A VOICE Out of the WILDERNES , Crying with many Tears and strong perswasions to the World for REPENTANCE .

Proving by undeniable Grounds , from the Word of God , that the great DAY of his righteous JUDGMENT will certainly be in this present Age , namely about the 45th . yeer after the Ruine of ROME , in 1666.

Wherein are unfolded many great and wonderful Mysteries of God , foretold in his Word to come to pass unto th' end of the World :

By T. L. sometime a Student in the University of Cambridge in the daies of Q. Elizabeth .

LONDON Printed , and are to be sold at the three Bibles in Paul's Church-yard , and at the Crown in Popes-Head-Alley , 1661.

8. Amongst many great and weighty matters which he treateth of , and unfoldeth in his writings , that , concerning the period , and final determination of the reign of Antichrist and his Church Dominion , is one of the most remarkable : at present chiefly noted , and generally fixed in the minds of the people , in respect of its near approach . He declareth the number of the Beast , viz. the Pope , sole Monarch ( as the Jesuits will have it ) both spiritual and temporal of the Western Babylon , in manner as Daniel did the hand writing against Belschatzar the last Monarch of the Eastern Babylon . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] Mene , Mene , i. e. Numeravit , Numeravit : which Daniel thus interpreteth , Dan. 5. 25. & seq. Numeravit Deus regnum tuum , & complevit illud . God hath numbred thy Kingdome , and finished it , h. e. God hath finished and ended the dayes of thy Kingdome : and the end of thy life and the Chaldean Empire is come . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] Thekel , appendit : i. e. Appensus fuisti lancibus , & inventus es minus habens . Thou art weighed in the balances , and art found wanting . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upharsin , or as after v. 28. Upharsin , & dividentes , i. scindunt . Allusio est ad Persas , qui dicuntur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam haec dictio est aequivoca , Gemminatio autem ista 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , facta est ad majorem exaggerationem : vel , ut alii volunt , prius significat finem Regni , secundum mortem Regis , & finem vitae ejus . Vatab. Annot. in Dan. 5. 25. Nota , Upharsin verti potest primo , & dividentes , secundo , & Pe●sae . Pharsin enim sunt Persae . Q. d. Persae in stant tibi ô Belshazzar , qui cum Medis divident regnum tuum . Ar. Mont. in Loc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] Pheres , Divisum est Regnum tuum , & datum est Medis , & Persis . Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians . In the same night , saith the Prophet , v. 30. was Belschatzar slain , and Darius the Mede took the Kingdom : And then ended the Babylonian Monarchy . So that the number of the Beast , or the number of the man of sin , is nothing else but the period and final determination of the usurped Tyranny and Dominion of Antichrist , ( as this Author well Expos. Apoc. c. 13. v. 18. interprets ) which the Lord , for the glory of his name , consolation of his Church , and confusion of her Foes , with a mighty and outstretched Arm , will bring to passe in the year 666. viz. in 1666 the Millenary number ( for brevities sake ) being omitted , For the time of the Reign of the Beast , and of the Churches sufferings and persecutions , during her abode in the wilderness , is expresly mentioned to be 42 Months , Apoc. 11. 13 , 15. a time , times , and half a time , Apoc. 12. 14. 1260 dayes , v. 6. that is , so many years , a day being put for a year , as Ezek. 4. 6. the beginning of which term , he placeth at the year 406. at what time Innocent the first , then Bishop of Rome , obtain'd at the hands of the Dragon , priority of place , suffrage and censure over all . Which was effected and brought to passe , when Honorius the Emperour , at th' importunity of the said Bishop , subjected the power of th' East Empire , ( which most withstood the West and Roman supremacy ) with all other Churches whatsoever , to the Church and Sea of Rome , in the said year , 406.

9. And then , in that year ( saith this Author ) In Apoc. 13. 18. my Lord of Rome shal lay down his proud waves , and though he fortifie never so strong , and lay his foundation low as Hell , and build his Turrers as high as Heaven , and place his Miter above the Stars , yet in that day , he shall die the death of the Uncircumcised , and perish like the Amorite , whose fruit is destroyed from above , and root from beneath : and the multitude of his offences , shall consume the multitude of his Forces , and it shal● be more possible for him , and easie to him , to weigh the fire , or measure the wind , or call again the day that is past , or recover the verdure of the withered Grasse ( as a holy one saith ) then to avoid this Council and Decree of his downfal here determined by the Spirit against him , saying , And his number is 666.

10. And then all Kingdoms and People shall see th' eternity of that Amm. Marcel . l. 14. c. 13. & l. 15. c. 17. Aeterna in antiquis inscriptionibus nominatur . Ortel . Thesaur . voc. Roma . In numis antiquis insidens Scuto Roma , victoriam dextrâ , scipionem sinistrâ , gerens , cum hac inscriptione , visitar , Romae aeternae , Martin . Lex . Philolog . voc. Roma . eternall City ( as one of her own calleth it , ) and th' immortality of her soul , meaning , the Soveraign power and supremacy of her Caesars and high Priests , to wither , die , and forsake the earth for ever . And as Babylon her Mother left unto her th' inheritance of her pride , and prophanations ; so shall she also leave unto her , the heritage of her Death and Judgements : for as her glory hath been great , so shall her dishonour , when all her excellency shall be translated into shame and sorrow .

11. And here by the way , I thought fit to note , and let the Reader know , that it is now well understood , and received as a truth , ( as it ought ) that the Pope [ viz. the succession of Popes , for 1260. years , namely , from the year 406. to 1666. ] is the very Antichrist , the Man of sin , foretold in the Scriptures : and Rome , Babylon , signifyed under the name of Babylon , Apoc. c. 17. & 18. & now denied almost by none , except the blasphemo●s Sect of the Familists , who violently wrest the Scriptures into sensless Notions , inextricable , monstrous Allegories ; pervert , hide and darken their genuine , true , direct meaning , by strange , unheard of Dreams , and Enthusiasms , strains of Philosophicall inventions , Exotick , affected termes , barbarous , forreign and Uncouth Language , whereof the writings of Henry Nicholas , Jacob Behmen , Dr. P. and other namelesse Impostors of our Age , are ample testimonies . It being the design of the said J. Behmen , with his Translators , and Abbetto●s , as it seemeth by the multitude of irrational , Atheistical Books , which they have lately published , and yet promote , to undermine and subvert the true , Christian , Apostolical Faith , and Doctrine of the Gospell , and knowledge of Christ crucified ; and in stead thereof , introduce and spread amongst us the horrible darknesse of the Gentiles vain Philosophy ; preferring their muddy , poyson'd puddles , before the pure wholsome fountain of Gods word , their abstruse , perplexed Speculations , before the plaine , comfortable , saying doctrine of Christ , his Prophets , and Apostles : that , if it were possible , they might draw in others into the same Condemnation with themselves . Of which I thought fit to admonish the Reader , that he may beware of their train , and avoid the snares , which they have cra●●ily spread throughout our Israel . It being an undoubted truth , that to entertain the doctrines of Familisme , is to renounc the Christian Faith , & leave the way to Life everlasting : because they are altogether repugnant to , and inconsistent with the true estate of a Christian , and means of salvation . For these Familists have arrived to this height of impudence , not to be asham'd to affirm ; That perfection may be attain'd in this life , that there is no Resurrection of the body , but what is past already ; that there is no Judgment to come , but that Christ is now at this present , upon his Throne , and Seat of Judgment , within every one , judging and condemning the world : that there will be no eternal Condemnation , Reward or Punishment , but that all , at last , must go into God , and , as a drop of water falls into the vast Ocean ; so all must ( as they dream ) be swallow'd up , and involv'd in th' immense and boundlesse Abysse of Eternity &c. From which sad and deadly imaginations the Lord preserve every poor , humble , penitent soul ; they being no other , than the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , profunditates , the depths , the profound Profunditates Satanae sunt abditae & latentes ejus cogitationes , in speciem bonae & honestae apparentes , quando se in Angelum lucis transformat , 2 Cor. 11. 14. Sed cum Paulus dicat se non ignorare profundas illas Satanae cogitationes , 2 Cor. 2. 11. simplex erit sensus , si profunditates pro sublimioribus quibusdam mysteriis accipiamus . Acsi diceret , qui non cognoverunt errores illos pestiferos , quos ipsi haeretici profunda dei mysteria jactant , cum tamen ex Satanae officina prodierint . Marl. in loc. Adverte non esse hic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ut de elatione & superbia accipias , sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. profunditates , quibus versutiae & nequitiae diabolicae fraudis intelliguntur . Zeger . in loc. Impostores [ quales hodie sunt Familistae ] blasphemias suas vocabant profunditates , seu profunda mysteria & abstrusam sapientiam , longè perfectiorem , quam quae ab Apostolis praedicaretur . Christus concedit esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , profunditates , sed Satarae , à malo Doemone ex Orco inspiratas , eoque aversandas , exterminandas procul . Par. in Apoc. 2. 24. wiles and deep delusions of Satan .

12. And yet some of this Generation have had the face to affirm that this excellent Author was of their minde in this matter ; and thereupon have preferred and commended his writings to their Proselytes , as a means to bring them to their principles . Whereas on the contrary , they might , if they would , have understood , what their woful estate is like to be , and what his minde & thoughts concerning them were , while he ranks them with such as are to be excluded from the holy City , and Land of rest for ever ; writing thus , And all those , that so poison , doctrines of death , lifting To the Ch. of Rome p. 37. up their bold and shamelesse voice , like Cantibanks in market places , avouching the goodnesse and proofs of oyls and ointments , which cannot give a foot to the lame , nor Eye nnto the blind , as Arians , Vbiquitists , Libertins , Familists , Coinonists , or any such other Antichrists like to these , shall be cast out , and reap their part with Lyars , and Sorcerers , whose worm dyeth not , whose cry is everlasting , and shall not enter into the rest of God for ever , nor see his holy City .

13. But that these Enemies both of Scripture and reason , may have no colour or occasion to alledge , Behm . myst . mag. c. 36. n. 15. I speak without book , I shall declare the matter in their Rabby's own words , as I find them rendred by his Translator , who was best acquainted with them . The Antichrist , saith Behmen , who is the Tower of Babel , viz. the self will of the Ham-like man , domineereth in the Temple of God , and there hath set up himselfe in the place of the holy Spirit .

Sect. 16. He tells us , That the temple of God is the formed word of the humane languages and tongues , in mans understanding , as it is written , the word is nigh the , namely in thy mouth and heart , and the seat and habitation of the opposite adverse Divell , is the monstrous property out of the dark world .

Sect. 17. In this formed word of divine understanding , the Antichrist , viz. the will of self out of the properties of nature , hath set up himself , with his property of nature , as if he were God .

Sect. 18. The like we are to understand concerning the Antichristian , Babylonicall beast of reasons self-will , which termeth it self divine , and is onely a monster of the true man , which died in Adam , to the holy Image of Gods spiritual world ,

Sect. 20. Thus understand us now , what the Antichrist , or the Babylonical Whore , with the Dragon Beast is , as may be seen in the Revelation . Every man which is not born again of God , hath the mark of the Beast , and the false Whore in him .

Sect. 21. The Beast is the Animal [ Natural ] earthly Ham-like man , who is from the Limus of the earth , according to the earthly grossenesse and malignant malice , which ariseth out of the dark world , and standeth in the curse of God . This Beast did arise in Adam and Eve , when they did imagine after evill and good , and came into its self fulnesse , away from the divine power and will , and is before God onely as a Beast . This Beast the Devil hath infected with his desire , and made it wholly monstrous , so that it onely lusteth after vanity , as a Cow doth after Grass .

And though , Sect. 15. He had discovered Antichrist , to be the self will of the Ham-like man , or the Tower of Babel , yet , Chap. 15. Sect. 44. He tells us , that the judging , censuring and condemning others without Gods command , is onely the Antichrist both amongst Jews and Christians . Which discription of Antichrist he deviseth , of purpose to dete●● his Readers from censuring , and rejecting ( as their duty is ) his filthy dreams & diabolical dictates . And with like intent , as it seemeth , Dur. Hotham Esq. in the Narrative of his Life , tells a story , from his two Germans , of one , that upon saying , Here lived that Heretick Jacob Behmen , fell down dead .

14. Where you may note the singular craft and subtlety of the Divel , who would have the cheats and delusions of this Deceiver , passe unreproved . By the same art and method proceeded his Brother-Impostor , Mahomet : who , the better to convey his dreams and imaginary Phrensies down to succeeding Ages , without suspition of forgery ; and procure an awfull reverence and respect to his Satanical impostures , as divine , perswaded the poor Arabians , that he received his Law , contained in the Alcoran , from God , by the Angel Gabriel : that it was composed Osiand . Epit. Hist. Eccles. Cent. 7. l. 1. c. 15. vid. Postel . de Orb. Conc. l. 2. c. 13. by the holy Ghost : and that the meaning the reof is onely known to God , and the most wise , that wholy believe it : Peccatum maximum & irremissible esse &c. That it is an unpardonable sin to despise or contradict either him or it . Incredulos Alcorano in Inferno , ardente sulphure atque pice &c. that they , who believe it not , shall endure everlasting torments in Hell : and therefore , that they ought to believe and receive whatever is writ therein , without disputing , censuring or enquiring : yea , that it is a wickedness Nefas esse quicquam de Alcorano mutare , aut addere , vel etiam quaestionem de eo movere &c. Osiand . ibid. c. 14. to move any Question about it . & paenam Osiand . ibid. c. 16. gehennae minatur ijs , qui consortium &c. And he threatens Hell to such as have any dealings with men , that believe it not &c. Terriculamenta Postel . ubi supra . sunt ista , ne a lege ejus descisceretur . Meer Bugbears contrived to affright from rejecting his blasphemous Law .

Sect. 22. This Deluder proceeds , But the whore ( saith he ) of the beast , is the poor soul , captivated in vanity , which soul had its rise in the formed word of the 3. principles , which was Gods Image .

Sect. 23. But now the poor captive soul lieth in this gross Beast , and is captivated in its own self-born will , viz. the whore , &c. and longeth after God from whom it proceeded .

15. Rejoyce ye Romanists , triumph ye Monks and Jesuits , and thou Fryer Maluenda , write no more Books in defence of the Pope of Rome , whose black and notorious spots of Antichristianism , thou , by thy great learning and parts , in two large Volumes , hast endeavoured to hide , and keep close from the world : and instead of him , the very true Antichrist , would craftily impose upon us , a fictitious , counterfeit one , of thine and thy brethrens devising , perswading that he must be a Jew Vid. Romae ruinam , c. 7. ubi Antichristi Papicolarum historia fuse narratur . , of the Tribe of Dan , begotten by a Devil , of a Nun &c. for behold , this Monster , your friend , outvies you in craft , obscures your subleties with his diabolical inventions , and frees you from your fears , labouring to perswade the world , that Antichrist , the Beast , and his number , Babylon , Whore and all , are Myst . mag . c. 36. ubi supra . & n. 1. & 49. Threefold life of man , c. 11. n. 52. & c. 3. n. 61. 62 , 63. in every one : and would remove all suspition of Antichrist , his number and mark , far enough from the Pope , and lay the Brat , ( the Myst . mag . c. 36. n. 24. Bastard he calls it ) at the holy Patriark Jacobs door . Jacob , ( saith this Blasphemer ) came with 70. souls in all , with all his children , of which 66. were proceeded out of his loyns , which went with him , for Joseph had Id. ibid. n. 9. 10. begotten two sons in Egypt . This number 66. is a great and mysticall number , as also the number 70. which is the number of the great Babel : and the number 66. is the number of the Beast , and of the Whore , &c. with a heap of the like irrational , senseless , absurd , confused stuffe , most like the ruines of Babels Tower : wherewith I shall not any further trouble the Reader , who [ ex ungue Leonem , ] may guess at the rest by this little . And certainly the discreet , Christian Reader , considering this Impostors writings , from first to last so directly contrary and repugnant to the writings of the Prophets and Apostles , and the comfortable Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; as also the strange and dangerous History of his life , written by Dur. Hotham , and annexed to his Mysterium magnum , by H. B. as himself tells us , wherein is not obscurely signified his acquaintanc with black , diabolical Magick , Necromancie , familiarity with evil Spirits ; his commerce with them , and their apparitions to him● I say , who so considereth this , cannot rationally conclude any other , but that the said Jacob Behmen was a man plainly distracted , or at least wholy taken up and possessed with the deep delusions of Satan , who is able to transform himself into an 2 Cor. 11. 14. Angel of light , as the Apostle teacheth .

16. And yet this Monster , for so perhaps you will think he was in shape of body , aswell as atheisticall opinions of minde , if you believe the Relater of his life , his dear friend Mr. Dur. Hotham , His stature , saith he , was exceeding little , he had a low forehead , his temples prominent , his Nose large and gibbous ; his Eyes grey , and somewhat glistering ; his Beard thin , and somewhat short ; and his voice low . I say , this notorious Impostor , the said Narrator of his Life , tells us , He doubts not , but his Reader is sufficiently convinc'd , that he was a Saint : but how to get him a place in the Church Kalendar , which is now so throng'd , he confesseth , he is to seek . Yea , and the above-said H. B. who seems to be perfectly baptized into his [ Behmens ] Spirit , ( they are his own words ) is not affraid to H. B. Pref. to the Reader , prefixed to the 4. Tables &c. write , that he was a deep illuminated man of God : and further , although all wise & sober Christians , the Children of God , may easily discern , that his dictates were no other , then the meer frothy products of his own fancy , vitiated and deluded by th' unclean and lying Spirit : that he was a Man , whose writings , ( though not to us made Canonical by miracles ) manifestly appear to have been the dictates of Gods Spirit , ( as he the said H B blasphemously affirms ) by divine influence , & ( as jt is his own expression ) out of his three-leav'd Book , which the hand of God had opened in him : wherein he found the knowledge , not onely of all that Moses , the Prophets , Christ , and the Apostles taught in sacred Scripture , but of all Mysteries , as himself affirms , in his Epistles . And further , as he brings H. B. ibid. in his learned German , relating it , that God stirred up this our dear Brother , Jacob Behmen , ( a plain unlearned Tradesman ) and gifted him with such a noble endowment of the universal knowledge of God and Nature , and shewn him the Centre of all beings , how all things arise from God originally , consist in God , and again return and flow into him &c. And in conclusion the said H. B. H. B. ubi supra . tells us , that this Deceiver had the knowledge of that wonderful Mystery ( containing the secrets of the whole Creation ) The Language of Nature , and that in his native tongue , whereby the very name of every thing gave him clear inspection into the nature of it . This knowledge had Adam in his innocency , but lost it by his fall , else it had been understood ( saith he ) as Behmen affirms , in the language of every Nation . Parallel hereto , is that of Mr. Hotham , in his life , Going abroad ( saith he ) into the Fields , to a Green before Neys-Gate , at Gorlitts , he there sat down , and viewing the Herbs and Grasse of the field , in his inward light , he saw into their Essences , use and properties , which were discovered to him by their Lineaments , Figures and Signatures . But leaving this blind leader of the blind , and his monstrous , horrible notions , and delusions , with his wretched , possessed Disciples , I proceed .

17. And now let the Familists think of me , and say what they please , I have the testimony of my own conscience , that what I have herein said , hath not been out of disaffection to any of their persons , ( though I know divers of them ) but only moved with sense of pitty to their Souls . For undoubtedly , unlesse they can now in this day of grace , and time of salvation , hear the voice of God , unharden their hearts , attain repentance and remission of sins , they must , at the second and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ , and Resurrection of the dead , at which , ( as close as they carry it ) they now make a mock , and reject it as a Scare-Crow , impudently affirming , that it is past already , as their predecessors , Hymenaeus , Allegoricam quandam Resurrectionem fingebant Hymenaeus & Philetus : quod etiam hac aetate tentarunt impuri quidam Canes . Calv. in loc. Resurrectionem ( ut quidam ferunt ) appellabant [ Hymenaeus & Phil. ] successionem illam , quae ex procreatione liberorum fit . Vide autem quot mala oriantur , si dicatur factam esse jam Resurrectiouem . Privamur pr●sentiâ Christi , non est retributio , neque ultio : mentitur qui ista est pollicitus ; & multa hujus generis : ut si Resurrectio non est , neque Christus resurrexit , neque Judex erit Vivorum & Mortuorum . Isid. Clar. Annot. ad 2. Tim. 2. 18. apud Crit. Sac. T. 7. Col. 3882. Qui aberrant à salutari doctrina gloriosae Resurrectionis , non retinent fundamentum , quia negata Resurrectione , totus Christianismus negatur , 1 Cor. 15. Tales igitur Apostolus dicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 1 Tim. 6. 21. h. e. veram doctrinam : Apostolo ipso 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exponente , 2 Tim. 2. 18. Scult. in Epist. ad Tim. c. 5. apud Crit. Sac. Tom. 7. Col. 3887. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. 1 Cor. 15. 12. Si●ut Philosophis mala vita mors dicitur , ita vita correcta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . At in Evangelio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tam apertè , & tot locis describitur , ut non possit alia intelligi , quam quae erit post Corporis ab Anima sejunctionem : quae sejunctio vulgari sensu mors dicitur : & certê illa nisi speretur , ne altera quidem illa morum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 talis erit , qualis fuit in Apostolis , & fidelibus Discipulis . Quare istis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sensum maximè necessarium excludentibus , omni modo obsisti debet . Grot. in loc. apud Crit. Sac. Tom. 7. Col. 3896. Philetus , Saturninus , Basilides , Cerdon , Valentinian , Marcion , Apelles , Hiera● , Manes , & of late , amongst others , Tho. Muntzer , David George , Joh. of Leyden , Knipperdoling , Henry This H. N. Successor of David George , affirmed , that there is no other Christ but holinesse , and no other Antichrist but sin : that the Family of love hath attain'd the same perfection that Adam had before he fell : that there is no Resurrection of the body : that the day of Judgment is already come , and that this H. N. is the Judge of the world : that there had been Seaven great Lights in the world , and that he was the Eighth , and greatest of all : that Angels were born of women ; that there was a World before Adam ; that in H. N. dwelleth all perfection &c. and other blasphemous matters . He further affirmed , that at last , God would bring all men , nay , the Devils and evil Spirits themselves into perfect happinesse . All things that were spoken of Devils , Hell , or evil Angels , and eternal Judgment , he said , were only told by Scripture , to cause fear of civil punishment , and establish right Policy . Anonym . in vit. H. N. Nicholas , and this new upstart , Jacob Behmen , did , and a rabble of others , their infatuated , stupid followers at this day do , subverting the faith of some , I say , unlesse they can now attain Repentance and forgivenesse of sinnes , they must then be excluded the holy City ; and stand without , and reap their part with the Abominable , Murtherers , Whoremongers , Sorcerers , Idolaters , and all lovers and makers of lies , whose worm dyeth not , and torment is everlasting .