A discovery of the arch-vvhore and her paramours (or lovers) of vvhom the Holy Spirit of God beareth witnesse.

A discovery of the arch-vvhore and her paramours (or lovers) of vvhom the Holy Spirit of God beareth witnesse.

Table of contents

A DISCOVERY OF THE ARCH-VVHORE AND HER PARAMOVRS (OR LOVERS) OF VVHOM the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD beareth Witnesse.

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A DISCOVERY OF THE ARCH-VVHORE AND HER PARAMOVRS (OR LOVERS) OF VVHOM the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD beareth Witnesse.

IEsus Christ, GOD and Man, having accomplished the work of the Redemption of Mankind, hath sent forth his Messengers into all the world to gather unto himself a Church or Spouse out of both Jews and Gentiles.

These dispatched Messengers of God, have accordingly taught men with all care and faithfulnesse, to renounce all earthly lusts and pleasures, to crucifie their flesh, to forsake all men, how wise soever, even themselves and every thing else, that is not God himself, and in pure and single hearted Love, to cleave unto their Head and Bridegroom Jesus Christ, as being betrothed unto him, and to be onely and altogether corrected, ruled, led, and taught in all 1 Cor. 11. 21. 3. submissive humble obedience, by him and by his Spirit.

But as the Church began already in the Apostles dayes, besides their Bridegroom Christ, to honour also his Ministers in his stead, to cleave unto and follow them, and to call themselves after their names, although the holy men did highly rebuke them for, and earnestly disswade them from it, lest they should be led away, like Eve, by the Serpent 2 Cor. 11. from the simplicitie or plainnesse of Christ; for as much as they ought to be Christs onely and no Mans, and that God doth catch the craftie in the World, and confoundeth them with all their wisdom. So after their Departure is this Adultery broke forth publickly, and the Ministers themselves have allured the Spouse of Christ unto themselves with sweet and stately language and shew of their office, and have not addressed them directly onely and solely to Christ their Bridegroome (to wait on his Spirit, for life, power, 2 Pet. 2. instruction and government) but have offered themselves to provide for the Souls, the Comfort of Eternall Salvation, in the name and stead of Christ, thereby to win men with soothing and magnificent words unto themselves, according as the Adultery of the Churches and their daughters as well among the Papists, and their partie, as among the rest, even to this very present▪ is but too manifest.

Whereas it is a known businesse as well in many other places as in Popery, how there hath been devised a spirituall marriage between the Ministers and their Parish Churches, which hath its beginning in the call and ordination, is consecrated, consummated and perfected by his saying or singing the first Masse, and by the imposition of hands; Whence also they are not ashamed openly to give out themselves for spirituall Fathers, as who like conduits presume to get spirituall children by their Churches, calling them their Parish Children, Confession-children.

And although some hundred and two hundred yeers ago God raised some Ministers, by whom as by his Instruments he caused his Word to be set forth and published again, and this Adultery to be made notorious and manifest. Yet neverthelesse the Churches would not desist from their wonted fornication, but being set free once out of that painfull Papisticall brothel-house of despair, they run, like the Stagge, even mad in a wild and unbridled Libertinisme, beginning anew to doat on those Ministers and their followers; sought the comfort of salvation at their hands in stead of Christs, and setting aside their own Lord-Head and Bridegroome (who onely and solely ought to inhabite, rule and make fruitfull the soul) did cleave unto the servants and Ministers, and called themselves after their names. And thereby they have plunged themselves into such horrible Babylonicall division and confusion, that the true knowledge of Christ and of his holy and precious life, is utterly extinguished, and the true Christianitie turned and changed into a sectarian confusion and most heathenish conversation, where men go on every one according to the lusts and greedy desires of his corrupt Adamicall flesh; for their own glory, lust, love and goods, snatching at, hating, envying, devouring, slandering, condemning and persecuting one another, and yet for all that still conceiting they have as good a share and interest in the Merits of Christ as any.

This now is that painted Iesabel, with her glorying and gliftering outside; that great Babylon, with her so many names of Blasphemies, the Mother of all Whoredom, with whom the kings of the earth do commit fornication; and being made drunk wth her cup of Abomination do storme and rage so mightily; and she is carried and supported by the spotted Beast, and the beastly world rule here.

And what are her children, that she brought forth by her Paramours and spirituall Husbands, but Lyons, Bears, ravening Fowls, Woolves, Dogs, Foxes, Swine, and the like, who every one and all do what they can to persecute the L [...]mbe.

For having ever resisted the Spirit of God, Satan the old Dragon hath thereby so rooted and strengthened his kingdom and palace in her and in her children; that he governeth and leadeth them at his own and absolute pleasure. Hence it is come to passe that the Bond of Love, according to the unity of the Spirit, is broken asunder among men, and Christ notwithstanding they boast and glory so much of him among all Sects is still crucified by the Learned, in his word according to the spirit and power thereof, and by the Mighty ones, in his members.

And hence also have all the modern Warres and troubles their sourse▪ and beginning, which were hatched and broached by nothing so much, as by the irritating, prating, urging, streporous and virulent squeaking before the Kings and Princes of the Earth, of those three Dragon-Frogs, who seek still every one for himself to be in better and higher grace and favour with the Whore then the others.

But now it is manifest and apparent every where, how the Horns of this Beast, wherein this Arch-whore drunk in Saints blood sitteth, I mean the Forces and Armies that are abroad in all parts do begin to persecute this great confounded Whore, devouring her flesh and laying her desolate, as it is put into their hearts, untill the words of God shall be fulfilled upon her.

And God hath broken and cut asunder the Bands, and delivereth men every one into the hand of his neighbour, the one to fall by the sword of the other, and the thrones of kingdoms to come reeling down to the ground.

Happy is he that marketh this, and layeth it to heart; that goeth out of Babel, and doth not make himself partaker of her sins, and abominable whoredoms, lest ye receive part also of her plagues.

But the time is at hand that the Lambe of God will grow wrath, and lay down his enemies for his footstool; resisting and severely avenging such long practised Murther, in his Word and Members, and contrarily glorifie upon Mount Sion; the woman that was thrust forth into the wildernesse; the true Church namely, together with her native Members dispersed and scattered as yet, among all parts and sects, and so distressed by the brood of the Dragon; when as Babel shall be made the habitation of ghastly fowls. Blessed is he that so watcheth and walketh as that the shame of his nakednesse be not discovered, but that he may appear in white Robes at the wedding of the Lambe.

Glory onely to God.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

A discovery of the arch-vvhore and her paramours (or lovers) of vvhom the Holy Spirit of God beareth witnesse.

Edition statement

1642

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A81534

ID [STC]

Wing D1649

ID [STC]

Thomason 669.f.6[82]

ID [STC]

ESTC R212521

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99871132

ID [PROQUEST]

99871132

ID [VID]

160943

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A81534)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 160943)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 245:669f6[82])

Source

— A discovery of the arch-vvhore and her paramours (or lovers) of vvhom the Holy Spirit of God beareth witnesse.,

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.)

s.n.,. [London :: 1642]. (Imprint from Wing.) (A diatribe against the Church of England.) (With engraved border.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Octob. 21. 1642".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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