or the Head of the Catholick, that is, the Roman-Church.

Quest. These things I confess not so convenient to my In∣quiry; I desire only to know, how, in the middle of so many horrible Corruptions, this Antichurch could be so bold, as to vaunt it self the Ʋniversal Church of Christ.

Answ. Taking the utmost benefit of its Antiquity in the Christian-Faith, and Fundamentals of it; and especially of the Conspicuousness and Famousness of its State, and in the mean time the Corruptions growing up by degrees, and not so observably as at once, (for Papal Rome was not built in a Day,) It usurped the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as its own; the Key of Knowledge, in its Infalli∣bility; the Keys of Power, in opening and shutting Hea∣ven Gates, so as that in the Darkness then overspreading the World, and the Church, Ignorance, the Mother of False-Devotion, so bewitching the Minds of Men, that they all wondered after the Roman-State, as new modelled un∣der the Beast Arm'd with two Horns, like those of a Lamb, counterfeiting Power from Christ the Lamb, but that spake as a Dragon, pursuing all its pretendedly Christian Decrees with the extreamest Salvageness of any of the greatest Earthly Tyrants, but all under a Mask of the Ca∣tholick Apostolick Church, by which Fascination of Zeal to the most excellent Religion, though so Vitiated, Princes and People Surrendred their Power to this great Sorceress, using at once all the Frauds and Cheats of False-Prophesie, and the Arts and Policy of the most Designing Universal Monarchy: Thus while this Antichurch stole into Power by the best appearances of True-Religion, and secured it by all the Blandishments of a Meretricious Religion; it found it self so strong, as to force its False-Religion by its

Power; and using both together, raised the Grandeur of both a Secular and Spiritual Tyranny to such a height.

Quest. But how did the True-Church in this time Actuate Truth, or agree with those Characters of being the House of God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth?

Answ. It was by the might and prevalency of this Se∣cular and Spiritual Tyranny so suppressed, that it was in a manner known only to God, who reserv'd a number to himself in the midst of so great a Defection, wherein that promise was made Good, the Gates of Hell shall not pre∣vail against his Church: Exposing and Actuating Truth, pure from those Corruptions, is hardly and very hardly to be found in History, in any of the Lines and Motions of it, in the most dark and dolesom period of that De∣fection.

Quest. How was it with the True-Church recovering it self from this great Darkness?

Answ. God raised up by extraordinary Measures of, though but an ordinary presence, such, who by Indefa∣tigable searches into his Truth, and Word, and those Records of Christianity that Antichurch was concerned to preserve, because, as was said, it could not without so much of a Church, be an Antichurch; and by bold Publi∣cations of it, shook so that Inchanted City, that a tenth part of it fell: And by the great contrivance of Provi∣dence, even the chief of that Antichurch were forc'd, by way of Repercussion, to raise greater Light, by endea∣vours to defend themselves, from Scripture, Antiquity and Reason, by the Summons of all, that Learning, Wit and Industry could levy in their Defence; so that they were necessitated to awaken out of that Barbarity and Igno∣rance in which they had been so long drown'd, and to Actuate even Truth more fiercely, that they might to∣gether with it make as potent and prevalent as they could, and give countenance to those great Falshoods

they had interwoven with it: From all which broke out such a light in the World, that Princes rowz'd themselves, and no longer crouch'd down under such an intoxicated Servitude, which had long gall'd and pinch'd them, but that they knew not how to rid themselves from it, till the Sorcery was laid bare, which still gave greater scope for the display of Truth.

Quest. Could the Scripture be inconscious, or silent con∣cerning so great Revolutions in the Church of God, as these?

Answ. It is in all True Reason most impossible; and therefore it is a mighty Argument, that those great pla∣ces of Scripture, that do so notoriously agree to such a pur∣pose, as the Discovery of this Antichristian State, are just∣ly apply'd to it by Protestant Interpreters.

Quest. If you please, point me to the chief of those places you refer to?

Answ. I will do it very briefly, as being too large for the present purpose to enumerate many, or enlarge upon any of them: But what more proper to delineate such a State, than the Apostasie the Apostle describes, 2 Thess. 2. 3. and 1 Timoth. 1. 4. or than the Church in the Wil∣derness, Revel. 12. 14. the Witnesses Prophecying in Sack∣cloth, being slain, and lying dead three Days and a half, True Christianity being in all appearance extinct: The measuring the Altar, the Temple, and those that Worship in it, signifying the close Retirement of Pure Religion, and the outward Court left to be trodden down by the Gentiles, or Heathen Christians, and their impure Rites, and Worship; and therefore excluded from those strict measures true undefiled Christianity is enclos'd within, Revel. 11. 1.

Now upon all these Representations of such a State of the Church, so exquisitely shadowed and resembled, and compared with that deep plunge and immersement of Christian Religion in the time of the Popish Midnight,

who can but believe, these, with many concurrent Delinea∣tions in all those forecited Scriptures, were on purpose to give the Portraicture of that so Fatal Apostasie, that be∣lieves it at all to be Prophesied in the Book of God? and who, that considers the weight of the thing, can but be∣lieve it foretold, if there be any thing prophetick of the State of Christianity to the end of the World? As it most evidently appears there is.

But if any be so incredulous, as to suppose such a State of Christianity beneath the prefigurations of the Divine Spirit, he cannot, if he be indeed a Protestant, but agree, that nothing does with more Art and Divine Skill Pour∣tray, and Draw to the Life such a Devastation of Christs True Religion, as all History knows Popery hath made, and as far as it can prevail, does now, and would do much farther, and in its very Frame is constituted so to do.

Quest. But seeing you suppose these Types of Popery may be applyed another way, though it is, I confess, very hard∣ly to be supposed; yet I desire, if any thing hath fallen un∣der your Observation, that can be less avoided, to make plain, how different a Religion Popish-Christianity is from the Scripture-Christianity, you would give me leave to ask what it is?

Answ. I must needs commend your Rational Enquiry, for I know neither the Veneration given to any Religion by the Natives of it, nor the ill Words against any Reli∣on by those that are Strangers and Enemies to it, should conclude against it: The Professors of every Religion are startled at any reproach of their own Religion, as at horrible Blasphemy, but freely speak ill of a diverse from it: Mahometans call themselves Believers, and Christians Infi∣dels. Popish Religion calls it self Catholick, and Prote∣stancy a Grand Heresie, and Schism. Judaism charges whole Christianity with Cheat and Imposture: It is

therefore necessary, we should have some Magnetick Needle to point us to the True Religion, and to the True Christianity, seeing its Name is not only distributed to many, but so solemnly divided into the Popish and Prote∣stant Profession of Christianity.

Quest. What then can be our Invariable Northpole in Re∣ligion, in such a Wide and Tumultuous Ocean?

Answ. I hope you have not forgotten what was at first given in Instruction concerning Natural and Revealed Religion, their exact Agreement with one another, and with all our Faculties; so that no Religion in the World can deserve the Name of a Religion, but looks monstrous and horrid, only so far as it borrows some or more of the Grand Principles of our True Religion; nor can be at all Weighty and Considerable, but is vain and ridicu∣lous, if it receive no Ballast from True-Religion.

That then, which was accounted for in the beginning, being remembred, I shall especially apply my self to ascertain True Christianity in contradiction to the false, or Popish Christianity, by that which will much ascertain all True Religion also in General, and difference it from all False Religion.

Quest. I much desire to have some such Test, as you seem to intimate and promise?

Answ. I cannot furnish you with a better, surer, and more lively, than that Emblem of the Divine Spirit, re∣presenting the New Jerusalem by a four-square City, the Length, and the Bredth, and the Height of which are equal: The Walls, and the Gates, and the City it self amounting to so many Square, Solid Furlongs, all exactly regulated by the Number Twelve, all of Massy-Gold and most precious Pearil, Rev. 21.

Quest. The very General view of so rich an Embleme much affects me, but I desire you to lead me into the Application of it to each Particular purpose, and in the first place, what am I to understand by the City?

Answ. It is evidently told us, it is the New Jerusalem that is coming down from Heaven, the True Church Sea∣ted in the Christian Religion; for so the Apostle Paul as∣sures us, the Christian Church so Spirited with True Chri∣stianity is Jerusalem, which is above, the Divine and Spiri∣tual Jerusalem, which is free, and is the Mother of us all, if True Christians, Gal. 4. 26.

Quest. What do you understand by the Foundations, the Wall, the Gates, the City it self?

Answ. I am not bold, or curious in pursuing Emblems too close, but understand, in general, by the whole of all these, the Doctrine, the Worship, the Rules of Life, the Discipline of the True Church.

Quest. What are we directed to, by all being reduced to the Number Twelve?

Answ. It is very evident, the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb give the Honour to the Number Twelve; for the Prophets and Apostles, that is, the Truth ministred infal∣libly by them, is the Foundation upon which the True Christian Church is built, Jesus Christ himself being the Corner-Stone; and so to shew True Religion hath been always Substantially the same, The Twelue Tribes of Israel, and the Name of Jerusalem, the People and City of God of old, are Recorded with Honour, as expressive of the True Church, fixed in the True Religion in the Times before Christ.

Quest. Why are all things in the Christian State deserib'd to be of Pure Gold, and Precious Pearl?

Answ. To teach us by sensible things the transcendent Purity and Worth of Christian Religion, and the equal Purity and Worth of all things in it, of a most transparent clearness, being all Spiritual, Intellectual, full of Light and Truth, and so to be received and enjoy'd by Purity, and Intellectuality, or Clearest Understanding, Wisdom, and Prudence in the Knowledge of this Divine Revelati∣on,

and by greatest Innocency, Cleanness and Heavenliness of Heart, Affections, and Life.

Quest. But can this be supposed to be the present State of the Church of God, as it is here upon Earth?

Answ. This is the certain and most unalterable Consti∣tution and Designation of God concerning it, and whoever plants it lower, in any of the Things before Named, viz. the Doctrine, Worship, Rules of Life, or Discipline, contra∣dicts the very thing it self, or degrades and embases it, though it must be acknowledged, its being thus prepared and adorned as a Bride, must be from Heaven, in some just season appointed by the Father: This is yet always the Tryal of the True Church, and the True Religion, al∣though the Church be not yet perfected to it.

Quest. But you seem to have forgotten the City, and all the Parts of it lying Foursquare, and being solid square mea∣sure, for so it must be, if the Length, Bredth, and Height are all equal?

Answ. I did not at all forget it, but suffered your Que∣stions to lead through all, I less design'd, that they might come to the Principal Character of the True Religion and the True Church, so exactly adequate to one another.

Quest Will you then more fully explain this Simili∣tude?

Answ. That I may the better do it, I must repeat it from the very Ground and Bottom of it, which is, that God makes use, as he pleases, of all the Knowledge and Science ••hat is in the World, to Minister to Divine Know∣ledge, •••• which he principally intends to Instruct, as be∣ing most absolutely necessary for all, of what condition so∣ever: As then Mathematicks is the most Demonstrative Science, and some things in it are of most retired and fine Speculation, so are others most known, and necessa∣ry to all imployed in Mechanicks: Thus God hath been pleased to deposite some Prophetick Truths in the most

mystick parts of that Learning, and some of the more ge∣neral use in the most known and acquainted parts of it; now those that are more secret, and not so necessary, I shall leave to those that are most fitted thereunto: But what is most plain, and imports what is most necessary for all, I will insist upon.

As then Number and Measure are means Ordained for Humane Nature, and principal Instruments of Reason, to come to the most certain knowledge of things, and to be secured, they are, and continue what they justly ought to be; so True Religion is thereupon presented to us un∣der exact Number and Measure, falling in one with another, the Number Twelve multiplied into a Square Cube of Twelve thousand Furlongs.

And as the Foursquare Figure does so bind, and is so com∣pact with it self, that it cannot receive the least Addition, but with the loss of its Square, nor the least Diminution, but under the same Forfeiture; thus True Religion is so perfectly it self, that it can neither be added to, nor di∣minished from, but with a proportionable loss of it self: God was pleased upon this account to chuse this Figure for the Altar under the Law, for the Breast-Plate of Judg∣ment; this was the Measure of Solomons Oracle, how far the Measures in Ezekiel agree, I leave. The Heathen by Natural Wisdom had such a Sense of the so Just to it sel, Foursquare, that they called a Good Man, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of a Foursquare Man.

And lastly, as Solid Square Measure is in all parts of it, and throughout every part, exactly Square, and gives the most certain account of the whole content of a Body; so is True Religion in all its Parts exactly so it self, and every Part of every Part is reduced to the same exactness; for so the Length, Bredth and Height of it are equal, and so is the True Church exactly adequated to True Religion: The Faith is therefore said to be at once delivered to the

Saints, because it can receive no New Measures, and it is called, the Common Salvation, or Doctrine of it, be∣cause the Universal Standard is one.

This then is the Measure of a Man and the Measure of the Angel: For by that Wisdom, that is natural to a Man, in which Beasts have no share, that is, to Number and Measure, is made plain to us Angelical Number and Measure, that is, the Number and Measure of True Reli∣on, as the Angel delineated it, beginning in the Apostoli∣cal Twelve, and Multiplied by it self to an exact Square Figure or Measure; Square in the whole product, Square in every particular part, and of that just content. And with this exact Number Twelve, so Foursquare, agreed the Altar, Temple, and they that worshipped therein; when the out∣ward Court was left out of Measure, to be trodden under Foot by Heathenish Idolatry, and Superstition, disguis'd under Popish Christianity; of which whenever it shall be perfectly freed, it shall appear in that Glory here describ'd. All richest Pearl, pure Gold, most transparent Jasper, that is Brightest, Clearest Truth, and of the exact Apostoli∣cal Number and Measure.

Quest. Is there no farther Improvement to be made of this Divine Symbole, the Foursquare City?

Answ. Thereis, when I have first observed to you False-Religion is out of all Square, just Measure, and even Num∣ber; it is a constant and perpetual Odd, wandring from True Religion, and the justness of it to it self; and that both in Doctrine, Worship, Rules of Life and Discipline, so that it is impossible in it to Measure one thing from and by ano∣ther, or any one point of any of these by it self, uneven in the whole Product, uneven in every part; uneven in the Roote: The most significant Emblem of the Popish-Church, which having the Fundamentals of Christianity, hath yet lost the Apostolical Twelve, by innumerable most irregular, ••••d wild Additions, and deformed every Single Article of

Truth by most disagreeable Corruptions of it; and there∣fore, as a Man most Learned in Numbers hath demon∣strated, the Number 666, a Number no way to be reduced to a Foursquare Figure, is the most Fit, and Significant Hieroglyphick of it, and indeed, of all False-Religion, that must have something of Truth, to make it a Religion; but as it is false, is an Odd from that Truth.

Quest. Let me now desire the most plain and useful Ap∣plication of this Parabolick Scheme?

Answ. You shall have it; and it consists in observing Four Prime Characters of the True Christian Religion, that may be as Four Equal sides of this Foursquare, and of the Church adjusted to it; from each of which may be measured to each of the rest, and the Equality, or Inequa∣lity, will discover the Truth or Falshood of all that is brought to the Tryal.

1. The Transcendant Holiness, Goodness, and Purity of the Doctrine, Precepts of Worship, Rules of Life, Di∣scipline, is one side of this Christian-square, with which whatever does not Square, is convicted not to be of that Doctrine and Religion; whether it look towards God, in all the Highest, most Honourable Apprehensions of him, suitable Discourse, Worship, Love and Obedience; or whe∣ther it look towards Men, in all Justice, Righteousness, Mercy, Compassion, Charity, Benevolence, Beneficence; and these, as they respect all the particular Offices of Life; Publick, of Magistrates, Subjects; or Private, as of Pa∣rents, Children; Husband, Wife; Master or Servants: The Peace and Welfare of Mankind are treasur'd up in the Law of Christ; or lastly, whether it look to a Mans own Person, in Soberness, Purity, Continency in the Thoughts, the Words, the Actions. The Honour and best State of the Mind and Body are provided for by this Doctrine that is after Godliness, not only in the World to come, but in this Life: Whatever now does not agree

with these wholesom words, is detected not to be Chri∣stian; which is all Truth, Virtue, and Praise.

2. There being nothing more intimate to Man, in this fal∣len state, than the Sense of Guilt, and knowledg that he is a Sinner, the whole platform of Redemption by Jesus Christ is become like the Original Law of Righteousness, by which Man was formed, and Answers to it in all the Attributes of Perfection; as therefore the Plot of Restoration by the Son of God infolds it within it self, and answers every way exactly to it, so that very Law and Doctrine of Holiness owns the Reconciliation and Attonement by that great Sacrifice, as Equilateral to it self, the Dimensions of one being found correspondent in the other, and each to be Tryed one by the other; so great a Sacrifice would be unnecessary, if it had not so great a Law to answer; so great a Law can be answered by so great a Sacrifice, and on∣ly by that: It must have that; it can need, it can acknow∣ledge no other. So then, the one may be Measured by the other: The Holiness, Purity of such a Law violated, re∣quires such an Effectual Pacification, and Purgation of Con∣science, such a Renovation as Christianity sets before us. Such a Sacrifice, such a Renovation or Sanctification by the Divine Spirit from it, teaches us, what an excellent Law was violated; so often therefore is the Lamb made the Title of our Lord and Savour, so often it is Signally Recorded in the Revelation; and the Names of the Apo∣stles of the Lamb are said to be written in the Foundations of the New-Jerusalem, to shew the weight of the Doctrine of the Christian Sacrifice in the Blood of Christ, and the Holy Spirit breathing in and from it, in Renovation and Sanctification.

3. The Liberty that Jesus Christ hath brought in by his Gospel, is another Equilateral Character of his True Religion, to be Measured by each of the former, and it also Measures them: It is not a Liberty from Holiness, it

is not a Liberty from close application to the Redemption of Christ, and not to need it, on any pretence whatever; but it is a Liberty from any Imposition that is Ceremonial, and does not by its Intrinsique Worth and Goodness, or by its Supreme Ordination from God, center in the true Per∣fection of the Mind, Conscience, and whole Soul: yea, what∣ever God himself had Commanded the Jews, is not only reversed, but despised for the sake of Christian Liberty, if it does not square with it, so that no Yoak of Ceremo∣nial Bondage is laid upon us by God himself; that which had been, is taken away, and a Yoak of humane imposiing is under the Gospel-Anathema: the Doctrine of Godliness, of Redemption by Christ, may be justly measured by the true perfection of Conscience. To do well in things intrin∣sically good, according to the Rule of Christianity, and be∣ing inwardly purg'd and atton'd by the Christian Sacrifice, do also truly measure this Liberty: for on one side, the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. He that in these things serves Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of Men: It is not applying to the Blood of Bulls and Goats, that can never take away sin, but to the Blood Offered by the Eternal Spirit, which certainly makes the comers thereunto perfect: On the other side, this Liberty lays not open the Inclo∣sures of a Holy Life, nor removes the Barriers of Justice against Sin, if not satisfied and attoned by Faith in the Blood of Christ.

4. Lastly, That which answers to each of these Chara∣cters of True Religion, is, that it hath no Secular Interest, no Interest of this present World, that it looks not upon the things that are seen, that are but for a Moment, but on the things that are not seen, that are Eternal; such is the Godliness, such is the Sacrifice, such the Christian Liberty, that their Uses and Ends are too great and large to center in Earthly things; and though themselves are the True In∣terest

of the present state, yet they no way make it, or the Grandeur of it, an Interest, but seek a Heavenly Coun∣try, and City; even as the Lord of this Religion said, My Kingdom is not of this World: Now as this measures each of the other Characters, so each of them measures it; such a Transcendant Holiness and Purity can alone see God in Eternal Habitations; such a Sacrifice alone can have its Blood enter into the Holy Place made without Hands, having obtained an Eternal Inheritance; such a Blood speaks alone in the Heavens, better things than the Blood of Abel; a Conscience so free, so perfected, hath boldness to enter into the Holiest, and none else: These are all fitted and Consecrated to Eternity, and Eternity to them; Light and trivial Holiness, Insignificant Ceremonies, and Rites of Purgation; a cumber of External Observations, invented by Men, can never enter within the Vail, nor endure for ever. And on the other side, by such Divine Things to grasp at this World, and a Patrimony on Earth, is as gross and out of Square; so that these things exactly measure one another, and square together.

Quest. How is the Four-Square City, or the True Church, adjusted to these Dimensions?

Answ. In all these things I before mentioned, in having these, and these only, in its Doctrine, its Worship, its Practice and Obedience, its Discipline or Government.

Quest. How is the False Church out of Square to all these?

Answ. In that retaining the Profession of the Christian Religion, constituted according to these, and pretending an Imitation of them, and the Miracles attesting them, it hath been most extravagant from them, by its Traditio∣nal Additions and Counterfeits of them, every of which are a Violation and Irregularity from one or all of these Chara∣cters, or equal Sides, of True Religion, a great Lie upon them, with which they can never be brought to agree, being not

only an endless Variation from, but a flat Opposition to them, and a despiting them with themselves, so strangely, so monstrously mis-shapen, and that in so great numbers, that as in mockage to the many excellent things our Savi∣our did and taught, so many, that if they were all writ∣ten, the World it self could not contain the Books that would be written; even so, if all the numerous and pro∣digious excursions of the Antichristian Church, and An∣tichrist the Head of it, from Christian Religion, by its in∣determinable swarm of New pieces of Antichristianism, should be written, the whole World it self would not be able to contain the Volumes that would be written.

Quest.But does not the Profession of so much of the Chri∣stian Religion in such an Eminence, like the City upon the Hill that cannot be hid, give it the Reputation of a most Famous Church, if not the Catholick, as it calls it self?

Answ. Christianity so abused, as in the Popish Religion, is infinitely the more dishonoured for the Eminence of the Antichurch, that so exposes it; and it is only the Eminence of Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God, and the exalting himself above all that is indeed and truly God in his Church, and shewing himself, that he is God, in his Oracles, Wonders, and Miracles, but they are all but one great Lie of this Son of the Father of Lies, the Image of the God of this World, the Son of his falshood and perdition, contrary to Christ the Son of the Father in Truth and Love. But if any one receiving Christianity or the Scriptures from the Antichurch, and measuring them in and by themselves, separates True Christianity from the Antichristianism, and retains it Pure; it is but like the Service God received from the False Prophet Baalam, when he Prophefied Truth, into whose Place and Office Antichrist succeeds, and is therefore styled, the False Prophet, Revel. 16. 13.

Quest. What then can this pretended Catholick Church be, in relation to the True Catholick Publick Religion?

Answ. It can be no other, upon strict account, than the Synagogue of Satan, the Pseudocatholick Antichurch, in a Damnable Heresie from, and hatred to the General Assemby, and Church of the First Born, written in Hea∣ven, united with the God of Truth and Love, and the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love, in a Hellish Schism and Separation from the Apostolick, Catholick Church, of which God and Christ are the Head.

Quest. How can it be believed, that so great a Lie upon Christianity should be received by so large a proportion of the Christian World, or that Persons of so vast Abilities and Comprehensions should so deceive others, or be themselves de∣ceived?

Answ. Scripture has taken all the care possible, to Arm us against this Objection, which is indeed very great: It calls this Apostacy, a Mystery of Iniquity, and to assure us, the Apostle Paul, and the Divine Person in the Revelation, point to the same Thing; upon the Forehead of this Adul∣terous Church is written, Mystery; (Now a Mystery, if it were presently understood, and all easie and plain, were no Mystery:) It hath the Energy of Delusion, in causing Men to believe a Lie; it is the whole Deceit of unrighteousness; it sets up a great Stage of Counterfeit Miracles that it vaunts upon; and that it might have that Reverend Face of Antiquity to deceive with, and say it comes from a far-off Ages; It was a Mystery that was then at work, in the Apostles time.

Lastly, It hath its effect upon them that may be Chri∣stians, and receive Truth; but not the chaste unprosti∣tute Love of Truth alone.

Quest. But it seems imposible, that any parts of the Chri∣stian World, that have been once disabused, should return any more under so great a Delusion?

Answ. There are very great hopes, that God, who hath Commanded his Light to shine out of this Darkness, will

interpose by the perpetual Brightness of his own appearance, and by that Divine Breath of his Mouth in his Word, against the return of so great a Darkness. This set aside, there are so many Reasons of fear, and such possibilities of lay∣ing a Train of Causes reaching to such an Effect, that there can be no place for Security, but in the Almighty Provi∣dence, and yet what Degrees of that deadly Scourge may fall on the Protestant World, God only knows; we know our Sins deserve very ill.

Quest. What is the greatest Security, under the Divine Grace and Providence, against so great Desolation upon True Christian Religion?

Answ. A perfect Acquiescency of the Protestant Nations upon the Foursquare of Divine Truth, and Resolvedness not to move from thence. For as a Foursquare never re∣moves from its own Base, because it is All Base; so they that are Squar'd to it, and settled upon it, never move: For it always bears them alike with it self, and by its own Justness recalls them, if they offer to wander: meer angry prejudice against this or that False Religion, is not enough, without being thus grounded upon Truth; Enter∣tainment of Truth with any Addittaments will secure no Man, for he that receives one Addition, may receive ano∣ther: He that receives Truth lying Foursquare with it self, is called back by that Even of Truth: He that adds one to it, and makes it Odd, may go on indefinitely, as Po∣pery hath done, because he hath forsakent he Just Even that should stay him: He can no longer wait for the Voice of Truth, that by it self always answers it self, but to what is not like it self it will not answer, but discover it to be off from this Square; it will not on any respects hearken to any thing different, because it will not be sol∣licited to move from it self: So that upon the whole, the Laws of Symetry and Commensuration are the great Security of True Religion, and ascertain the True Church both

to it self, and all Beholders. For Additions to Religion, like Surds or Irrational Figures, incommensurable to the Rational Square, can never be reduc'd to this Foursquare of Truth, but are like the Deaf Adder, that will not hear∣ken to the voice of Reason, Charming never so Wisely: Nor can they ever be reduced to a certainty or exactness with themselves, but are one thing to day, another to mor∣row. But Divine Truth, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rational, Certain, Expre∣sly it self, Deaf indeed to any thing else, but in it self it is Testerday, and to Day, the same for ever.

He therefore that daily ponders, meditates upon, hath a just Measure of the Fundamentals of Divine Truth, and does all things in a Regular Square with them, shall know the Doctrine that is of God; all the Fruits of the Tree of Life, though they are various, yet come all within the Apostolick Twelve, and he that hath a Spiritual Gust, exer∣cis'd to discern betwixt Good and Evil, by tasting any aright, will taste all, and find them Apostolical, and know whatever pretends, and is not, and so reject it: He will know all the Gates of Wisdom and Truth, and the Angelical Guard attending at them, and go in and out by them, but the Disorderly Breaches and Gaps, that Wild Beasts, or Deceitful Foxes have made, he avoids, knowing they ex∣ceed the Apostolick Twelve, and are therefore dangerous, and pernic••ous; and whatever Apparation of Angels may be at them, he knows it is only Satan transformed into an Angel of Light, and his Ministers transformed as the Apostles of Christ, as the Ministers of Righteousness: Thus the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Num∣bred, and Measured exactly by it self, is the Security of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, that is, of the True Church.