SERMON XIII.

BABYLON'S DOWNFALL.

PREACHED AT WESTMINSTER, BEFORE SUNDRY OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS, A. D. 1641,

PREFACE.

GOOD READER,-Thou hast, I doubt not, heard with what difficulty and pains this small work is brought forth, and delivered into the world; let the difficulty of printing quicken thine affection in reading. As the fall of Babylon is much expected, so the rising of the churches is much desired. Thy prayers and our pains may help forward both. Wherefore, that I might not be wanting to this great service, I am willing that these notes should walk abroad, which I thought should never see more light than what crept in at my study windows. This sermon may prove all the legacy which your dying friend shall be able to bequeath unto you; for I am now returning to that church and people of God, which Jesus Christ hath committed to me and others. And if in this voyage, the Lord shall put the winds and seas in commission for my death, my desire is

First, That God would forgive our adversaries, if it be his will, that have put us to these extremities.

Secondly, That it may be ever said of this island, as once it was said of Israel : "Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thine help, and the sword of thine excellency," Deut. xxxiii. 29. Thirdly, That falling Babylon may be fallen Babylon; and that all the distressed churches may be restored churches. Vivat Christus moriatur Barrabas,

moriatur Antichristus.

For the first we have great cause to forgive, seeing all their injuries are turned unto our blessings. And therefore as Joseph said to his brethren that sold him into a strange country, "As for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good: now, therefore, fear not," &c. Yet we know that public administration of justice is not contrary to personal forgiveness. We must confess, that the leaving of our own dear country, was and is most afflictive to us: a trouble to leave our good friends, convenient houses, precious liberties, and so many souls under the hazard of your eternities. But Luther's counsel is good: Si nolint vos ferre in ditione sua non frangatur animus ad cessandum ad deferendum verbum et officium, sed perseverandum et docendum, si non in hoc loco saltem in alio. At iterum dices quid si nullo loco liceat, sed ubique; ejiciamur in toto mundo, respondet Christu nolite solliciti esse. Antequam id eveniret ut nullus locus amplius sit verbo, ego adero meo adventu, erit igitur semper locus ubi doceatis donec ego veniam, tantum vos perdurate el salvi eritis, non expedietis omnes civitates Israel quin filius hominis veniet.-Luther loc. com. de piis exulibus. "If they will not suffer you where they have to do, let not your mind be troubled to cease from your work, or desert your office, but teach and persevere; if it be not lawful in one place, it may be in another. But thou wilt say, What if it be lawful in no place, and that we be every where cast out in the

whole world? Christ answers, Be not solicitous; before it come to pass, that no place be left for the word, I will be present by my coming; there shall always be a place where you may teach till I shall come: only do you hold on, and you shall be saved: you shall not have gone over all the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man shall come."

So that according to Luther, and the truth, though the persecutions of the churches be never so great, yet there shall always be some place free and open, as a city of refuge for God's people to fly unto, and hide themselves in, till Christ shall come by public deliverance for the churches.

For the second. You have seen what great things the Lord hath done for you; believest thou because of these, thou shalt see greater, only let us follow the star of heavenly and divine guidance, which hath led us along all this while, and not go in to consult with the scribes and pharisees of the times, with those that say they are Jews, and are not so shall our star, the Scripture, lead us more clearly to the place and house where Christ is. Neither be thou ashamed to receive and own the truth and way of Christ, though it be despised. The wise men did worship Christ in a manger.

And for the third, I shall not prophesy if I say, the sword is now drawn, whose anger shall not be pacified till Babylon be down, and Sion raised. Yet if thou shalt meet with another suffering bout, in patience possess thy soul, in faith thy God, in love thy neighbour. And know that it is God's usual way to bring his best servants to his choice blessings by tedious bouts. Exod. xiii. 18. In the interim observe diligently what God is now doing, and help forward the work of God what you can. Quod Deus facit pro nobis facit in nobis. And as you would read and study some choice book to get learning, so read, attend, and study every page, line, and letter of this great volume of the Lord's works which is now extant; be in commons with the Lord's people. The works of the Lord are sought out of all those that have pleasure in them," saith the psalmist. Finally, good reader, pray for us, that we may stand complete in all the will of God; and though the malice of some men hath been so great, that we may not live together in one land, yet the mercy of God is so rich, that we may live together in one heaven.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever." Amen.

Thine in Christ,

WILLIAM BRIDGE.

"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, the great city," &c.-REV. xiv. 8. THIS text hath connection with the present times, and the preceding words; for the Holy Ghost having made a description of the state and condition of the church of Christ, in verses 1-5, comes in ver. 6 to make mention of another vision which St. John saw, and that is of an angel flying in the midst of heaven with the everlasting gospel; which is said to be everlasting, in opposition to those innovations and

traditions of men, under which the churches of Christ had laboured a long time. This vision being past, as a right consequent of the former vision, he sees another angel, crying, "Babylon is fallen, is `fallen," verse 8. And no wonder, for where the everlasting gospel is preached in the midst of heaven, that is openly, there Babylon falls, and falls immediately.

The words themselves are a short, and sweet prophecy of Rome's ruin and destruction. Wherein we have:

The description of Rome itself.

The description of her destruction.
She is described two ways:

1. From her greatness, called the great city. Indeed she hath been great in large possessions, and great revenues, so she is fallen already in a great measure, yet she is too great. Great in her opinion with kings and princes, and thus she is fallen already in a great measure, yet still too great. Great in her authority and power over the saints, and churches of Christ, and from this greatness she is much fallen already, and yet too great.

2. From her sins that she is guilty of, under that word Babylon. For if we consult with this book of the Revelation, we shall find that the church of Rome, and that party is called Egypt, Sodom, and Babylon, as if the wickednesses of them all were concentred in her.

Egypt was exceeding harsh and cruel to the church, and Israel of God: so are they.

Sodom was exceeding base and filthy in corporal uncleanness; and so are they.

Babylon full of sorceries and idolatry, so are they. She is called Babylon.

Her destruction is described, and that two ways.

1. From the fulness and greatness thereof, therefore she is said to fall, and not once, but again fallen, fallen. As it is God's way to reward those that are good with the good which they most desire; so it is his way to punish the wicked with that punishment which is most contrariant to their dispositions, and their own humours. Babylon, and the Babylonish company most affect rising, and great preferment; contrary their punishment shall be that it may be

most vexatious to them, they shall fall, their destruction is called a fall.

2. From the certainty thereof. It is put in the present tense, as if it were already done. The words are repeated, "It is fallen, it is fallen.

Yet

Hardly a word but it affords its several observation. because I would not cut out more bread than we shall eat at one meal, I will fall, and close with these especially.

Antichristian and Romish Babylon is truly Babylon. Though this Babylon be never so great, yet it shall fall. It will fall assuredly.

It is the duty of the saints, and people of God to speak of this fall as if it were done already.

Antichristian Romish Babylon, is truly Babylon. Herein I shall parallel the old and our late Babylon. I shall prove that by this Babylon is meant Rome. In the Old Testament we read of a Babylon wherein Israel was once captived, that was heathenish Babylon. In the New Testament we read here and in divers other places of another Babylon, antichristian Babylon. Give me leave to parallel them a little.

Heathenish Babylon was the metropolitan, or the chief city of the Chaldees, full of trade and merchandize, insomuch as she calls herself the queen of the world, "who sat upon many waters," Jer. li. xiii. So it is with our late Babylon, who calls herself the queen sitting upon many waters, which is also interpreted by St. John, to be "peoples, multitudes, and nations," Rev. xvii. 15.

Babylon of old was a proud people, and proud people, and very confident, exceeding delicate, and very wanton, calling herself a "lady for ever,” Isa. xlvii. 7, 8. Thus antichristian Babylon sits also. Rev. xviii. 7, "She hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."

This wanton and delicate place of old was full of sorcerers and soothsayers. Isa. xlvii. 12, 13, "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth," &c. Therefore we read that in Daniel's time they came before the king to tell him the meaning of his dream, but could not. So it is with our late Babylon, wherein are many sorceries and sorcerers. Rev. ix. 21; xviii. 23.

Heathenish Babylon was exceeding full of idols and vile idolaters, the mother of them, and therefore we read, that the three children were commanded to worship the king's idol, Dan. iii. Answerably it is said of our late Babylon, that she doth "make all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication," Rev. xvii. 2.

As ancient Babylon was full of idols, and gross idolaters, so also it was exceeding cruel to the church and people of God. Ps. cxxxvii. 1, "By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Sion," &c. Who hath not read of the Babylonish captivity, the fiery furnace, and their den of lions. Answerably in this late Babylon is "found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth," Rev. xviii. 24.

The destruction of ancient Babylon was great, and very dreadful. For,

It was universal. Isa. xlvii. 14, "There shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before." And Is. xiv. 22, "For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord."

It was very sudden. Is. xlyii. 9, "In a moment, in one day the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in perfection."

It was irrevocable. Jer. li. 63, 64, "And it shall be when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates. And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her."

Answerably the destruction of our late Babylon is very dreadful. For,

It shall be universal. Rev. xviii. 23, Rev. xviii. 23, "The light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee."

It shall be sudden. Rev. xviii. 8, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, in one hour."

It shall be irrevocable. Rev. xviii. 21, "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more

at all."

Because of all these things, great sins, and great destruc