the Duke should be accounted by all men absolute Governour and all men dispenced withal not to hold or observe any Ordinance or Institution made by any others then by him and that all things should be referred to his discretion I would not be understood as if Duke d' Alva were meant in this Prophesie for I think otherwise 1. Because he was no Apostate that is did never vow and promise better things 2. He had no form of godliness Both which must be in the persons here foretold Fierce or unmild not tame wilde savage â— Inhumani seri beastiarum more saith Osiander Inhumane and wilde after the manner of Beasts So Junius Feri Bestiaruns more efferatos Arias Montan. The Dutch Cruel with whom it is perilous to converse The word properly is applied to the rage and cruelty of Beasts Hence some translate Bestiales Memorable is the thing which fell out lately at Abingdon The Souldiers were more wilde and savage then the Beasts they rid upon for the poor Beasts would not do the cruelty upon the Saints though spurd kickt and beaten to trample them under foot being at Prayer as their barbarous Riders would have had them do How will some stamp rage rail threaten and shake their Heads as if they would eat up God's people when they are brought before them But that which I take to be chiefly meant by the word is this Look as Beasts will hear no reason neither is there any stopping of them in their fierceness by speaking to them So to speak to these men meant here in the Text of Reason Law Justice Conscience Right it is to no purpose they are Feri wilde Beasts their Will and Lusts must be satisfied Again as some Beasts having gotten by force or fraud mastery over their Fellows rule them by no Law but their will such a Beast-like Government doth the Spirit of God here intend so that without doubt by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tyrants are here meant Now according to Statists and Lawyers there are two sorts of Tyrants One absquetitulo qui Rempub. sibi non commissam sine ullo justo Titulo vel Successionis vel Electionis invadit aut vi aperta aut malis Artibus He is called a Tyrant without Title who invades the Commonwealth not committed to him without any lawful Title either of Succession or Election either by open fraud or wicked designs Others describe him thus Qui sine ullo jure aut iniquo minimè legitimo Titulo Principitatum invadit who without any right or the least lawful Title usurps the Principality The other is Tyrannus exercitio sive â—su id est qui legitimum quidem jus ad Principatum habet sed eum injuste contra Leges exercet A Tyrant by Practice or Exercise who though he have a lawful right to the Government yet administers the same unjustly and against Laws Of this later Tyrant Bartolus and others give Ten Notes Again touching the former Tyrant their judgement is thus Quia Tyrannus absquetitulo nullum habet Fundamentum sut Principatus sive Regiminis ideo eâ— tanquam privato licet sine ulla conscientiae difficultate resistere eumque pellere velâ— medio tollere Quin desensio est juris Naturae A Tyrant without Title having no Foundation of his Principality or Government may as a private man without scruple of Conscience lawfully be resisted and expelled and removed from his place The Reason is because it is the defence of natural right The Conclusion is When the Later Apostacie shall be in the World or rather in the Church Tyrants shall then reign it is not said which of the Two but one of them will be Neither have we ground to think that such an Apostacie is already come unless so much doth appear There may be yet something more in the word Out of this Apostacie as the Bottomless Pit ascendeth the Beast that slayes the Witnesses Now observe it Reader it is a Beast that kills the Witnesses and what are the Later Apostates said to be Feri wilde Beasts Despisers of those that are good or not lovers of good men nor good things for the word takes in both minimè amantes bonorum Beza Negligentes bonorum Pagn If good men are not lov'd it is for the good things which they hold and practice Two ways men are said to be good men either as they stand for the good of their Country against Tyranny and Oppression and for the Liberties Freedom Priviledges and just power of the people Or standing up for the Truths of the Gospel and the Interest and Cause of Christ Now the Later Apostates shall appear against Good Men both these wayes And if this be not so now it is not the Apostacy in Timothy Traytors A name given to Judas Luk. 6. 16. and to the Murtherers of Christ Act. 7. 52. So that there are two sorts of Traytors 1 Spiritual or Gospel-Traytors 2. Civil or Law-Traytors Whether the Present Back-sliders are meant here I shall onely shew what they have said and leave the Reader to be Judge For the first thus they have said We have not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ King of Saints to be our King by profession but to admit him to the Exercise of his Royal Authority And upon this simple account we engaged not knowing the deep policy of Wordly States-men And those things simply were in our eyes namely THE DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRIST THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHRIST's KINGDOM THE DELIVERANCE AND REFORMATION OF HIS CHURCH IN THE BEST ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS ORDINANCES ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD and the just Civil Liberties of English-men Besides not onely would they have That the exaction of Tythes and all manner of Impropriations removed but all corrupt forms of an outside-Religion and Church-Government Now with this compare their PRACTICE since whether the good things they declared for and the evil things they witnessed against they have not onely declined and most unworthily betrayed as the destruction of Antichrist and the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ but have do most cruelly hate persecute by banishment and imprisonment many of the Lord's people Because they do desire and for no other cause to have such things made good as they themselves pretended sometimes to be zealous and earnest for but now have betrayed into the enemies handâ— if this be not true the Holy Ghost intends them not neither do I. For Civil or Law-Treason besides what was said before in the Case of the King Strafford and the Judges about Ship-money I finde four Acts of Parliament not yet as I know of repeal'd which say thus Be it Enacted and Ordained That whosoever shall declare publish or any way promote any Person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or Ireland c. without consent in Parliament shall be judged and deemed a TRAYTOR to the Commonwealth and shall suffer pains of death and such other punishments
as belong to the Crimes of high-High-treason The like Act was made March 17 1648. and May 14 1649. Again in July 17 1649. it was Enacted That if any person shall maliciously or adâ—â—â—edly publish by writing painting or open declaring c. that the Commons in Parliament are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation or shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up or raise force c. that every such offence shall be taken deemed and adjudged by the Authority of this Parliament to be High-treason Treason saith our Law is an offence committed against the Security Anâ—plitude and Majesty of the Common-wealth I am so far from taking the word Traitors for single persons or to apply it to things doubtful that I think the Holy Ghost intends a Combination of men and such as shall most eminently betray both Gospel and Law even Christ and their Countrey But I shall not take the Readers work out of his hand Heady or rash inconsiderate unstable fickle or giddy headed such as suffer them selves to be driven this way and that way by their passions and lusts Dutch Note The word as some think is taken from yong birds which venter to fly before their Feathers are grown or from little children who through their headiness fall and get many knocks When thou hast viewed their actions first and last beginning at their Instrument or new model of Government and consider what that was and how hastily done Their clapping up a sudden peace with the Dutch and making war as fast against Spain What loss we had of men and treasure at Hispaniola the manner how and what shame and scandal the English Nation had by it Then pass over to Jamaica and inform thy self truely what hath succeeded since their arrival Besides how many hundred Ships have been taken from us by the Dunkerkers whilst our Fleet were abroad for what I know not Their throwing of Good Men one while into Prison another while releasing them again without shewing any cause either for one or other Their Creating Major Generals like the Image that was made to the Beast preferring some to high Offices and Places whom they had before publickly charged to be Betrayers of their Country Summoning the Countries to chuse Parliament-men and when they came up sent them home again a hundred at a clap It would take up too much time to enumerate all particulars If these things considered prove them not Heady and Rash this then I would add It may be doubted and I do whether the Later Apostacy be fulfilled in them If any wise and sober man not being one of them can see upon any of their publick Actions wherein the good of the Commonwealth is concerned whereon there is not engraven and fairly to be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HEADY RASH AND INCONSIDERATE Either it is so or this is not the last state Apostacy High-minded or puff d up as a Tympany for that sore comes from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat eos qui sibi videntur insignes in re quapiam aut opinione quam de se concipiunt ideo intumescunt The word saith Salmeron signifies men who to their own thinking are famous in their actions and opinion and being thus conceited of themselves are therefore puffed up Some Translators have Câ—eci blinde others Fanatici dementati fanatical and sottish Indeed the word doth signifie one that is blinde and wants his understanding yet conceives that he hath both fight and reason and would have others think so too It is not to be doubted but these men whose Apostacie is here arraign'd for King Craft and Statesmen deem themselves the None-such of the Word and all Ruling men before them Simplicians and laugh at their Commonwealth Notwithstanding if that which they are designing and building be 1. Against God and therefore he shortly will destroy it 2. If that which the Saints are every where praying against 3. If that which was done before by the King against the Priviledges of Parliaments and Liberties of the People 4. If that which the people every day more and more do hate them for 5. If that which may ruine their Families and render their Names odious to posteritie I say Should such be their designe and actions The Question is though highly conceited of their own opinion and doings whether according to the word here they are not in truth BLINDE and FOOLISH STONE BLINDE as the Aethiopick reads it Lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God greedy upon voluptuousness Old Translation The word signifies such as are Friends to pleasures Here Reader consider 1. The Heathenish vanities and sports taken up since this Apostacie was made banished and buried before witness what was done this yeer upon their Lord Majors day though an Independent and Church-member Such lightness and foolery was then as was a scandal to Religion and a grief to the Saints Many poor Christians wanting bread whilst they in wantonness vainly wasted away money see Amos 6. 3 4 5 6 7. 2. Where can we see any of the present Revolters specially if crept up into High Places and Offices whether at Court or in Country but they are voluptuous and given to pleasures yea those which seemed sometimes to be Barzilla's men so mortified to carnal pleasures and risen with Christ as such things were irksom and burdens to them But now who for excess and riot more then they who more then THESE MEN for fine Clothes sumptuous Houses costly Fare and Court-Fashions so that to see them now they are more like Dives then Barzillaâ— In every vanity and foolery as carnal and light as other men Truly I should have wondred to see this great Change among professors how Barzilla's are become Diveses's those who have preached much and printed much against base delights are now the Men addicted to them I say To see this I should have thought it strange but that I know this Prophesie of the Later Apostacy every jot and every tittle of it must be fulfilled Having a form of godliness or formality shew appearance an outward visage Quibus est species reverentiae Dei Junius in whom there is a shew of fear or worship of God Specieminanem sive inane simulacrum Piscator I beseech thee Reader Take notice of the singular Wisdom and Counsel of God who will discover the men of the Later Apostacy in that way which they think to cover their Apostacie How will the Later Apostates being lovers of themselves covetous Covenant-breakers Traytors c. think to hide these Vices so at least to hide them that they may not be thought to be the Apostates foretold in Timothy By having a form of godliness that is by their often praying fasting preaching and practicing Church Ordinances c. And how will the Lord make it known That they are the Apostates there prophesied of By having this form of godliness that is being men so forward for fasting and praying yet living all
can serve two Masters He that acknowledgeth the Government and Power of the Beast to be Lawfull cannot bear a faithfull Testimony to the present Cause and Interest of Christ For to have now the Testimony of Jesus is to bear a witnes against the Beast 2. That he slayes the Testimony of Jesus by preferment in many great Professours such as formerly asserted what they now either deny or are silent in By this means the common people ignorant of the mystery of iniquity working in the last dayes following the others example have their Testimony kil'd likewise Gal. 2. 13. Secondly Another way is by his hypocrisie and dissimulation in religion As David said of Goliahs sword there is none to that give it me So I think there is no weapon or crafty course which this Beast will use like to his hypocrisie in the things of God as his fasting weeping praying honouring Ministers Sermons c The report and noise of this will ring far and neer and by the simple who believe every thing so believ'd and he taken for such a Saint that now he may do what he will For though he have all the Characters of the little Horn and do whatsoever is foretold of the Beast yet his hypocrisie will cover all and hence slaves the Generation Testimony Thirdly When Christ was put to death by the Jewes though they could prove nothing against him neither indeed had any thing to lay justly to his charge yet they pretended great matters and would have men believe what they did in the killing of him they had cause and reason enough for it So will this Beast slay Jesus Christ in his Testimony Hence it is said Where our Lord also was crucified Howsoever he hath nothing against the present Generation Truth born Witnesse to For what can he have Seeing nothing is Asserted by them but what the Scriptures plainly declare nor is he able to resist the Wisdome and the Spirit by which they speak yet will he pretend high things against them As Nero when his Mastives would not destroy the Christians clad them in Bear-skins So will this Beast doe that his Dogs may rent and tear the Testimonie of Jesus He will cloth it with reproachfull names as Blasphemy Errour Madnesse Faction Treason Sedition c. And by this trick the sooner effect his purpose So that howsoever it be the Testimonie of Jesus that he kills yet he will kill it under pretence that it is the doctrine of Devills blasphemie the delusion of Satan c. Fourthly This Testimony is to be slain by War He shall make war against them Howsoever I have shewed my opinion already yet the matter being considerable I would have the Reader observe 1. This Beast whosoever he be shall trust in the arme of slesh by this he will seek to strengthen his Government and Greatnesse and to reach his ends and designes every way 2. His Army will be so corrupt that whatsoever he shall bid them doe against the Testimonie of Jesus they will doe it right or wrong For they will be men not having principles of honesty or conscience And by this meanes likewise he will prevaile very far over the Witnesses viz. by his Soldiers For those men if he command them will banish and imprison any of the Lords faithfull Servants that they may not Witnesse for Christ against the Beast Fifthly No sooner is this Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit but doubtlesse he will enact some Law against the Testimonie of Jesus As for Example That it shall be Treason for men to speak or act any thing against his Person promise to live quietly under his Government not call him the little Horn and Beast And what is the meaning of all this But to require all men upon pain of death to deny Christ before men For if it be the Government of the little Horne and Beast in the three years and halfe Not to Witnesse then against it much more to promise not to Act any thing against it is no other then to deny Christ so far as concernes a Generation-Testimonie But howsoever this be so yet the dread and terrour of such an Edict will so seaze upon people of low and poor spirits as they will chuse rather to have the Witnesse of Christ kild in them then be persecuted by the Beast for bearing any publick Witnesse against him Thus I have shewed Who the Beast is and the Witnesses and how they are kild Our Third Point is How it doth appear their lying three dayes and an halfe unburied contemporizes with the last Apostacie and the little Horn. And after three dayes and an halfe I shall speak the lesse of these three dayes and an halfe because it is not questioned scarce by any one neither indeed rationally can it But here is meant either the last three years and an halfe which close the number 1260. Or so much time following immediately upon it Indeed there are some few whose opinion is the terme here is the same with the 1260 years But 1. This is plainly against the Text. For the Witnesses are not slaine till about the finishing of their Testimony that is when the 1260 years are almost expired 2. To take dayes for years and then againe to reckon so many years by dayes I see no ground for this in Scripture to cast up Prophetical numbers This Point needs no further enlargement 3. The Apostacy is to be in the last days Now if we consider Times and seasons by their appointments and periods No Days can be said to be last but the distinct time closing the 1260 years in which Time is the little Horne and Beast And therefore necessarily they must contemporize But there are some other things which need Explanation First What the Street is in which ly the dead bodies of the Witnesses Answ Where they were slaine there doubtlesse they ly The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is well observed by many signifying a broad and spacious place cannot be taken for any street within the walls of the great City For 1. Our Lord was slaine in no street of Rome or Jerusalem but without the gate in Golgotha 2. Men seldome make war within the City walls but in open fields 3. In Cities are many Streets but this is expressed in the singular number neither is the word properly a street 4. That their dead bodies lie visible and obvious to all Nations kindreds peoples c. it must be without the City and not within the walls By the great City I understand here and so alwayes in this Book the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast not onely the Ecclesiasticall kingdome but all Civill States and Governments under the Sea of Rome acknowledging the Pope head of the Church This is the Great City often mentioned in the Revelation It is said And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell v. 13. Here it is not the great City