Book IV: M Y S T E R Y BA B Y L b N. M ET A I' H 0 R. P A R A L L E L. Fifthly; For Mother of Harlots, in a fpiritual Senfe, fi1e is owned by all her Chil– dren to be the Mother-Church. And, 1. There(ore Proteflants are exhorted to return into the Bofom of their Mother. 2. All polluted and national Churches in the European Kingdoms, iprang from her, as the Churches of France, Spain, Portugal, &c. 3· All Corruption in DoCtrine and Difcipline may call her Mother, that is to fay, the falfe Titles and Errors following, viz. Univerfal, Supreme, Infallible Head, Holy Father the Pope, his Holinefs in the AbfrraCt.-Our Lord God the Pope, unerrino– Church, prieflly Abfolution, felling of Pardons, Indulgencies, Dilpenfations, adorin~ the Crucifix, worlhipping of. Images, foolilh Croflings, Anointings, and Sprinkling with holy Water, the Adorauon of the Mafs, and many fuch Things, which from the Beginning was not fo. . 4· For perlonal Vices: From whence come horrid Oaths and Blafphen1ies, moft a!lo– nilhing Perjury, and fubtil Equivocations, and HypocriGes, all Manner of Unclean– nelli:s, Lying, and Adulteries, Covenant-breaking, and Bloody·mindednefs: Is this ~llowed and praEtifed by the Protefla.nts ? No, no, they are the Brats and Offspring of this lewd and filthy Mother, who mdulgeth thofe abominable pernicious PraCtices, for which lhe is rightly called JI!Iyftery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth. Which we conclude with this Argument : Argur~~ent. lf this Name Myflery, Baby/on the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abo– minations of the Earth; doth notfo fully and firly agree to the Prote!lants, nor any orher .People as it doth to Rome Papal, or Church of Rome. Then Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, and not the ProteflantS, &c. IS Myftery Baby/on, the Mother of Harlots. But this Name Myftery, Baby/on the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abomina– tions of the Earth, doth not fo fully and fitly agree to the Proteflanrs, &c. as it doth to Rome Papal, or Church of Rome. Ergo, Rome Papal, and not the Prote(\ants, is Myftery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots. XIII. This Myflery Baby/on, Mother of Harlots, and Abomina– tions of the Earth, is very drunken Company; for lhe not only makes others drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, and commits Adul· tery herfelf; .but lhe is a beaflly drunken 'vVhore, that makes her– felf drunk after the worfl Manner of Drunkennefs, which is, to be drunk with Blood, the bel\ Blood, the Blood of the Saints and Mar– tyrs of Jefus Chrift; And I Jaw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jefus, and I wondered with great Admiration, Rev. xvu. 6. XIII. Rome Papal, or Church of Rome, if fhe be guilty here, it is enough to make not only good Men, but even Angels wonder, to fee a Woman pretending to be nobly defcended, the Oaughtet to the great King of Heaven, the Spoufe of the Lamb, the Mother of all Peace, Purity, Holi– nefs, Innocency, Charity, and Chaflity; I fay, ro fee a Woman by Profeflion, fuch a drunken beaflly Strumpet in Works and AEtions: And if Rome Papal, or Church of R ome be guilty in this Point, fhe is the unhappieft Church in the World~ for lhe then gives Caufe to every good Man in the World to abhor her, and indeed lhe hath very good luck if lhe efcape this Charge; for if fhe be Myf– tery Baby/on, the Mother of falfe Churches, and Abominations of the Earth, there is no avoidina, but lhe mull be this drunken Strumpet. But b~caufe it is never fafe judging a Caufe before Trial and Examination of Witnelfes, we will, 1, Confider what it is to be drunk. z. What Things do necelfarily contribute to it. 3· The true and proper Signs of it. 4· Whether fuch Things can be fixed upon Rome Papal, or Church of Rom~ .:> And then conclude this Head. 1. To be drunk, is an exceflive taking in of fuch Things, as diforder Nature in its Courfe and Operations. This we take to be a general Definition of it, including the proper and metaphorical Notations th:reof. . . 2. Such Things as necelfanly contnbute to lt; are, ( 1.) Great and vehement Th1rft: (2.) Plenty of the Thingthirfted after. (3.) The greedy taking their fill of it. 3· The Signs ofDrunkennefs are, ( 1.) When the. Faculties are fo dilordered, that they will not fubmlt to the beft Reafon that can be gtven them. (~.) When they will abu!o
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