For as concerning his masses, prayers for the dead, images,
pilgrimages, monkish vows, sinful fasts, and the beastly single life
of their priests, though when the spirit of antichrist was in them
they did bear some sway in the world, yet now of what esteem are
they, or who has reverence for them? They are now blown together
under hedges as the dry leaves, for the mice and frogs to harbor in.
By ordinances of antichrist, I do not intend things that only
respect matters of worship in antichrist's kingdom, but those civil
laws that impose and enforce them also, yea, enforce that worship
with pains and penalties, as in the Spanish inquisition.
These are the very pillars and sinews by which antichristianism
remains; and were these dispirited, the whole building would quickly
become a ruinous heap.
What could the king of Babylon's golden image have done, had it not
been for the burning fiery furnace that stood within view of the
worshippers? Yea, what could that horrible command to pray for
thirty days to neither God nor man but to the king, have done, had
it not been for the dark den and the roaring lions there in
readiness to devour those that disobeyed it?
As therefore the burning fiery furnace and the den of lions were the
support of the horrible religion of the Babylonians of old, so
popish edicts are the support of the religion of antichrist now; and
as long as there is spirit, that is, authority in them, they are
like to those now mentioned.
Pages:
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541