Book IV. M Y S T E R Y B A B Y L 0 N. 861 METAPHO~ PARALLEL 5· Hath fhe groffiy and fuperftitiou1ly worfi1ipped the true God in a falfe Manner, by croudina in an innumerous Train of Fopperies into his Worfhip and Service, which he never o~dained, as Candlefticks, Altars, Veftments, Spits, Oil, Holy Water, Heads, and a World of fuch like Trumpery? So have the Kings and their milguided People, not only the Emperor of German_v, Kings of France, Spailr, Poland, Portugal, that are fl.ill under her Influence ; but the Kings ofEngland and Scotland too, before the Reforma– tion <>ot Ground: Upon which we form this Argument: .A;:'gument. Hthere be no Body of People in the Chrifl.ianWorld, pretending a Church· State, that hath fet up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, or Church of Rome hath done. Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is the myfl.erious Whore of Baby/on treated of. Em there rs no Body of Peopie in the Chririian World, pretending to a Church-State, that hath Jet up Idolatry to that Degree, and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied, as Rome Papal, &c. hath done: Ergo, &c. ' To reinforce this Argument, let any Man that will become an Advocate for the Church of Rome, fhew, that any People called the Reformed, who diiTent from the Church of Rome, are guilty of like Idolatry, and that the Kings of the Earth have con1plied with them in it, as aforementioned, and we will acquit this Argument, but if this Character cloth more fitly agree to Rome, than to the Reformed, &c. our Argu– mem is good. VIII. Baby/on is fuch aWoman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had Kings committing Forni.. cation with her, but hath imoxi· cared the Minds of Multitude<, ·and corrupted a great Part of the World, or common Sort of Peo– ple, by wicked and falfe Doctrine, And the Inhabitants of the Earth have bem made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, Re·v. xvii. 2 . VIII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, is fuch a Woman, City, and Whore, that hath not only had the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornica– tion with her, in dancing after her Pipes in all her myfl.erious Allurements; but hath intoxicated the Minds of the Multitude, and corrupted a great Part of the World, or common Sort of People, by wicked and falfe Doctrine ; as firfl., that a wicked Man fhould be appointed of God to be the Vicar of Chri!l:; as if God had no more Regard to his own Name, and the Good of his Church, and Honor of his Son, than to inllitute a Child of the Devil, as every wicked Man is, to be Vice-gerent to the moft holy J efus, in the highefl. Tranf.1ctions that relate to Heaven, and the Souls of Men. Surely if God fhut Judas out from his Bifhopric, becaufe of his Wickednefs, though an Apofl.le; he is not fo far changed flnce to be fond of a wicked Pope, as to make him immediate De– puty to Chri!r, and to impofe a 'Wolf, as Shepherd, upon the Umverfal Church. 2. Who faith, That he is an infallible Judge to determine Articles of Faith, and impofe them upon great Penalties; fo that as a Lord he hath Dominion over Mens Faith, and Souls too, which the Prpoftles difclaimed. 3· Who faith, The Church cannot err, though God and the World knows, there are not fuch great Errors in Principles, nor fuch villainous Enormities, curfed ACtions, cruel and inlmoral Practices in the vVorld befides, which the poor Multitude believes, and kill others that oppofe it, and venture Body and Soul upon ir. 4· That fays, That a Priefr, though he be a treacherous Villain, a Contriver of Mur– der, an abominable Adulterer, bath Power to abfolvc his equal and fellow Sir.ner from all his Offences, if he come to Confeflion, though the pretended Penitent keep his old Habit of Wickednefs fl.ill; contrary to what God and Jefus Chrift fay, That the Dauber with untempered Mortar, and the Daubed; the Layer of the Pillow under finful lo.lbows, and the Leaner thereon ; the blind Leader, as well as the blind Fol– lower, fhall all fall together. 5· That faith, There is a Purgatory, that is no part of Heaven or Hell; and th'at Men may be redeemed thence for Money : Though God faith, The R edemption of Mens Souls is precious, and ceafeth for ever, after the Offering of the Body of Je!i.rs once for all ; that Redemption is not with corruptable Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Chrifl., as a Lamb {]~in withom Spot. 6. That faith, That the Hands and Mouth of a filthy unclean Prieft, can make not only the Bread and Wine facrrd, but turn both into the real Body and Blood of the Son 10 K llf
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