tions, the people of God were commanded to depart and go out of old Babylon. Jer. li. 6, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul." And verse 45, "My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul," &c. In like manner we find that the Holy Ghost having given warning to the world concerning the fall of this late Babylon, he exhorteth his people to go out from the midst of her, Rev. xviii. 4, "Come out of her my people," &c.

Thus are these two Babylons paralleled, certainly they are, and shall be exceeding like one to another in these particulars. But the question now is, who is here meant in the Revelation by this late Babylon; indeed this is a question of much concernment, because she is to fall, the princes of the earth are to be provoked to eat her flesh, and drink her blood, and we are all to depart from her, lest we partake with her in her plagues.

By this late Babylon therefore, we understand the church of Rome; not as confined within her walls, but as by her merchants she tradeth with, and putteth off her commodities to other kingdoms. Rome in her latitude, with all her merchants, and those that symbolize with her, is here to be understood. And that Rome and no other is here meant, I prove by these reasons:

Babylon is here in my text called "the great city," and in St. John's time, what was the great city but Rome itself? for suppose a man were in France, and should hear another say, that such and such a work were to be done in the great city, who would not know that he meant Paris? or suppose a man in England should hear another say, that some great work were to be done in the great city, who would not know that he meant London? In St. John's time the Roman empire prevailing, the great city was Rome itself; and therefore the Holy Ghost saying, that Babylon was the great city, saith expressly, that by Babylon is meant Rome.

This city and whore of Babylon, is said to sit upon a beast, Rev. xvii. 7. Now if we look into the book of Daniel, whereby much of the Revelation is to be interpreted, we shall find mention of four beasts to succeed one another, which is there interpreted to be four kingdoms or monarchies. The first of the Chaldees. The second of the

Medes and Persians. The third of the Grecians.

And the

fourth of the Romans. Now before John's time, the three first beasts were dead, and gone; the fourth and last only remained, the Roman empire. And what city or people hath so ridden the Roman empire, as Rome hath done?

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St. John tells us, that this beast that carried the woman, this city was to have "seven heads, and ten horns," Rev. xvii. 7, which the Holy Ghost interpreted in the same chapter, saying, "These seven heads are seven mountains," verse 9, or seven kings," that is, several sorts of government, verse 10. And the ten horns are ten kings or kingdoms, verse 12, which this empire did break into. Now though some think, whilst they look through false perspectives, that they see some other city sitting upon seven hills, yet let any man shew us these three met together in any other city. Who knows any other city whose building hath been laid on seven hills, so famous that the city itself is called Septiros, and whose government hath been of seven sorts, and whose empire hath been broken asunder into ten kingdoms, or thereabouts? This we know is agreeable to Rome itself, and therefore Rome and no other people is here meant by Babylon.

The Scripture is most express, telling us, totidem verbis, that that city which in St. John's time reigned over the kings of the earth, was Babylon, Rev. xvii. 18, “And the woman which thou sawest, is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth." But in St. John's time no other city than Rome reigned over the kings of the earth, and therefore that, and that alone is truly Babylon, that is, our late Babylon. Whereupon Cornelius a Lapide, considering also how Irenæus, Lactantius, Jerome, and other ancients, speak fully to our purpose, professes that he will not tergiversari, but granteth, that by Babylon is meant

Rome.

If so, what ill office have they done to the church and people of God, that obtrude this position upon us, That the church of Rome is a true church. But was Babylon a true church? was Sodom a true church? was Egypt a true church? Rome is Sodom, Egypt, and truly Babylon. Oh, what abundance of hurt and mischief hath this dangerous position done, that the church of Rome is a true church! I myself have known

some that had relinquished the church of Rome, and written against her, who again staggered in their faith, I wish I might not say they were revolted, when they saw this opinion countenanced, and published by great authority. And what say the papists? Your own men, say they, hold that the church of Rome is a true church, and that salvation is to be had in her; as for the church of England it is a schismatical, heretical church, wherein no salvation is to be had. The safest way therefore is to join with us, where, according to all men, both ours and yours, you may be sure of your salvation. And indeed the argument were very strong, and home, if the premises were true. But when it shall appear by Scripture, that Sion is called Babylon, and Babylon called Sion, then, and not till then will I believe that Rome is a true church. I know what some urge, namely, that antichrist, that man of sin, is to sit in the house of God, and therefore that the church of Rome is the house, and church of God. But if we consult with the original, we shall find that the words are not v Tw vaw in the house, but Eis tov vaw upon, or against the house of God; so Austin, and others turn it. Upon; noting his tyranny and usurped government, so the coherent words also give it, "He shall sit exalting himself above all that is called God." The whole words being nothing else, but a description of his proud government and vile tyranny.

If antichristian and Romish Babylon be truly Babylon, then set yourselves in array against her round about. I mean not in way of warlike hostility, oh that all your swords were turned into ploughshares, my exhortation is no other than that of the prophet Jeremiah, concerning old Babylon, chap. 1. 14, "Put yourselves in array against Babylon, round about all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord." It is the wisdom of every man, to observe what design God hath upon the world, a kingdom, or place, and to be in our callings serviceable, and helpful to God's designs. God will help us, if we help him. We love to be on the strongest side, and God is strongest. Now is the time that God is bearing down the walls of proud Babylon, that are raised up in every kingdom. Magistrates, ministers, people, help. Help,

oh, you that love the Lord, help the Lord, down with them, down with them even to the ground.

But what shall we do to help forward the fall of Babylon? Either you are of public place, or private station. If you be of a private station, yet you ought to be of a public spirit. If you he of public place, give me leave to tell you out of God's word what to do, and yet I will not so much direct you to what you are not doing, as encourage you from Scripture in what you are doing.

Therefore ye worthies of our Israel, it lies upon you to search out, and inquire after this Babylonish company, and to repay them according to their demerits. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, burning for burning, ear for ear, liberty for liberty, and blood for blood." We find in the Old Testament, that if there were a noise and report of idolatry in the land, the magistrate was not barely to take information, but to make diligent search, Deut. xiii. 12-15, "If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men of the children of Belial are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods which you have not known. Then shalt thou enquire and make search, and ask diligently," &c. And in the verses before you may see their punishment, verse 6-10. And who knows not that of the Psalmist, Ps. cxxxvii. 8, 9. "O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh, and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Though as little ones they call for pity, yet as Babylonish little ones they call for justice, even to blood. You may think it cruel, but there is nothing cruel which God commands. Indeed father Latimer in his sermon before king Edward the sixth, is exceeding earnest, that popish prelates might be made quondams, as, saith he, Abiathar the high priest was, because he laboured to keep king Solomon from his throne. And behold a greater than Solomon, Christ Jesus in the government of his church is here. And there is a notable Scripture for this, Ezek. xliv. 10-15, "And the Levites that are gone away far from me when Israel went astray from me after their idols, they shall even bear their iniquity." verse 13, "They

shall not come near unto me to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things in the most holy place," &c. Whence it appears, that those which were unfaithful, superstitious, following innovations when Israel went astray and followed idols, were to be thrust from their places, and to be made quondams for ever. This now the magistrate may see into, I prescribe not, I leave with you this general. It is your duty to search and inquire after these persons, and to punish them according to their deservings.

It is in you also to call for days of public humiliation, fasting, prayer, and soul-affliction. It will be said this hath been done already. True, it hath been done, and much good hath been done thereby in heaven; but when a man lays his ears to the several committees, and hears what a world of evil is discovered in each committee; what filthiness, and lewdness of filthiness in this and that priest, in this and that officer; how can a man but break forth, and say, or rather sob, Good Lord, what a lamentable condition. was this poor land in? Oh, that the weight of our sins should not break the axle tree of God's patience. Oh, that we are a nation to this day. And then is there not yet need of more tears, humiliation, and soul afflictions? Of all the reformed churches in the world, England hath borne the name, and worn the crown for the life and power of godliness; yet give me leave with grief of heart, and sadness of spirit, to make a challenge: What reformed church is there in all the world, that ever knew so many suspended ministers as England? Speak, O Sun, whether in all thy travels from one end of the heaven to the other, thou didst ever see so many silenced ministers as thou hast done here. And is there not then need of more humiliation, more fasting, and prayer, more self-afflictions, and more tears? I will lead you but to one Scripture, and leave it with you, Ezek. xliii. 10, 11, "Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done; shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof," &c. I know not such