holy Catholick Church upon earth that we are to believe or hope for and the excellent Communion of Saints that we are in this world to expect And likewise that we are now especially by our prayers to labour to promote as God of old directed his people when their time of deliverance from Babylon drew on Jer. 39. Then said he they shall call on me and I will answer c. And when Daniel by Books understood the mind of God therein he set himself by fasting and prayer to seek for and help forward if it might be the accomplishment of such revealed Grace So now also that new Babel is abundantly revealed to God's People to be shortly to be thrown down and the New-Jerusalem much more abundantly revealed in Scripture shortly thereupon to be set up The Faith and Prayer of God's People ought in their sphear to seek to promote it and I observe the Dutch Notes though by men of different Judgments yet in the Preface of the nine last Chapters of Ezakiels Prophecy apply what is there said to some wonderful Glory of a Jerusalem to come of which the former restoring of the Jews from old Babylon was but a Type Besides I observe many Psalms and many passages in many other Psalms more than I read in Mr. Archers Book to tend so this way that otherwise as such prophetical-Scriptures besides seem not to have any probable fulfilling but according to Revelation Interpretation as I may call it which I must acknowledge I never did nor ever was like rightly and groundedly to have understood but according to the tenour of that blessed book And as Israels coming out of Egypt tended to the actual giving of them after forty years space the possession of Canaan of old so God's Peoples coming out of the spiritual Egyptian Antichristian bondage now approaching tends to bring all God's true Israel into the New-Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven Rev. 20. and is it not a main drift of the most if not of all the petitions in the Lord's Prayer to this purpose for when hath Gods Name been so comperably hallowed in Earth as it is in Heaven as then it will be both by Men and Angels in all he is made known by to his People When will his Kingdom come with such power to any suitableness in Earth as it is and will be in Heaven but when the Kingdoms of this World are the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 And likewise when at the same time Rev. 19. God's People shall so rejoyce when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth because as it followeth in the next verse his Bride hath made her self ready And consequently when will the Will of God be done in Earth as it is by the blessed Aegels in Heaven but when his Subjects are of most obeddient hearts and loyal spirits as they will be under suh a prevalent reigning of Christ When my daily Bread this day any day be so comfortably and confidently prayed for and expected as when the particular promises of the greatest confluences of Temporal and Spiritual Blessings are to be fulfilled in their proper season to their best purposes c. When may we with such comfort and confidence pray for forgivieness of our Trespasses this day any day as when our hearts shall witness with us we least allow our sins When shall we be so assured of our own pardon as when our spirits are most free and clear in pardoning others in case they offend against us When can we so confidently pray to be delivered from the evil one and evil works with the consequents thereof this day any day as when Satan shall be known to be bound Rev. 20.3 and many great temptations removed and a very great measure of Grace attained and neer Communion with Christ enjoyed in this World Yea and will not the following enforcements of Prayer set down by our Saviour be then most clearly aplicable when the Kingdom is most manifestly Gods and the Power both to obtain it at his own time and pleasure and so likewise to retain it appears clearly his and consequently all Glory as his due shall be rendred unto him to all eternity Amen Amen And for the Martyrs and Saints to be raised at the entrance of Christ on this his Kingdom to have their part in the New Jerusalem I had the like thoughts before to what I find in other Authors That they should be in a state such as Christ was in after his own Resurection while he was not acssended to his Father but when I consider the many Prophesies of all those great things in the Old Testament so confirmed in the New and especially applyed in the Revelation to the New Jerusalem not only by allusion but by application of the Spirit of God and Christ himself in a special manner Rev. 10.7 as he declared to his Servants the Prophets And at that time reward is to be given to his Servanis the Prophets Rev. 11.18 and to his Saints and to them that fear his Name both great and small as it follows in the same Scripture And it is of main weight in this point that when the Chorus was set about the Throne Rev. 4.1 2 3. c. when Saint John was to receive the visions of that Book there is a Glorious appearance of God described and the Rainbow round about the throne as doing all to his Church through the Covenant of Grace through the Blood of Christ his only begotten Son and the seven Lamps burning before the Throne deciphering the seven Spirits or the Holy Ghost with his Gifts and Graces as Rev. 1.4 more clearly in Rev. 5. there is a Book in the hand of him that sat upon the Throne which none was found worthy to open but the Lamb that had been as it were slain having seven Horns and seven Eyes vers 6. which occasioned the four living Wights and twenty four Elders to sing a new Song and afterwards fall down and worship but the top of rejoyceing for all that was in the Book and after all that should be done and suffered by and for and in Christs Church which they represented in that vision it was this which was the great enforcement of their joy while the World was to continue And say they vers 10. we shall reign upon Earth And that Subject of such their reign there after all their labours and sufferings of the Saints as their time of refreshment Acts. 3.19 and Sabbatism or rest Heb. 4. is largely treated of in sundry Particulars in the 19 20 21 22. the four last Chapters of the Book of the Revelations and that those things therein contained must necessarily be understood of the state of God's Church upon earth according to the series and order of the Book in the last times and therefore were never yet accomplished take into serious consideration the brief abridgment of Reasons and Testimonies following to that purpose 1. The New Jerusalem is said to come down
from God chap. 21.2 and not to ascend up or be taken up unto God as the Church Tryumphant at the last day shall be 1 Thes 4.17 Christ will take the Church up to himself John 14.3 it shall not come down after the last Judgment to remain here 2. I conceive the New Jerusalem that comes down from God will he a kind of Tryumphant Church confisting of the raised Saints though in the thousand years it be not fully glorified yet perfectly sanctified and saved Rev. 20. knowing in due season they shall be so glorified as 1 John 3.2 3. But all others of the faithful in the natural life shall walk in the light of that Jerusalem the Mother of us all Gal. 4. Rev. 21.24 and accordingly the several Texts lelating to either are to be distinguished The Church is said to be prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband vers 2. Now the Church Tryumphant for all the Elect gathered together is not a Bride prepared but a wife in marriage fully accomplished 3. Because it is called a Tabernacle a removing state and God also said to be with men and to dwell as in a Tabernacle with them but concerning the Church Tryumphant in Heaven the manner of speaking is to say It is with God 4. Because the Holy Ghost so strongly confirms this renovation of all things avouching it again and again vers 1.5 commanding to write and affirming the words to be faithful and true which needed not in so generally approved believed truth touching the state of the Church Tryumphant 5. Because John is made to ascend on high to see this new City below him descending out of Heaven from God 6. Because it is said to be measured and that with the measure of a man v. 16 17. which sheweth it to be the Church on Earth which is only measurable and to be measured c. 11.1 Zach. 1.16 but not the Tryumphant in Heaven 7. Because here is said That Nations shall walk in the light of it and Kings of the Earth shall bring their glory and honour to it vers 23 24. yea the glory and honour of the Nations too v. 26. But none can bring earthly glory and honour for of such he speaketh in Heaven above to becautifie it withall 8. This seemeth not unreasonable though somthing in the Letter carry our thoughts to a state of full perfection chap. 21.4 22.3 4 5. because the like speeches have been used by the Holy Prophets aforetime to set out the graceful and peaceful state of the Church Isa 65.17 18 19 25. 60.18 20. 25.8 60.21 and yet farther observe after those high expressions it is said chap. 22.6 These sayings are faithful and true the Lord God of the Holy Prophets who had spoken of old time sent his Angel to shew unto his Servant John the things which must shortly be done which words shortly be done seem alwayes in this Book to note the state of the Church on earth Now for testimonies in the next place Some such thing is promised to the Jews in the Books of the Prophets which seem not yet to be fulfilled but deferred till the seventh Trumpet be blown when the Mystery of God shall ye finished as hath been declared to his Servants the Prophets by which words it is clear that all things in the Prophets are not accomplished till this Book of the Revelations be fulfilled for the Prophets have formerly spoken of this Mystery to be finished under the seventh Trumpet Now that we may not wonder at the New Jerusalem here set forth look unto the prophesies of old and mark what by them the Lord did promise unto the Jews after their captivity 1. He tells them They shall be brought back again to Jerusalem and to inhabet Judea Zach. 8.7 8. 10.8 9. Isa 60.10 15. 62.10 And all Nations Isa 61.11 2. He will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Zach. 12.10 14. 3. He will make them strong to overcome all their enemies and they shall inhabit Jerusalem again Zach. 12.6 and build the old wastes they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste Cities and the desolations of many Generations Isa 61.4 58.12 and that by the help of strangers and their Kings Isa 62.10 4. Being so built where as it had been forsaken and hated so as no man went thorow it he will make it an eternal Excellency and a Joy of many Generations Isa 60.15 For 2. Violence shall no more be heard in the Land wasting nor destruction within the borders but her Walls shall be called Salvation and her Gates Praise Isa 60.18 The Sun shall be no more her light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto her Isa 60.19 20. 2dly All the people shall be righteous Isa 60.21 and no cananite there Zech. 14.21 3dly Her Officers shall be Officers of Peace and her Actors Righteousness Isa 60.17 4thly Her Watchmen shall never be silent Isa 62.6 neither shall her Vision ever be wanting Isa 59.21 But the false Prophet and the unclean spirit shall be cut off Zech. 13.2 So as by this glorious and graceful state she shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Isa 62.2 that is Hephziba and the Land Beulah for the Lord would delight in her and marry her or Jehovah there shall be the name of the City Ezek 48.35 5thly Hereupon they shall be known among the Gentiles and People and all that see their Seed and Off-spring shall acknowledge them the Seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61.9 An holy People Redeemed of the Lord sought out and not forsaken Isa 62.12 6thly The Gentiles and their Kings shall see her Righteousness and Glory Isa 62.12 whereupon they shall come to her Isa 60.3 and that with earnest desire and high estimation of her Zech. 8.22 23. and be joyned to the Lord and become his People also with her Zech. 2.11 These Nations and Kings shall bring to her Sons and Daughters Isa 60.4 and 49.22 Enrich her mightily with abundance and precious things Isa 60.6 17. She shall eat the Riches of the Gentiles Isa 61.6 and suck the Milk of the Gentiles and the breasts of Kings Isa 60.16 who shall be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her nursing Mothers 〈◊〉 â—9 23 bringing her Presents and Gifts Isa 60.6 and 45.14 they shall fall down and make supplication Isa 45.14 they shall worship with their Faces to the Earth and lick the dust of her Feet Isa 49.23 Zech. 14.16 Strangers shall be her Servants Isa 61.5 Yea such as will not serve her shall be destroyed Isa 60.12 Zech. 14 17. She shall be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the hand of her God Isa 62.3 And this her excellency shall never be changed her days of mourning shall be
rather to the beginning of the thousand years The first four Trumpets which are reckoned the milder miseries upon that World of the Roman Empire contain somewhat above two hundred years after Constantine Rev. 8. When the Goths Vandals Hunnes Almains c. by degrees took away the Emperour who was he that letted the revealing of Antichist spoken of 2 Thes 2. The other three Trumpets called the Vae vae vae Tubae or three Woe-Trumpets Rev. 8. last vers are as follows The first Woe-Trumpet or fifth Trumpet is coneived to begin Anno Dommine 622. according to Helvicus when those Locusts out of the bottomless Pit viz. the Saracens subdued and over-ran one half of the Eastern Roman Empire bringing in with them that horrible Imposture of Mahomatism Rev. 9. first part of the Chapter which continued till about Anno Domini 1300. When the second Woe-Trvmpet or sixth Trumpet is conceived to have begun when the Turks the other Mahometan Locusts overcame the Sarecens and overcame likewise the other half of the Eastern Roman Empire Rev. 9. latter part of the Chapter which Trumpet will end with the utter perdition of the last Head of the Roman State viz. the ruine of the Popedom being the Feet and Toes of the Image expounded by Daniel cap. 2. And for the state of the Church contemporary with these contained in the little Book in the Angels Hand Revelations 10. after a short Chronological Table as it were of both Prophesies chap 11. to vers 15. and thence to the end of the Chapter a short Relation of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet and state of the World then and thence forward as after follows The first Contemporary State of tho Church is set down chap. 12. dontaining the Primitive times till Constantines and the Dragons flood of Arrian Pesecution from those times till the Womans the True Church her flight into the Wilderness not long after the Year of our Lord 400. when its probable the Date of the Beast began the false Apostatical Church when the Western last Head of the fourth Beast which had received a deadly wound was again healed set forth by two Beasts chap. 13. The first having seven Heads and ten Horns deciphering the Politick State the other with two Horns like a Lamb and speaking like the Dragon the Ecclesiastical State thereof whose time is forty two months the same with the Lord Christs two Witnesses Prophesying Sackcloth 1260 days of years Rev. 11. and the Womans the True Church her abode in the Wilderness for a time times and half a time as chap. 12.14 where the Lord 's said Witnesses nourish her to the end of the said time and last period of the sixth Trumpet under which most if not all of the seven Vials the seven last Plagues Rev. 15.16 are poured out upon the beast the Popish State and Church to the utter destruction thereof whilst the 144000 followers of the Lamb stand with him upon Mount Zion Rev. 14. harping with their Harps and singing as it were a new Song before the Throne and the four living Wights and twenty four Elders who are excellently described ver 4 5. till all the Angels had done their Messages and the Son of Man that sate on the White Cloud had thrust in his sharp Sickle several times at the request of the last Angels to reap the Harvest Grapes of the Earth fully ripe to the end of the chap. Which Angels seem contemporary if not the same with the seven Angels pouring out the seven Vials chap. 16. particularly set down And it seems probable that the sixth of those Vials is now pouring out by the Turkish Army drying-up the great River Euphrates of the German Emperors dominions and forward towards Rome whereby the maintenance honour and desence of the Popedom hath been long upheld and conveyed to it As the great River Euphrates was useful unto old Babylon until the great Army of Cyrus having turned the waters another way passed thorow the Channel thereof into old Babylon Or if by such means with others as by the conversion of some and plagues and confusions in others the Turks Dominions as the great River Euphrates shall be dryed up in the issue to make way for the Jews the Kings of the East to come into Palestine yet so it will but the sixth Vial upon the great River Euphrates and it may not improbably be true of both The seventh Vial will end the Popes Being and all evil Dominion being poured upon the Air where the Prince of the power of the Air hath so long prevalently ruled which is called the end of the second Woe Rev. 11.14 at the end of which the seventh Trumpet will sound which is called the Wo-joy Trumpet first bringing for the most part destruction to the Wicked in the World and likewise bringing in great happiness to Gods faithful People following in the thousand years Rev. 20. and other things concerning the New Jerusalem and the contemporaries therewith in the two last Chapters of the Book of the Revelations Concerning which state of things in the Church then I conceive the not distinguishing between the seventh mystical Trumpet and the last loud-sounding Trumpet 1 Thes 4.16 is the occasion of some misapprehensions of some things to be in the said thousand years which are also an occasion of stumbling to many as to the matter of Doctrine of the Kingdome of Christ upon Earth whence the great and sudden change of all the Faithful is apprehended to be at the beginning of the seventh mystical Trumpet which I conceive from the Apostle's words will not be until the other loud-sounding Trumpet above a thousand years after at the last Resurrection and great day of the last general Judgment at the end of the World 1 Thes 4. which will follow the last attempt of the Devil by Gog and Magog Rev. 20. at the end of the thousand years at which great sudden momentany change in the twinkling of an eye at the Voice of the Archangel and sounding of the said Trumpet both all those that were raised at the beginning of Christ's Reign or all along the thousand years as learned Mede conceives and all the Faithful that are found alive at last on Earth must all then pass through that momentany change and be rapt up with the Faithful likewise which departed this life in the said 1000 years then raised to meet Christ in the Air in a glorious condition For though such as were raised before the beginning of Christ's Reign were before in an excellent state in regard of their bodies suitable to what Christ's was in before he ascended unto the Father yet then it seems probatile they will be more glorious bodies than formerly mortal eyes could endure to behold therefore saith the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not then all sleep but we shall all then be changed both living and dead All be changed both living and dead or raised before namely all that are faithful
and repeats it again the more strongly to assertain it ver 52. latter part of the verse for the Trumpet saith he shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed See this explained in the Treatise on Rev. 20.5 p 56 57 c. It seems also necessary that there be a distinct consideration of the state of such as are of the New Jerusalem come down from Heaven which seems to be the City whose Maker and Builder is God as it is said Heb. 11.10 which is again said v. 16. to be prepared by him for the faithful Fore-fathers that died not having received the Promises v. 39 who without us will not be made perfect ver last having all died in Faith which is probable to to be meant by our Saviour when he calls it the City of the great King Mat. 5.35 where his Deputies the twelve Apostles shall sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.30 on whose twelve foundations of the Wall thereof shall be written the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb Rev. 21.14 and seems to be the chief mansion-place of the blessed holy then raised Saints having part in that first Resurrection wholly then freed from the second death Rev. 20.6 upon which the Glory of the LORD will then eminently shine continually to the eclipsing of the glory of the Sun and Moon Isa 60.19 Rev. 21.23 22.5 Very glorious things saith the Psalmist in a Prophetical Rapture are spoken of thee O City of God Psal 87.3 as is observable in that whole Psalm Again the then happy estate of the converted and reduced twelve Tribes of Israel and Juduh those two sticks united into one Ezek. 37. together with the converted Gentiles in their fulness then come in Rom. 11. who together with very large endowments of inward spiritual Grace and therewith abundance of temporal prosperity which the Prophets largely spake of with very much exemption from the evil of sin and suffering when Satan is bound the Churches enemies destroyed or subdued and brought under which happy estate they and their posterity will successively enjoy through all the Generations of the said thousand years according to the Prophecies or Promises Deut. 30. ver 1. to 11. Isa 61.1 The Seed which the Lord hath blessed Ezek. 37.25 They and their Childrens Children for ever and my Servant David that is Christ the Messiah shall be their Prince for ever Isa 59. last Deut. 4.30 31. with many texts more and which were theirs not in a mortal that is a changeable condition from a natural life by some removal or Translation as otherwise they should have no Seed or Posterity to enjoy those many Promises all the thousand years so neither should they at last be lyable to any evil attempt of Satan and wicked men called Gog and Magog though by gracious Promise such as live at that last Period of time are secured from the evil even of the attempt likewise many other things the holy Scripture seems to hold forth in reference to the differing state of the naturally living and the Saints raised at the beginning of the thousand years and as for the restitution of all things in respect thereof without Scripture-warrant why look we for any more than Gods removing the Curse as the inflicting that from the Fall hath been the efficient Cause of all that bondage that hath been ever since upon the Creatures held on by the means of Saran till then when he shall likewise be bound Thus in such a way if the distinction between the last mystical Trumpet and the last said sounding Trumpet and the state of the raised Saints and such as then will remain in their natural Life be well observed it may greatly make way for the clearing by degrees by the help of Gods Word and Spirit many excellent Truths respecting these things wherein much caution and moderation will still be very useful and necessary in what things are not clear and evident c. The third Paper of December 7. 1664. of Mr. Durhams Book of Scotland occsionally sent to be perused c. and is added here as a Supplement to the two former Papers AS for the perused Author he was manifestly a man of great Abilities Worth and Piety as is evident from his grave judicious and truly pious Determinations Discourses Cases and Treatises of several Subjects and many Expositions along that large Book of his upon the Revelations and first more purticularly in the most things handled by him on the three first Chapters of the seven Churches of Asia and on the fourth and fifth Chapters setting forth the glory of God the Creator and Christ the Redeemer But as for the right series of things following in that Divine Book he appears not to have attained the right Key so far as I can by the guidance of God's Word and Spirit as I believe with such other helps which in special mercy have hitherto been afforded me discern and to this purpose I shall endeavour by his Grace to set down some brief hints of Differences between him and others which upon the former accounts I much rather approve of as namely of judicious Mede and some others since him yet living though haply in some things I may differ from all yet I conceive Light and Darkness may so thereby the better discover themselves and illustrate each other that whoso like the noble Bereans shall search the Scriptures answerably concerning what shall be set down may probably find whether all these things be so for as no mans eminency should lead us into error so no mans meanness should make us neglect or despsie the Truth he tenders especially the Divine and Heavenly Truths which God hath set forth in his Word for the true comfort and Edification of his Church I shall briefly for what is past give only some hints of both for the most part referring to a former Letter to such purposes dated May 20. 1664. with the foregoing Key to both which this Paper may be a supplement but haply somewhat more largly of what is to come as God shall direct and enable me whose assistance I must confess to his glory I have formerly experimentally found First then What this Author understandeth in the Seals That the Horses signifie the Church and the Persecutions thereof along the Primitive Times seem to me more aptly otherwise to denote with Mr. Mede and others the dispensations of God in the world as in Zach. 1.10 both towards the Church and others with whom they had to do namely the Roman Empire called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the New Testament and though both the Books in the Seal-prophesie and the little Book chap. 10. speak much in some sort of both yet each chiefly relates to one as namely the Seal-prophecy for the most part to the Empire and the Book-prophecy for the most part to the Church as after may more by Gods assistance appear which is to be
observed until the Empire and Church become one under Christ's Kingdome in the time or haply after the time of the seventh Trumpet Therefore after the Lamb Christ Jesus had received the Book at the Hand of him that sat upon the Throne chap. 5. in the Chapter following John heard the thundring Voice of one of the Beasts saying Come and see when the Lamb opened the first Seal where he beheld a white Horse and he that sat on him had a Bow and a Crown was given to him and he went conquering and to conquer denoting the dispensations of God's Grace in the world through Jesus Christ who received of the Father this Book of Revelation of the things concerning the Church and her Enemies and hath all power to fulfil and execute them accordingly here first set forth by the white-horse so tendering Peace by the Preaching of the Gospel which like a Bow shoots out Arrows as Psal 45. piercing the hearts of all sorts it is sent unto and by which Christ will be Victorious and Glorious c. and therefore in the sending abroad of his Gospel he goes conquering of all sorts thereby and to conquer and subdue all such as shall oppose and persecute it This hath been his design ever since this white horse was sent abroad guided by that Rider and this is and will be pursued till he fully have the Crown of Victory when his Enemies shall become his Foot-stool Psalm 110. at the day of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Titus 2.13 to begin at or about the destruction of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 when he will come with Clouds Rev. 1.7 and when all Families of the Earth shall mourn seeing the Son of man coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory Mat. 24.30 and 26.64 of which design the Spirit of God by the holy Prophet speaketh eminently Psal 45.4 saying Ride on in thy Majesty because of the Word of Truth of Meekness and Righteousness viz. to subdue unto his Obedience by conquering and his right Hand will teach him terrible things by conquering and subduing his Enemies and such as withstand him And this in all parts of the Revelation will be evident for persecution will follow the Gospel as the Shadow the Substance so long as the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman have their aboad together in the world and therefore in this Book in the following Seals God seems thereby to manifest what dispensations he would shew towards such persecuting Enemies in all the following Seals and Trumpets till that time of eminent victory and conquest begin to be manifest unto men in the World at the foresaid Period for the great comfort of his Church to be believed from his Word and which should be applyed daily for the warning of wicked men if they will be admonished Mr. Mede doth very appositely apply the Red Black and Pale Horses to such purposes in the three following Seals observing from the Histories of the Primitive times how they were accomplished as likewise Mr. Fox observes remarkably that after the Roman Governors had rejected the offer of receiving Christ and that Satan had engaged them in Persecutions above thirty of their Emperors successively came to untimely deaths but how such Judgments of Sword Famine Pestilence followed one another upon the Empire and sometimes altogether besides as may be observed from the first second and third Seals but especially from the fourth as more particularly is set down by the aforesaid Mr. Mede I would therefore have observed in the fifth Seal the remarkable different dispensation of God when most of the ten Persecutions had reged and sent home such multitudes of believing Christians to blessedness by their sufferings that by the opening of the fifth Seal is signified to the Church how God was mindful of the Blood of the Martyrs by the crying of the Souls under the Altar for revenge not that they in Happiness then did complain or so did really cry for Vengeance but that God looked upon what had been done to them as an occasion whereupon he would revenge them but yet not presently but after their Brethren which should soon after suffer as they had done had been likewise killed which seemed to have been fulfilled in the Tenth Persecution under Dioclesian and others which continued ten years to gether which probably was the ten days Tryal and Tribulation formerly spoken of Rev. 2.10 but the sufferers under the Beast are included also And accordingly in the sixth Seal came the great Earthquake when the Sun became like Sackloth of Hair and the Moon like Blood and the Stars fell and the mighty men hid themselves in the Caves of the Earth when the wrath of the Lamb was two ways manifest first In dethroneing the Dragon and casting him down to the Earth in abandoning the Heathenish Idolatry and secondly By curting off his Instruments the then wicked Rulers of the World by the means of that Reforming Victorious Conqueror the Emperour Constantine the Great when God's hand was so heavy upon Dioclesian Maximinianus Galerius Maximinus Maxentius Licinius and many Governours under their Command with their Armies and particularly on Pontitius Culianus Theotimus with many others as Stories testifie And afterward by taking away by degrees the Seat and Throne of the former Beast who received afterward the deadly wound upon which the Dragon had so prevailed before to persecute the Saints as appears in the Trumpets following which proceeded out of that seventh Seal all of which sounded their several Wrath and Judgments against it till it went into utter perdition under every form both East and West But before the execution of that Wrath God would Chap. 7. and 14. have both his 144000's of the Faithful sealed where those Trumpets Blasts should come who should be saved from the spiritual mischief of them and after the sealing of those 144000 Cap. 7. are an innumerable company of Palm-bearers of all Nations and Tongues which the said Author rightly conceives to be the great confluence of Christians when the Jews with the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in which will I doubt not be in the time of Christs powerful Reign for this is the course observable in this Book as may hereafter be more manifest that the spirit of God first setteth down what blessedness shall ensue the sufferings of his People before those sufferings come Now I conceive with a Learned Author that these 144000. sealed Ones Cap. 7. are another from those 144000 Cap. 14. for which he gives divers Reasons shewing those in Cap. 7. were to be preserved in the Greek Church in the Eastern Empire and that from the fifth and sixth and the part of the seventh Wo. Trumpet that might fall there as towhat evil might there fall at the begining of the sounding thereof which said sealed Ones are specially to be preserved and secured at the entrance of the fifth or first Woe-Trumpet by the
Saracen Mahomatan Locusts Cap. 9.4 and so it is to be noted which I also adde that the blasts of the first four Trumpets being the milder miseries on the Empire were stayed Rev. 8.1 2. until much Incense was offered by Christ with the prayers of the Saints that they might be accepted where those four Trumpets took effect namely upon the Western part from the time the barbarous Nations came in there for the most part till he that letted as the Apostle speaks 2 Thes 2. should be taken away in the West as he was there first to make room for Antichrist to whom the Dragon by degrees gave his Seat and Power and great Authority And that the 14400 were to arise out of the Greek Church viz. which were sealed Cap. 7. Some of the said Authors grounds are farther namely That the Angel that would have the four Winds stayed till they were sealed is said to arise out of the East and the evil of the Woe-Trumpets was to fall upon the East chiefly and that if those sealed ones Cap. 7. be not of Christians in the East Church in the times of the Woe-Trnmpets there is nothing spoken of them in all the Book of Revelation remarkable which have been so long under such sad tribulation and their being said to come out of great tribulation doth more fitly seem to decypher out the Christians of the Greek Church than any others under those Trumpets To which I may adde as being of the same Judgment That they are farther described to have specially washed their Robes in the Blood of the Lamb whom they would not leave for Mahomatan impostures at the highest Price of Fears or Favours and seem to differ from what is set down of those 144000 Cap. 14. with the Lamb in Mount Sion having their Fathers Name in the Forehead which seems to be in the Western Church preserved in the darkness of Popery from spiritual ruine by Antichrist who are called there The Followers of the Lamb wheresoever he goeth keeping close to him and not turning into the Beasts by-ways and thickets though he pretended never so much to be the Lambs Deputy and Vicar-General on Earth and they are said to be Virgins which denotes their avoiding of Anttichrists Idolatry and have no guile in their mouths to pretend for Christ and follow Antichrist with other particulars observable Cap. 14. which seem to set them forth to be the sealed ones in Antichrists Dominion rather than in the East parts where Mahonetism prevails c. and therefore the four Augels stayed their four Winds while the former 144000 Cap. 7. were sealed which seems to signifie they were to be within the reach of their four first Trumpets that for the most part fell upon the Western Empire till that Seat of the former Beast was taken away and preparation should be made for the new Beast the Dragons next Substitute to whom he gave after his Seat and Power and great Authority Cap. 13. For by the first Trumpet Rev. 8. seems to have been weakened the Dominion of the Western Empire by the incursion of the barbarous Nations by the second the great City or Mountain sacked or burnt by the third the Emperour in the person of Agustulus the last of that Order there utterly taken away being plucked out of his Throne and in the fourth the light and glory of all that Kingdom formerly by taking away their antient Senate by means whereof Rome had so long shined so glorious with all her Lights in that Orb before was wholy extinct but in the fifth or first Wo-Trumpet Rev. 9. to vers 11. Gods Dispensation seemed very evident not in respect of Antichrist as the fore-mentioned Author conceived for all the particulars Chap. 9. to the 11th verse seem better to agree to the Sardcens than to him Vide Notes of the Bible on that chapter the Sober Guess c. with others But against the spiritual hurt falling on the one part of the Eastern Empire by the Incursion and Conquest made by the Saracens some of those before sealed chap. 7. were preserved as by means of the two Wings of an Eagle spoken of chap. 12. on that part where the Saracens setled and after on the other part which the Turks took away besides what the Saracens formerly had as likewise that Woman the Church had her other Eagles Wing in the West that Eagle denoting the Roman Empire after Constantine had built Constantinople in the East dividing the Empire into two parts in East and West and the Eagle with her two sade-Wings being the Ensign thereof upon which advantage the Woman the true Church fled into the Wilderness chap. 12. about the end of the second Trumpet or beginning of the third when probably Antichrist had his rise with his ten Kings or Crowned Horns soon after the beginning of the fourth Century from which time the said Woman the Church hath been fed by her true Pastors the two sackcloth-Prophets in her Wilderness-condition which she is shortly to come out of But on the other part that said Woman the Church brought into the East by the other Eagles wing of the Eastern Empire before into her Wilderness condition or rather miserable bondage and great tribulation being cast under the stroke of Mahometan Tyranny by the prevailing of the Saracens at the beginning of the fifth or first Wo Trumpet about the year of our Lord 600 or not long after who then I say began to bring her into her great tribulation in the East on one part wherein she so continued until the second Wo-Trumpet under the Turk about the year of the Lord 1300 by whow the other part of the Eastern Empire was subdued utterly and Mahometism likewise prevailed wholly over the formerly famous visible Greek-Church c. only the said 144000 of sealed ones have been and are still wonderfully preserved amongst them and even of late an 1629. or thereabouts an excellent Confession of Faith was sent from Constantinople by Cyril late Patriarch there well approved by judicious men amongst us as an evidence of the abiding still of such poor persecuted oppressed souls in those parts whose great tribulation spoken of chap 7. for about a thousand years now past and still are like to be under the Turk for his day and weck and month and year as Mr. Mede computes them or until his 396 years be expired Now when the Spirit of God as seems probable having set forth the Wrath and Judgment upon the very seat of the former Beast in the season of the six first Trumpets both East and West where in their order they fell the greatest part contemporating with Antichrists Tyranny both which shall be finished at the beginning of the seventh Trumpet whereby the same spirit of God seems to lead us by the hand as it were to the borders of Christs glorious Kingdom upon Earth approaching upon the beginning of the seventh Angels sounding chap. 11. 2d General Prophesie Rev. 10. He then
in the little book chap. 10. begins again with the affairs of the Church more especially having set forth Gods dispensations in respect of the Empire both while it was Draconized and after it had been Christianized Which little Book when John had eaten up he is told by the mighty Angel of the Covenant that he must prophesie again before Peoples and Nations and Tongues and Kings so that they might have advantage to know these Prophecies had they enquired as he had so prophesied for as it was otherwise of them so it was before them and as he had done it in one respect before namely of the Empire wherein the Church had her being so he should do it again in another respect namely of the Church who had her being there but chiefly under Antichrist in his time where there was another 144000 followers of the Lamb to arise chap. 14. Therefore after the Table of the Times in part of chap. 11. to ver 15. wherein we may see ver 1. a description of the state of the Primitive Times in ver 2. her state in Antichrists forty two months and ver 3. the true Churches state in regard of the most eminent part of it namely of the two Witnesses her Pastors their thousand two hundred and sixty days of years who should feed the Woman in her Wilderness condition and stand on Christs part against Antichrist powerfully and successfully till about the time of finishing their Testimony to ver 7. and then what should befal the Beast upon his last War against the finishing Witnesses upon their Resurrection and Ascention after the Beast had killed them to ver 17. where is the ending of the second Wo and thereupon comes in a short Abridgment of the seventh Trumpet containing the great Changes of the affairs of the World and of the Church namely evil to the wicked World but happy to the true Church and this excellent Abridgment seemed needful in regard of the great concernment of all sorts to understand this as of main use to the whole Book Again the foresaid Author faileth in not distinguishing between the first War the Beast makes against the Saints and Servants of Christ wherein he kills and prevails whereupon all the World wonder after the Beast and the second War against the Witnesses which is dismal and fatal to himself as Mr. Mede well observes and hence the said Author reckons the Witnesses slain above an hundred years ago and so passeth without taking notice of the last finishing Witnesses as then counting the Beasts forty two months expired reckoning the Vials in the seventh Trumpet before the second Wo be past or almost any thing of the Beasts ruine begun which work the Angels that have the Vials are to begin and finish as Mr. Mede and others judge upon considerable grounds c. But in chap. 12. is begun the story of the new Prophesie of the true Church in the Primitive times which is there represented by a Woman cloathed with the Sun and having the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars whereby was described her excellency of the Primitive Church of Christ which soon contesteed with the great red Dragon and his Angels till she by Faith and Prayer obtained the Man-child Constantine the reforming Emperor by whose means God cast down the great red Dragon from his heaven upon earth together with his Angels by which means the Woman had two wings of an Eagle given her to flee into the Wilderness for a time times and half a time but before her flight into that retired hidden condition the Serpent cast out his flood of abominable Heresies chiefly against the Persons of the Holy Trinity by Arrius Eutiches Macedonius and others to have carried her away thereby which took up probably almost an hundred years before her time times and half with Antichrists 42 months took place all which time from Constantine the forementioned Author reckons within the date of the Beast and consequently he ends it as much too soon as may farther appear and yet for the Earths opening her Mouth and swallowing up of the Dragons flood of Heresies what he objects against the usual opinion to wit That it was not the incursion of the Barbarous Nations because some of them favoured Arrianism the same might likewise be objected against what he says of the visible Professing Rulers to be the Earth then opposing those Eerrors in many Councils though they favoured Superstition and so might be accounted the Earth but to that might be answered amongst them were many in those times good and Orthodox men about the fourth Century and yet perhaps more fitly it might be applyed to the Bishops of Rome and their party that in those times to get to themselves preheminence did take upon them to end differences in Religion and became in a sort famours thereby getting honor and credit among men thereby and being to be the Beast out of the Earth acting for earthly ends the Earth might be said to help the Woman by withstanding errors against the Sacred Trinity yet promoting Superstition c. and so might swallow up the flood Rev. 13. Concerning the two Beasts in the thirteenth Chapter the said Author is very excellent full and clear above any I have seen if he had timed their rising rightly only he seems to confound the number of his Name ver 17. with the number of the Beast ver 18. whereas the first denotes evidently the remotest sort of Antichrists followers that only may be reckoned or numbred amongst his party which were to be in the last days as they are described by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. when others of the Beasts party come in the latter times which forbid Marriage and command to abstain from Meats c. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the number of the Beast ver 18. belongs to the Beast himself concerning the Exposition whereof he giveth a probable conjecture of his many errors as the Sober Guess and others produce many more which learned and industrious men have observed and particularly opposing the Beasts number to the 144000 or the measure of the Holy City and I conceive the considering it as numerus Terminans as Dan. 5. may be more considerable than many think as was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in another consideration setting out what Countrey man Antichrist should be and what Language he should use in his Laws and Worship wherein I conceive the wonderful Divine Wisdome of God is much to be acknowledged in setting down Mystery Babylons name so to exercise the several gifts he hath given to several men several ways to have their apprehensions agreeable to truth and considerable in reference to this menifold monstrous Beast wherein they are to be found in one respect on other and so the largest comprehensive sence is like to prove the true sence and many of them to be acknowledged real in such a strange compounded Creature of many as he
innumerable company of all People Nations and Languages having Palms in their hands he seems to understand of the flourishing state of the Church when the Jews shall be called and he hath many considerable Testimonies to that purpose in sundry places of his Book but yet he doth not observe these of both companies are set forth to be clothed in white which is after as likewise before the cloathing of the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem that comes down from God and makes this 144000 c. 7. the other 144000 c. 14. the same though they arise from several parts as we shewed besides many disserences But that their cloathing in white is the badge of the Jerusalem-Inhabitants consider how the fundamental Promise made to Christ as Mediator first to Adam and Eve then to Abraham and Sarah after to David tend all this way to advance such a Kingdom of the Mediator Christ Jesus upon Earth First after that Gods everlasting Gospel preached by himself when man had forfeited his dominion before-promised chap. 1.26 and after could have no right to that nor other benefits but through the promised-Seed See how this is ascribed to Christ as his peculiar right belonging to him in Psal 8. And see how the Apostle Heb. 2. expounds it so and that with referring it unto that world to come ver 5 6 c. in which world those white ons shall have their share namely in their reigning with Christ upon Earth Having suffered with him must reign with him there as their Captain the King of the New-Jerusalem See this farther in the personal Promise to Abraham first and his Seed Not seeds as of many but unto Thy Seed As saith the Apostle of one viz. Christ concerning the Land of Canaan who yet personally possessed not a foot as the Scripture phrase is save what he purchased for a Burying place with money to shew his part of that Inheritance and faithful posterities part was to be had after the Resurection and their bones as Josephs took and have kept possession thereof ever since and will do till they be raised to live upon it again And so after again the said Promise was renewed to Isaac the type of Christ the Seed of the Woman in a supernatural way though Abrahams likewise And to Jacob that was Israel for prevailing with God having seen the Vision of God before And therefore the Apostle saith of them both They were Heirs with Abraham of the same Promise to whom it was said Gen. 17.8 I will give unto thee and thy Seed after thee The first right is his own which is held only by Faith while he lived and therefore the actual possession yet remains to be enjoyed Vide Gen. 26.3 to Isaac Gen. 35.3 the like to Jacob and to all three Abraham Isaac and Jacob together Exod. 6.4 8. Deut. 11.21 30.20 and so to Isaac and â—acob who possessed it no more than Abraham in their lives therefore Gal. 3.16 with Heb. 11.9 10. they sojourned in that Land of Promise as Strangers dwelling in Tabernacles with those Heirs with him of the same Promise v. 17. shews the drift of this Promise was to be fulfilled in Christ the promised Seed to possess the Land and the rest by and with him Let these Scriptures and their contexts be well weighed with Heb. 11.9 10. for what these Promises did refer to is evident ver 10 namely the Jerusalem coming down from Heaven whose maker and builder is God and vers last he hath provided for them a City again ver 14. They sought a Country not Mesoptamia but a better Country ver 16. and for which God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City To this purpose he tells Moses Exod. 3.14 that that should be his Memorial throughout all Generations that he is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and upon this Foundation are those many promises in Moses and in the following Prophets that God would reduce their posterity after all their dispersion to possess that Land as in Deut. 30. to ver 11. and many other places too many here to rehearse and in Vision revealed the same to Daniel chap. 7. both how and when all should be fulfilled when the Kingdom should be given to the Saints of the most High which is yet more clear and manifest by Christ himself Rev. 20. which is the same which this Author misapplyed c. 11.15 When the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ that is in another manner than at the first revealing of Antichrist as he understands it yet gloriously eminently visibly when he hath taken unto himself his Great Power and Reigned having begun wonderfully to subdue his enemies under his feet at the destruction of Antichrist And this is the drift of our Saviours argument against the Saduces as Mr. Mede makes evident on Mat. 22. Mark 12. that God was the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob thefore they shall live again to inherit the Premise of the Covenant to possess the Land of Canaan I do but here briefly hint a few things out of multitudes to the like purpose Vide the Irenicon And here from the whole Book of Revelation I may offer this one thing observable namely That all sorts of faithful Christians in their several Ages and Conditions have their special encouragement held out in something referring to the New Jerusalem on Earth though many overlook them or at least they have not been revealed to them for men in this case are like Hagar till God opened her eyes in a special manner she saw not the Well of Water before her so no sort seem to discern these things till in some remarkable way they be made manifest to them First The seven Churches of Asia in the first Vision have each their Promises made in reference to the State of the New Jerusalem upon Earth Secondly The Representatives of the whole true Church viz. the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders Rev. 5.10 in particular praise for and rejoyce in their reign upon Earth to come which by faith they see aforehand and more especially that seems to be the encouragement to the Sufferers under the five first Seals and as was said seemed so to be applyed by them Afterwards the sealed ones in the East chap. 7. under the Wo Trumpets as Rev. 9.4 they have the New Jerusalem habit upon them as they shall be there happy and celebrate Gods praise and so do the innumerable company of the Nations after them chap. 7. as is evident in the last part of that Chapter Again The four Angels are stayed from their blowing the four first Trumpets which fell for the most part upon the Western Empire until the Angel chap. 8.3 4 5. probably the Angel of the Covenant had made intercession for the faithful Christians under those four first Trumpets with much Incense with the Prayers of the Saints there