to pass before Christs coming under the seventh Trumpet But this Resurrection here in the Text is to be while yet under the sixth Trumpet Corrente adhoc tuba sexta Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lye in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucissed Here we have the Witnesses unburied estate and here is the place described where they are killed for where they lye dead there they must be killed Now the Text saith their dead bodies lye in the street of the great City By the great City is meant the City of Rome of which the Angel speaks Rev. 17.18 and Chap. 14.8 Babylon the great City Bellarm. l. 2. pontif Rom. c. 2. l. 3 c. 5. and that by Babylon is meant the City of Rome is granted by Bellarmin himself It is added which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt i. e. mystically in a mysterious sense and resemblance another Sodom for its spiritual uncleaness and another Egypt for its Tyranny over Gods people Here note by the way when ever we read of the plagues of Sodom or Egypt in this book and the Visions of it we are to understand the same spiritually that is mystically For when the Roman state is subject to all these plagues it is Sodom or Egypt mystically we shall meet with something concerning the plagues of Egypt in the pouring out of the Vials as we did in the History of the witnesses and of the destruction of Sodoâ—â— in the judgement of the beast Chap. 19 and 20 and 10. vers the meaning of all which is to be opened with this key hence also it may be demonstrated that the Roman Dition is the subject of the Trumpets because some of those plagues are Egyptian plagues but to whom should Egyptian plagues be brought but to Egypt which the Holy Ghost here makes to be Rome So we see plainly what is meant by the great City but what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Street of this great City is not so easie to unfold For certainly it cannot be meant of any Court Street or broad place within the City for these reasons 1. Because our Saviour Christ who is said to be crucified in this street was not crucified in any Street or market place either of the City of Rom or of Jerusalem but without the gate Heb. 13.12 therefore the stree of the great City is not any street or broad place within the walls of either City but a place without the City 2. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being put in the singular number doth note such a kind of state or Republique the City whereof hath onely one street not many but the streets in any great and famous City are more then one a City hath many streets 3. We must suppose the bodies of the witnesses to lye there where they are overcome but there use to be no meetings for War within the Walls of one City but if they do not meet in the Enemies Country yet they meet in the Countries and Provinces subject to the City 4. The dead bodies of the slain Witnesses lye three days and an half where they may be seen of people nations and tongues who will not suffer their bodies to be buried therefore they do not lye in the street or broad place of any great City but seem to be dispersed abroad through some of the Provinces to which for that reason the exposition of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to conform and agree If any shall say the Army of the beast whereby the Witnesses are slain may be made up of the people of several nations and tongues therefore they may easily see the bodies of them whom they have killed to this I answer by having recourse to the foregoing reason viz. that so great Armies do not use to meet within the Wals of a City For the words are altogether so to be interpreted especially when no reason of the Allegory or resemblance can be pretended so as there might be no absurdity in the literal sence What shall I need to say more by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is to be understod the Regions or Territories subject to the Dominon of the great City Annotations upon the Bâ—ble called a great City because it hath large Territories or within the Dominion of the Roman Empire or in the outplaces thereof The word in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 signifies Qâ—icquid omnino extra sit sive extra urbem Job 5.10 Brightman makes the street here to be some part of the Roman Dition or Jurisdiction wherein this sad spectacle is exhibited to be seen other-some of the ten Kingdoms that have been in subjection to this great City though they are not at this present members of the Political state in the Roman Empire and yet it may be have some tye or dependance upon the Popish Roman Empire for the great whore sits upon many waters and raigneth over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.1.18 all which ad eundâ—m scopum proveniunt Now according to this Interpretation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there will be no more obscurity in the following words where our Lord was crucified Christ is said to be crucified in the street of the City of Rome Non in urbe Roma sed intra ditionem Romanam Mede or where the bodies of the slain Witnesses are cast out viz. not in the City of Rome but within the Roman Dition or Dominion within which â—hrist was literally crucified thus much of this Verse now to proceed Vers 9. And they of the People kindreds and tongues c. shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Concerning which word whether it may be taken for cruelty or kindness seems doubtful and cannot certainly be determined but by fulfilling the Prophecy Most Writers do interpret the words of the Enemies of the Witnesses who shall in this last persecution be so cruel to them as not to suffer their dead bodies to be buried fulfilling that Text Psa 79.2 Or rather the intention of the enemies in this civil killing is the more to expose them to contempt the bodies lye dead in the street like despised broken Idols in whom is no pleasure But I incline with Mede and others to think the words are to be understood of the friends of the Witnesses For their enemies are described vers 10. by the name of them that dwell upon the Earth that rejoyce at this slaughter c. But of those that will not suffer their dead bodies to be put into their Graves t is said they of the people kindreds and tongues by which they seem to be plainly distinguished one from another So then by them that will not suffer the bodies of the Witnesses to be buried understand the friends of the Witnesses which may be so many and so great a number Towards the end of Antichrists raign the everlasting
A Sober Guess CONCERNING Several Dark Prophesies IN THE REVELATION Especially The XI Chapter Extracted out of several Authors Expositors on the APOCALYPS By T.P. Minister of the Gospel P. P. 1 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place till the day come c. LONDON Printed c. TO THE READER THe reverend and learned Author of this ensuing Treatise having had of late an unpleasing liberty from his Ministerial Imployments wherein he hath for these many years last past been exercised with much acceptance and precious fruit and being studious how he might best serve his Generation and improve his time and talent for common benefit did engage himself moved no doubt thereunto from above to the study of the book of the Revelation and to make a search into the deep Mysteries contained in it the rather that he and others by his means might the better understand the mind of God in the way of his providential dispensations which are so variously interpreted and at which so many stumble and fall The Province the task though difficult yet is proper for him and men of his capacity to undertake to whom the Arcana Coeli the lively Oracles the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are committed and whose duty it is to make Visions plain In this work the Author hath laboured ad sudorem ad pallorem and no doubt found it to be dolor in oculis as the Psalmist phrases it When he had laboured much in this work and had brought it ad umbilicum knowing and considering with himself as Piscator did upon the very same occasion That we know but in part prophesie but in part and that the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets he willingly offered his papers to the perusal and submitted them to the judgement and censure of his Brethren and among others to me the least of all whose acquaintance with the Author and his work within not many hours bears the same date And I must profess I count it a mercy to have acquaintance with both and do cordially own the Work for the Authors sake and the Author for the Works sake After I had saluted the Treatise a limine I found more and more encouragement to pass further and further into it and having perused it was fully concurrent in my judgement upon it with others that had run the lines before me that it was Opus praelo dignum and did heartily press the publication of it as that which would be of precious use and much for benefit to such as desire to move by the Apocalyptique line wishing that being well taught it might have the fairest gales and a most gainful trade Reader the Treatise is now in thy hand and wilt thou not take cognizance of it and be acquainted with it Solomon gives it for the character of a fool That he hath a price in his hand to get knowledge and hath no heart to it will it be for thy honour to be so charactred When the little book mentioned Rev. 5. was held in the hand of him that sate on the Throne and none found worthy to open it and look into it John was deeply affected and wept much to think that a Book that would be so much for the Churches benefit should remain a sealed book God hath made gracious provision formerly and now of late that by Labours and Lucubrations of this and other the faithful servants of Christ this mysterious book should be opened and elucidated the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explained and shall not this precious provision be accepted and made use of Thou hast in this Book which the Author hath laboured in an account given in a prophetical and mysterious way of a Lamb slain but alive again standing on Mount Zion in a military posture fighting and conquering and going out to conquer A Lamb I say so the great Shepherd of the sheep delights to be stiled and called by his Lambs and Sheep 2. Thou hast an account of a lovely Bride in beauty and bravery made ready for the Lamb her Husband and the solemnization of their happy Nuptials after Espousals 3. Of a foul and formidale Beast succeeding a great red Dragon in place and power and under specious pretences of holding correspondency with the Lamb making war against him 4. Of a scarlet coloured Whore having upon her the names of Blasphemy and in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and filthinesses of her fornication inebriating therewith the Kings and Princes and Inhabiters of the earth 5. Of the followers of the Lamb in their numbers witnessing to him warring with him and suffering for him and then appearing with his fathers name in their foreheads with Crowns and Palms rejoycing and triumphing having gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his name 6. Of the followers of the Beast and fornicators with the Whore receiving a Beasts mark and their dreadful doom as persons that were not the Lambs Milites conscripti not written in the Lambs Book of life Briefly Thou hast an account of seven Seals seven loud sounding Trumpets seven Vials filled up with hot scorching and scalding wrath and poured out upon the Antichristian world These and other the like mysterious things are held forth in this Book of Revelations and in part cleared up in the Writings of this and other the servants of Christ make use then of this provision made and bless God that thereby thou art in a fair way to possess that blessing which in Rev. 1. is pronounced on them and ascertained to them that read and hear and keep the sayings of this Book The time hastens wherein the things contained in it will have their full accomplishment and then instead of a prophesie of things to be done it will turn it self into a History of things already done beleive it now as a Prophesie that thou mayst rejoyce in it as a History And take heed lest through neglect to labour and search for the right understanding of this Book by such holy helps thou be not found in compliance with Beast-worship and fall under the power of that word which is pronounced in a judicial way Rev. 22. Let him that is filthy superstitious idolatrous be so still which Scripture is doing quick and severe execution at this day A word or two more that I may not hold thee too long at the door The time is hastening wherein the Lamb of Zion will compleat his victories over the Beast of Babylon and then Beast and false Prophet shall be cast into the lake of fire and the smoak of their torment shall ascend out of the bottomless pit Make it thy care that when others shall be found the marked followers of the Beast thou mayst be found among the sealed followers of the Lamb while others defile their garments with
that wicked generation had forbidden men to read the Scriptures had kept them in unknown tongues and involved the mysteries of Christ in Masses and rude heapes of other superstitious Ceremonies but now he and all his excellencies shall be fully manifested to the Nations Now I will not make Application of the explications of this Chapter it being beyond my scope only from the time of Antichrists reign mentioned in this Chapter viz. 1200 and 60 years and the time of the Witnesses lying dead which is three years and a half we may infer for our comfort 1. That no sorrows or afflictions can steal upon the Church but all are foreseen and determined by God In all our sorrows and restraints consider they are foreseen of God and we are not unseen in them Let us with Hagar in the Wilderness say Then God seest me Have I also looked after him that sees me Gen. 16.13 2. God hath measured out all the afflictions of his Church that though her enemies may disturb and hinder pure Religion by force and violence yet it is but for an appointed time Antiochus may interrupt Jewish Religion and bring in swines flesh into the Temple but it is but for three years and ten days a time times and a piece of time Antichrist that grand enemy of Gods Church may make havock and tread under foot the holy City but it but forty two moneths a time times and half a time 1200 and 60 days Jezabel wastes the Church and causeth the Prophets to hide themselves in caves but it was but three years and a half in the letter the Jews may bury Christ in the grave and roll a stone upon him and seal and watch the Sepulchre but they can keep him down but onely three days Know whatever affliction thy self or any member or the whole Church sustaineth it is not endless neither shall the whole nor parts suffer one hour more then Gods wisdom hath assigned The proudest waves cannot pass those bounds and banks which Gods power hath set them 3. In all the present sufferings and oppressions of the Church this comfort abideth by the Godly that she is not lest of God nor destitute of his presence nor without a promise of deliverance nor without faith of the â—ccomlishpment nor without a joyful hope that the time of this oppression and suppression of the Church is not far from Expiration Dr. More in his book of the mystery of godliness Book 5. cap. 17. of the usefulness of Apocalyptick Visions painted 1660. To which I will only add for a Conclusion the words of a late learned Writer I am not ashamed to profess that I think it clear out of the Apocalyps that the scene of things in Christendom Dies vel annus certe statui non potest in quem erunt exiquâ—iae Rome tamâ—◠〈◊〉 aliis Scripturis pe â—spicâ—◠〈◊〉 est arbitror non differendas ad longiss◠〈◊〉 â—ltra Sexagiâ—◠〈◊〉 Brightman Apocalyp cap. 19. ve◠〈◊〉 The time when he wrote this Book appears in his Epistle to be 1606 Feb. 25. will in a short time be very much changed for the better the time of the Churches appearing that is purely Apostolical hath in life and doctrine appears by the computation of Prophecy to be very near at hand when the Witnesses shall rise and the woman come out of the wilderness and the kingdoms of the world shall be the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.11 And he further saith There is no stability to be expected in Christian kingdoms but vengeance will ever and apâ—n flow in upon them till that City be resed whose not onely foundation is laid in Twelve but whose Gates Tribes Angels the byâ—adth and heighth of the wall and the lâ—llid content of the whole City are nothing else but the replication still of Twelve throughout that is to say till that Church appear that is purely Apostolical in Doctrine Worship c. Which time being so very near at hand as appears by compute of prophesie it should be a great encouragement for every one to look thitherwnâ—d Besides the characters set upon the 1200 and 60 days as the treading down of the holy City cap. 11.2 the division of the Roman Empire into two parts cap. 12.14 and the rising of the Beast out of the Sea cap. 13.2 Historians agree to be soon after or about the beginning of the fourth Century and to shake off that dulness and lethargicalness that hath possessed the world so long as if it would never be better Wherefore let every Chrâ—stian beleive repent pray reform himself exhort and encourage his neighbor conquer his corruptions resist unto blood striving against sin For these times come not by rapine and violence but by encrease of righteousness upon the earth Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 22.7 To him which is and which was and is to come the Almighty be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 16.8 FINIS