I should now go to the third point, the pattern to which we should con- form ourselves. The glass we should imitate is our Saviour Jesus Christ, as he is pure. It is not meant thou shouklst ever hope to be as pure in quantity. As is not a note of quantity, but of quality, it shews a likeness. ' Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven;' that is, as by the angels in heaven, cheerfully, readily, and wiUingly, though not in the same quantity ; so that the life of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the word of God, must be * That is, = ' outweighs.' — G.
516 THE PATTERN OF PURITY.
our pattern. But you will say, How am I able to attain to this? I answer, the law of God prescribes to ns a perfect form of obedience, though it be not possible for me to fulfil it, and so the life of our Saviour Christ, we are not able to express the virtues in him, and his purity; yet there cannot be a better pattern than the law, and the Hfe of our Saviour Christ.
A man that would have his child to write a fair hand, he will not give him an ill copy to write by, but as fair as may be, though there be no possibility the child should write so well as it. So we cannot possibly attain to that purity in Christ, yet the copy must be fair. Scholars, if they will have an elegant style, they set the best orators before them. Thus, though the law of God he perfect, though such a thing as a man is not able to "fulfil, yet it is a fit pattern; the copy must be fair, that I may mend my hand by it.
And thus, if we go on following our pattern, as the scholar's hand, by practice, mends every day, though it never come near tlfe copy, so shall we grow in grace; for, as the prophet speaks, ' then shall we know if we go on in knowing,' Hos. vi. 3. A Christian must mend his pace every day, as he learns his Master's will, so to be transformed into the image thereof, that the virtues of God may shine forth in him, that his ' path may be brighter and brighter unto the perfect day,' Prov. iv. 18, and towards that measure of the age of the fulness of Christ Jesus. But I cannot now press the point further, because of the time.
THE BEAST'S DOMINION OVER EARTHLY
KINGS.*
For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree to give up their kingdoms to the beast, until the word of God shall be fulfilled. — Rev. XVII. 17.
The occasion of this day's solemnity hath been long and well known, and we have often in this place spoken of it ; and it were a thing not unseason- able for the day to set out in its lively colours that facinorousf act, which will scarcely be credible to posterity. It exceeds my conceit to set it out in the right colours. I have therefore taken a text tending that way, and serving for our present purpose.
It pleaseth our blessed Saviour, out of his love to his church, not only to give directions what to do and what not to do, what to believe and what not to believe, but to foretell likewise all future calamities, that so the church might be fore-armed, and might not be surprised with terror upon the sight of some sudden or strange accident, as especially the flourishing estate of Antichrist. He therefore foretells all, both the beginning, the growth, the strength, the proceeding, and at last the destruction of that man of sin.
The church in this world is always under some prophecy, it is always under somewhat that is unfulfilled ; for until we come to heaven, there is not an accomplishment of all prophecies.
This Book is a setting down of prophecies of future events to the end of the world.
* ' The Beast's Dominion' is one of the three gnnpowder-plot anniversary ser- mons contained in 'Evangelical Sacrifices' (4to, 1640). Its separate title-page is as follows : — ' The Beasts Dominion over Earthly Kings. A Sermon preached upon the 5th of November, in remembrance of Our Deliverance from the Papists Powder- Treason. By the late Learned and Keverend Divine, Kich. Sibbs. Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inne. Eevel. 16. 14. For they are the Spirits of Devils working Miracles, which goe forth to the Kings of the earth. London, Printed by T. B. for N. Bourne, at the Koyall Exchange, and R, Harford, at th» Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Pater-noster-Row. 1639.' As explaining and qualifying the unmeasured language of the present and kindred sermons, it may ba permitted me to refer to my Memoir of Dr Sibbes, Vol. I. p. Ixiii. — G.
t That is, ' wicked to excess.' — G.
618 THE beast's dominion
This chapter sets out in lively colours the state of the pontificality, the state of Rorac, under the bishop of Rome, the pope, and not the state of Rome under the heathen emperors. It sets down likewise the judgment of God in this life upon this beast, and upon the whore that sits upon the beast.