ROME'S downfall; Wherein is shewed That the Beginnings thereof call for Praise and Thanksgiving.  Apoc. 6.9, 10. And when he had opened the fifth Seal, I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the Testimony which they held, and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth? Apoc. 17.16, 17. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate, and nak●d, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with Fire. For God hath put in their heart to fulfil his will, &c. 
Roma diu titubans, variis erroribus acta,  
Corruet, & mundi desinet esse caput.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 168●.   
Apoc. 14.8. There followed another Angel, saying; Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City, &c. 
IT is a Minister's Duty to follow God in his Providences; when he gave Commission to the Sword the other Day to come into our Land, then to inquire and make known what are the sins, that provoke God so to do, viz. Idolatry, contempt of the holy Oracles of God, ill usage of the Ambassadors of the Gospel, shedding of Innocent Blood, Perjury, Perfidiousness of great Ones, lies, Forgeries and Impostures, &c. To press the great Doctrine of Humiliation, and Repentance, and likewise to pray that the Sword may be put into its sheathe, that our Land may not become an Aceldama, a Field of Blood, and likewise to supplicate the Lord that the Fruit and Effect of these stirs and commotions that have been amongst us, might be the weakening and pulling down of Antichrist; 'twas David's practise when he had directed his prayer to God, Psal. 5.3. To look up. Prayers are rich Commodities, none but Fools or Madmen but will look after them: Oh look up, and you may behold Mercies coming in upon the wings of Prayer, the Sword beyond expectation is already put into its sheathe, and Antichrist, who was endeavouring to advance himself in these Nations, is in some measure pulled down, we should therefore by way of rejoicing say, Babylon is fallen, is fallen. So soon as God begins such a work, we should begin to praise him.  
In the beginning of this Chapter we have the Churches security against Romish Machinations, And I looked and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, Verse 1. By Lamb we are to understand the Lord Christ Jesus the Head of the Body, the Church, stood; time was when he had no place for the Sole of his Feet, but now God had brought him out of the horrible Pit, 
Psal. 69.  and set his Feet upon firm ground, on Mount Zion, a firm and immovable Rock, that cannot be moved, Mat. 16.18. And with him an hundred forty and four thousand. In the last verse of the fore-going Chapter, there is the number of the Beast, viz. Six hundred threescore and six, the Root of which number is Twenty five, which a Learned Writer out of History hath made it clear, 
Mr. Potter.  that 'tis a Character essentially inter-woven into the Hierarchy of Rome, there being Twenty five Gates, whether taken Literally or Mystically for Churches to Baptize in: Twenty five Angels, i.e. e. Pastors: Twenty five Cardinals: Twenty five Articles of their Creed, and in many other things as he hath shewed. So the extract of the Root, a Hundred forty and four being Twelve, denotes the True Church of Christ, the new Jerusalem, built upon the Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles, which is described in the following verses, 2, 3, 4, 5. In the 6th and 7th is shewed, that the Gospel in the latter days shall be preached with great success, for he saw an Angel flying in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth. Here is in the following verse made mention of more Angels, i.e. e. Evangelical Ministers, preaching the Gospel against the Beast and Beast Worshippers.  
This Angel Learned meed Interprets of the Council of Constantinople. In orient, & Ecclesiis Graecis, ubi imaginum adoratio damnata est, by 338 Bishops and in occident( papa licet fremente) in the Council of Frankford by almost 300 Bishops. In England Wickliff wrote many Books against Popery. In Bohemia hus, Hierom of Prague; of these do Pareus and Brightman Interpret. Others of Luther, Calvin, Viret and Peter Martyr.  
Having the Everlasting Gospel. The Doctrine of Salvation by Christ; it's called Everlasting in opposition to that calumny the Papists would throw upon our Religion as if new: Whereas it did flow from the Eternal Counsel of God, promised from the beginning of the World, 
Gen. 3.15.  made known to the Fathers and Prophets of Old; it may well be called Everlasting likewise from the Effect, Eternal Life, or from the Duration of it, The word of the Lord shall stand for ever, Isa. 40.6.  
This Angel is said to fly in the midst of Heaven, i.e. It shall be swiftly carried into all the Churches, and further flying imports that no power of man shall be able to stop the Gospel from spreading: In the following verse you have an abridgement of the Everlasting Gospel, i.e. e. that God only is to be feared and worshipped, all glory and honour must be given to him, though none to Antichrist, none to Cardinals, none to Legates, none to Images of Angels, or Saints, none to Crosses or Crucifixes, &c.  
In the next verse another Angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, &c. Here is set forth the blessed Effect of preaching the Gospel, the downfall of the Romish Power.  
Observe from the Connexion, That Antichrist's destruction will be partly by the powerful preaching of the Word. Apoc. 18.1, 2. I saw another Angel( i.e. succeeding Ministers) come down from Heaven, and the Earth was lighted with his Glory.  
The Kingdom of Babylon is nothing but Spiritual darkness and confusion; her shavelings endeavour to promote Ignorance, Lies, Errors and Superstition, but the preaching of the Word of God expels all these; hence 'tis said that Angel hath great power; indeed the Ministry of the Gospel in the judgement of the World seemeth to be weak and contemptible, but the efficacy thereof being from Heaven is strong and mighty, it is said to cast down the Pomp and Glory of Babel, Verse 2. He cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. But if it be demanded how the Ministers of the Gospel( being no Prophets) can declare this for a certainty. I answer this prophesy hath declared, and doth declare evidently that Rome shall never recover her fall, do all her Abettors what they can, but shall fall more and more, even till her final and utter destruction.  
In the 2 Thes. 2. You have Antichrist( i.e. e. a Succession of Popes) described in his lively colours, every particular exactly verified in him; then you have in the 8th verse, the means whereby he shall be pulled down; Whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth, by the pure preaching of his Gospel, 
Engl. Annotat.  whereby the Lord is powerful in the hearts of men, Isa. 11.4. Heb. 4.12. For the Ministers of the Word are as a Mouth, whereby the Lord breatheth out that Everlasting Word which shall bruise his Enemies, and break them in sunder like a Rod of Iron.  
So Vorst. Pisc. Bez. sermone Evangelii.  
Quest. But shall Antichrist be destroyed by no other means?  
Ans. The preaching of the Gospel is the principal means to work Antichrists consumption in the hearts of people: Yet this is not exclusive of other means: Some learned men by Angel understand Messengers and Instruments raised up amongst men, whether Magistrates or Ministers. 
Vir aliquis praestans, & egregius, qui subito, nic expectatus adveniet, quemadmodum res quae coelitus delabuntar.  Some great Instrument( saith one) that the Lord would unexpectedly raise up, which is not to be understood of any individual persons, but Instruments successively raised, which though they should be many, yet, should agree as one man to effect that about which they are employed: And this is observable, that in the pouring out of the seven Vials upon Rome. 
Apoc. 16.  Mystical Babylon, there are some that come out of the Temple amongst those Instruments.  
Then ought the Word of God, and Ministry of the Word to be highly esteemed: Alas! there have been endeavours of late to remove, abrogate, and disannul, not only the Laws of the Land made by wise and grave Senators, for the preservation of the True Religion, but to render the Law of our God contemptible to unlord it, Mat. 
〈◇〉  15.6. To take away the Ruling Power of the Law by their Traditions: David's love towards it was at such a time the more inflamed, Psal. 119.126, 127. It's time for thee, Lord, to work, for they have made voided thy Law, therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold, yea above fine Gold. The more others did trample them under feet, at the higher rate did he prise them. Very memorable was that of King Edward the Sixth, when he was very young amongst his Play-fellows, being about to take down something above his reach, one of them laid him a great Bible to stand upon, but he with holy indignation refused it, and sharply rebuked the Boy for it, saying, That it was unfit to trample that under his feet, which he ought to treasure up in his head and heart. And upon the day of his Coronation, when three Swords were presented before him, signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdoms, he said, There is yet one Sword wanting, and being asked what that was answered, The Holy Bible, which is the Sword of the Spirit, and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of Royalties.  
Queen Elizabeth( that Miracle of her Sex) at her Coronation received the Bible presented to her with both her hands, and kissing it, laid it to her Breasts, saying, That the same had been her chiefest delight. Oh red the Holy Scriptures, let them dwell, in-dwell in you, Col. 3.16. The more you are acquainted with them, the more you will love them: Attend upon the Word preached, and pray hearty that the Word may have a free course, 
2 Thes. 3.1.  and that God would sand faithful labourers into his Vineyard, 
Mat. 9.38.  that may show forth and discover the Cheats, Frauds, and Deceits of Antichrist at this day: The reason lies here, because the Word hath a power and efficacy in it through the operation of God's Spirit, as to pull down the strong holds of Sin and Satan, so to pull down the Kingdom of Antichrist: As here, no sooner doth an Angel come with the Everlasting Gospel, but another Angel followeth him, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.  
Babylon, i.e. The City of the Devil, which is the Universal Society of the wicked mis-believers, and evil livers in the World. Rhemish. In the holy Scriptures we red of two Babylons, the one in Chaldea, the other in Italy. The first built by Nimrod a hundred and thirty years after the Flood; of this City St. John doth not here speak, for this was destroyed long before his time.  
By Babylon here is to be understood Rome, not only the City so called, but the Regiment, Government, and Prerogative that is claimed by virtue of that Monarchy whereof Rome is the Head: 'Tis so called Mystically, Figuratively, by a kind of Allusion.  
1. For as the old Babylon did many years hold the people of God in miserable slavery, Psal. 137. By the Rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion, we hanged our Harps upon the Willows in the midst thereof, there they carried us away Captive, &c. So the Western Babylon hath a long time kept the Christian Church in Spiritual Thraldom; at this day in what Slavery are the remnant of the Brethren that are left in France, Savoy, &c. And what Attempts have there been to reduce us in this Nation to the same?  
2. That was full of Idols, Jer. 50.38. Said to be the Land of graved Images, and they are mad upon their Idols: So Rome, Apoc. 17.5. And upon her Forehead was a name written, MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  
3. There was a resemblance between them in their cruelty: The latter hath in some respect exceeded the former: But to proceed to what followeth, which likewise answers to the latter, 〈◇〉. For as Babylon of old was strong, powerful, and of great dominion, Dan. 4.30. Jer. 51.53. So Mystical Babylon is said to sit upon many waters, to rule the Kings of the Earth. And further it is said, the Merchants and great men of the Earth trade with her; 
Isa. 21.9.  yet fall she must. Is fallen, is fallen. What was spoken of that old City is applied to the City of Rome, i.e. e. 'tis as certain to fall, 
Irrevocabili decreto exscindenda est. Med.  as if already fallen. She is now fallen initially, and shall fall finally and totally. It is a Note not only of Assurance, but of Rejoicing: That which offereth itself to us from hence, is this,  
That the initials and beginnings of the fall of Mystical Babylon call for Praise and Thanksgivings from the Church of Christ.  
No sooner had the former Angel discovered the Cheats, Frauds, and Deviations of the Romish Church, but the next Angel cries aloud by way of rejoicing, 'Tis fallen, Apoc. 11. We red that as soon as Christ did begin to take his power into his hands, which imports that he had suffered it for some time in his Enemies, that their Natures might be discovered; our Fore-fathers would not else have known the cruelty nor blood thirstiness that there was in gardener, Bonner, &c. And we in this Age otherwise should have thought that these Vipers had lost their stings; what do the four and twenty Elders do? they worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, verse 17. So soon as Christ began to appear on his Churches behalf. In Apoc. 15. you have the State of the Church, whilst the Vials of Gods wrath were pouring out upon that Antichristian State, and then is shewed, that though she should stand upon a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire, verse 2, 3. yet she should during that time have the Harps of God in her hands, and sing the Song of Moses the Servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. God hath already poured out some of those Vials, and we know not but this may be more severe than the former, yet let me tell you, that all the time Christ is doing of it should be a joyful time to the Members of his Church, all those days should be days of Purim, days of Thanksgiving; they should have the Harps of God in their Hands, and Hallelujahs in their Mouths, because Christ is judging the great Whore, and avenging the Blood of his Servants at her hands.  
We should not defer praises till mercies be complete, but upon every new Deliverance, and upon every new judgement upon the Churches Enemies, our Mouths should be filled with new and renewed Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving to God. For,  
1. The Love, Care and Faithfulness of Christ is stamped upon every such Act, much more when he hath brought to nought their devices, discovered their works of darkness, and so enfeebled them, that their hands could not perform their enterprise.  
2. We are a people that deserve not any Mercy or Deliverance at all; when God hath delivered us at any time, we have then lived, as if we had been delivered to work wickedness; so that he might justly have given us into the hands of our blood thirsty Adversaries, what we cannot deserve we must aclowledge, and where merit stops thankfulness must begin.  
3. Mystical Babylon is one of the cruellest Enemies that ever the Church of Christ had, therefore upon Christ's beginning to weaken her strength we should praise his name: nabuchadnezzar of old, and the rest of the Assyrian Monarchs, the Roman Heathen Emperors were very severe Enemies to the Church of God, but all of them nothing in comparison to this Destroyer, all their Loins lay not so heavy upon the Churches Back as the little Finger of Antichrist.  
Whether we respect the cruelty exercised upon their Bodies, or the Tyranny over their Souls.  
( 1.) The cruelty over their Bodies, for what was foretold of her hath been verified by her to a tittle, Apoc. 17.6. And I saw the woman drunken with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus. Apoc. 18.24. In her was found the Blood of those that were slain, &c. Daniel did long before tell of the fourth Beast, that he should be more fierce, than those that went before him, chap 7.7. After this I saw in the night Visions, and behold a fourth Beast, dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly, and it had great iron teeth: It devoured, and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it, and it was divers from all the Beasts that were before it, and it had ten Horns.  
What outrages and villainies did this Babylonish Beast practise against the Waldenses, their usage of those that went into Piedmont; Calabria and Provence was very barbarous; neither did they deal any better with the Albingenses, 
Vid. clerks Martyr.  Bohemians, Germa●s, &c. What the Romanists did in the Marian days in our own Land, and what was designed to be done in 1588, and 1605. do plainly declare their cruelty. And whereas in our days they endeavoured to make themselves appear white and innocent, and many began to think so of them, but if men had not been half blind, Londons Flames might have opened their Eyes, and shewed them that there was the same nature in them, that ever was, that those Aethiopians had not changed their Skins; now this calls for praise from us, that God hath begun to bring to light those works of darkness that they have been hatching since against us, and that our Soul is escaped in some measure out of the hands of those Fowlers, and that in such a way and manner as he hath done it, with the effusion of so little Blood, at such a neck of time when near ruin, we may take up the words of the Psalmist, 
Psal. 126.  When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, we were like them that Dream; then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the Heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them, the Lord hath done great things for them, whereof we are glad.  
4. The length of Mystical Babylon's bloody Reign. She is that Enemy of the longest standing, the Jewish Church was under Egyptian Bondage two hundred years, under the Babylonish yoke seventy years, Antiochus did sorely waste them, but 'twas but for a little Season. The Roman Heathen Emperors afflicted the Christian Church for about three hundred years, but this Enemy hath oppressed her above a thousand years, Apoc. 11.2, 3, &c. A heavy burden, the longer it hath lain upon the Back, the more joy when taken off, if not wholly, yet in part.  
5. We know not what great things God hath to bring to pass by these Initials and Beginnings of Mercy towards us, how far they may extend: He hath many Promises to accomplish to his Church, there are many Prophecies to be fulfilled; who knows but that these present commotions may make a way to them? I am ready to believe that whosoever shall live to see the end of them, shall see that God had an hand in them to bring great things to pass. But to come to the improvement of this;  
Use 1. Hath God on a sudden without Blood-shed begun to weaken the Kingdom of Babel, that was advancing of her self in the midst of us? Then have wicked men little cause to insult and boast in any probable advantages that they have against the Church of Christ, God having blasted their Designs, when they have thought themselves sure.  
When Pharaoh and his Host boasted and said, they will pursue, they will overtake, 
Exod. 15.  they will divide the spoil, their lust should be satisfied on them, &c. God soon dashed and should not serve for handfuls of them, who followed him:( Ahab saith) Tell him, Let not him that putteth on his Harness boast himself, 
1 Kings 20.  &c. God turns all about, his thirty two Kings could not help him. When some boasted the other day, that there was not enough Landed for a Breakfast for them, God soon laid their pride and hopes in the dust, that which the Prophet Nahum said of Niniveh is very applicable in this case, 
Nah. 3.  All thy strong holds shall be like Fig-trees with the first ripe Figs; if they be shaken they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater. Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women, the gates of thy Land shall be set wide open unto thine Enemies. Verse 17. Thy crwoned are as the Locusts, thy Captains as the great grasshoppers, which Camp in the Hedges in the could day, but when the Sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.  
Use 2. Let it be a cautional advice to the Churches Adversaries to beware of designing or attempting any thing against her. She is very dear to Christ, he calls her his Riches, his Inheritance, his Portion, his Jewel, and Treasure, it cost his own Blood to make her so, certainly he will then take care of her, and preserve her: He hath promised that the Gates of Hell, i.e. neither the Power or Policy of Satan, or Antichrist, or any of their Agents shall prevail against it: It is very observable that in most Ages, whosoever endeavoured to ruin the Church did ruin themselves; therefore as Pilate's Wife said to her Husband, Have nothing to do with that just man: So I say to you, Have nothing to do by way of offence with the Church and People of God: You will but do yourself a mischief by seeking others. Zach. 12.3. There God saith to his Church, That he will make it a burdensome ston, whosoever lifteth at it shall be crushed in pieces, though all the Nations of the Earth be gathered together against her, 'twill be to no purpose; he doth not say, Whosoever lifteth it up, for that cannot be, but whosoever lifteth at it, seeketh to hurt it, shall crush themselves, their very attempt will be their destruction. This was Haman's ruin, this was that which butted Pharaoh in the waters. Julian by attempting evil against the Church, provoked God from Heaven to strike him and slay him. He( we say) that shoots in a piece over-charged strikes down himself; not that he aimed at: So whosoever shoots at the Church, the recoil will be upon himself. King John was oft heard to complain, postquam me, & mea regna Romanae subjeci Ecclesiae nulla mihi prospera, said omnia adversa, &c.  
Use 3. Exhortation to praise the Lord, so soon as God begins to work Deliverance, we should begin to praise, let me bespeak you as God did the Jews by the Prophet, Micah 6.5. O my people, remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. Remember that God hath turned the councils of all Balaks and Balaams into folly: O remember what hath been consulted and attempted against you, what in 1666. without doubt the Romanists would have rejoiced as much to have heard that the Streets of the City of London had run down with Blood, as they did that the Houses were in Flames, the Blood of heretics would have been sweet to them, &c. Remember what a Design they had in 1679. how the Nations ruin was plotted and contrived by them, and how in 1683 they endeavoured to lay their Brats at our doors, and what they did contrive and endeavour since hath been blasted and defeated: Ought we not then with the four and twenty Elders, Apoc. 11.16, 17. to fall upon our faces and say, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come, because thou hast taken thy great power and hast reigned. What fears were there upon many mens Spirits, when the Sword commissioned by God came into our Land, but the Lord who hath the hands and hearts of all in his hands, and turneth them which way he pleaseth, as he doth the Rivers of waters, soon damped their Spirits, who had been at work to Subvert the Laws of our Land, nay, to Extirpate the Law of our God, and began to think that they were strong enough by their own, and the strength of Allies to effect it: But they did soon hid their Heads and creep into holes, and the Sword put up again into its sheathe. The year 1588 was termed mirabilis annus called Papistarum, &c. This present 1688 is no less a year of Wonders; as the Bodies of many of them were made then to sink to the bottom of the Sea; so now did their hearts even sink within them; and as then there were Laws presently made for the preventing of Jesuits and Priests coming over into this Nation, &c. So 'tis wished that some Laws may be further Enacted, that we and our Posterities after us may be freed from the fears and dangers thereof. God having wrought for us such a Deliverance, as can scarce be paralleled, as our Posterity will scarce believe, let none dare to join in affinity with the people of those abominations, Ezra 9.13, 14. For as Benjamin's Mess exceeded his Brethrens, so this present Mercy all our former Mercies.  
When God begins thus to work in the pulling down of Antichrist that great Enemy of his Church, our Heads, Hearts should be at work to help forward that work which God hath begun; Oh pray, pray, that God would hasten the accomplishment of those Promises and Prophecies that he hath made concerning the latter days; the Queen of Scots was heard to say sometimes, that she feared more John Knox Prayers, than an Army of ten thousand men. Oh double your Prayers, so your Praises, let your Mouths be filled therewith. Consider,  
Mot. 1. That the Praises of God's Church, as well as her Prayers, are terrible to her Enemies. Psal. 8.2. Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of the Enemies, that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger, 2 Chron. 20.21. When they began to sing, and to praise, the Lord set Ambushments against the Children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, which were come against Judah, and they were smitten.  
2. To give Thanks for the Beginnings of Mercies, is the ready way for to have God complete our Mercies; though Babel be ne're so strong, God is able to effect it, Apoc. 18.8. Strong is the Lord who judgeth her: Be thankful therefore for the Beginnings of Mercy, for though at present it should be no bigger than the breadth of a man's hand, as the Cloud was which Elijah's Servant saw, yet it may quickly irradiate the whole Heavens: God is not weary in doing good to a thankful people. But to conclude, Let it be your care to walk answerable to present Mercies. It's better to live thanks than to give thanks: Walk according to that Rule of the Holy Scriptures; Is it not great Mercy that we have them, notwithstanding the many Attempts of our Adversaries, to be a light to our paths, a lamp unto our feet? 'Tis a plain, perfect, and an unerring Rule, this present Mercy should oblige us to live Scripture lives. 'Tis the great cheat the Pope of Rome hath put upon the World, that the Spirit of God is tied to the Pummels of his Saddle, and therefore cannot err, but I am sure the Spirit of God sends us to a better guide, Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony. 1 Joh. 4.1. Oh let this present Mercy oblige us to a Reformation and Union, lest it should End in a Curse and Desolation.  
David Pareus strongly asserted the Truth of God against its Adversaries, and yet was a great Studier and Promoter of the Churches peace, labouring that they which agreed in Fundamentals should not jar in Matters of an inferior Nature, and of a lower Ally.  
FINIS.