A REMARKABLE REVELATION OF THE wanderings Of the Church of England in Idolatry, Superstition, and Ceremonies, from the first motion through each particular Station to the first great period. IN parallel With the Children of Israel in the Desert from Rameses to mount Sinai. By H. Walker Cantab.  
Printed by Tho: Harper. 1641.   

A remarkable Revelation.  
PAul tells us that the journeys of the old Church, the Israelites, is to be remembered of us, that we may profitably bring it to our own estate; and he calleth their wandering▪ and stations, and what in them fell out, types and examples to us, 1 Cor. 10. Their standings and journeys were 42. which number, as Austin saith, is rare and excellent, comprehending 6. and 7. which being multiplied make 42. to teach us, that as after six days of the world's Creation the Lord rested on the seventh day, to the children of Israel after six sevens, that is 42. journeys of pilg●image, entered into the land of Canaan, the country of rest.  
In par●llell of which 42. month of years, or prophetical days, amounting to 1260. years, doth reveal the space of time of the English Churches pilgrimage and wanderings in the Popish Ceremonies, before she be brought to the Canaan of true reformation.  
I. The first station of the children of Israel was at Rameses, Gen: 47. 11. where they being oppressed by cruel bondage under Pharaoh, as is expressed in the twelve first Chapters of the book of Exodus, were forced to wander towards the wilderness.  
This was fulfilled in our English Christian Church in the days of Gratianus, who ruled this our British nation, Anno Dom. 390. who being brought under foot, subdued and spoiled by the Picts, were forced to send to Rome for aid, Siricius being Bishop there: at which time the pride and unsatiable avarice of the Clergy was so great, that they drew the Emperors to assist them in the establishing of such wicked laws as proved then the undoing and impoverishing of many subjects. Plat: de vita Pont f. lege 27. de Epis. & Clo. in c. Th.  
II. The Israelites removed from Rameses to Succoth, Ex. 12. 37, a journey of 8. miles, which they undertook when like distracted and forlorn people they were constrained to carry their dough to bake at Succoth, because they were thrust out of Rameses, Exod. 12. 39 This was fulfilled in this our Land, after Gratianus was dispatched, Anno Dom. 420. when the British were without any certain government, the Cl●rgy being the chief; and the people were so sore distracted, that they were constrained to petition to Aldrocnus (a King in France) to send his brother Constantine to varquish their enemies, and be made their King, before they could bake▪ their dough in peace▪ Holl. fol. 108.  
III. The Israelitish Church removed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, Exod. 13. 20. a journey of 8. miles, which was the entry of so vast a Desert, that had not God been to them a pillar of a cloud by day, and of fire by night, they had all perished in the wilderness, and been u●terly ruined and destroyed, vers. 21.  
This was fulfilled in our British Nation in the days of Vortiger▪ who by treason, fraud, and great deceit, being made King, did with his Nobles and Prelates live in su●h gluttony, le●hery, and other vices, Anno Dom. 450. that practising so great enormities, each man turned the point of his spear against the godly and innocent persons, Holl. fol. 110. It was only God's providence that stayed the utter destruction and ruin of the whole nation.  
IV. The old Church of Israel removed from Etham to Migdol, Exod. 14 2. that i● 16. mil●s, where the people were in that distress, that being p●r●ued by Pharaoh, when the Red Sea was before them, and mountains (over which it was not possible for them to pass) on both sides of them, could see no way to escape: yet by God's miraculous deliverance they passed over the Sea dry shod, and the waves fell upon Pharaoh, and drowned him and his host, as is expressed in the said 14 Chap. of Exo●us.  
This was fulfill●d in our Christian British Church, Anno 480. when whilst Vortiger, his N●bles and Prelates did cast off religion, and persecute the people of God, there fell miraculously fire from heaven upon the Castle where they were with the King, and the house fell upon them, and the fire burnt and consumed them. H. Hunt.  
V. They of the Israelitish Church removed from Migdol, and pitched in Marah, Exod. 15 23. a journey of 40. miles, where the water was too bitter for the people to drink, until God directed them to a tree, which being dipped in those waters did make them sweet, verse 25.  
This was fulfilled in this our British Church, Anno Dom. 510. in the reign of Uterpendragon, who being himself exceeding lustful, which vice did the more increase in him, because it was countenanced by the Clergy that were about him, by whose policy and magic was mixed a bitter cup for the people, not only to delude the Ladies to uncleanness, but to deprive the Nobles of their lives, till it pleased God to direct the grave Worthies of his council, through their consultations to contrive way for a redress, Isa. cr. Holl. fol. 128.  
VI. The Israelites removed from Marah, and pitched their sixth station in Elim, Exod. 15. 27. a journey of 8. miles, where the people like pilgrims were fain to ●it by the wells, where multitudes of hearts resorted, with other beasts from among the palms, to refresh themselves with the water thereof. Tr. Pet.  
This was fulfilled in this our British Church, in the days of K. Arthur, Anno Dom. 540. when amongst the people the right faith was not ●nely brought into great danger by the Pelagian heresy, then broached by naughty persons, but the whole body of Christian Religion was utterly abolished, so far as the Saxons prevailed, who (at this time) disquieted the Britaines by cruel war●es, whereby they were driven to hide themselves in woods, and pitch their situations by the water brooks.  
VII. The Isra●litish Church removed from Elim to Suph, that was 6. miles southw●rd▪ where they rested themselves by the Red Sea, Numb 33. 10. G●d seeing their murmurings at the waters of Marah, and knowing how ready they were to rebel against him, brought them back to behold again the place where Pharaoh and his host was overthrown, to put them in remembrance that they give ear to God's commandments, and keep his ordinances, Genes. 15. 26.  
This was fulfilled in this our British Church, Anno Dom. 570. when Almighty God seeing the uncleanness of the Clergy, and the abominations of the governors, brought them again into great distress, suff●ring their enemies to prevail against them, by bringing in Cutha, the brother of Cheuling, King of the West Saxons, to fall upon them, by whom their ungodly governors were slain; admonishing them to repent and turn to the Lord, and give ear to his commandments, lest they also perish. Ales●a. Gilda.  
VIII. The children o● Israel passed from Suph, and pitched their eighth station at Sin, that is 16. miles' journey from Elim, which they made two j●urneyes of as b●fore, Exod. 16. 1. where the whole Congregation fell again to mu●muring for want of victuals; for their hearts did hanker after the fleshp●ts of Egypt, yet the Lord looked in m●●cy upon them, and sent them Manna from heaven, as is expressed, Exod. 16.  
This was fulfilled in our land, Ann. Dom. 600. when the people were turned to paganism, and had turned from the Lord, and were become as heathens, in the days of Ethelbert, whose heart the Lord directed to marry the Lady Bertha of France a religious Princess, who with some godly Divines that came with her, and other religious p●ople that were about h●r, who fearing God, used prayers in the Court, and practised other duties of Christian Religion, whereby, by the heavenly working of God's spirit (in the process of time) the thick mists of unb●liefe was removed, and their hearts prepared to the receiving of the gospel, which afterwards was preached to the whole Church, and published through the whole land; at which time ●ustine, and others, sent from the Bishop of Rome, preached and baptised in our Church▪ and the people received the Word of God, Isak Cro. Beda. Will. Mal. Math. West.  
Ix.. The old Israelitish Church removed from Sin, and pitched in Dophka, which was twelve miles, Numb. 33. 12. This journey was through many bushes and thorny places, which grew in this part of the wilderness, Tr. ●atr. T●is was fulfilled in the days of Edwin, Ann. Dom. 630. a King of mighty power, yet through great difficulty brought to believe the Gospel: he loved the Lady Ethelburga, but could not obtain her, except upon condition of permitting her, and whomsoever she would have with her, to use and practice the Christian Religion, Bed. lib▪ 2▪ c. 9 He called a council to hv●e the matter treated on Having married her she used all the means she could for his conversion. Then again he was held back by seeking revenge against his enemies: still his Queen used means to prevail with him as far as she could; whereupon he called together the wis●st men of his Realm, and asked them the question, what they thought of this Divinity, Hol. fol. 161. They gave their consent, that it ought to be received; whereupon he gave licence to one Pauline to preach the gospel, and from that time forwards himself professed the Christian faith. And when he demanded of one C●ifi, an idolatrous Bishop, who had been very great with him, who should first deface the Altars of their Idols, and the Tabernacles with which they were compassed about, he answered, that he himself would do it; for what is more meet, saith he, than that I, which through foolishness have worshipped them, should now for example-sake destroy the same, through wisdom given me from the true and living God; and straightways (throwing away the superstition of vanity) required armour and weapons of the King; and being mounted upon a stately Steed, he rode forth to destroy the Idols. This was a strange sight to the people, for it was not lawful for a Bishop of their Law to put on armour, or to ride on any beast, except it were a Mare; therefore the common people seeing him ride on the King's horse, with a sword by his side, and a spear in his hand, had thought he had been stark mad, and out of his wits; but he without longer deliberation, incontinently upon his coming to the Temple, began to deface the same, and in contempt, threw his spear against it, and commanded the company about him to destroy and burn down the same Temple, with all the Altars, Holl. pag. 161.  
X. The Israelitish Church removed from Dophka, and pitched at Alus, Numb. 33. 12. which was twelve miles. They began now to come into that part of the wilderness which was both pleasant, fruitful, and stored with variety of comfortable herbs, that so they might refresh themselves after their troublesome journey through the thorns and bushes, Tra. Patr. This was fulfilled in this English Church, in the reign of Os●y, Ann. Dom. 660. When the gospel began to flourish, Penda, who ruled one part of this land, he was converted by a Lady, whom he loved, that was a Christian. The last Saxons also received the Christian faith, and banished their ungodly idolatrous Bishops, and the Word of God was preached thorough the whole land, to the great increase and enlarging of the Church of Christ, Beda lib. 3. cap. 21 & 22. Yet in these days sprang up weeds also, for now they began to sing Divine Service after the Popish manner. Theodore the Archbishop, finding the Church of Rochester void by the death of the last Bishop, named Damian, he ordained one Putta, a simple man, to make a Bishop, but well skilled in songs and music, to use such form in the Church, after the manner as he had learned of Pope Gregory's Disciples.  
XI. The Israelites removed from Alus, and pitched in Rephidim, eight miles, Exod. 17. 1. and during the time of their abode there, three things are very remarkable. First, the people did murmur for want of water, and God relieved them, Secondly, Amaleck fought against Israel, and was overcome. Thirdly, Rulers were set over the people, because of the hardness of their hearts. These three were all fulfilled, Ann. Dom. 690. In parallel of the first, when Etholburga (seeing her Lord and King given to great wickedness, and ungodly living) did labour earnestly to bring him to repentance, but finding his heart like a rock of stone, did cause hi● stately hangings to be taken down, and his rich bedding and furniture to be taken away, and the chamber to be mired with dung and filth, and laid a dirty Sow with her pigs, in the same bed where before they had lain. The King beholding such an alteration in his pleasant Palace, was mightily humbled; wept, and mourned, and was thereby cast down so low, that he resigned up his kingdom to his x, and forsook all his glory, Will. Malm. In parallel of the second, the same story doth express her conquering event against the innovation of sin and Satan, wrought in her husband through God's mercy, Will. Malm. In parallel of the third, it is recorded, that about this time also there was great strife about Church government, at which time Brightwald (the eighth Archbishop in number, but the first of the English Nation) was seated in the See of Canterbury, for his Predecessors were not born in England, but sent from Rome.  
Thus endeth the first great period or division of journeys, before they came to Mount Sinai, where they received the commandments in two Tables of stone.  
FINIS.