Book IV. MYSTERY BABY L 0 N. the ·world was acquainted with: For the CharaCters of Baby/on muft either be fingu– lar, that is, fuch as none have befides ; or elfe they muft be tranfcendent, to go far beyond what others had in a leffer Degree, Otherwife John might have kept the De– fcription of Baby/on to himfelf, there being no clear DiftinEtions, to render the wifefl: and molt di!Cerning Men able to make a Judgment upon her. The Myfl:ery then that is written upon this Woman Baby/on, feems clearly to lie in thefe Particulars following. Firj!, That ihe doth rranfaEt the mofl: horrid Wickedneffes that ever the World was, or is like to be, acquainted with. Secondly, That under this monftrous Guilt, fhe is prodigiouOy confident, and with– out all regret, or fhow of Shame, and mofl impudently boafts of the highefl: SanCtity and H olinefs in the World, viz. that fhe is totally pure, infallibly certain, and cannot err, &c. That this indeed is a Myftery to be wondered at, let it be confidered, ( 1.) That a Shepherd fhould be a Wolf, and devour that Flock which he pretends to be an Overfeer or Paftor of. (2.) That a profc:ffed Servant of Jefus Chrift, and the meaneft of Saints, fhould exalt himfelf above his Matter, and not above his Mafter only, but above the God of his Mafter, and all other deputed Gods, that are Vicegerents to the King of Heaven, by Oighting and trampling upon the holy Scriptures, and Laws both of God and Princes, difpenGng with the Breach of them, indulging the higheft Violation thereof, and fetting up his own Inventions, Traditions, and Decrees above them; infomuch that there is a thoufand Times lefs Danger, in their Efteem, in refpect of Excommu– nications, and corporal Punifhments in this World, or of Damnation in the World to come, in breaking and violating the Laws of God and Princes, than there is in the Violation or Breach of the Inventions, Traditions, and Decrees of Myftery Baby/on, and her Head. (3·) That one.Gtting in the Temple of God, pretending himfelf as a poor Apoftle, Vicar, and Succeffor of Chrift, nay, as the Succeifor of a poor Fifherman, !hould wear the higheft Enflgns of imperial Dignity ! (4.) That he fhould be fo brdly, and prodigiouOy infolent, who was commanded to the greatelt Humility and Abafement, as to tread upon the Necks of Emperors, kick off the Crowns of great Princes, and make Kings his Foot Pages. (5.) That he fhould pretend highly, yea, moO: highly, to God, Chrift, Religion, and Holinefs, and yet efpoufe to himti:lf, as the Darlings of his Bofom, not only the chiefefl: Sons of Belial, but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion, and embody themfelves with thofe firfl:-born Sons of Wickednefs, that are of the higheft Magni– tude, and engage themfelves in fuch monflrous and bmcherly PraEtices, that human Nature, as fuch, could never act in the butchering of brute Bealts. (6.) That the Spoufe of this prodigious Monfter ihould in Profeffion own God, J efus Chrifr, and the Things of Religion, of which Juftice and Charity, Holinefs and Compaffion, are not the leaft Part ; and yet under this Vizard, and in the very Time of thefe Pretenflons, perpetrate the greateft and moft unparalleled Villanies in the World: 1. In being the Top of Pride. 2. In committing palpable Idolatry. 3· Fill themfelves With Excefs and Drunkennefs. 4· To curfe, fwear, and blafpheme the very Name they profefs to be facred. 5· To caft down the Truth, burn the Bible, deface the holy Books and Laws of God. 6. To a!Tume not only a Power to difpenfe with Violations of the higheft Nature, but to pardon and forgive them at Pleafure. 7· To commit Adultery, and account it a venial Crime. 8. To break Covenants, drive a Trade in Perjury, forfwear every Thing they are juftly charged with, and is fully proved againft them. 9· To foment \Vars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power; contri"c the Ruin of Towns and Places, Cities, Countries, and Kingdoms, by Fire, Sword, and moft cruel Devaftations. tO. To Oaughter, kill, and barbarouily murder, both Men, Women, and Children, even all that dare make a fhew of Confcie.nce and Religion, fo far as to abhor and diffent from thefe Villanies. This is fuch a Scheme of Religion, and Syftem of Divinity, to come from an Apofrle, a Shepherd, a Vicar and Succeffor of Chrift, from a Church, Sheep, Saints, and the pretended Followers of the meek, peaceable, and innocent Jcfus, who taught altoge– ther otherwi'e by his Doclrine and Example, that it might well be wondered at, and is the ilrangeft Myflery that ever appeared, of which we challenge the whole World to fhew the like in the Turks and Saracens. For Men to fwear, lie, and forfwear them– feh·es, and yet be true Men: To contrive Rebellion, Murder, and Treafon, and yet 10 G be
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