A further discovery of the mystery of the last times;: as an addition to a little book, called Some discoveries of the mystery of the last times, bordering upon the coming of the Lord Jesus. Set forth for the good of all men; but especially of those who in these dissenting times (wherein Ephraim envieth Juda, and Juda vexeth Ephraim) know not where to settle themselves, or to what society of Christians to joyn themselves: wherein is (as simply and plainly, as the author was able to open those mysterious scriptures quoted in this following treatise) shewed the cause of all our divisions and contentions about matters pertaining to form and order in the church of Jesus Christ; and wherein is moderately proved from those scriptures these particulars. 1. The flourishing and building condition of the church of Jesus Christ in the time of the gospel. ... 7. Lastly, that the Lord Jesus will by himself destroy all those enemies, and deliver his people, when the restoration of all things shall be.

I shall now in the sixth place speak of the severall enemies the people of the Lord Jesus have had in these severall dispensations;

As first, no sooner did the Lord Jesus appear to go about to exercise his ministry, and to gather disciples, and to make himself known to the world, but the divell, un∣der the notion of the Dragon, by his head, which I conceive were the Emperours; and by his tail, which were false Ministers, with the Scribes and Pharisees, did go about to persecute him, untill hee had by his instruments wrought his death, and so he was caught up to heaven, Revel. the 12. and 5. So likewise, after our Saviours Ascensi∣on into heaven, and the promise of the holy Ghost being come upon the Apostles, and the Church being cloathed with the sun or spirit, and having a crown of twelve starrs, that is, the Apostles beginning to exercise their Commission in distributing the Ordinances, and in gathering of Churches, immediately the Dragon transforms himself into an Angel of light, and creeps in amongst them, and doth trouble and afflict them in their Ministry; and this all the Apostles complain of in their severall Epistles: And these false Apostles which were crept into the Church, I conceive to be the tail of the Dragon, by which he did draw the third part of the starrs of heaven, and did cast them unto the earth.

Secondly, the Dragon not being content in persecuting the Church by false Mi∣nisters which were his tail, but he likewise falls to persecute them by his head, which is the Emperour, and the Magistrate of the Empire, which lasted three hundred yeers, all the time of the Ten persecutions, and by troubles and afflictions he doth waste and spoil the Church of Jesus Christ; which time I conceive to be that battell which was in heaven, wherein Michael fought and his Angels, and the Dragon and his Angels; in which battell the Dragon is cleerly cast out of heaven: For whereas before, when there was but little persecution in respect of the heat which was during the later perse∣cutions, the Dragon had still some false Ministers among the saints, under the vizard of true Christians; now in the heat of this persecution, they all not being sincere, did not abide the tryall; but like as chaffe in a fresh winde is divided from the good seed, so in the violence of persecution the good seed continued immovable, but the chaffe was scattered, and so the Dragon was cast unto the earth, and his Angels were cast out with him. And yet notwitstanding all this, the Church increaseth, and go∣eth on conquering in despite of the dragon; for it is said, Revel. 12. 21. And they o∣vercame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death: Which shews plainly, that notwithstanding the Dragon did what hee could by his head and tail, yet neverthelesse the people of Jesus Christ did still prevail, to the overthrow of the Dragon and his Angels, by the help of Mi∣chael, which is Jesus Christ, and did cast him and his Angels out of heaven unto the earth. And for the exposition of the Dragons head to be such as are in Authority, and for his tail to be false Ministers, it is the exposition of the holy Ghost by Isaiah,

in the 9^th chapter and 15^th verse, The ancient and honourable he is the head, and the Prophet that teacheth lies he is the tail: And thus the Dragon did afflict the people of the Lord Jesus in the first dispensation, which lasted, according to the accompt of M^r Fox in his Acts and Monuments of the Church of England, to the yeer from the Na∣tivity of Christ 324, in the first Volume, pag. 520.

Now the Dragon having received this repulse, being cast unto the earth, he now tryes another course: for whereas he failed by his subtilty in thrusting in false Apo∣stles amongst the Churches, and also failing by his open violence of persecution; he now out of that afflicted estate of the Church wherein persecution followed upon persecution, like the waves of the sea; I say, out of this sea of persecution and troubles of the Church, raises a beast: for no sooner did the Roman Empire become Christian under Constantine, but immediately the Church fals asleep, and loseth her integrity, and by ease and riches, pleasure and profit, she in time becomes of a suf∣ferer a persecuter; and what the divels could not attain one way, he now tryeth ano∣ther way, and prevailes; and whereas Sathan acted by the Roman Empire heathen by open violence, and could do no good; now by the Roman Empire becoming Christian he gaines his desire; and the Roman Empire or beast Christian in conclu∣sion under the name of Christ, persecutes as much as did the Roman Empire, being heathen. But this being a matter of great consequence, needs much proofe, which I shall endeavour to prove, as the Lord shall direct me.

As for proofes from history of time, I have but little, being a man unlearned, there∣fore my proofe must be from Scripture, therefore pray mind; you have the dragon in the 12. of the Revelation and 3. verse, set forth by those marks, viz. A great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven Crownes upon his heads; which, I conceive, was the severall Emperours which were Enemies to the people of God, and did persecute them; signified by the number of seaven; and the Crowns were upon these heads, that is, the government rested upon them; he had also ten hornes, which signified the severall nations which were a strength to the Roman Empire, and were under the subjection of the Roman Monarch; now pray mind, in the begin∣ning of the 13. chapter it is said, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads, and ten hornes; and upon his horns ten crownes, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy; and the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a lyon, and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great Authority. Now pray mark, that whereas the dragon or Roman Empire heathen had his crowns upon his heads, that is, the government remained among the Emperours touching the administration of the common wealth, and had the ten hornes or ten nations as a strength to the Em∣pire, subject unto them; so the beast which did rise out of the sea, or the Empire Christian, had his crownes upon his horns, that is, upon the nations, which were a strength unto the Empire Christian, and had authority in all civill things, so far as to do the commandments of the Roman bishops; and whereas the heads of the beast had upon them the name of blasphemic; this I take to be the Popes of Rome, being the heads, did arrogate the name of supreme bishop, and did begin to sit in the tem∣ple of God, shewing himself as if he were God, forgiving sins, and doing what he listed in the Church of God; which, without a sufficient warrant from Scripture rule for him to do so, was no better then blasphemy: this beast also was like unto a leopard, that is, all spotted with sin and uncleanness, as his doings in future times makes it appeare; his feet as the feet of a beare, scraping together the goods of the nations unto himself, as is witnessed in Acts and Monuments of the Church of England,

the first volume in many places; and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, speaking cru∣ell things, and commanding all men by his Excommunications, and cursing them to hell if they did not obey all his commandments; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority, and this the experience of things testifieth; for the Em∣perours by degrees did give unto the Popes great power, insomuch as in time the Popes began to depose Emperours, and set up others in their stead, and left them in time wholly their seat, which was Rome.

Now I am perswaded to beleeve that the beast which did arise out the sea, to be the Empire Christian under the Pope, by these ensuing reasons; first, because this beast which did arise out of the sea, is as it were a compound of the three beasts which did arise out of the sea, Daniel the 7. having his body like unto a leopard, imitating the Macedonian Monarch; and his feet as the feet of a bear, like unto the Persian Mo∣narch; and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, speaking with such a commanding voyce, as did the Babylonian Monarch; now these put together, will make the fourth beast, which was dreadfull and terrible. Now what people or government hath been in the world, that hath had and exercised the like cruelty as hath the Roman Empire Christian, under the Pope, especially upon his own subjects? for when I consider what blood hath been spilt by that Romish beast, upon such as any way differed from him in Religion, being put to death with all the rigour that could be imagined, wher∣of burning is the highest; and all to uphold that blasphemous title of Head of the Church; and also when I diligently ponder that infinite blood which hath been spilt among Christian Princes, stirred up thereto by the Pope, somtime for the patrymony of the Church, as they call it, fighting for the temporall possessions of the Church; somtime raised to destroy Hereticks, as he called them, which were protected by their Princes against his fury; somtime by means of schism which happened between the Popes, there being somtimes two, and somtimes three at one time, which amounts to such a summ, as I think cannot be paralelld in the world for infiniteness; no not a∣mong the most barbarous nations. And which is to be much more lamented, it being among such men and such people as acknowledge themselves to be subjects to the Lord, Jesus, which is King of peace; which, how well it hath agreed to their profession I leave it to themselves to judge; so that I conceive that the description of the fourth beast, cannot in all likelyhood be applied to any other then the Roman Empire hea∣then; but more especially to the Roman Empire Christian, Daniel 7. 7.

A second reason moving me to beleeve that the beasts which did arise out of the sea to be the Empire Christian under the Pope, is from the dragon giving him his power, and his seat, and great authority; for how can we expound the dragon to be any other then the Roman Empire heathen? and did not the Empire, as soon as it turned Christian almost, come into the Popes hands by degrees, at the least spiritually? So also was not Rome the seat of the Emperor? but it quickly became the feat of the Pope; so likewise how quickly had the Bishop of Rome such Authority as he made Emperours, and again deposed them?

A third reason I ground from these prophesies, as Isaiah the 13. 10. and 14. 13, 14. Ezekiel 28. 2, 14, 15. with the whole chapter, Daniel 11. 36. 2 Thess. 2. 4. Revelation 13. 5. In all which places there is mention made of one that shall exalt himself above all, yea above God himselfe, as the most of these prophesies witnesse. Now if there can be any Monarch found, or any government upon earth that doth exalt him∣self as the Pope doth, it may be applied to him; but I never read of any that came neer unto that blasphemy which the Pope hath applied to himselfe, and that hath been by his favorites applied unto him, as to be the universall Bishop, to be the head of

the Church, not to be subject to errour, with divers other the like titles; as you may find in part in the Acts and Monuments of the Church of England; but at large more fully set forth by Bishop Jewel in the Apology of the Church of England, in his answer to Mr. Harding.

A fourth Reason which induceth me to beleeve, that the beast that did arise out of the sea to be the Empire Christian under the Pope, is grounded from that glory and outward riches which is to be seen in the Church of Rome, which was prophesied to be enjoyed in these Scriptures; as namely, Isaiah 13. 19. and 14. 4, 11. and 47. 7. Ezekiel. 27. read the whole chapter; Revelations 17. 4. and 18. read the whole chapter: now when I consider the outward poverty and contempt which was upon the Lord Jesus, and his Apostles, and upon the whole Church in the primitive times; and that glory and outward pompe which is and hath been in the Church of Rome, ever since the empire became Christian, I cannot finde but that the Church of Rome must be the beast which did arise out of the sea, and is that woman that was decked with gold, and pearles, and precious stones, Revelation the 17. 4.

A Fifth Reason which moves me to beleeve the beast that did come out of the sea to be the Empire Christian under the Pope is by those prophesies, Isaiah 47. 7. Zephaniah 2. 15. Revelation 18. 7. In which places is set forth the flourishing condition of the Enemies of Gods people, and their boasting of their Rule and Authority, and that it should abide for ever; and this I found to be performed in a book lately come to my hand, called, A lost sheep returned home, written by a new converted Catholick, wherein he glorieth in that flourishing condition of the Church of Rome, and that the gates of hel shall not prevail against her, in the latter end of his twenteth chapter, page the 296.

A sixth Reason that induceth me to beleeve the Church of Rome to be the beast that did arise out of the sea, I ground from these Scriptures, Isaiah 14. 20. Rev. 17. 6. and 18. 24. in which places Babylon is reproved for destroying of her land and slaying of her people, and in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth: which thing considered; where hath there been more blood spilt of the servants of God then in her? being as it were nothing but destruction at∣tending upon them that in anything transgresse any of her decrees, and canons and constitutions.

Seventhly, I am moved to beleeve the Church of Rome ruled by the Pope, to be that beast which did arise out of the sea, which I prove by these Scriptures, Isaiah 24. 5. Daniel. 7. 25. Ezekiel 34. 18. in which places is mentioned those that should change the Lawes, and alter the government of the people of God; as is cleer from those places. Now when I consider how much the ordinances of Jesus Christ are changed in that Church from the first constitutions, I cannot see to whom or to what government these Scriptures can be applied better then to the Church of Rome.

The eighth Reason which perswadeth me to beleeve that the Church of Rome un∣der the Pope to be that beast which did arise out of the sea, I ground from these Scriptures, Isaiah the 65. 5. and 66. 5. in which places mention is made of a people, that should boast themselves to be the people of God, and should despise others, and count themselves more holy then any other, and should cast out all other which did any way differ from them; and saying in pretence thereof, Let the Lord be glorified. Now to whom may this be more fitly applied then to the Jewes in the letter, be∣ing once the people of God; and the Church of Rome in the mystery, havinig also

the people of God? and under that notion persecure the people of God both with excommunication, in casting them out of their society, and also not suffering of them to have a being among men? and all this under pretence of glorifying God. Now if there can be any society found in the world which doth so fully agree to this thing, as doth the Church of Rome, why then let it be applied unto them; but I con∣ceive there will be none found that come neer to that people in those things, therefore I conclude and may safely suppose these Scriptures may be applied unto them in the mystery.

The ninth Reason which moves me to beleeve the beast which did arise out of the sea to be the Empire Christian under the Pope, I take from Revelation the 17. 5. where speaking of Babylon, he saith, The mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth. Now when I consider that Jerusalem in the letter, did commit so much spirituall whordome against her God, Ezekiel the 16, I conceive there is in the my∣stery some people, which in the Christian Church should commit Idolatry and spi∣rituall whordome against their God, to answer the type before spoken of; and I know not where to apply it so fitly as unto the Church of Rome, which ascribes unto her selfe a title to the Church of Jesus Christ, and was once the people of God.

Tenthly, and lastly, I am perswaded that the Church of Rome is that beast which did arise out of the sea, from that text Revelation the 17. 5. where it is said, And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT; where note, all this is done in a mystery; this is not Babylon in the letter, that is, Babylon in plain termes; but it is Babylon in a mystery, the Church of God, as is pretended, which under the title of Christs Church, persecutes his members: and yet not so in a mystery, but that he is discovered of some, and would be of more; but that the word of God must be fulfilled, which saith, For this cause God shall send them strong de∣lusions, that they should beleeve a ly.

Thus having discoursed of this beast which did arise out of the sea, which is an E∣nemy unto the people of the Lord Jesus in their slumbring and declining condition, I will, God enabling me, speak some thing of the standing and time of this beast; therfore pray mind; It is said Revelation 11. 2. But the court which is without the tem∣ple (meaning as I conceive the ordinances) leave out, and measure it not; (that is, take no care of it) for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot 42. mouths. By Gentiles I understand not gentiles in profession; for so much as it cannot be said that the Gentiles or heathen do tread under foot the holy city; but by Gentiles in this place I understand men that are gentiles in manners; having in effect forsaken the faith of Christ; which I take to be the Church of Rome, having possession of the Church, or holy city of God, and tread under feet the people of God, and dispense with the ordinancts of God at their pleasure, which is the court or out∣ward part of the temple, which is given to them to tread under feet 42. months. And it is said in the 13. chapter and 5. verse, And there was given unto him (speaking of the beast which did arise out of the sea,) a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemy; and power was given unto him to continue 42. months, (which two texts I conceive do mean one and the same thing) which is, counting a day for a year, 1260. years. Now if this time do begin at the ceasing of the persecution by Licinas Empe∣rour of the East, as I suppose it doth; which was according to Mr. Foxe's Accompt in the year of the nativity of Christ 324. then the time of the Raign of the beast was compleat according to this accompt 1584. which is since according to the accompt of the Church of England 66. years; so that all this time of the Raign of this beast

from the year 324. at the ceasing of the persecution, untill the year 1584. this beast did go on and encrease in power, and did persecute the people of the Lord Jesus.

Now if it be said, That there was a time between the raising of persecution by the Dragon, or Empire Heathen, and the persecution by the beast Christian; which, ac∣cording to M^r Fox's accompt was a thousand years.

To this I answer, First, That this was the slumbring or sleepie condition of the Church: For as soon as the Church began to have case and riches given her, she fell asleep, and declined; which opportunity being offered, the enemy sowed tares a∣mongst the wheat; and as the tares sprung up and brought forth fruit, they shewed themselves. In which time of the Churches declining the tares were not discovered, and therefore for that time there could not be in reason any persecution, because of the sleep of the servants; and these tares by reason of the sleep of the servants, grew too many for the good seed, and had gotten possession of the Church of God, and did in time grow so wicked, as they caused the servants to awake.

But secondly, Although there was no persecution for causes of Religion; yet the Pope or beast Christian was an enemy unto the people of the Lord Jesus in these par∣ticulars; as First, The Pope or bishop of Rome was an enemy unto the people of God, by intruding himself into the Church of God, in claiming to himself to be Universal Bishop, and thereby doing injury to his fellow bishops, and causing contention to arise in the Church of God, contrary to any rule of Scripture. Secondly, he having gotten this universall title unto himself, was an enemie unto the people of God by his negli∣gence in suffering and permitting such grosse errors by degrees to grow in the Church of God; and therby the Pope was an enemy to the people of Jesus Christ in claiming to himself to be head of the Church of Jesus Christ, which is a title peculiarly belon∣ging to the Lord Jesus; and having gotten this title, to suffer the people of the Lord Jesus to be seduced.

But then Thirdly, Though there was no persecution in the Church of Rome, or during the raign of the beast christian, for neer one thousand years, in respect of religion, and in respect of any people walking contrary to the common multitude; yet neverthelesse, the Pope with his Clergy, were enemies to the people of the Lord Jesus, and did cause abundance of bloud to be shed by the wars which were raised in the Empire, by means of the Pope striving with the Emperour and other Princes for temporall possessions, and also in striving with the Emperour and other Christian Princes to gain them to submit unto the Popes yoke for many temporall matters; in desposing Emperours and Princes, and setting up others in their steads; where∣by followed miserable wars and devastations in the world, which is lamentable to relate; and in striving with the Emperour and other Christian Princes, to gain out of their hands the election of Bishops, and other head officers in the Church; which the Pope by degrees did wrest out of the hands of the Emperour and other Christian Princes, contrary to the ancient custome of the nations, and for which there was much contention and bloud-shed in the Christian world; besides the op∣pression of him and his officers and legats, in raking together the goods of the Churches in the nations, and setting up of alians and forrainers in the bene∣fices of the nations, but especially here in England, to the impoverishing of the nations, and to the ruine of the people, for want of teaching, as may be seen at large in Acts and Monuments of the Church of England, volume the first; in many places.

Fourthly, The Pope or beast Christian, were great enemies unto the people of

the people of the Lord Jesus, in respect of divisions and schisms which were in the Popes Church by means of several Popes; there being somtime two, sometime three, as was in the beginning of the councell of Constance the Emperour, and Christain Princes fal∣ling in dissention and taking parts about them, each maintaining his Pope which that government had set up, insomuch as King Henry the fourth of England, writing to the Pope to be a means to cease the Schisme in the Church, relates to him, that by the vote of men there were to the number of 200000 men slain in the parts of the world, among Christian Princes about the division of the Popes, by means of wars raised up in that quarrel: As also 30000 souldiers slain in war about the Bishop∣prick of Leodiem, between two set up, one by the authority of one Pope, the other by the authority of the other Pope, which relates to such a summe, as I think all men will acknowledg that the Pope or beast Christian hath been an enemie to the people of God, before he began to persecute for the cause of religion; as may be seen in the same letter of King Henry the fourth; Acts and Monuments, page the 720. the first volume.

Then fifthly, After the abomination was fully set up, which I take to be in the year 1215. then began to follow persecution for the cause of religion; it being the time that the people of the Lord Jesus were mystically commanded to fly to the moun∣tains, Matthew the 24. when speedily followed the waking of the servants, in which they did desire to deliver themselves, and began to see the grosse and wicked idolatry which was committed, and began to fly and avoid it, and did hope to gather thetares from the good seed, or at least to separate them, and to draw themselves out from amongst them; but alas too late, for antichrist had goten possession; then immedi∣ately followed persecution in such a measure, as I think there was more bloud shed for cause of conscience, then there was in any time of the persecution of the Empire heathen, as it is yet fresh in memory, and may be abundantly seen in the Acts and Monuments of the Church of England.

Now sixthly, as the servants began to wake and to look about them and to increase in knowledg, and the time of the prosperity of the beast began to be at the height, and should decay, Martin Luther steps forth, and fulfils that prophesie Revelation the 13. 3 for he gives a wound unto the beast; for whereas the doctrine of merits by works was one of the principal heads of the beast, and the greatest of all his power, this Mar∣tin Luther did oppose with great might, and with much successe, insomuch as he gave a deadly wound unto the beast; but we have sinc eseen by experience this deadly wound healed, and all the world wondreth after the beast in a manner; for they see order in the Church of Rome, though by a wrong power, but amongst us nothing but dis∣order; and this we may speak with grief of heart, and there is reason for it, which I have abundantly proved already, and may further, God assisting me, cleer it here∣after: besides, the loosnesse of Protestants at large, as I may term them, and our di∣visions and loosnesse in our practices makes him get heart, and to hope to gaine all againe of what he hath lost; or at least to hold that which he hath; and this S^t. John seems to intimate unto us in Revelation the 17. 8. where he saith, When they beheld the beast that was, and is not, and yet is; shewing, as I conceive, that at the change of the beast he should so lose his power, as he should as it were seem not to be, and yet after he should recover strength againe, and have a being, untill the Lord destroy him with the spirit of his mouth, and with the brightnesse of his coming, Isaiah the 11. 42 Thes. 2. 8. which can in reason be expounded to be no other but Rome under the Pope, as I have proved by ten reasons.

Now forasmuch as there is one principal text Matthew 24. 15. upon which text de∣pendeth

almost all the following part of the chapter, as an exhortation of the Lord Jesus unto his disciples, how they should carry themselves when once the abomination which makes desolate is set up: and therefore I shall shew what I take this aborninati∣on to be, and therefore pray mind; I take this abomination not to be the destruction of Jerusalem, which did follow within 40. years after the passion of Christ, as I have already proved. But I take this abomination of desolation to be that Idol of the bread which in the Church of Rome is transubstantiated into the reall body of Christ as the Papists teach, or in short, the real presence of the sleshly body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, as they call it; which Idolatry I take to be the grossest Idolatry that ever was committed by any civill or religious nation or nations, and about which there hath so much bloud of the Saints of Jesus Christ been spilt in the kingdome of the Pope, as the like hath not been seen in any age for one thing. But because this is a matter of much consequence, I shall produce severall reasons for the proofe there∣of.

Wherefore my first reason shall be from the text it self, where it is said, When you shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the holy place; that is, something that standeth in the holy place, which drives the presence of Gods spirit out of that place that was once holy.

A second reason I take from that text Daniel the 11. 31. which is the place of the prophet, as I conceive, which our Saviour meant, where it is said, speaking of An∣tiochus, And armies shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength, and they shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that ma∣keth desolate: Which text was fulfilled the first of Maccabees, the first chapter 54. ver, which was a type of that abomination which our Saviour speaketh of, meaning, as I conceive that of Daniel the 11. 31. now as Antiochus by his power did pollute the tem∣ple of the Lord, by commanding the daily sacrifice to cease, and did set up the Idol of abomination upon the Altar of God, where by the spirit of God departed from that worship; even so in the mystery the Pope hath changed the communion into the sacri∣fice of the Masse, and real presence in the Sacrament, and caused the people to wor∣ship it, so that by reason of that idolatry, the spirit of God is departed from that ad∣ministration.

Thirdly, that whereas the Lord Jesus having instituted his last supper to be pra∣ctised in Remembrance of his death till he come, and made no mention of worshipping it, the Pope contrarily maketh it a sacrifice, and commandeth the people to worship it, thereby forcing the spirit of God from that worship, Luke 22. 19. 1 Corinthians 11. 24.

Fourthly, That whereas the Lord hath commanded Exodus the 20. that his peo∣ple should make no graven image, nor the likenesse of any thing in any place, thereby to worship it; the Pope contrary to his command maketh the reall presence in the Sa∣crament daily, under the form of bread, and commandeth the people to worship it, without any warrant from the word for their practice, thereby forcing the people to commit Idolatry; and so driveth the spirit of God from that dispen∣sation.

Fifthly, That as the Jews, in time of the standing of the Temple, by their Idola∣try, and by their setting up the image of jealousie in the temple, did cause the spirit of God to depart from that worship, Ezekiel the 8. 5, 6. even so the Pope and his clergy in the mystery hath set up the image of jealousie in the Church, in turning the communion of the Lords supper from its first Institution, into the real presence of Christs fleshly body in forme of bread in the Sacrament, and commanded the peo∣ple

to worship it, thereby grieving the Spirit of God, and causing it to depart from that worship.

Sixthly, that as the pastours or shepherds of the Jewes in the time of the standing of the Temple did eat up the good pasture, and drank the deep waters; which I con∣ceive was the ordinances of the Temple with the sacrifices, and did tread down the residue of the pasture with their feet, and foul the water with their feet; and caused the people to eat that which they had trodden, and to drink of the water which they had fouled with their feet, Ezekiel the 34. 18, 19. Even so I conceive the Popes Clergie have defiled the ordinances of Jesus Christ, by altring them from their first constitution, and polluting them with their ceremonies, and causing the people to back them, and use them as they are pleased to command, and to commit Idolatry by them, and especially about the reall presence in the Sacra∣ment;

Seventhly, that as Antiochus having set up the Idol of abomination that maketh de∣solate in the temple of God, and commanded the people to offer upon the Altar; and those that refused, he put to death; even so the Pope of Rome having placed the abomi∣nation of desolation, that is, as I conceive, the reall presence in the Sacrament, did persecute and put to death all those that would not worship it, and confesse this doctrine to be truth.

Eightly, that as when Antiochus having placed the abomination that maketh de∣solate in the Temple of God, and in the cities of Juda; that then Matthias and his sons fled unto the mountaines for succour, the first of Maccabees 2. 28. Even so the Lord Jesus adviseth his disciples, that when ye therefore shall see the abomination of de∣solation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, whoso readeth let him understand; then let them that be in Judea fly unto the mountains, Matthew 24. 15, 16. likewise, I conceive, the people of the Lord Jesus in the mystery, are at this present to come out of the Romish Church, and to fly into the mountaines of the protestant Churches; where though in respect of the purity of the ordinances; they come short of the perfection of the first times, having lost their power, and their greatest number being Christians at large, that is, having little else but the bare profession of Jesus Christ; yet in doctrine, which are things to be beleeved, they come neer to the first times, and I do conceive they are the earth (as I shall hereafter shew, God assisting me, when I come to speake of the beast which did arise out of the Earth) unto which the woman fled, Revelation 12. 16.

Ninthly, that as Antiochus after he had set up the Abomination which maketh de∣solate in the Temple of God, had such as resisted, and withstood him, and did ex∣ploits, as Matthias, and his sons and brethren, with such as regarded their God; even so when the Pope and his Clergie, having corrupted the ordinances, and set up the abomination which maketh desolate, and commanded the people to worship it; had such as did soon resist and withstand him with the losse of their bloud; and that not a few, but many, as may be seen in Acts and Monuments, at large trea∣ted of.

Tenthly, and lastly, that as Antiochus, when he did defile the Temple of Je∣rusalem, and set up the abomination that maketh desolate, had armes to stand on his part, which were the nations that were Enemies unto the Jewes; and had such as did wickedly against the covenant to joyn with him, Daniel the 11. 31, 32. 1. Maccabees 1. 50. Even so the Pope, when he did defile the Church of God, by setting up the a∣bomination that maketh desolate in the Church; I mean the reall presence in the

Sacrament, and command the people to worship it, had armes to stand on his side; and doubtless all that forsook the covenant, being many of the order of Monks, that were the first devisers of transubstantiation; for in a councell which was held in Laterane at Rome, under Pope Innocent the third, were gathered together through the christian world of severall nations to the number of 1300. Bishops; which ina∣cted transubstantiation as a Law to be set up throughout the whole Church in the year 1215. and then in the year 1220, Pope Honorius the third, in another Coun∣cell, inacted Elevation and Adoration of the Sacrament; and thus was the Abo∣mination of desolation set up in the Church of God as a law, and all men com∣manded to worship it; and so the Spirit of God forsook that Administration, as you may see at large Acts and Monuments, the second volume, page the 457. 460.

So that from these foregoing Reasons, I supose, I may safely conclude; that it is somthing in the mystery in the church of God, which the Pope is prossessed with, that is, the abomination that maketh desolate, and drives the Spirit of God from his own worship; and I know nothing in the church of Rome whereunto this may be applied so fitly as to the reall presence in the Sacrament, or the fleshly body of Christ under the form of bread; and if this in particular may be applied unto the abomination that maketh desolate, then much more when all the ordinances of Jesus Christ in that Church are corrupted from their first purity; either in substance or in form, by adding many ceremonies unto them, and the people forced to receive them as they command.

Thus having finished the description of the Beast which did arise out of the sea, and spoken of the time of his standing and prevailing in the Church; we wil now come to speak, God assisting, something of the beast which is to arise out of the earth: and be∣cause I am not certain whether this beast be up or not, I shall not speak much of him, only I shall speak somthing of the earth from whence this beast doth arise. It is a prin∣ciple amongst men, that earth in Scripture phrase signifies men of earthly condition, being flesh, and not guided by the spirit of God; or if you will, by earth you may take men of the meanest rank and quality in the world, that is, the vulgar multitude; whom Mr. Prin in his Soveraignty of Parliaments and Kingdoms, makes to be the originall of Authority in temporall things; Reasoning thus; that there was a people before there was a King; And this people did originally chuse their King. Now ac∣cording to this principle; If the Soveraignty of Authority remain in the people, from whence the government ariseth, and this Authority, be it a King or common∣wealth, which you will, have power to make Lawes in the church of Christ, and have derived their Authority from the multitude, and ascribe unto themselves the title of Head of the church of Christ; it will come to passe, that the multitude in generall originally, and the King or state derivatively will be the head of the church of Jesus Christ; which hath come to passe already in the severall nations of the protestants; and this Saint John seems to intimate, Revelation the 16. 19. where it is said, And the cities of the nations fell; where note, I conceive Saint John doth not treat in this place of the civill government or state of the nations, which may be applied to the nationall cities; nor yet of the materiall cities of the nations; as London, Paris, or Madrid, which are the head cities of these three nations: but Saint John treats of things in a mystery, speaking of materiall things which have a spirituall sense; and this is eleer in Revelation the 10. 7. where he saith, But in the voyce of the seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared by his servants the Prophets; wherein is plainly declared that the prophets in severall ages of the world, have for the most part declared their prophesie in a mystery: and for proof of it, I shall alledg two places of many, name∣ly

Mat. 2. 15. where it is said, That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the pro∣phet, out of Egypt have I called my son. And in ver. 17. it is said, Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, In Rama was a voyce heard. In which two places can in reason be no other but a mysticall sense meant, and are taken out of Hos. 11. 1. Jer. 31. 15.

Now to speak something of this Beast, I desire that these severall places of Scrip∣ture may be considered, as touching the rising of this beast; for it is said, Rev. 9. 11. speaking of the Locusts, that they had a King over them, which is the King or Angel of the bottomless pit; and then in chap. 11. 7. it is said, And when they shall have fini∣shed their testimony, the beast that did ascend out of the bottomless pit shall make warr a∣gainst them; And in chap. 13. 11. he saith, And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two hornes like a lamb, and he spake like the dragon; which three places, I suppose, mean one and the same beast; which may be seen by the cohe∣rence and the agreement of the three texts, being duly considered. Now whether we may take the two hornes to signifie strength, as two Kingdomes, or whether we may take the two hornes to mean some mysticall things, I dare not judg; for so much as I suppose, the beast is not yet fully appeared, but only a preparation for him; but this we may remember, that in the last times, according as our Saviour fore∣told, there should arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signes and wonders, that if it were possible, they should deceive the very Elect, Mat. 24. 24. and Rev. 9. 7. And the shapes of the Locusts were like unto horses prepared to battell, and on their heads were as it were Crownes of Gold; and their faces were as the faces of men; and they had haire as the hair of women; and in chap. 13. 13. And he doth great won∣ders, so that he makes fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men; and in chap. 16. 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the false prophets. In all which places there is mention made of false prophets, which should deceive the people, and should stir up the nations to fight against the Lord Jesus in his people: saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an Image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword and did live, and he had power to give life unto the Image of the beast, that the Image of the beast should speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast should be killed.

All which things considered, and insomuch as we are fallen into the last times, (not∣withstanding I dare not a ffirm any thing of certain, by means of the darknesse of the mystery, so that untill the prophesies are fufilled, we cannot attain to the opening of them; yet neverthelesse) these exhortations will be necessary for all men to take notice of; first, that insomuch as there shall come such false prophets, as if it were possible, they should deceive the very Elect, and that the beast which did arise out of the Earth had two hornes like a lamb; and that by Saint Johns words, he should cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men, that is, the spirit, as he pretends; therefore that they would be very wary whom they trust. And secondly, that within the compasse of this ten years, we have had such fair pretences made of reformation a∣mong the clergie; and yet I beleeve, had the time suted with them, they would some∣thing have spoken like the dragon in persecuting such as could not submit themselves to their reformation; as may be seen fully, if men diligently consider their carria∣ges in this age. And thirdly; I shall admonish all those of the nations, which have the rule of the government in their hands, that they would beware what government they set up in the worship of God, and that for these reasons; First, left they make an Image of the beast which had a wound by a sword, and yet did live; Secondly, that they beware of all such as come in sheeps cloathing, and inward∣ly

are ravening wolves; left by their perswasion they cause the Image of the beast both to speak; and to cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast, should be killed; that is, by inciting the magistrates to fall to persecuting and killing the ser∣vants of the Lord Jesus, which cannot submit to their government, in spirituall things, which is set up. And thirdly, for so much as the government of the nations ceases to bear the image, or any image of the beast, so long as they do Justice, and relieve the di∣stressed, and defend their people committed to their charge, and for bear to persecute for cause of conscience in spirituall things: because it is the nature of beasts that prey upon others, to devour and kill the innocent sheep, and other creatures that are sub∣ject to their tyranny. And thus much by way of Exhortation to all men, that they be no occasion of setting up the beast.

I shall now come to speak of the time of standing and prevailing of this beast, which I take, hath his time of beginning, though not yet discerned, at the decaying of the beast which did arise out of the sea; which was, according to my former accompt, in the yeer 1584, according to Rev. 13. 18. which will be the yeer of our Lord, according to our vulgar accompt 2250. And this I shall prove from the prophesie of Daniel, in chap. 8. 13. where it is said, Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the hoste to be trodden un∣der foot? And he said unto me, unto 2300 dayes, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed: And it is said, Hos. 6. 2. After two dayes will he revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Where pray take notice, a day for 1000 yeers accor∣ding to Scripture account, and I suppose these Scriptures mean one and the same thing, accounting two days for 2000 yeers: and where it is said, In the third day he will raise us up, it is meant, the beginning of the third day the Lord will deliver his people. Now if we give 1260 yeers to the first beast, then there will remain but 1040 yeers for the second beast; and this time is shortened, according to that of Matt. 24. 22. and is but the number of 666. according to Revel. 13. 18. Now whereas the prophet Daniel in chap. 12. 11. speaks of 1290 days, and promiseth a blessing unto him that cometh to the 1335 dayes, this I suppose will be the time when there shall be such troubles in the earth at the Lords appearing, wherein he shall destroy all his enemies: but in the number of yeers, I do acknowledg that I cannot bring them to a just summ, forsomuch as the 2300 is not double so much as 1290. But this thing I shall leave to the al∣seeing Providence, as all other things are to be left unto him; but this I conceive is certain, that if we take that Idol of desolation set up by Antiochus in the temple to be it, then the 2300 years are not yet out; and if we take the desolation of Jerusalem by Titus to be it, then the 1290. dayes are much past; and if we take the polluting of the ordinances to be it, then it is not yet fulfilled. However, I must leave it as a secret tou∣ching the time, waiting when the Lord will deliver his people.