BABEL'S FALL, In the Foolish Virgins Sleep. Among which Presbytery lieth, with Predictions of the great disputes to be at the raising of the true Ministry. Written by a Witness of the Truth, John Brain. Ely to Samuel. 1 Sam. 3.17. What is the thing the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hid it not from me, God do so and more al●o to thee, if thou hid any thing from me, of all the things God hath said unto thee. Samuel to Ely. 1 Sam. 3.18, 14. Samuel told him the in quity of Elies' house shall not be purged by Sacrifice nor offering for ever. The man of God said to Eli, 1 Sam. 2.35. God hath said, I will raise me up a faithful Priest, which shall do according to that which is in my heart, and in my mind, and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before mine anointed, etc. Ely said to Samuel, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. LONDON, Printed for T. B. in Kings-street at Westminster, MDCXLIX, To the Honourable John Lisle, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal. Honourable: AS David and the Apostles before me said, We believe, and therefore speak, so I believing the truth of the Scriptures, did presume to write you of many things strange before, but now evident since accomplished: I am once more bold to write you from the Gospel of things shortly to be fulfilled, which will seem strange, but will prove most true in its time, however, mine enemies are stirred up to hate and oppress me for it, the day will come they will be ashamed at it. Sir, I hope, I have deserved no other but your love, wherewith you have loved me, and the love of those love God in the Country, and those hate me do it without a cause, even for my standing for, and witnessing to the truth of the Gospel, with which I am entrusted, which should occasion their love, were they of God, and not hate, to the defence whereof you are called, and blessed shall you be if you contend for it, and consent not to the detaining of the discovery thereof, which the Lord preserve you from, and keep you to immortality and life, and set you with Christ in his sight, to the full enjoyment of himself for ever. Is the hearty desire of your Servant in the Gospel, John Brain. April 1, 1649. TO THE READER. THe predictions following are drawn from Prophetical Scriptures, and are no Inthusiasticall Dreams, they seem strange indeed at first, but strong is the Lord that doth them, for hath he said, and shall he not perform it? God hath foretold us when h● shall build up Zion he will appear in his glory which sets us now upon the expectation of glorious things, these are therefore written that God may be glorified, Magistrates may be directed, Ministers instructed, and the Truth revealed: Concerning all which, in much confidence I affirm, if the Lord give me leave to live but a little while, I shall not be ashamed of what is herein written. Thus leaving thee and them to the Lord, to declare himself herein as he please, to the glorifying of himself for ever: And this I dare affirm, so far off as thou seest we are from seeing these things, so far off are we from seeing peace and deliverance, and as men act against this they act against their own deliverance, from which the Lord prevent us graciously. I rest thine in the Lord, John Brain. BABEL'S FALL, In the foolish VIRGINS Sleep. The Kingdom of Heaven that is the state of the Church under the Gospel, Administrations are usually set out by the Lord significantly in Parables, some whereof have th●ir allusions drawn from Marriage and Marriage-Feasts, corresponding with the predictions of the Prophets foregoing, and in especial, that of MAT. 25. from Vers. 1. to Vers. 11. IN which ye have the estate of the Church, Ministry, and Government thereof unto the end of the world, according to the wisdom of the infinitely wise God, held out and commended unto us under the notion of a Marriage, in which Christ is the Bridegroom, the Church is the Bride, and the Ministry the Virgins. I know the Expositions extant of these are quite contrary Aug. lib. 83. Q. 59 Inter parabolos à Domino dictus solet quarentes multum exercere ista quae de decem virginibus posita est, & 〈◊〉 quidem hinc multa senserunt, quae non sunt praeter fidem, sed quo●●dò partibus omnibus ejus conveniat expositio id elaborandum est, He that hath a mind to see the diversity of constructions given by the Ancients of this parable, let him read Salmeron in parabolas, who hath taken the pains to collect them together. Those that have written lately understand by the wise and foolish Virgins, the several Members of the Church. In which are wise and foolish, from whence some would confirm mixed societies. But that this cannot be meant, is plainly evinced in this, that the Church-Members are to be understood in the Bride which is the Church, that is the Lamb's wife, and therefore the Virgins are such who are ministerially employed about the Marriage of the Church to Christ. 1 And that which helps most clearly to open the Parable is this; That the Lord mainly aimeth at the discovery of the state of the Church under Antichrist, in taking the parable from a Night-Marriage. 2 And the restoring of the Church to its quendam primitive estate after his tyranny. 3 And briefly showeth what things were to happen concerning the Ministry, both true and false, as the one related to Christ, and the other to Antichrist, until the second taking of the Gentiles to himself again. Object. Parables serve only to illustrate and prove nothing. Reply. I know it is so generally conceived, but let me tell you, that the Church practise, and many precious prophecies of the Church, are so laid up in them, and to be proved from them, and so from them as from no Scripture like them, the Lord sets not out the state of the Kingdom but by parables. 2 The Kingdom's Government is never to be clearly known but by them, and to be proved thence. 3 The Lord declared the Government in parables, as being most fit to conduce to the main end of Gods hiding the Church from the world. And this is plainly seen in the answer of Christ to his Disciples, Mat. 13.10. to the end of ver. 15. who demand of Christ, why he taught in parables? who answers, To you it is given, to them it is not given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, but to the parables itself. 1 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, then, is a note of time, and relates to the predictions of the former Chapter, ver. 15. the abomination of desolation, or time of the tyranny of Antichrist. ver. 29. the darkening of the Sun of earthly glory, the Moon shall not give her light, the sad estate of the Common-people, and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, the fall of Ministry, and the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken; signifying the removing of the Church-Governments and Authority then established. When the Lord of the evil servant, ver. 48. to the end, that beat his fellow-servants, and eat and drank with the drunken, should be cut asunder, which is, that the Lord should deprive Antichrist of his ministry, that evil servant, when the wise servant which gave meat to the Lords household in due season should be blessed, restored and comforted. Now the Holy Ghost relates to the then time, especially, showing in what estate the Church should be in respect of the ministry thereof, set down under the name of Virgins, that is, men exempted from all worldly employments to Jesus Christ. 2 Their Employment or Ministry is set out in their Lamps. 3 Their Ordination in their taking their Lamps, by which lawfully they may minister in the Church to Jesus Christ. 4 They are first summed up together ten Virgins, to show that in respect of office calling Ministry, they did seem to be one, and agreed. 5 They went forth to meet the Bridegroom, a metaphor taken from marriages, partly in use amongst us, so far as sufficiently to set out the mind of God in this text. In that we see usually at weddings, young men, youth or Virgins, accompany the Bride to the place of marriage, and present her to the Bridegroom; which thing is most clearly held out and proved by that saying of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 11.2. I have espoused you (French Approprier) to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ. Hence the Apostles are called the Children of the Bride-chamber, Mark● 2.10. 1 You see what was done in Church-constituting. 2 That it was the Minister's office here called the Virgins, to present the Bride or Church to Jesus Christ, proved from the practice of the Apostles, and of the five wise Virgins here mentioned, ver. 2. 1 These ten Virgins are divided into five and five. 2 They are distinguished by their qualifications: the one five are said to be wise, the other to be foolish: the wise are the true ministry, the foolish the false Antichristian ministry. 3 In that they are divided into five and five, it shows that there should be a representation in the false Antichristian ministry, of the true Gospel-ministry of Christ, some way though not aright, as the Corinth's begin with false Apostles, so these, 2 Cor. 11.13. The five Virgins that are said to be wise, or the true Gospel ministers, are 1 Apostles, 2 Prophets. 3 Evangelists. 4 Pastors. 5 Teachers. Now these ordinarily are ordained to present the Church, as young men, Virgins, the Bride to the Bridegroom. Now as the wise, so the foolish are also five in number, Antichrist having that falsely in his false, Christ hath in his true Church in truth. 1 To the 12 Apostles, the Pope set up in Rome 12 Cardinals, Anselme, Revel. 13. Antichristus habiturus est pseudos Apostol●s suos. V●de P●tte●. Number of the Beast. cap. 14. As there is a clear and eminent Antithesis between Jerusalem and Rome, so is there also between Christ's Apostles and the Pope's Cardinals: there being no persons in the whole world, of what rank, order, or dignity soever, styling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, vicem gerentes Apostolorum, as they do. Idem ibid. As the Apostles truly were and are the root and foundation of the Christian Church, and all Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, so the Cardinals falsely pretend themselves to be, and so they truly are, and do in express words declare themselves to be the very basis and foundation of the Romish Hierarchy, read that that followeth hereof. So that hence you see he proves that what the Apostles were in the true, the Cardinals in the false. Hence the Pope sends a Saphire to the new made Cardinals, as foundation stones. It is also a clear Note that the five foolish Virgins are signified in these, because the Cardinals as the Apostles of Christ's ministry consists of Archbishop Cardinals, Bishop-Cardinals, Presbyters, and Deacon Cardinals, that as the Apostles executed the place of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, in the true, so these Cardinals falsely in the false. Now as the Cardinals arose from Presbyters. First, so in the fall of Presbytery, and that falls with them is the full fall of Papacy and Babylon, and from these five, and not the five wounds of Christ as Mr. Potter, and so by five times five multiply them, to 25 to make their Monks, Friars, and Masspriests, to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to them 1 Chron. Chap. 25. for what relation is there between Christ's five wounds and 25 ministers. Potter Chap. 24. and the 25. 2 To the Prophet, the Pope constituted in his Church an Anti-prophet, or Arch bishop, which God remarkably, as it were to complete this Scripture, called the Archbishop of this Kingdom by that name, Rev. 16.13. where some Ecclesiastical person under the sixth viol, in which time we live, is called by the name of a prophet, or Anti-prophet, he being to be in that place in the false Church the true Prophet is in the true. Object. Why do you allude this to the Archbishop of this Kingdom, more than to others of other Kingdoms. Reply 1 The first Archbishops of the world were set up in this K ngdome, others took their pattern from hence, and ye know what honour Anselme had, in being called Papa orbis, in a whole Council of Bishops at Barsnense, 1098. and again ye know that the Archbishop of this Kingdom called the Image of the Beast, ruled independently from the Pope, as supreme himself, etc. Which was to be slain, Rev. 19.20. 3 The Bishop was understood in all ancient writings, which ordinary Evangelists in Scripture, the first 200 years, as in my book called the Resurrection of Churches appears. 4 The presbyter answers to the pastor in the true Church: hence the presbyter usually useth the name Pastor, not Deacon as made first and inferior to pastors. 5 The Deacon in the false Church was the Anti-teacher to the Teacher in the true, who was the first minister of Antichrists Church, who had not as full authority in Church affairs as the Pastor to administer Sacramentrs, nor the Pastor as the Bishop to ordain Ministers, but the Bishop with the presbyters, as the Evangelist with the pastor and Teacher were to do, nor had the Bishops that authority as the Cardinals had in the false church: as the Evangelists had not that authority as the Apostles in the true Church. Object. In the Hierarchy of Rome are 90 Orders, and more mentioned by Fox in his Book of Acts and Monuments: and then what do you tell us of those five? Reply There are so, but none of these preached the word, as is here signified by the Lamps, but either as Bishops, or Pastors, Priests or Deacons: be their Order what they will, and so still the teaching ministry of theirs are to be reduced to one of these five. Object. What say you of the Patriarches? Reply They opposed the Pope most of them, or rather his predecessors, and after the fall of the true Church, they feigned four extraordinary Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Now that the hiding of the Church may be accelerated hereby, they set up four patriarches in the World at the first, the patriarches of Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, saith one of the patriarches, Hi quatuor principio fuere Romanus, Antiochenus, Alexandrinus, Hierosolimitanus, postea translata Bizantium Imperii sede additus est Constantinopolitanus. These indeed made way to set him up, but when once up, Antichrist took care to take them down: they being impediments to him, as it were eclipsing the Papal glory. The general Note of this second verse is, that the wise are here set before the foolish, not for that they are preferred before them only, but prophetically showing that the wise, and part of that is said concerning them, were in time before the foolish, and that the Antichristian ministry did succeed them, and most of the things in o der set down of them. Ver. 3. The foolish taken their Lamps, and took no oil with them. 1 Here is the ●●lly of the foolish Virg●ns notified, that they took their Lamps▪ their call to the ministry without spiritual knowledge, or wisdom to exercise their ministry by unto the world, as appears in some Cardinals that have been Princes, others children, so some Archbishops, as A●bert Archbishop of Mentz, who being at the Diet at Ausbourge, An. 1530. who finding a Bible on the table, and reading some leavs thereof, where by chance he opened it said, truly I know not what Book this is, but this I see it makes all against us. Luther in Erphord Abbey, happening on the history of Hanna, in the first Book of Samuel, not knowing what Book it was, wished that he were owner of such a Book as that, this appears in the Letter of the Pope for Frederick of Lovania, a ch●ld to be Canon in the Church of Lincoln, which occasioned that exc●llent Return of Grosted to Pope Innocent the fourth, cited by Fox: by which, as by a Thunderbolt, the Pope and his Cardinals were smitten, (who say after all the Bedlam fury of the Pope uttered against him for it.) It is but very truth that he affirmeth, nor can we condemn him therefore, he is a holy man, more holy and religious than we our s●lves of excellent wit, and excellent life, so as it is thought among all the Prelates he hath not his better, nor yet his like, and thus having spoke wonderfully in commendations of him, advise him with this Council (a way not out of use in these times) that he should dissemble and wink at these things, as one not seeing, or regarding them, lest otherwise, perhaps, some tumult may arise and spring thereof, especially seeing this is known and manifest to all, that once must needs come a disertion and parting from the Church of Rome, Fox Acts Mon. in the life of Henry the third. 2 It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, their Lamps to show the call of ministers in the false Church was differing from that in the true: the Lamps the foolish Virgins had were properly theirs, they had not the Lamps of the wise, nor had the wise the Lamps of the foolish. 1 It implieth, their care was to have the ministry for the means sake, not the service of the Gospel, nor the glory of God; this was not the least part of their folly. 2 They took their Lamps never regarding whether the call they had were Christian or Antichristian: they took it without any more ado, and glad they had it. I do not write these things without self-conviction. Vers. 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels, with their lamps. Here the particle ● differenceth the estate of the wise from the foolish, and the lamps, or call to ministry from the others. 1 Signifying they were wise, and belonged to the true Church estate. 2 The call they had was Evangelicall. 3 They in their vessels had oil, being gifted with understanding in the mind, with spiritual life in the soul, with experience and knowledge of God and his way, being taught of God in the heart. 3 They had these and then took their lamps, showing these were not to be divided, and that none were to be made Ministers but such as were thus qualified. 4 In that they took their lamps, shows, they did not Minister in in the Church without a call. 5 They took it being given them of the Church of Christ, as the lamps were given the foolish in the Church, I cannot say of the Churches of Antichrist. 6 The wise Virgins are here put last, showing that the true Ministry shall come again into the Church, after the foolish, as they were before (vers. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but the Bridegroom tarrying they all slumbered and slept. These words clearly hold out that the Lord had respect to the Church's restauration, after the fall of Antichrist, and the Estate of the Church before also, and that in the time of Antichrists Reign Christ absented himself from the Church as it were. 1 The slumber of the wise was first, as they are mentioned first, vers. 2. In which Prophetically was signified by Christ, that the time would come in which the true Ministers, and Ministry, would be remiss in the Government of their Church, and careless of their duties. 2 That this their spiritual slumber would proceed, or rather indeed make way for their sleep, or extirpation by Antichrist. 3 Most sweetly intimating Prophetically in their sleep, that for a time 1260. years near their would be an utter cessation of the true Gospel ministry in the World. 4 In that they are said to sleep only, it is also intimated that God would again awaken them, restore them, and have their ministry again exercised in the Church. 5 This we see verified, in that the true Church ministry slumbered all before and slept since Antichrist, as in my book of the Church's Resurrection is set forth, how by degrees this was accomplished. Now as the wise slumbered and slept, the foolish they also before Christ marriage shall and must also have their slumber all of them and their sleep, for the text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, all and every one of them wise in their time and the foolish in their appointed time likewise slumbered and slept. It is true indeed, it would cost not a little panis to a man to find how, when and in whom the wise Virgins slept, because it is long since done, & monuments of Antiquity are lost, especially the chief, & those are left are little worth. I cannot pass by that of Augustine, de moribus Ecclesiae, cap. 30. Tu puerilliter pueros fortiter juvenesque & senes, prout cujusque non corporis tantum, sed animi aetas est, exerces & doces: this was but too little purpose pressed in the time of the administration of a single Ministry: and the Churches almost fall'n estate. But for the slumber of the false Church which is of later times, there is no such obscurity in that. 1 The slumber of Cardinals was when they came from 12, about 423. in Coelestines time, to be after 25, as Potter Numb. of the Beast, cap 19 where he showeth that Cardinals, Bishops and Deacons, were not originally in the College of Cardinals, when their first number were decreed, but are rather redundant extuberances of the Papacy built upon, and dangerously over-hanging that ancient foundation of the Presbyter Cardinals: this slumber he makes to begin to be the Number 25 (but I rather conceive at the Number 12) when Alexander the third, in the year 1163, made Conradus Suenus' Archbishop of Mentz, one of the College of the Cardinals. 2 The sleep of the Cardinals in this Kingdom, was in the death of Cardinal Poole, who died the next day after Queen Mary, of some Italian physic, as some suspect, being the 18th. of November, 1558. The slumber of the false prophet and Anti-Evangelist, was in the time of Henry the Eighth, when they were made to acknowledge the King's Supremacy and not the Popes, in the year 1531. whose sleep was brought on the false prophet and Anti-Evangelist, in the year 1644, in the making of that Ordinance appointed, the taking the Covenant, the second branch whereof was, that without respect of persons, we should endeavour the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy that is, Church Government by Archbishops, Bishops, etc. which ended in William Laud, Jan, 10. 1644. The slumber of the Anti-teacher, was in that slumber, ●●il on the re●t 1531, and is fall'n asleep, and no man knoweth how, it being now apparent to all that Deacons were not teachers in the Church as Deacons, but ministered alms to the poor only, so that now there is none acknowledged: and so none awake but the Presbyter that is the Antipastor. Let me ask the Question, are they awake or do they slumber, sure heavens thunder cannot keep them long from sleeping, me thinks, the Questioning ministers calling, the not suffering the Presbyterian Government, to be Jure divino, and the daily shaking of her foundations are very dangerous signs, she is in a deadly slumber, she would else awake and speak for herself. Object. Here it is questionless, o but in Scotland, it is awake. Here friends I speak not of envy to any, but to glorify God in speaking the truth. Presbytery must sleep in Scotland, as well as Episcopacy in England, Episcopacy had as great friends and command here in England, as presbytery ever had in Scotland, or can have, and had its glory of longer continuance, and it is no less ordained 〈◊〉 God, that presbytery shall sleep then Episcopacy. Friends, do you not consider, you that made that clause in the 2d. branch of the Covenant, where we are to endeavour the extirpation not only of Archbishops, Chancellors, Commissaries, etc. but all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy? do not presbyters depend on that Hierarchy? I do believe in time this will be made use of against presbytery, if not, on what Hierarchy doth it depend? Note it all ye to whom this Writing shall come, that as certainly as ye have seen the sleep of Cardinals, Archbi hops, Bishops, and Deacons, which are four of the foolish Virgins, so certainly shall ye see the sleep of presbyters in this Land, the whole Earth shall not hinder it, she being the fift. 2 The time cannot belong, it precedes the marriage of the Lamb, as near as it is, this is the last; o expect thy sleep. Object. Why if this should be what shall we do for Ministers? Reply God will furnish the Land with Teachers, for if he give the Word, great will be the company of Preachers, and truly friend, I cannot write this, nor think of it but with admiration of that work, most certainly God will do in this Kingdom, when the scoffers of the times will be ashamed. Vers. 6. At midnight a cry was made, behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. What the several Expositions here are of the day of Judgement and the like I shall pass by as impertinent, and show you. 1 That marriages in those parts were oft times celebrated in the night, when the younger sort of people attending with the Bride, went to meet the Bridegroom, and accompany him into the Bride's chamber, but in that, it is said to be at midnight, it may be imputed to the word delay before v. 5. which time of delay, was the time of Antichrist, until his time of tyranny, and his Government were ended, as expressed of the ill servant in the time of his Lords delay, beating his fellow-servants, and eating and drinking with the drunken, Cap. 24. ver. 48, 49. When the Lord came, he cut him in two, etc. and the word delay shows marriages were not usually made so late at night. 2 It may be he alludes to the first public notice of Christ's coming to his Church, in Jerom of prague, or Luther's time, which was but a little better than the darkest time of Popery. 3 A cry in the teaching of the Gospel now is made of Christ's coming, he being other ways held out in the doctrine taught now, then in that before Luther. 4 They are called on to go out to meet the Lord, that is, to perform their ministerial duty, in bringing Christ to the Church, and in presenting the Church to Christ: this gins I suppose with Luther in some kind, because Cardinals were sleeping, and Archbishops and Bishops slumbering: but indeed the true time, or full time of the cry, will be when all are asleep: and it may well be called midnight, when the ministry is all as it were true and false, abolished the true by Antichrist, and Christ by his coming abolisheth Antichrists ministry again. When God shall do this, what railing will there be against Authority as if they overthrew it. Ver. 7. Then all those Virgins arose, and trimmed their Lamps. 1 At this time when the foolish Virgins, and the Presbyter the last of them, slumbers, God brings again, and awakens the five wise Virgins, the true Gospel ministry. 2 Then there is much trimming of Lamps, that is, proving of calling, ministry, and Government, by Archbishops, and Bishops, as Doctor Field, by presbytery, Calvin, Rutherford, by the Gospel's ministry, by him whose name is not meet to be mentioned, in the day Christ's ministry shall be spoken for. 3 Indeed▪ I suppose, there may be yet a time after the presbyters sleep: in which liberty will be granted to men for Episcopacy, and Presbytery to plead their call freely and publicly, it may be before the supreme Magistrate, sitting in judgement, as it were to determine that the controversy intonated in Daniel 7. ver. 13, 14. 4 In that it is said, they arose, it showeth as men aw●k●d out of sleep, they will come to this debate of all sides, roused up from the loss they before had, or are like after to sustain. Now the raising of all these are employed by the Apostle, Revel. 20. ver. 4, 5. in which are two dead. 1 Those that were beheaded, alluding to John the Baptist, by which means their Ministry ceased, who had not worshipped the Beast, nor his Image, nor had received his mark in their foreheads, or hands, they lived again, that is, came again to exercise their Ministry in the Church, by their Successors. 2 They had not worshipped the Beast, but were before him, and extinguished by him; nor shall those that are to be, be of him at all. 3 It's preciously alluded to John the Baptist, that Eliah which was said to come in Christ's time, and now again in some other to come, as in Malachy the 3d. Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and children to their fathers. 4 There are others dead which received the Marks, and they lived nor again until the 1000 years were finished, which are the other ministry opposed to that lived, are the foolish & wise Virgins. Ver. 8. The foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our Lamps go out. Before this great time of Judgement, or trial of Ministry, the Ministry of Bishops, Archbishops, and Presbyters, may be said to be blown out, that is, by violence be made to cease: they indeed being by no means at the time of putting out, otherwise to be put out; and shall we think Presbytery will not be put out as the rest, and not go out until the time the rest do go out with her. 2 At this time of trial, they all will go out of their own accord; so that there remains another way of causing the cessation of the past Ministry in the Church, than any yet hath been seen, which will be by the power of the Word, proving the unsoundness of it, and so kindly and quietly cause it to cease. 3 The whole ministry goeth out in this grand commotion, and none until now, now men will acknowledge that their standing by Bishops, or by Presbyters, is not Evangelical; they go out: There is much difference between blowing out a Lamp, and the letting of it burn so long until it can burn no longer for want of oil; when it goeth out of itself, and there is no lighting of it again, there being then left them no plea to minister by. 4 They say to the wise, signifying an acknowledgement or ingenious conviction of them of the unsoundness of their ministry, even to the wise Virgins from their own mouths. 5 Give us of your oil? which implieth a great desire in men to have renewed their Ministry, and signifieth an honourable esteem, the faithful Ministry of the Gospel, should have of others in that day. 6 An acknowledgement of the lawfulness of the Gospel's Ministers Ordination, however it shall be restored (which is to be thought to be as before, by the Magistrate's approbation) and thence desires to be ordained by them. 7 It may be by Give us your oil, may be meant a desire of the foolish, that the wise would acknowledge them for true Ministers of the Gospel, and give them the right hand of fellowship to minister in the Church with them. And this seems fitly to suit with the words of the Text following. Ver. 9 But the wise answered, not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. 1 Signifying that whether it be Ordination, or associtation, or acknowledgement of their Ministry, or what ever else, they are denied it of the Gospel's ministry. 2 The Reason is satisfactory, viz. lest there be not enough for us and you, signifying this, they could not acknowledge their Ministry to be true, and their own not be false, or if their own were true, then were the others false; Again, the truth had acknowledged one true, in calling them wise, and the other false in calling them foolish. 3 Hence it seems to me, that presbytery that so highly declared against, Episcopacy, for Antichristian hath its day now approaching, to be declared against in like manner, and I hope no man will be so vainly minded, as to say, this Construction was taken of Master Lilies Astrology; for the future as some maliciously have objected. Object. A man may see by the coarse of things. 1 It is near two years since, I first affirmed this, since which there is more likelihood than before, but is there any likelihood it falls in Scotland; are not all for it? there is not a Schismatic allowed, it is long since I was persuaded of its fall there, there are many in this Kingdom that have to show it under my hand, as those letters may shortly in part show that I wrote to several of the presbytery, who have spared no pains to plague me in name or goods for it, as I intent to show at large hereafter; when I have done my intended Exposition on the Revelations▪ if God permit, they provoking Authority thereunto like another whore riding the Beast. The Lord knoweth I writ not this to offend any man, nor hath any man cause to be offended, if it be truth, as the Apostle Gal. 4. ver. 16. Am I therefore your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Ver. 9 But go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 1 If the words were spoken sarcastically, than it is as if they should bid them go to the Pope, who sold the ministerial calling. 2 Or rather they contain, an advice to them to adjoin themselves to a true Church rightly constituted, and from them to take a call thereunto, it being delegated of God to them to give. 3 It is intimated, that in these times there will be much care had of keeping the Gospel Government entire in the Church, and that nothing in her Government shall be done irregularly, as in the times passed they have been. Ver. 10. While they went to buy. 1 They take the advice given, so that it should seem it was not spoken sarcastically, if it had, they would have discerned it, I think they would not have gone to Rome for it. 2 Christ is said to come, when there will again be a visible and sensible difference of Christ's presence in the Ministry, and means of what there was formerly: he was then absent, & as if not at all in prayer preaching, etc. 3 This coming or manifestation of God in the means, provokes the Ministry the more to desire to be admitted to the exercise thereof. Ver. 11. Those that were ready, entered with him to the Marriage. 1 At the Coming of Christ it is employed, some shall be ready, that is, shall be endowed with gifts, calling and ministry according to the Gospel, who shall be made use of to celebrate the Nuptials of the Lamb. 1 Before it is said, while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came. 2 See what hinders, the Lord will not come until their lamps be cut, and they gone to buy. 3 This is the destroying Antichrist, by the brightness of his coming, he consuming her by pieces and parts, now a little, and then a little. The door was shut. Notes the administration of the Gospel, would be kept pure against all means that tend to defile them, and be other ways kept then before. Ver. 11. Then came the other Virgins. 1 It is emphatical, the Scripture calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the other Virgins, not the foolish Virgins now, because they now seeing their former folly, laying down their Call, seeking admission to be with Christ, ceased to be foolish and began to be wise. 2 They had a mind to be with Christ, but it was unseasonable, it was after the door was shut, the unwise man gins to be wise when it is too late. They say, Lord, Lord open to us. 1 They desire admission to be a Church-minister, or at least a Church-member; at that time of plenty and power of the Spirit, which will be the most desirable thing in the world. 1 Their earnestness is emplyed in their reiterated Cry of Lord, Lord. 2 Their expectation of favour more than others open to us, though thou open to none, yet open to us, thou art our Lord, we are thy servants, we waited long for thy coming to thy Church. Applic. When the soul is sensible of it, it is then a sad thing indeed to be shut out of Heaven from Christ and Saints, 2 In the right constituting of Church's Excommunication will have greater effects on the spirits of men then in time past, Mat. 18 11, 12. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the East and West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and yourselves shut out, than ye shall weep. Ver. 12. Christ answereth verily, I say unto you I know you not. 1 None are to be admitted but by Christ's approbation, he is the door. 2 Christ denies their petition. 3 On this ground, I know you not, that is, scientia approbationis. 1 Now Christ makes known to the soul, that it is diserted of him, which saddens the heart, and fills it with fear. 2 In that he saith, I say to you it takes away all plea, or answer in the case whatsoever, men indeed may plead against men, but against the Word of God is no objecting. Ver. 13. ye have the application of this spiritual Coming of his before spoken of. 2 In it is prophetically foretold the last personal coming of Christ to Judgement, saying, Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of man cometh. Now that this forecited Parable respects the estate of the Church, and the end of Antichrist as applied; I shall commend to your consideration the Parable set down of Matthew, in Chap. 22. from Vers. 1. to Vers. 12. 1 The wedding is a wedding made in the day, setting out the estate of the Church, before the Antichristian night came upon the World. 2 The present estate in the Apostles times, and after to the time of Antichrist, is herein mainly intended. 1 From Vers. 2. to the 8 respects the Jewish estate of the Church, until their captivity under Titus. Vers. 2. The Kingdom and Marriage signify the Gospel Government set up, the Apostles gathering Churches out of the Jewish Nation. Vers. 3. The Apostles sent out to gather them, Mat. 10. v. 5. and the prophesy fulfilled. Acts 13.46. Vers. 4. He sends forth other servants, which were the 70, Luke 10.1. who were other in their call and persons, or those sent out by the Apostles after Christ and by the Church. Vers. 5. and 6. The effects of the Ministry upon them is set down, some are persecuting, other scoffing, Acts 12.2. & cap. 7.38. cap. 9.1. Vers. 7. All this was to be done before the Lord did send the Roman Army and before the desolation of their Cities. Vers. 9 He proceeds to the call of the Gentiles, which succeeded the refusal of the Jews, Acts 13.46. As for the Exposition of the rest of the Parable, I understand it to agree with the Parable of the fish and tares. See the Smoke of the Temple, about the latter end thereof. Applica. This Parable precedes that of the Virgins, as the day precedes the night, so the Gospel day did the Gospel night, and as where the day ends the night gins, so do I conceive, that where this Parable of the Gospel day ends, there the Parable of the Night gins, showing prophetically what would be brought forth in the world, during that time of Antichrists reign unto the time of the Lords Marriage; and after, as concerning t●e ministry and government of the Church in its first constituting to the Parable of the night. Applica. To take away the strange thoughts that the world, yea, good men will have of the Parl. & their proceed, though guided of God (and their disaffection to the army) who will then cry out. 1 The Archbishops, than the Bishops and the Reading ministers, and the scandalous ministers, and the malignant ministers, as they termed them must go down. O! but now what do they mean? the good ministers as they called them, those that preached for them, they put down them also? is this the reformation they told us of in their Declarations? 2 They took down Common-prayer in our Churches, and then turned two or three Churches into one, that we may have preaching, nor have we the Sacraments in many places this six years, and now preaching is going away out of the Parish also; and all this cried up for Reformation. 3 The Abbey Lands were took from the Ministry, the Bishop's Lands, and now the Dean and Chapters Lands, and the Tithes, they say, shall be took away also: and it is thought the parsonage Houses, and Glebe Land will be took from the ministry also, and at last, what will they do with the Churches? Resp. I beseech you, take heed, and do not think hardly of the Parliament, if ever ye see these things; they as little think of doing these things as you: witness their Declarations. 1 God will have the flesh of Antichrist eaten, that is, all that maintenance that comes to the Ministry by her means. Now these things all of them came by her, be content, God will have it so. 2 God will have Antichrist in the more spiritual part, as it were the soul of Antichrist, that cannot be eat to be burned in fire, which is the Polity or Government of Antichrist, of which Presbytery is no less a part then Episcopacy, together with the Antichristian doctrines of hers. Object. O! but these are good men. Resp. And who will say many of those under Episcopacy were not. If good men stand in a bad place, they must be removed as trees, and planted into a better, to this metaphor, the Apostle alludes, 1 Coloss. 13. 3 These men shall do those things doing Gods will, indeed, but it is in the dark, and shows when they go about to do them, none shall hinder them, it being Gods will it must be done: and let me say to all concerned herein as Gamaliel in the Acts 5.39. If this be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest happily ye be found fighters against God. 4 Should you say to the Parliament as Elisha to Hazael, 2 Kings 8.12. You will do this evil, take away all the maintenance and Ministry almost of the Kingdom into (three or four) and then will ye not bring this brave flourishing knowing Kingdom into deep darkness, Atheism, worse than Popish, like that of America, etc. I believe, the answer would be, Do you think we are Dogs that we should ever do such things as these? But where I may apply that of the Prophet, that God hath showed to me, that these things shall be done, I leave to the issue of things t● prove. 5 Applic. Was there ever such trouble at the removing of these several Ministers of the false Church, as in Cardinal Wolsey's Praemunire; for Poole was but as titular, and acted little as if dead: and in removal of Archbishops and Bishops and their Praemunire: can we think though the Deacons fall quietly, that the Presbyters fall will not cost much blood, especially in Scotland. Do not we see what do now there are in France? and how they are carried against the first of the foolish Virgins, the Cardinal Mazarine, who have all their work to do: but before any peace be in that Kingdom, will do all together. Applic. To the Kingdom until you see these things, you can never see peace, you can never come out of Babel, you can never see the Marriage of the Lamb, nor behold the good days of God foretold in the Scripture: these things forespoken of, make way for these to come amongst us: therefore know, as contrary to thee, as they seem to be, yet they are according to God. And it is most true, if we should consult with flesh and blood about these things, we were utterly lost herein. Applic. To Ministers, ye see what sad things are coming on us. I desire you not to account me your enemy, because I tell you the truth, Gal. 4.16. Many may be happy by it, that have hearts to make use of it; if this be not Truth, let me then be accounted the Ministers public Enemy, whom surely in heart I have not the least desire to offend of myself at all, but it seems to me providence foretells you, you shall stir up the hatred of the Magistrate against you; and than you will occasion him to eat the remaining flesh, and to consume the remaining feces of Antichrists Polity amongst us. To the Magistrate, Rev. 20.4. Thrones were set, and judgement was given to them, and the souls of them beheaded, etc. and cap. ver. 5. This is the first Resurrection. I suppose these things in a judicial way will be brought to pass in the world, Dan. 7.13, 14. are at that time to be accomplished, Scriptures, I believe when accomplished will plainly appear to have been very strangely misunderstood, and mis-applyed, which I leave to time to evidence, and the troubles that do succeed upon removing the Presbytery, and that appertains ●hereunto, is that last Woe I mentioned in the Epistle dedicated to his Excellency, the Lord Fairfax, General, before the Form of Gospel-Government. I caused to be printed about January the 14th. 1648. Object. You have spoken of Antichrists Ministry, as of a single Ministry: and now come to compare the Ministry of Christ which are five in the true Church, to Antichrist as having five also distinct in her false Church. 1 Bellarmine acknowledgeth, 2 Tom. de Cler. Cap. 16. That a Cardinal is but as a parish priest in his own Title. 2 They were Presbyter-Cardinals, and so no more but chief Presbyters: they having in their Churches but a Single Ministry: for as in their Churches a Bishop ministered not to them, nor any Archbishop, or Presbyter, unless as Curate, or Substitute: only Vide Potter, Numb. 666. Cap. 19 The five Gospel Ministers being in every true Gospel constituted Church, the five false in the Roman Catholic Church, or Nationall. Forbs. Irenicu. Cap. 11. the Episcop. Propos. 10, Quando Presbyter fit Episcopus, non desinit esse presbyter, etc. Peculiarem habens Ecclesiam Parochialem quae ipsi sit Cathedralis, id est, ad quam constantèr resideat, etc. Now for Presbyters and Deacons, they were practised amongst us singly, which is proof sufficient. Which clears to us, That while Antichrist had his five false Anti-ministers, he had them in a false way, and not as the true Church: each one doing in the Church singly, as concerning the Ministry, and alone; which all the true Church ordinary Ministry were to do together, there being no division of Members, under the Cardinals, the Archbishops, or Bishop's Ministry, more than in the lowest Presbyters in that Hierarchy, nor did he any thing differ in his administrations from them, as the Apostles did from Prophets, they from Evangelists, they from Pastors or Teachers in the true Church, these in the false Church, differed indeed in some things, in respect of their whole Antichristian Babylonish Hierarchy, but not in particular Titles, or Parish Churches. Applic. To Scotland, In her is the Root of Presbytery, as Episcopacy was in England: though that Geneva gave as it were first being unto it under Calvin: for in Scotland, Nationally it was received and confirmed by one of the ten Kings of the Roman Monarchy, etc. 1 They shall by the Presbytery be stirred up to war, and be overcome by the Saints they war against, called Heretics, and Schismatics, the old Roman way of proceeding against believers, they themselves are called so at Rome. 2 They will come in the end to hate the Presbytery, God will make them naked have their riding the Beast, that is, the Temporal Authority of that Kingdom opened to them, and their standing be made, appear not to be Evangelicall, by which means the Kingdom of Scotland, shall come to hate them, and take away all Authority and Jurisdiction from them, and take away their Ecclesiastical preferments and tithes. etc. yea, make their Presbytery so desolate▪ as not to leave a Presbyter of them to be a Minister; This friends▪ it seems to me God is about to do in Scotland itself, and what will become of it in England? and what shall we say if ever we see God do these things? 3 Though the War begin here, possibly if it do, this Army will then I believe enter Scotland, and do for Presbytery there, as they did for Episcopacy here, but with much more integrity: for as Episcopacy was to have its fall in England, England being the Root of it, so Presbytery is to have its fall in Scotland, the Root of it being there, this estate being the Philadelphian estate, in which the love of Sister-Churches will appear. O that the mind of God were enquired after at the Word, and that men would endeavour the fulfilling thereof, so would there be a sudden ending of our troubles, which we going against, God leads us into the wilderness about and about: I could instance in many things in Parliament and Army, but I forbear, praying God to direct Parliament, Army, and People, to set them in a right way, to do Gods will willingly: by which means our losses, what ever to us Ministers, would be repaired. Kings and the Nations would willingly give their Kingdoms to Christ, people willingly take the course to be in communion with Christ, knowing in all Christ seeks us, not ours, and repairs all loss with wonderful advantage, giving a 1000 fold in this world, and in the world to come eternal life with himself for ever. I have thought good to conclude with these considerations. 1 That the three Woes spoken of, Rev. 11.14. had respect to the Wrath of God causing by degrees the fall of the false Church, which fell utterly in the last Woe, though I know usually men apply it to the last Judgement of the wicked, which cannot be. Now in the first Woe fell of the false Church ministry, Cardinals, and with them Votaries, Friars, Abbots, Abbeys, with their maintenance, and with them as false apostles, the Apocryphal Scripture they had set up, with the golden Legend, the Book of false miracles, Bulls, Indulgencies, etc. ceased with them here. 2 Under the second Woe, fell the Archbishops, and Bishops, and with them Chancellors, Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Ch●pters, etc. their Lands, etc. and with them fell the Common-Prayer Book, in which was the allowed Ministry of the Land, with the Homily-Booke. 3 Under the third Woe, which is that I formerly spoke of, mentioned in the Epistle I dedicated to his Excellency, the Lord Fairfax General, which is yet to come, in which is the fall of Presbyters and Deacons, as the Root of Antichrist, in whom falls the now preaching, maintenance by Tithes, Glebe's, Church constitutions etc. It any more be in the false, when people come to see they are in a Babble, that is, in a Confusion indeed, and there is then way made for the Calling Ministry, and Church constitution of Christ, when the World hath nothing of the now, or past Ministry left then is that, and not before fulfilled, That Babel is fallen. Illustration this is understood, as I suppose by that Rev. 16.12. The sixth Angel poured out his viol on the River Euphrates, and the waters thereof were dried up, that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared. 1 Many things in one part of the Rev. said to be done, under the sixth, in another are said to be done under the seventh, because in one part of the world, that is done under one, in another is done under another. Part of this vision beginning under the 6, is ended under the 7th. 2 Here, by waters, I understand the Ministry of Antichrist, belonging to Babel, as Euphrates did, which was that in the false, as the River of God spoken of in the true, Revel. 2.12. Psal. 46.5. There is a River, the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God. 3 The great River that had that multitude of Priests, Friars, Bishops, etc. is to be dried up, and taken clean away. 4 By which only the way of the Governors of the Sun rising is prepared intimating that as men East of Babel could not come to Jerusalem for that water, so the Gospel ministry of the new Jerusalem cannot come to it for the water of Babel remains. Object. How can you prove the Apostles of the true slept in the time of administration of the false Church, especially under Presbytery. Reply, 1 The Presbytery, and the rest before them say, the Apostles are extraordinary Officers and are ceased: as in the Propositions of the Assembly. 2 They apprehend not that in excommunications, etc. Of Church Administrations they were to do it with the Apostles and Apostles with them as that, 1 Cor. 5.4. Intimates we should do in doing it and so cease not. So that Antichrist end seems to me thus to be brought about in the Lords taking down Ministry means and Ordinances, these being not long to be ministered by any Authority from or of Rome, when the Lord will decide that great controversy of the calling of the Ministry, that now is, where it be of God or not, when there will be no visible form of Church Government left, no more than was in that time in this Kingdom, which was before the birth of Christ, into which miserable estate of confusion or desolate condition Babel falls and ends; who in her glorious estate was Babel, that is Confusion, but in this as being that Jericho or City of the Curse devoted, with all within her to be destroyed, not the gold or garments of Babel being to be left at all, for the Lord Jesus now falling on her grinds her to powder: when if this prove true, what will they say, that so bitterly speak of the false and reputed Schismatical teachers, saying, God will pluck off the vizard of these persons: and notwithstanding their pretences, discover with what lying spirit they are led, so that their madness shall in their destruction be manifested to all, to the comfort of the people of God, and everlasting shame and confusion of their own faces. O man▪ remember thy end, Babel falls, Revel. 18.10. In one hour shall her judgement come; the Almighty God hastens her to her end, and she cannot find rest but in the judgement aforesaid, in which God as in her everlasting grave entombs her for ever: at which the Saints in Heaven above, and on earth beneath, shall sing songs of praise and glory to God for ever. Amen. Now, that the glory of this truth may shine as the Sun in the threefold fall of her triple Crown. See Revel. 16.19. The great City was divided into three parts; so that as there were three woes fell on the Hierarchy of Rome, so it shows why but three, because the great City, the mystical Rome was divided into three parts; the first part subject to Cardinals, and the second part subject to Episcopacy, and the third part subject to Presbytery: these are divided in Judgement and Government, preaching one against an other, and are three, and yet but one City, and do belong thereunto, and the City never falls until all these parts are fallen, upon which falls the Cities of the Nations. O London: fall to Christ, or thou wilt fall for opposing Christ in this very time comes either thy greatest happiness or unhappiness thou ever hadst upon thee: The Lord make thee wise in this thy day to know the things of thy peace, that thou mayst find mercy and not in judgement, have them hid from thee. Luke 19.42. Revel. 11. vers. 3. Mentions that Ministry which was ordained of God, to supply the place of the true and fall'n Ministry, of the Church, set out under the name of two witnesses, who are ordained of God to prophesy, and thereby to feed the Elect of God, during the time of the Churches hid estate, which is computed to be by the Spirit of God, 1260 days prophetically years, Revel. 12.6. which is the full time of Antichrists reign, of whom I commend these things to be considered of. 1 That the two witnesses, comprehend not the whole Ministry of any age, but only such who in each age of the predicted time did oppose Antichrist, maintaining the Gospel truth against his errors, in doctrine, discipline, or Church Constitution, in the several times and ages they lived in, so that ones witness may differ from another, according to the measure of knowledge God had communicated unto them, in their day, one witnessing against his corrupt doctrine of justification, etc. Others against his Idolatry, etc. Against whom God had still some to oppose, and direct the Church to this day, this being a part of that time. 2. Their witness is but for a limited time, even the time of the Churches hiding, and then ends. Revel. 11.7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, There Testimony is not long before it be fulfilled if not already, after which they shall teach no more, as they have done before. 3 Consider but Him, that is to put an end to their Ministry▪ and then the time is known, when this and by whom it shall be effected, Rev. 17.3. I saw a woman, (that is the Papacy) sitting on a Scarlet coloured beast, (that is the Roman Empire) now here, Revel. 11.7. The beast that is some part of the Civil State, of the Roman Monarchy, set down, Verse 13. By a tenth part of the City, which England is being one of the 10 Kingdoms, of the Roman Monarchy, and a tenth part of the City, gets up out of the bottomless pit, or Antichrists prison, the Key whereof the fallen Star keepeth, Revel. 9.1. which proves her authority thereof. 4 The beast thus having broken the prison, makes war with the witnesses, by questioning their ministry, the witnesses could not war with any other weapons than the word, and then overcomes them and kills them, (not slaying their persons but nullifying their ministry. 5 Into their carcases, that is into their now dead ministry, comes the spirit of life from God, that is God comes to restore, in their stead the true ministry, into the Church again, now that this is meant of their successors, not themselves, I desire you to observe. 1 Their ministry is fulfilled that is, that they were to do by their ministry, they have done and are to do no more in the Church. 2 Their time being set is now accomplished, and are no longer to continue, and if they then, sure the other antichristian Ministry, that is not of God, is much more to end. 6 The spirit of life entering into their carcases, is the right call and abundance of gifts, God shall bless the succeeding ministry with. 7 That the successors of these, vers. 12. Are called into heaven, that is, they are acknowledged by the Church, to be the true Gospel ministry. 8 On this the 10 part of the City falls, vers. In which a full and perfect deliverance is given, to one of the ten Kingdoms, from the Antichristian estate and not before. Aplic. England see where and in what time thou art in, and what is to be done in thee for thy cure, and how near thy comfort and Salvation is. 2 How contrary the actings of men, are to God's mind, the sole cause of all our troubles. 3 I cannot pass this by that the witnesses Prophesied in sackcloth, Revel. 11.3. And so did wear none of the Pope's Scarlet, or the Bishop's silks, or had they the rule of States, with the Presbytery, but were during their whole time of ministry, in a sad and suffering condition lamenting, their own and the Saints calamities, being always under antichristian persecution for the truth, and never having public Government in their hands, as Presbytery hath had, at all. 4 These witnesses rise again in the restauration of the true Gospel ministry foretold of God, Revel. 20. ver. 4.5. You shall see in this how God makes good the judgement written of her, when shall be fulfilled on her that she did on the messengers of the Gospel, that she may say as I have done, the Lord hath requited me, Revel. 18.6. Return to her even as she hath returned to you. Now the word is verbum factivum▪ that which God saith here, Do, shall be done when the time is come, & people be, to whom these words are written. For as the Apostle, 1 Pet. 1.12. not to themselves, but us they did minister these things, so these things are ministered to those men that live in that t●me, God will have these things done, when the Word shall fill their spirits with might to do the will of the Lord. 1 Who is to be returned unto, that is her, the false Church of Rome. 2 How she is to be rewarded, and that is as she hath rewarded the true Church of Christ. 3 He shows the Rule God will have observed in returning to her, which is, That as she hath done, she shall be done unto. 1 Now, consider by policy she first destroyed the Gospel Ministry, God will take down hers by the purity and power of his Word again, and set up the Gospel Government in her stead. 2 By cruelty and disgrace she destroyed these Witnesses, which taught the Gospel of Truth in the time of her Reign, now to this the holy Spirit alludes, as being the way of God's judgement, in ●h●ch the Saints are to be execution●rs, and to do to her (that is Antichrist) as she hath done. 3 The thing God aimed at herein is to show Antichrists tyranny used against those God raised up to preach the Gospel, by degrading them, as in the History of John Huss at Constance, and of John Sawtrey the first English Martyr, the History in brief being thus: The Bishop's cause him to be apparelled in Priestly Vestments, and to be brought to appear before them▪ when the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel 1399 saith, I denounce thee William Sawtrey in the Habit of a Priest, as an Heretic, I do condemn thee in the name of all my fellow brethren the Bishops, etc. and of the whole Clergy I do degrade and deprive thee of thy Priestly Order, in sign whereof, we take from thee the Patent and Chalice, and do deprive thee of authority of saying Mass: we pull from thy back the Casul, and take from thee thy Vestment, and deprive thee of all manner of Priestly honour. And then having proceeded in manner of pronouncing sentence against him (as before) he proceeds, We put thee from the order of a Deacon, in token we take from thee the book of the New Testament and the Stole, and do deprive thee of reading the Gospel, and all dignity of a Deacon. As a Subdeacon they deprivedst of the Albe and Maniple. As a Acolite they take away the Candlestick and Taper. As a Exorcist, the book of Conjuration. As a Reader they took away the book of the Church Legend. As Sexton they took away the Keys of the Church door, and the Surplice. And then raze his Crown, and put a Cap of a Lay person on his head, and deliver him to the Secular power, and say, pray be favourable to him, who after burns him (being called on by the Bishops) in the City of London. Now you are to observe if a Cardinal, Archbishop or Bishop had proved thus Heretical, other things had been done to him, in his Pale Crosier Mitre and other fooleries, as in part was done on those Bishops suffered in Queen mary's days. O! Friends, see is not the Surplise taken away, the Legend, the Book of Conjurations, the Candlesticks, the Taper, the Alb, the Maniple, the New Testament, and stole from the Deacon, I mean to exercise it ministerially, the Paten and Chalice, the Casul, the Mass, the Mitre, Crosier and Cardinal's Cap, are not all in a little while, with many more gone out of the Kingdom, and swept clean away as with the besom of God. 4 Things are here done more to be observed. 1 Depriving of Priestly honour. 2 Razing the Crown. 3 Putting on a Layman's Cap, which we should be loath to have done on us. 4 The saying to the Temporal power, we beseech you to receive William Sawtrey, favourably into your power, if ever God should do this, the Civil power need to be favourable to us, for never men needed more favour of them then we shall, the Lord grant some way may be found out to supply our families, which are not the least in the Kingdom, and let not us Ministers if these things are to be, not occasion the Magistrate to be straightened to us. Lord, what a day is coming on us Ministers, sure, another day of judgement which we cannot fly from. That Parable of the unjust Steward, Luke 16.1. to the end of vers. 11. will be after more clearly understood then yet it is. But this is for comfort, certainly, that after the true Church is constituted, the abundance of blessings will be such I think, no man will lack. I shall end this part with certain Predictions agreeable hereunto. Walter Brute, about 1393. but if in time to come after this, those that be Temporal Lords shall take from Ecclesiastical persons their Temporalties, let him that desireth to understand this, read Ezek. chap. of the Shepherds of Israel, and read the Apocalypse, of the fall of Babel, let him read the Pope's Decretals against Heretics, in these he shall find the Temporalties shall be taken from the Clergy for the multitudes of their sins, Acts and Mon. A Prediction of Merlinus Calcedenius, a Scot After a long tribulation of Christians and effusion of innocent blood, the prosperity and peace of God shall come to a desolate Nation, I mean the Christians for an excellent Pastor shall come, and rectify all things, and all things shall be according to the form of the Primitive Church. Joannes Wolfius citys a Prediction. Europae genitus terra vir justus & aequus Pastor erit, coeli claves non regna gubernans Pax erit, & toto surget concordia mundo: Una fides, unus regnabit in omnia princeps. Saint Bridget saith of the Pope, that a sword of God should pierce his body, and run him throrough from head to heart, never to be pulled out, and after his arms, his Vicars and Ministers their souls should be debarred the glory of God, and their dignity and goods should be devolved unto others. Joachim an Italian Abbot, in his Concord of the two Testaments, hath written many predictions, which accord with these. Joannes de rupe Scissa, once Bishop of Paris, hath foretold that the Pope●, Archbishops, Bishops, and the whole Clergy of Rome sha●l be brought back again to the Primitive form of Christ and his Apostles, with most sharp scourges, and that all temporal principalities shall be taken from the Clergy. Savanorala, that the Apostolical See should be removed from Rome to Jerusalem, if hereby be understood the New Jerusalem it is true. And its possible these Predictions, were for the most part taken from Scripture, as Expositions only, as in the predicted place of Walter Brute, according to which I have done mine, which none can quarrel at, unless he quarrel against the Word, if it agree with the mind of the holy Spirit, if not reprove it, print against it. After part of the wrath of God contained under the sixth Seal, in which is a fall of the ministry, Revel. 6.13. and demolishing of Church Government, in rolling away of the Heavens, verse. 14. chap. 7.1. there is an endeavour by 4 Angels, that is, ministers to stop the Win●s or Gospel through discontent that their ministry and government was abolished, it being given to them by the Magistrate. It is liked not of God, because they are by the other Angel that differed from them forbade to do it, it is like they will endeavour to peace if their call to the ministry be false, there is none true, and so ought to be no teaching at all, but the other Angel that ascends from the Sun rising, that is he, that was of those Christ the Son of righteousness at first sent forth with the Gospel, he opposeth them who hath the Seal that is the authority of the living God to constitute Churches, and gather members into Gospel fellowship with Jesus Christ by the word, setting men apart to God, thereby from the World. Reader, one word of this Scripture is not fulfilled, but follows the things in hand, time will shortly manifest them in another way then yet they are. In the Ministry of Edmundsbury in the Celleners' great Chamber window, in one half of the glass was pictured the Apostle Paul, having in one hand a sword, and with the other points to a picture, and the other side of the window, with a triple Crown in a glorious Seat, holding the Globe of the World in his hand, environed with Priests, Monks, Preachers and Friars, and having out of his mouth an unclean spirit flying or fluttering about the same, his Crown was compassed (is it were) with Sunbeams, and in three several places written about it in short, Antichristus, and about the Apostles head, was written Veniet discessio primum. And underneath the Apostle Paul is pictured Malachy the Prophet, and written above his head, Ecce ego mittam vobis Eliam Prophetam, Behold, I will send you Eliah the Prophet, and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest I smite the earth with a Curse: and with the finger pointed at Eliah, pictured on the other hand, over against him underneath the picture of Antichrist, as if he were preaching to the Prelates, Priests, Monks and Friars, amongst whom some are represented, as stopping their cares and nose thereat. Some as if they seemed sleeping, ot●er some at listening and assenting to that Elias saith, Vide Maxwels History of admirable prophecies. I do not cite these, as if the Scripture were not sufficient to admonish us, or that I use them as of any authority in a manner, but thus, that when all knowledge was taken away from the people, God stirred up the dumb to speak, and made the blind see the destruction of Antichrist to wonder and admiration, so that Popes, Cardinals, &c. cannot say but they have been admonished of God from Heaven, as it were of that destruction, most certainly followeth. Now if these, how much more should we from the word warn men and be warned, in which they may see truth themselves spoken of God that cannot lie, and blessed is that soul is not offended at it but made wise, and in it happy for ever, which is it I only seek God is witness, and not of myself, the wrong or fall of any enviously; but the admonition of all that are concerned here in love and in peace, in God, and in Christ our Lord, according to the everlasting Gospel of our blessed God and Saviour, and who is he that came or shall be offended at it, and not offend God; yea, try if it be the truth, if so, if thou believe not; yea, if thou submit not to it, the enmity of this heart appears against, which pray the Lord earnestly to give thee grace and mercy, that thou be not left thereto for ever: whereto the Lord help all his daily evermore. FINIS. Errata. Page 1. r. parabolas, p. 4. l. 34. r. are in. p. 5. l. 2. r. Presbyter, p. 5. l. 17. r. false prophet, p. 5. l. 23. r. alterius orbis, p. 5. 28, 29. r. for the Evangelists p. 10 l. 16. deal that, l. 35. r. who are p. 13. l. ult. r. association p. 19 at end of 20 l. 1 Cor. 3.15 p. 19 l. 4. r. as at.