finished at the last said sudden and terrible ruine of the Roman Monarchy by the destruction of Antichrist And here again observe how God all along the Beasts forty two months gave his Spiritual Power unto his two Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth those Sons of Oyl as they are called Zech. 4. to prophesy against Antichrist to consume him with the Spirit of Christ's mouth 〈◊〉 bring on the said Destruction gradually accomplished by the seve◠Angels with their seven last Plagues poured out upon him Rev. 15 16 chapters till that Destruction be accomplish'd at the seventh Trumpet and last Vial of the seventh Angel poured-out upon him about the said time fore-spoken of when Christ comes in the clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 14. to receive his Monarchy upon Earth spoken of likewise Rev. 1.7 when the Jews shall generally be brought home unto him as Isa 66.8 and when the iniquity of that Land shall be removed in one day Zech. 3.9 And then will the four living Wights with the twenty four Elders have that honour given to them which they were assured of to their so great exultation aforehand See Iren. pag. 32. Rev. 5.10 and whereupon all Angels and all Creatures render to Christ the glory due to him which they acknowledge there to be his deservedly saying Thou art worthy to receive Riches and Power and Wisdom and Strength and Glory and Blessing c. And then the Kingdom of the Stone will become a Mountain filling the whole Earth when there will be given to him the Son of man by his Father the Ancient of dayes Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People and Nations and Languages shall serve him and that for ever whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion that shall not pass away as the four former Kingdoms did and his Kingdom such as shall not be destroyed as the four former were Dan. 7.14 with many other Texts in Daniels Visions as we shewed which manifest it evidently to be to the utmost extent of Dominion both of place Over the whole Earth and under the whole Heaven as was said chap. 7.15 27. and of continuance and duration for ever while the World remained and for ever and ever to eternity v. 18. when that Kingdom of the Mountain shall be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in the highest Heavens In that visible Kingdom of Power Christ having received that Kingdom of his Father he will then give it to his Saints who shall then take it as Dan. 7.18 and manage it for him as ver 27. having the Judgment that is the authority of judging then given to them to reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20.4 And that it is the same Kingdom given at the same time as the series and order of the Prophecy of Daniel and of the Revelation both manifest and the same Authority of Judging in the like expressions of Ruling and Governing is in both places assigned to the Saints as followeth For first Judicandi potestas illis facta Rev. 20.4 It is said I saw Thrones and they sat upon them Dan. 7.9 So I beheld till the Thrones were pitched down and the Judgement that is the Judges were set Rev. 20. And Judgement was given to them Dan. 7.22 And Judgement was given to the Saints of the most High Rev. 20. And the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Dan. 7. And the Saints possessed the Kingdom with Christ the Son of Man that came in the Clouds of Heaven But after the finishing of the said thousand years Reign of Christ with his Saints on Earth we are to observe what Christ in Rev. 20.7 8 9 10. further explains shall be fulfilled concerning the last wicked attempt of Satan after he shall be loosed for a little season vers 3. from his thousand years imprisonment in the bottomless pit all which time he was bound that he could not seduce the Nations until the said thousand years were ended namely that after that time was finished that he shall then seduce the last Gog and Magog the wicked Hypocrites then in the World who shall then become very numerous in the four quarters of the Earth from whence he shall tempt them to come with a joynt consent who being a wicked generation that had been forced in the thousand years unwillingly yet-outwardly did conform to the holy and good Government of the Saints successively unto whom before time they were necessitated to be subject for the said thousand years space though against their own heart yet shall think then upon Satans seducement and conduct to free themselves from their yoke by attempting to compass with their multitudes the Camp of the Saints and even attempt to besiege the beloved City too the New Jerusalem that came down from God out of Heaven even Heaven it self upon Earth where the blessed and holy raised Saints had all the thousand years before happily beheld Christs glorious Presence shining bright with light and comfort upon them the Lamb being in each respect the light of that City Rev. 21.23 Isa 60.1 expecting by such means to free themselves from that by them supposed heavy yoke of the Saints good Government that so the Kingdoms of the World might again become the Kingdoms of Satan and of themselves his Vassals Upon which abominable attempt of Satan and those by him seduced hypocrites the Vengeance of God by fire as formerly upon the Beast and false Prophet shall again fall from God out of Heaven upon them and devour them and thereupon the Devil that deceived them be cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the said Beast and false Prophet were cast above a thousand years before to be perpetually there tormented with them unto which will succeed the end of the World and the general judgement when again the Judge will sit and the Books will be opened and another Book will be opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead shall be judged out of those things that shall be written in the Books according to their Works as follows Rev. 20.11 12 c. whereunto succeds Eternity of Blessedness or Misery to every Man and Woman accordingly as they stand or fall in that general Judgment And thus briefly of the main things of Christs Kingdom in its several states of the Stone and of the Mountain filling the whole earth with what respects the beginning and ending of the latter state of the Mountain namely that it begins upon the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope Ezek. 38. 39. before the New Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book which shall be called Jehova Shamma the Lord is there and at the end of the 1000 years reign of Christ and his Saints will succeed the attempt and defeat and ruine of the last Gog and Magog of wicked hypocrites against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City as was shewed upon which will ensue the end
beginning of the following state namely of the Kingdom of Power or the Kingdom of the Mountain then to succeed as Rev. 20. and Rev. 11. which as that of the Stone was many hundred years in passing to this last state So this shall never pass away or be destroyed while the World continues but shall at last be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven for evermore as that of Patience was perfected in the Kingdom of Power before Now of the time of the beginning of the first saith Daniel chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom c. and of the beginning of the Second chap. 7. saith he again v. 13 14. I saw the Son of man coming with the Clouds of Heaven and unto him was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him c. Of which more by Gods assistance afterwards 3dly We must especially observe how the first Session of the day of Judgment begins the said last state of Christs Kingdom where the Judgment is said to be se and the Books opened at the destruction of the Beast and upon that account Dan. 7.12 because of the great words which the Horn spake ver 9 10 11. will be executed by Christ at the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 to the end spoken of Rev. 16. And likewise another like Session of Judgment after the thousand years we may again observe will according as God hath appointed and our Saviour declared Rev. 20.11 13 c. perfect the said Kingdom of the Mountain in glory after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed after the thousand years shall be ended when also the Judgment will again be set and the Books opened which is proper only to the Judgment of the great Day as St. Jude calls it and why should it seem strange that Christ should have such a great Day to judg and rule in over all creatures as he is Mediator whilst the Kingdom which the Ancient of Days gave him shall remain in his hand when Antichrist had his Day of before And not to speak of the days of Captivities of the Jews or of 1260 years their forty years in the Wilderness Heb. 4. St. Peter reckons Eternity under the name of a day 1 Pet. 3. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the Original So that upon many considerations Mr. Mede might well reckon all that time from Christs coming with clouds Dan. 7.13 of which Rev. 1.7 and Rev. 19.11 c. to the last Sessions end under the title of the Day of Judgment wherein first at the destruction of Antichrist when he destroys the quick with visible temporal judgment and rewards his Servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great in their order Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 20.4 5. when likewise Daniel sheweth the Saints shall take the Kingdom being then given to them and possess it for ever to the Worlds end as Christ then will receive it of his Father to give it to them ver 13. yet they shall rule for him ver 27. all that time in all Nations under the whole Heaven 4thly In the next place the God of Heaven is said to be first the Founder of Christs Kingdom in the whole of it under both states of the Stone and Mountain of Patience and Power chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed c. And also he is said to be the Doner or Giver of it to Christ his Son chap. 7.9 13 14. So likewise Rev. 5. Christ hath not onely the Revelation given to him from God the Father to open and make known the same to his Church but the Lamb hath Riches and Honour and Power and Wisdom and Strength c. to execute and fulfil all things contained therein ver 12 13. which he himself declared before his ascention Matt. 28.18 19 20. his Commission from the Father enables him to fulfil the contents of that Book in both states of that Kingdom in order from the beginning of the first Seal chap. 6. when he sent out his Apostles as before Matt. 28. to and in his 1000. years reign on Earth Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 5thly So likewise for the extent of his Kingdom under both States In the first state it is large without restraint unto Jews or Gentiles Greeks or Barbarians in respect of the tender of it Go preach the Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 Go preach the Gospel to all Nations Matt. 28.19 As Augustus Coesar would have all the World taxed so Christs riding on the white Horse hath the same bounds Rev. 5. No doubt their sound went into all the world and their words to the end of the earth saith the Apostle Rom. 10.18 So Dan. 2.24 It shall never be destroyed but shall break in pieces all those Kingdoms and extend sometimes very largely in the Empire and at one time or other all over the known World But the other state of the Kingdom of the Mountain is not onely unlimited in the tender of it but also boundless in the extent of it over all the whole Earth as an huge Mountain it fills the whole Earth Dan. 2.35 and ch 7.13 14. To the Son of Man was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Deputies the Saints take the Kingdom ver 18. and that which was the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven v. 27. and then all Dominions shall serve and obey him So Rev. 20.4 the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years and the representative Church exult assuredly That they shall reign upon Earth Rev. 5.10 and Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ c. 6thly Again for the nature of this Kingdom although the first state of it being mostly invisible and therefore in the outward aspect for the most part despised neglected yea opposed by the men of the World of all sorts for the most part of the time of the Kingdom of Patience in which state though the Devil and the wicked World have endeavoured earnestly to destroy it yet it could never be destroyed Dan. 2.44 And though the Beast make war with the Saints and think to wear them out yet his time is limited to a time times and dividing of a time but then the Judgment shall sit and destroy him Dan. 7.25 26. even when he shall have accomplished to scatter the Power of the holy people Dan. 12.7 for he shall never utterly destroy their Power Rev. 12.6 So Rev. 13. Rev. 11.2 But in the second state it will not onely be an inwardly invisible true Church but also an outwardly visible and glorious Kingdom likewise when Jews and Gentiles shall be so largely and unlimitedly brought into it Rom. 11.12 c. Dan. 7.14 Even
An Additional Supplement to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR Peaceable Considerations of Christs peaceful Kingdome to come upon the Earth in the Thousand years Rev. 20. lately published 1665. The PREFACE Christian Brethren I Having in my late 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 2. declared my purpose to make some parallels of part of the Prophesie of Daniel with the things contained in the book of Revelations of Jesus Christ which is plainly a Divine Mystical Comment upon the particulars of the 4th and 5th Monarchies contained in Daniels Prophesie that is of what was more fully to be performed under the Roman and Christs Monarchy both before the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands had so strucken the Image on the feet and toes thereof that it was wholly destroyed and also afterwards when the Stone was become a Mountain and filled the whole earth But by the hand of God upon me then shewing me my mistake in respect of the manner of Christs coming and of Christs Kingdome that it was not Mystical but personal as before I apprehended until I found that coming was the beginning of the day of Judgment and likewise upon occasion of those other parallels of the three Babels which I at first thought not of until by Gods guidance led unto them I was so far thereby taken off from my former purpose That onely in the 5th Chapter concerning those three Babels I did but briefly touch upon that intended parallel of the Books of Daniel and the Revelations But since through Gods merciful goodness having further discovery of the usefulness of such an endeavour I have accordingly by his grace set upon that business in this ensuing order First to set down a brief and plain Abridgment of the sum of the Prophetical Visions in Daniel contained First in Nebuchadnezzars dream of the great â—mage Chap. 2 and Daniels Vision of the same matter namely of four Earthly Monarchies under four Beasts to pass before Christs glorious Kingdom take place Chap. 7. wherein is shewed to Daniel a Jew the beginning of the Judgment at the destruction of the fourth Beast which was not shewed to Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile as Mr. Mede observe though he saw the Kingdome of the Stone A Second Prophetical Vision was given unto Dan. c. 8. of the subduing of the second Monarchy for the ruine f the first to wit of Babylon had been shewed before to Daniel chap. 7.4 namely of the Kingdome of the Medes and Persians by Alexander the Great the founder of the Grecian Monarchy with the dividing thereof to his four Captains jointly succeeding him towards the four winds as the Text speaketh where the Spirit of God passing by the Greek affairs for a long time unto that one King of fierce countenance Antiochus Epiphanes at last rising out of one of them whose wicked actings against the Church of the Jews is shewed should be short and his death terrible towards the end of that 8. chap. In chap. 9. Daniel had a third Vision of the 70 weeks of years till Christ had finished his work of Redemption and confirmed the Covenant with many both Jews and Gentiles for that time But his fourth and last Vision chap. 10.11.12 sets forth before him again the Persian the Greek and the Roman Kingdoms with the beginning of Christs Monarchy yet chiefly in the 11 chap. he speaks of the intestine wars and thereby the decaying of the Kingdome of Grecia under two principal heads of Egypt and Syria called the Kings of the South and North mutually battering down each other and yet both of them sadly oppressing â—he poor Jews that lay between them from v. 4 to 21. and from thence to 36. is set down a more full discription of that vile and wicked Antiochus Epiphanes before the Roman Kingdom took place who at last was said to come out of one of the four heads chap. 8.9 being that wicked little horn that probably may well be reckoned as a type of the great Antichrist in whose ruine the Grecian Kingdome and Javans rage together ended Now after the brief consideration of these Visions I shall endeavour in such a said Parallel respecting the 4th and 5th Monarchy in Daniel according as our blessâ—d Saviour by his divine wisdom hath been pleased to open and set them down for the use of his Christian Church in his very useful book of Revelations for these last times and leaving particular observations and applications to Christians in their private Meditations aiming herein at brevity and clearness I shall satisfie my self onely Thirdly To set down somewhat in general to those purposes if God will in the last place N w in considering of these I have to the said purposes or brevity and clearness profestedly avoided all those perplexing controversies whereby some have unhappily obscured both the scope and meaning of the Visions as likewise some commonly mistaken expressions as That the Thrones were cast down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—onec throni eâ—ati sunt as Aâ—â—â— Moâ—â—nus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept for the Thrones were set Chap. 7.9 having enâ—eavoured as God hath enabled me to seek out the most genuine sense and the most clear and evident drift of these Visions in the main of them with divers natural explications from the matter and subject of them which by the assistance of Gods spirit together with the Rule of his Word I either have or shall observe to be most consonant unto truth Yet in the intended Parallel between the Fourth or Roman and Christs Kingdom held out in Daniel and the Revelation ye may with me take notice of what Mr. Mede sets down of their different handling thereof namely that it is done in Daniel more darkly summatim in genere summarily and in general onely but in the Revelation Particulatim in specie more particularly and specially Or saith he in another place Daniel speaks of the Roman â—mpire in imaginè confusa But Christs Revelation contains the series rerum gerendarum the order of things to be done according to the diverse fates and states of the Church in which respect many things in Daniel were said to be sealed up and shut up till the time of the end as Ch. 12.9 till Christ Jesus the true and faithful Witness had so Divinely made them known for his Churches great advantage by his Servant John This further beloved Brethren I would advertise you of that besides Daniel's Visions we shall beyond former intentions endeavour to represent somewhat of Ezekiel's Visions and especially from Chap. 37. to the end of that Book who bâ—ing a Prophet of the same time of the Captivity though not in the same place with Daniel yet by the same Spirit was guided into the same truth then made known to Gods people for their comfort yet one explaining the other in some things Therefore after Ezekiel chap. 37. had the Vision of the Jews last and great Restauration when both they and the rest of the twelve
Tribes of Israel should be united into one stick that it might not be doubted how it should be done chap. 38 39. he shewed how the Gog and Magog of the preceding times then namely the Pope and the Turk should be destroyed and that the happy consequents of this might be known then to the faithful Jews he hath another Vision of the New-Jerusalem suited much unto the Jewish state but very excellent and in this especially that the Name thereof should be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there chap. 40. to the end of the Book which our Saviour in a manner more suitable to the Christian Churches excellency sets forth as coming out of Heaven from God Rev. 21. which he shewed to Saint John was to succeed upon the destruction of Antichrist and his Complices in the Armageddon Battel chap. 19.11 to the end when so great joy had been v. 6 7 for that Brides making ready of Jews and Gentiles so largely celebrated in the beginning of that Chapter The like I may briefly hint of Christs Spouse in that Song of Songs which as Mr. Cotton judiciously observes all along to be Prophetical to the calling of the Jews with the Gentiles more abundant coming in at their rising as the Prophets phrase is Es 60.3 4 5 6 c. and whose fulness shall be the greatest riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 which Spouse will then in the New-Jerusalem Rev. 21. be the Lambs Wife in that holy City where she and Christ will be made perfect in one and one member with another who since the Apostles believed through their Word till all these should so be perfect as our Saviour prayed John 17.20 21 23. that then in the time of the New-Jerusalem the whole world might both believe and know that God had sent him into the world when his glory in his Kingdom on Earth should be so eminently set up there which Kingdom at his death he willed to them as a Legacy or birth-right with his Fathers Consent and Grant the Apostles being Witnesses thereto as v. 24. of the same Chapter that they might all have their part with him there and that as our blessed Saviour further teacheth for a thousand years Rev. 20.4 to which purpose tends likewise the 45 Psalm Thus having briefly given you an Account of this my poor endeavour for the benefit of faithful Christians and for the greater evidence and clearness of these amongst many so little believed mysteries of such Christs coming to begin the Judgment and such manner of his raising up the Saints in the time of his said visible glorious Kingdom on Earth in the thousand years I shall endeavour by the further assistance of his Grace and Spirit and by the evidence of his Sacred Word of Truth and in the further explication whereof Christ Jesus himself hath above what was afforded Daniel in this Book as the true and faithful witness so unsealed and opened to his Church in that Divine Book which was so gloriously given unto him in that Vision which St. John saw Rev. 5. concerning things to come and hereupon in reference to such a future Parallel we have premised this ensuing short Abridgment of the whole that the particular branches thereof might the better be made use of to their several due intendments by such as are rightly conversant in them and the greater light of truth might so be made evident to all serious and impartial seekers thereof by the blessing of God thereupon as God may order their Meditations for their own and others edifying Now as that short comprisal in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the fifth Chapter of the Revelation pag. 27. as likewise in the Letter May 20. 1664. in the Fore-runner are as it were an A. B. C. for some Christians to learn to spell out the meaning of the substance of things contained in that Book of the Revelations which were to come So may the following short Abridgment of the Visions of Daniel be for this Book when they come to be a little acquainted with it and by the help of both which together I hope by Gods blessing both great clearness of the truth and of the necessity of the substance of the Doctrine of Christs Kingdom upon earth may unto many sorts of men in due time be undeniably made evident to be such Divine Truth as is both profitable and necessary appearing so infallibly and strongly grounded upon both those Divine and blessed Books of holy Scripture which being once rightly understood will manifest them to be as indeed they are the sure key for the right opening of many other Prophetical Scriptures in the Old Testament and sundry other pertinent Texts in the New which otherwise are little rightly understood by most sorts of men But after all such outward means to boused with humble and faithful prayer meditation and conference of them must then be likewise inwardly done by him who is said to open the understanding of his Disciples together after his resurrection Luk. 24.35 to make them understand the Scriptures To whose most gracious guidance and teaching I commend both you and all truly Christian and teachable Spirits seeking for a blessing to you and all such in my prayers upon this my poor and weak endeavours with all other good means to any like purpose Amen An. Dom. 1665. Therein remaining yours and their faithful Servant in him our great Lord in what I may be useful MVNVS An Endeavour of a short and plain Abridgment of the Prophetical Visions in Daniels Prophesie in reference to a Parallel of what is foretold of the 4th or Roman Monarchy and of Christs Kingdome on earth further explained by Christ in the book of Revelations for the use of the Christian Church IN the second Chapter Nebuchadnâ—zzars dreamexpounded Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile as Mr. Mede observes had in a dream represented unto him a great Image shaddowing forth tâ—e four worldly Monarchies the first of which was his own Caldean Kingdom whereof he was the head of gold to contirue after him in Evilmerodack his Son and Beishazzar his grandchild unto which was then to succeed the breast and arms of silver begâ—n by Darius and soon after by Cyrus in the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians to which succeeded the third of brass as Daniel expounded namely the Grecian Impire begun in Alexander the Great and the fourth after that of Iron stronger then all the former breaking all the other to pieces namely the Roman of long continuance under many forms of Government but especially long in the feet and toes thereof all the Popes time with the ten crowned horns as appeared more to Daniel a Jew Chap. 7. unto which the Kingdome which the God of heaven would set up in the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands should succeed which should never be destroyed but should break in pieces and contume the four former Kingdoms and then become a great mountain filling the whole earth it self and should
three Ribs of Babylon Media and Persia in his mouth so the Grecian much of the Persian together with its own though many Limbs and Parts remained of them after their greatest breakings as Daniel also speaketh their Lives were prolonged for a time and season chap. 17.12 So when the Roman of all others the strongest terriblest and fiercest came upon the Stage to act its part besides its own nature so rapacious and cruel it had advantage after all to make use of all the broken parts of the former Three above any before it and therefore so proudly and cruelly triumphed ever their ruinous states on all parts on East and South and North and after and above all extended its Dominions very far in the West likewise even ad toto divisos Orbe Britannos to these furthest known Brittish Islands and in those known parts of the World of Afia Africa and Europe was the spreading of the Gospel by the Apostles in so many Countreys mentioned in their Writings whose boundary shewed them to be the Roman Empire in a manner and the encouraging also afterward the profession thereof in East and West by Constantine the Great when he threw down Idolatry and set up and encouraged Christianity in all the Empire And this also is further manifest by what hath been since taken away by the Saracens and Turks after his time from those Roman Dominions besides the considerations of those many Conquests the Romans obtained till they came to the height about our Saviours life-time as in the Abridgment in part is set down whence it is manifest upon all the said considerations that the Roman Monarchy was of the largest â—â—tent of all the other and therefore by that Emperors command the whole World was said to be taxed The Roman Empire for its largeness then containing in some sort the known habitable World or which none could withstand which Daniels former expressions do eminently foreshew and even of the Pope Rev. 13. it was said the World wondered after the Beast and who is able to make war with him But when the Dragon himself sate in that seat with his seven Heads and ten Horns of Paganish Persecutions with such ample Dominions before the Popes time How much more might it have been said The whole world wondred after the Dragon and who was able to make war with him had not Christ himself in the first Seal undertaken that encounter and set him his line how far he should go and his limits of time under the sixth Seal when his term should end by casting him from his Heaven of Paganish Worship to the Earth Rev. 6. later end Sixthly And so we proceed to the last step or period of our Parallel of Daniels Prophesie and the Book of Revelations as respecting what they say jointly of the end ruine and destruction of the Roman Monarchy and first for the ruine of the Beast chap. 7.9 the Ancient of Dayes is said to have the Judgment set and that with a fiery Throne with Wheels of burning fire and to that end a stream of fire issued and came forth from before him and for the execution of the Judgment those thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him and the Books were opened and the first part of the execution and the special occasions thereof seems to be upon the provocation of the Beast ver 11. because of the great words which the Horn spake which execution is done first upon the Beast to slay him and destroy his body with the burning flame and so again ver 26. the end of the Judgment is declared to be to take away the Dominion of the Beast to consume and destroy it unto the end And Daniel then further saw ver 13. one coming in the clouds of Heaven like the Son of man the same which Rev. 1.7 is said to come with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him with Even so Amâ—â— added shewing then that promised Mercy is then to be fulfilled to the Jews Zac. 12.10 That they shall then mourn with penitent contrition though many others with woful lamentation at that time and unto this was the glorious description of the Alpha and Omega the said Son of Man set before him who at the finishing of the things of this Book saith he comes quickly and of this coming of Christ speaks the Apostle Paul 2 Thess 1.7 When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when on the other hand he shall be admired of his Saints and glorified in all them that believe And in the next Chapter ver 3 4. he describes the man of sin against whose wickedness the Apostle shews with Daniel he will â—â—â—ially be revealed whom saith he ver 5. the Lord shall destrâ—◠〈…〉 the appearance of his coming and in like manner when that King of Kings with his Armies in the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 cometh against the Beast and his Armies and then takes the Beast and the false Prophet they are both said to be cast alive into a Lake of fire and brimstone thereby describing the Hellish destruction that then will fall upon that Roman Monarchy for ever Now as the Roman Monarchy the strongest and fiercest and of much the longest continuance hath been the most wicked having attempted by abominable Idolatries Blaâ—phemies and unheard of cruelties in their persecutions so highly against Christ and his Saints in those ten most barbarous Persecutions notwithâ—anding all the light tendered in their Dominions by the Preaching of Christ himself and his Aposâ—les whom they likewise had rejected peâ—ecuted and killed for the most part and so all along the primâ—tive times buâ—ed their power to extinguish the Christian Religion until God raised up Constantine the Great to put a period to their Paganish proceedings in that â—readful manner that the wrath of the Lamb as it is said was executed upon them that is for the terribleness of it resembled to the day of Judgment as is largely set down under the sixth Seal Rev. 6. latter end But when upon the taking away of the Successions of those Heathenish Persecutors the afterwards Apostatical Church of Rome did become Antichristian though the extent of their power hath been lessened yet their wickedness so far as they then could reach hath been many wayes greater and more notorious and that for a longer time after their former owning of the Truth and again revolting from it and even perverting it to their own and others ruine in such a mysterious contrived Hellish Apostasie by such Artifice of bloody cruelty and wickedness so monstrously executed above their Paganish Predecessors so many hundred years together by their long holding out the Cup
in the Image that were the lowest and last parts of it it should I say make those together with the Silver and the Gold and the Brass and the Iron at once become as the chaff of the Summer Threshing-floor namely in regard of what was said in chap. 7.12 to wit though the Dominions of all the former Kingdoms were taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a time and season till the last great and utter destruction of the Fourth Beast should be accomplished when the first Great Judgment was set and the Books opened Dan. 7.9 10 11. and when Christ came with Clouds to receive the Kingdom which his Father the Ancient of Dayes gave him over all the world ver 13 14. which should never pass away nor be destroyed as he there fully shews Now how this First State of the Kingdom of the Stone began to be set up as it is stiled ver 23. until the Kingdom of the Mountain took place as verse the 34. by the God of Heaven and hath all along been upheld powerfully and graciously by him as Daniel foresheâ—ed is to be observed from the History of the all along the times of the Roman Empire being Contemporaries with it Vide Irenicon on Rev. 5.27 28. in respect both of the affairs of the State under both Seals and Trumpets now near to the end of the sixth Trumpet or second Wo when the Turk must be destroyed Dan. 11. ult 12.1 And also in respect of the affairs of the Church both true and false till Antichrist the Pope with the former half of him the Turk be likewise destroyed as is probable at the same time or near together To which purpose observe how this spiritual Kingdom of the Stone was set up in that manner as Christ-shewed to Zachary in a Vision Chap. 4. how the Oyl was supplied to the Candlestick and its seven Lamps and seven Pipes thereof from the two Olive-Trees standing by it the use whereof he explains vers 6. Not by power nor by might but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts which is applied to the two Witnesses Rev. 11. and in this manner the Spirit of the Lord was originally as in the Fountain upon Christ himself being anointed above his fellows to preach the Gospel as Isa 61.1 This anointing was derived from him unto and fell upon the Apostles in an abundant measure and likewise in their measure upon all succeeding Messengers of Christ in the primitive Times and so forward in the times succeeding till this day and also on all faithful Christians in their degree all along unto the Antichristian Apostacy and from thence during the Popes forty two months wherein those anointed Ones or as the original word signifies those Sons of Oyl 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the two Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth 1260 days of years Rev. 11. have fed the Woman the true Church in her wilderness condition her time times and half a time now probably almost expired all which time this Oyl hath been divinely conveyed and supplied to preserve that light of Divine Truth and Grace by their Ministry in the Candlestick the true Church And as it appears this Kingdom of the Stone was at first set up so divinely by the God of Heaven and so spiritually and powerfully upheld by him that no wicked opposition could either destroy it or hinder it but even his spiritual Power and Grace made the opposition of men and Devils to promote it in the faithful Christians inward man So it may further appear to be his work both to set it up and preserve it by the unlikeliness of the means whereby he hath and still doth the same not as was said by power and might of the World for that not onely hath usually been deficient to help in that work but hath with Satans help made strong and violent opposition against it both in the Dragons heathenish and Antichrists apostatizing times which hath abundantly been evident both in the time of Christs own Ministry and in the Ministry of the Apostles who were his Legati a latere or Ambassadors immediately sent from him on the Message of the Gospel with all other mediate Messengers and Ministers sent by him from their times and also in all real and true subjects of the Kingdom of the Stone ever since to this very day To instance a little in each respect 1. Of their own outward meanness 2. Of the Worlds fayling to help them and 3. Of both the Devils and the wicked Worlds both malicious and violent opposition for the most part made against them First As Christ himself at his coming in our flesh was that foundation-Stone elect and precious which God sets such an Ecce Behold unto it that his People should take notice thereof when he should lay it in Sion Isa 28.16 and witnessed unto it by other Prophets long before his coming yet when he came into the World every way wonderful in Conception Birth Life Doctrine Miracles yea before in and after his death yet was he not by the Great Ones or the most or wisest or learnedest of men either owned or received But even then though he was very divinely and spiritually wonderful yet in regard his outward aspect and garb appeared to the Worlds Eye mean and contemptible the very Builders themselves rejected that elect and precious corner-Stone though to faithful mens eyes and Angels discovery very conspicuous and glorious So that our Saviour toward his Death applies the Prophecie of David Psal 118.22 unto the then Rulers which respected both him and them Matth. 21.42 saying The Stone which the Builders rejected is become the Head of the Corner which was the Lords own doing and was marvellous in the Eyes of men And so it hath been with the Kingdom of the Stone all along that Kingdom of Patience as we may by Gods assistance set down afterwards Now how this Stone it self in respect of his humane Nature may be observed eminently to be cut out of the Mountain by the God of Heaven without hands was declared also as a wonder before he came by the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah Behold saith he a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and his Name shall be Immanuel God with us Isa 7.14 So he was conceived by the holy Ghost and born of his Mother a Virgin without any real natural Father of his Flesh though he had a reputed one appointed by God himself to be a very useful help to the Virgin Mother of the Son of God yet how mean and low were then their outward conditions what attempts were made to destroy that spiritual King as soon as he came into the World How was he driven about to endanger him in his tender infant age soon after he came into the World How was he exposed and driven about whilst a child neglected and despised by the most of men and that amongst his own People and Kindred in the time of his private life where it was so
miracles And they not only do not own their Doctrine and not help to promote it but lay hold upon them and imprison them for preaching of it and this did not only befal them amongst the Jews at Jerusalem but in all places were they were sent as the Story of the Acts of the Apostles and other Writers of the Primitive times manifest Again The succeeding Primitive Christians both Teachers and Professors of the Gospel of Christ were not only not owned and encouraged by the Potentates and great men of the world But the great Red Dragon had gotten such strong possession of the highest seat of worldly Authority in the Roman Empire at the height of it having so mightily engaged them for all sorts of Heathenish Idolatry and to decline their imbracing of Christianity after such abundant conviction of the Divine Excellency of Christ Jesus the Son of God that in most places under that then most soveraign earthly Authority the Officers and Magistrates were engaged or encouraged to root out Christianity if it might be out of the world and how for the most part they acted to that purpose was so evident that as an Ancient records it was then observed that there was no day in the year whereupon five thousand Martyrs had not suffered save one in the Calends of February and what large Volumns have been written of the cruel and merciless deaths and martyrdoms of those primitive Christians wherein they were forced to undergo those strange devised tortures and torments besides all lesser sufferings may abundantly appear to those that are observantly conversant in them and even then by a Divine Power going along with this persecuted Gospel in the Preachers and Professors thereof as with the Israelites under Pharoah's Taskmasters the more they oppressed them the more they multiplied so those showeâ—â— of blood of the Saints made the Gospel to grow more fertily and as was observed by the Ancients Sanguis Martyrum Semen Ecclesiae the Blood of the Martyrs was the Seed of the Church And this continued all along the Primitive times in the ten much noted Persecutions besides less noted ones which were like not to be a few wherein as by so many grievous and sore pangs and throws of the Woman the Church then with child through mercy by the faith and prayers of God's People till she brought forth that Man-child Constantine the Great under the fixth Seal Rev. 6. who threw down the Dragon with his heathenish Idolatry from the Throne with his Sun Moon and Stars about him of his worldly powers that had so long persecuted the Saints in their successions before And this was done by the Divine Power of God's Spirit converting that famous Emperour encouraging him against the Heathenish Opposers and prospering his proceedings to a wonderful subversion of those powers of darkness which for the terribleness of their downfal the Spirit of God decyphers much like a day of Judgment in regard of the execution thereof Rev. 6. latter end which though it was said to be from the Wrath of the Lamb yet there is no sitting of Judgment nor opening of Books which will be at Antichrist's ruine when the day of Judgment will begin and as will be at the last ruine of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. when the last accomplishment of the Judgment follows upon it at the end of the world Yet this seems to be the great undertaking of Christ to conquer his Enemies in the first Seal whose right hand should then teuch him terrible things Psal 45.4 5. whilst as is there expressed he rides on in his Majesty prosperously because of the Word of Truth Meekness and Righteousness for the first three hundred years till Constantines Reign by whom the Empire of Heathenish became Christian having cast off the Dragons Worship and Religion and owned and received Christ's Religion And this appears to be one eminent purpose of God the Father's giving of the Book to the Lamb that as it had been slain Rev. 5.6 but was alive again to open the Seals thereof and under the sixth Seal was 〈…〉 Commâ—â—â—on contained to execute this terrible Wrath upon those Paganish Powers which was the Stones eminent smiting of the feet and toes of the Imrge at that time as Dan. 2.34 and elsewhere to like purpose as was shewed And from thenceforward Christ the said Lamb as it had been slain had further in Commission both by reason of the wicked Apostacy of Church and State in sucâ—â—eding times and to revenge the cruel bloodshed and persecutions of the Saints with blasphemies and other wickednesse of that Roman Empire before when Paganish and after likewise when it would be poysoned with Heresie and again apostatized by Popery so that suitably thereunto he should bring down again the power of Satan and wicked men in their several orders and places as appears by the 7th Seal opened by him Rev. 8. wherein he was accordingly to reveal and execute God's further Wrath by his seven Angels with their seven Trumpets in the four first of them blowing out chiefly that Wrath and Judgment upon the Western Empire for the most part to take away him that letted there the revealing of the Man of Sin in the Western Empire as 2 Thess 2.7 that Antichrist might appear And the two following Wo-Trumpets to reveal and execute like Judgements upon the Eastern Empire Rev. 9. which since hath almost been fulfilled upon it by the Sarazens and Turks to this very day And afterwards by the sounding of the seventh Trumpet to destroy on the sudden all the wicked powers of Men and Devils from off the face of the Earth at the Son of Man's coming in the clouds and receiving his visible Kingdom on Earth from his Father over all Nations People and Languages Dan. 7.14 And the Kingdom and the Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens v. 27. And then at once breaking in pieces the Iron and the Clay and therewith the Silver and the Gold and Brass and making the whole Image of the four Monarchies that is the broken parts of the three former with all that remained of the last Roman Monarchy viz. the last and lowest parts thereof the feet and toes partly of Iron and partly of Clay to become as the chaff of the Summer-threshing-floor Dan. 2.35 when the wind of that last wrath from that third Wo-Trumpet of the 7th Ange will carry them all away as was shewed before from Dan. 2. Dan. 7. Dan. 12. and as may be observed from those parallel places Rev. 16. toward the end Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 11.18 which agree with the Son of man's coming in the clouds and when Michael shall stand up for Daniels People and when Antichrist shall have finished his time times and a half to scatter the power of the holy People then all these things shall be finished Dan. 12.7 though it is made evident to Daniel that his People should have 〈…〉 troubles before all would be