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Part 2.

The three unclean Spirits are the Oracles

of the

Pope, as the

leven (pi

V.16. And he gathers them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armegeddon.

Behold, great affairs, untill now finding nothing better, I was contented with the conjecture of thofe, who by these three unclean spirits, underftand the Monks; nay, I found this explication very serviceable: I ranked the Monks into three Claffis, begging, not begging, and mixt, (as the fefuites are, who have according to their Statutes no Eftates or poffeffions, and yet do not begg, as the Cuftome is.) 'Tis certain, that these are unclean fpirits; for all the corruption of the Chriftian Religion is come from them: they go out to the Kings of the earth to unite them against the true Religion but however exact this notion feems to be, I could never find in it the fetled reft of a mind, which believes that it hath found the truth. At laft I found that reft: and three things by the affiftance of God, gave me light about this matter; the word mouth, that of spirit and fpirit of the mouth, and that of Armageddon; these three words have fully perfwaded me, that these unclean fpirits fignify papal Laws, and the Oracles of the Seat of the Beast, armed with excommunications and Curfes.

First, that the term mouth is taken for speech, examples are fo many, that 'tis fcarce neceflary to Cite any Put away from thee a froward mouth; that is, Put away from thee perverse speech. A wicked man walketh with a froward mouth. The rits of God month of the just is a fountain of life, i. e. the vine Ora- fpeech of the juft. The Meffiah fpeaking by the cles. Prophet Ifaiah, chap. 49. 2. he hath made my mouth Ysov. 6.12. like a sharp fword, i.e. my fpeech or word, this is a figure which is ufual in all languages.

are the Dio

Prov. 4. 24

Secondly, the term fpirit fignifies fo often word,

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rits are the

7

Chap. 3. I.

for Oracle, that the places cannot be numbred. In Part 2. the beginning of this book mention is made offe- The 7 Spiven fpirits, and from the feven spirits which are be- Oracles. -fore his Throne; thefe things faith he, that hath the Revel.1.4. - Seven Spirits, and the feven stars. And there were Chap. 4. 5. feven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which Chap. 5.6. are the feven Spirits of God; and Chrift himself is reprefented, as having seven eyes, which are the feven = Spirits of God, fent out into all the earth. 'Tis certain, that these feven fpirits, are the fame thing' with the feven thunders of the roth Chapter, i. e. the feven words or Oracles, which found like thunders. Now'tis clear, that by thefe feven fpirits, we ought to understand the Divine Oracles, which were infpired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit; Firft, because these are joyn'd with the feven ftars; he that hath the feven fpirits Ch. 1. 20, and the seven stars; for the seven stars are the Angels of the feven Churches, i.e. the feven Paftors, and this fignifies the feven Oracles, which proceed from the feven ftars. Secondly, thefe feven fpirits are called lamps; he had feven lamps, which are the Seven Spirits; and this is the proper title of the word of God: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. And P. 119. 'tis the proper office of the word and Oracles of God, to ferve as a lamp, to enlighten fouls and the world. Lastly, 'tis faid, that these feven spirits of God are fent into all the world: This can fignify nothing but the facred Oracles, which are fent and preacht by the Apostles through the whole earth. Tis in this fenfe, that our Saint John takes the word fpirit in the fifth Chapt. of this first Epiftle: There are three that bear record on earth, the fpirit, the water and blood. By water and blood I cannot doubt, but that the two Sacraments of the Church are understood, Baptifm is the water, the Eucharißt

Part 2, is the blood; and the third, or rather the first and principal of thefe witneffes is the spirit, i.e, the word. Lastly, this is the name which Saint Paul 2 Co1.3. 6. often gives to the Gofpel; the Letter kills, but the Spirit quickens: we are Minifters, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit: 'Tis certain, that the Letter fignifies the word of Mofes, and the Spirit the word of Jefus Chrift.

The three

Antichrift,

feven fpi

Chrift.

I cannot therefore doubt, but that the Holy fpirits of Ghoft, by these three unclean spirits of the Beast, are oppo- and the false Prophet, intends the falfe and impure fed to the Oracles of popery, opposed unto the feven Spirits rits off of God, who are before his Throne, and go forth from him. The oppofition is fo fenfible, that it cannot but be difcerned; the Spirits of God are fent out into all the Earth; the fpirits of the beaft likewife go unto the Kings of the Earth. The Spirits of God are lamps, which being fet on fome high place, do give light: but thefe are like the froggs, creatures of the night and of darkness, that croak in the night, and love the bottoms of waters. therefore the Spirits of God, are undoubtedly his Oracles; there is no cause to doubt, that those unclean fpirits of the beast and false Prophet, are the falfe Oracles of Antichrist.

of the

As

The fpirit In the third place, Spirits coming out of the coming out mouth, fo clearly denote words, that it cannot be mouth, al- enough admired, that none hath feen this. First, ways fignifies words. every thing which comes out of the mouth in a fi See allo gurative ftyle, fignifies words. 'Tis faid in the Ch. 1.16.& 19. Chapt. v. 15. that out of his mouth came a twoIfa. 11.4. edged sword. All know that this fignifies the word of God, that comes out of the mouth of Jefus Chrift. Ifaiah faith, that the Meffiah shall fmite the Earth with therod of his mouth, and flay the wicked with the breath of his lips, a notable paffage for ex

2. 15.

plaining

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plaining that, upon which we now are; fpirit or Part 2, breath is there taken in the fenfe that we lay down, the spirit of his lips, is the fpeech of his lips. And the rod that comes out of the mouth of the Meffiah, is alfo evidently his word or fpeech. This is ufual in all languages: 'twas faid, that lightnings came out of the mouth of Pericles; we lay every day, there come flames, arrows, &c. out of the mouth of fuch or fuch; every one understands that this fignifies words; but (above all) the Spirit of the mouth is never taken in any other fenfe. Saint Paul faith, that Jefus Chrift will come and destroy that wicked one by the spirit of his mouth we have even2 Thef. 2. now heard Ifaiak call the word of the Meffiah, the 8. breath or fpirit of his lips. The Prophet David Pf.33.62 faith, that the Heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all their host by the breath or spirit of his mouth. There is none who is not perfwaded, that the word that formed the heavens, and the breath or Spirit of the mouth of God are the fame thing. Befides, the figure is fo natural and comely, that we neceffarily fall upon it; fpeech or words are formed in the mouth, by the wind, the breath of the lungs; thus it is the breath or spirit of the body: befides this, it discovers the fentiments and thoughts; and thus it is, the breath or spirit of the foul. After all this, I do not think thatany can in the least doubt, but that these three fpirits, that come out of the mouth of the falfe Prophet, are the falfe Oracles and Laws of this falfe Prophet. These things are like thofe riddles, which when they are unriddled, we wonder that they were not fooner guefled; for there was never any thing more eafy to be underftood.

The third expreffion, which God made ufe of to enlighten my mind, is that of Armageddon, which

in the age

was called Hebrew.

fies a cut

Anathema.

Part 2. Saint John faith is a Hebrew word: the learned The Syriak know, that the Hebrew language in the time of St. of St. John John, was Syriack and Chaldee. This is the language that our Saviour fpake; 'tis that which is called the Hebrew tongue, Acts 22. 2. where 'tis faid, that the people of ferufalem kept filence while St. Paul fpake to them in the Hebrew tongue He would not we are fure, speak to them in BibleHebrew, for they understood it not at that time. 'Tis this language, which in the Gospels is often called Hebrew, and yet the expreffions fet down, are Armaged found to be Chaldee, or Syriack: as, Golgotha, don figni- Talitha kumi, Gabbatha, &c. Now the word Arring off by mageddon, without any ftraining, fignifies in the a Curte or Chaldee, or Syriack, Cutting off by a Curse, or Excommunication. Gedad, fignifies to cut off, to cut afunder; Giddon ilana, cut down the tree, faid the Angel in the vifion related in the third Chap. of Daniel, fo Geddon fignifies cutting off. The word Herem in the Hebrew, and Harma in the Chaldee, is a word which we find in our Bibles at every step, under the phrases of curfing, abftaining from the curfed thing: This is accurfed, which the 70 have every where tranflated anathema: this is the term, which the Apostle Paul ufes, when he would excommunicate all those who love not the Lord Jesus. Let him be Anathema Maranatha, let him perish in Armageddon; and 'tis the fame word that the Jews used in the time of Saint John, and which they still ufe, to fignify their great Excommunication. Thus if you joyn these two words Harma and Geddon, you have exactly without any alteration. A cutting off by a Curfe, by Excommunication, or an Anathema. Now what can be meant by the Spirits which come out of the mouth of the falfe Prophet, and which are gathered or placed in Armageddon,

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