IN the Thirteenth chapter of Revelation, we read of a strange Beast, with seven Heads and ten Horns, rising up out of the Sea; Vers. 1. Vers. 2. Vers. 5, 6. Vers. 7. Monstrous in shape, Blasphemous in language, and impi­ously Cruel in practise; for he wars with the Saints, and over­comes them; who, by his Tone and Fraud, had gotten so large a Dominion and Empire, over the Souls, as well as Bodies, Vers. 3. of de­luded men, that the whole Earth, is said to wonder after the Beast; that is, to follow, or, as it is expressed more fully, to Worship him; Vers. 4, 8. nor without much inward Amazement at his bewitching Fi­gure (as being in part like to a Panther, Vers. 2. which of all other crea­tures hath a most alluring shape) and seemingly invincible pu­issance; for, who, say they, is like to the Beast, who is able to war with him? But all this time they were ignorant; that, while they worshipped the Beast, Vers. 4. Rev. 12.9. Rev. 13.2, 4. they only worshipped the Dragon (or the De­vil) from whom that Beast, which they so stupidly admired and doted upon, did immediately derive all his Power and great Authority. And therefore all those deceived and mistaken Wor­shippers, how numerous soever, or what pretences soever they had to gild and colour their Irreligious and Blinde Devotion with; yet they are declared by the Spirit of God, to be in a sad and deplorable condition, Vers. 8. Rev. 20.15 in that their Names are not written in the Book of Life, whose final Doom is, to be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Lest this Punishment should be passed slightly over, as if it either were easie to be born, or that at last there were hopes of its ending, there is an Angel sent on purpose to proclaim it in a most particular and dreadful manner, Rev. 14.9, 10, 11 If any doth worship the Beast and his Image, and receiveth his Mark upon his forehead, or upon his head (i.e. who either openly professeth his obedience to the Beast, in receiving that visible Mark, or Name, or Character, by which his followers are signalized and distinguished from all others: or, whoever avoiding the Name, in a more concealed and po­litick [Page 2]way, doth secretly joyn his endeavours with those who seek to uphold the Beast in his Throne) even he shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God, See of this Phrase, Ps. 75.8. Isa. 51.22. Jer. 25.15.which is without mixture, mingled in the cup of his Anger; and he shall bee tormented in the sight of the Holy Angels, and in the sight of the Lamb: And the smoak of their torment goeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day or night, who wor­ship the Beast and his Image, and if any doth receive the Mark of his Name.

There is not, that I know of, in the whole Book of God, any Curse set out in more express and affrighting language; but, because we are all naturally apt to put far from us the evil day, Amos 6.3 Eccl. 8.11 and to think that a sentence deferred (till after the Resurrection) will never be executed; therefore in the Fifteenth chapter of Revelation, we have an account of seven Viols, Vers. 7. [...]. or, goblets of Gold, all filled (up to the brim) with the wrath of God (which oftentimes in Scripture is compared to Wine, and, because of the effects of it, is called the wine of Trembling, Psal. 60.3 and Isa. 51.21, 22 Rev. 15.1 [...]. See Lam. 4.11. Eze. 5.13. Psa. 78.38 & 50 Deut. 32.23 Luk. 16.23, 24 Rev. 16.10, 11 2 Pet. 2.3 or Astonishment) whence they are called the seven last Plagues, or, Strokes, because in them the wrath of God is fi­nished (i.e. is fully and perfectly accomplished, without any far­ther Reserve or Delay of Vengeance, as this Phrase in other places signifies.) God then, in the words of the Psalmist, saith, Not turning away his anger, but stirring up all his wrath, and weighing out a Path for his Fury, he heaps mischiefs, and spends his Arrows upon a rebellious and sinful world, with such an over-flowing deluge of intollerable calamities, that the sufferers of them, like men already damned, do gnaw their Tongues for pain, and Blaspheme the God of Heaven; whereby, in stead of getting ease, they only ri­pen and fit themselves for their Appointed, and then approaching, Ruine. All which miseries, little differing from the torments of Hell but only in continuance, remain to bee felt in this life, and that only by such, Rev. 16.2 as have the Mark of the Beast, and who wor­ship his Image; So that if either fear of future and endless, or sense of imminent and unavoidable misery (which then is most likely to seize upon us, See 1 The. 5.1, 2, 3 Rev. 16.15 Luk. 21.34 35 when we think our selves most secure) can prevail with us to minde our safety, we are bound, with all imaginable diligence and speed, to enquire who this Beast is, what is his Name, his Mark, his Number; least, either by our wil­ful or unwary worshipping of him, we become guilty of a Sin unpardonably heinous, and which God hath so expresly threat­ned that he will most severely and everlastingly punish.

To direct us in this search, Rev. 13.18 1 Sam. 21.8 See 2 The. 2.7. Rev. 17.5 See Rev. 13.18. and 17 9 although the spirit of God hath left some things (and particularly the Number of the Beasts Name) still veiled, and (like Goliahs Sword behinde the Ephod) wrapped them up in a Mystery; and that on purpose to incite our study, and to quicken us the more vigourously to look after wisdome; yet so much is plainly discovered to us, that unless we resolve to be ignorant, and, as the Jews did at the shining of the glory of Christ, wilfully shut our eyes, we cannot but be led unto a plain and manifest discovery of this his disguised, but most dangerous and Implacable Adversary: For this end, the Seventeenth chap­ter of Revelation was purposely writ, which is to be looked up­on, as the Key unto all the foregoing Vision; Vers. 3. Vers. 8. but more particu­larly to that in the 13. chapter, with which the 17. perfectly a­grees, in the description of the Beast, in the Number and final estate of his Worshippers; unto which there are added some other things by way of Explication. As

First, Vers. 3, 4 Upon the Beast there is discovered to sit an Imperious and Whorish Woman, attired in a very sumptuous and pompous man­ner, bedecked with Gold, and precious Stones, and Pearls, Compare Hos. 2.13 Jer. 4.30 See also Prov. 7 10, 16, 17 2 Thes. 2.3, 4 1 Tim 4.1 2 Cor. 11.2, 3 Cant. 8.6 Isa. 47.5 Rev. 18.7 Nah. 3.4 with Rev. 14.8. and 18.23 just as the Church of Israel is described by the Prophets, when she was fallen from the Service of God, unto the worship of Idols; in resem­blance of whom, this Woman may well be called, The Church A­postatical, as having now arrived unto the height of Apostacy, which before was prophesied of. For, as the true Church, the Vir­gin Spouse of Christ, is said to lean upon her Beloved, having depen­dance upon, and taking complacency in him alone; so this False and Adulterous Church, sits upon the Beast, by whom she is sup­ported and upheld, in whom shee glories as her Head, and by whose means she extends her soveraignty so far, that, like Baby­lon of old, she sits as Queen; and with Niniveth, that once Imperi­al City, she intoxicates the Nations, and bewitcheth them unto a Communion with her, in her Abominable and Idolatrous Pra­ctises. Whence it appears, that whatever she may vaunt her self to be, as the Mother Church, the Mistress of Faith, and the like; yet when the Mystery of her Iniquity comes to be revealed, and the Curtain drawn, she must then be called, Rev. 17.5 as the Spirit of God doth call her, in her true stile, The Mother of Harlots (i. e. of all false and Adulterous Churches) and of the Adominations of the earth, (i. e. of all Impious and Idolatrous Practises.) And that wee might not wonder who this Woman should be, as men ignorant [Page 4]or surprized are wont to do (for even the holy Evangelist, Revel. 17 6. who saw her but in a vision could not but greatly wonder at her) the Angel plainly tells us that this woman was nothing else but the City placed upon seven Hills, verse 9. verse 10, 11, &c. see Tacitus p. 1, 2. Verse 18. which had already passed thorough five several forms of Governments; being then under the sixth, viz. that of Heathen Emperours, and (to leave no scruple or doubt remaining) which, at that time, when he saw this Vision, and wrote this Prophesie, had the supreme Dominion over the Kings of the Earth: Which City, if any one can be so far mistaken, as to deny to be Rome, he must finde out some other City, unto whom those Properties will more exactly agree, which is alto­gether impossible.

Secondly, Sedes Ro­mana. Though by this discovery of the Whore, we might satisfactorily enough be led unto a knowledge of the Beast, up­on whom she fits: yet that we might be more certainly and in­fallibly guided, Rev. 17.3. Mark 1. the Spirit of God is pleased to lay down some clearer Marks to make him evident and notorious to us.

First, The Beast, is said to be of a skarlet-colour, and full of the Names of Blasphemy, Of his Blasphemy see Isa. 14.13, 14. Dan. 3.15. & 4.30. Of his Blasphemy see Dan. 8. 9-12. and 11.36, 37 He was called Do minus Deus (que) no­ster. Martial. Verse 6. Job. 22. 25-17. with 21.14, 15. Exod. 5.2. 2 Kings 19 10, 16. not being it seems contented with one Name, as Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes, Domitian, and other Tyrants and Oppressours, his Predecessours were; but this Beast, as he succeeded into their roome, so he was to inherit their Nature, and to out-do them in the worst of their Actions; load­ing himself with many sacrilegious Names of Blasphemy, that so he might the more easily be discovered. What these Names are, is not particularly expressed, but they may easily be guessed at, by the character which is given of him in the 13th. Chapter: That he opens his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and those that dwell in Heaven. The several parts of which description deserve to be particularly in­sisted on.

1. To utter Blasphemy against God; or, to Blaspheme the Name of God, may be done two waies: Either,

1. In direct and open denying the very Being of God, as the men before the Flood, Pharaoh and Senacherib did; Saying, Who is the Lord, that we should obey his voice? Or,

2. When frail men, by reason of some outward success given them, do intrude themselves into the Place and Authority of God, by assuming some of his Divine and Incommunicable At­tributes: Thus the Prince of Tyre Blasphemed God, when he said: [Page 5] I am a God, I sit in the seat of God; Ezek. 28.2, 3, 4.6. of whom likewise it is spoken in a way of sacred Irony: Behold thou art wiser than Daniel, (i. e. than any of the Prophets, or divinely inspired men) there is no se­cret they can hide from thee: This arrogant Prince it seems not on­ly challenging the Power of God unto himself, but likewise his Wisdome too, even pretending to a kinde of Omniscience, and In­fallibility, for hee adds, with thy Wisdome, and with thy understand­ing thou hast gotten thee Riches: In conformity to which Descrip­tion, the Apostle Paul gives us this full and perfect Definition of Anti-Christ, or, of the Beast wee are enquiring after; He is one who opposeth (viz. 2 Thes. 2.4. Psal. 82. Christ and his Saints) and farre exalts himself above all that is called God, or Worshipped (whereby is meant, not only above Magistrates, who are called Gods, but likwise a­bove every thing else, which is thought by men to be most capa­ble of Divine Honour (so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God (i. e. in the Church, which was of old truly so, and still pre­tends to be so) declaring himself that he is God: Declaring, that is, Demonstrating and manifesting this, Mark 2.7. by his pretending to a God­like Power; as to be able to pardon sins, which none can do but God alone, To absolve from Laws, To Dispense with Oathes, To be Infal­lible, and the like, which Titles and Power whoever dares as­sume to himself; He is The Anti-Christ, a Blasphemer, and conse­quently, that Beast whose Marks we are seeking for, of which the first is, that he was to be full of such Names of Blasphemy.

2. The Tabernacle of God, which this Beast is said to Blaspheme may either signifie the Church of God, Eph. 2.22 1 Tim. 3.5, 15. (which oftentimes is called the House of God) over which the Beast doth sinfully assume a power; or, which I rather take to be the meaning, The humane Na­ture of Christ, for thus the divine Writer to the Hebrews, doth e­legantly call it, because it was the true Tabernacle, Heb. 8.2. and 9.11.which God pitch­ed and not man: Which Tabernacle is Blasphemed, when the Me­rit of those Sufferings, which God himself underwent in the Humane Nature, is lessened, and the blood of Christ not accounted sufficient to cleanse from sin, without something added by men to eek out its value; For since our Saviour expresly affirmeth, that he gave his flesh, Joh. 6.51 (i. e. his humane Nature) for the life of the World; and nothing can be more undeniable than that excellent Argument of a Divine Writer; Heb. 9.13, 14. If the blood of Bulls and of Goats doth sanctifie to the purifying of the Flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot [Page 6]unto God, purifie our Conscience from dead works. The shedding of that blood (which was the price paid for the satisfaction of sin) being abundantly sufficient to merit forgiveness, for millions of worlds, because the Mortal Nature which suffered, by its Union with the Divine, was of Infinite and Incomparable Value; If then the Beast shall dare to extenuate and lessen it, by pretending that some part of the Ransome is yet unpaid, and that he hath power by his Indulgences to add something to it, this must needs bee a Blasphemy of the highest kinde, because it is in effect to say, that the Son of God did not finish the work, for the full per­forming of which, Heb. 10.5, 10, 14 a Body was prepared him.

3. Those that dwell in Heaven, are the Angels and the departed Saints; who are then Blasphemed, when any thing is ascribed or done to them, which, were they now on Earth, they would not dare to own; Thus when the men of Lystra, who had the excuse of an amazing Miracle to justifie them, did prepare to of­fer Sacrifice unto Paul and Barnabas; we read that those blessed Apostles did rent their cloathes, Act. 14.14 2 Kings 18 37. Mat. 26.65 which was usual in the cases of Blasphemy, and shews what Opinion they conceived of that A­ction. So when our Evangelist, perhaps onely in a pious grati­tude for such great discoveries, would have fallen down at the An­gels feet to Worship him; The Angel, in a kinde of sacred horror, forbad him, Revel. 19.10. saying, See thou dost it not, for I am thy fellow-Ser­vant, Worship God: And a greater than hee, even the Son of God himself, yet appearing in the forme of an Angel, would not have Sacrifice offered to him, Jud. 13.16 but saith hee to Manoah; If thou wilt offer a Burnt-Offering, thou must offer it to the Lord: If therefore Sacrifice and Adoration was not at all pleasing to those blessed Spirits upon Earth, 1 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 13.15 we cannot think but Prayer and Praise (which are a Christians Sacrifice) and other acts of Di­vine Worship, must needs be accounted by them as Blasphemous now they are in Heaven. For they have not altered their minds, nor are they now lesse zealous of Gods Honour, than when they did on Earth express their utmost abhorrence of what-ever did but seem to intrench upon it. So that to summe up all the parts of this first Mark together, for a sinful man, to assume the prerogative and incommunicable properties of God, to lessen the Invaluable Merits, and Satisfaction of our Lord Christ, and to injoyn undue honour unto Saints and Angels, such as were they now on earth, they would detest, these all are Blasphemies [Page 7]of the grossest nature, which who-ever belcheth forth, he is the Beast we are commanded to beware of.

Secondly, Another Marke, and that no little one, Mark. 2 by which the Beast may be known, is the numberless number of his fol­lowers; even the whole Earth, saith the Text, Rev. 13.3 with 17.8 or All that dwell upon the Earth: whereby is not meant every individual person throughout the world, but as is afterwards explained, Every Tribe, and Tongue, and Nation: That is, All the Professors of Chri­stianity throughout the world, except the Elect, Mat. 24.24 Rev. 17.8 Rev. 13.7 Rev. 12.17 or They whose Names are written in the Book of Life: These are called the Saints, or the seed of the Woman, (i. e. the Sons and Daughters of the true Church) Whom the Dragon persecuted: Who keep (not the Traditions of men, but) the Commandements of God, and (in direct opposition to the Usurpations of Anti-Christ) do hold the Testimony of Jesus: Who, in comparison of that vast Rout, or rather Heard, which Worship the Beast, are stiled a little Flock, left, as it were, Luke 12.32. to hu­mane view altogether Naked and Defenceless, in the midst of many fierce and ravening Wolves, Rev. 11.7 by whom they are no sooner discovered, but they are hunted, taken, and slain: Which Gene­ral delusion and raging madness of the Bestal crew, together with the distressed condition of the Lambs company, must needs, even in the eye of common Reason, make those swelling Titles of Uni­versality, Visibility, Pomp, and Extent of dominion, very unsafe and most unfit to plead as signs of the true Church, since during the whole time of the Beasts Reign, they are applicable onely unto his Followers.

If any ask how it was possible, for the world, professing them­selves (as they did) to be Christians, to become so stupid, Rev. 5.6 and senseless, as, instead of the Lamb Christ Jesus, to shew a Ty­rannical and outragious Beast, his greatest Enemy; in answer to this, we must consider, that from the first moment, wherein the Beast was invested in his Soveraignty, there was universally conceived a slavish dread of his Power; which made the over­awed and captivated world to cry out who is like unto the Beast? Rev. 13.4 who is able to warre with him, For if those of Samaria were exceed­ingly afraid of Jehu, 2 Kings 10.4. and thought they reasoned well when they said, Behold two Kings stood not before him, how then shall wee stand? How much less able then were any to resist the Beasts encroachments, who had ten Horns, i. e. Ten Kings his Vassals, Revel. 17.12, 13. that owned him for their Head, and tamely gave up their [Page 8]Authority to be disposed of, and ordered by him? But besides this Argument from Force and Fear, which alone had been suf­ficient to enslave the world, there were two other causes, which did concur to make the spiritual Thraldome plausible and uni­versally taking.

1. There was a willingness in the world to bee deceived; as the Israelites, being many years accustomed to the taste of Man­nah (though it was bread of Heaven, Ps. 105 40 Psa. 78.24 25 and food for Angels) began to loath it: so did the World grow weary of the plainness of Truth, which made God in his just judgement, give them up to be acted by a Spirit of Errour, 2 Thes. 2.10, 12 Joh. 7.18 1 Cor. 13.6 So [...] Psal. 52.3 because they loved not the Truth, saith the Apostle, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, or, in false­hood; as the word [...] often signifies. Men having then their Ears open to receive, and their mindes ready to believe a Lye; and offering themselves as a willing Prey, to every one that would but take pains to cozen them.

2. To this propensity and readiness, which was in the world, for the embracing of any kinde of Errour, there was not want­ing the Vigilance and care of a False-Prophet to promote and preach it. Rev. 16.13 Who being twin with the Ten-horned Beast, rising out of the Earth at the same time, Rev. 13.12 and ever present with him, used all his craft and industry to enlarge the Beasts Kingdome, as be­ing himself a sharer both in the Profit and Power of it. And therefore by his false Doctrine, which he had power to confirm by Miracles, Vers 13,14 he easily perswaded the credulous world to enslave themselves unto the Beast, and willingly to receive his Mark; and if any refused it, Vers. 16,17 he caused them to be killed; Preaching no doubt, as his predecessors did before him, concerning the A­postles, Joh, 16.2 That, who so killed them did God good service: Which False-Prophet (in the usual Scripture Dialect (where the frog, the Locust, Exod. 8.9 [...] Exo. 10.12 [...] a Pet. 2. 1 Joh. c.2. and c. 4 1 Tim. 4.1, 2. and the like in the singular Number, doth comprehend the whole Species) signifies all those False-Teachers, which were to arise in the Church, whose Doctrine, and Manners, almost all the Apostles do fully declare. It is no wonder then, if such vast Multitudes, for so many ages, ran blindly into pernicious and destructive Errours, who, being first disposed by themselves unto the love of false-hood, were afterwards forsaken by God, and had besides many fly and cunning Impostours, to lead them far­ther astray: Their Eyes it seems being so dazled with the false Fire, Rev. 13.13 which by Miracles came down from Heaven, that men were [Page 9]content to forget their way thither, and willing to be led to Hell in company. But had the world been then awakened, as now, through the goodness of God, some part of it is, they would have known that true Doctrine did alwaies precede and give a lustre and credit to Miracles; for without their aid, Truth alone can maintain its Authority, as it did in John Baptists time: Joh. 10.41, 42 But Miracles without true Doctrine (of which the Word of God must be the Touchstone) are sometimes suffered by God to try the ground­ed sincerity of our Obedience: See Deut. 13.1, 2 Mat. 24.24 25. 2 Thes. 2.9 Rev. 13 13, 14. and 16.13, 14. & 19, 20 And therefore wee are strictly cautioned, that we be not deceived by them: So that whenever Miracles are urged in defence of False or Questionable Do­ctrines, they only serve as Evidences to shew that the False-Prophet is at work, and the way, for setting up the Kingdome of the Beast, or, the Throne of Anti-Christ, is secretly prepraring.

Thirdly, Another Mark, Mark 3. and equal in Evidence to any of the former, is the time wherein the Beast began (not to Be, but) to Reign: Of this, is to be understood that Aenigmatical speech of the Angel, The Beast, which is not, although he is. Rev. 17.8 Which Phrase, as containing some singular sense, is repeated twice in one Verse; and this seems to be the meaning of it, that although the Beast, as to some of his parts, was then actually in Being, and some foundations were already laid for his future greatness (as likewise is elsewhere witnessed) yet he had not hitherto ar­rived to his full growth; or as the Apostle Pauls Phrase is. See 2 Thes. 2.6, 7 1 Joh. 2.18 & 4.3. He was not revealed as yet; which word revealed, when it is applied to the Man of Sin, I take to signifie the setting up of his Kingdome, and actual exercise of his Soveraignty, or, the visible displaying of his Power: For thus the revealing of Christ, is used for his Reigning, and that by the Apostle Paul, in the same Epistle, 1 Pet. 1.7, 13. & 4.13 2 Thes. 1.5, 7 where he treats of Anti-Christ: what therefore the Apostle John speaks concerning the Beast, that, Hee is not, although hee is; a­mounts to this, That, though he was in some degree already, even at that time (as a Poisonous Plant, may be said to be, as soon as it is sown, and hath taken root in the Earth) yet he was not come then unto his absolute Dominion, which, saith he after­ward, you must then look for, when ten Kings, Rev 17. 12, 13 [...]. 2 Thes. 2.6, 7,8 who are to be his Horns, do arise, with whom, at the very same instant of time, the Beast shall begin his Reign. This, though somewhat more darkly, was intimated by the Apostle Paul, when he says, The Mystery of Iniquity doth already work, only that which hindreth [Page 10](shall hinder) until he be taken out of the way, [...].and then that lawless one shall be revealed. Which words, the Primitive Christians did generally understand to signifie the Roman Empire, Tertul. A­polog. c. 32 as Tertulli­an witnesseth in the name of them all; and this made them in all their meetings, to pray for the continuance of that Empire, that thereby the coming of Anti-Christ, and the Desolation to be wrought by him, might be prevented. For while the Empire of Rome was undivided, and in its height of Soveraignty, the Beast, whose seat was in the City, had neither pretence of Plea, nor force of Power, sufficient to make himself acknowledged as So­veraign there; but when that Empire was broken, and several Kingdomes did arise out of the Ruines of it (all which, for the better establishment of themselves, did agree to submit unto the Bishop of Rome, and to own him as their Head) then there was nothing left powerful enough to hinder the Beasts Usurpation: The time therefore, when these Monarchies or Principalities arose, must be carefully enquired after, because from thence we must date the beginning of the Beasts reign and Independant Supremacy; which was to last from that period of Time, even until the com­ing of Christ, See of this 2 Thes. 2.8 Dan. 7.21, 22. Rev. 16 13-16. & 19.19, 20, 21 See Dan. 7 &c. 8.20 Dan. 7.25 & 12.7 Rev. 12.14 Rev. 11.2, 3 & 12.6. & 13.5 who by the brightness of his personal appearance, will finally destroy the Beast, and fully plead the cause of his perse­cuted and cruelly slaughtered Servants against him. From what hath been said, three things do evidently follow.

1. That the Beast is not one Man, as some do vainly imagine, but a Series or Race of Men succeeding one another in the same Bestial and Blasphemous Government and Titles,

2. That the Time, Times, and half a Time, the 42. Months, The three years and an half, or, which is all one account, The 1260. Years, so often mentioned in Daniel, and the Revelation, as the precise time limited by God for the duration of the Beasts Dominion, must necessarily be understood of Prophetical daies, that is, taking a Day for a Year; as it is in that famous instance of Daniels weeks, Dan. 9 Numb. 14.34 Ezek. 44, 5, 6 and more than once elsewhere in Scripture be­fore; and this Interpretation as it is usual, so it is most agree­able to the design of the Spirit of God, who speaks of the Beast, as of one that was to reign a long time, and comparatively much longer than either the Christian, Rev. 17.10 11 or the Heathen Emperours before him, in whose place the Beast was to succeed, as the eighth in Number, but indeed the seventh Head, and was thence for­ward to continue, until the Lord Christ himself came to take a­way his Authority from him.

3. That since the breaking of the Roman Empire, and the Rise of several Kingdomes or Principalities out of it (which by all wri­ters is placed between the fourth and the fifth Century, though many differ concerning the particular Time of each) there have already lapsed above 1200. years; all which time we must, in conformity to this Scripture, be forced to acknowledge, that the Beast, who was to begin his Reign with those ten Kings, hath been visibly and powerfully reigning; and to speak more plain­ly, this the Spirit of God hath affirmed he was to do, and there­fore hath done, in Rome it self, and thither wee are directed by the Angle to seek him, that wee may know who it is, whose Communion wee are with so much care commanded to a­void.

From what hath been said it is very evident, nor indeed can any thing possibly bee more clear to all unprejudiced men, that as Rome was that City which was represented under the form of a Whorish Woman; so the Pope, or, Bishop of Rome, is the Beast who bears her; It is he, who for many hundred of years, hath fix­ed his Seat, and his Supremacy there; It is hee, who challengeth Authority over all Kings and Earthly Magistrates (the greatest of whom have been forced to wait as Lackeyes to make up his Train) It is He, who hath all these Names of Blasphemy (of be­ing Head of the Church, Infallible, Pardoning Sin, Dan. 7.25 and the like) which the Spirit of God had before prophesied of, and witnes­seth against: It is He, who hath attempted to change Times, and daily doth change Laws, dispensing for his own gain with whate­ver is Sacred and Holy: It is He, who Blasphemes those that dwell in Heaven, Canonizing whom hee pleaseth for Saints, and then commanding them to be worshiped as Gods; shewing himself hereby, not only to bee a God, Apolog. but (as Tertullians expression is) Deus Deificus, A God that can make Gods. So much is hee advanced above the condition of a Mortal Man. And lastly, It is He, who hath the False-Prophet to Act and Preach for him, even an infinite number of Monks, Fryars, Jesuits, and the like False-Teachers, who, being his sworn Subjects, by their Lies and Lying Wonders, do all strive to bring the World into the same Vassallage; not much caring what becomes of other Points; [Page 12]so that Men will but be Ignorant enough, and quietly hold the Fundamental Article of their Creed, that, the Pope is Head of the Church; but if any, suspecting him to be the Beast they are bid to beware of, [...]Mic 3.5 do once boggle at this, then these False-prophets, prepare, or, as the Hebrew word signifies, Hallow War against them, i.e, Wage an Holy War, the meaning of which Phrase, our Protestant Churches in France, Savoy, Germany, and other places, are too sensibly acquainted with, to need an explica­tion.

If this bee so, for the proof of which, I have not followed any pre-conceived Notions of mine own, but the unerring gui­dance of Scripture-light, then it doth necessarily follow, that in the Church of Rome (I mean for those who knowingly live and dye in Communion with Her, acknowledging the Pope for their Head) there is not any possibility of Salvation; and to af­firm there is, is boldly to contradict the express denuntiation of the Spirit of God, and therein to bee mercilesly Cruel unto the Souls of those deluded men, under pretence of being Charita­ble. 2 Th. 2.10 See 2 Cor. 2.15. & 4.3 Acts 2.47 1 Cor. 1.18 Jude. v. 4 The Apostle Paul saies, that the Deceivableness of Unrighte­ousness works, [...], in them that perish, or, in the lost, who being alwaies opposed to the [...], or, the saved, it abundantly shews that all who continue their adherence unto the damnable Errours of that Church and Head, are wholly for­saken by God, and designed to Destruction. What may bee said concerning former Times, when the Truth was not so clear, nor the Apostacy in all its parts so visible, I will not determine; It is possible, Acts 17.30 31 that, as heretofore, so then, God might wink at those times of Ignorance; but I am sure, hee now calls upon all to re­pent, or else wee must expect to perish in our Obstinacy. It is therefore very observable, Vers. 7 See Psal. 96.5. and 115.4, &c. Isa. 41. 1 Thes. 1.9 that in the 14th. of Revelation, first there comes an Angel to Preach the Everlasting Gospel; the sum of which is no other, than what the Prophets and Apostles did Preach of Old, That men should turn from Idols, to serve the living and true God; and worship him who made Heaven and Earth and the fountains of Waters: Upon the preaching of which Gospel, im­mediately there follows another Angel proclaiming that dread­ful Judgement before mentioned, against such as worship the [Page 13]Beast, and receive his Mark or his Image. From whence I gather, that what-ever may be the dealings of God towards those in Spain and Italy, or other places, where the Preaching of the E­verlasting Gospel is utterly supprest, and those poor souls, who pos­sibly may long for light, are forcibly detained in darkness; yet in such places, where the Truths of God are taught, and freedome given unto all that will come and hear them, there to continue in that sin of Popery, which God hath already declared he will not pardon, must needs be utterly inconsistent with any hopes of Happiness.

Although I need not say any more for the proof of this, than what hath already been spoken, concerning the Judgement threatned against all such as obey that Man of sin, and Childe of Perdition, the Pope, or the Beast, against whom the Lord hath an irreconcileable controversie, yet in compassion to the souls of those miserably deceived Papists, amongst us, I shall add these few things, farther. That

1. If all, who either add to, or take away from, Rev. 22.18 19.the words of Scripture, are to expect all the Plagues threatned, and to bee excluded from the happiness promised in it.

2. If they, who Worship God after the Doctrines and Command­ments of men, do onely Worship him in vain; Mat. 15.9 13, 14. and instead of gain­ing a reward for their Service, are to be plucked up, as Plants, not of the Fathers planting.

3. If they, who blindly, and with an implicite Faith, do follow after blinde Guides, will certainly at last fall with them into the ditch, even the bottomless-Pit of destruction.

4. Rev. 21.8. Psal. 97.7. If Idolaters are to have their portion in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone; and all such are to be confounded; i. e. To pe­rish for ever, who serve Graven Images, and boast themselves of I­dols.

5. If they who believe a lye, 2 Thes. 2.9-12. (as that a piece of Bread is turn­ed [Page 14]into the very Body and Blood of the Son of God) and have pleasure in such unrighteousness, are all to be damned.

6. If they who Worship Angels, hold not the Head, Christ; and therefore cannot look for any life from him.

Lastly, If they who, in a proud conceit of their own Righteous­ness, either prefer it to, or else mingle it with the Righteousness of Christ for Justification, do commit the very sin of the Reprobate Jews, See Rom. 9 30-32. and 10.3. Gal. 2.21. and 5.4. making the death of Christ in vain, and consequently have no Interest in the Redemption purchased by it: If I say these things are of that hainous nature, as who ever is guilty of any one of them, is by the Word of God pronounced Worthy of death; then the Papists, who (besides their bearing the Name of that accursed Beast, 2 Pet. 2.1 the Pope) do hold all these, and many more such destructive Heresies are certainly in a state desperately and deplorably dange­rous, and for any to teach otherwise, it is to speak peace, and Pity where the mouth of the Lord hath not spoken it.

For us therefore, who, through the infinite goodness of God, have escaped the snare, to have any Church Fellowship, or to seek Reconciliation with them, it is not onely ingratefully to slight the Mercy of our deliverance, but foolishly, if not im­piously, to sell the Truth, or rather to betray it, into the hands of its most prejudiced, hardened, and implacable enemies: Let them therefore, in the Words of God by the Prophet to back-slidden Israel, Jer. 15.19 Return to us, by renouncing their Blasphe­mies, forsaking their Idolatries, and with-drawing their Obe­dience from that Beast they serve; but let not us return to them, by parting with one Iota of Scripture-Truths, Rev. 18.4 Deut. 7.25, 26. and 13 18, 19. Levit. 14.44. Rev. 18.23, 24. least by partaking in their sins, we become likewise sharers in their Plagues; and by touching the accursed thing, do make our selves a Curse; and in­cur that guilt, which still cleaves, like an incurable Leprosie, unto that Idolatrous and bloody City of Rome: Against which Ci­ty God hath formerly sent the Goths and Vandals, and other Ex­ecutioners of his Vengeance, to scrape and to pare, and to cleanse her filth out of her; but she is now returned to her Trade again, still Worshipping Devils and Idols; Rev 9.20, 21. and not repenting of her Fornica­tions, [Page 15]Witch-crafts and Murders; It remains therefore, Heb. 6.8 that like the Barren Earth, which having oft been Rained upon, brings forth onely Briars and Thorns, she is nigh to a curse, and her end is to be burnt with fire: This glorious spectacle, Rev. 18 ib. v. 20 Rev. 6.10, 11 Rev. 11.17 18 2 Tim. 2.10, 11 Rev. 20.4, 6 Rev. 22 20 Cant. 8.14 though worldly-spirited men will lament and tremble at the sight of; yet the Heavens, and the blessed Inhabitants of them, are commanded to re­joyce at: For which, the Souls of the Martyred Saints, that are al­ready under the Altar; and all their Brethren, who are yet wit­nessing in the Wilderness do earnestly pray, as being then to re­ceive a full Reward for their labours, and to Reign with Christ, for whom they suffered.

Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly.