The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

VII. Sabbatarian Poet Steere Writes of Babylon’s Doom

RICHARD STEERE (1643-1721), colonial poet, man of means, and diligent student, was born in England. Coming to New England, he probably settled in Providence, Rhode Island, and was led to accept the religious opinions of John Rogers, at that time of New London. Back in 1638 certain citizens of Boston had been banished on account of their religious faith, fleeing to Rhode Island. In 1674 John Rogers joined the Seventh Day Baptists of Newport, Rhode Island. In 1675, because of certain differences, Rogers and others separated from the Newport group and formed the New London church, becoming known as Rogerenes-distinctly nonresistant, and the first to make a stand against ecclesiastical legislation in Connecticut. And Steere had presumably become a member of this New London church that followed Rogers. PFF3 161.6

One of the earlier tenets of the Rogerene faith was, of course, that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, and should be observed instead of the first. In 1694 Rogers was warned to desist from working on the first day. Refusing, he was arrested and imprisoned. While he was in prison, a printed attack was made on the government and colony of Connecticut, signed by Richard Steere, Samuel Beebe, and Jonathan and James Rogers. It accused the colony of persecuting dissenters, of exhibiting narrow principles, domineering, and compelling people to pay for a Presbyterian preacher-which was against the laws of England-of robbery and oppression. Special court was held to consider the libelous paper, and its subscribers were then fined L5 each. Appeal was made to the higher court, which only confirmed the decision. ⁶⁴ PFF3 162.1

Such was the Steere who, in 1713, published a small volume of poems titled after the leading one, The Daniel Catcher. The Life of the Prophet Daniel. ⁶⁵ Along with it appeared some remarkable verse with the extended title “Antichrist Display’d in a brief Character of the Sordid Ignorance, and Implacable Cruelty of the Church of Rome, called in Scripture Mistery Babylon the Great. With the Certainty of her Total Fall, Final Destruction and Desolation, which produceth matter for Sions Ejaculation and Consolation.” ⁶⁶ (Title page reproduced on page 232.) PFF3 162.2

1. BABYLON ASTRIDE THE SEVEN-HEADED BEAST

Steere employed strong language, characteristic of the times, saturated with the phrasings of the prophets. The opening lines read: PFF3 162.3

“I Need no Heathen Deity Implore,
To Charactrise this Babylonish whore;
She is Display’d Beyond the Art of men,
(As in Prophetick writings may be seen)
And might have spar’d the Labour of my Pen.
Yet as an Abstract of her Scarlet Sins,
My Muse her bloody Character begins;
Litt’ral Babel which in Chaldea stood,
Did Tipify this Curst Confused Brood;
That was, so this is in Confusion Hurl’d:
For Myst’ry Babel hath Amus’d the World;
As mounted on the seven headed Beast,
Her Antichristian Tricks make Manifest.
First view her Legend, so much doted on,
Each Cheat is counted Revelation.” ⁶⁷ PFF3 163.1

Tracing her beginning from near the beginning of the gospel days, “till the Black night of Ignorance, Eclips’d the Churches Light,” Steere declares: PFF3 163.2

“And like a Strumpet did Debauch her life,
Yet would be call’d the true and Lawful wife.” ⁶⁸ PFF3 163.3

2. SEPARATE BEFORE HER COMING FALL

“Sitting on many waters,” reigning over empires and kingdoms, she made them “slaves and vassals,” defiling her hands with blood. ⁶⁹ Then citing Ireland, Piedmont, France, and the days of Mary in Britain, Steere continues: PFF3 163.4

“‘Tis this Insatiate and Bloodthirsty whore,
Whose Scarlet Robe is dy’d in Christian Gore,
To whom the Pathmos Revelator, John,
Ascribes this title, Myst’ry Babylon.
O view her Cruelty in these Latter Times.” ⁷⁰ PFF3 163.5

Then the call for separation is sounded, with the declaration of her coming doom. PFF3 163.6

“As Divine Prophesies foretold it shou’d.
And shall this Drunken whore forever Reign?
Drunk with the Blood of Martyrs, she hath slain?
Shall the Kingdoms of the Earth Subdue?
And Glory over those she Overthrew? PFF3 163.7

“Shall her Tyranick Monarchy Endure?
Shall Romes Foundations always stand secure?
No, no, Come out of her ye People all,
For God hath said Great Babylon shall fall;
Partake not of her Sins, least you should be
At last confounded in her Misery;
Take Courage Sion, for the Pow’rs above
Have made a Resolution, to Remove
This Over-Ruling, Bold, Audacious Whore:
Down, She shall down: And she shall rise no more,
But as a Millstone cast into the Main,
So shall she sink, never to rise again.” ⁷¹ PFF3 164.1

Thus the Sabbatarian poet’s views on prophecy were in accord with those of differing religious persuasions. Here is a unity that cannot be brushed aside as accidental or incidental. Prophetic truth on the identity of Antichrist had a universality that is inescapable. PFF3 164.2