Mather - Houston-Packer Collection BS478 .M3 1705

The Gofpel of the Heave-Offering. 279 down from yypiter, ( cried they Afit. 19.35. ) this was given out for that Epbefan Diana ; fo the Whore of Babylon, gives the Wine ofher I{ornicat:ion in a Golden Cup. Rev. 17. 4. And as the Light increafeth, fo the Crafts and Methods ofSatan are more refined, and more fub- tile and fpiritual. In the firft Times of the New Teftament he did appear almoft like himfelf in the fh4pe of a great Red Dragon in the Roman Pagan Emperors ; but when Michael and his Angels overcame and overthrew him in this Appearance, Rev. 12. Then he puts on a New Vizard, and appears in another, Shape of two Wild Beafts, Rev. II. but Rill purfues the fameDefign, tho' under new Pretences and by other Inftruments, viz,. by the Church and Pope of Rome. For he bath made it his Bufinefs ever Pince the Time of ConJtantine the Great,, to revive the old Heathenifh Idolatry under other Names, that the World might not be Paid Idola relinquere, but fimulacra mrstaffe; that whereas before they worfhipped the Devil under the Names of Yupi- ter, Diana, and Apollo, &c. now they commit the fame Idolatry, and worfhip the fame Devil fill; but under the Names of Popifh Saints. Now it is not Ympiter and Diana any more, but St. Francis, and St. Becket, and the Vicar of Chrifi, and the holy Catholick Church of Rome ;., thus doth that Harlot paint her Face ; fo the Prelatick Superftitions at this Day, thofe Reliques of Popery are painted over with thofe glof- fing Pretences of Antiquity, Fathers, Councils, Order, Decency, Edifica- tion, the Peace of the Church, and fuch like. 3. If once you leave the Rule of the Word, the Will of God re- ,vealed there, and begin in a way of Superftition, you will never know where to fop or .fay, nor where to make an end ; but you will multi- ply your Idols, and increafe your Idolatries, and grow worfe and worfe. As in thofe fenfual Lults of Drunkennefs and Uncleannefs ; the poor Creature faith, I will Jerk it yet again r Win thefe Spiritual Lufts they are unfatiable, Ezek..16. 28. becaufe thou waft unfatiabk. It is an endlefs.Sin. If you do but wear a Surplice for Peace fake, why not as well admit the Sign of the Crofs in Baptifm, or bow to aw ,Altar ? And then within a little while, the fame reafon is as ftrong. for bowing to an Image, to a Crucifix ; and why not as well .fay Mafsh too,for the Peace of the Church ? And then atTaft fwállow downïevery Thing, fubmit your Confciences to the Pope, worfhip the Beall; and fo be damned ánd go toHell, and all for the Peace of the Church. G- there is no end here, but like a Man that, is tumbling down .a fteep Hill, that cannot fop till he come to the Bottom. Popery came in by Degrees ;. the flrft four Trumpets made way for, the perfeaion.9f;that. Apoitacy that came. in.by,the Fifth

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