A WARNING TO COME OUT OF BABYLON, In a Sermon preached by Master Andrew Ramsay, Minister at Edinburgh; At the receiving of Mr. Thomas Abernethie, sometime Jesuit, into the society of the truly reformed Church of SCOTLAND.  LUKE XV. 10. 
There is joy in the presence of the Angels of GOD, over one sinner that repenteth.  
IN MY DEFENCE GOD ME DEFEND.  
Printed at Edinburgh, in King James his College, by George Anderson. 1638.   
REVEL. Chap. XVIII. Vers. 4. 
And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, my People, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  
AMongst other properties of GOD, whereby He describeth himself to Moses, Exod. 34. He is said to be long suffering: But though he be a patient and long suffering GOD, yet he is not an Ever-suffering GOD. Long hath the Lord suffered the whoredoms and abominations of that mystic Babylon Rome, but he is not ever to suffer them, for he hath begun to pour out the vials of his wrath, in that the fall of Rome is begun, and she shall continue in falling more and more, until the time the Lord hath totally and finally destroyed her. But it is usual with GOD, before he execute his judgements upon any city, nation, or place, where his own chosen people dwell, to provide first for the safety and security of his own, before ever he pour out his fierce wrath and indignation upon his enemies. GOD when he was to destroy the World, 
Genes. 4. 14.  before he loused the catarects of the Heaven from above, and broke up the fountains of the waters from beneath, that he might sweep away with the bosom of an universal inundation the wicked from the face of the Earth; 
Genes. 19 2  did remember Noah, and enclosed him in the Ark, prepared for his preservation. Before the LORD reigned fire and brimstone from Heaven, he delivered Lot out of Sodom. The Christians dwelling in Jerusalem, before the last destruction by Vespasian, 
Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 5  were advertised by a voice from Heaven to depart from thence, and go to Tella, Herefore is it; that GOD being to destroy Babilon● a voice is heard from Heaven, commanding his people to Come out of Babylon, lest being partakers of her sins, they should receive of her plague's.  
In this Divine Oracle We have a commandment given from Heaven, and reasons for inforceing obedience to this commandment: In the commandment there be these three observable; First, The authority of the commandment, which is Divine, to wit, A voice from Heaven. Next, the persons to whom this commandment is given, to wit, GOD'S own people. Third, the commandment itself, that they come out of Babel: The reasons follow, least being partakers of her sins, they receive of her plagues. By the authority of this commandment (being Divine, 
A Command to come out of Babel.  and a voice from Heaven) We learn what to answer our adversaries, when they ask us what warrant and authority our Reformers had to depart, and make secession from the church of Rome: They had (say we) a double authority; one extraordinare, being furnished with an extraordinary measure of grace, in an extraordinary time, for the extraordinary work of reformation. They had also an ordinary authority, and that threefold; 
Our departure from the church of Rome.  being Presbyters of the church of Rome; next, persecuted by them: and thirdly, warned by this Divine Oracle, to come out of Babel.  
If it be objected that Christ Jesus did not make a separation from the corrupt Jewish kirk. I answer, That the outward service in the Jewish kirk than was free of Idolatry, and might be haunted therefore with a safe conscience: But the service of the Roman kirk became so idolatrous, that they were necessitate to forsake her, 
Why Jesus Christ made not secession from the jewish synagogue.  and come out of Babylon. Therefore by the same Oracle (whereby they were warned to come out of Babel, because of her whoredoms and idolatries) we cease not daily to warn God's children to come out of Babel, lest being partakers of her sins, they receive also of her plagues.  
The persons to whom this commandment is given, 
Free election & perseverance of the Saints.  are God's people; Come out my people (saith the voice from Heaven) etc. They are God's people by free grace, singled out of the corrupt mass of Adam, predestinate through Christ unto life everlasting; against whom the powers of Hell can never prevail: The infallible consequent hereof is, that they cannot totally nor finally fall away from grace▪ for the love of God the Father which continueth to the end, 
joh. 13. 1  and is unchangeable, pleadeth for this perseverance: 
Heb. 9 24  the efficacious intercession of Christ doth the same; 
Eph. 1. 13  as likewise the sealing of the holy Spirit, until the day of their full and final redemption: the chain of salvation proveth the same, 
Math. 24. 4  seeing it is impossible (as Christ saith) that the elect shall perish; 
Rom. 11. 29  and that the calling of GOD is without repentance: 
Rom. 8. 30  and justification hath an individus all conjunction with glorification: Add to this, that Faith perisheth not, 
1 Pet. 5. 7  as sayeth Peter, and hope maketh us to rejoice of life everlasting, as a thing most certain, Rom. 5. 2. and charity faileth not, and the Godly sin not, 
1 Cor. 13. 8  that is, not totally nor finally, for the seed abideth in them: 
1 joh. 3. 9  This seed is the habit of true grace, 
joh. 10. 28  or our habitual renovation, which importeth a saving and abiding union with God. It rests then, that God's people are so his own, that none is able to pluck them out of his hands; for the love of God to them is not a general, but a special love, and because of this special love, this warning is given to come out of Babylon. It is a mark of God's special favour, to call effectually from darkness to light, from dead idols, to the worshipping of the living GOD. Of this special love GOD called Abraham out of Vr of the Caldees. 
Gen. 12. 1  There were many widows in the days of Eliah, 
1 King. 17. 8  yet he was sent to none, but to the widow of Sarepta: Many leper● there were in the days of Elizeus, but he was sent to none but to Naaman the Syrian: 
2 King. 5. 9  There were many covetous customers in the days of Christ, whereof none was called to be an Apostle of Christ, 
Mat. 9 9  but Matthew the Publican: Many persecutors, but none called as Saul, 
Act. 9 3  to be a Paul, to carry the name of Christ to the Gentiles; and this of God's special love towards them. Therefore it is a mark of GOD'S special favour to be called out of Babel, that they be not partakers of her sins, and receive of her plagues.  
This Babylon out of which they are commanded to come, 
Rome is Babylon, Egypt, and Sodom.  is not that royal city, situate upon Euphrates, wherein the Kings of Caldea did reside, but is Rome, that mystic Babylon, as evident by Antiquity and Scripture. As for Antiquity, I might name many, but I will content me with Hierome, who in the preface of his exposition of Didymus de Spiritu sancto, hath these words, cum in Babylon versarer, purpuratae meretricis colonus, & jure Quiritum viverem, placuit garrire allquid de Spiritu sancto; that is, when I was in Babylon, being a servant and a tenant of the scarlet whore, etc. And more clearly to Marcelia, in the name of Paula and Eustochium, he inviteth her to come out of Rome, being that Apocalyptick Babylon; whereby it is clear what Hierome did esteem of Rome: And in the preceding chapter, the whore is said to sit clothed in purple, dyeed with the blood of the Saints, with a golden cup, full of fornications in her hand, having in her forehead A mystery Babylon. Rome therefore is that mystic Babylon, the city situate upon seven hills, which did reign over all the kingdoms of the Earth at that time: And it is observable, that the Pope's ordinary vesture is Scarlet, and in the frontispiece of his Mitre (as Joseph Scaliger witnesseth in his notes on the New Testament) is written Mystery: which he learned by the report of Lord Montmorency, who was certified thereof in his being at Rome. Moreover the same Scaliger sayeth there, that the Mass in all languages hath the name of Mystery, which (I doubt not) is by Divine providence, for it is full of mysteries in all the parts, gestures, actions, and rites thereof, in so far, that for their exposition, they require a voluminous treatise, as Durandus Rationale, and idle pens of others employed upon that superstitious subject do testify: Yea, there is no part of their white garments, that wanteth its mystery, wherefore the better reformed churches have rejected them, for their forged operation, and popish mystical signification; The scarlet, the golden cup, the mystery, the imperial city, situate on seven hills, do evidence, what that mystic Babylon Rome is, and the pope who resides there.  
In this book of Divine Revelation, Rome is branded with three titles and names, of Egypt, Sodom, and Babylon. It is called Egypt in the XI. Chapter, because it oppresseth the people of God, 
Revel. 11. 8.  and maketh them work in brick and clay of corrupt doctrines, and humane inventions. It is there also called Sodom, because of idleness, and fullness of bread, and that filthy and unnatural lust, not to be named, which made GOD to rain fire and brimstone thereupon; for many idle bellies be there, dumb dogs that preach not; prodigality and luxury do reign amongst them; and these unnatural lusts wherewith the Sodomites were infamous, so abounds in Rome, that Petrus Damianus leaving Rome, and betaking him to the wilderness, in detestation of this Sodomitical villainy, published a book, entitled by him Gomorraeus, which he did dedicat to Leo the ninth. Cardinal Baronius in his Annals clearly confesseth the same. And the Archbishop de la Casa, was not ashamed to present to the view of the world a treatise, 
joan. de la Casa, arch. bishop of Beneventanum.  in the commendation of filthy Sodomy, which was printed, and reprinted at Venice: O Coelum! ad haec non sadas? O terra! non dehiscis? O Heavens! do ye not blush? O Earth! dost thou not open thy mouth, and swallow such vile and grievous sinners? But, O LORD, great is thy patience, which the impenitent abusing, do treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath.  
Thirdly, Rome is called Babylon, which signifieth confusion (for the confusion of tongues at the building of Babel) because in Rome, mystic Babylon, there is a confusion of secular and ecclesiastic government distinguished and divided by GOD himself, in the persons of Moses and Aaron, and from thence (as is evident) in the reign of Jehosaphat, 
Chron. 19 19  except in extraordinary cases, until the days of the Macabees, whose successors confounding church and policy as a thing ordinare, did lose both church and policy: And unto Peter the keys of the kingdom of Heaven was committed, and not keys of the kingdom of the earth. And the Canons of the Apostles, so called, interdict ecclesiastic persons from meddling with civil affairs. The prime and purer Antiquity not only condemneth the same, but in the last and corrupt days Bernard. ad Eugenium enveyeth against all secular government in the persons of Churchmen: 
Bernar. de Consid. lib. 2.  But Babylon hath confounded these, giving in both the plenitude of power to the Pope, and from him as the source and spring all power to stream forth, and be derived at his pleasure, in spiritual and temporal government. This is a great confusion, but there is a greater and worse, in mixing and confounding truth with error in the worship of GOD, for they have joined with the word GOD, their traditions, with the two Sacraments of GOD, their five bastard sacraments, with the bloody sacrifice of CHRIST, their unbloodie sacrifice of the Mess; with the merit of Christ, the merit of man, with the adoration of the Creator the adoration of the creature; with the blood of Christ, the blood of Martyrs: And this way have built up their Babel of confusion: And because of this double confusion, if they repent not, double confusion in GOD'S just judgement is prepared for them. Therefore, that we may eschew this confusion, and GOD'S fierce vengeance, let us come out of Babel.  
To come out of Babylon is not only to come out with the feet of our body, 
What it is to come out of Babylon.  but three ways we must come out of Babylon: In mind, affection, and action: In mind and judgement, disproving and condemning their errors; in heart and affection hating them; in action, in deed and body forsakeing them, and that with resolution never to return. And he who in these three forsaketh Babel, may be said truly to come out of Babel: But this coming out of Babel presupposeth a residing and dwelling in Babel; Whereby we may answer to these who ask us, where our Kirk was before the days of Luther; I ask likewise, where they who came out of Babel was, 
The true church in Babylon, but not of Babylon.  before their coming out of Babel; It must be said that they were in Babel. So our Church before the reformation (which was three hundred years before Luther) was in mystic Babylon the Roman church: But though it was in it, it was not of it; for if it had been of it (as John sayeth) it had not went from out of it: It was in it, and with it as a mass of metal consolidat of gold, silver, and tin, wherein though the gold and silver be mixed with the tin, they are no part of the tin, and by the melting of the skilful founder, are separate and distinguished one from another. So were the good and the bad mixed together in the Roman church, till GOD by the Reformers, as so many skilful founders, did separate and divide his own Elect from the reprobate. If it be further demanded, who these were of our profession, that did remain in the Roman church: I answer, they were of three sorts, 
Three sort of believers in Babylon.  Public opponents to the Romish errors; Private opponents, and a third who were neither public nor private opponents: Public opponents I might name many, but I will content me with some most remarkable: When the Gregorean Liturgy was obtruded to the Christian Kirk in these Western parts, these of Milan did oppose the same; being better pleased with the Liturgy of Ambrose: these of Spain did the same; 
Roderic. Archiep. Tolet. lib. 6. cap. 25. Beda de reb. gest. Angl. lib. 2.  liking better the Mosarabick, and that of Isidorus, than the Roman Liturgy: The religious Votaries of Bangor resisted the Roman liturgy till blood and death.  
What opposition was made against single life of Churchmen in Germany, England, and many other places, it is notore to all that are not strangers in history. When images were received in the Kirk, with a relative worship, about the seven hundred year of GOD, the German● and French bishops did resist the same; and a Council was holden by Charles the great, 
Melchior Haiminsfild. Goldast. lib. Imperial. Decret.  in Germany, at Franksurd, where images with their worship were condemned, and the books yet extant, called Libri Caroli magni, do evidence the same. A little after this there arose some disputes, about the manner of Christ's presence in the Sacrament, when the seeds of Transubstantiation were in sowing, Bertram stirred up by GOD, did oppose the same: The like did Scotus, Erigena, Rabanus, and after these Beringarius, till Pope Innocentius the third, with his prevailing faction, in the 1215. year of GOD did determine, that monstrous error of Transubstantiation. A little before this time, 
Author vitae Hen. 4. Aventin. lib. 5. An●●l. Boior.  Hildebrand bishop of Rome, was not only content to liberat himself from the investure of the Emperors, but also did subject the Imperial crown to this Priestly mitre, and thereby put the Christian world in a combustion, which he effectuate not without great opposition even of the Clergy; for the Clergy of Germany did resist, and many Divines did account him to be the Antichri●●: And in this his more than sacrilegious jurisdiction, usurped over the Kirk of Christ in counsels, not only the Cardinal of Arles, Sorbonists of Parise, but the general council holden at Constans, did oppose and condemn. And in late days Valla, Erasmu●, Beatus Renanus, with many others, though they lived in the society of the Roman Kirk, did condemn many errors and abuses therein. Besides these public Opponents, there were many thousand private Opponents, who were as these seven thousand in the Church of Israel, who bowed not their knees to Baal, but if not openly, yet secretly did oppose the same; as Nicodemus lived amongst the Pharisees, and Joseph of Arimathea amongst the Counselors who condemned Christ: and these who had not defiled themselves, but followed the Lamb, mentioned, Revel. 14. 4. There were thirdly many, whose eyes GOD did illighten in the article of death, who not finding any comfort in the intercession of Saints, and doctrine of merits; and therefore leaving these impure cisterns, had their recourse to the living fountains of waters, which did spring out of the intercession and merits of Christ, to the eternal refreshment of their souls. 
How an adulterous kirk may beget children to GOD.  If it be replied, how the Roman Kirk being (as we call) an adulterous Church could beget Children to GOD, as also being a false and corrupt Church, how she could bring forth Orthodox and true professors. I answer, An adulterous woman may bring surth Children to her Husband and to her Paramours, as is evident. Hos. chap. 2. vers. 2. Plead with thy mother (saith the LORD) That she put away her whoordomes from betwixt her breasts, etc. Here sons of GOD, and yet their mother is an adulteress: Sons of GOD they are, because they plead for GOD against their mother for her adulteries. So an adulterous Kirk may beget children to GOD, as also a false and corrupt church may beget true professors. As the Jewish Church in the days of Christ, for the leaven of the Scribes and pharisees did infect the same, 
Matth. 16. 5. and 23. 2, 3.  and Christ commandeth his Disciples to beware of that leaven, and yet to obey the Scribes and Pharisees, as they sat in the chai●e of Moses. By their leaven Pharisees did poison the souls of many to their destruction, and sitting in the chair of Moses, teaching the Law of Moses, and not their own inventions, did beget children to GOD. After this manner the voice of Christ, and the voice of the Antichrist sounding in the church of Rome, thereby children was begotten to Christ▪ and the Antichrist. Thevoice of Christ was heard in holy Scriptures written for our consolation, the voice of the Antichrist is heard in his traditions: The voice of Christ is heard in the administration of Baptism and the Lords Supper, the voice of the Antichrist in the administration of his five bastard sacraments: The voice of Christ is heard in the saving doctrine of his merit and righteousness, the voice of the Antichrist is heard in the doctrine of the merit and righteousness of man: The voice of Christ is heard in the blood of Christ, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, the voice of the Antichrist in the forged satisfactory blood of Martyrs. If it be demanded, how in the Roman church the voice of Christ was known and distinguished from the voice of the Antichrist; I answer, That God's children have a discretive judgement given unto them, whereby they know the voice of Christ from the voice of the Antichrist. 
God's children know his voice. John. 10. 3.  My sheep hear my voice (sayeth Jesus Christ) and they follow me. And this should not seem strange, for if the lamb amongst the bleeting of ten thousand sheep can discern the voice of her mother, much more the lambs of Christ Jesus can discern the voice of their Father and Shepherd Christ Jesus. And since GOD hath given by a natural instinct unto the beasts, by smell and taste to discern what hearhes are wholesome and convenient for their food, and what noisome; shall we not think, that GOD much more will enable (by his grace and Spirit) his own children, bought with no less price than the blood of his Son, to discern what is hurtful, what conducible for their salvation. Neither will it follow by any necessare inference, that the Roman kirk is a true Kirk, because by it children are begotten to God, seeing this falleth out not properly, but accidentally, for Papacy tendeth not to beget children to Christ, but to Antichrist. Therefore obey this voice from Heaven, and come out of Babylon.  
The reasons to move us to come out of Babylon here mentioned, 
Reason's wherefore we would come out of ●abel.  are two, her sins, and her plagues for her sins. Sins and plagues are copulative, Who so sinneth shall be plagued; Therefore if we partake of her sins, we shall partake of her plagues. If it be asked what be these her sins, I answer, what sins do not reign in her? But passing the general, I will mention five sins in special, for the which Babylon shall be plagued and destroyed, viz. Pride, Cruelty, Deceit, Idolatry, Heresy. Such is her pride, that although there be beside her the Kirkes' of Grece, Syria, Africa, and Ethiopia, which disclaim her power as Antichristian, yet she arrogantly usurpeth the title of the Catholic church, as proper and due only to her, when in effect she is neither the Catholic Kirk, nor a sound member of the same. Pride also in a high degree possesseth all her Clergy: The meanest Priest is styled as a Knight, and the meanest Nun as a Lady of Honour: Bishops and Archbishops are as Lords and Princes, and Cardinals above Princes, and the Man of sin the Pope their head exalteth himself not only above Kings and Emperors, 
The sins of Babylon wherefore she is destroyed. Math. Paris.  but also above God himself. John the 2. King of England by the Pope's tyranny was forced to do homage upon his knees to Pandulf his Legate, and to resign his crown. Henry the second was whipped for putting to death Thomas Becket a Traitor: So also the Earl of Tulloes, 
Hist. Valdeni.  a Prince in eminent place, was whipped for the death of a priest: And the French King Henry the fourth, was whipped by a Deputy Cardinal Perron, 
Babylon's Pride.  before he was accepted in favour with the Pope: The Emperor Henry the fourth was caused to stand barefooted in the cold winter three days, and three nights, at the gate of Hildebrand, before he goat access. Frederick Barbarosso was forced to lay down his neck, upon the stairs of the Kirk of Saint Mark in Venice to be trodden upon by that proud Man of sin; and his son after the Pope had crowned him, was uncrowned, the Pope kicking off his crown with his foot, signifying thereby that it was in his power to King and unking, to crown and uncrown at his pleasure. The book called the Book of 〈◊〉 onies teacheth us, what are the base and servile duties to be performed by Kings and Emperors to the Pope, that they should enact the part of footgroomes, in leading his bridle, of supporters, in holding his stirrup, and mounting him upon his horse; of pioneers in bearing him upon their shoulders; and pages in holding water to his hands. Neither doth he exalt himself above Kings and Emperors only, but above the Angels, commanding them to transport souls out of Purgatory. Yea his pride is more than Luciferian and Devilish; for the Devil when he made an offer of all the Kingdoms of the World to Christ, he acknowledged that he had received them of GOD to give to whom he pleased, and in so doing would seem to submit himself to GOD: But the Pope extolleth himself above GOD, for he dispenseth with the Laws of GOD; and to dispense with Laws is a note and mark of Superiority, for no inferior may dispense with the Laws of a superior, but a superior may dispense with the laws of an inferior. This way dispensing with the laws of God, he doth lift himself up above God: Yea more than this, he is daring to repeal the laws of God, tolerating, and allowing incestuous marriage, condemned in the Word of GOD, as also lying perjuries, and equivocations, murdering, and killing of Princes, etc.  
Join unto this pride their cruelty; for the Kirk of God may say, 
Cruelty of the church of Rome.  that from my youth they have persecute me, and the plowers have ploughed on my back, and drawn long furrows. Whatsoever the Kirk of God suffered by the Jews and Herod, by the ten persecuting Pagan Emperors, by heretical Emperors and Heretics, by Julian the Apostate, by the Donatists, Circumcellians and other Shismaticks● by Istigerdes and Gornoades Kings of Persia, for the overthrow of their Pyr●um; 
Persecution against the Christian Church.  by the Goths, and Vandals in Africa; by the Saracens after the days of Heraclius, by Turks and others: whatsoever (I say) the Church hath suffered by these former Persecutors, being paraleled with these her sufferings in the last days, shall be found not to equiponderat in cruelty the Popish and antichristian persecution. How many hundreth thousands of the Valdenses have been murdered by them? How many Hussites and Taborites in Bohemia have suffered for the name of Christ? How many thousands in France, Germany, Italy, Pole, Hungary, 
The Romi● persecution exceedeth all the former.  England, Scotland, and low Countries, since the reformation (begun by Luther and Zuinglius) have been massacred and mutthered by them? What river have they not died with the blood of the saints? What furnace have they not made to smoke with their bones? what town and city have they not made a shambles to boutcher their bodies? If the blood of one Abel cried to heaven for a vengeance, shall not the blood of so many millions whom they have martyred for the name of jesus cry more shrill and loud in the ears of GOD for his just vengeance upon this mystic Babylon. Therefore come out of Babel, lest being partakers of her sins ye receive of her plagues.  
Add to these former the third sin of mystic Babylon; 
The deceit and craft of the Romish kirk.  which is deceit, wherein they are so expert, that they exceed all others mentioned in any history. The Scribes and pharisees never did compass sea and land, to gain proselyts more craftily than they do: for these fishers have baits to catch all sorts of fish; these hunters have nets to ensnare simple souls. They delude the ignorant with lying miracles, the blind Zelotes with superstitious rites and ceremonies: they spoil others with Philosophy, or Sophistry rather: others with pretended antiquity; and that they may gain what they intent, O what guile and deceit have they used, in falsifying the writs of the Ancients; by adding, changing, deleting, as their Trent Indices Expurgatorii do make known to the world? And such is their policy and craft, that they have found out ways, to make themselves masters of moyens, lives, secrets, and consciences of men.  
What be their emunctory and chetting arts, to gain moyens and riches to themselves, 
Deceit to catch the moyens of men.  it is notore by their pardons, purgatory, messes, merits, indulgences. At what rate do men buy Heaven, upon the opinion of the merit of good works? What will any spare to lay out for remission of his sins? And what charges will any refuse to give who is demented with their superstition, to relieve his own soul, and the souls of his fathers, friends and familiars, from the parching flammes of their supposed purgatory?  
By these cousenages they have enriched themselves wonderfully. 
Craft to ensnair the lives of men.  As they this way catch the moyens of men, they have brought the lives or men within the compass of their power: for such is their opinion of their Tarpeian God, the Pope whom they worship, that they esteem it proper to him to canonize, and make saints whom he pleaseth, whereby they are emboldened to adventure upon the kill of Princes; and other such flagitious facts, the promises being made to them of life everlasting, by the Pope; or in his name by their superiors. It is therefore most probable, that the monstrous parricides, committed against the royal and sacred persons of Henry the 3. and 4. Kings of France, were hatched by the Pope, and some other at his command: For Thu●nus recordeth, 
Thuam. hist.  that Pope Sixtus the fifth was so rejoiced at the murder of Henry the third, that he gave thanks to God in full consistory, for that treacherous and bloody fact, and was so excessive in extolling it, that he was not afraid to compare the same to the mystery of the incarnation of Christ; and was about to have canonised the Actor of that bloody treason, if he had not been dissuaded for weighty respects. Such was that Poulder-plot, transcending in cruelty all other in former ages, conceived in the Consistory of Rome, extinguished at the hour of the birth, by the mercy of God, and wisdom of that Prince of blessed memory. Be wise therefore, O Kings, and be not inebriat with the cup of the fornications of that whore.  
Neither bear they rule over the lives of men, but also over their souls, 
Craft to rule over the souls & secrets.  after this life imprisoning them in Purgatory, and enlarging them when they will; and in this life the deepest thought, and most inward secret of their soul must be revealed unto them; that if they be sinful, or inclining to sin, they upon their Confession may receive pardon; and except all even their most hid sins be confessed to the priest, and pardoned by him, they can have no mercy from God, nor hope of salvation. By this fond persuasion, as if they dwelled in the breasts of all men and women, they are made privy to their thoughts and actions, and nothing is hid from them what hath been done, thought or spoken. 
Craft to bind the conscience.  By this their fraud also and craft, they domineer, and bear rule over the consciences of men, ascribing to themselves a power of making laws, to bind and louse the conscience at their arbitrament. And lest their deceit should be known, they have musted up the Word of God in an unknown tongue, and lead their blinded disciples whether they will. And this is their craft and policy, whereby they reign over the lives, moyens, secrets, and consciences of men. But God who catcheth the crafty in their craftiness, and delivereth the upright and sincere, will catch with the nets of his justice these deceitful workers of iniquity in Babylon Therefore come out of Babylon, lest being partakers of her sins, ye partake of her plagues.  
These former three vices, Pride, Cruelty and Craft, have ever been esteemed to be badges and marks of a false and corrupt religion. The Pharisees for cruelty are called by Christ murderers, for craft serpents; for pride, to walk in long robes, to covet the first salutations in markets, and first seat at tables. Of these three pride is not the least and demonstrative of a false worship, because that where it is, God is robbed of his glory. 
Euseb. hist. Eccles. lib. 7. cap. 24. Bed. de tempor.  Eusebius speaking of Samosatenus an heretic, mentioneth his pride and arrogancy. Augustine the Monk sent from Rome, to induce England to the obedience of the Roman church, not daining himself to rise, being saluted, For his pride was esteemed of the beholders not to be sent of God. 
Opt. Mil. lib. 3.  Optatus Milevitan●●s, a learned and godly Bishop, brandeth with pride Donatus that archschismatick, that he was not so much called Donat bishop of Carthage, as (out of pride) Donat of Carthage, that is (stylo novo) lord of Carthage. With this leaven of pride the doctrine of the Roman church is heeven up, by their merit of condignity, works of supererogation, possibility of fulfilling the Law, with perfection of Faith, and hope in this life. Notwithstanding these three former, are only outward characters, bewraying a counterfeit religion; but idolatry and heresy are deadly diseases, destroying the soul, and life of God's true worship● with both these the Romish kirk is deeply infected.  
Her idolatry is visible to all whose eyes are not blinded: 
The idolatry of the Roman kirk.  For idolatry is an idole-worship, or a false worship: and worship is made up of three, of the estimation of the mind, subjection of the will, and reverend gesture of the body: When these are either given to a false God, 
What idolatry is.  or to the true God, and an idol, or when the true God is not worshipped truly, according to the prescript of his Word; the worshippers are guilty of idolatry: with all these sorts of idolatry the church of Rome is stained. 
The sorts of idolatry.  But I in a more popular manner will discover her whooredomes and idolatries, both in respect of the Creator, and of the creature: As to God the Creator of all, they show themselves vile idolaters, 
Romish idolatry in respect of the Creator.  representing GOD the Father in the similitude of an old man, GOD the Son in the similitude of a lamb, GOD the holy Ghost, in the similitude of a dove; And in so doing they are no better, but rather worse than the idolatrous Gentiles, who (as the Apostle sayeth) did transform the glory of the incorruptible GOD, into the similitude of corruptible things, as of beasts, fowls, and creeping things; wherefore the Lord gave them up to unnatural lusts; and finally, to a reprobate mind: And it is just with GOD so to do with the Roman church, being guilty of the like idolatry. 
Aquin 3. part.  As to the creature, they are in many respects idolatrous: for they worship the images of the Trinity, 
Romi h●idolatrie in respect of the creatures.  and cross with a Divine worship: and although some would excuse it, to be a Divire accidental, analogick, or reductive worship, yet their prime schoolmen (who are canonised as Saints, and followed by many) attribute to them a divine proper worship. And so it appeareth to be by their prayers, directed unto the Cross for grace and par●on, in these words, O crux, ave spes unica, auge piis justi●iam, r●isque da veniam; that is, Hail Cross, our only hope give to the godly righteousness, and to the guilty pardon. What greater worship would they give to God than this? Do they not also honour with divine worship the blessed Virgin? The Heretics called Collyridiari did offer cakes unto her, 
Epiphan. 1. 3. heres. ●9  and so do the Romanists this day. Hath not Bonaventura transformed the psaltery of David, to the honour of the Virgin Marie, 
Bonaventura his horrible idolatry.  changing GOD in goddess, and Lord in Lady: And where it is said by David, Praise the Lord by him it is, praise the Lady, and for trust in the LORD, trust in the Lady: And in his 35. Psalm are these words, Incline the countenance of GOD upon us, and compel him to have mercy upon us. Suitable unto this is the Crown composed by him, where this is one of his orations that is prescribed to be said; O Empress, and our most kind Lady, by the authority of a mother, command thy most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would vouchsafe to list up our minds, from the love of all earthly things, unto heavenly desires. O blasphemous speeches! But whose speeches are these? Are they not the speeches of their doctor exalted by them, to the Seraphic order of angels, a place not fit for an idolater? In adoring the Pope their head they are no less transcendent idolaters, in acknowledging his power, not only to dispense with the law of God, but also to repeal the same; as likewise, in ascribing the final and last resolution of their faith to his determination. What be their idolatrous absolute subjection to the Pope, who so like to know, 
Beauties' blasphemous speech.  may read it in Bellarmine his fourth book, de Pont. Rom. 2. chap. where he averreth impudently, That the Pope ought to be heard with obedience, whether he err or err not. And not only impudently, but blasphemously he affirmeth in the fifth chapter of the same book towards the end, that if the Pope did err, commanding vice, forbidding virtue, the Church should be bound to believe vice to be good, and virtue to be evil, except she would sin against conscience. Likewise in offering incense to the Saints in general, sweareing by them, praying, and vowing to them, (which are parts of Divine worship) Do they not commit vile idolatry? And in worshipping of images (forbidden so clearly and frequently in God's word) whether it be with relative, terminative, or conterminative worship, in all these they prove idolaters. Further, their Idolatry doth manifest itself in worshipping Saint Christopher, the three imaginary Kings at Culen, and others who never had life, breath nor being, as their Saint Longinus, whom ignorance hath canonised, transforming the spear that pierced Christ's side, called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into Longs a religious Latin Saint. What credit is there to be given to their forged reliquys, let any man judge, when the heads and bodies of Saints, parcels of the cross, nails, and spears that pierced Christ, have exceeded, and daily do exceed their just number and quantity. Neither are they inferior in idolatry to the profane Gentiles, who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without GOD, without hope: for as they had tutelary Gods for the protection of nations, cities, places, and Gods for averting of evils, and curing of diseases, as also for conferring all manner of benefits: So also in the Roman church they have their tutelary saints for nations, cities, places; for curing of divers diseases, and conferring of benefits. Finally as the Samaritans did worship that which they knew not, and the Athenians, did erect an altar to the unknown GOD; so also in the sacrament of the Lords body they worship and know not what they worship, whether bread or the body of the LORD, for seeing the change of the body of Christ dependeth upon the Priest's intention (as they affirm) and they being uncertain of his intention, do worship and know not what they worship, whether bread or the body of Christ. To conclude, one of their chief schoolmen Vazquez confesseth, 
Vazquez in 3. part. Thomae, tom. 1. disp. 110. cap. 3. his devilish idolatry.  that they have no Scripture for the worshipping of images, and is further bold to say, that they may worship lawfully upon ignorance, the devil, lurking under the crucifix. Therefore that we be not partakers of her spiritual whoordomes, and idolatries, and thereby receive of her plagues, let us come out of Babylon?  
As to the fifth and last sin moving God to pour out the vials of his wrath upon Rome, is her corrupt doctrines and heresies: for she is loaden not with one heresy only but heaps of heresies. For clearing of this, heresy is to be considered materially and formally: A material heresy is an erroneous doctrines opposing, and everting the saving grounds of religion. A formal heresy, when a doctrine everting the saving grounds of Truth, is maintained with obstinacy. Material errors was received into the Church of Corinth, when the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was called in question: The like befell the churches of Galatia when circumcision and the works of the law was thought necessare supplements to Faith to make up our justification before. GOD: Yet because these foresaid errors was not defended with obstinacy, the maintainers were not formally heretics. But in the Roman church doctrines everting Ground truths are defended with obstinacy, and the opponents persecuted with fire and sword; wherefore she is justly charged with heresies, 
Heresies against Faith.  and that both against faith, and the duties commanded in the law; as followeth. It is an heretical doctrine maintained in the church of Rome with obstinacy, that the Scripture is unsufficient for salvation, and is but a partial rule of our Faith, seeing according to the Divine Apostle Paul, It is able to make us wise to salvation, and perfect to every good work. 
2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17●  It is more heretical than this to affirm, that their church traditions (which are uncertain) shall equal the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. 
2 Tim. 3. 16.  There is a third heretical doctrine, that surpasseth the two former; that the last resolution of our faith shall not be grounded upon God's Word, but upon the church, 
Eph. 2. 20  that is (according to their gloss) upon the Pope, who only (as they misbelieve) is privileged from all error. It is an heretical doctrine, which teacheth Christ to be offered up 〈◊〉 in an unbloudie sacrifice, for the expiation of sin, under the bare speces of bread and wine: being repugnant to the eternity of Christ's Priesthood, 
Hebr. 7. 24.  who liveth for ever, repugnant to the perfection of his sacrifice, by reiteration; 
Heb. 7. 27, 28.  repugnant to his Majesty, who hath entered into the heavenly tabernacle in glory, 
Heb. 8. 1, 2 and 10. 12  and is not any more Priest on earth: repugnant finally to his merit, which being in itself infinite, 
Heb. 9 12. and 10. 18  is redacted to a finite worth and measure, at the pleasure of every Messemunging-priest: It is an heretical and arrogant doctrine, which teacheth man by the merit of condignity to deserve life everlasting, seeing when we have done all we can, we are unprofitable servants, 
Luk 17. 10  and when we have suffered what is possible to us, 
2 Cor. 4. 1●  these momentany asslictions are not worthy of that infinite weight of glory, laid 〈◊〉 for us in Heaven: And seeing the righteousness of the most just, 
Psal. 44. ●  as David, Esay, and others, can not stand before God, it is an heretical doctrine, and prejudicial to salvation, to place our justification before God in our own maimed inherent righteousness. It is a Divine truth, 
Act. 4. 12  that there is no name under Heaven to be saved, but by the name of Christ. Contrare to this is that heretic doctrine of the Roman church, that the merits, intercession, and blood of Saints and Martyrs, are mixed, as satisfactory for our redemption, with the blood, merit, and intercession of Christ. The Scripture telleth us, that man in his creation was made according to the image of God, perfect in holiness and righteousness: 
Gen. 1. 27  The doctrine of the Roman church jumpeth with the heresy of Florinus, which holdeth, that God made the inferior and sensual part of man's soul, with a propension and inclination to sin. In the doctrine of freewill, besides the fond opinion they have in advancing immoderately the liberty of the same, they have fallen upon sundry heretical positions, in extolling the power thereof: 
2 Cor. 3. 5  for seeing man (as saith the Apostle) hath no aptitude in himself, so much as to think a good thought; 
Ephes. 2. 1  and worse than that, We are dead in sins and trespasses by nature; and if worse can be yet, our hearts are said to be mere stones: 
Ezech. 11. 19 and 36 26.  Is it not then an heretical assertion, that there is in us any active power to do good▪ being in such a miserable condition? Moreover, such being our corruption, that all the imaginations of our heart are altogether set upon evil, 
Gen. 6. 5.  and that without the holy Spirit, we cannot say so much as the Lord Jesus. 
1 Cor. 12. 3  Is it not an heretic doctrine, which teacheth, that man unregenerat, and void of the sanctifying Spirit, may enact, and produce a good morale work, wherein there is no sin? Further to aver, not God, but the will to determine itself to the accepting of grace, in the article of conversion, is heretical; in so far as it is contradictory to the sayings of the Apostle; Who hath separate thee, 
1 Cor. 4. 7  what hast thou, that thou hast not received. A likewise, It is not the runner, 
Rom. 9 16  nor the witter, but God that showeth mercy. Lastly, the Romanists prove heretical, in the cooperation of man's will with grace, giving unto it not only a proper working by it self, but also the first place, setting God beside the cushion in the second room; which hath a flat opposition to the Apostles words, 
Rom. 15. 18  I dare not (faith he) speak of any thing which Christ hath not worught by me, to make the Gentiles obedient in word and deed: As also, that every good gift, and perfect donation is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. 
jam. 1. 17  I may join to the ro●mer heresies, these of the Semipelagians of Massilia, touching conditional predeltination, and free will, mentioned by Prosper and Hilarius to Augustine, which are now refined by the Jesuits, and go most curient in the Roman church, as best coin to be laid up in the treasury of man's merits and rightreousnesse. The meanest of these foresaids heresies against faith, are of greater moment than the old heresies of the Quartodecimani etc. recorded by 〈◊〉 Epiphanius, 
Heresies against the whole law  and Augustine. Neither have these pes●●erous weeds of heresies spread their roots to the suppression of Faith, but also to the destruction of the law. Teach they not that divine worship is to be given to creatures, against the first Commandment; images to be worshipped, against the second; and dispensation with perjuries, against the third? Saint's days are among them in greater estimation than the Lords day, contrary to the fourth commandment: they liberate children from obedience to parents: and Subjects from the oath of Alleadgance to their native Princes, against the fifth: They yoke Christian Princes in bloody wars, and persecute the Saints of GOD to death, contrary to the sixth: They allow incestuous marriages, and tolerat stews, prohibit in the seventh: they transfer Kingdoms and Empires at their arbitrement, being a great injustice contrary to the eight: they tolerat lies, equivocations, and mental reservations, prohibit in the ninth: and lastly they deny concupiscence to be formally sin after baptism, as if in any article of time it might be said of man, that he is without all sin. Since then this Romish Babylon is so fraughted with heresies, let us all obey the voice of God from heaven, and come out of her, lest being partakers of her sins, we receive of her plagues.  
If it be demanded, when, and how these errors came in, 
Romish errors & abuses since the reformation.  and what was the cause that being so gross and palpable, they get such acceptance of the learned. I answer, that many errors and a-abuses have crept in into the Roman church even of late, since the reformation began by the Valdenses; As that superstitious festivity of the forged transubstantiat bread into the body of Christ, jubilees, depriving the laics of the cup, erecting of images in resemblance of the blessed Trinity, school▪ divinity, more Aristotelian; then Scriptur●li, divers orders of begging Monks, Jesuits; and others; bowing at the name of Jesus; and now lastly Pelagianisme doth prevail so far, in the doctrine of election, conversion, and freewill, that GOD'S grace is made a subservient cause to nature: and the immaculate and pure conception of the blessed Virgin, without original sin, against reason and Scripture, is now almost universally maintained. These (I say) are the late cockle and dornell that have sprung up, sown by that ill One, since the light of reformation, so that the light of GOD'S word hath been to them, as the Sun to the clay, to harden them more and more. 
Romish errors before the reformation  As to the errors before the reformation, though they pretend antiquity, it shall be found that some of them were unknown to the church for many hundred years; and the most ancient of them hath nothing but an humane antiquity, which being compared with Divine antiquity, is but a mere novelty. Where was that doctrine of prayer for the dead, 
Iren. in fine lib. 5. adversus heres.  in the days of Irenaeus, who lived in the 180. year of God, and some others about these times; and long after, who thought the souls to rest in subterranean places, 
justin. Mar tire. l. quaest qu. 76. Tertul. con troth Marc l. 4. aug. enchir. c. 41 lib. 8.  till the last Judgement? Where was the antiquity of worshipping the Cross, when Minucius Felix (who flourished in the 206. year of God) averreth in the person of Octavius his dialogist, that Christians did neither wish, nor worship crosses? Where was images in the church, when they were condemned in the council, holden at Eliberis? And Epiphanius (who lived in the 370 year of God) seeing a vail, haying in it the Picture of Christ, or some saint (as he sayeth) hung without the door of the temple of Anablet●a, moved with an holy indignation, did cut the same in twain, which doing is approven by Hierome. Was the worship of Angels received in the church, 
Hieron. tem. 2. ep. 60.  when the council of Laodicea did prohibit the same, and Theodoret (who lived in the 430. year of God) in his commentar upon the 2 Coloss. condemneth it likewise? Doth not Gregory, 
Greg. lib. 9 ep. 9  bishop of Rome, about the 600 year of God, writing to Serenus bisop of Marsilia, condemn the worship of images? Was the Saints worshipped in the church, 
Aug. devera rel. cap. 55. lib. 2. charitate, non servicute.  when Augustine (who was in the 420. year of God) in his book the verarelig affirmeth, that they did honour the saints with charity, and with noworship: And in his 22. book of the City of God, We name the Saints, saith he, when we pray but we do not pray to them. 
Aug. Nominamus, non invocamus san● ctos.  Was not these books which now the Roman church accounteth to be Canonic Scripture, esteemed to be Apocryph in the council of Laodicca, and by Hierome, in his prologue, 
Laodic. Concil. can. ult.  called Gal●atus, and by the Christian church in these days? Was the imputation of Christ's righteousness unknown to the Ancient church, 
bernard. serm. 2●. in Cant. & ●erm. 23. in Cant.  when Augustine in his Enchiridian ad Laurentium clearly averreth the same; as also Bernard in the larter days. Was the title and power of Oecumenick or universal bishop received and approved in the church of Christ, when Gregory the great did aver, that whosoever did assume that style, was either the Antichrist, or the forerunner of the Antichrist▪ 
Euseb. 1. 5. cap. 23.  Or was the supremacy of the Pope over the church acknowledged, when Polycrates, with the rest of the eastern bishops did resist Victor, 
Euseb. 1. 7. cap. 3.  bishop of Ro●e: The holy Martyr Cyprian did resist St●phanus and Corn●lius, both bishops of Rome: 
Concil. M●ev. 2. can. 22.  And the bishops of afric in the Milevitan council (whereat Augustine was present) did inhibit all transmarine appellations to the Sea of Rome? Was the doctrine of the substantial changing of the bread in the body of Christ (nothing remaining of the bread, but naked accidents) received and approved, 
Theod dialog. 2. orthou. re●p.  when Theodoret plainly affirmeth, that the bread doth abide in its substance unchanged? The same doth Gelasius bishop of Rome after him, 
Celas. de 2. nature in Christ. adverius Euty chen.  Bertrame, and Scotus, one of their chief schoolmen testisyeth, lib. 4. Senten. that before the Lateran council, which was near twelve hundred years after Christ, transubstantiation was no article of Faith. In the Roman church, the innocent person, 
Cyp● ep. 6 & ep. 44. edit. Pammel.  whether man or woman, is debarred of the benefit of marriage after divorce. This was not of old, as is manifest out of Fathers, 
Ambros. 7. cap. in Deciet. Gratian. caus. 32. quest. 7. Soc. lib. 5 Chrys. ho de po●nit. & confe●. Renan. in come. Tert de poen. Cassian. lib▪ 20. Collat. cap. 8.  Counsels, and Decrees of the bishops of Rome. Was auricular confession thought to be of Divine authority, and necessare for salvation, when Nectarius, a learned and godly bishop of Constantinople, did abrogate the same, which also Chrysostome his successor did reject as unnecessare? The like did after him Cassianus, and in these our later ages Cardinal Cajetan, ●. Rhenanus, and Erasmus. Was the lording power of prelate's over Presbyters received, when they could determine nothing without their consent, as is certain out of Cyprian, and the fourth council of Carthage▪ Why are Presbyters now debarred from a definitive voice in council, which they had and enjoyed in the Christian church, for many hundred years? As is manifest out of many Counsels, as the second holden at Rome, and these of Eliberis, Sinuessa, the fifth Toletan; 
Binnius & Garsius.  and that late Council of Constans, as is related by AEnaeas Silvius, in that hot contest which was between Panormitan and the Cardinal of Arels. Do not this day in the Roman church Archimandritae, do not the generals of religious orders to this day voice in their Counsels? And both of them are but Presbyters, no Prelates. These and many more pretended antiquities in the Roman Church are nothing but mere novelties.  
As to the precise period of time when every error did enter into the Church, it is not requisite to be known. 
The precise period of time when many heresies did enter, unknown.  When the Scribes and Pharisees asked Christ jesus of unlawful divocre, pretending antiquity for the same; Christ answereth no other thing, but that it was not so from the beginning. It is sufficient then for us, though we point not out the precise article of time, when error did creep in into the Church, that it was not so from the beginning, as we have demonstrate. If they reply that the precise period of time is known when arianism, Nestorianisme, and other heresies had their beginning: I answer, though it hold in some, it will not hold in all. Who can design the precise period of time of unlawful divorce? Who can design the precise period of time of idolatry▪ The Jews against the word sacrificed upon Mountains: but who knoweth the precise time? The Saducees believed neither Angel nor spirit, and the beginning of  
this damnable doctrine is not agreed upon. The Scribes and Pharisees leavened the word of God with their traditions and inventions: But the original of these errors who can tell? Laics were deprived of the cup at the communion, which is a breach of Christ's institution: The private and solitare communion of the Priest, without the people, used daily in the Roman church is contrary to the word of God, practise of the Ancients, and Canons of Counsels: and who knoweth the beginning thereof? The communion was given unto new borne children before the use of reason, and was universally received and approven in the days of Cyprian and Augustine, and who knoweth the original of the same● The custom of the church of old was first to enjoin repentance, and after the performance of it to give absolution: But now in a preposterous order absolution is first keeped, than penance imposed to be performed afterward: The beginning of this change who can tell? There was heretics named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, because the source and fountain from whence this heresy did spring, was unknown. Shall we say that a man sick of a consumption, is not diseased because we know not when his disease began? The mass of errors wherewith the Roman Church is loadened, is called a Mystery of iniquity, because as a mystery is dark, they came in darkly; And the good seed being sown, the ill One is said to have sown cockle and darnel in the night. Now as darnel and cockle while they are in the blade, can hardly, be discerned from wheat but in the fruit they are discerned of all: so the errors of the Roman Church, came in so ma●ked and disguised, that they were not perceived, but when they came to the fruit and maturity, than were they sensible to all that had eyes to see.  
For clearing of this it is to be observed, 
Three ways whereby errors were introduced in the church: 1. closely, & secretly. Euseb. lib. 4. histor. Augustin. lib. 4. Confess. cap. 2. & de civet. Dei. lib. 9 cap. ult. A custom borrowed from Pagans. look Tertul. de testimonio animae, in the word, Myttaea, so called by Pammelius, or rather Myttia, by De la Cerda.  that three ways errors have been introduced in the Roman Church: first, Secretly; next, openly, undercolour of law, thirdly by force and violence. Secretly invocation of Saints, crosses, images, purgatory, the sacrifice of the mass, authorising of Apocryp● books, and many other corrupt and erroneous doctrines: these (I say) were brought in secretly and mystically, by certain degrees unknown at the first, till they did show themselves in their own colours, when they came to the fruit and maturity. Invocation of Saints had its original from the festival days dedicat to Saints, first in the church of Smyrna, for the commemoration of the martyrdom of Polyearpus bishop there; but it did not stay at a bare commemoration of the death of the martyr, and thanksgiving to God; but this mystery grew from a commemoration to public banqueting in the annual festivities of Saints, and from public banqueting to nomination in Church prayer, from nomination to Rhetoric compellation, and from that to invocation, and consequently to idolatry. Likewise the sign of the cross was used for a symbol of gloriation, that Christians were not ashamed, but did glory in the cross of Christ; than it became impetrative as a virtual prayer for sanctification, 
Bellar. de Cruse.  thereafter operative for expelling of devils and diseases; and from aerial crosses they came to material cross, and from a relative worship of them to a terminative inferior worship, and from that to a divine worship. Images was also first received as ornaments to beautify the church, thereafter as books to teach the unlearned, than they became conduits only to convoy worship to the Samplate, till at last they were adored. Prayer for the dead is not founded upon scripture, (as Epiphanius against Aërius confesseth) but upon tradition, 
Chrysost. hom. 24. in 1 Corin. locum hunc appellat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  which often is deceitful and ever uncertain: It was unknown to the apostles &c their disciples, and others succeeding them, who thought the souls to rest sequestrate in secret places, 
Bernard. Apoc. 6. & Psal. 84. How pleasant arethy tabernacles, etc.  expecting the second coming of Christ. Afterward, lest the soul should seem to be mortal and the Saints departed to be Gods (as witnesseth Epiphanius) they did broach this superstition, which was advanced by a new conceit, that the souls: after this life did either reside in the outward porch of heaven before their entry, 
Tres inquit esse animarum status: 1. in tabernaculis, 2. in atriis; 3. in domo Dei, i. in beatitudine consummata, Aug. confes. l. 9 c. 13  or if they were in heaven, did not attain at the first to the full fruition of God; which made Augustine to pray for his father Patricius and others, whom he affirmeth to be in the heavenly Jerusalem: and if they were in the heavenly Jerusalem, why doth he pray for them, but that they might (as he thought) come more speedily to the full enjoyment of God. But the foolish brain of man evanishing in fond speculations did conceive, that the souls not fully purged from sin. Flitting out of the tabernacles of this mortality, before they did attain to the fruition of God, behoved to be purged by fire as most fit for that use: Whereupon was kindled this fire of Purgatory, to waste and consume the moyens of the simple and credulous, and warm the kitchines of the Roman church▪ And it is to be observed, that this error was not universally received, for the Greek church to this day reject and condemn the same. 
Bellar. de Missa, l. 1. c. 17.  As to altars, Bellarmine confesseth, that there is no mention either, of Priest, or altar in scripture in the days of the Apostles; (for that, whereof is spoken, Heb. 13. 10. is Christ our altar in heaven, upon whom we offer our prayers) and Minucius Felix, who lived in the 300 year of God, witnesseth, that Christians in his time had no altars nor images: And though Tertullian, who lived about that same time in the Latin Church, mentioneth an altar, yet it is to be understood, that there was then no sacrifice of the body of Christ, seeing the same author against Martion calleth the bread a figure or representative sign of the body of Christ; and that kneeling at the altar, recorded by him in his book, entitled, Of Repentance, importeth no ordinare bowing to the altar, but the humble gesture of a penitent, which was performed sometimes at the entry of the church without, and sometimes within. With altars there came in sacrifices, first representative, and commemorative, then subjective by faith and prayer; then propitiatory; and at last, the offering of Christ, under the naked speces of bread and wine. The Canonic Scriptures dyted by Divine inspiration, were first only read in the church, as is evident out of Justine Martyrs apology, 
Origen in Exod.  Origen, and the council holden at Laodicea, and other counsels: But in the latter end of the 400 year of God, the reading of Apocrypha, in the kirk did open a door to the reading of homilies, and they to the reading of the acts of Martyrs, and thereafter the fabulous legends of Saints (fictitious for the most part) in stead of God's word did sound in his church; and 〈◊〉 last, the reading of Apocryphas, and humane writs in the church made, that these books called Apocrypha were esteemed Canonic, and of no less authority, then if they had been dyted by the holy Ghost. Whereby we may clearly perceive, how dangerous it is to give way to will-worship and humane 〈…〉, such as faiars days, crossing in baptism, images, altars, reading of Apocrypha in the church, and the rest of the that Romishrubbish. Neither only after this manner secretly, but openly errors were obtruded and imposed upon the church, 
Errors openly obtruded to the kirk.  under colour of law, by a prevailing faction, to the regrate and grief of many good Christians, who did in private mourn, and according to their power resist the same; as in the corrupt counsels, the second of Nice, Lateran; these of Constans, Florencs, etc. Besides this, thirdly, 
Errors enforced upon the church.  great way was made to superstition and idolatry, when the Gregorean liturgy by violence, to the effusion of blood of many Saints, was enforced upon the Christian world. Tha● have I declared, that the Roman antiquity in religion is no antiquity, but novelty; as also when and how errors had their original, some closely and unknown in the ●owing and spring, till they came to maturity; others appearing at the first in th●●r colours, were opposed by the Godly, which notwithstanding by a prevailing faction were established, some under pretext of law, others by violence,  
It may seem strange, that the Roman religion being contrary to grace, by the presumptuous merit of man; 
How absurd Popery is.  contrary to peace, by anxious doubtings, whereby they keep the souls of men in perpetual suspensions being also contrary to reason and sense, as to maintain a body without dimension, a subject without accidents, and accidents without a subject; contrary to all society, by approving lying and equivocation; Contrare to the light of nature, dispensing with incestuous marriage. Contrare to magistracy, in freeing subjects from the oath of alleadgeance their native Prince, and teaching further man to scourge his body, kill his King, and eat his God: being (I say) such a religion, it may appear strange and admirable▪ that men of great learning and understanding, Thould be addicted and devoted thereto. But there be five reasons why it so falleth out: 
Five reasons why the romish doctorsare demented.  first, they have transformed (as I said) the glory of 〈◊〉 Eternal. God into the similitude of corruptible freatures, and God therefore hath infatua●, and given them over unto a reprobate mind, as he did the, Gentiles for the like sin; ● They are drunk with the cup of fornication of the Babylonish whore, and as men drunk are bereft and spoiled of their judgement and understanding, so are they. ●. They worship images, the worshippers whereof (as saith the Psalmist) by God's justice are made like 〈◊〉 of them▪ and as the images have eyes and see 〈…〉 and hear not, so are they. ●▪ Because the love of the Truth is not in them, as the Lord gave over the Jewws to strong delusions, so hath God done with them in Roman church, who are enemies to the word of God, forbidding the reading, use, and exercise thereof. Finally, God faith by Esay, because the Jews did worship him after the precepts and traditions of men, 
Esai 29. 13 14.  that their understanding should be blinded, that in hearing they should not hear, and seeing they should not see: To this judgement the Roman church, by their vain inventions and traditions, have made themselves liable.  
For 〈◊〉 therefore, that we be not carried with the Current of error to destruction, it is expedient, we beware of these fix rocks, 
Six rocks causing the romanists make shipwreck of their faitsis  whereupon many have made shipwreck of their faith, which are mentioned by the Apostle, Coloss 1. chap. to wit, Philosophy, Traditions, dead and unprofitable Ceremonies, called, the Rudiments of the world, Will-worship, pretended humility, and uncertain speculations. The church of Christ hath felt the wounds of all these, and is still bleeding therewith, crying for the help and hand of a pitiful and skilful Physiciar. The church was first wounded by Traditionar●s: as by Papia●, the first of that number and others following; Then by Wilworship, as festivities and holy days to creatures and such like: Moreover by humane rites and ceremonies in the sacraments, especially in baptism as crossing, spittle, oil, salt. etc. What errors were brought in by Platonic Philosophy in the prime antiquity by Origen and others, and in the latter ages by the Romish schoolmen; what be the uncertain speculations of the hierarchy of the Angels, and pretended humility of worshipping of angels, and mediating by them, 
Scripture perficerule of faith.  doleful experience doth testify. Therefore let us beware of these rocks, and direct our course by the compass of GOD'S word, which is of greater authority by many degrees than the voice of the church, not in itself only, 
joh. 5. 39, and 47.  but in regard of us: 
Luk. 16. 31  for though the authority of John the baptist, the miracles of Christ, the testimony of one sent from the dead, 
Gal. 1. ●8.  the voice of an Angel from Heaven, and the voice of GOD heard of the disciples in the Mou●●, were of themselves divine and infallible; yet in respect of us (as testifieth Peter) GOD will have his word to be of a more certain authority. 
2 Pet. 1. 19  In it God hath judged and determined all contraversies, and his decision registrate by the Prophets and Apostles continueth to the end of the world, and the duty of the Kirk is to search out his decisive sentence, contained in the holy Scriptures, and apply the same. Our adversaries to ●id this divine authority of Gods written word, have forged four deceit full rules, Antiquity, Counsels, Traditions, and the voice of the Church, which being tried shall be found no rules, for the rule of faith must be infallible; these are not so the Pharisees pretended Antiquity, which Christ rejected; 
Matt. 5. 43  tradition, which also he rejected; the voice of the Church, even of the doctors that sat in Moses chair, 
Matth. 15.  the Lord bids the people beware of it, call it the Leaven of the Pharisees, which he interpreteth to be the Doctrine of the Pharisees. 
Matth. 16. 6. and 12.  Shall they allege Counsels? Christ, His Apostles, and their doctrine were condemned in them● yea, and even by the testimony of our Adversaries, these rules shall prove no rules. The ancient Doctors and Fathers of the kirk have erred in many things, which the Adversaries themselves confess. The like they affirm of Counsels. On traditions they never yet could agree: And as for the voice of the Church, which by their gloss and commentary is the voice of the Pope, it hath been by many of themselves condemned for heresy. Therefore let us come out of Babel, lest we be partakers of her plagues.  
By these plagues is understood her destruction, which shall not be speedy, but a lent destruction, and by degrees (as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, a consumption importeth, a Thess 2) till at last she be totally and eternally destroyed. 
The destruction of Rome by degrees.  For as the mystery of iniquity did grow, and advance by degrees, so shall it fall by degrees: It was conceived (as holy Scripture witnesseth) in the days of the Apostles, it was quickened in the time of Victor, and did stir more powerfully under Stephanus and Cornelius, bishops of Rome; 
The rising of the Antichrist by degrees.  more yet under Damasus, and others following; most strongly did it move in the time near the birth, under Leo the first: It was borme, and brought to the view of the World, by Boniface the third, upon whom the title of universal bishop was conferred▪ by Phocas Emperor, as a sythment, and satisfactory price for the blood of his Master Mauriti●●, cruelly, and treasonably shed. This bruid of iniquity did grow, and was advanced much by the decay of the Greek empire, and donations of the western Emperors, till at last it came to the full height and maturity in Hildebr and, in whom the Antichrist was so visible, that many of the Clergy in France and Germany, and others, did avow him to be the Antichrist This destruction GOD shall bring to pass three ways, 
Three ways God is to destroy the Antichrist  as We learn out of holy Scripture: First, by the sword of the Spirit, 2 Thess● chap. 2. verse. 8. Next, by the sword of the Kings on Earth, Revel. 17. chap. 16, and 17. verse Lastly, by the brightnesseof the Lords coming, 2 Thess. 2. 8. God also hath wounded her by the sword of the Spirit, first in raising up the Valdenses against her, of whom Friar Reinerius who wrote against them, thus reporteth, saying, That they were of all the most pernicious s●ct; for Antiquity, some holding they were from the Apostles time: for generality, there scarce being any nation where they are not; And tastly, for show of piety, in that they live justly before men, and believe all things touching GOD aright, and all the articles of the Creed, only they blaspheme, and hate the church of Rome. By these Vaidenss the Roman beast got so deep a wound, that though by all means they laboured to cure the same, yet shall it not be cured, but waxeth more and more incurable; for the public and open reformation begun by them, did not so wound that Beast, as the reformation by Wickleph, who did more, clearly espy, and more sharply refure the Mystery of iniquity, 
The wound of the Apocalyptick beast ineurable.  than others before him; and that reformation by hus made the wound yet deeper, and after him by Luther and Zuinglius it was deepest of all; so this wound is incurable: And as the mystery of iniquity rose by degrees, so doth it fall by degrees.  
Neither doth the article ' O help their cause, as if the Antichrist were one singular man, seeing it is usual in Scripture under one to comprehend many. The woman in the Revelation, clothed with the Sun, having the Moon under her feet, 
Revel. 12. 1.  though she be but one, representeth the Church, which is a collective body, and comprehendeth many. So the Angels in every one of the seven Churches is interpreted by many collectively, 
Dan. 7. 3  for many Pastors and Messengers of God. And every one of these four beasts recorded by Daniel, doth signify not on● singular King only, but a race of many Kings, and Kingdoms, as is clear by the 23. and 24. verses of the seventh chapter of Daniel: 
The antichrist not a singular person, but a lineal succession in that proud hierarchy.  Yea, the Popes of Rome abuse the name of Peter, pretending his name to all their usurped tyranny. Therefore it is that their large possessionm Italy are calleds Peter's Patrimony; their Pole-money collected sometimes out of England, Peter's pence; And their Plenitude of jurisdiction, they claim over the whole church Peter's keys; and that one rock in a popish gloss, upon which they will have the church to be built, is a lawful succession of the Bishops of Rome, which they affirm to have descended from Peter, the blessed Apostle, notwithstanding they be as far different from Peter in a doctrinal succession (which is the only true succession) as Cajaphas' that condemned Christ was from holy Aaron, first high Priest of the Jewish nation. It may be happily objected, that many Bishops of Rome were godly, and suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith: I answer, that it is the antichrist and the antichristian Kingdom, and not every person in that line that is appointed for destruction: for what is recorded of Victor, Lee the first, and others, who being tickled with the itch of ambition, aspired to a supremacy over the church, doth not argue them to be reprobates, but men compassed with infirmities, Who were building Babylon, not knowing that they were building Babylon; even as faithful Gideon▪ when he was making his Ephod of the ear-ring given him of the spoil of the Midianites was erecting a monument of idolatry to the destruction of his house, and knew not he was so doing: So the Bishops in affecting sovereignty, were ignorantly promoving the antichristian Kingdom, which God appointeth to destruction, Therefore Come of Babylon, the mother of whoredoms and abominations, seated upon the seven imperial mountains, where the whore doth ●eside, eleathed in purple, died in the blood of the Saints, having in her hand the golden cup of fornications, making the world drunk therewith, teaching and commanding doctrine of diwels; forbidding the reading of the holy Scripture; mutilating and depraving the Sacraments, mu●●●ting up the worship of GOD in an unknown language, teaching for the word of GOD the vain traditions of men, approving lies, equivocations, and mental reservations, allowing and dispensing with incests▪ to lerating filthy stewer and b●●●die houses, depressing grace, extolling nature: deposing Kings, and disposing of their kingdoms, transformaing the glory of the incorruptible GOD, into the likeness of corruptible things; worsipping images, and de●●ying creatures and commiting all mann●● of abomis nations: Come out (I say) from this Babylon, lest being partakers of her si●●, ye recet●● also of her plaguos. For as there is no fellowship between light and darkness, God and Belial; so neither between Babylon and Zion; and whosoever do attempt any reconciliation with Rome, are factors for the Man of Sin, and Panders for the whore of Babylon, to bring us back to her breasts, and bosom again.  
We of this nation are greatly obliedged to God, who as he hath given to us, to be ever free and unconquered to this day, so did he honourus with the first Christian Kings; for that which is reported of Lucius (with nevernce of the Authors) seemeth fabulos, that a tributary. King's living under persecuting Emperors, durst publicly avow the Christian faith, and more also to be so daring as to change the twenty five chief Pagan Priesthoods of South Britinie, and three Archpreisthoods, (London then being on of the three) into twenty five bishoprics, and three archbishopriocks; which had been more then to disclaim any subjection to the Roman Empire: I say therefore that as God honoured this nation with the first Christian kings, 
Kings of Scotland most ancient Christian kings.  (as witnesseth Tertullian and Abbas Clunicensis ad Bernardum) so also in the latter days with the most pure and perfect Reformation, that we did not only concure with other reformed Churches to burn the flesh of the whore; but to hate her spotted garments. Our duty therefore is to be thankful to God for his great mercy, and not to look back again to Babel, and when any is coming out of Babel (as to Day this straying Sheep now returneth to Christ's sheepfold) to rejoice, as that Shepherd, when the lost sheep was brought home; and as the Father at the returning of his prodigal son, and as the Angels of Heaven rejoice at the Conversion of sinners; so let Us this Day rejoice at the conversion of this sinner, and therefore rendering glory unto God the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, We close this present Exhortation, giving place unto this Convert, by his public confession, in all your presence to glorify GOD, who hath brought him out of Babylon to Zion, where I pray God he may continue, till he see the Lord in that heavely Zion, and enjoy Him, in whose presence is the fullness of joy for ever and ever; Amen.  
FINIS.