CHriſtian Friends, it doth not a little concern the People of God at this time to walk circumſpectly, having their Lights burning as wiſe Virgins, that they may be the approved of the Lord, and ſo the preſerved of the Lord in theſe laſt days, wherein the evil is great; juſtly may we be blamed (as others have been) by the Lord, if we diſcern not this time; which is, and much more will be full of peril, yea ſuch a time of trouble as never was ſince there was a Nation, Dan. 12.1. in which the Myſtery of Iniquity that did in meaſure work in the Apoſtles days, ſhall be finiſhed, and the Man of Sin revealed the Son of Perdition; which then was let, even till our days, by the power of the Kings of the earth, which withſtood the liberty of mens Conſciences, 2 Theſſ. 2.6, 7, 8. but now the Lord hath removed it in this our Nation, and ſo we have (praiſed be the Lord) enjoyed much Liberty and Freedom; by means whereof the Goſpel of Jeſus hath been, and yet is declared among the Sons of Men; whereby divers have been fully convinced of the Truth of Chriſt, ſome of which have denied themſelves and become obedient: and other ſome have put from them the words of everlaſting life; yea notwithſtanding all the goodneſs of God, together with his long-ſufferance, and long patience towards them, have not received the love of the Truth, that they might be ſaved; for which cauſe God hath ſent a ſtrong deluſion, that they (as conſidered oppoſing Grace) might beleeve a Lye, and ſo be damned, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11. wherefore in the fear of the Lord God who thus judgeth, let us grow, and abound in pure love unto the Lord, and his Truth, that we may ſtand in theſe laſt perilous days; wherein Satan will work not only with power, but with all Power, Signs, and lying Wonders; not only with deceit, but with all deceivableneſs of unrighteouſneſs, 2 Theſſ. 2.9, 10. O then let us be watchful, and with all care awake to righteouſneſs; putting on the whole Armour of God, that we may be able to withſtand all the wiles of the Devil, for the time is come wherein we muſt wraſtle againſt the Powers of Darkneſs, and Spiritual wickedneſs, which is crept into Sheeps cloathing, having ſuch fair pretences, as that thoſe that are not in ſome meaſure acquainted with their double-meaning expreſſions, cannot ſuddenly finde out the iniquity of the Myſtery. Wherefore I concluded it neceſſary, having ſome experience of the deceitful, pernicious ways of the people called Quakers, to ſignifie to all, what I have been an ear, and eye-witneſs of concerning them, whom we ſee many follow, whereby we hear the way of Truth is evil ſpoken of, and the profeſſours thereof ſlandered, and falſly accuſed; but this is, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which teſtifies of the coming of the Wicked one, before the coming of the Juſt one, (the Lord Jeſus) Mat. 24.24. 2 Theſſ. 2.3, 4. who ſhall deſtroy him with the brightneſs of his coming, verſ. 8.

The Quaker ſaith, That there is ſuch a light in every man (which they ſay is a meaſure of Chriſt) that leads, and guides into all the ways of God, without the Scripture, or any outward Teachings; and (ſaith Nayler) is the ONLY revealer of the Goſpel; as appears in his Book called, Satans deſign diſcovered, pag. 32.

Let us minde the Law, and Teſtimony, for if they do not herein ſpeak according to it, it is becauſe they have no light in them.

True it is, that there is ſuch a knowledge, or light in man (conſidered with the continual voyce of the Heavens, Pſal. 19.) as to know that there is a God, and in meaſure alſo what is juſt, and good, according to that he was firſt Created in, and ſo in meaſure evil, when he walks contrary to this light; and to this was added, (in the days of Moſes) the written Law, which remains to us; ſhewing to us (as it did to them) things that are MORE EXCELLENT, being inſtructed out of the Law, Rom. 2.18. ſin alſo appearing by it exceeding ſinful, Rom. 7.13. for had not the Law ſaid, Thou ſhalt not covet, Paul ſignifieth, that he had not known luſt to be ſin, Rom. 7.7. wherefore he concludes, that the Jew had great advantage, and profit above the Gentile, and chiefly becauſe that unto them were committed the Oracles of God, Rom. 3.1, 2. now the Gentiles having not the Law, were indeed a Law unto themſelves (ſaith Paul) but to the Jews that had the written Law hee ſaith no ſuch thing; but (ſaith Moſes) THIS BOOK of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeſt obſerve to do according to all that is written therein, Joſh. 1.8. wherefore it follows, that the Gentiles, conſidered HAVING NOT THE LAW (mark) were a Law unto themſelves; that is, in reference to ſuch things as were contained in the written Law of Moſes, by the deeds of which the Apoſtle afterwards ſaith, No fleſh ſhall be juſtified in his ſight, Rom. 3.20.10.5. it being weak through the fleſh, Rom. 8.3. that is, man being by the Fall under manifold Curſes, is often overcome, and acts contrary to his knowledge from the Law, while his Nature ſtill inclines to its firſt eaſe, pleaſure, and delight; and ſo by the Law he is condemned, for by it is the knowledge of ſin, Rom. 3.20. wherefore no righteouſneſs, no Soul-peace by it, for he that DOTH theſe things ſhall live by them, ſaith the Law; the Soul is wounded, and nothing will cure it, but the knowledge of remiſſion of ſins, which is made known by outward means; wherefore it was ſaid of John, that he ſhould go before the face of the Lord, to give knowledge of Salvation unto his people by the remiſſion of their ſins, Luke 1.77. which was to be preached by the Commandement of Chriſt to all Nations by the APOSTLES, Luke 24.47. yea at the beginning was it made known by outward diſcoveries, for it is recorded of Abel that hee was righteous by faith; now, ſaith the Apoſtle, there is but one faith, and this comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom. 10.16, 17, 18. which people in Primitive times heard, as ſpoken UNTO them divers ways; and ſo whoever of the Gentiles that ſought for glory, honour, and immortality (having faith therein by hearing) and in the mean while, patiently continued in doing well according to the Law written in their hearts, Rom. 2.7. they ſo beleeving were excuſed in themſelves, but if otherwiſe, accuſed; for ſo, and no otherwiſe Iſrael that had the (written) Law could be excuſed by it, for by the deeds thereof no fleſh ſhall bee juſtified; wherefore God at ſundry times, in divers manners ſpake unto the Fathers BY THE PROPHETS, the way of Juſtification, Heb. 1.1. Wherefore, ſaith the Prophet, ſhould yee not hear the words which the Lord hath cryed by the former Prophets? Zach. 7.7. if ye will not heat the words of my ſervants the Prophets, then will I make this houſe as Shiloh, Jer. 26.4, 5, 6. ſhewing plainly, that God did not, (as by himſelf dwelling in all men) ſpeak to them his whole counſel, but unto them, by his Prophets; and Judgements are threatned upon the not hearing of their words, not upon the ſlighting of ſuch a light within; and beſides, Faith is ſaid to come through their words, Rom. 10.16, 17, 18. no where is it ſaid, no not by any of the Prophets, that God required men to wait altogether upon ſuch a light within; yet ſaith Nayler, that is the ONLY revealer of the Goſpel; 'tis plain the Prophets had another ſpirit; for Jeremiah bids the people ſtand in the ways, and ſee, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you▪ ſhall find reſt for your ſouls, Jer. 16.16. now if the good way, and all the way were within them, why were they to ask for it, and to enquire, ſtanding in the wayes? and not rather to ſtand ſtill ſilent, waiting upon the light within; the wiſe muſt needs judge, the reaſon was, becauſe the will of the Lord in order to ſoul-peace, and reſt, was diſcovered by outward means; wherefore incline your ear, and come unto mee, hear, and your ſoul ſhall live, Iſa. 55.3. which when Iſrael neglected, Iſaiah complains, ſaying, Who hath beleeved OUR report? the Quaker cryeth, who hath waited upon the light within, the light within? another report, wherefore another Spirit.

Though we may not deny, but that through the report of the Prophets they were inlightened within▪ from whence they were to act; ſo faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; now the Quaker may not ſay that word is Chriſt; (the light within) becauſe Paul affirms, that in order to that Faith which comes by hearing; their ſound went into all the earth, and THEIR words unto the ENDS of the world, Rom. 10.18. now (THEIR) cannot be aſcribed to one Preacher ſingly; therefore is not ſuch a light within, which is but one; and if the Quaker ſlight this, he is more inexcuſable than other men, ſince he hath ſo far ſearched, as to find that (you) relates not to a ſingle perſon; alſo by this ſaying of Paul we may conſider that the Gentiles alſo were inlightened by the Goſpel-preaching Prophets, who ſometimes were to go unto the Heathen to miniſter unto them, as witneſſeth Jonahs going to Nineveh, and moſt evident it is, that there were ſome proſelited out of every Nation under Heaven to the way of the Lord, which the Jews profeſſed, Act. 2.5. yet the Jew had a priviledge in this, but where much is given, much is required; moreover if we look yet farther back, I ſay as I ſaid before, that there is not to be found ſuch an admonition, no not from the very beginning, as that men ſhould wholly depend upon a teacher within; this I find, Judg. 7.14. that Enoch the ſeventh from Adam propheſied of the Lords comming WITH (he ſaith not in) ten thouſand of his Saints, as the Quaker pleads; Noah alſo is ſaid to be a Preacher of Righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 2.5. and through his obedience in preparing the ark hee is ſaid thereby to condemn the world, Heb. 11.7. alſo it appears that the Lord ſhewed his wrath, and made his power known upon Pharaoh, and his mighty Hoaſt, that his name (through that memorable act) might be declared throughout all the earth, Exod. 9.16. alſo we find that God did ſpeak unto Moſes out of a cloudy pillar which deſcended in the ſight of the people; unto Abraham he ſpake by an Angel from Heaven; and the common expreſſion in Scripture to ſignify the way of Gods ſpeaking is this; the Lord ſaid unto Abraham, unto Iſaac, unto Moſes, but I find not where it is ſaid, that God did ſpeak in his people, his whole will and counſel, as the Quaker affirms.

Object. That which may bee known of God is manifeſt in man, ſaith Lawſon.

Anſw. As Paul informs us that which may be known of God is manifeſt in (or to) man (ſaith the Notes) ſo alſo he informs us how it comes there, and by that we find him to have a ſpirit differing from Lawſons: for Paul tells us that God hath ſhewed it unto man by the things that are made, whereby is clearly underſtood his eternall power, and God-head from the Creation, for day unto day, night unto night it ſheweth knowledge, Pſal. 19.2. and ſo is man without excuſe, Rom. 1.20. that is in reſpect of knowing there is a God: all which ſhews that there is not ſuch a light within as he ſpeaks of, becauſe mans inexcuſableneſſe is aſcribed to his neglect of due reſpect to outward means, wherefore Lawſon that talks ſo much of the tongue of the learned, is found unlearned himſelf by wreſting the Scriptures.

Conſider alſo I pray you, from the dayes of John the baptiſt hither wards, and you ſhall find all the Scriptures unanimouſly contradict this Principle of theirs. John is ſaid to be a burning and a ſhining light, being appointed of God to GIVE KNOWLEDGE of ſalvation unto his people, Luk. 1.77. and to prepare his wayes before the Lord, which had been uſeleſſe, had the people a knowledge of all his wayes by an internal light; yea John himſelf (though none greater than he born of women) depended not upon ſuch a light thereby to know all things, for he ſent two of his Diſciples to Chriſt to know whether he were the Chriſt that ſhould come, or that they ſhould look for another (having a ſign given him before, that, on whomſoever he ſaw the Spirit deſcending, and remaining, was the baptiſer with the Spirit, John 1.33.) and this depending upon outward diſcoveries, Chriſt-himſelf eſtabliſhed by ſending back a meſſage conſiſting only of externals; the blind receiving ſight, the lame walking, the lepers cleanſed, &c. which the two Diſcipies ſaw, and heard, theſe things Chriſt returned for Johns ſatisfaction, Mat. 11.5. in the dayes of John, Chriſt teſtified that he was the light of the World, not the Spirit in him only, but HE as he was the ſon of man, the intended Sacrifice of God for to dye for the life of the World; HE thus conſidered went from place to place preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdome, informing perſons particularly of their duties, Mat. 5.6.7. chap. not commending them to a Teacher within, neither John the preparer of his way, when the publicans and ſouldiers came to him and asked him what they ſhould do, but taught them their duties, Luk. 3.11, 12, 13. and as Chriſt perſonally taught his Diſciples, and the people, ſo alſo he confirmed what he declared by outward miracles, which many ſeeing beleeved on him, John 11.45. and others which heard and ſaw ſuch works done by him which no other man did, and beleeved not, Chriſt pronounceth inexcuſable, having no cloak for their ſin, John 15.22, 24. being ſuch as John admires at, John 12.37. ſaying, THOUGH he had done ſo many miracles before them, YET they beleeved not on him; Some, Chriſt ſaid were cleanſed by what hee, as the ſon of man, ſaid unto them, John 15.3. other ſome were without excuſe, ſubject to the Judgement, becauſe they received not his words which he ſpake unto them, John 12.48. what leſs oh friends can theſe things import, than that the words of Chriſt thus conſidered, did work convincements within men of the truth? conſidering that the rejecting thereof rendred them inexcuſable; if a light within (in their ſenſe) be the only Revealer, then John had no cauſe to admire in reference to the many miracles, but rather in reſpect of the Light being rejected which Chriſt ſet up within them, without ſuch outward manifeſtations; nay indeed he had no cauſe to admire at them more than others, all having (as they ſay) a Light within leading in all the wayes of God; but moſt evident it is that Chriſt hath otherwiſe appointed to make known the Goſpel, as appears by his ſimilitude about the ſower, who ſaith, Chriſt went FORTH to ſow, Mat. 13.3. went OUT to ſow, Mar. 4.3. contradicting the Quaker who ſaith the ſower is dwelling in all, godly and ungodly (though the Sower be ſaid to be the SON OF MAN, Matth. 13.37.) wherefore when Chriſt ſent his twelve Apoſtles to the loſt ſheep of Iſrael, he ſaid, that it ſhould be more tollerable for Sodom in the day of Judgement, than for that City that ſhould not receive THEIR WORDS, Mat. 10.14. yea when his very Diſciples were blameable in reſpect of their ignorance, he charges it not for neglecting a Teacher within, but ſaith, Oh fools and ſlow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have ſpoken, and to make them wiſe, he expounded the Scriptures to them, Luk. 24.25, 27. upbraiding their unbeleef alſo, becauſe they beleeved not THEM (he ſaith not Light within) but them which had ſeen him after he was riſen, Mar. 16.14. now when Chriſt was to aſcend, he authorized his Servants to go, and teach all Nations to obſerve all things which he had commanded them, marke, not to turn them to a Teacher within, but to teach them all things; who accordingly went and teſtified that God did beſeech people by them, and that they in Chriſts STEAD prayed perſons to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.20. yea declaring the whole counſel of God, the ſumme of which is, that Chriſt ſent his Servants to teach all things which he had commanded them, they accordingly taught his whole counſel, Act. 20.27. yet ſaith the Quaker, the Light in every man is the ONLY Teacher: Judge yee that are wiſe. Moreover 'tis ſaid that the Church of the Theſſalonians received of the Apoſtles how to walk, and to pleaſe God, yet not as the words of men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, 1 Theſ. 4.1, 2, 13. and theſe were the elect of God, 1 Theſ. 1.4. yet not thought by the Apoſtle capable by any Light within them (in an ordinary way) to comprehend all things relating to their faith, wherefore he prayed night and day EXCEEDINGLY that he might ſee their faces, and PERFECT that which was lacking in their faith, 1 Theſ. 3.10. alſo Paul writing to the Saints at Rome, Rom. 1.11. ſaid, that he longed to ſee them, to impart ſome ſpirituall gift that they might be eſtabliſhed; now if Paul had been of the Quakers ſpirit, he need not ſo exceedingly deſired to ſee them, or to write unto them upon that account, becauſe their (alone Teacher) and leader towards perfection was alwaies in them; needleſs I ſay, except it had been to exhort them to keep cloſe to their Teacher within, but neither this do we find was their aim in writing, neither was it their aim in deſiring to ſee them, but that they might be eſtabliſhed, & perfected in their faith through what they delivered, conſidering that as the Apoſtles gave the Churches to know and underſtand, ſo alſo they directed them to wait upon the Lord who gives the increaſe, that by him they might be enabled to walk up according to what they knew, through their miniſtry, their miniſtry I ſay, becauſe it agrees with the Scriptures, which teſtifies, that by them was made manifeſt the ſavour of his knowledge in every place, 2 Cor. 2.14. and ſaith Paul, if OUR Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt, who are blinded, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould ſhine UNTO them, not from a Teacher within, but from the Apoſtles, who plainly affirms, that they were to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus. God having firſt ſhined in their hearts, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4, 6. that is in the hearts of Paul, and Timothy, who ſent that Epiſtle, who were enlightened, yea both of them, through outward teachings; Paul in an extraordinary manner by the Lord Jeſus was changed in his mind to beleeve in him, which makes him ſay, that the Goſpel was not taught him by man, but by the revelation of Jeſus; who (ſaith Luke) appeared UNTO him, and ſpake UNTO him, a Light ſhining round ABOUT him from HEAVEN, Act. 9.3, 4, 17. and by him was he commanded to go into Dam • ſcus, and there he ſhould be told of all things which were appointed for him to do, Act. 2 • .10. not by a Light within him, but by Ananias a certain Diſciple, verſ. 12, 14, 15, 16. thus Paul, being inſtructed, went forth preaching the Goſpel, through which, Timothy was enlightned in the Truth, and ſo commonly called by Paul his SON in the Faith, 1 Tim, 1.2. even as Oneſimus was, whom Paul BEGOT in his bonds, Phile. 10. by all this we may learn that the Miniſters of Chriſt were by their miniſtry to make known the Lords will, yea moreover the Churches of old were to mark the walkings of the Apoſtles, as an ENSAMPLE to them; Paul commanding them to do thoſe things which they had both learned, and received, and heard, and ſeen in him, Phil. 3.17.4.9. and to this purpoſe agrees alſo his words to Timothy, give attendance to reading, 1 Tim. 4.13. wherefore falſe and erronious is that ſpirit which bids men give attendance to a Light within, as their ONLY Teacher.

Wherefore hold faſt the counſel of the Spirit of God, and give attendance unto reading the Scriptures, being by a good argument provoked thereunto, even that they are able to make us wiſe unto ſalvation through Faith in Chriſt, 2 Tim. 3.15. for even unbeleeving men are required by Chriſt to ſearch the Scriptures, wherein they thought they had eternal life, but they were miſtaken, wherefore ſearch (ſaith he) for they teſtify of mee, John 5.39. plainly ſhewing, that the▪ Teſtimony of Scripture was to rectify their underſtandings which if they had beleeved, they would have beleeved mee (ſaith Chriſt) FOR HE WROTE OF MEE, verſe 46. but ſaith (Antichriſt) if ye would beleeve in the Light within as your only Teacher, then ye ſhould be led by it up to Chriſt. Mark ye, I pray, the great difference betwixt the Doctrin of Chriſt, and the Doctrin of the Quakers, who make void the Commandement of Chriſt, by their extolling an internal Light as the only Teacher, which is their OWN tradition, it being tryed and compared with the Spirit of Light indeed which dwelt in the Apoſtles; as you may further learn • rom what Pauls Spirit led him unto concerning his Son Timothy, 1 Tim. 3▪ 14, 15. unto whom he hoped to go ſhortly, but if he tarried long, that he might KNOW how to behave himſelf in the houſe of God, he WROTE an Epiſtle unto him, and therein he did not counſel him to wait upon a Teacher within (as is the ſubſtance of the Quakers Epiſtles) but particularly informed him of his duty, as will appear to him that reads the Scripture with due reſpect thereunto; now if there be ſuch an internall Light that makes known all things, judge I pray you, what ground Paul had to queſtion Timothys knowing thoſe things in his abſence, conſidering alſo how eminent in grace T • mothy was, even ſo diſpoſed unto the work of the Lord, as that Paul had NO man likeminded, Phil. 2.2 • . you even he was to read Paul Epiſtle (which was Scripture) and for that end, tha • 〈◊〉 • i • ht kn ••• h • w he ought to walk in the houſe of the Lord. O ••• 〈…〉 now to re •• the Scriptures that wee may know 〈…〉 our ſelves? God forbid! God forbid! 〈…〉 peoples ignorance to their not knowing 〈…〉 erre▪ not knowing the Scriptures, nor th • 〈…〉 29. and upbraideth them with this qu ••• 〈…〉 have ye not read? Mat 12.3, 5. chap. 〈…〉 the will of Chriſt was, that men ſhould lear ••• 〈…〉 ••• veries; which if you ſeriouſly conſider 〈…〉 blame, in caſe they ought not to have learn • d 〈…〉 Scriptures, which is ſaid by Paul, 2 Tim. 3.1 • , 〈…〉 for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs, that the man of God may be perfect, THOROWLY furniſhed unto all good work; all which Scripture is given by inſpiration from God, and ſo originally God is the Teacher of his people, yea of all, but as it is written, 2 Cor. 5.20. God beſeecheth you BY US, in Chriſts STEAD.

Object. The Spirit (an internal Teacher) ſaith the Quaker from that in Joh. 16.13. is that which is to lead into all truth.

Anſw. Chriſt indeed there ſpeaks of the Spirits leading into all Truth, but it is to be obſerved that it was ſpoken unto ſuch as were ſo far before led into Truth by Chriſts perſonall preaching, as that they were pronounced clean through the words which he had ſpoken unto them, John 15.3. Wherefore in an eſpeciall manner he there ſpeaks of thoſe many things which the Diſciples then could not bear; as is moſt plain, verſe 12. and beſides the acts of the Diſciples, together with their directions ſent to the Churches, when they were led by this Spirit, are left to us in Scripture; yet wee may not deny but that the Spirit, in whom he dwels, is a Teacher, evidently, and particularly laying before the ſoul the privy deceit, and evill inclinations of his heart, and leading him to a mortification thereof; (he being waited upon) and alſo revealing many other uſefull things, which unto the natural man is fooliſhneſſe; but judge Oh friends how far off this is from the Quakers purpoſe, who exhorts all ignorant perſons of the World whatſoever to depend upon a light within them, when as Chriſt in plain words ſaith that the World CANNOT receive this Spirit whereof we ſpeak, John 14.17. the promiſe thereof (ſo as to dwell with a ſoul as a comforter) being to obedient beleeving perſons, Act. 2.38.5.32. John 14.15, 16. Epheſ. 1.13. even ſuch as walk up in duty towards God according to the inſtruction of the holy Scriptures; Oh how great then is the darkneſs of him that talks ſo much of the Light! and counſels all to depend upon it alone; which is contrary to the counſel both of Chriſt the true Light, the Angel of God, and the holy Apoſtles; For when the Diſciples inquired of Chriſt What ſign there ſhould be of his comming (by which it is plain, they diſtruſted that Light they had within) he directs them not to a Light within, but readily anſwers their deſires; to which agrees alſo the relation of Sauls converſion; ſo alſo when Cornelius cryed out ſaying, what is it Lord? the Angel of God bid him ſend for Peter, and HE ſhould tell him what he ought to do, Act. 10.4.5, 6. ſo alſo when thoſe that were pricked in heart, ſaid unto the Apoſtles what ſhall we do? Act. 2.37. Peter directs them not to an internal Teacher, but teaches them himſelf, verſ. 38. Likewiſe when the Jaylour cryed out, ſaying, what muſt I do to he ſaved? Paul and Silas neither directed him to a Light within, but THEY ſpake unto him the Word of the Lord; likewiſe when the Eunuch ſaid, how can I underſtand, except ſome man guide mee? Act. 8.31. Philip ſaid, not as the Quaker doth, that the Light within is to guide into all Truth, but himſelf began at the ſame Scripture, and preached unto him Jeſus; conſider I pray ye how fair an occaſion in all theſe inſtances there was for ſuch counſel, namely to wait upon the Light within, in caſe it had been the Lords pleaſure ſo to teach men; but we find another Doctrin, and conſider that Jeſus Chriſt is the ſame, yeſterday, and to day, and for ever.

Wherefore be counſelled not to bee carried about with DIVERS and STRANGE Doctrins, Heb. 13.8, 9. for this I affirm with all confidence, that it is not to be found from the beginning of Geneſit, unto the end of the Revelations, that either Chriſt, or any of the holy men of God, from the beginning of the Creation, that did at any time counſel ignorant, ſelf-ſerving perſons, which had not been before enlightened within, through outward teachings, to wait upon a Light within them, as the ONLY revealer of the Goſpel; Chriſt indeed gave this counſel to ſome, that they ſhould walk in the Light, while they had the Light, but they were ſuch as were with Chriſt the Light, and had heard him preaching the Kingdome of God often, and had ſeen ſo many miracles done by him, that John admires at their unbeleef, John 12.37. wherefore this ſhelters not their opinion, and ſo it remains naked; an Hereſy proceeding from the fleſh, which, by reaſon of its pride, would not ſubmit unto the ſelf-denying Laws of Chriſt, but hath found out a way to paſſe by it, even by turning the Scriptures into myſterious ſenſes, and ſo makes void many plain Truths of Chriſt, by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, Jer. 23.27. which at the time of awaking will appear even to them, to be a meer deceitfull dream, proceeding from him, who pretends himſelf an Angel of Light; but greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World, whereby the Quaker is diſcovered in his nakedneſle, and Chriſt the true Light of the World more and more gloriouſly made known unto us, even him who is a Light indeed, not as John who was a ſhining Light to Iſrael only, but the glory of Iſrael, and a Light to lighten the Gen • les alſo, Luk. 2.32. being for ſalvation unto the ends of the earth, a Light that lighteth every man that com •••• the World; from whence the Quakers would gather that Chr ••• the Light is within all, as their • nly ſeacher, but P •• l 〈◊〉 Barnahas being of another ſpirit, gathers 〈◊〉 thing, eve 〈7 letters〉 thence, ſaing, A • . 13.46.10, we turn to the Ge • tiles or ſo 〈◊〉 • ord ha •• com a •• ded us, ſaying, I have ſet 〈…〉 Light o • the Gentiles, verſe 47 So far were they from beleev ••• thence, that 〈◊〉 • as the alone Teacher in men, that they conc ••••• 〈…〉 • he Gentiles in Chriſts STEAD, 2 Cor. 5.20▪ yet will 〈◊〉 ſay •• at ••• y have the ſame Spirit which the Apo •••• s •• a •• judge y •• hat ••• wiſe.

Object. The Children of the New Teſt •• 〈◊〉 not t ••• every man his Brother, ſaying, Kn • w the Lord, 〈◊〉 the • moi • ting ••••• th them all things, ſo that they need not that any man • each th ••• ha •••• •• e Law written in their hearts.

Anſw. Abrahams ſeed, with whom the old C •• enan▪ was made, was Children thereof by generation, which. Pa • l al • egorically ſets • orth by the bond-woman and 〈◊〉 ; even I • hmae▪ who was born after the ſleſh: and being ſo in covenant, they had need to be taught to know the Lord; but the children of this more glorious adminiſtration, are not ſo accounted of, but otherwiſe, even by regeneration, and ſuch none can be, till they firſt know the Lord, and ſuch (conſidered AS children of the New Covenant) need not teach one another to know the Lord, for all ſuch do know him, as did the Church of the Galathians, whom Paul calls children, no • of the bond woman, but of the free, Gal. 4.31. (that is of the New Teſtament) yet conſider they were ſuch as heard the Goſpel from the Apoſtles, who ſaid unto that people, that if wee or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Goſpel unto you, than that which WE have preached unto you, let him be accurſed; yea at that time, when they were children of the New Teſtament, they were alſo to give heed unto the Scriptures for direction; for otherwiſe Paul would not have ſent unto them an Epiſtle in Scripture, and therein tell them that as many as walked according to this rule, peace be on them, Gal. 6.6. yet this their reſpect to the teachings of the Apoſtles, and the Scriptures, in things pertaining to the Faith, and order of the Goſpel, doth not in the leaſt contradict Gods promiſe of writing his Law in their hearts, for ſuch they are, that have a promiſe of his Spirit, Act. 2.38. and are the Temple, wherein God dwelling by his Spirit, 1 Cor. 3.16, writes his Law, even in their hearts particularly, and plainly makes known his ROYAL LAW, that ſo together by the power of the Spirit, ſuch may have the Righteouſneſſe of the Law • fulfilled in them, they walking not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.4. wherefore it ſtill remains, that though the Children of the New Teſtament need not to be taught to knew the Lord, yet have need to be builded up in the knowledge of the Lord, for Timothy knew the Lord, (as his Saviour) yet Paul ſends Scripture unto him that he MIGHT KNOW how to behave himſelf in the Church of God, 1 T •••• 3.14▪15. and alſo by Scripture ſtirs up the Saints to edify ONE AN ••• HER, 1 Theſ. 5.11. and ſaith Pe ••• grow in the knowledge of 〈◊〉 Lord, 2 Pet. 3.18. to them that k • ew the Lord 2 •• t. 1.3. and this might • e the practice of them John wrote 〈◊〉 , for • ught •• a • is ſaid againſt it; for though he judged them ſo • m •••• t in ſpiritual gi • ts, and in the knowledge of the Ant • chri ••• an dec • its (which the there ſpeaketh of) as to conclude there was no abſo • ute ••• ſſity for hi •• o • any other of the Apoſtles to write unto them y •• this is far from ſhewing that they ought not • o edifi • 〈◊〉 ther, as other▪ Sa •• s were to do; the anoin • ing indeed was dwelling in them, and ſo was he in other • ain • s, that were enjoyned to edifie one another, even the Spirit of truth, whoſe gi • ts •••• ivers, the manifeſtations whereof are given to every man to profit withall; he that techeth is to wait • n teaching, and he that exh • rteth on exhortation 〈◊〉 12 7, 8. theſe with other of the gifts of the Spiri • ▪ it appeat • this Churen was enriched with, and ſo in a capacity to preſs forward notwithſtanding all oppoſitions) as good Stewards miniſtring one to another the manifold diſcoveries of Truth.

Object. The Apoſtles were indeed to go unto the Gentiles, but it was to turn them from darkneſſe to the Light within, through which the word of Faith which they preached was nigh them, even • n their mouths, and in their hearts before, as a Light ſhining in darkneſs, but darkneſs comprehended it not.

Anſw. Surely the Meſſengers of Chriſt that were led by one Spirit, had but one meſſage, which was to go and teach all Nations, baptiſing them, &c. teaching them to obſerve ALL things whatſoever Chriſt • ad commanded them, Mat. 28.19.20. To which agrees the words of Paul, Rom. 15.19. where he teſtifieth, that from Jeruſalem, and round about unto Illyricum, HE had FULLY preached the Goſpel of Chriſt, and moreover • aith, that if we, or an Angel from Heaven preach any OTHER Goſpel than that which WE have preached, let him be accurſed, Gal. 1.8. and this Goſpel was not in every mans heart before thus preached, or by ſome other outward diſcoveries, for Paul teſtifies, that he ſtrived to preach the Goſpel, where Chriſt was not named, but as it is written, to whom he hath not been ſpoken of, they ſhall ſee, and they that have not heard, ſhall underſtand, Rom. 15.20, 21. wherein it is very obſervable, that the Gentiles ignorance is not aſcribed to their darkneſſe, not comprehending what was ſpoken in them, but to the want of ſome to ſpeak unto th • m to whom Chriſt had not been ſpoken of (as come in the fleſh) to which agrees theſe words of the Apoſtle, How ſhall they beleeve in him, of whom they have not heard? that is, hath not heard by an outward miniſtry, as plainly appears by his continued queſtions; how ſhall THEY preach except THEY be ſent? as it is written, how beautifull are the feet of THEM that preach the Goſpel? Rom. 10.14, 15. wherefore not by the Light within, which even in our adverſaries ſenſe is but one; (yet by this do we not limit God to this his ordinary way, and ſo make void his ſpeaking by Angels, or otherwiſe UNTO men at his pleaſure) and further, if you conſider, the word of Faith cannot be ſaid to be in mens hearts, and in their MOUTHES, and they not comprehend it; nay it is no better than an unlearned, ignorant myſtery, which cannot bee received by any, except ſenſualiſts, that have not the Spirit, Jud. 19. for they that ſo poſſeſſe the word of Faith, are at preſent in a fit condition to beleeve with the heart, and alſo to confeſſe what they beleeve, with their mouths, and even ſo ſaith Paul in that place, verſe 9. that if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhall beleeve in thine heart, &c. thou ſhalt bee ſaved.

Now we know that a man cannot make confeſſion to Salvation with his mouth, of ſuch things which in his heart he comprehends not; wherefore well obſerve that ſaying of Paul, Rom. 10.8. and you ſhall finde, that though he ſay that the word of Faith which he (with others) preached, was nigh them, even in their mouthes and hearts, yet he doth not ſay that it was there before it was preached unto them, while they were in ignorance and blindneſs; for at that time when he ſpake theſe words unto them, they were converted perſons, ſuch as beleeved through Pauls preaching before, and perſwading them both out of the Scripture of Moſes, and out of the Scripture of the Prophets, from morning till evening, Acts 28.23, 24. which is agreeable with that which Moſes ſaid to Iſrael, Deut. 30.14. even that the Word was nigh unto him, in his mouth and heart, that he might do it; but moſt plain it is that Iſrael was enlightned within through the written Law of Moſes, which there he ſpeaks of, verſ. 10. which he preached unto them, ſaying, That the words which I command thee ſhall bee in thy Heart, Deut. 6.6. and theſe my words ſhall yee lay up in your hearts and ſouls, Deut. 11.18. after which means he ſaid, and well he might, that the Commandement which I command thee, is not hidden from thee, but is in thy mouth, and in thy heart; wherefore ſtill it remains that the Lord in all Ages did teach men, through outward diſcoveries, and not that they were led into all truth by a light within them, as the only revealer of the Goſpel, as ſaith the Quaker; and ſo he is tried, and ſound to have ſpoken contrary to the Law, and Teſtimony; wherefore I conclude that it is becauſe there is no light in them, though they ſo much talk of light.

The Quaker ſaith, That the Scriptures are not a rule, whereby men may know the Will of Chriſt, as often they have ſpoken, being preſt to it, and as appears in Tho. Lauſons Book, called, The untaught Teacher, pag. 6, 7, 8. wherein he repearts my ſaying, That the Scriptures doth ſo farre reveal the minde of God, and Chriſt, to a Creature, as that hee walking up to its revelation, to his lives end, with a ſingle heart, ſhould be ſaved; this I ſay he repeats, and publiſhes as great Hereſie.

God who at ſundry times, and divers manners, ſpake unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken to us by his Son, who in his own perſon (while perſonally upon earth) inſtructed the ſons of men, exhorting them to repent, and turn from ſin, pronouncing them everlaſtingly bleſſed that ſo did. and followed him; unto whom he particularly revealed his Will, Mat. 5, 6, 7. chap. ſaying, that he was a wiſe man, building upon a rock, that heard his ſayings, and did them, and that he was a fooliſh man that heard his ſayings, and did them not; which plainly ſhews, that the words of Chriſt proceeding from himſelf was a rule to lead perſons then in the way of Salvation; and ſo is made good that ſaying, Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation, which at the FIRST began to be ſpoken by the Lord Jeſus; afterward his Diſciples took in hand to ſet forth in order a Declaration, (by writing) of thoſe things which Chriſt had ſpoken unto them, which was moſt ſurely beleeved by them, Luke 1.1. Acts 1.1. to whom he ſhewed himſelf alive after his Paſſion, being ſeen of them forty days, ſpeaking of the things per • aining to the Kingdom of God, verſ. 3. who alſo went forth after his aſcenſion into the Nations, an ſpreached that Word of Truth unto them, which was FIRST ſpoken by the Lord to themſelves, teaching them to ob • erve • ll • h •• g • whatſoever Chriſt had commanded them, according to 〈◊〉 commiſſion, Matth. 28.20. God alſo bearing them w •••• ſ • w •••• ig •• , Miracies▪ and divers girts of the Holy Gho • t Heb. 2 3. th ••• g • which n • ny obtained like precious faith with the Ap •• tles 2 Pet. • • W ••• A • ts of the Apoſtles Luke alſo ſignifi •••• 〈…〉 writing • y all which Scriptures together with the ma •••• 〈…〉 unto the perſons thus converted, the preach •• , 〈…〉 made man ••• ſt; and by the Scriptures of the Prop •• t ( 〈◊〉 to the Commandement of God) made know 〈◊〉 Nations 〈…〉 obedience of faith, Rom. 1 • .25, 26. whe •••• ore 〈◊〉 was cou •• 〈◊〉 •• OBILITY in the m • n of Berea becauſe 〈…〉 daily whether thoſe things were ſo, 〈…〉 •• h • d, which indeed had been a very igno ••• , •• ſig ••• 〈…〉 of them had not the Scriptures been (as a r • l • ) 〈…〉 know the truth of what was preached, as it appears 〈…〉 it is ſaid, that therefore many of 〈◊〉 •• eeve • , 〈◊〉 7. • , 12. • or which cauſe Chriſt bids the Jew, • earch •• Scrip • ure • ſaving, That if they had beleeved the Scriptures • . • oſes th • y 〈◊〉 I have to beleeved on him, Joh. 5.39.46, • 7 t • w • om 〈…〉 T •• t if they beleeved not in him, the w • rds which he ſpake (which are now in Scripture) ſhould judge th • m at the ••• t day, Jo. 12.4 • 48. And ſaith Paul, Sylvanus, and •• morh • us 〈◊〉 a • y man obey not OVR word, by this Epiſtle (which was •• criou •• ) 〈◊〉 that man, and have no company with him that he • ay be • h • ned; now that the diſobedience to the Scriptures ſhould render men ſubjects of ſo great ſhame in this •• fe, and that 〈◊〉 the laſt day Chriſt ſhould alſo judge them by it (even the words which he hath ſpoken) and yet not a rule now to walk by is altogether incredible; the ways of God being juſt • and righteous altogether, will might the Quaker be aſhamed, were he not given over to beleeve Lyes, while hee affirms that the Scriptures is not a rule whereby to know the Will of Chriſt ſince Luke ſignifies no other end, in his writing in order a Declaration of the ſa • ings, and loings of Chriſt, but that the CERTAINTY THEREOF MIGHT BE KNOWN, Luke 1.1, 3, 4. Theſe are written that yee MIGHT BELEEVE, Joh. 20.31. wherefore ſaith Chriſt, O fools, and ſlow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have ſpoken; Oh then let us be wiſe, like the holy men of old, who eſteemed the Scriptures holy (in reference to the uſe thereof) able to make MEN WISE TO SALVATION through faith which is in Chriſt, it being profitable for Doctrin (which in Engliſh is teaching) for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs, that the man of God may bee perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good works, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. yea ſo great was their reſpect to the Scriptures, that though Peter was an eye witneſs of the Majeſty of Chriſt in his Tranſfiguration upon the Mount, wherein was preſented the manner of his comming, yet ſaith he, We have a MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY, that was in the Scripture, as appears 2 Pet. 1.16, 17.19, 20. whereunto (O friends) we ſhall do well if wee take heed; for whatſoever was written afore time, was written for our LEARNING, that we through patience, and COMFORT of the Scriptures, might have hope, Rom. 15.4.

Obj. The Scripture is not the rule (ſaith Lawſon) for no man can come to the Son except the Father draw him; and no man can come to the Father but by the Son.

Anſ. Gods way to draw men is by the cords of his great love, manifeſted in Chriſt, which the ſervants of Chriſt, in Chriſts ſtead are to publiſh to the Nations, perſwading men thereby to bee reconciled to God; and this is (ſaith Paul) as though GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US, 2 Cor. 5.20. the Saints indeed are ſaid to be the called of God; but ſaith Paul BY OVR GOSPEL, 2 Theſſ. 2.14. ſo alſo it is ſaid of the Corinthians, That they were called of God, 1 Cor. 1.9. yet ſaith Paul, In Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel; I have eſpouſed you to one husband, 1 Cor. 4.15. 2 Cor. 11.2. and ſo it is that as God did ſpeak unto the Fathers BY THE PROPHETS, ſo now by his Servants in Chriſts ſtead, who are to miniſter, by his Spirit, that which was FIRST ſpoken by the Lord himſelf, Heb. 2.3. who ſpake not of himſelf, but what God the Father commanded him, and ſo it was that the Saints (to their commendation) received the words of the Apoſtle, not as the words of men, but (AS IT IS IN TRUTH) the word of God, 1 Theſ. 2.13. wherefore the Quaker (ſuppoſing that God himſelf in men is their Teacher only) erres not knowing the Scriptures; for Iſrael was willing to be taught, yet ſaid they let not God ſpeak with us, but ſpeak thou with us, (Moſes) and we will hear, Exod. 20.19. and in this they well ſaid, ſaith God, Deut. 5.28.

Moſt true it is, that no man can come to the Father, but by the Son, who offered up himſelf to death, that we might have life, by whoſe ſtripes we are healed; without his blood there is no remiſſion, Heb. 9.22. by him alſo we have acceſs unto the Father, who at his right hand makes interceſſion for us, and ſo he becomes our righteouſneſſe, our ſanctification; and this Goſpel was witneſſed firſt by Chriſt himſelf; but ſince, ſaith the Apoſtles, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead be ye reconciled to God; & thoſe that were thus wrought upon, through their miniſtry, are ſaid to be the called of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 1.6. Act. 28.23. and ſo is made good the words of Jude 3. contend earneſtly for that Faith which was ONCE delivered to the Saints.

Object. By this (ſaith Lawſon) we ſet the Scriptures in the room of the Father, and Son, and ſo (ſaith he) deny both Father and Son.

Anſw. Many are the ſhifts of men to race out of the World that eſteem of the Scriptures, which indeed is but due, being accounted by the Apoſtles HOLY Scriptures, in reſpect of their uſe, Rom. 1.2. whereby is made known the will of Chriſt, in which we walk indeavouring (through his grace) the honour of the Father, and Son; which cannot be a denying of the Father and Son; but he that hath his eyes cloſed will ſay ſo; it is ſaid, the Scripture is profitable for teaching, correction, and inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, and that there ought to be attendance given to the reading of it, yet moſt ſurely neither Paul that ſpoke it, nor Timothy to whom it was ſpoken, denyed either Father, or Son; nor pulled off the Crown from Chriſts head, putting it upon the Scriptures, as ſaith Lawſon we do; yet ſay no more than they did, he moſt ſurely is worthy of the Crown, that dyed to bring forth a word of ſalvation for men, and that ſtrengthens us by his Spirit to walk up accordingly; from whom the Apoſtles removed it not, yet ſaid to men, WE pray you in Chriſts STEAD, 2 Cor. 5.20. yea, and that from the Scriptures, perſwading men from morning till evening, Act. 28.23. Aaron was to hearken unto Moſes, who was to put words into his mouth, and therein to be unto him in STEAD of God, Exod. 4.16. yet neither he nor the Apoſtles robbed God of his honour, he being the original; of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever, Rom. 11.36.

By William Jeffery Servant of the Church of Christ.

MAny honeſt men fearing God in theſe latter times, have been miſtaken in ſaying that the Romiſh Whore of Babylon is the Antichriſt that the Scripture ſpeaks of; but men may ſee in this latter part of this laſt time, with a ſerious and diligent ſearch of the Scriptures, through grace, that the great Whore of Babylon is not the Antichriſt; And it being ſo that God having ſhewed it mee through the Scriptures, I being not accounted of in the World, knowing that God doth great things by them that are not eſteemed among men, that no fleſh may glory, &c and conſidering that this which I do in this work may bee ſeaſonable and for much profit to the people of God, and for the praiſe and glory of God, I ſhall ſhew in brief, that the Whore is not the Antichriſt. And for the clearing up of this Truth,

Firſt, You may ſee who this great Whore of Babylon is, by noting her chief Seat where it is, and that is at Rome, for John ſaith, Revel. 17. that the great Whore of Babylon, which ſitteth upon many waters, is that City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth. Now Rome only was the chief City, and reigned over the Kings of the earth, when John wrote the Revelation, for when Chriſt was born Auguſtus Caeſar taxed all the World, Luke 2.1, 2, 3. and when Paul appeals to Caeſar, they ſend him to Rome, Acts 25.11. chap. 27.1. chap. 28.16. ſo it is plain by theſe Scriptures, and many more, that when John wrote the Revelation, that Rome reigned over the Kings of the earth, therefore the chief Seat of this VVoman the great Whore, the Mother of Whoredoms, is the City of Rome; ſo then the Pope and his Cardinals, Biſhops, and Clergy, and all Miniſters that have ordination from them immediately, or by ſucceſſion, which ſtand in a National way, is the Whore that ſits upon many waters; which is, people, and multitudes, and Nations▪ and Tongues, Rev. 17.15.

Secondly, The Church of Rome, and all National ſtanding is truly ſaid to be whoriſh, becauſe ſhe bringeth in Members, and accounteth them of the Body or Church of Chriſt by generation, and ſo maketh her Church National; whereas the Church of Chriſt is by Regeneration, or New Birth, Tit. 3.5. and ſo not National, nor dependent, but particular, or independent.

Thirdly, This appeareth fully, that the Church of Rome is a Mother of Harlots, and all National Churches that ſpring from her are Whoriſh, becauſe ſhe baptiſeth or ſprinkleth upon a fleſhly account, and ſo accounts of her Members in a fleſhly way by Generation, and ſo brings in Infants in a lineal way, bringing in the Old Covenant in a confuſed manner, and ſo receiveth falſe Seed, and ſo knoweth her Members, and her Children in a fleſhly way, contrary to the expreſs way of Chriſt, as Paul ſheweth, Rom. 9.8. ſaith he, They which are the children of the fleſh are not the Children of God, but the Children of the Promiſe are counted for the Seed; and 2 Cor. 5.15, 16, 17. he ſheweth that ſince the death of Chriſt, henceforth know we no man after the fleſh, yea though we had known Chriſt after the fleſh, yet now henceforth know we him no more; therefore if any man be in Chriſt he is a new Creature, old things are paſſed away; behold all things are become new.

Fourthly, The Church of Rome, the Lord Biſhops, and Presbyters which ſpring from her (for they hold their Ordination which they had of her) ſhew themſelves to be whoriſh, becauſe they have forſaken the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (the Head) and his ways, and have gone a whoring after their own inventions, as Iſrael did, Pſal. 106. 39. for the Lord Jeſus aſcended up on high, and gave gifts to men, and ſo ſends forth a Miniſtry by gifts, for the gathering together of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, and for edification of the Body of Chriſt, till we all meet together in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, &c. Epheſ. 4.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. but this Harlot contrariwiſe brings up her Miniſtry to Human learning, in ſending them to the Univerſities to learn Philoſophy from Ariſtotle, a Heathen Author, and ſuch like; and for them that are gifted by the Lord, if they preach, ſhe forbids them. And note alſo, that the Miniſters of Chriſt miniſtring by gift, Rom. 12.6, 7. being qualified according to this, 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1. and approved by the Congregation of the Lord, they are choſen by them, and ordained, and ſo made Biſhops, or Elders, Acts 1.21 to the end, chap. 6.5. chap. 14.23. but this Harlot makes her Miniſters, or rather Lords, without the conſent of her Pariſhes, and forceth them in upon them whether they will or no, and ſo her maintenance is by Tithes forced from men, bringing in the old Prieſthood; yea in the time of the Law they did not impriſon men, if they did not pay their tithes that we find, and yet ſhee doth; and ſo this Romiſh Harlot which hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of her Fornication, her children are children of Fornication, according to the fleſh by generation, a Carnal ſeed conſiſting of Pariſhes, which many of them conſiſt of Swearers and Lyars, and Drunkards, and Whoremongers, and ſuch like, and a Human carnal Miniſtry forced upon the people, and forced maintenance, and alſo her poor is maintained by force, and forcing men to worſhip with her, or elſe Fines, Impriſonment, Baniſhment, or Death muſt be their Portion, and alſo ſhe hath changed the Ordinances, and the manner of adminiſtring them, and the ſubject, and ſo her way is not the way of love, and ſo not the way of Chriſt; and yet ſhe ſaith in her heart and word, I am, and there is none elſe, I ſit being a Queen, and am no Widow, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow; and ſo let every one (weigh well) what is ſaid, that the Saints at Rome were once famous, Rom. 1.8. but in time they departed from their eſpouſed Chriſt the Lord, and ſo came to change the Ordinances, and yet ſhe pretends to be the Spouſe of Chriſt, and ſo hath a ſhew of all the Ordinances, or the names of them, for Beleevers Baptiſm ſhe hath Infants baptiſm, or ſprinkling, and for laying on of hands ſhe hath Confirmation, or Biſhopping (but the Presbyters have left this out, and in this they are neerer Antichriſt than the Lord Biſhops, and for breaking of Bread, or the Lords Suppor, that is in Part miniſtred to the People, or Pariſh, and ſo to the wrong ſubject, being not penitent, nor Baptiſed perſons; and inſtead of the true Call of her Miniſtry, ſhe hath a Human way, as hath been ſhewed, which is not mentioned in Scripture, and ſo Tithes and forced maintenance inſtead of that which is to be by free gift; and inſtead of ſinging with the ſpirit, and with the underſtanding alſo, 1 Cor. 14. 15. they have ſinging in Rime, in a Carnal formal way, many together without underſtanding, the Pſalms being collected into Engliſh Meeter by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others, and ſo ſhe hath a glorious Show, and a golden Cup, and through the Popes Supremacy, and the Peter-pence, and Prayer to Saints, and falſe Doctrin of Purgatory, and ſuch like trumpery, the Clergy is very rich, and proud, and covetous, and ſo all may ſee the way of the Whore which is National, Generational, Fleſhly, Carnal, Human, after mens Traditions, making voyd the Commandements of God through her Traditions, thus ſhe goeth a whoring after her own inventions; and ſo you have a brief diſcovery of the Whore of Babylon, which is the Mother of abominations of the earth, and is drunken with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus. Rev. 17 5, 6. and that is and will be the cauſe of her Fall, and that brings mee to the ſecond thing, even the Fall of this Whore of Babylon, and the manner how and by whom. And for the clearing up of this,

Firſt, Conſider that this woman ſits upon a ſcarlet-coloured beaſt, full of the names of Blaſphemy, which had ſeven heads and ten horns Reve. 17.3. now note, that five of them heads, or Kings were faln when John wrote the Revelation, and the ſixt was then in being, verſ. 9, 10. now this woman the Harlot was to ſit upon the ſixt head, and hath ſo done a long time, and ſo the beaſt that had ſeven heads carrieth her, and beareth her up, for the Magiſtrates have ſupported her all along, underſtand alſo, that the ſixth head of the beaſt hath reigned ever ſince the writing of the Revelation, but now is partly ſtrong, and partly broken, and that the ſixt head is not fallen, is plain if you note well, for the ſeventh head when he cometh, he muſt continue a ſhort ſpace, now that head of the Roman Monarchy which is in being, hath coutinued long, even from before the birth of Chriſt▪ and this the Scripture clea • eth, Rev. 17.10. five are fallen, and one is, and another is not yet come, and when hee comet que hee muſt continue a ſhort ſpace; the power of the Pope and his Clergy cannot be the ſeventh head, for that hath continued long.

Secondly, The Whore cannot bee any of the heads of the beaſt, becauſe ſhe ſits upon, and is carried by the beaſt that hath ſeven heads, and ten horns.

So ſhe cauſeth the beaſt to ſerve her, and maketh the beaſts and the Kings of the earth ſlaves to her, to do her will; ſo then the ſixth head of the Roman power is not fallen, though it be in part; and the ſeventh head is now ariſing, which will take away the ſixth, and doth, will, and muſt give ſome liberty to preach the Goſpel, and to adminiſter the Ordinances in the old way thereof, and ſo the Lord God will bring things to paſſe, for not one jot or tittle of his word ſhall fall, and ſo in the riſing and reign of the ſeventh head, and of the ten horns, the Angel ſhall flye in the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel, to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every Nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ſaying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgement is come, and worſhip him that made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and the fountains of waters, Rev. 14.6, 7. ſo the Goſpel and the way thereof being preached, the Nations will bee enlightened, and ſo God will put it into the hearts of the ten horns, or Kings, to hate the Whore, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire, Rev. 17.12, 16. ſo through the preaching of the Goſpel in the pure way thereof, the great Whore of Babylon falleth, and ſo the hour of her Judgement is come; and to this agreeth that in Rev. 14.6, 7, 8. which ſheweth, that after the Goſpel is preached to the Nations, then ſhall follow another Angel ſaying, it is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon the great City, for ſhe made all Nations to drink of the Wine of the wrath of her fornication, verſe 8. much more might bee ſpoken to this, but let this ſuffice as touching what the Whore is, and her fall, the manner how, and by whom.

In the next place, note diligently what the ſpirit of Antichriſt is, and who have that ſpirit; now John in his firſt Epiſtle, chap. 4. and verſe 3. doth declare what the ſpirit of Antichriſt is, namely, every ſpirit that confeſſeth not that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, is not of God, and this is that ſpirit of Antichriſt, whereof you have heard that he ſhould come, and even now already is in the World. Alſo underſtand, that John did not intend ſimply the Heathen that never did beleeve, nor the unbeleeving Jews, which never did acknowledge Chriſt come in the fleſh, but thoſe have the ſpirit of Antichriſt that went out from (the Churth of Chriſt) chap. 2.18, 19. John ſheweth them that it is the laſt time, and as ye have heard that Antichriſt ſhall come, even now are there many Antichriſts, whereby wee know that it is the laſt time, THEY WENT OUT FROM US, &c. ſo that the ſpirit of Antichriſt is that ſpirit that is found in them that have been enlightened, and have known the truth, and go out from the Church of Chriſt, and in a myſtery deny Chriſt come in the fleſh; and ſo Paul ſpeaking of the Antichriſt, or man of ſin, 2 Theſ. 2.7. ſaith, the MYSTERY of iniquity doth already work, &c. and Peter ſpeaking to the Saints, ſaith (in his ſecond Epiſtle, 2.1.) there ſhall be falſe teachers among you, who PRIVILY ſhall bring in damnable Hereſies, even denying THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM, and bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction. So the ſpirit of Antichriſt denies Chriſt come in the fleſh ſecretly, and they that have this ſpirit, ſay, Chriſt is come in their fleſh, and ſo ſay the light within them is Chriſt, when at the beſt it is but the light of nature, and in many the ſpirit of errour, their light being become darkneſſe▪ being delivered up to ſtrong deluſion, to beleeve lyes, thinking they have Chriſt in them, when it is a ſpirit of errour, and ſo pervert the ſenſe of the Scriptures, declaring the anointing, and the anointed to be all one, teaching up the Spirit of Chriſt, apart from the body of Chriſt, to be the Chriſt, or rather the ſpirit of errour in them, to be the Chriſt come in their fleſh, and ſo in a very deceivable ſecret way, deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, in ſaying he is the Chriſt that is within them, which is an evill ſpirit, ſo applying the Scriptures that ſpeak of the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in men, to be that evill ſpirit in them, ſo declaring that Spirit of errour in them apart from the body or fleſh of Chriſt, to bee the Chriſt, and ſo deny Chriſt come in the fleſh; but note well, what the Scripture; of truth ſaith, they declare that Jeſus the Chriſt was ſlain, Act. 2.22 23. chap. 3. 5. chap. 4.10. in chap. 5 30. Peter who was ful • of the Holy Ghoſt, ſaith, the God of our Fathers hath raiſed up Jeſus, whom ye SLEW and HANGED on a tree; and Paul ſaith to the Corinth. 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. firſt of all, I delivered unto you, that which I received how that CHRIST DYED FOR OVR SINS, according to the Scriptures, and that he was BVRIED, and that he AROSE the third day according to the Scriptures; ſo it is plain, that the Spirit apart from the body or fleſh of Chriſt, is not the Chriſt. And therefore again note, what Paul ſaith, 1 Tim. 2.5. There is one God, and one Mediatour, BETWEEN God and man, which is the MAN Chriſt Jeſus; and Heb. 10.10 ſheweth that the Hebrews were ſanctified by the offering of the BODY of Jeſus Chriſt, verſe 19, 20. ſeeing therefore Brethren, that by the BLOOD of Jeſus, we may be bold to enter into the holy places by the new and living way which he hath conſecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his FLESH. So that Jeſus, that was baptized of John in the River Jordan, was anointed with the oyl of gladneſſe above his fellows, Mat. 3.13, 16. Pſal. 45.7. ſo Jeſus the Saviour is the anointed of God, for he gave him not the Spirit by meaſure, Joh. 3.34. and ſo the Spirit of the Lord reſteth and abideth upon the MAN Chriſt Jeſus, Iſa. 11.2. Jo. 1.32. ſo then the Spirit of God, or of Chriſt, apart from the BODY of Chriſt, is not the Chriſt.

Therefore moſt abominable is that which men ſay, that that which is in them is Chriſt, when it is a ſpirit of errour, and ſo men may ſee how through this myſtery of iniquity, men come to ſay they are Chriſt; for conſider, if the ſpirit in ſome man be the Chriſt, what hindreth him to ſay hee is Chriſt, and therefore ſome one preſumes to ſay hee is Chriſt; let no man miſtake mee, for I ſay that the Spirit of God doth dwell in the Saints, and that Chriſt doth dwell in their hearts by faith; but note, that faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11.1. ſo the juſt live by faith, and look for the Son of God from Heaven, whom he raiſed from the dead, even Jeſus that delivereth us from the wrath to come; but to return, ſo as to ſhew yet further who hath the ſpirit of Antichriſt, and they are ſuch as race out the Ordinances of Chriſt, which came in being, when Chriſt came in the fleſh, and ſo declare Chriſt come in the fleſh, dead, and riſen again, as baptiſm of water, and breaking of bread, which doth declare the Lords death till he comes, 1 Cor. 11.26. Rom 6.3, 4. Col. 2.12. now there are a ſort of men which ſay, to know or acknowledge Chriſt in the practice of thoſe Ordinances, is formall, and fleſhly, and low, and carnal, and ſo reject the Counſel of God, and will not be baptized; and ſo not walking up in the Ordinances that did come in being, when Chriſt came in the fleſh▪ and do ſo excellently declare him come in the fleſh, and are to continue unti • l Chriſt come from Heaven, and change our vile bodies, and make them like his moſt glorious body, Phil. 3.20, 21. I ſay thoſe that do ſlight and reject thoſe ordinances, and ſay they are formall, and will not practice them, have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, and do deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, becauſe they will not practice thoſe ordinances that declare Chriſt come in the fleſh, yea, more fully than the Whore, for ſhee hath a ſhew, and ſo a remembrance of thoſe Ordinances, though ſhe have changed the ſubject, and the manner, as aforeſaid; but THESE root out the very being of them, and ſo deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo are diſcovered to have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, alſo thoſe that have been inlightened, and have beleeved the Reſurrection of the body, and alſo the eternal Judgement, and then come to queſtion it, and deny it, and ſay, the Judgement day is come, have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, for Chriſt being put to death in the fleſh, and riſing again from the dead, ſo bringeth in the Reſurrection of the bodyes of all men, and then cometh in the eternal Judgement, according to that in Act. 17.30, 31. hee hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteouſneſſe, by that MAN whom he hath appointed, whereof he hath given aſſurance to all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead, ſo as by man came death, by man came alſo the reſurrection of the dead, for as in Adam all dye, ſo in Chriſt ſhall all bee made alive, but every man in his own order, the firſt fruits is Chriſt, afterwards they that are of Chriſt, at his comming, 1 Cor. 15.21, 22, 23. ſo Chriſt being come in the fleſh, the MAN Chriſt Saviour, dyed and roſe again, and ſo comes in the Reſurrection, and no otherwiſe; therefore they that deny the Reſurrection of the body, deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo have the ſpirit of Antichriſt, and therefore John writing to the Saints, warning them that they take heed of the Antichriſtian ſpirit, that they be not deceived, exhorteth them thus; let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning; if that which you have heard from the beginning ſhall remain in you; ye alſo ſhall continue in the Son, and in the Father, 1 Joh. 2.24 read alſo for this purpoſe the whole chapter. Now that which they heard from the beginning, was the beginning Word of Chriſt, according to that of Paul, 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. which he delivered firſt of all to the Corinthians, that Chriſt dyed for our ſins, according to the Scripture, &c. and the firſt principles of the word of God, which is the principles of the Doctrin of Chriſt, to wit, repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, the Doctrin of Baptiſmes, and laying on of hands, and of the Reſurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement, Heb. 5.12. chap. 6.1, 2. now theſe principles of the teachings of Chriſt, came in being by and through Chriſt, being manifeſt in fleſh, his death and Reſurrection, as hath been ſhewed before; therefore whoſoever tranſgreſſeth, and abideth not in the Doctrin of Chriſt, hath not God, for he denyes Chriſt come in the fleſh, and ſo hee hath the ſpirit of Antichriſt, 2 Joh. 6.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and ſo having in part declared what is the ſpirit of Antichriſt, and who hath that ſpirit, I come now to the fourth thing, which is; that the Antichriſt will bee a ſingle perſon.

And for the proof of this, firſt, conſider how the Antichriſt is ſet out in Scripture, in the ſingular number, not in the plural, as the MAN of ſin, 2 Theſ. 2.3. not men, and Iſa. 14.16. is this the MAN that made the earth to tremble, and did ſhake the Kingdomes, the SON of the morning, and SON of Perdition? not Sons, the vile perſon, not perſons, Dan. 11.21. Iſa. 14.12. there fell a great Star from Heaven, Rev. 8.10. chap. 9.1. not Stars.

Obj. This in Iſa. 14. was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel of Chaldee. Anſwer, That cannot be, for after this power that is there ſpoken of is faln, the whole World is at reſt, and is quiet, they ſing for joy, yea the Firre-trees rejoyce at thee, and the Cedars of Lebanon, ſaying, Since thou art layd down, no feller is come up againſt us, verſ. 7, 8. now the World did not injoy ſuch a reſt as is there ſpoken of, ſo as that no Feller came up againſt the people of God no more, for ſince the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and that Monarchies fall, there hath come up many fellers, or deſtroyers of the Jews, and the beleeving Gentiles, as is clear, that Antiochus, and the Romans againſt the Jews, and the Whore of Babylon againſt the Chriſtians; and again, the Apoſtle in 2 Thoſſ. 2. takes up the ſame words in ſubſtance, and applies them to the Man of Sin, which is the Antichriſt, therefore that in Iſaiah cannot be fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar; for this compare Iſa. 14.13, 14. with 2 Theſſ. 2.4. though he might be a type of Antichriſt.

2 It appears that the Antichriſt will bee but one man (though many have his Spirit) becauſe it will ſuit beſt with his way of deluſion, for he will pretend he is the very Chriſt, and will cauſe fire to come down from heaven on earth, in the ſight of men, Rev. 13.13. and ſo he will indeavour to imitate Chriſt in all things: for as the Lord Chriſt ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſo the Antichriſt will make fire come down from heaven in the ſight of men; ſo he will endeavour to make all the Scriptures that ſpeak of Chriſts coming, and of his reign, to meet upon him; SO his coming will be after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſigns, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableneſs of unrighteouſneſs in them that periſh, becauſe they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved, 2 Theſſ. 2. 9, 10. ſo as there is the MAN Jeſus, the Chriſt the Son of the living God, which came in his Fathers Name, Mat. 16.16. Joh. 5.43. without ſin, 1 Pet. 2.22. ſo there will be the MAN of Sin, the Antichriſt, which will come in his own name, and profeſs to be the Chriſt, but will be directly an enemy againſt Chriſt and his people.

And ſo I come to the Fifth thing, which is the manner of Antichriſts riſing, and by what means; for the clearing up of this, Firſt, conſider, that the Goſpel, and the way thereof, is to be purely preached, and the Ordinances rightly adminiſtred, and ſo the Angel is to fly in the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People, Rev. 14.6. and ſo the Goſpel being preached to the Nations, and the Ordinances adminiſtred in the good old way, according to the Scriptures, men come to be inlightned, as many are in theſe Nations, where the Kingly power is fallen that did ſupport the Whore, and would not give Liberty of Conſcience, ſo I ſay, as the Goſpel comes to be miniſtred, in the old way thereof, men come to bee inlightned, the power of the Whore falleth, and men ſlighting, and rejecting the truth, and alſo many of them that do receive and obey the truth, fall and depart from the Faith, and ſo receiving not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved; for this cauſe God doth, and will ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould beleeve a lye, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11. and ſo are given up to the Spirit of Antichriſt; and ſo as the Apoſtle Paul ſheweth▪ that the day of Chriſts coming ſhall not come, except there come a falling away firſt, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the Son of perdition, 2 Theſſ. 1.7.8. chap. 2, 3. and ſo the Spirit ſpeaking expreſly, that in latter times ſome ſhall depart from the faith, giving heed to ſeducing Spirits, and Doctrins of Devils, ſpeaking Lyes in Hypocriſie, having their Conſcience ſeared with a hot Iron, forbidding to marry, &c. as in 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. and the Apoſtle Peter writing to the • aints, in his Second Epiſt. chap. 2.1, 2. ſheweth, that there ſhall be falſe Teachers among you, who privily ſhall bring in damnable Hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction, and many ſhall follow their pernicious wicked ways, by reaſon of whom the way of truth ſhall be evil ſpoken of; and chap. 3.3, 4. he ſaith, that there ſhould bee Scoffers, walking after their own luſts, ſaving, Where is the promiſe of his coming, &c? and ſo men tranſgreſſing, and abiding not in the Doctrin of Chriſt, fall from the faith of the Goſpel, and ſo the Spirit of God departeth from them, and an evil ſpirit is ſent unto them, which is the ſpirit of Antichriſt, ſo out from them that thus fall away, and go out from the Church, 1 Joh. 2.19. and ſo ſeparate themſelves, ſenſual, having not the Spirit, as Jude hath it, verſe 19. and alſo from them that have been enlightened▪ and have neglected to walk up in truth, and ſo reject the Counſel of God, as the Phariſees and Lawyers did, Luk. 7.30. ſo I ſay from them that ſo fall away, and neglect to hear and obey the Goſpel, from them ariſeth the Antichriſt, or man of ſin.

Again, the ſixth head of the Roman Monarchy, which is the Imperiall, or kingly power, hath and doth by the guidance of the Pope and the Nationall Miniſtry (which rides upon the beaſt, as hath been ſhewed) alwaies perſecuted men for their conſciences, and ſo hath let and hindred the Goſpel from being preached, and the Ordinances from being rightly adminiſtred, and ſo the light of truth was exceedingly kept back, and but few received it, and them that did receive it, ſhe perſecuted, ſome ſhe put to death, others ſhe baniſhed, or cauſed to flye into ſtrange Countries, and into howling Wilderneſſes, others impriſoned and fined, and ſo ſhe cometh to be drunken with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus, and ſo the Goſpel could not be declared in the pure way thereof, to every Nation, Kindred, Tongue, and People, Rev. 14.6. and ſo alſo, if any did ariſe that had the ſpirit of Antichriſt, ſhee took off him alſo, and ſo ſhee pluckt up much Wheat, and Tares alſo, contrary to that of Matth. 13.29, 30. let both grow together until Harveſt, and ſo forth: So the ſixth head of the Roman Monarchy being rid upon, and guided by the Whore, did let the Goſpel from being preached, and the Antichriſt from riſing, and ſo I think that the ſixth head did hinder the coming in of the man of ſin in the Apoſtle Pauls time, for the Emperours being Heathens then, perſecuted the Saints; and ſo that ſixth head ſupporting and carrying the Whore alſo, ſo as that it did let, and will let, until it bee taken out of the way, 2 Theſ. 2.6, 7. but now the ſixth head being in part taken away, and the ſeventh head ariſing, hee giving ſome liberty of conſcience, the Goſpel is preached, and truth appears, and many receive the knowledge of it, and obey it, and many fall away from it, and ſo the ſpirit of Antichriſt ariſeth, and ſo the ſeventh head of the Roman Beaſt ſhall take away the ſixth head, and ſhall continue a ſhort ſpace, Rev. 17.10. and ſo the ten hornes alſo ſhall ariſe in one hour with the Beaſt that was, and is not, even hee is the eight, and is of the ſeventh; or is one of the ſeventh, verſe 11, 12. and ſo is the little horn that Daniel ſpeaks of, chap. 7.11, 24, 25. and the laſt power or Beaſt, the Antichriſt, the man of ſin, and ſo the ſeventh head and ten horns, or Kings giving liberty, the Servants of God ſound forth the truth as it is in Jeſus, miniſtring in the Goſpel glad tidings of the Kingdome to the Nations, men come to know the truth, and ſo are enlightened with it, and ſo many may come to ſhine as ſtars, and yet fall away as the Antichriſt, or man of ſin himſelf will be ſome notable man ſhining as a ſtar for a time, yet afterward falling from the truth, according to that in Rev. 8.10, 11. the third Angel ſounded, and there fell a great Star from Heaven, burning as it were a Lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the Rivers, and upon the fountains of waters and the name of the Star is called Wormwood, and the third part of the waters became Wormwood, and many men dyed of the waters, becauſe they were made bitter. So the man of ſin falls from the truth, or true Church, as a great Star from Heaven burning like a Lamp, through Satans transforming himſelf as into an Angel of light, and ſo fals upon the Rivers, and fountains of waters ſo that hee maketh them bitter; ſo that the ſweet promiſes of the Goſpel, and way of Chriſt, in which men ſhall bee made partakers of the Waters of life, and ſo made glad in the City of God; are ſo made bitter like Wormwood changing the taſte of them; ſo that many men dye of thoſe waters, according to that of Jude 12. twice dead, plucked up by the roots; and thus hee cauſeth men to fall, ſo that the third part of the Sun is ſmitten, and the third part of the Moon, and the third part of the Stars, ſo as a third part of them is darkened, and the day ſhone not for a third part of it, nor the night likewiſe, Rev. 8.12. the Sun is here compared to the Church, becauſe the Church or Saints through Chriſt are ſaid to be the light of the World, Matth. 5.14. and ſo Jacob who is called Iſrael according to Joſephs dream, is compared to the Sun, Gen. 37.9, 10. the Moon I take to bee the World, or the Whore, the falſe Church, which hath her light from the true Church, as the Moon hath her light from the Sun; the Stars are the eminent teachers in the Churches, Rev. 1.20. and this in the eight chapter before ſpoken of, is an allegory, becauſe the waters are ſaid to become Wormwood, and yet men drink of them, which cannot be, if they were made Wormwood, therefore it is allegoricall, that the Word of the Goſpel in the miniſtration of the Prophets, is compared to water, look Ezek. 34.18, 19. Iſa. 55.1. Rev. 22.17. ſo then a many of the Church will fall from the faith, and the Stars, the elder or chief teachers alſo, and many of the World or falſe Church that ſhall be enlightened, and will not obey, ſhall bee darkened, and ſo ſhall loſe that light they have, and ſo ſhall be given up to groſs darkneſs, and ſo after a great falling away from the truth; SO the man of ſin, the Antichriſt is revealed, and getteth the power and rule by flatteries; after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableneſſe of unrighteouſneſs, and SO oppoſeth and exalteth himſelf above all that is called God, or is worſhipped, ſo that HE as God, ſitteth in the Temple of God, ſhewing himſelf that he is God, Dan. 11.21. 2 Theſ. 2.3, 4, 9, 10. and ſo I come to the ſixth particular, which is, ſome of the great things that the man of ſin will do.

Which in the firſt place take what Daniel ſaith of him, ſetting him out by a little horn, chap. 7, 8.11, 24.25. he ſaith that he ſhall ſubdue three Kings, and he ſhall ſpeak GREAT words againſt the moſt high, and ſhall wear out the Saints of the moſt high, and think to change times and laws, and they ſhall bee given into his hand, untill a time, and times, and the dividing of times, and ſo he ſhall reign in full power, three years and a half, for time, is taken for one year, and times, two years, and half a time, is half a year, as in Dan. 4.25. ſome tranſlation reads for ſeven times, ſeven years; and ſo the woman cloathed with the Sun that flyes from him into the wilderneſs and is there three years and a half, Rev. 12.1.14. ſo he ſhall perſecute the Saints of the moſt high, verſ. 11.17. and the falſe Prophet cauſeth the firſt Beaſt whoſe deadly wound was healed, to be worſhipped, and he doth great wonders, ſo that he maketh fire to come down from Heaven on the earth, in the ſight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by means of thoſe miracles, which he ſhall have power to do in the ſight of the Beaſt, 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, or breath to the Image of the Beaſt, that the Image of the Beaſt ſhould both ſpeak, and cauſe that as many as would not worſhip the Image of the Beaſt, ſhould be killed, and he cauſeth all both ſmall and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to give a mark in their right hands, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or ſell, ſave hee that had the mark, or the name of the Beaſt, or the number of his name, Rev. 13.11, to 18. ſo the Beaſt that had a wound with a ſword, that is, one of his ſeven heads was ſlain to death, yet ye having another, which is of the Seven, or one of the ſeven, and is the eight, and ſo liveth; and ſo it is the Beaſt that was, and is not, and yet is, and ſo the falſe Prophets ſhall by miracles, cauſe the World to worſhip the Beaſt, the man of ſin, the Antichriſt as God ſitting in the Temple of God, ſhewing himſelf that he is God, 2 Theſ. 2.4. and cauſe as many as will not worſhip the Beaſt or his Image to bee killed, and ſo the fallen Star before mentioned which is the Beaſt, the Antichriſt aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, the key of the bottomleſs Pit being given him, he openeth the bottomleſs Pit, and then ariſeth a ſmoak out of the Pit, as the ſmoak of a great furnace, and the Sun, and the air will be darkened, by reaſon of the ſmoak of the Pit, Rev. 11.7. chap. 9.1, 2. and neer the end of his reign, when the ſixth viall is poured, or pouring out, then ſhall come three unclean ſpirits like frogs out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, for they are the ſpirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole World, to gather them to battel of that great day of God Almighty; and hee gathered them together to a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon, Rev. 16.12, 13, 14, 16. which is into the Land of Canaan, according to Joel 3.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Multitudes, Multitudes in the Valley of Deciſion, or threſhing, for the day of the Lord is neer in the valley of deciſion, and ſo I come to the ſeventh particular, which is, the fall of the Beaſt, or man of ſin, and when, and by whom.

Now Paul ſaith, that the Lord will conſume him with the Spirit of his mouth, and ſhall deſtroy him with the brightneſſe of his comming, 2 Theſ. 2.8. ſo when the enemy ſhall come in as a flood, the Spirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a ſtandard againſt him, Iſa. 59.19. and ſo when the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven, with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, and of their hard ſpeeches, which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him, Jud. 15. then the Sun and the Moon ſhall bee darkened, and the Stars ſhall withdraw their ſhining, the Lord alſo ſhall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jeruſalem, and the Heavens and the earth ſhall SHAKE, but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the ftrength of the Children of Iſrael, Joel 3.15, 16. and in that day will the Lord make Jeruſalem a burdenſome ſtone for all People, all that burden themſelves with it, ſhall bee cut in peeces, though all the people of the EARTH bee gathered together againſt it, Zech. 12.1, 2, 3, 4. then the Lord Jeſus (that DYED and ROSE again) himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhout, and with the voice of the Arch Angel, and with the Trumpe of God, and the dead in Chriſt ſhall ariſe firſt, then wee which are alive and remain, ſhall bee caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and ſo ſhall wee ever bee with the Lord, 1 Theſ. 4.14, 15, 16, 17. and ſo as Zechary hath it, the Lord my God ſhall come▪ and all the Saints with him, chap. 14.5. and then the ten horns which received power as Kings in one hour with the Beaſt, the man of ſin; THESE have one mind, and ſhall give their power and ſtrength unto the Beaſt. THESE ſhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb ſhall overcome them, for hee is LORD OF LORDS, and KING OF KINGS, and they that are with him are called, and choſen, and faithfull, and ſo according to Rev. 19. the Lord Jeſus the KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS, with his armies which were in Heaven, following him upon white horſes, cloathed in fine linnen, white and clean, deſcends from Heaven againſt the Beaſt, the man of ſin, and the Kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war againſt him that ſate on the horſe, the MAN Chriſt, and againſt his armies, and the Beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which hee deceived them that had received the marke of the Beaſt, and them that worſhipped his Image; theſe both were caſt alive into a lake of fire burning with brimſtone, and the remnant were ſlain with the ſword of him that ſate upon the horſe, which ſword proceeded out of his mouth, and all foules were filled with their fleſh, ſo the Beaſt, the Antichriſt, the man of ſin, and the falſe Prophet which did work miracles before him, ſhall bee taken alive, and caſt into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone, and ſo Tophet is ordained of old, yea, for the King it is prepared, hee hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is fire and much wood, the breath of the Lord like a ſtream of brimſtone doth kindle it, Iſa. 30.33. and ſo as men are threatned in Rev. 14.9, 10. that if they worſhip the Beaſt, or his Image, and receive his mark in their foreheads, or in their hand, the ſame ſhall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and hee ſhall bee tormented with fire and brimſtone, in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb. SO it ſhall come to paſs when the Lord Jeſus ſhall appear; and therefore take the 11 verſe, and the ſmoak of their torment aſcendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no reſt day nor night, who worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, and whoſoever receiveth the mark of his name, for this purpoſe, read Iſa. 14. • 8, 19. and cha. 66.24. Ezek. 38.22, 23. THUS the Lord will magnifie himſelf, and ſanctifie himſelf, and hee will bee known in the • yes of many nations, and they ſhall know that he is THE LORD, and then in that day ſhall his Servants ſay THIS IS THE LORD WE HAVE WAITED FOR HIM, WE WILL BE GLAD IN HIS SALVATION, Iſa. 25.9.

So then you may ſee that the Whore is not the Antichriſt that the Scripture ſpeaks of, for the Whore is ſet out in Scripture thus: As a Woman a Harlot, A falſe Church, As a Queen, the Mother of Harlots, And abominations of the earth; The Antichriſt is ſet out thus: A Man of Sin, The man that did ſhake Kingdoms, The Son of the Morning, The Son of Perdition. 2 The Sixth Head of the Roman Beaſt carryeth the Harlot, but the Antichriſt, the Man of Sin is the eighth and laſt Beaſt, as hath been ſhewed. 3 The Whore confeſſeth Chriſt come in the Fleſh, and hath a ſhew, and remembrance of his Ordinances, though ſhee have changed the ſubject and the manner; but the Antichriſt denies Chriſt come in the Fleſh, and his Ordinances that declare him come in the Fleſh, as it hath been ſhewed. 4. The Woman, the Harlot, and her Members that do worſhip according to her Traditions, and inventions, have ſpace given them to repent, and many do repent; but they that do worſhip the Beaſt, the Antichriſt, or receive his Mark in their right hand, or in their fore-head, they cannot repent, they muſt drink of the wine of the Wrath of God, &c. as it is, Revel. 14.9, 10. and alſo in chap. 16. they repented not of their deeds, verſ. 11. note that the firſt Vial is poured out upon the earth, and the men that had the mark of the Beaſt, and worſhipped his Image, are plagued; therefore none of the Vials are poured out until the Antichriſt reigneth, verſ. 1, 2. 5. The Ten Horns hate the Whore, and deſtroy her, and make her deſolate, Rev. 17.16. but the Antichriſt is taken alive, when the Lord cometh, and puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, in a Lake of fire, 2 Theſ. 1.9. and Rev. 19.20. And ſo to draw to a concluſion, I do deſire all men to take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apoſtles, for they are able to make men wiſe unto Salvation and if men ſpeak not according to the Law and Teſtament, it is becauſe they have no light in them, Iſa. 8.20. O give heed to the moſt ſure word of the Prophets, as unto a light ſhining in a dark place, until the Day of Chriſt dawn, and the day ſtar ariſe in your hearts, noting diligently all things that are ſpoken of; that muſt come to paſs, for when the ſigns concerning Chriſts coming are come to paſs, the day of Chriſts perſonal appearing will dawn.

Secondly, Is there ſuch a ſpirit of deluſion among men, wherein is a myſtery of iniquity? then let all take heed, that they ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and to kiſs the Son leaſt he be angry, and yee periſh in the way. O do not neglect to read, and know, and ſearch the Scriptures, and walk up in that you do know; bee not deceived, God will not be mocked; what a man ſoweth that ſhall he reap, for he that ſoweth to the fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption, but he that ſoweth to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap life everlaſting, Gal. 6.7, 8.

Thirdly, Is it ſo that God doth, and will give up men to a ſpirit of deluſion, that they ſhould beleeve a Lye, that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs? then be exhorted from hence to forſake all unrighteous ways in converſation, and all whoriſh inventions of men in point of Worſhip, for if Moſes Law be aboliſhed, which was given to him by the Lord, let no man think that he ſhall be excuſed, if he worſhip according to mens inventions.

Fourthly, Let all the Saints conſider, and lay to heart what hath been ſpoken, and ſearch the Scriptures, that they may be informed what is to come to paſs, and ſo according to Chriſts exhortation, in Luke 21.36. watch yee therefore, and pray always, that yee may be accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe things that ſhall come to paſs, and to ſtand before the Son of Man; O give all diligence to adde to your faith vertue, and to vertue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godlineſs, and to godlineſs brotherly kindneſs, and to brotherly kindneſs love; let theſe things be in you and abound, give diligence to make your calling and election ſure, be not weary of well-doing, for you ſhall reap in due time if you faint not; grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; to him be glory both now and for ever, So be it.