1. THAT the Pope is substituted by Christ, as the Head of his Church upon Earth, and his Vicar, and Peter's Successor, and so hath power to rule the Church, and all ought to be subject to him.

2. That he is in his place infallible.

3. That he hath power to forgive People their sins.

4. That the Church of Rome, whereof he is Head, is the only true Church, (namely the Roman Catholicks, so call'd) and all others that depart from them are Hereticks.

5. That out of the Church (that is, out of their Church) is no Salvation.

6. That Faith is not to be kept with Here­ticks.

7. That it is no sin to kill Hereticks; or at least wise it shall not be imputed to them as a sin, but rather is a meritorious work to de­stroy [Page 2]them, so it be for the advantage of their Church.

That they are led by these Principles, their Actions make so manifest to all men, that we need not produce their Authors or Writers for them.

Now I confess if I were a Papist, and made fully to believe these things, I know not what I should stick at, and not venture upon, to obtain an everlasting Inheritance, and Glory thereby in Heaven for ever. Therefore I can­not but pity them who are bred up in these Principles, and so misled by them; and espe­cially because,

To these their Principles two great Bul­warks are added, to guard and defend them, and so to bind their People to themselves thereby, lest they should depart from them.

One is, Their bloody and cruel Practices, which indeed spring naturally from such bloody Principles.

The other is, The taking away the Key of Knowledge from People, and keeping them in ignorance: For Thieves and Robbers, and Lyars and Murderers, hate nothing more than the light, because that discovers them, and their wicked deeds.

With what brevity I can I shall discover the erroneousness, rottenness and falshood, of these their Principles, together with the wickedness and danger of them, and of their Practices according to them.

1. As to the first, That the Pope is substi­tuted as the Head of the Church of Christ up­on Earth, and his Vicar, and Peter's Successor, and so hath power to rule the Church, and all ought to be subject to him.

To this I say first, If it be overthrown, all the rest will tumble down with it; for it is the Basis or Foundation of all the rest, upon which they stand, and also the Top stone that binds all their Building together. And as Go­liah of Gath headed the Army of the Philistins, as their great Champion, whom little David brought down groveling to the ground, with a smooth stone slung at his Forehead, and so the whole Army was scattered: So is the Pope the great Champion, heading this People of Blood, his Romanists; and if he be brought down, the rest must of necessity be scattered, as having no standard to repair to. I speak not of a particular Pope, as this man, but of that power he arrogates to himself, and others attribute to him, and of him whoever he be, that stands invested therewith. I shall con­tent my self with a few Arguments against him: And the first is taken from his pretended Rock, even from Peter, whom they so much boast of; and it is this:

Argument 1. If the Pope be found in the state and condition of Simon Magus, for which he was rejected by Peter, from having any part or lot in that matter of dispensing the [Page 4]spiritual Gifts of God, then is he not the Head of Christ's Church upon Earth, nor his Vicar, nor Peter's lawful Successor, nor hath he any part or lot in dispensing the spiritual Gifts of God. And this I presume no body will deny, that hath any common sense or reason in them; because they may as well af­firm, that Simon Magus was once the Head thereof, as one that is in his case and condi­tion.

But that the Pope is such a one, I prove thus; Because the same carnal mind is fully in the Pope which was in Simon Magus, for which he was rejected by Peter, from having any part or lot in this matter of dispensing the spiritual Gifts of God.

For the manifest proof of this, let us take notice what it was that Simon Magus was re­jected for. See that plainly expressed, Act. 8. I will therefore set down the very words at large, and then take my Observation from them. The words are these: Vers. 18. And when Simon saw, that through laying on of the Apostles hands, the holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. Ver. 19. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Ghost. Ver. 20. But Pe­ter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money. Ver. 21. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy [Page 5]heart is not right in the fight of God. Ver. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. Ver. 23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. These are the words of the Text: From whence it is easie for any to take this Observation with me, That the only thing wherewith Peter charged Simon Magus, as the only cause of his so severe sentence against him, and the only thing whereby the carnality and wickedness of his heart was discovered to Pe­ter, was this, namely, That he thought that the gift of God might be purchased with mo­ney; nothing more is objected against Simon Magus. And this thought of his heart (which was hereby discovered, namely, by offering money) is twice mentioned against him, viz. in ver. 20. and 22. Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. Thus Peter named that thought of his heart twice to him, and nothing but that, whereby he perceived that he was in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity.

Quest. Well, But what's this to the Pope, may some say?

I Answer, If he be found having the same thought of heart with Simon Magus, for which alone he was rejected by Peter, and under se­vore judgement by him, then he is also in the same condemnation, and hath neither part nor lot in this matter of dispensing the spiritual gifts of God, but is in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity, and his heart is not right in the sight of God, and so he is far off from be­ing Christ's Vicar, and Peter's Successor.

If my one consent not to this, then let them shew a reason why he should not be un­der the some sentence and judgement, seeing he is in the same state of wickedness, and in the same evil thought of heart. Do not think that Peter spake rashly or unadvisedly, when he pronounced such a sentence against such a wickedness, but in that spirit that passes the same sentence upon the same wickedness or evil thought, where it shall be found; for God is no respecter of persons.

But if this be granted, (which indeed can­not be denied by any that hath reason) That if the Pope be in the same evil thought of heart with Simon Magus, then he must be un­der the same sentence with him. Yet some may stick here, and say thus:

Object. The Pope is a Christian, and Simon Magus was a Sorcerer, and we cannot imagine him to have such a carnal and evil thought in him as that Sorcerer had.

Answ. To that I say, first, That Simon Magus was as much a Christian as the Pope is, when Peter so rejected him, and excluded him from having part or lot in this matter: For he was baptized, and continued with Philip, and wondred, beholding the Miracles and Signs which were done, as it's expressed in the 13th. Verse of this 8th. Chapter of the Acts; Then Simon himself believed also, and when he was baptized he continued with Phi­lip, &c.

Secondly, Whatever Simon was or had been, though he was a Sorcerer, yet Peter took no notice of that to him, but only of that thought of his heart, that the gift of God may be pur­chased with money.

Object. But now the main Objection follows, which is this; But how doth it appear that the Pope hath any such thought, namely, that the gift of God may be purchased with money?

Answ. To this his Practice makes Answer: Because he sells the Pardons of sins and Indul­gencies for money, and makes his people be­lieve that these gifts of God may be purchased with money; yea, Pardons are sold and bought for certain prices, and at certain times, from the Popes Agents, who are imployed in that Work. And this was the first thing against which Luther appeared so openly, when he began to break off from Popery, being griev­ed and stirred up with zeal, against that abo­minable [Page 8]prophaneness of the Pope's Agents, who went about preaching up the sale of In­dulgencies and Pardons for money, and so abusing the holy gifts of God for filthy lucre. This was under Pope Leo the 10th. and by his appointment, Anno Christi 1517. Polydor. Virgil. lib. 8. cap. 4. The like was done by Alexander the 6th. 17 years before that: But it's needless to prove a thing so common and manifest. Therefore none need doubt of this, that the Pope hath the same thought with Simon Magus, viz. That the gift of God, even this spiritual gift of God, may be purchased with money.

If any one be so far transported with zeal for their Pope, that they will still affirm, that the Pope hath not so wicked a thought as Si­mon Magus, in thinking that the gift of God may be purchased with money, then by so de­fending him, they make him still worse, for they make him the greatest Deceiver in the World, in setting that to sale for money, which he thinks cannot be purchased with money. And look to it you Romanists, whether it be so or no; for which of these twain soever he is found in, you who buy Pardons and Indul­gencies of him, you are cheated both of your money, and of the thing you expect for it: For if he verily thinks that the gift of God, the pardon of sin, may be purchased with mo­ney, then is he where Simon Magus was, and [Page 9]cannot give you that; and if he have not that thought of heart, he is a Deceiver, and cheats you to fill his own coffers, and so both ways you fall short of your hope. Therefore leave him, and humble your selves before the Lord, and seek the pardon of your sins from him, and break off your sins by repentance, and turning to the Lord with your whole heart, and he will be gracious and merciful unto you, and forgive your iniquities. But to buy a liberty of sinning to your selves, is most abominable, and looks as if you would set the Lord's righ­teous Judgements against sin at defiance, and betake your selves for shelter to a corrupt de­ceitful man, who had need to repent and pray God, that the thought of his own heart may be forgiven him.

Argument 2. I come now to a second Argu­ment against the Pope, and to shew that he is no true Successor to Peter; which I prove by shewing, that he is not of Abraham's spiritual seed, which of necessity every one must be, that succeeds either Peter, or any of the holy Apostles of Christ Jesus.

To make this clear, let us take notice of these two things: 1. What manner of Suc­cession is cut off. 2. What manner of Suc­cession doth remain.

First, What manner of Succession is cut off. There was a Succession once which was lineal in the same seed outwardly; and so from [Page 10] Abraham to Christ they succeeded one another, as the Son succeeds the Father: But this was cut off, as the Scripture plainly sheweth, Rom. 2.28 29. For he is not a Jew which is one out­wardly—but he is a Jew which is one inward­ly. Again, Rom. 9.8. The Children of Promise are counted for the seed. So also Gal. 3.7. They which are of faith, the same are the Children of Abraham. And again, the Apostle speaking of the cutting off of the Jews through their unbelief, shews, that we who are of the Gen­tiles, are grafted in into Abraham's stock only by faith, and so by faith we stand. Rom. 11.20. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith, be not high-minded but fear. So then you see, that outward suc­cession in Abraham's line was cut off through unbelief. Hence I argue thus, If God hath laid aside that outward succession in Abra­ham's line, who was called the Friend of God, he will not take up any outward succession again to entail his promises upon; and if suc­cession be cut off from that natural seed, for want of faith, then all outward succession, as from place, or any other outward thing what­soever, will not hold where true faith is want­ing, but will fail him that depends upon it, as well as it failed the Jews. So then whosoever pretends a succession in Abraham's seed, (without which he cannot be a Successor to Peter) he must establish his Succession in ano­ther [Page 11]thing, than either in an outward seed or in place, or any such like outward thing.

Therefore secondly, let us now take fur­ther notice, what manner of Succession that is which abides, and wherein that is established, which makes one a Successor in the seed of Abraham. This doth not stand in any out­ward thing, but in that faith which follows the steps of Abraham. Rom. 4.11, 12. Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised, (as the foregoing words do shew) That he might be the Father of all them that believe, though they be not cir­cumcised, that righteousness might be imported unto them: And the Father of Circumcision, to them who are not of the Circumcision only, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumessed. Here you may see plainly, who are Abraham's Children now, and so Christ's, namely, they that walk in the steps of that faith of our Fa­ther Abraham, and they only: For it's said, Rom. 11.20. Thou standest by faith, he not high­minded but fear. Ver. 21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Ver. 22. Behold therefore the good­ness and severity of God, on them which fell, se­verity, but towards thee goodness, if thou conti­nue in his goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. So here you may see it's plainly ex­prest, what cuts a man off from the seed of [Page 12] Abraham, and so from Christ; and also what establishes him in that seed: It is walking in the steps of that faith of Abraham, and conti­nuing in the goodness of God, that establishes a man; and he that continues not therein, shall be cut off.

Now examine and apply these things to the Pope. Doth he walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham? Surely his works loudly proclaim the contrary. If ye were the Children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham, saith Christ Jesus, Joh. 8.39, &c. But now ye seek to kill me, this did not Abraham. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a Murtherer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth. That the Pope is in this murthering spirit, many Nations have felt it, and the Earth rings of it. How many Massacres, how many bloody and inhumane Butcheries have been acted un­der him? How many private Murders, and secret Conspiracies, to destroy mens Lives? How many stabbings and poisonings of persons of all degrees, many Countreys can witness. Is this to walk in the steps of the faith of Abra­ham? Is this to continue in the goodness of God, who lets his Sun shine on the good and on the bad, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust?

The Pope doth hereby clearly manifest him­self, to be cut off from walking in the steps [Page 13]of the faith of Abraham; for thus did not Abraham. Or doth he continue in the good­ness of God, who walks in the steps of him that was a murderer from the beginning? I desire you poor captiv'd Souls to consider it, who are under his yoke, and deceive not your selves in trusting to him; for you may plainly see by his works, what Spirit your Pope is ingrafted into, namely, into his Spirit, who was a murderer from the beginning, and not into his Spirit, who came not to destroy mens lives but to save. They who have been in­grafted into Abraham's faith, and so into Christ the true seed, were never such murder­ers and bloody creatures, but merciful and tender-hearted. Nay, if we go no further than the common Body of the Protestants, they never were so bloody to you, as your Pope hath taught you to be to them. When did they commit any such Massacres upon you, (though you have highly provoked them) as you have done to them, even without provo­cation? And still you hold on to attempt the like, and repent not of your wickedness; which shews plainly, that they have more of the true spirit and faith of Abraham among them than you have; and you partake more of the spirit of him that was a murderer from the begin­ning, which is infused into you, with the Prin­ciples that you suck in from your Pope and his Church.

I will tell you who your Pope is by the fruits he brings forth; He is a great Agent of that Apollyon, that is, Destroyer, spoken of, Rev. 9.11. Who is King over them that have power to hurt men, and he is the outward head of that mystery of iniquity which was to arise; and you cannot find another like him, to act such horrid wickedness, and yet under the pretence of Christianity, as if Christ, that innocent Lamb of God, (who came not to destroy mens lives but to save) were now be­come a Patron to devouring Wolves. Here is the mystery of wickedness, shrowding it self under the pretence of Christianity; but the Lord will pluck off his vizzard from off his face, and let people see, that no murderer hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God. 1 Joh. 3.15. No murderer hath eternal life abi­ding in him. And Rev. 21.8. it's said, The fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all lyars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Again Ch. 22. it's said, Without are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye. All these you see are without; they are not within, neither in the Kingdom of Christ, nor in the seed of Abraham, nor of the true Body of Christ, which is his Church. These very sins actually cut them off; If thou continue not [Page 15]in his goodness, thou also shalt be cut off, saith the Apostle. So they that are such, they actually cut off themselves, there needs no other testimony against them, than the cur­rent of their own evil deeds. Pray consider a little you that are Papists, and give me leave to reason the case with you, who are led by this man of sin into such abominations. Will the disguise of a Name stand you in stead, when God shall judge the World in righteousness by Jesus Christ? Will it serve your turn to say, We were called Christians by thy Name? Will not he say for all that, Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity? What will the Name of Christians do you good, if you be not found in his nature, but in a quite contrary nature, doing the will and work of him that was a murderer and lyar from the beginning? What! Christians in Name, and Murderers in Nature? and think that the Name or your Pope will bear you out, when the righteous Judge shall judge every man according to the things done in the body, whether good or bad, and when his all-piercing eye shall search and judge the secrets of all hearts. I aver, that neither he nor you that obey his will in bloody Murders and Massacres, are Christians further than in Name, any more than the persecuting Jews were the true and spiritual seed of Abra­ham: They were of their Father the Devil, ▪as our Saviour told them) because they had [Page 16]murder in their hearts; and are not you of the same Father, who have murders, and such horrid murders too, not only in your hearts, but also in some of your hands? How will you excuse your selves in the day of the Lord's Vengeance, when he shall make inqui­sition for blood? Will it serve you to say then, We did as we were instructed, and put on, and led by our Teachers? When as Christ himself hath told you aforehand, That if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. No, you shall then curse your King and your God, even your Pope, whom you have taken to be so to yourselves, and followed him into those evils that are excluded out of the Kingdom of God. Or will you think to say, We did what we did in a good intent? Will that excuse? Whenas you are admonished, not to do evil, that good may come thereof, and that admoniti­on is left upon record also. Will you say, We knew it not? Then see your blindness, see how your Leaders have kept you in blindness, lest you should see and know the truth and deli­ver your selves from under their yoke. What hath God given you reason and understanding for? Is it that you should throw it away, or lay it aside, or be led as a Horse or Dog is, wholly by the will of another? Wherein then do you differ from Bruits? Do you not hereby manifest your selves to be those staves and souls of men mentioned to be in Babylon, Rev. 18.13. [Page 17]I do not speak these things so plainly to you to vilifie you, or in a way of despising of you, but to open your eyes, that you may see where you are, even at the pits brink, and that you may retreat before it be too late, and may obey that voice from Heaven which calls out of Babylon, out of such confusion of wickedness and abominations, as you are admonished, Rev. 18.4. And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Her plagues will follow her sins, therefore beware and take warning: You your selves cannot but know what abominations be in her, what whoredoms, and murders, and lyes, and perjury, and such like, all counte­nanced and indulged by him that is King over your Consciences, the Pope. So that I say, he walks not in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham, he is not of him, but of Apollyon, the Destroyer, the Murderer, and so is cut off from being of Abraham's seed, and consequently from being related to Christ, as his Vicar, or to Peter, as his Successor.

And for you his Disciples or Followers, it's no marvel that you run on to such horrid abo­minations, beyond the very Infidels and sa­vage people of the World, who know nothing of Christ, since you throw away your own reason, and give up your selves as slaves, to be led (as Horses) and acted by those, who [Page 18]teach you to outface Conscience, and to out­dare the checks and scruples thereof, and even to strive against the principles of good nature and humanity, (as I am perswaded some of you must do) who also to quiet your Consci­ences, make you believe, That a Pardon or Indulgence from the Pope will clear all.

Oh, the execrable wickedness that your Leaders prompt you on unto! Lying, Hypo­crisie, Perjury, Plots, Treasons, Murthers, Massacres, to be Truce-breakers, false accusers, and what not! Will you not hereby in the end (besides the just judgement of God against such things) bring your selves also into that Odium with men, that no Man or Nation will trust any thing you say or swear, or confide in any Truce that you can make with them, and so make your selves fit to be spewed out of the Earth? Ponder these things, I beseech you, and do not stubbornly destroy yourselves, but exercise reason as men, and hearken to the checks of your Consciences, if they be not seared, and cast away lying, and speak truth, that you may be believed; and take heed of sighting against God, whose hand you may see is against your designs of wickedness and dark­ness; and learn to be inoffensive, and without blame in the World, as the true Disciples and Believers in Christ were, and still are to this day. I have a little digressed for your sakes, who are led as captives by this Man of sin, and [Page 19]instigator to Murthers and Massacres, that you might be convinced that he walks not himself, nor leads you on to walk in the steps of Abraham's faith, and so you should beware of him.

3. A third Argument now against the Pope, I take from this Scripture, 2 Thess. 2. where the Apostle speaking of a falling away, and the revealing of the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, he describes him thus, Ver. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing him­self that he is God. Hence I argue thus:

If the Pope be found in this state of the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, then he is none of God's Vice-gerent, or Christ's Vicar, or Peter's Successor:

But he is in the same state or condition with this Man of Sin, here spoken of, and there­fore he is none of God's Vice-gerent, or Christ's Vicar, or Peter's Successor.

For the clear demonstration of this, that the Pope is in the same state with this Man of Sin here spoken of, we need go no further than this Chapter, and the Pope's answering of it, as the impression of a Seal answers the Seal. There be two expressions here which shew, that this Man of Sin must be within the pro­fession of Christianity, but fallen from the life of it: For his rise must be from a falling away, [Page 20]which in the Apostle's language, signifies a falling from Christ, the life and power of Christianity, though they retain the Name of Christians. Then the other expression is, that he sits in the Temple of God; he doth not flee from an outward profession of the Worship of God, but makes that his Seat or Throne; which also distinguishes him from all Secular Powers. So that you see, he must be as to outward shew a Christian, and worshipper of God; and in that he is exalted and hath his Throne there, there he sits: And from hence it is, that the Pope (who is one with him) arrogates to himself such Titles, as import a near Relation to Christ, and his holy Apostles. These things thus far are clearly fulfilled in him; he is fallen away from the life and power of Christianity, from the innocency thereof, to the height of wickedness, as by his life, and actions, or works, make appear; and yet he retains the Name of a Christian, and will pre­tend to be a Worshipper of God, and hath his Seat in his Temple, where his worship is pro­fessed.

Then further. This Man of Sin is said to appose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. Magistrates in Scri­pture are sometime called Gods; I said ye are Gods, but ye shall die like men. And again, God standeth in the Congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the Gods, Psal. 82. Now this [Page 21]Man of Sin, and so the Pope, is exalted above all that's called God, above all Magistrates, Judges, Kings, Emperors. I think none will deny this, it is so well known in the World, since that the Pope hath taken upon him to crown them with his foot, and make them wait attendance at his gate, and to discharge Sub­jects of their obedience to their Princes, and to depose whom he pleases, and give the Crown to whom he pleases. Here's oppositi­on enough contained also in this his Exaltati­on, while he deals thus with Kings and Em­perors.

Thus these three Marks or Discoveries of the Man of Sin, are fully found in the Pope. He is risen up in the fallen state; being fallen from the life of Christianity; from a merciful spirit, to a cruel bloody spirit; from a faith­ful spirit, to a deceitful treacherous spirit; from speaking truth, to speak lyes in hypocri­sie; from humility, to the highest exaltation of pride that a man can be at in this world. For this last, it's evident enough, for he is ex­alted above all; and for the rest, that's also manifest by his Disciples; for what he teaches his Disciples to do or be, he must be that him­self. Thus he is in the fallen state, yet he sits in the Temple of God, he professes worship to him.

Now let us take notice of some other expres­sions in this place; He is called that Man of Sin, [Page 22]and Son of Perdition. For the Man of Sin, can we find the Pope worthy of that denominati­on? I wonder who can look upon him other­wise, (notwithstanding his great Title of Ho­liness) when we find him to be a Patron, nourisher and cherisher of the most inhumane Practices that are in the World; witness the Cruelties and barbarous Actions of his people, in seeking to destroy Nations, and their Go­vernours, to overturn Governments, by Plots of darkness, and open butcherly Massacres, without any pity or mercy to Age or Sex. Witness also his cruel Inquisitions, which are places invented for tormenting them, that will not stoop to his yoke; such Engines as Christ Jesus never appointed or countenanced, but was against all such merciless tortures. Witness also his encouraging of his Children to take Oathes or Tests, that they may not be discovered, and so restrained from doing mis­chief, and from carrying on his hellish designs, promising them pardon aforehand, for any false Oathes or Perjury, so it be for the ad­vancement of his Church. Shall we not count him a Man of Sin, who walks thus fully in the steps of him, who was a murderer and a lyar from the beginning? I desire to know where we shall find one that outstrips him. And for that word, The Son of Perdition, this also is not amiss applied to the Pope; for it signifies a Destroyer, who is also appointed for de­struction; [Page 23]and it bears the same sence with Apollyou, Rev. 9.11. Who is King over them that have power to hurt men.

There is another word also that hints some­thing to us, for further discovery of this Man of Sin; namely, that the Day of Christ shall not be, till the Man of Sin be revealed. This implies, that he shall be so hidden in the Tem­ple of God, under the profession or pretence of his worship, that he shall not be seen to be what he is till God reveal him. And this also is very applicable to the Pope; for not only Nations, but their Kings also, have been de­ceived with him: But now God hath in a great measure revealed him to be what he is; and he hath revealed him by the same means, whereby Christ Jesus reveals false Prophets, and whereby he teaches us to know them, even by his works; so that his own works disco­ver what he is. And as the Apostle makes this a discovery of evil men and seducers, that they shall grow worse and worse, so it is with the Pope, and his train of Murderers, they have grown worse and worse. Formerly they would bring men before their Courts, and there let them have free liberty to plead and argue for their Religion; but of later years nothing will satiate their cruelty, but quick dispatch, and ridding them out of the way by speedy Massacres. Thus now you see how fully these Discoveries of the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, are found in the Pope.

Now put all these together, and let the Lea­ders of the Papists see, where they will find one that answers all these Characters and Dis­coveries, as the Pope doth.

A Man sprung up under the profession of Christ, but fallen away from him, into the very dregs of wickedness, opposing, and per­secuting, and murthering the innocent, who do him no harm.

A Man that sits in the Temple of God, whereby he is distinguished from all Civil Ma­gistrates, who have their Seat or Throne in the Civil Government.

A Man exalting himself above all Magistrates and Principalities.

And yet a Man of such eminent note for sin, that if I may not say he is deservedly called, That Man of Sin, yet I may say, He is deser­vedly reputed to be of that Man of Sin.

A Son of Perdition, as Judas was, who is for destroying, stabbing, strangling, poysoning, murthering, massacring, and so for destructi­on; For the righteous Judge will give to every one according to his deeds.

A Man hidden from the vulgar Eye, under pretence of his Holiness, until the Lord hath revealed him, being now manifest by his own wicked Practices; By their fruits ye shall know them.

Find all these concurring in one Man, and exhibit him as representing the Man here spo­ken [Page 25]of, that Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition. Where you will find such another besides the Pope, I know not. This I am certainly con­vinced of, that your Pope is such a one: He sits in the Temple of God, challenging the Power over all in Ecclesiastical Matters, yea, and over Civil Governments too: He is a Man of Sin, a promoter and instigater of abomina­ble Sins, Murders, Lying, Perjury, and Idola­try, &c. He is a Son of Perdition, if destroy­ing the innocent make one such, as it did Ju­das: He is exalted above all that's called God, above all Principalities and Magistrates: He is a Man sprung up under the profession of Christ's Name, but is fallen away from him and his Doctrine, and turned an opposer. Therefore untill his Champions can find out another like him, in whom all these Characters may concur, let them rest upon him.

Object. I do not question but some will say, That Simon Magus was such a one, and this Scripture was fulfilled in him, and so some have understood it.

Answ. To this I Answer, It's true enough, that much of it was fulfilled in him; and therefore well might some of the Ancients think, that he and his followers were fore-run­ners of the great Antichrist: Surely they were ingrafted into the same spirit with the Pope, because they both have had the same carnal and earthly thought of the gift of God, viz. [Page 26]That it might be purchased with money, as I have shewed. But then consider, that if Simon Magus fulfilled this Scripture, in exalt­ing himself over the Consciences of many, as if he were above all, (although he never arri­ved at that height that the Pope is got to) then the Pope, in exalting himself over all Principalities and Dominions, Kings and Em­perours, not only in opinion, but in real Pow­er of deposing and setting up Kings and Em­perours, he fulfils it much more For this height, I say, Simon Magus never came to: Therefore if Simon was a Son of Perdition, what is the Pope, who walks so much after his steps, yea in actual exaltation above him, in bloodshed and murders, and burning and massacring, far beyond him? If they who lived near the primitive Ages, (who saw not this Son of Perdition as yet appearing in their time) thought Simon Magus, or Marcus Va­lentinianus, or any other, or all of the Gno­sticks, as one Body, to be that Son of Perdi­tion, and Great Antichrist, they might well be excused in thinking so. But we, who have seen the Rise, and of later years the Discovery, of this great Man of Sin, for us to turn off this Scripture from him, by limitting it to them, that never came to so great exaltation over all, I think in us it would argue great blindness. For though that Simon Magus en­deavoured to make men think him a God, and [Page 27]many were deceived with him, yet he never got into the Saddle, to ride over all by his Power, as the Pope doth: And therefore after the ap­pearing of those men, the Ancients still looked for another to appear as the Great Antichrist. For when the Bishop of Constantinople began to affect the Title of universal Bishop, others said, He that shall affect the Title of universal Bishop, is a fore-runner of Antichrist: He that shall but affect it, was counted a fore-runner; therefore they lookt for another to rise besides Simon Magus, or any that were gone before. And if affecting of that Title discovered a fore-runner, what must he be then that obtains the Title and Power of universal Bishop? And that Bishop of Rome that quickly succeeded Gregory the Great, namely, Boniface, he ob­tained it, and it was of Phocas, a wicked Em­peror, that he obtained it; of whom it was said, Deteriorem alium inveniri potuisse nullum, that a wickeder could not be found. He gave the Precedency to the Church of Rome, and granted to Boniface, that it should be called Caput omnium Ecclesiarum, the Head of all the Churches. And then the Bishop of it began to be the Head of all the Bishops; contrary to the Command of Christ, who forbad that thing in express words, Mat. 20.25, 26, 27. It shall not be so among you, saith he, when the Mother of Zebedees Sons would have had her Sons ex­alted above the rest. Therefore Christ Jesus [Page 28]never gave this Greatness to the Pope over all, seeing he forbad it; but it was obtained of wicked Phocas, about the year 607. after the Nativity of Christ. For till that time the Bishop of Rome was not exalted so very high, though he was high enough; but after this they grew by little and little so high, that they got above the Emperors themselves. Then was fulfilled this Scripture which I have quo­ted, He exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. And so now he is become the head of that great mystery of ini­quity, which began to work in the Apostle's days, but was letted by the Heathen Persecu­tors; and therefore till that which letted, (being an enemy also) was taken out of the way, it could not rise to its height: For the perfecuting Emperors letted, by keeping down the very outward formality and name of Chri­stianity, as much as they could; under which name and outward profession, the mystery of iniquity was to arise, after there was a falling away from the life and power of godliness. Now the Name of Christianity becoming fa­mous, and the Nature of it lost in a great mea­sure, and the greatest abominations of the World, (Lying, Perjury, Ambition, Mur­ther, Superstition and Idolatry, &c.) practi­sed under that profession, with pretence to promote it, and yet quite contrary to the Na­ture of it; this is the mystery of iniquity. [Page 29]And of this mystery the Pope stands in the Head: For where can one find the like Spirit of Lyes and Slanders? of Perjury, which they think they salve up with equivocations, and mental reserves; of Ambition, as in the Pope and his retinue; of Murther, by poysonings, treacheries, massacres; of Superstition and Idolatry, in falling down before Images and Pictures, &c. I might name many more gross abominations, all indulged by the Pope their Father and Patron, Vicar (not to Christ, but) to him, that was a lyar and murtherer from the beginning.

Object. If any one here object and say, That these and such like wickednesses are practised among others, as well as under him, Look among the Protestants, and you shall see Murthers, Adulteries, Thefts, Robbing, Drunkenness, Swearing, Lying, &c. are frequent among them, as well as under the Pope's Government.

Answ. I Answer, These and such like sins are too frequent among them, for which the Lord may chastise them, as also he hath done. But yet observe how great a difference here is: The Protestants by such evils, bring themselves under the danger of Penalties by their Laws; The Papists can act the greatest wickednesses, under hopes of indulgence, and memorable reward of honour among them; so the Pro­testants do that in danger, and are discounte­nanced, where the Papists are countenanced [Page 30]in the same evils. Again, It is the looser sort of Protestants that do such things; but the Leaders and principal Men among the Papists, (from the Pope to the lowest Graduate) are chief Incendiaries therein. Again, The Pro­testants do such things against the Principles of their Religion; but the Papists do them ac­cording to the wicked Principles of their Church, that is, from iniquity established by a Law; and if Satan rule any where, sure it's there, where he hath got iniquity and murther, &c. into a Law, and so under a mantle of Piety, to escape the censure of the purblind Eye. So that the Papists Church is become a very Spring of wickedness, through their principles, and leading men, who with deli­beration, counsel and contrivance, instigate their people to the most inhumane wicked­ness, and make them believe it's good service done to God and his Church.

Other Arguments might be produced against the Pope, to manifest him to be none of Christ's Vicar, or Peter's Successor; but I rest in these, as sufficient testimony against him: Seeing he is one with Simon Magus, in that evil thought of his heart, That the gift of God may be pur­chased with money: And secondly, Because he is not of the faith of Abraham, and so not of the seed of Christ, but one that walks in the steps of him that was a murderer from the be­ginning: And thirdly, Because he walks pa­rallel [Page 31]with that Man of Sin, that Son of Per­dition or destruction, who exalts himself above all that's called God, and yet sits in the Tem­ple of God, as if he were God, laying his own Impositions upon the Consciences of men, thereby bearing shew of God among them, and over them.

2. I come now to the next Principle, which is this, That the Pope is infallible: But these things foregoing, being manifestly proved against him, by his own practice, quite over­turn his Infallibility. For who will say that he is infallible, who is guilty of that sin, which excluded Simon Magus from having any part or lot in dispensing the spiritual gifts of God, and which discovered him to be in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity? Who will say that he is infallible, who walks not in the steps of Abraham's faith, but in his steps who was a murtherer from the beginning? Who will say that he is infallible, that exalts him­self above all that's called God, or that is wor­shipped, who sits in the Temple of God, shew­ing himself that he is God, and yet is called, That Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition? How can the Popes be infallible, when the makers of them are so fallible, that they have some­times made two at a time, who have continu­ed excommunicating one the other, as Alex­ander tertius, and Victor quartus did, about the year 1159. We may well say of them, as it [Page 32]was formerly said of Images and their makers, They that make them are like unto them. Was that poysoning Pope Alexander the sixth in­fallible, who poysoned Joannem Michaelem, a Cardinal of Rome, and afterwards attempting to poyson Cardinal Adrian, his familiar friend, with a cup of poyson at a Banquet, was by the just hand of God poysoned himself with the same; for the cups being mistaken by the ser­vants, that cup which was appointed by him, to be given to Adrian, was given to himself, and so he died therewith? This was about the year 1503. as Chronicles tell us. Will you say, this Murderer was infallible?

But not to expatiate too far in this, it being so gross a thing to conceit that such men are infallible, I proceed to the next Principle, viz.

3. That the Pope hath power to pardon sins. And here as I said of Infallibility, so I may say of this: If Simon Magus, if the mur­therous Jews, if the Man of Sin, that's exalt­ed above all, have power to pardon sins, then may we grant the same power to the Pope, but not else; for all these conditions are his, as hath been shewed. But if the Pope have all those sins lye at his door, that are commit­ted by his order, or instigation, or counte­nancing of them; if he lye under the weight of them all, and be found guilty of them all, let him first repent and pray to God, that if it [Page 33]be possible, his own sins may be forgiven him. David was charged with the death of Ʋriah, because he ordered and contrived it, and this one man's blood lay heavy upon him, and the sword was never to depart from his house therefore, 2 Sam. 12.9, 10. Now how many Murders are committed by the Pope! What multitudes of innocent Souls have been slain by the Cruelties of Popes, in the barbarous massacring of many Thousands, whose inno­cent blood cryes to Heaven for vengeance! For all the blood shed by his approbation, and suggestion, and instigation, and indulgence, will lye as a mighty Mountain upon him, and his Confederates who promote such things. Let him first get from under the guilt and weight of his own sins, before he pretend to pardon others. Will any man think, that Ju­das who had betrayed the Lord of Life, had power to remit sins? No surely, none are so destitute of understanding. Now if Christ our Lord will look upon that which is done to one of the least of them, which believe in him, as a thing done to himself, then how often will the Pope be found guilty of killing the Lord of Life in his little ones, who believe in him! The innocent blood of multitudes will rise up in witness against him, being shed under his patronage. How many thousands in Ireland! How many thousands in France! How many thousands in Piedmont, and other places, have [Page 34]been slain, under the mystery of iniquity, wherein he is Head, being King over them that have power to hurt men, and might re­strain such Insolencies and Cruelties, if he did disallow thereof! Therefore all these, besides the secret Murders and Conspiracies done by his Indulgences, and besides all the hidden works of darkness done in his cruel Inquisiti­ons, will all press upon him. And yet this Man, whose Sins and Cruelties, and unmer­ciful Massacres reach to Heaven, he must be the Man to forgive men their sins! Oh the blindness and besotted condition of men whom the Lord hath given up to strong delusion! I beseech you let us understand, who they are that are given up to strong delusion to believe a lye, if they be not that train that follows the Pope, and depends upon him for the pardon of their sins. For the strong delusions are to come upon them that follow the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, who exalts himself above all that's called God, and who sits in the Tem­ple of God, as the Pope doth. And so you may find these deluded ones spoken of, as the train of that exalted Man of Sin in the same Chapter with him, 2 Thess. 2.

But the Pope pretends to have power to pardon sins, because Christ gave that power to his Apostles; for he boasts of his Succession to them, especially to Peter. But I aver, that he that is departed and fallen away from the [Page 35]Apostles Spirit and Doctrine, is no true Sucessor to them, nor hath that power which they had. The Apostles were innocent, holy, humble men of heart, not seeking the glory of this World, as the Pope doth; not exercising dominion over mens Faith and Conscience, as the Pope doth; nor lording it over God's He­ritage, as the Pope doth; but were ensamples of piety and holiness to the Flock of Christ. But the Pope walks contrary to their Exam­ple, and to their Doctrine, being a devouring Wolf, where he cannot exercise dominion over mens spirits. He indeed arrogates to himself the title of Holiness, but is far from the life of it, being a ring-leader into wickedness, mur­thers, massacres, perjury, dissimulation, and wicked fraud, encouraging his Children to take Tests or Oaths, so that they may lurk among us like Foxes, under Sheeps cloathing, until they can seize upon their prey. Is not here plainly a departing and falling away from the upright and innocent spirit, and wholesom doctrine of the Apostles? When will your eyes be opened, you that are his Subjects and Slaves? When will you be sensible and under­stand, what manner of Holiness you have set before you to follow! I pray you consider, what is it above and beyond these wickednes­ses, that he shall live in, who is such a Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition? See if you can find out grosser abominations among all that pro­fess [Page 36]Christianity, for which those titles may be put upon any man more justly. So then, seeing he is thus departed and fallen away from the Apostles spirit and doctrine, who will trust to him for the remitting of their sins, who have any good understanding or sound reason left in them, and are not given up to strong delusion to believe a lye?

4. I proceed to a fourth Principle of the Ro­mish Church, viz. That the Church of Rome, whereof the Pope is Head, is the true Church of Christ, and all that depart from them are Hereticks.

That there was once a true Church, and a precious Church of Christ at Rome I grant, while they followed the Doctrine and inno­cent Life of Christ and his holy Apostles: But since they are fallen therefrom, into the mur­thering and lying treacherous spirit, they are become degenerate, and thereby cut themselves off, as a Branch withered is cut off from the Vine.

But here by the way, before I proceed any further, I desire to be rightly understood, that the bent of my Discourse is not against those that are simple-hearted, and harmless among them, and honest according to their knowledg; but it is against the ruling and leading part, (who lead the rest into evil) these are fallen away from Christ, and hold others in bondage, and keep them in captivity, as the Israelites [Page 37]were kept captives in Babylon of old. So there is a people that God calls his people in Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and abo­minations of the Earth: For saith the Scri­pture, Come out of her my people, which words were insignificant, if he had not a people in the midst of Babylon. This being premised, which I desire may be minded all along. I shall now for the finding out of the truth or falshood of this 4th. Principle, put the Questi­on thus, viz.

Whether the present Church of Rome (that is, the ruling leading part, and the ruled part, from the Pope to his meanest Minister or Sub­ject, who are spirited to teach, or actively to put in practice the destructive principles of their Church) be the only true Church of Christ?

Now for the readier finding out of the truth or falshood in this Question, I shall set another by it, which may run parallel with it, to give light to it; namely,

Whether a people teaching, or by principles practising lying, perjury or false swearing, hy­pocrisie and dissimulation, Plots and conspira­cies, to destroy others, assassinations, secret murders, and open massacres, and other such like abominations, and all this with consent and approbation of their Church: Whether such a people be the only true Church of Christ, and all that withdraw from them be Here­ticks?

Thus the Question is truly stated concern­ing the present Church of Rome, as their acti­ons make it manifest; and being thus stated, I think I may leave the deciding of it to the meanest capacity, where there is any grain of honesty left in their hearts towards Christ Je­sus, the Head of his Church: for certainly none will say, that such a Church is the only true Church of Christ, and all others Hereticks, except they have sold themselves to speak wickedly.

Now that the Pope and his Romanists are such a people, they themselves prove by matter of fact; and by their actions they sufficiently declare it to this present Age, which is con­strained for its own security to use the best means it can, to preserve it self from their as­sassinations, stabbings, stranglings, sinothering of their persons, burning of their Houses and Cities, and from their bloody hands, and mer­ciless massacres.

The Church of Christ in the Apostles days was the pillar and ground of truth, upholding and holding forth truth in the World, by teaching it, and by living in it, and so by li­ving a just and innocent harmless life among men, so that they were of no danger to others among whom they lived. But the Church of Rome is come to that, that she is become the pillar and ground of lyes and slanders, of equi­vocation, false accusations, truce-breaking, [Page 39]hypocrisie, to seem one thing and be another to deny or hide their own Principles for wick­ed ends; she is so far fallen from an innocent harmless life, that she is become the pillar and ground of Plots and wicked designs, to con­trive the blowing up of Parliaments, the ru­ine of Nations, the destruction of Kings and Rulers, the massacring of multitudes, and butcherly murthering of thousands of innocent people, that do them no harm. This is the Pope's Roman Church. And here we may stay our selves, and wonder with great admira­tion, as John did when he saw the Woman drunken with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, Rev. 17.6.

This is she that would be counted the only true Church of Christ, and holy Church, and mother Church, and brands all for Hereticks that abhor her abominations. Well might the Apostle wonder with great admiration, when in vision he was shewed by the Angel, that such a degenerate bloody people should rise up under the Name of the Church of Christ.

But is not this she in whom (as it was fore­told) there was to be a falling away, to make way for the revealing of the Man of Sin? And so she is become Mother indeed, but a bloody Mother, not holy Mother; what if we say, Mother of Harlots, and abominations of the earth, according as the great Whore is called, Rev. 17.5.

Whether the present Church of Rome, whereof I speak, be that very great Whore, spoken of in that Chapter or not, I refer it to further judgement; but this is plain, that many if not all of those Characters whereby the great Whore is discovered, do meet toge­ther in the Church of Rome: It will not there­fore be amiss, or beside the mark, to view some or most of them a little, as they are ex­prest in that 17th. Chapter of the Revelati­ons.

In the first Verse she is called by the Angel, The great Whore that sitteth upon many waters. Come hither (saith he to John) and I will shew thee the judgement of the great Whore that sitteth upon many waters: And what these wa­ters are he expounds to John, Ver. 15. The waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth, are Peoples and Multitudes, and Nations and Tongues, which shews the large Dominion that the great Whore shall have; which well enough answers the state and greatness of the Church of Rome, which calls her self Catholick, for her Dominion hath reached far and near. But as for the title of great Whore, how doth that any way answer to Rome's condition? What ground is there for that title in her? This is worthy of consideration. Therefore consider, That a Woman that's married to a Husband, and prostitutes her self to another man, is cal­led a Whore. And so by way of similitude, [Page 41]the Israelites were often charged with whore­dom, because they being a people owned by the Lord, and as it were married to him, yet went a whoring after their own inventions, Psal. 106.39. They went after Baalim and Ashteroth, and the Gods of the Heathens, and did not keep loyal to the Lord and his Com­mands. This was imputed to them for whore­dom. The like thing being done by a people professing themselves to be married to Christ, as his Church, is also counted and called whoredom in them, because they are not faith­ful and loyal to him, but prostitute themselves to other Inventions. This is spiritual whore­dom. Now where is there a people that are run out into so many Inventions of their own, as the Romish Church is run out into? Inven­tions that have no ground at all either from the Doctrine or Practice of Christ, or any of his Apostles. Where have they ground for their daily mumbling over so many Prayers, so many Pater-Nosters, so many Ave-Maries, &c. that they need Beads to number them by as they say them, and as if God were delighted with Lip-labour? Where have they ground to forbid Marriages to their Priests? Where have they ground to forbid Flesh-meat as a case of Conscience, on such and such days? Where have they ground for their Idol, the Mass? for Invocation of Saints and Angels? Where have they ground for carrying about their Host or [Page 42]Sacrifice, and making all do obeisance to it, and worship it? Where have they ground for their idolizing the Cross, and the Pictures of the holy Servants of God, falling down and praying before them, if not to them? Certain­ly God will avenge his holy Apostles and Pro­phets upon them, for thus abusing them, so contrary to that spirit that was in them, who could not endure that men should fall down to their persons, while they were upon Earth, much less now to their Images. In these and many such like things the Pope's Church have run out, after their own Inventions. And this is whoredom against Christ, who was faithful in all his house, (that is, in his Church) as Moses was in his, to teach them the whole counsel of God. Besides all this, the Church of Rome hath taken off her love from him, who is the great Friend of Mankind, and would have us so as he is, and she hath placed it upon him, who is the great Enemy of Mankind, and follows his steps. For they have shut out that Spirit in which Christ comes, and makes his abode with his people, and whereby he forms his own Nature in them, and makes them in­nocent, humble, lowly, meek, merciful, &c. and instead of that, they have let into their bosom the Spirit of the wicked one, whose works Christ came to destroy, and so by that Spirit they have the nature of him that was a murtherer and lyar from the beginning, formed [Page 43]in them, and so uphold the works of the De­vil, which Christ came to destroy in man. What greater whoredom from Christ than this?

Now she that outstrips all others in such like whoredoms, she is the greatest Whore against Christ, if she profess his Name. And how sully the Church of Rome falls under these things, I let others judge, and pass on to fur­ther Discoveries.

Verse 2. It's said, With whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication: And the Inhabiters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. This great Whore hath had power over the Kings of the earth, to bring them into the same state of for­nication or whoredom with her self, even to fall down and prostitute themselves to her In­ventions, and Traditions, and Idolatries, and so to partake of her Spirit. Let the Reader apply it; as also what follows, And the Inha­biters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. She hath mingled a cup of her own Inventions and superstitious Idolatries, and so sweetned it to the palate of earthly-spirited people, that they have drunk it down with delight like wine; but it hath intoxicated them, and made them drunken, so that like drunken men, without any rule over themselves, they are for killing and slay­ing, and like savage beasts, for pushing down, [Page 44]and trampling upon all that shall withstand their drunken humours, and sensless imagina­tions and superstitions, and they need but a watch-word from the Pope to set them on.

Verse 3. Another mark of the great Whore is opened: And he carried me away into the wilderness in the spirit, and I saw the woman sit­ting upon a scarlet coloured beast, sull of names of blasphemy, having seven heads, and ten horns. This Verse, with the Angel's interpretation of it, will give us much light in the matter in hand: Therefore mind the Angel's interpre­tation, Ver. 18. He tells John what that wo­man is, The woman which thou sawest is that great City, which ruleth (or hath a kingdom) over the Kings of the earth: So that you see this woman which is the great Whore, is a great ruling City, reigning over Kings. Then add to this the Angel's interpretation of the seven heads, Ver. 9. The seven heads are seven moun­tains upon which the woman sitteth. So then thus far is plain, That the great Whore is a great ruling City, that reigns over the Kings of the earth, and is situated upon seven moun­tains. This so fully points out Rome, that their own Writers cannot deny it; for it is famous in all Nations for its situation upon se­ven mountains or hills, which are these, viz. Mons Palatinus, Quirinalis, Aventinus, Caelius, Viminalis, Aesquilinus, Capitolinus. Hence this City is called Septiceps, and Septicollis. [Page 45]that is, it hath seven heads, or seven hills Therefore Ovid speaks thus of it,

Rome, which from her seven mountains views round the World, is the place of the Empire, &c.

That's one opening of the seven heads, they are seven hills. The Angel gives it also ano­ther opening, ver. 10. And there are seven Kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come, which also still further points out Rome. These seven Kings are seven Go­vernments; as some observe, Brightman; Rev. 17.10. and five of these were fallen when John wrote the Revelations, and one then was, and another was not yet come at that time, which they thus interpret; Rome from its rise or first original had these Heads: 1. Kings. 2. Consuls. 3. Dicta­tors. 4. Decemviri. 5. Tribunes; and these five were then fallen when John writ the Revelations. 6. Emperors, and that was the then present Government. And the 7th. was not yet come, which was by Popes. Thus both these opinions of the seven heads, meeting together so patly upon Rome, do still confirm that to be the place of the chief residence of the great Whore, where she sitteth or is seat­ed. Some indeed take these seven Kings to [Page 46]be seven particular Emperors, and in that they vary, yet they meet in this, that they belong­ed to Rome; but in my understanding the first is most apt, and so Learned Brightman takes it, quoting, The History of Cornelius Tacitus, for those several Governments of Rome, until the Emperors, for he lived and writ in the first Century after Christ. But I place not much weight upon this, which may admit of dubious disputation, but pass on to other things.

Again, It's said in this same Verse, that this Woman or great Whore sitteth upon a scarlet coloured Beast. Beast is used in Scripture for Dominion and Power, as Dan. 7.3, 17. These great beasts which thou saw are four Kings, or four Governments, &c. Now this beast which the Woman sits upon, is said to be scarlet co­loured, the colour of blood; so the Church of Rome is born up upon a bloody power, being upheld by bloody Cruelties, Inquisitions, Mur­ders, Massacres; so that her sins are as scarlet, wherewith she is clothed: This is true enough of Rome. Or if we take this scarlet colour to set forth the splendor, magnificence, and great­ness of the beast, or power that upholds the great Whore, this also is answered by Rome's Equipage and Pomp.

So put these together now: Scarlet coloured beast relates to that potent and bloody power that upholds the Whore: And great Whore [Page 47]relates to Religion or Worship, and the tem­per of her Spirit, which is degenerated and adulterated with traditions and superstitions, and inventions of men: And the seven heads or mountains relate to her outward situation, or chief place of her residence, which the seven Kings or seven sorts of Government also con­firms, the Angel thereby pointing as with a finger, where to find her chief seat outwardly in the World.

This beast in whom the power resides, is also further described hereby, that it is full of Names of blasphemy. To bring this home to Rome, this I say, That the Names of Holy Fa­ther, his Holiness, God's Vice-gerent, Christ's Vicar upon Earth, Ʋniversal Bishop, Peter 's Successor, Holy Church, Holy Mother, Mother Church, Abbots, (which signifies Fathers) Jesuits, (which signifies Disciples of Jesus) and many other such like Names and Titles, whereby men would shew themselves eminent Servants of God and of Christ, nearly related to him. I say, these and such like Names and Titles, being put upon most unholy and un­godly men, upon superstitious and idolatrous Worshippers, upon bloody and inhumane Butchers, and slaughterers of men, upon such as are teachers and animaters of lying and dis­sembling, and speaking lyes in hypocrisie, upon truce-breakers, false accusers, encoura­gers of men to forswear or perjure themselves, [Page 48]under a cloak of Equivocation, instigaters of acters of Massacres, of Plots and Conspiracies against Rulers and Nations, upon such persons as know these abominations aforehand to be sins, and yet (having their Consciences sear­ed as with a hot Iron) will presumptuously encourage men thereunto, or in defiance of Conscience will rush into such sins, and de­pend upon the Pope's Pardon. I say, such Names and Titles upon such persons, or such a people, is high blasphemy against God, against Christ, and against his holy Servants, to whom they challenge Succession; because such Titles of so near relation, render the God of Chri­stians as a Patron to all ungodliness; they ren­der Christ as a generater and nourisher of a brood of wicked people; they render Christi­anity as a Nursery of more than heathenish ab­surdities, and inhumane abominations; they render Christ Jesus, and Peter, as Teachers of wicked Plots and Conspiracies. What can tend more to blaspheme, that is, to defame that holy Name of God and of Christ, where­by we are called? What can more blast the Fame (as the word Blasphemy imports) of that innocent Lamb of God, and of his holy Apostles, by whom the profession of Christia­nity was planted in the Earth? Well may the Jews, Turks, Infidels, abhor the Name of Chri­stianity, looking upon it through the corrupt lives, and deceitful and savage actions of those, [Page 49]that by such Names and Titles profess them­selves, to be so great Masters of that professi­on, and the chief upholders of it. Thus the Name of God and of Christ is greatly blasphe­med, by the ruling Party of the Romish Church, who dignifie themselves with such Names and Titles, so nearly relating to Christ, and yet live in such abominations, as are so abhorring to his Nature.

Again, This scarlet coloured beast on which the Whore sits, is said to have ten horns, that's expounded by the Angel to be ten Kings, ver. 12. And these must agree to give their kingdom unto the beast, until (an appointed time, that is, until) the words of God shall be fulfilled, ver. 17. And then they shall hate the Whore, and make her desolate and naked. She hath reigned over the Kings of the Earth, and they have committed fornication with her; but God will put it into their hearts at last to hate the Whore, and make her desolate; and good cause, when there is no fidelity to be found in her, except they be absolute slaves to her, to do what she will have them to do.

Object. Thus this 3d. Verse, together with the Angel's interpretation of it, doth so fully point at Rome, that seven-headed, or seven-hilled City, that the Popish Writers have con­fessed it to be Rome; only they frame this eva­sion, (which stands need to be answered, [Page 50]before I pass from it) viz. That this great Whore is not Rome present, but Heathen Rome, that is, Rome under the Government of the persecuting Emperors, (who were be­fore Constantine the Great) who in their time persecuted the Christians, and shed much blood: Which thing, say they, put John to great ad­miration, as is exprest ver. 6. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I wondred with great admira­tion. This, they say, was to see so much Chri­stian blood shed by the persecuting Empe­rors.

Answ. But, I pray you, what great ad­miration, or new admiration, could that put John to, to see open Enemies of Christians drunk with their blood? Or what new thing was this to John, who was a companion in tribulation, with those that suffered persecu­tion in those times, which he had seen before he writ this Book of the Reuelations? This could not procure such new admiration, to make him wonder so much; but the ground of so great admiration lay here, To see a peo­ple (in vision) to rise up under that Name, that was then persecuted, and under a great profession of Christianity, to have them re­presented to him to be drunk with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, while they so highly professed Jesus; [Page 51]here was ground indeed of astonishment to John. But it's a weak and silly thing to turn this off from Rome present, to Rome heathen, under the persecuting Emperors, as some of no small Note do, whom at present I forbear to name. Suppose any of us had lived in the days of John, and had seen such persecutions as he had seen, and had been a companion in the same tribulation, under open professed Enemies, would this be such a matter of won­der to us, to have it represented to us over again in vision? No, the frequency of a thing takes away the wondring at it, especially with so great admiration. But to see a new thing, so strange a thing, so contrary to the nature of the thing: In plainer words, to see Chri­stians drunk with the blood of Christians, to see so high professing Christians, who would honour almost every thing that appertained to Christ; honour his Mother, honour his Apo­stles, honour his very Sepulchre, and the very Cross upon which he was crucified, yea, the very images of a Cross for his sake, if I may not say adore them: A people that should keep days in memorial of the Birth, of the Suffering, of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ; keep days in memorial of his holy Apostles, and sing forth their praises in their solemn Assemblies and publick Worships, and magnifie themselves as the only Church of Christ, and count all others who joyn not [Page 52]with them in these things to be Hereticks: To have such a people represented as drunk with the blood of Christians, drunken with the blood of Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus, (a thing so contrary to what they bear a pro­fession of) here was matter of wonder indeed, to cause John to wonder with great admirati­on, as is expressed, ver. 6. And this now apt­ly agrees with the title of the great Whore, which title the persecuting Emperors did not so fitly bear, seeing they never owned Christ as their Head and Husband, nor themselves to be his Spouse. But Rome that now is, doth challenge this near relation to him, and yet doth these things against those that profess him, as well as her self.

Thus you see how fully the Spirit of the Lord doth discover the state of degenerate Rome, by what hath already been signified to us: And I might here pass on to other Prin­ciples; but because they are so highly exalted in this conceit, and it is so rooted a Principle among them, that they are the only true Church of Christ, I shall desire the Reader's patience, to view also what further discovery is left us upon record, in the two next following Ver­ses of this 17th. Chap. viz. in ver 4. and 5.

Ver. 4. And the woman was arayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls, that is, with all the glory of this World, with which bait the [Page 53]Devil would have catched Christ himself, but could not. But the Church of Rome hath swallowed down the bait, and for the glory of this World hath stooped to his terms, to bow down to him, and let in his Spirit, who was a lyar and murtherer from the beginning, and so she hath her reward, the pomp and glo­ry of this World. And she holds forth also a golden cup to the Nations, to make them drink of the same cup of fornication with her, as it follows in this Verse; Having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations, and filthiness of her fornication. This aptly sets forth the Worship of the great Whore, and the wine wherewith she makes the Nations drunk. This wine is the wine of her fornication, and it's in her Cup, which Cup is in her hand, and beautiful to look at, being golden, or guilded with gold. She carries the Cup of her wor­ship in her hand; it's external or outward for a shew, not internal and in the spirit; it lyes in that which her own hand hath formed, and carved out to her self, according to her own devices. And it is always ready, being com­posed and bundled up for any one in Orders, even the vilest and wickedest person among them to carry in his hand, and offer up. And it hath a fine golden outside to look upon, to please the eye; her worship is sumptuous and glorious enough outwardly to the eye; and she hath also guilded it with all the daintiest [Page 54]expressions that she could pick out of the Scri­ptures to please the ear; and composed Songs, and Anthems, and Hymns, and prepared Or­gans and musical Instruments, and Quires of Singers to accompany them, to elevate the minds of people, as if they were wrapt up in a heavenly melody for a while. But look with­in the Cup, and what's there? There's Forni­cation, Superstition, Will-worship, Idolatry, falling down before Images, and Pictures, and Crucifixes, worshipping of Saints and Angels, which God never commanded, nor they ever suffered men to do to them, but forbad them. They come not behind Nebuchadnezzar in their worship, when he caused all to fall down and worship the Image which he had set up, when they heard the sound of the Cornet, Flute, Harp, Sackbut, Psaltery, Dulcimer, and all kinds of Musick; nor much behind him for Fire and Faggor, to devour those that will not worship with them. We read but of one Furnace that he caused to be heated, to burn dissenters in; but they have burnt multitudes of dissenters, who would not consent to their worship, witness Smithfield, and other places in Queen Maries days. Add hereunto the ma­ny Murthers done otherways, by Inquisitions, and bloody Massacres, her unsatiable blood­thirstiness, and blood-guiltiness. So that you see, although the Cup of Rome's worship be a golden Cup to look at, yet within it's full of [Page 55]filthiness of her fornication, it's full of dead mens bones, and all uncleanness, like the paint­ed Sepulchres of the Pharisees. Israel's wor­ship, which was of God's own appointment, became an abomination to him, (so that his soul hated it) for these two things, (which Rome is eminently guilty of) one was, Because their hands were full of blood, Isa. 1.13, 14, 15. The other was, Because they had chosen their own ways, and their soul delighted in their abo­minations, Isa. 66.3. Now for Rome's wor­ship, it's of her own forming, not of God's in­stitution; and for blood, her hands are fuller of that than ever Israel's was; and for supersti­tious inventions, Israel cannot compare with her. Therefore her worship must needs be more detestable and abominable in the sight of the Lord, than Israel's was; being also aggra­vated hereby, that whereas Israel was but un­der types and shadows, as under a Schoolmaster; but she lives in the days of greater light, under the ministration of the second Covenant, or new Covenant, which far excels the first Co­venant in the glory of its light, 2 Cor. 3.10. So that for her now with bloody hands, and with deceitful dissembling hearts, to approach to worship the Lord, this must needs be an abomination. Judge in your selves, I desire you, ye of the Romish Church, what acceptance this can have with the Lord; for a people that plots and contrives the subversion of King­doms [Page 56]and sticks not to poison, or stab, or murder those, that they fear may hinder their wicked designs, who barbarously massacre people more merciful than themselves, who are manifested thereby to partake more of the heavenly nature than they: For a people that sets up to themselves Stocks and Stones, Ima­ges and Pictures in abundance, and falls down before them, and bows themselves to the work of their own hands, and prays to them that are no Gods, nor present in all places with them to hear their prayers; a people that turn away in their hearts from the living God, and think to make Men and Angels their Interces­sors; for such a people to approach before the Lord, and sing forth their Anthems and Alle­lujahs unto God. Judge ye if this worship be not abominable, and like the painted Sepul­chres, which appear beautiful outward, but within are full of dead mens bones and filthi­ness, yea, and full of dead mens blood too, which cryes to the Lord under the Altar, How long Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And yet Rome would paint over all these abominations, to blind the eyes of men, that she may seem holy in the practice of all these things. She will tell you, that all these that she kills, are Hereticks, and it's no sin to kill them. She will tell you, that she doth not [Page 57]worship Pictures and Images, (though she bow down to them) but she doth it in ho­nour to God; and such like shifts and mists she casts over her actions, to blind the carnal eye, and leave it in a mist. And therefore how fitly doth the Spirit of God meet with her jug­ling evasions, and fixes this as one of the marks of the great Whore upon her forehead, as a Name written, viz. Mystery, as it follows in the next Verse, which comes now to be consi­dered.

Ver. 5. And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mothes of harlots, and abominations of the earth.

This is the Name that the Spirit of God fix­es upon the forehead of the great Whore, My­stery. She commits Whoredom and Idolatry in a mystery; she sheds innocent blood in abundance, and yet in a mystery. She would not be thought to be an Idolatress, nor to commit Whoredom, nor to be a Murderer; she would juggle you out of a belief of that which your eye sees, and your ears sufficiently hear of her; here is mystery indeed, but it is the mystery of iniquity, not the mystery of plain-hearted godliness. And this Name is set in such a place, that it's easie to read it; it's set where she cannot hide it, if she do but shew her face, it stands upon her forehead. The Front of all her Zeal carries Blood and Idolatry written in it, but yet vailed, and you [Page 58]must not believe it to be so. Though you should see her prostrate her self before her Idols, you must not take her to be an Idolatress; though you should be attempted to be slain by her hands, and though you should see many massacred round about you, yet you must not take her to be a Murderer; and though you should hear her Children lye to your face, and prove themselves lyars by their actions, yet you must not take this to be lying; yea, though they forswear and perjure themselves, yet you must not take this to be swearing out of truth: But you must take her to be a holy Mother, and pious worshipper of God, under Idolatry; and a charitable tender-hearted Mother, in the midst of Massacres; and a maintainer of truth by lyes, and perjury, and equivocations. She is an exact observer of the footsteps of her grand Champion, to walk thereafter, who though he be never so wicked, yet you must reverence his Holiness.

Again, Another part of her Name is Baby­lon the great. Names of many things under the Old Testament, are applied to like things under the New: As Prayers and Thanksgivings are sometimes called Sacrifices and Incense; New Covenant is called Mount Sion, and Je­rusalem, &c. So Babylon, and Sodom, and Egypt, are words sometimes used to express a like people by. There be three or four things remarkable in Rome, for which the Name [Page 59] Babylon is put upon her: 1. Confusion, and so the word Babylon and Babel signifie; for Rome hath confounded all things under the New Covenant, with her traditions and su­perstitious inventions. 2. As Babylon of old was a place of great Idolatry, so also is Rome: Read but the Epistle of the Prophet Jeremy to them, that were captives to be carried to Ba­bylon, and you may see how like they are; you may find it in the Apocrypha, Baruch 6.4, 5. Ye shall see in Babylon, gods of silver and of gold, and of wood, born upon shoulders, which cause the Nations to fear. Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye afraid of them when ye see the multitude before them and behind them worshipping them. Thus it is also in the streets of the great City, mysti­cal Babylon, Rome, and among her Children, when they go about the streets with their Host, besides all the rest of their Idolatry com­mitted in their places of Worship, and in se­cret. 3. As Babylon of old was exalted above all, and call'd Lady of Kingdoms, Isa. 47.5. and the glory of Kingdoms, Isa. 13.19. So Rome ex­alts her self in like manner, and calls her self Mother Church, and Caput omnium Ecclesiarum, i.e. the Head of all the Churches, and sits as Queen over all in her own exalted mind. But then 4 thly and lastly, Rome is most fitly call'd Babylon, because she holds the seed of God in bondage and captivity. Whom she leads captive [Page 60]once, she will hardly let them escape without danger of their lives, or cruel torments in her Inquisitions; they must become perfect slaves to her Superstitions, Will-worships and Idola­tries. And what bondage is like to this? that people to whom God hath given reason and understanding, shall not make use of it, but lay it aside, and submit wholly to the under­standings or rather wills of others, though it be against their own, and so be urged to sub­mit to that which is against the light in their own Consciences: And this is the greatest bondage and captivity of all; and therefore well may Rome be called Babylon the great.

She is also called Mother of Harlots, and abominations of the earth. She brings forth Harlots, that is, such Children as go a who­ring with her after her Inventions. Those that in tenderness of Conscience, and in sub­jection to the words of Christ, (who said, In vain do you worship me after the traditions of men) will not joyn with them in their inven­ted traditions and superstitions, such she owns not for her Children; she will be no Mother or Nurse to such, but seeks to murder them in cold blood, as none of hers: she will be on­ly Mother of Harlots, that can prostitute themselves with her, to her Idolatries and In­ventions; and if they can do that, it shall not break the band between them, although they be common Harlots in the vulgar sence; but she will remain their Mother.

She is also Mother of abominations in the earth. Not only Mother of abominations in Worship, and superstitious Inventions, but also Mother of abominations in the earth; abominations as to the civil life of men, with­out the consideration of worship; abominati­ons to men, as they are men living upon the earth. To manifest this, I shall quote one Scripture, and then her own actions will te­stifie the truth of it against her: It is Prov. 6.16, 17, 18, 19. These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven are abomination to him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginati­ons, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lyes, and him that soweth discord among brethren. Now see and judge, if Rome be not Mother of these abomina­tions. Who more lofty in spirit, than the Pope and his Romanists? Can any compare with him who exalts himself over all, makes his Car­dinals as Princes, his Bishops and whole Cler­gy as great men, and makes his whole Train dispise others, as Hereticks, not worthy to live in the earth? Here's a proud look indeed. And for a lying tongue, Rome's Children are so pregnant with that, that one cannot tell how to believe either what they say, or what they swear. How miserably were the Prote­stants in Ireland cheated by them, by fair pro­mises and deep oaths, that they would secure [Page 62]their Goods for them, (in the time of that bloody Massacre) and yet when they had got them into their hands, refused to restore them, yea, and afterwards murthered them? And so 3dly, They have hands that shed innocent blood, none like them for that. 4thly, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. Whose hearts are so full of wicked imaginati­ons, Plots, Conspiracies, and devices of Cru­elty, as Rome's Children? 5thly, Whose feet are swifter in running to mischief than the Pa­pists, who in one brunt can cut off so many thousands by Massacres, before they make an end? Their feet are speedy to do mischief, when they get but the opportunity. 6thly, An­other abomination is a false witness that speaketh Lyes. If we go no further than this year, how have they endeavoured to choak all true re­ports among us, with their lyes and falshoods? Witness the false reports and lying stories that they gave forth, about the death of Worthy Godfrey, till the truth appeared by Evidence, and could no longer be hid. 7thly and lastly, He that saweth discord among brethren, is also one of the abominations in the earth. This is one of Rome's Principles, Divide & impera, Divide and then command: Divide, what's that but sowing of discord, destroying of con­cord, setting one against another, that she may fish in troubled waters? Whether she made the former division and discord between the [Page 63]late foregoing King, and the People, or no, I will not say; but if they did, it's but accor­ding to their Principle. Thus you see Rome is a fruitful Mother of abominations of the earth.

And now you may also at leisure view all these things over again, and see how pertinent all these Characters of the great Whore are to Rome; they fit her as a garment that sits close and compleat upon a man's back. And why then we should be afraid to look upon her, as that great Whore here described by the Angel to John, I know no reason; especially if we add that which follows in the 6th. Ver. of this 17th. Chap. viz. And I saw the Woman (that is, the great City seated on seven Hills) drunk­en with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus: And when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration. But having spoken of this afore, and shewed that it must be Rome professing Christianity, and not hea­then Rome, that caused this great admiration; I forbear to speak more of it now.

I say, till Rome shew the contrary to these Characters, by a better lise and conversation, they will rest upon her. And it's not by her poysoning and stabbing, fire and faggot, In­quisitions and Massacres, that she can clear her self: No, that way confirms and fixes these marks more fully upon her; the more she seeks to wipe off the stains of blood that are upon her, by such means, the more and greater they still appear.

And now for the deciding of the Question in hand, which all that I have said tends to: Let any that have any reason of their own to make use of, and any honesty and faithfulness in their hearts towards God and Christ Jesus our Lord, judge and determine the Question; Whether this Church of Rome, so guilty of these things, be the only true Church of Christ now, and all others that draw from her be Hereticks? I hope whosoever considers these things, will easily be convinced, that the withdrawing from this Church of Rome, doth not make a man a Heretick. I also further af­firm, That he is no Heretick that doth justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly with God, because these are the weighty things which the Lord requires in man. He is no Heretick that abides in the Doctrine of Christ, and in the innocent life of Christianity; but he is the Heretick that strives against these things to overthrow them, to overthrow the Doctrine of Christ, to overthrow innocency, truth, just and upright walking, and mercy. In every Nation, he that fears God and works righte­ousness, is accepted of him, therefore cannot be a Heretick; but he that casts the fear of God behind his back, and works the works of him that was a Lyar and Murderer from the beginning he is the Heretick, because he hath chosen Inventions and false Doctrines of his own to follow, contrary to the Lord's re­quirings. [Page 65]Having done now with this Prin­ciple, wherewith they so magnifie themselves, and would frighten others, I proceed to the next.

5. The 5th. Principle I named is this, That out of the Church is no salvation; Extra Ecclesi­am non est salus, say they.

This is to be understood of their Church: And that being sufficiently laid open by their own practice, I think it needs no further evi­dence to disprove it, unless people will needs believe that there is no salvation but among blood-thirsty Murderers, and Lyars, and false Swearers, and such like.

But observe the craft and cunning of this Principle, which Rome makes use of to her own advantage. First, It serves as a Decoy to draw in the simple among them, under hopes that there they may find salvation. Se­condly, It serves as a Jaylor to keep them in, when they are in; for thereby they terrifie them, as if it were damnation to depart from their Church, yea, or to entertain thoughts, that others who are out of their Church can be saved; for out of the Church, say they, there is no salvation, and they would have you be­lieve that there is no true Church but theirs, and so out of their Church there is no salvati­on. This they would make men believe, al­though by their fruits the Lord hath made them manifest to be a Nursery of abominati­ons.

But put case that the Church of Rome were the only true visible Church; or understand any other true visible Church, any people whatsoever, gathered and constituted into a visible body; yet even in such a case, I do not see how it can hold true, that out of that Church there is no salvation. Let those that are otherwise minded prove it; for my part, it is plain to me, according to the Scripture, That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him: And that God will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immor­tality, (to them he will render) eternal life, Rom. 2.6, 7. And again upon this occasion, when a Centurion (being a stranger as to Is­rael, which was then the Church) came to Jesus to have his Servant healed of the Palsie, and desired him but to speak the word, and his Servant should be healed; hereupon Christ said, I have not found so great saith, no not in Israel. And then he adds further these words, And I say unto you, that many shall come from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; but the Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness, Mat. 8.11. Luk. 13.29. What signifies this, but that many Children of a visible Church shall be cast out, when as [Page 67]many others that appear not of it, shall come from all parts, and sit down in the Kingdom of Heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Sixthly, Another of their Principles is this, Fides non est servanda cum Haereticis, that is, Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks. If Jo­shua had been under the Church of Rome's Doctrine, he would not have kept faith with the Gibeonites, when they obtained a league with Israel by craft: But he had a better in­structer than the Pope, and gave better in­struction; and therefore both he, and the Princes of Israel, would not that the Gibeonites should perish, because of the league and peace made with them, and because they had sworn unto them, yea, although these Gibeonites were of the Nations that were to be rooted out. So great authority had an Oath and Covenant, and did so greatly oblige at that day, as you may read, Josh. 9. But the Pope, he can tram­ple upon all Solemn Oaths, Leagues and Co­venants whatsoever, and break all bonds at pleasure, yea, and all bounds of humanity, and solemn Engagements, when he pleases, if he do but say, They are Hereticks with whom the League is made. What is it that can bind him, or his Disciples? Therefore in the end who will trust the Papists, to make any league with them, or at leastwise depend upon that league with security, and not rather secure themselves against them as well as they can? [Page 68]Time was when an Oath or Covenant gave rest to people; but now it can give none to people of another profession, that have to deal with the Papists, because faith is not to be kept with them, as they say: Thus they are fallen from the fidelity of mankind, to the deceitful tricks of Satan. Formerly men rested in one another's friendship, and ceased from strife and controversie, and fear one of ano­ther, when they had passed their Oath, be­cause it was then an immutable thing among men, and so an Oath was the end of all strife, as you may read it was so between Laban and Jacob, Gen. 31. And the same immutability and weight that was in an Oath among good men, the same immutability and stedfastness Christ Jesus did require in words under his Mi­nistration, Let your yea be yea, and nay be nay: But the Papists hold to neither of these, nei­ther to truth in Words, nor truth in Oaths. So that you may plainly see, that herein the Pope and his Children, and Confederates in Antichristianism, are faln away, not only from Christ's Doctrine, but also from the fi­delity of that first Ministration, which said, Thou shalt not forswear thy self. We are com­manded to put away Lying, Eph. 4.25. But false Swearing and Covenant breaking is the height of Lying: Lye not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds, saith the Apostle, Col. 3.9. But the Pope [Page 69]teaches his Children to put on the old man and his deeds, and to give themselves up to Lying, and false Swearing, and Covenant breaking; whereof many instances might be produced; take these two or three: About the year 1444. (if Bucholcer compute aright) when the Turke and Christians had confirmed a Truce between them, by solemn Oaths on both sides, Euge­nius the Pope writ to Cardinal Julian thus, Nullum valere faedus quod se inconsulto cum ho­stibus Religionis percussum esset; that is, That no Covenant was of force, which was made with the enemies of Religion, without his advice. Whereupon the Truce was broken with the Turks, and they thought perfidiously to have surprized them; but the vigilant Turk Amu­rates was too nimble for them, and had pre­pared a great Army to meet them, which was done so suddenly, that it was first seen be­fore it was heard of, which struck great ter­ror into the Pope's Army; and after a great slaughter on both sides, the Turks went away Conquerors, whereby providence would have taught them, That faith was to be kept with enemies, though enemies of Religion. And so Aeneas Sylvius was convinced, before he was made Pope; for, saith he, speaking of this War, Victores evadunt Turcae, qui juramenta non solum domesticis fidei, sed etiam hostibus ser­vanda demonstrant: The Turks go a [...] Conque­rers, who shew, that Oaths of fidel [...] eye to be [Page 70]kept not only with the housholds of faith, but also with enemies. Whether this Aeneas might condemn the same again afterwards or not, I know not; for he writ things before he was Pope, which he condemned after he was made Pope; whence this scoff was put upon him, Aeneas probavit, Pius damnavit; Aeneas ap­proved it, but Pius condemned it, for he was call'd Pius secundus after he was made Pope: Sure there is a curse of Error adheres to the Pope's Chair, and not a blessing of Infallibili­ty. But to keep to the thing in hand: How treacherously was the Noble Admiral Coligni slain, and thrown out at a Window at Paris, contrary to promise, and Oaths of security! And at the same time many thousands of Pro­testants murthered. Parry a Papist, and Ser­vant to Queen Elizabeth, though he had se­veral times sworn to be true to her, yet for all that sought to kill her, Because faith is not to be kept with Hereticks. You see how safe it is for Protestants to keep Papists about them; for such murtherous actions is one of the Papists works of Supererogation, for which they me­rit to be canonized for Saints among the Pope's Catalogue. This Perfidiousness of the Roman Catholicks is so notoriously known among Protestant Nations, and especially of late among our selves, that there needs no further de­monstration thereof, than the treacherous concealed Murders of several among us very [Page 71]lately, who, it's very probable, have been trappann'd, under fawning and fair pretences, into snares, where they have lost their life, as Worthy Godfrey loft his.

I am now come to the last Principle which I named, which is as the close of these bloody Principles and Practices of the Papists, viz.

7. That it is no sin to kill a Heretick, or at leastwise it shall not be imputed to them as a sin; but rather is a meritorious work to de­stroy Hereticks, whether they be Kings or People, Noble or Ignoble, so that it be for the advantage of their Church.

This serves as a Spur to prick forward the Pope's Train to such bloody work; especially when they see such as are most active therein, canonized for Saints, and so highly magni­fied.

I question not but many of them may be spurred forward in themselves, with the desire of gain, to enrich themselves in the ruine of others, and with other the like sordid and earthly Considerations. But I let that pass, and apply my self to this Principle of theirs, as a Case of Conscience only.

I suppose they will not deny this Principle to be theirs: If they do, their practice will make them lyars; by their murtherous acti­ons, and wicked Plots and Designs against the Protestants to destroy them, together with their Honour that they put upon such wicked practitioners.

To overthrow this Principle of theirs, there is no need of much labour therein: For it so fully manifests it self to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ, and end of his Coming, and also opposite to the Doctrine and Command of Christ, that every Boy that can read the Scriptures may easily perceive it.

First, As to its contrariety to the Spirit of Christ, and end of his Coming, he himself shews it plainly. When James and John, out of their great respect and love to him, and zeal they had for him, would have called for fire down from Heaven, to consume those that did not receive him, He turned and rebu­ked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of: For the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them, Luk. 9.54, 55, 56. What can be more plainly spoken to shew, that this way of destroying mens lives, for his sake, or because they do not receive him, is contrary to the Spirit of Christ, and end of his Coming. Therefore suppose that the Pope's Church were infallibly in the truth, (which yet is not granted, but admit so) and that the Protestants were most certainly in error, yet for them to destroy the Protestants upon that account, this is far worse than James's and John's action; for they did but desire, with subjection to Christ, to do what they would have done; but these, not sub­jecting themselves to Christ's words, kill and [Page 73]burn the Protestants, and destroy mens lives, out of a blind, incorrigible, furious zeal, where­by they greatly aggravate their wickedness.

Secondly, This Principle and Practice of theirs, is directly opposite to the Doctrine and Command of Christ, which he taught his Disciples, Mat. 13.24, &c. where he first teaches the People by a Parable, and then gives his Disciples the Interpretation of it. The Parable is of the Tares of the Field, which sprang up among the good Seed. And the Servants of the Master of the Field came to him and said, Sir, didst not thou sowe good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He saith unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. This Para­ble is as a Question stated on purpose, and de­termined by Christ himself, to put an end to all such thoughts or doubts, Whether the Children of the Kingdom, may root out the Children of the wicked One, out of the World. Mind therefore how Christ expounds his own Parable; and it is a presumptuous wresting of the truth of it, to divert it to any other sence; [Page 74]for who knows the meaning of a Parable so well as he that gives it, especially as the Lord that gave it. At the request of his Disciples, who said, Declare unto us the Parable of the tares of the field, he opened it to them, ver. 37. and so forward. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, the good seed ar [...] the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the Angels. Now read the Parable as Christ hath expound­ed it: The Servants of Christ the Son of man dis­cover tares, (that is, Children of the wicked one) sprung up in the field ( the world) where Christ sowed good seed (that is, Chil­dren of the Kingdom.) They state this Questi­on to Christ, and ask him, Wilt thou that we go and gather them up (or root them out?) here's the Question: Now Christ's determin­ing of it follows, But he said, nay; and with­all gives a reason why they should not, lest while ye gather up the tares, (the children of the wicked one) ye root up also with them the wheat (the children of the Kingdom.) Then he gives a positive Precept or Command, Let hoth grow together until the harvest (the end of the world.) And to satisfie his Servants, and stay their minds from further enquiry, or doubt in this matter, he tells them upon whom he [Page 75]will put this work: In the time of harvest (at the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, (the Angels) Gather ye together first the tares, (the children of the wicked one) and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat, (the children of the Kingdom) into my barn. What can be more clearly exprest to shew, That the Children of the Kingdom, are not to root up or destroy the Children of the wick­ed one out of the World? But they are here­by plainly commanded to let both grow toge­ther in the Field, (that is, in the World) until the end of the World. Now admit, (which yet is not granted) That the Papists were in very deed the Children of the King­dom, and that the Protestants were the Chil­dren of the wicked one, and pestilent Here­ticks, as they please to term them; yet you see what Rebels these Papists are against the Doctrine and Command of Christ, in seeking to root them out; and what incorrigible usur­pers and intruders they are, who thrust them­selves upon that work, which Christ hath de­clared shall be the work of the Angels by his appointment.

So now you may plainly see, that the Pa­pists, as they are fallen from the Spirit of Christ, so also they are fallen from the Doctrine of Christ, into plain disobedience, and rebel­lion against him. And therefore if any of them shall out of zeal seek to destroy Hereticks, you [Page 76]see their zeal is but a blind zeal without know­ledge; they that do so, are ignorant of God, and of Christ, and his Doctrine; for that's the reason that Christ gives of a bloody zeal; These things will they do unto you, because they know neither the Father nor me. It may be they can talk high things of God and of Christ with their tongues, but I say they know him not; they know not the divine Nature, nor are par­takers of it, and therefore are they of a bloody zeal. Let the Priests, Jesuits, Monks, Con­fessors, or Pope himself, scorn it as much as they will, yet, I say, such know him not; bloody-minded men know not God the Fa­ther, nor Christ Jesus; they have no fellow­ship with his Spirit, being acted by him that was a Murderer from the beginning.

I have now done with these their unsound and erroneous Principles, whereby they ani­mate their people, and harden their Conscien­ces to run on into mischief: And I hope the error and wickedness of these Principles will be plain to the meanest capacities, by the Scri­ptures of truth produced to disprove them.

I shall now set before you a few better Prin­ciples, for them to meditate on, which will better abide the tryal, being according to plain Scripture, and which will bring more peace at the last, to those that are found walking ac­cording to them; whereby also you may take some Prospect of the dangerous Paths of the Leaders of the Papists.

1. That Jesus Christ came into the world to save mens lives; not to destroy them, and therefore would not suffer his Disciples to be destroyers, Luk. 9.56. From this Principle it's easie for any to draw this Inference, That therefore destroyers and murderers are not of him, but of their Father, that was a murderer from the beginning.

2. That Jesus Christ came a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in him, and fol­loweth him, should not abide in darkness, Joh. 12.46. But should have the light of life, Joh. 8.12. Hence you may safely infer, That he that keeps people in darkness, and makes them believe that Ignorance is the Mother of Devo­tion, doth not walk in the steps of Christ, but opposes this end of his Coming, to enlighten the World.

3. That the not knowing the Scripture, and power of God, is a cause of error, for so Christ taught, Mat. 22.29. Hence it's plain, That depriving people of the use of the Scriptures, which testifie of Christ, (the power of God) is not the way to keep them out of error, but to keep them in it.

4. That Christ Jesus our Lord came to esta­blish truth in the Earth, and to extirpate falshood not only in Oaths and Covenants, according to the first ministration, but even in every little word, without swearing; therefore he teacheth, Let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay, Mat. 5.37 [Page 78]This Inference easily follows hereupon, That they that speak lyes in hypocrifie, do not give heed to him, and his Spirit, but to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils, as the Apo­stle witnesseth, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2. And therefore Lyars are excluded the Kingdom, Rev. 21.27. and Gh. 22.15.

5. That our Lord and Master Christ Jesus humbled himself, and became of no reputation, and we are bid to be like minded, Phil. 2.5, 6, 7. He was meek and lowly in heart, and bids us learn of him, Mat. 11.29. Hence we may take notice, That exalted Spirits, fierce and high-minded Spirits, who seek the greatness and glory of this World, are no good exam­ples to follow, because they have not learned that of Christ.

6. That he that humbles himself as a little Child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 18.4. Then he is not the great­est, that exalts himself above all, as the Pope doth. God beholds the proud afar off, Psal. 138.6. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, Mat. 23.12.

7. That Christ Jesus our Captain and Lord, came to set up a peaceable Kingdom, consisting of a people, peaceable, harmless and innocent in the World. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain, saith he, Isa. 11.9. Then he came not to beget or bring forth a turbulent fort of Plotters, Contrivers, and Actors of [Page 79]mischief and violence, so contrary to his own nature. Where will such hurters and destroy­ers find place in all God's holy Mountain?

8. As ye would that men should do unto you, so do ye unto them; this is Christ's Doctrine, and the sum of the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 7.12. Ponder this you destructive Plotters, Jesuits, Priests, Confessors, &c. Would you have others seek your ruine? Would you have others to lye to you, to deceive you, till they could destroy you? Are your Consciences so far sear­ed, or your Understandings blinded, that you are not able to judge aright in this case con­cerning your selves, and then concerning others? Or do you see these things, viz. that you do those things, which you would not have done to you, and yet in defiance of Christ's Doctrine, will continue to go on in doing so? Consider your ways, and take warning; you will find it hard kicking against the pricks. How far are you from doing as you would be done by, when as you use them despitefully that harm you not!

9. The Ministers of Christ, they used only spi­ritual weapons, for the propagating of the Church of Christ: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but yet mighty, (being spiritual) saith the Apostle; and so they were such as reached the Understanding and Conscience, to bring down high imaginations, and every thought, into obedience to Christ, 2 Cor. 10.4. The [Page 80]Pope's Ministers seek to propagate their Church with carnal weapons, such as cannot inform the Understanding and Conscience; therefore they are altogether unlike the true Ministers of the Gospel in their way. In what rank of the Ministers of Christ then will you appear, that use such weapons for your work, when every man's work shall come to tryal?

10. Christ Jesus sets before us the example of our heavenly Father to follow, in doing good against evil, that we may be worthy to be ac­counted his Children, Mat. 5.44, 45. How far then are they from doing good against evil, that do evil to them that seek not their hurt! How shall we account them Children of our heavenly Father?

11. We are to follow men as they follow Christ, 1 Cor. 11.1. Because he left us an example that we should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21. Hence we may infer, That it's needful that men know the Scriptures, that they may be acquainted with the life and conversation of Christ, and so knowing his spirit and life, they may be able thereby to judge of the steps of those they fol­low; for otherwise how shall they judge of mers steps by his? Is not this the reason then, why you leaders of the Papists, keep your peo­ple from the free use of the sincere Scriptures of truth, that they being ignorant thereof, you may lead them as you please?

12. Christ Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the faithful and true Witness, whose words were so established in truth, that though Heaven and Earth pass away, yet his words shall not pass away, Mat. 24.35. Solomon also witnesses, that the lip of truth shall be establish­ed for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. How long then will your deceitful tongue bear you out, whose words are full of lying and slandering reports, and whose oaths are full of equivocation and mental reserves; to make your tongue utter to the Understandings of men a false thing? Is this the lip of truth, that belyes the Mind? Is not speech given for this end, to utter the Mind? Where have you any example, or precept, or consent for this deceit, either from Christ, or any of his fol­lowers? Who then that would follow Christ, can follow you? Are not you to be turned away from, as persons leading out of the foot­steps of him, that was and is the faithful and true Witness?

I shall not multiply more: These few Prin­ciples, if men did live in them, (as they ought to do if they be Christians) how peaceably, how securely, how comfortably might they live together in the World, though of several perswasions in many points of outward obser­vations about Worship. But what peace, what security, what rest can men have among those who are bloody-minded, and deceitful, and [Page 82]treacherous, giving themselves up to speak lyes in hypocrisie? who are among men, as Beasts of prey among the Flocks? as Lions lurking in their dens, watching for the prey? If there be any room left in your hearts, ye Romanists, for consideration of your ways, I entreat you, for your own good, ponder with your selves a little, and consider your latter end, and the Judgement that will follow, when the impartial Judge will bring every thing to light, and render to every man ac­cording to his deeds done in the body. What plea will you then have, when he shall say to evil doers, Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity?

The wickedness now of the foregoing Prin­ciples of the Papists being laid open, and upon good grounds rejected, and some better Prin­ciples, according to Scripture, set before them, yielding more peace among men, and in a man's own Conscience also, and better hopes of fu­ture happiness; I shall now touch a little their great Bulwarks or Props, whereby they up­hold this their Kingdom of darkness, upon these rotten Principles: And they are these two principally, namely, Cruelty and Ignorance; and these are like two Arms, wherewith they hold fast their Subjects.

There be many other things accompanying these, as Lyes, Slanders, Defamations, scorn­ings of others, proud boasting of their Anti­quity, [Page 83]and of their Succession, to those whose lives and spirits they have quite deserted, wrestings of truth and true reports, making people believe falshoods, false glosses put upon their own wicked actions and designs to do mischief, and a great deal of such like stuff they raise a mist with, to blind peoples eyes. What a pudder did they lately make about the Death of that Worthy Godfrey, whom they most bar­barously murthered in Somerset-house? cover­ing their Cruelty every way, by turning it upon his own head, as if he kill'd himself, or as if he were kill'd by Robbers, &c. But God infatuated them in the action, and made it ma­nifest, that neither he himself had done it, nor was he kill'd by Robbers; for they that rob by the High-ways, take away Money, not only Writings: And for killing himself, they could not make that hang together neither; for he could not fall upon his own Sword after he had broke his own Neck, and how could he break his own Neck after he had faln upon his Sword? or how could he do both at once, as some would have excused it? Yet these and such like Forgeries, how did they fly about, and were backed with that confidence, that they dazled the minds of many, especially of great persons, among whom the Papists most conversed? Thus they manifest their Kingdom to be a Kingdom of Crnelty, backt with lyes and falshoods, and other works of darkness. [Page 84]But Godd hath been pleased to force out the truth, of this bloody action, from some that were privy to it, and could relate the circum­stances of it, so that it's blazed upon the house­tops, in spite of all their windings and turn­nigs to hide it.

Their Cruelty, I say, accompanied with such things as I have named, is one of their main guards or supports of their Religion. It is like a wall of fire round about them; so that if any among them shall but attempt to get out from them, what can they look for but Fire and Faggot, or a most hellish Inquisition, if they catch them? And what tortures and torments are acted there, may sufficiently af­fright and terrifie such as think of deserting them. This Cruelty is innate to their Religi­on; for finding themselves defective of truth to uphold it, they make it up with cruelty, and with lyes, when they have done, to hide it. That horrid piece of Cruelty intended by the Gunpowder-Plot, and carried on so far as it went, by their Creatures; though those Actors in that work of darkness be honoured by them at Rome, yet they would have you believe, that it was only a trick of State, so impudently shameless are they in forging lyes. They would also make you believe, that the Book of Martyrs is full of lyes, and no better than a Fable, because it records the abomina­ble Butcheries and Cruelties, which by them [Page 85]were acted upon conscientious people: And all the ground they have to belye it is from hence, that there was a mistake or two in it, which Fox himself, who was the Composer of that Book, first discovered, having had some wrong information given him in those particu­lars. Thus they are not ashamed to act Cru­clties, but are ashamed to be apprehended therein; for indeed their actions are so bar­barous, that even humane nature may blush to be found guilty thereof. And yet they are fain to fly to this refuge of defence to uphold their Religion, and also for the propagating of it: For indeed to speak properly, it is not the Kingdom of God and of Christ, (having truth for its foundation) which they uphold; but it's a Kingdom of pride, luxury, and wan­tonness, and debauchery, which wants a foun­dation in truth; therefore fly they to Cruelty for their support. And their Cruelty so rings over the World, that all but themselves and their slaves, dread to come under their power: For there is no mercy in them to old or young, male or female, to innocent Babes, or Wo­men with Child. Oh the tortures, and the invented devices of Cruelty, that they put people to in Ireland, since our memory, in the year 1642. driving them into Rivers by droves, and keeping them therein from getting-forth till they were drowned! This was the easiest death they put them to. Some they hanged, [Page 86]some they ript open, and let out their bowels, some they starved to death, some they buried alive, ript up Women with Child, dashed the heads of Infants against the stones, common­ly stript Men and Women naked, and caused them to perish with cold and hunger; many most beastly and barbarous tortures they put both Men and Women to. And this now is their way of defending and propagating their Religion, which their God, who was a Mur­derer from the beginning, acts them violently forward in.

Time was when they were something more moderate in their bloody ways, when they cited people into their Courts, and gave them a Tryal at their Laws, and suffered them to argue for their Religion: But now they are become violently savage, and bruitish beyond all humane modesty; whereby we may take notice of two things: 1. That they are Sedu­cers; and that we need not doubt of, because they wax worse and worse, according to the Character which the Apostle gives of Sedu­cers, 2 Tim. 3.13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being de­ceived. 2. We may hence also have strong hopes, that they have but a short time to reign and rage in the World; for therefore Satan is come down among them with great rage, knowing that he hath but a short time. This their Cruelty now (and not Truth) is one [Page 87]of the grand pillars, by which their Kingdom is upheld.

Secondly, Another pillar upon which their Irreligion (as I may call it) or Kingdom of Darkness stands, is Ignorance. They take away the Key of Knowledge from men, and keep them in blindness, that so they may be led by them as they please. And to colour this piece of policy, they would perswade their people, that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, and that the Scriptures make men Hereticks; as some of them in the Massacre in Ireland got an English Bible, and trampling upon it in the dirt, (as is informed) cursed it, saying, that that was the cause or ground of all the Diffe­rence; and therefore it is a thing not to be born with, (by them) that any of their Lay­people (as they term them) should have the Bible or Testament, except it be as they have corrupted it. So they keep them from that, that they may keep them in ignorance, and they keep them in ignorance, that they may rule them as they please, and the people being deluded by them, are willing to have it so; for they see not the Serpent's subtilty, that lyes hidden under that Maxime, That Igno­rance is the Mother of Devotion: It is indeed the Mother of Devotion, but to whom? Not to God, I testifie, but to the Pope, and his superstitious and idolatrous Worship: Igno­rance keeps men devout to him, and his will-Worship; [Page 88]but Christ Jesus came to raise up a people, that should worship God in spirit and in truth; and his Spirit is the Spirit of a sound mind, not a Spirit of blindness and ignorance. The devoutest men upon Earth have always been a knowing understanding people, wit­ness Noah, Daniel and Job, Samuel, David, and the rest of the Worthies renowned in Scri­pture, yea, and the Son of God himself, who was filled with wisdom and truth, who some­time spent the night in prayer to God; and he that is born again, is in his measure renew­ed in knowledge after his image. Col. 3.9, 10. Lye not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Mind this, that the new man is renewed in know­ledge; he is not kept in darkness and igno­rance, to make him devout to God. When Paul came to Athens, and beheld their blind devoti­on in their ignorance; to rectifie this their devotion, he endeavours to bring them to true knowledge, not to keep them still in igno­rance; for that was his work, (as also the work of the rest of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ) to turn men from darkness to the light, and so from the power of Satan (whose Kingdom is in darkness) unto God, (who is light) that so they might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are [Page 89]sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus, Act. 26.18 Now he that stops up the light from men, must needs be a Thief and a Robber, which comes to steal: 1. To steal away the hearts of men from Christ to himself, and from devotion to God to devotion to himself, to serve his own turn. And 2. he thereby robs people of their deliverance from the power of Satan, who rules in darkness, as God rules in light. And so 3. and consequently, he robs people of receiving forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus; for that's the end of turning men from darkness to light, and from the pow­er of Satan to God, namely, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among God's sanctified ones. But this will not stand with the Interest of him, who seeks the glory and greatness of this World, and an uncontroulable Kingdom over all, without questioning what he doth; and therefore Ig­norance must be the nourisher of blind obedi­ence to him, which he blasphemously calls de­votion to God. And in this work now, though he seek to be as high as Lucifer, yet hath he made himself a slave to the Rulers of the dark­ness of this World, whose principal drudge he is, in labouring to keep men in darkness, where Satan's power is. We find in Scripture, that darkness is the perishing state, out of which God calls his people: Eph. 5.8. Ye were some­time [Page 90]darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord, walk as children of the light. 1 Pet. 2.9. Ye are a chosen generation—that ye should shew forth the praises of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Col. 1.12, 13. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness—And therefore to abide in darkness, and to abide in a perishing state, is all one in Scripture-language; as also to be re­jected of the Lord, is expressed by being cast out into outer darkness. 1 Joh. 2.9, 10, 11. He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walk­eth in darkness, and knoweth not whither he go­eth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes: And Darkness is the place where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 8.12. and 22.13. Now then it is easie for any to judge, whose Minister he is that hides light from men, to keep them in the darkness, and whose work he doth: He is none of Christ's Minister, nor doth his work to promote his Kingdom, which is a Kingdom of light; but he doth the work of the Rulers of the darkness of this World, and his own work, to keep men in slavery to him, who seeks the glory of this World. And this now is one of the stratagems of the mystery of iniquity, and one principal prop of Antichrist's Kingdom, and a chief guard about the Pope, to let him sleep at quiet.

Thus the Sword or carnal Weapons of Cru­elty and Ignorance, and such like means, are the props and guards of this Kingdom, which the Papists are Subjects to, and not the pure and uncorrupted Truth recorded in Scripture. And therefore that some of them may deliver themselves from that mystery of iniquity, (if the Lord please to open their eyes) is the end of my writing these things. And though some expressions in this Treatise may perhaps seem too harsh to some of them, yet having to deal with such bad Principles, in persons who pretend to be invested with authority and power derived from Christ, in the work of his Ministry, and in his service, I could not use easier language than I have done.

And as I have here manifested the destru­ctive Principles of the Papists to be most er­roneous and wicked, I say the same against the destructive zeal of any professors of Christiani­ty, upon what Principles soever they go, and under what Name soever they stand; and like­wise affirm, That no destructive zeal is renewed after the image of him that hath created us, and made us new creatures; for as God sent not his Son into the world to destroy, so he came not a de­stroyer, but a Saviour, to save mens lives. There­fore would he not suffer James and John to destroy, nor Peter, when he drew his Sword, and cut off Malchus his Ear, but bid him put it up, and then heal'd the Ear again which he [Page 92]had cut off; and hath left it upon record, that his Servants shall not go about that Work, to root out the tares out of the field, (that is, the World) that's a Work reserved for the Angels at the end of the World.

I shall now, for conclusion, leave a few Queries, for the Papists to satisfie their own Consciences in, rather than to expect an An­swer to them; and I desire them to be impar­tial while they consider them.

1. Whether the Lord hath taken up an out­ward Succession again, since he laid aside Abra­ham's natural Succession?

2. Whether any be a true Successor of Peter, or of the rest of the Apostles, who doth not walk in the same Spirit and Doctrine?

3. Whether Christ hath substituted a Patron of Lying Perjury, Plots, Conspiracies, Cruelty and Murders, to be his Vicar, to represent him upon Earth, and to be the Head of his Church, and an example to the Flock? And whether it be not great blasphemy to affirm it?

4. Whether he be a friend or an enemy to Christ, who opposes the main ends of his Com­ing? As namely in these particulars: 1. In point of Enlightning. 2. In point of Inno­cency. 3. In point of Worship. First, Be­cause Christ came to enlighten the World, and to bring them out of darkness; but the Popes stop the light, and keep men in darkness. [Page 93]Secondly, Christ came to raise up a harm­less, inoffensive, quiet, innocent people, and of them a Kingdom of Peace, where no­thing should hurt nor destroy; but the Popes bring forth a people quite contrary, harmful, offensive, unquiet, disturbers of the Civil Peace, by Plots, Conspiracies, Mur­ders, &c. Thirdly, Christ came to bring forth a people that should worship God in spirit and in truth, such as the Father seeks to worship him; but the Pope requires such Worshippers, as will stoop to his Su­perstitions and idolatrous Worships, after the Formality that he prescribes, or else they must expect an Inquisition, or some other usage as bad. Now consider, whe­ther he that thus opposes the Ends of Christ's Coming be not an Enemy?

5. Whether he that knoweth sin afore­hand, and yet entices or encourages his Children into it, by promising them par­don and indempnity if they do it, doth not very aptly follow the steps of that old Serpent that deceived Eve, who told her, Ye shall not die though ye eat?

6. Whether those Roman Casuists do err, that say, It's no sin to swear a falshood, if they have a Reserve in their mind to salve it with? Or it's the Pope that errs in pro­mising Pardons for such Oaths, so making them sins? For Pardons are Relatives to Sins.

7. Whether Equivocations and mental Reserves will stand as a good plea for Ly­ing and Perjury, at that day when the righteous Judge of all the World shall judge every man according to his deeds? And when a greater plea shall have no accep­tance; as namely, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works? But Christ shall say unto them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, Mat. 7.22, 23.

8. Whether ever the true Christian Church, or any members of it, standing faithful, dissembled their profession, by denying, or swearing against their Principles in open words, to save themselves thereby from men?

9. Whether that be not a denying of Christ before men, to deny that Truth, which he hath left us to profess and hold forth in the World? And whether he will not deny such, and be ashamed of them before his Father? You that think you are in the truth, and yet deny it, apply this to your selves.

10. Whether they who dare not avouch their Religion and Principles before men, in truth and sincerity, when called to it, have any Religion in them worth the owning?

11. Whether a mercyless people or a more merciful people, be nearer to the true Church of Christ?

12. Whether a people degenerated from the true, upright, humble, inoffensive, pea­ceable, quiet, sincere, holy life of Christia­nity, and faln to Lying, Treachery, Plots, Murders, Massacres, and such like evils, be the only true Church of Christ? And whe­ther all others are Hereticks, who shall de­part from their Communion? Let your Consciences speak, as it will do before the Tribunal of the Lord.

13. Whether a people, that make the Times perillous, through their Plots, Assas­sinations, Murders, Treacheries, and such like evil courses, (although they should retain a form of godliness in outward shew) be not such as are to be turned away from, according as the Apostle admonishes? 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

14. Whether a people full of violence, as the old World was, and as Sodom of old was; a people full of Slanders and Lyes, to hide their works of darkness, as if they were afraid that the World should see their treacherous intents, before they put them in execution? Whether such a people be not well-nigh ripe for destruction?

These Queries I leave with you, to sa­tisfie your Consciences in, if there be any fear of God remaining in them; and let me entreat you not to deal deceitfully with your own Consciences, which will be wit­ness against you at the great Day, when the Pope's Indulgences and Pardons will do you no good.

As for Answer to me in these things, I cannot rationally expect any from the Scriptures of Truth, for they are not con­trary to themselves. I know the Pope and his Romanists have one Catholick or uni­versal Answer for all Objections, Argu­ments, Doubts, Oppositions, Questions, &c. whereby to prevent discoveries of their weakness, or rather wickedness: And that any one may expect, that writes or speaks against their mystery of wickedness, and it's the same wherewith they have si­lenc'd Godfrey. For they are sensible that their Cause will not abide the light, and therefore they flee from that, to this work of darkness, to murder, which they back with Lyes and Slanders. And therefore let this be a Testimony to all that have any understanding, That they are Children of darkness, and not Children of the light▪ for it is the testimony of our Lord himself, That he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that [Page 97]they are wrought in God: But every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved, or made manifest, Joh. 3.