Battering rams against Rome's gates, made to be the remark of her character, whom her children and once subjects now begin to hate.

Battering Rams Against ROME'S GATES, Made to be The Remark of her CHARACTER, Whom her Children and once Subjects now begin to hate.

I. WHo is it that continues unprepared (unto the Battle of the Lamb) in this great Day of Slaughter (under which many are brought down into the Valley of Megiddon) but such, unto whom the Trumpet gives an uncertain Sound? Who being partakers of and with the Whore of Rome (in her Evils and wicked Abomi∣nations) must look also now to be made partakers (with her) in the Plagues and Torments come upon her (in a Day and Hour unlooked for,) Widow∣hood and loss of Children; for the Grave and Hell cries, Give, give; What now shall be given her? but a miscarrying Womb and dry Breasts.

II. This state of her (the Whore of Rome and Mother of all our Sorrows) is that under which she is reputed fallen, and in which she is now made and become more con∣temptible than that (of the state of Widowhood itself) relating to the shame of her Youth and reproach of her Widow-hood, which shall never more be wiped away and blotted out (of our Remembrance) wherein it stands thus represented, as doth her Guilt the Cause thereof, (in a fresh charge against her:) Whom call no more Lady of Pleasure (as though she were never to see Widowhood) and Queen over Nations, that hath sate at ease in the flesh, and sung Arakime to your Souls (Soul, Soul, take thy ease, &c. for thou hast riches laid up for many years;) alas, in one hour (as was multiplied her Miscarriages and Misdeeds, so in like manner) is multiplied, complicated and filled up the measure of her Iniquity; consequent unto which all her Sorrows and Miseries increased, are now come upon her (both Widowhood and loss of Children.)

III. Her Character (as a City pourtray'd with Walls and Gates, and the Fabrick of whose Foundations was first erected and settled on seven high Hills, or Mountains) is so lively described, that observing this third Advice to the Painter (of such things and matters requisite in so great undertakings,) there needs no other Interpretation of the Mystery included, than the life of the Patron consider'd, and thus remark'd (with Observations on the Parallel between a bad vile Woman, and such is the Whore of Rome;) wherein under any Self-security (or carnal Ease and Pleasure promiss'd to the flesh,) the cause of a Nations Ruine and Misery, lies at stake; of which the Reader is thus fairly warn'd

IV. Is she a City wall'd? Tell her Towers, taise your Batteries, and let all that have skill in Martial Discipline, now play their Engines of War against her, scale her Walls, throw down her Bulworks and Fortresses, and cause to fall to the ground all her Towers of Defence, (so shall you quit your selves like men;) Let not your Eyes spare, nor Hearts pity; but as she hath done unto you, into her bosome reward it double: Do unto her, according as she hath and would have done, who hath drunk of your Blood, until she is again made to vomit it up: Give her to drink of her own Vomit, (the dregs of her bitter Cup.)

V. Yet the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal but spiritual, and mighty (through the Power of God) to the pulling down of Satan's strong Holds; against whom we wrestle, and not only with flesh and blood, but Principalities and Powers (Spiritual Wickedness in high places:) Remember therefore Jericho of old, about whose City∣walls went (her Enemies) seven times round, (touting with Rams-horns) until they fell, and great was the fall thereof (to the laying open her Gates, by which enter'd all the Miseries, Evils and Mischiefs, now thus come upon her.) Like one on whose Neck is tyed a great Milstone, and then cast down (in the Sea of the bottomless Pit, a Gulf of Misery whence she never again is to rise; for she is fallen, she is fallen under irrecoverable Loss, Ruine, and Destruction.

VI. The exalted Power of the Lamb, a species of that Ram caught (by the horns) in the Thicket, where for Abraham he was made a Sacrifice (instead of Isaac;) and by whose Horns (of Power) Batteries have been rais'd and made at and against the Walls of Mystery Babylon (the Mother of Harlots and all Abominations, &c.) These like unto seven Trumpets, that have sounded forth the Mystery of things written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb, with seven Horns full of Eyes, upon whom was put seven Scals; namely the Mystery of seven Plagues and Vials fill'd with the wrath of such the Lamb (ready to be powred forth upon the Earth and its Inhabitants.) These, we say, have been and are exalted, above and over the rage and sury of the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns, upon whom rides and is exalted such the Where of Rome, Mystery Babylon.

VII. These are the Causes and Reasons, that as many of her Children and Lovers do already begin to hate her, so others her Children also shall hate both their Father (the Beast that begot them) and Whore their Mother, that brought them forth (under such the pale of Mother-Church;) who (such their FATHER shall thrust throw with a Dart, and burn their Mothers Flesh with Fire unquenchable. Give her a Cup brim∣full, for her Pleasure hath been and is the Cause of all her and your Pain, Sorrow and Misery, thus come upon, and that hath overtaken you (her Children,) and her (your Mother;) of which (as you her Children are made and become sensible of the Cause of such Pain and Grief) shall return and rest upon her, as occasioned by her Witch∣crasts and Sorceries.

VIII. It is the Fraudulency and Guile of their Mother, that stands figur'd forth in her, who was first betray'd (by the old Serpent,) which encourageth these her Children (in their boldness and confidence) to follow her guileful steps, and by-ways of Fallacy, Treachery, and all abominable Deceit: So that no wonder it is (their Fathers having eaten sowr grapes) that the Childrens Teeth are set on edge; and that all Filthiness (sticking in and upon her skirts) hath and doth flow, grow, and reign in and over such a Generation of evil Doers, from whom we are commanded to fly and be made separate; not so much as to touch or partake with her (in their unholy things;) whose Portion (that was thus first beguiled and beguileth) is WRATH, even the wrath of the Lamb: From whence, you to avoid (who are found flying, labouring, and seeking to make your escape to the Rocks and Mountains, that they may thence hide and cover you) shall not, nor cannot so do, but by reflecting on the Cause (in your selves, and that first leaving or escaping there.)

IX. Wrath is the Mother of us all (of whom we by Nature, as well as others are born Children and Heirs;) the Mystery of which hereditary Passion (under which we are thus brought forth) is the Effect of Causes productive unto the Creatures first Fail from God, under such Ruine and inevitable Destruction, that pursues Mankinde's imaginary Ways and Inventions, working and wrought up (or brought forth) fruits of Mystery Babylon, or Hagar, that is in Bondage (with her Seed or Children) to these the beggarly Rudiments of Romes formal ways of Worship and Service towards God, under which all Murthers, Rapes, and Villanies are countenanced, as the Sodomy of that City (spititually called Sodome and Egypt.)

The Character of this the Whore of Rome, or bad Woman; by whom the parallel is made (according to the Pattern drawn and set before you) between her the Mother and Mystery of Iniquity, and her Brood, Children of the same.

FINIS.