pass then look up and lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh the Epocha of it is set and it is but three days and an half i. e. So many Years and an half and Deliverance will come the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations shall see their dead Bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead Bodies to be put in Graves ver 9. And therefore which I note by the by that last Persecution is not to be Universal for if it were where would be the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations which should not suffer them to be buried No as it is ver 11. the Spirit of Life from God shall enter into them and they shall stand on their Feet and great Fear shall fall on them which see them So that were there no other prediction of the End of Antichrist's Reign in this whole Book than this alone whenever this comes to pass it is easy to see how short his time is and being so we cannot wonder as it is Rev. 12. 12. He should have great Wrath. Again As to the time of the Womans Flight who is cloathed with the Sun and hath the Moon under her Feet and upon her Head a Crown of twelve stars into the Wilderness where it be proper to date the beginning of it but after the Serpents casting out of his Mouth Water as a Flood that might cause her to be carried away of the Flood i. e. When after the ceasing of the ten persecutions the Devil endeavoured to fill the Church with Heresies those are the Flood cast out of his Mouth and when he could no longer Prosecute his Rage with open Violence to try what could be done by making her persecute herself i. e. As it is in the Parable by those Tares he sowed in the Field destroy the good Seed and this seems to look to that Deluge of Arianism which came in upon her in its full Torrent but against which the Earth the secular powers pious Emperors Constantine Theodosius Junior c. came into her Aid and helped her as by their interposing for her present Rescue so taking Care for her future safety herein in particular by calling the four first general Councils by their Authority to condemn that and the other Heresies which grew up under it the last of which was Anno 451 and from this time or thereabouts till I find reason to change this opinion I scruple not to reckon the Woman in the Wilderness whither that she might Fly were given to her two Wings of a great Eagle i e. of the Eastern and Western Empire both which belonged to the Romans whose Standard that is This I say seems to be that date of the Churches Wilderness-Condition in which she was to be nourished for a time and times and half a time the same measure with that of 1260 Days from the Face of the Serpent and it is observable if I may so speak that the Eagle it self flew along with her into his Wilderness it being not long after that Rome was taken the second time and but twenty four Years when Augustulus was forced by Odoacer to renounce the Empire but of this by the by Once more As to the time of the Beast's rising to make War against the Saints Rev. 13. 7. That Beast which as as it is ver 12. exercised the Power of the first Beast before him Where can that be more probably fixt than where the Holy-Ghost hath as I have already observed with so many Remarks fixed it viz. After the taking of Rome Rev. 13. 4. 10. And the gradual expiring of its Soveraignty that being then taken away which was to let as the Apostle to the Thessalonians expresses it till removed And that however the taking of Rome were so notable a Period we may not just fasten it to the point of Time the Holy-Ghost gives us another note which will bring this nearer to the time where it is to be fixed and that is by making the rise of the Beast and of the ten Kings to be at the same time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at one and the same hour 't is Rev. 17. 12. the Chapter in which he expresly Interprets this Mystery 10 St. John ver 7. c. And when that was History will easily resolve We have already observed it 't was in or about the 455th Year of Christ Nor will the account be different if we take it in the Words of the Angel Dan. 12. 7. Holding up his Right-hand and his Left hand unto Heaven and swearing by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time and times and an half i. e. That till then the Power of the Holy People should be scattered but then an end was to be put to it by Michael the great Prince which stands saith the Angel speaking to Daniel for the Children of thy People i. e. For the Jews who were then to be on their Restauration but so as I have before offered it in this Treatise that some time is to succeed for their full coming in possibly that Interval which is afterward notified ver 11. where it is said that from the time of the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the Abomination that maketh desolate shall be set up there shall be a Thousand two hundred and ninety Days and whereas it is added Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the Thousand three Hundred and five and thirty Days I am apt to think that is the Perâ—od that will fully accomplish the Calling of the Jews and fulness of the Gentiles till the end of which Daniel is told that he shall rest and stand in his Lot at the end of the Days Which end if the Abomination that maketh desolate be the same with Idolatry brought into the Church in that degree which we have observed about the Year 455 will be about the Year 1715 to which adding for those other two Periods mentioned by the Angel i. e. what makes 1260 to be 1290 i. e. 30 Years then we shall have for the Yeas there signified 1745 or what advances the said 1260 to 1335 i. e. 75 the whole will be 1790 and as the Angel so say I Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to that time for it will be a Blessed time for the Church of God and the Glory of the Gospel One Remark more I have to add to this before I leave it that the several Periods we have been mentioning for the ending the Reign of Antichrist fall in likewise with what we read Dan. 8. 14. 'T is the Answer is there given to the Question put by one Angel to another asking How long shall be the Vision concerning the Daily Sacrifice and the transgression of Desolation to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be trodden down but returned to Daniel in these Words And he said unto me Unto two Thousand and three Hundred Days then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed For consider
God shewing himself that he is God It is of you Dread Soveraigns it is said in the Scripture Ye are Gods Psal 82. 1. 6. John 10. 34. 'T is of you all that is Worshipt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Stile of most August is to be understood It is of one usurping to himself all Power in the Church to bind or loose to pardon or damn sitting as God in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God is most aptly Construed and it is not hard now to point out the Beast by his own Mark You have seen what hath been his aim from his first Rise What the Principles and Maxims by which he acts What the Scorn and Contempt he hath been for so many Ages together casting upon you You have seen what changes and interruptions what Faction and Sedition what turmoils what stirs and troubles he hath been fomenting in your Kingdoms How precariously he would have you hold your Crowns what Power he usurps over you and your Subjects here and in case you refuse him that Obedience that Vassallage he expects what power he invests himself with of shutting the Gates of Heaven against you hereafter Your Histories will inform you what your Royal Progenitors and Predecessors have done for him what the Designs and Projects he hath put them upon what the Dangers they have so often incurred and how he hath returned the obligation your selves are best able to Judge And what is it now at last he and his busy Agents require from you as the Complement of that Zeal that hath been so much abused What is it they would requite all you have done for them with but let me use the Words of the Holy-Ghost in the sixth Vial under which I doubt not we now are in gathering you to the Battle of that great day of God Almighty Rev. 16. 14. That Battle in which none can engage and prosper And let me upon the Prospect of what that portends once more repeat it Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth But there are among you Great Soveraigns who seem not to be so much concerned in this those I mean who having left the corrupt Communion of the Church of Rome yet have not fully pursued or acted agreeable to that Reformation which is to bring on or succeed the Fall of Babylon To such is it I have to add that they would please to consider it will not suffice that you are contented to be called Protestants and enjoy the Interest of that Name unless you are what that Name speaks And it is your highest Concern so to be the time growing on when Success and Victory shall go along with Truth and Piety Have you been so happy to throw off her Yoak to disclaim her Errors to despise her Vsurpations let then none of her Principles none of her Practices mix with your Politicks act Glorious Princes act bravely and openly for God and that Religion you Prosess It is but to lessen your Strength to think when God is doing his own Work that nothing but the Arm of Flesh can save you Why should you think he cannot defend his own Cause without listing his Enemies in the Service Is it not he who hath said not by Might nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Zechar. 4. 6. No let Princes and People consider that it is the holiness and purity of Religion God will establish in the World let them consider how hitherto in all the signal Deliverances of his People himself hath stept in and asserted the Glory of the Success and let them but reform to that Holiness that Purity there needs no farther force to beat her down for where these are Babylon is fallen Amen For the Reverend D. W. L. Mart. 7. 1686. Reverend Sir I Return you many Thanks not only for the Honour but the benefit of perusing your Learned Tract and am sorry I must make so unsuitable a Requital as to trouble you with my Excuse for not Licensing it However I hope when you have considered it you will allow it to be reasonable I will not alledge though I might do it that I have all along declined medling with Discourses of this Nature which have been offered me by those I had great reason to esteem But the Truth in short is that a large Book on this Subject and a very accurate one as I am told was lately not for the performance but the Matters sake sent back from hence without an Imprimatur I believe you have hinted the reason out of St. Chrysostome where he says that St. Paul would not plainly say what the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which withholdeth was that was to be taken away lest he should incurr unnecessary Enmity and unprofitable Danger The predicting the Fall of the Roman Church now may be as ungrateful those to whose Interests are ingaged in it as the foretelling the Ruin of the Roman Empire could be then and the Cases being so like it may perhaps be thought seasonable to observe the same Rule that St. Paul then did Sir I hope you will take this freedom in good part from one who to the utmost of his Power is desirous to approve himself Reverend Sir Your most faithful and Humble Servant THE PREFACE TO THE READER WHAT it was that hath so long made these Animadversions abortive will appear by the Letter on the preceding Page and therefore without any farther appeal to other Witnesses to shew that what is here published is no more done to serve a turn now than it was then written for it What I have to request from every Beader is that it may be received with the same Sincerity with which it was first Penned which was in the retirement of a long Sickness when I was sequestred from my family the best part of it being upon other occasions absent from me and had only God and his good Spirit and my own Conscience to confer with that Conscience which notwithstanding the Prejudice with which some then and since have loaded me as if I had been less sound in our Holy Reformed Religion suffered me not then to temporize with those who sate at the Helm to the greatest of whom I could have had as easy access as any others of my Brethren that Conscience I say which suffered me not then to temporize and I thank my God makes me still above all sordid Flattery and I desire to bless his Holy Name I hope what I shall here publish will be the freer from all carnal Interest who hath in his Providence made me in some degree a Martyr both then and now For if I have since suffered as I am sensible I have for being thought to be one whom my Great Master then favoured I suffered no less then for being thought what I was and shall always endeavour to acquit my self therein one of the most firm and unshaken Protestants No I am bold to say whatever
the Explication or rather Illustration of the respective Points I think that is a liberty of Prophesying let me so express it no good or wise Man will Condemn as being but agreeable to that variety of Sense in which all allow the Scripture to abound Besides were it only for the resreshing the Reader that a Variety is sometimes given it is certainly what at least might be excused that his Curiosity and Pleasure are but hereby served And as for the Author of Nubes Testium whose Preface chiefly occasioned these Reflections I hope he will not look upon it as an improper Answer to his whole Book to shew how those Corruptions we blame in the Romish Church came in how the Romish Church it self grew to that heighth at which it is or hath been in any time of the Reign of Antichrist for what will it avail to urge Authorities of Fathers Men subject to Errors as our selves for those Corruptions were they in their testimony all with him if it be proved that those points he brings them to confirm are part of those Corruptions for which she is so highly to be Condemned I would do all the Right imaginable to Antiquity but there 's a great difference between what bears the title of such and what really is true Antiquity The Fathers themselves have they not been corrupted by the crafty Forgeries of temporizing Hypocrites Or if they had not been corrupted is it not enough to abate their Credit that in what the Author brings them against us they either differ from themselves in other parts of their Writings or what is much more they differ from the Holy Scripture The Holy Scripture I say which must be allowed to be the Judge in this Case Nor will it serve their Turn what they usually answer us with here that by giving thus much to Scripture and making every one Judge of the Sense of it we put all upon the Issue of a private Spirit For we make no private Person any more a Judge here than they do we suppose to be able to reach the sense of Scripture all means must be used for the attaining it only this we are sure whether this or the other Person hit it or no yet it is the true sense of Scripture ought to prevail beyond the Authority of Councils Fathers or any other Doctors whatever And whatever the Person be who is so happy as to shew most Reason for the Sense he gives of it this is He whose Opinion ought to obtain 'T is true indeed with respect to any private Person at the first View the names of Councils and Fathers and the like seem to carry with them a notion of what is more publick in Opposition to a private Spirit but all this is but Fallacy and no way the Inference that ought to be made from that which is urged in this matter viz. That no Prophesy of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation Pet. 2. 1. 20. For that is not the meaning of that Place that one Person is more private than two than a whole Council than all ancient Writers whatever but that he and they too are Private and their Interpretation is such if it agree not with the Analogy of Scripture and the sense of the Holy Spirit himself 'T is this Sense taking it without respect to any Persons makes it not to be private and so the antithesis there lies for the Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of Man But Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghost It is not the Will of Man the Decrees of Councils the Sentiments of Fathers the pretended Infallibility of any Chair all this is but the Will of Man if they concur not with what the Holy-Ghost hath spoken And as for what I differ from others in who have given up themselves to the same sort of Studies I hope it will not be imputed so much to an affected Singularity as to the force of Truth I having industriously avoided to consult the Hypotheses or Explications of others whilst this was Writing that so I might not be drawn to lean to any humane Authority and served my self only with such general Notions as were before imprinted on my Mind without any particular applying my self to such who might have been apt to lead me The Reverend Mr. Mede's Writings I confess I had long since been acquainted with and Napeir's ingenious and methodical Treatise I had many Years ago perused and was extreamly quickned by them to a desire of being better acquainted with these excellent Mysteries Brightman I had not so great a Reverence for and therefore in a manner wholly declined spending any of my Thoughts or Time on him and as for any thing that is more Modern I studiously declined it as not being willing to tincture the Glass through which I hoped to take the Prospect of so fair a Country Only Monsieur Jurieu's Books I could not well avoid the perusing they being in the hands of an Ingenious and Learned Protestant French Minister who then did me the favour of spending some time with me at my House and would be often speaking of him to him I had communicated some of my Thoughts on these matters and had the opportunity of discoursing over some of the Arguments of Monsienr Jurieu's Chapters particularly that of his seventh Chapter Tom. 1. Concerning the number of the Beast in which I could no way agree with that worthy Person as I could neither with Potter or any other I have met with on that Argument upon which occasion I wrote these following Reflections in the Margin of the Book he put into my Hands which I shall give in the same Words I then wrote them Vereor ne toto hoc capite nimis incertis conjecturis abduci se passus sit Doctissimus vir nec ergo aliquid istis reponens inquirendum relinquo an non potius ad Hildebrandum sive Gregorium VII Tota res referri possit in quo compleri videntur quaecunque de homine peccati vel filio Perditionis praedixerit Paulus ad Thessal 2. 2. 3. c. Et ne dubitemus quin ille designetur Spiritus Sanctus quasi digito indicat Apocal. 13. 10. Qui ducit in Captivitatem in captivitatem ducetur qui occidit gladio occidetur gladio hic est patientia fides Sanctorum Quod sic quoque praefatur v. 9. Si quis habeat aurem audiat quorsum autem ista Nisi magnum quid esset quod indigitaret at quid illiud magnum nisi Captivitas illius qui duxit Captivitatem Quis autem ille qui duxerat Captivitatem nisi Romanus Imperator qui ipse captâ Româ quod contigit Anno Christi 410 Imperante tunc in occidente Honorio in captivitatem duci intelligatur Cepit tum Romam Alaricus Rex Gothorum post quod tempus sic imminui coepit Romanum Imperium ut nihil ejus nis nomen plane umbra permanserit a
refuse to restore both their Ecclesiastical and Civil Rights He might by Execrations or Censures and Arms be compelled to his Duty Being assisted by this Opportunity some Bishops and Princes of Germany who had been long aggrieved by this wild Beast into the place of Henry who by his great wickedness and forseited the Kingdom chose Duke Rodulphus who with that modesty and integrity which becomes a King forthwith sent Messengers to me by whom I might understand that He was forced to undertake the Government of the Kingdom but however that He was not so desirous of Reigning but that he had rather obey us than those who had promised the Kingdom that He would be always in the Power of God and us and that we might believe that He will do this hath promised to give his Sons Hostages At this Henry began to be incens'd and to beseech us at first that by * * Banning Cursings we would hinder Rudolphus from seizing the Kingdom I said I would see to whom the Right belonged and for that Reason would send Messengers who should take Cognizance of the whole Affair and would judge thereupon whether of them had the better Cause Henry forbad that our Messengers should declare him King and slew many of the Clergy and Laity Robbed and Profaned several Churches and by this means bound himself the faster with the Bonds of an Anathema or Excommunication denounced against him Wherefore trusting in the Judgment and Mercy of God and the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin and supported also with your Authority Henry himself and his Abettors do I bind with the Bonds of an Anathema and the second time deprive him of Royal Authority and forbid all Christians absolved of that Oath whereby Fealty is used to be Sworn to Kings in any thing to obey Henry and that they accept Rudolphus for King whom many of the Princes of the Province or Empire rejecting Henry have chosen to be their good King For 't is fit that as Henry for his Pride and contumacy is deprived of all his Privileges so Rudolphus who is acceptable to all should for his Piety and Religion be endowed with Royal Dignity and Power Go to now therefore ye most most Holy Princes of the Apostles and what I have said interpose your Authority to confirm that all men at length may understand whether you can bind and loose in Heaven and also on Earth are not able to take away or give Empires Kingdoms Principalities or whatever else mortal Men can enjoy For it ye can judge those things which belong to God what are we to think of inferiour and profane things It it belongs to you to judge the Angels who rule over proud Princes what doth it become you to do to their Servants Let Kings and all the Princes of the World now learn by the Example of this Henry what your Power is in Heaven and how great you are with God and let them hereafter dread to contemn the Commands of Holy Church And this Sentence forthwith execute ye on Henry that all may know that 't is not by mere chance but through your Assistance that the Son of Iniquity hath fallen from the Kingdom Only this I would request from you that being led to Repentance He may through your intercession obtain Grace in the Day of Judgment And now And now Whether this be not to have a Mouth speaking great things and Blasphemies Whether this be not to speak as a Dragon let the World judge Nay I was going to say the World hath already judged it For so Aventinus tells us l. 5. p. 352. Annal. Boior that upon this and the great outrages thereon committed by Rudolphus and his Adherents most Men openly as well as privately began to cry out against so great a Villany in publick to curse Gregory and wish all Mischief to this Hildebrand publishing that 't was out of Malice and an intemperate lusting after Rule that he was thus hurried on Headlong and declaring him to be Antichrist Nay farther yet He hath herein judged Himself For was it not hereupon that He undertook to foretel that before the Feast of St. Peter and he did all He could to verifie what he had foretold by tampering with Assassines to murder him Henry should die or lose his Kingdom this He did publickly in a Sermon to the people ascending the Pulpit of St. Peter's and in his Pontifical Habit adding that He would no longer be accounted Pope if this Prophecy should fail as Benno is cited to attest it Histor Magd. Cent. 11. cap. 8. p. 435. Shew any thing like this in any other History whether Civil or Ecclesiastical besides that of Rome and we will give up the Cause and allow any to be Antichrist besides Him whom this concerns we will strike Hildebrand out of the List and He shall not be so much as thought of neither He nor any of his Proud Successors in the day when Babylon is to come into remembrance Rev. 16. 19. It may seem a long Digression what we have here run but it being of so high import towards the clearing up so great a part of the Book of the Revelation as what relates to Antichrist in his Rise Progress and full Growth is I could not well pass by what is here said of Hildebrand especially considering How at the same time that we erre no longer in the Person 't is decreed by the third Roman Council under Him Ut Papae nomen Unicum esset in Universo orbe Christiano nec liceret alicui seipsum vel alium eo nomine appellare that there should be but one who should have the Name of POPE in the whole Christian World and that it should not be lawful for any other to call himself or any one else by that Name so then here 's the mark of the Beast the Name and Number of his Name all concurring in One Anno 1076. For then it was viz. in the same Council in which Hildebrand and depos'd the Emperor that this Name was thus appropriated to the Bishop of Rome As Longus à Coriolano relates p. 317. And 't is very observable what we meet with to this purpose in Aventinus Annal. Boior l. 7. p. 420 421. where the Covetousness Luxury Strife Hatred Envy Ambition c. of the Romish Chair is most highly inveighed against in opposition to the Humility Meekness Patience Charity which the great Shepherd of our Souls gave as the Rules of his Religion and was Himself the great Pattern of them And in particular this Hildebrand of whom we have been speaking is pitcht upon as most guilty of the contrary Vices and that under the express stile of Antichrist the Person who there charges Him is the Chief Priest of Juvavia his words are Hildebrandus ante annos centum atque septuaginta primus specie Religionis Antichristi imperii fundamenta jecit Hoc bellum nefandum speaking of what opposition the Emperors had constantly found from the Popes after
patience of the Saints may be accordingly as I may say working with Providence and preparing them for what in his Wise Councils an Allseeing God hath so suited to that variety there is in humane affairs and therefore not without a latitude for their beginning or ending And so the Rule is Habakkuk 2. 3. For the Vision is for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry But then if Antichrist were come before the 500 th year of Christ what was there did then appear in the World which could in any sort answer the black Character the Apostle gives of him 2 Thess 2. v. 4 8 9 10 To this I answer That as the Apostle tells them to whom he there writes That the Mystery of Iniquity already works there is no doubt but that he was born This Mystery had not been so long conceiving to bring forth Nothing however he had not then attain'd the mature age of this Man of Sin and Son of Perdition And there will be little reason to think otherwise if we consider that agreeable to the three Names by which the Holy Ghost sets out the Reign of Antichrist I mean of Sodom Revel 11. 4. of Egypt Revel 11. 8. and of Babylon Revel 17. 5. the first to signifie that Corruption of Manners the second that Tyranny the third that Superstition and Idolatry which was then to obtain there was something of all these to make out that Apostasie or falling away which was to precede his coming And here not to lead the Author beyond his own Collection of Primitive Fathers I could shew him St. Augustin St. Hierome St. Chrysostome with many others giving Testimony in this matter in their several Invectives against those Enormities which were so predominant among the Clergy with those many burdensom Rites and Ceremonies which were introduced with the Adoration and Intercession of Saints and the like sufficient to discredit the Purity of the Church and at least Evidence that Antichrist was at hand I could shew where St. Hierome gives Rome no other Name than that of Babylon and reproves her for the sins of Sodom viz. Pride Fullness of Bread and abundance of Idleness and a refusing to strengthen the hand of the poor and needy Ezek. 16. 49. and some degree at least of an Egyptian Tyranny what hath been already observ'd of Leo Magnus will go a great way in the proof hereof in that high hand with which she began then to carry things in the Church How far they were gone in Superstition and Idolatry Theodoret whom the Author so often appeals to in his Collection will sufficiently inform us in his eighth book de Graec. Affect Curat where 't is his profest business to invite the Heathens to change the worship of their Pagan Heroes and Deified Persons into that of the Martyrs To this I might add the Testimony of Lactantius Antonius Eremita Hilarius and Epiphanius with Salvian and many others For 't is no difficulty to make good the Charge Only the advantage the Author hopes for from it is That it being so early may justifie him in urging this it self as matter of Antiquity the Use we make of it is to satisfie Him that these Errors and Enormities did so soon obtain not that because they so soon obtain'd they were therefore the more justifiable So then there 's no question but Antichrist was then born though not arrived to the adult and mature age of the Man of Sin For that as we before observ'd was to be reckon'd from another Epocha viz. That of the first taking of Rome Anno 410. And but reasonable it should be so He who let being to be taken out of the way 2 Thess 2. 7. before the other Beast as He is stiled Revel 13. 10. could come up out of the Earth For 't was the Anarchy as St. Chrysostom expresses it that should make way for his Usurpation as de facto it did the Bishop of Rome still holding his own and indeed gaining by the common Calamity Nor is there any thing which the Holy Ghost himself hath more clearly pointed out then this very Epocha For what are those reflections I took notice of before viz. If any man have an Ear let him hear Revel 13. 9. and in the close of the tenth verse Here is the Patience and the Faith of the Saints which sets the Period to the Roman Empire and the Sufferings of the Christians under it but to quicken our attention as to what is thereby immediately usher'd in so to lead us on to a more strict Observation of what follows which being the Description of Antichrist that other Beast which was to grow up upon the Ruins of the Roman Empire and being in effect the same with what is foretold of him in that foremention'd 2 Thess 2. 7 8. cannot especially the Holy Ghost again pointing to it v. 18. in these words Here is Wisdom but guide us to some notable Epocha of his Reign to be calculated from thence And what was that but the very time when He should as St. Paul had foretold and I have before taken notice of exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very stile of the Roman Emperors so that He as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing Himself that He is God which how eminently He did it Anno 1076. hath been already shew'd But 't is his Birth not his mature Age we are now speaking of And there 's another note of Direction the Holy Ghost hath supplied us with Revel 17. 12. which in a manner confines it to the very Period of 455. or the second taking of Rome 't is that of the ten Horns or ten Kings which when St. John wrote had receiv'd no Kingdom but were to receive their Power one hour with the Beast They and He to commence their Reign at the same time and to have the same continuance and Duration with one another And now to settle the Synchronism when was it they who where thus to be contemporary with the Beast receiv'd their Kingdom Was it not in or about 455 or 456 which immediarely succeeded the second taking of Rome by Gensericus that the Division of the Empire was made into so many several Kingdoms And whereas these ten Horns or ten Kings are said Rev. 17. 13. to have one mind and to give their Power and strength unto the Beast What is that but a Confirmation of the means whereby Antichrist should arrive at the heighth of his Usurpation exercising as 't is Revel 13. 12. all the Power of the first Beast before Him and causing the Earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed i. e. Princes and People to pay their Homage which was due to the first Beast viz. the Emperor to Himself in whom as to the continuing
so small a scantling as that of three years and a half be agreeable to the Description of the Person who here avows himself to have received this Revelation from God and to give it to his Servants I mean that of his being Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Revel 1. v. 8 v. 17. of his being the first and the last he that liveth and was dead and behold he liveth Amen and hath the Keys of Hell and of Death VVhy this asserting his own Duration and Power if all were but to give them the Prediction of so short a time Or whether to suppose this 2. Would be agreeable to what he bids St. John write viz. the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter Is it likely that so great a part of this book as from the seventh to the twentieth Chapter which yet is the only professed book of prophesie given in the whole time of the Gospel should run out in the History of three years and a half Or farther whether 3. T were agreeable to the answer those under the Altar receive chap. 6. 11. upon their expostulating after the ten persecutions for I take them to cease there How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth viz. that they should rest yet for a little season little agreeable to the Divine Goodness which always expresses the sufferings of his people in the gentlest terms that so their Faith might fail under them see 2 Cor. 4. 17. until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled should relate only to three years and a half For if so then Antichrist must have then immediately succeeded i. e. about the year 314 when Constantine reostored Peace to the Church and freed her from Persecution and have had his period 1375 years ago Again let it be yet consider'd whether 4. It be agreeable to an Empire in its succession and such the Beast which is likewise Antichrist is in its rise continuance and fall to reckon but three years and a half Whether such a Duration bear any proportion to the other Heads of the Beast VVhether 5. It be agreeable to the work the Whore that sitteth upon many Waters Revel 17. 1. which is one of Antichrists Denominations was to do viz. To deceive all Nations with her Sorceries ch 18. 23. To make so many Kings commit Fornication with her v. 9. And make War with the Saints and to overcome them and to have Power over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations ch 13. 7. VVhether 6. It be agreeable to the degrees by which Antichrist was to arrive at his highest pitch The Image he was to make to the Beast whic had the wound by the sword and did live The power he had to give life to the Image of the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed c. ch 13 14 15 16 17. and causing all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand and in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his Name Could such power be arrived at in so short a compass of time Or whether lastly 7. It be agreeable to the several parts of his fall exprest whether by the seven last plagues or Vials of Gods wrath or by the Angels putting in his Sickle first for the Harvest ch 14. 15. and then for the Vintage v. 17 18 19. by the one to begin by the other to finish the fall of Babylon if all were but for three years and a continuance Most certainly a longer time must be allotted for Babylon which is one of Antichrists names to fill up her Iniquity if in her were to be found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were to be slain upon the Earth ch 18 19. which is added there as the reason of her ruine as she i. e. either Pagan or Antichristian Rome was to bear the guilt of all the innocent blood that had been shed from the time of the first planting of Christianity agreeable to the sentence that in a like case was long before given on Jerusalem Matth. 23. 35. that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar So then 't is scarce to be doubted but that this continuance of Antichrist was to be for as many years as there are Prophetick days in a time times and half a time in forty two months or one thousand two hundred and sixty days And now having thus in what was necessary to be observ'd concerning the rise and growth of Antichrist taken notice as of the several periods the Holy Ghost hath set for either and the different use we are in this matter to make of the several Epocha's of the taking of Rome viz. in 410 and 455 and the division of the Empire into ten Kingdoms upon the last and thereto added the Testimony of other Writers with some Reasons why a time times and half or the dividing of a time forty two months or one thousand two hundred and sixty days which are all the same cannot be taken for natural but Prophetick days i. e. for intire years I might fairly take leave of this point in which I have been forced to be long but I hope not tedious But considering of how great moment 't is that every thing should be clear and coherent in such a weighty matter as this is which hath been discoursing I must farther ask the favour of the Reader that I may reflect a little on what Daniel in his Prophesy affords us towards the farther Illustration hereof and the Place that chiefly serves to this purpose is that of his 12th Chapter vers 10 11. Which may be applicable Either For the fixing the time of the Revelation of Antichrist i. e. His coming to his full growth or Maturity or For the settling the Duration of his Reign As to the first of these viz. The fixing the time for the Revelation of Antichrist 't is to be considered from whence the Calculation is to be taken and where to end As to the time from whence it was to begin the Angel tells us 't was from the time that the daily Sacrifice should be taken away and the Abomination that maketh desolate set up And when was that We have the Historical Relation of it Maccab. 1. 54. Now the fifteenth day of the Month Casleu in the hundred forty fifth Year they set up the Abomination of Desolation
their Territories and striking so great a Consternation into them for it is upon Euphrates in the Sense we give of it in this Vial that the Vial is poured that they every where fly and are scattered should affect to look towards Constantinople or Asia and in the success of such Wars should give that Apprehension to the Eastern and other Princes round about whereupon or for what other cause God in his wise Providence shall think fit they the Princes and Countreis might be named too for they seem to be noted in the Scripture of Truth but I forbear to be too curious in such a matter should forthwith gather together to dispossess them but with that fatal disaster to them all that in this high Project they should clash between themselves and as it is Prophesied Psalm 2. 9. Be dasht in pieces like a Potters Vessel Whereupon the Jews whose right it is and who about that time shall in all likelihood be gathering thitherward should without any the least Opposition seat themselves in their own Land according to the Prophecy given out Zechar. 4. 6. Not by Might nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Suppose too that at or about the same time some Christian Prince leaguing with the Mahometans or otherwise weakning the Papacy by his or his Peoples falling off from Rome should be instrumental in the Downfal of Babylon or those Princes who have already deserted that great Where as she is called Rev. 17. 1. joined with the other of the ten Horns which shall likewise in due time desert her They have no other way to keep their Crowns on their Heads should all conspire to hate her and make her desolate and naked and eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Rev. 17. 16 Not that I will exclude from hence the Concurrence of the two Witnesses themselves i. e. Those suffering Christians who were to prophecy a Thousand two Hundred and threescore days in Sackcloth as it is said Rev. 11. 3. The same time for 42 Months are made up of so many days that the Court without the Temple was to be given to the Gentiles and the Holy City to be trod under Foot ver 2. of that Chapter For as it is said of them That if any will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their Mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any Man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed v. 5 and ver 6. These have power to shut Heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophecy And have power over Waters to turn them into Blood and to smite the Earth with all Plagues as often as they will with reference to those Judgments which for their sakes shall be brought upon the Antichristian World so when they shall have finished their Testimony have had War made against them by the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit and shall be overcome and killed by him ver 7. But so that their Bodies shall not be suffered to be put in Graves ver 9. No by the Peoples and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations they shall be still kept above Ground for those three days and half as is there exprest they are to lye in the street of the great City The Spirit of Life from God is to enter into them they to stand upon their Feet and great fear to fall upon them which see them ver 11. And they to hear a great Voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither and to ascend up to Heaven in a Cloud and their Enemies behold them ver 12. And the same Hour to be a great Earthquake and the tenth part of the City to fall and the names of seven thousand Men to be slain and the Remnant to be affrighted and give Glory to the God of Heaven Which what it can signifie but the reinstating them in the enjoyment of their Rights and Religion for so standing upon their Feet and ascending up to Heaven may import with the great Change that shall thereon ensue in the falling off of one of the ten Kings or Kingdoms into which at the Rise of Antichrist the Roman Empire was divided for that is the tenth part of the great City or Rome as she is said afterwards ch 17 18. to Reign over the Kings of the Earth from all subjection to the Beast And the Names of seven thousand men being to be Slain many point at the overthrow of those who as to any commerce and good they bring to the World are but us the meer Names of men the Priests and Monks I mean with the other parts of their corrupt Hierarchy which in all probability must be then quite extinct slain not so much in their Natural as Politic or Religious Capacity however we shall call it which I suppose to be understood by their being said to be slain in the Earthquake and not with the Sword i. e. abolisht in that great change and Revolution there shall then be And the Remnant being affrighted and giving Glory to the God of Heaven must signifie the Conversion of that 10th part of the City the great City as 't is before v. 8. which in the Book of the Revelation signifies the Antichristian Empire i. e. Rome in the full extent of its Territories as said to Reign over the Kings of the Earth Revel 17. 18. which is said to fall fall from Rome from her Superstitions and Idolatries fall from her as she is Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was Crucify'd as she in her Corruptions and Tyranny is what the two former were and by her Power for 't was the Roman Governour who sentenced our Lord to the Cross crucified the Lord and hath ever since been crucifying his Members But then how much of this Transaction shall belong to the Witnesses I am not capable to say that they shall have their part in it not only in being themselves restored but in striking Terror into their Enemies in dismaying and disabling them from all opposition I make not the least question The Event must shew how this shall be and things are not so far off that we should be discouraged to wait for the Completion Behold saith our Lord I come as a Thief And how will men wonder that they were so much in the dark as to the Mystery How will they be ashamed that they have no better watcht and kept their Garments That they have walk'd so naked so unprovided for such a day That though the work hath been doing they observ'd it not But if they had it would not have been said Behold I come as a Thief 'T will notwithstanding all the warnings God hath given of it all the preparations there are towards it be sudden be surprizing I repeat it again Behold I come as a Thief I said just now notwithstanding all the warnings God hath given of it i. e. of what is to happen under this Vial viz. the recalling the Jews the
of Ministers with the people subject in place and time in the Truth by the Ministry i. e. in the Truth mention'd above leading establishing and preserving in a faithful and frequent assembling together tending to Faith and good life according to the Customs and Obedience and diligent continuing in the practice and usage of the Lord over his Flock The duty of good Pastors The things which the Ministers are obliged to for the service of the people are these The Word of the Gospel the Sacraments join'd to the Word which certifie what hath been the intention and understanding and confirm the faithful in hope in Christ and the Ministerial Communion in all things according to Essential Truth And if there be any other Ministerial things they may all be referred to these above but of these particular Truths some are essentially necessary to the Salvation of men others conditionally are contain'd in the 12 Articles of Faith and in many of the discourses of the Apostles For Antichrist hath already reign'd in the Church in time past by the Divine permission A summary of the Errors and Impurities of Antichrist 1. Idolatries and superstitions of several sorts The Errors and Impurities of Antichrist forbidden by the Lord are these viz. Divers and innumerable Idolatries against the Commandment of God and Christ Worship given to the Creature and not to the Creator visible and invisible corporal or spiritual intelligible or sensible natural or fram'd by any Art under the Name of Christ or Saints of both Sexes and Relicks and Authorities which Creature is Worship'd by Faith Hope Works Prayers Pilgrimages Alms Offerings costly Sacrifices Which Creature they Worship Adore Honour in many manners by Hymns Speeches Solemnizings and Celebrations of Mass of Vespers bowing to the same Creatures by Hours Vigils Feasts by Acquisition of Grace which is essentially in one only God and meritoriously in Jesus Christ and is acquired by Faith alone and the holy Spirit The first cause of such superstitions For there is no other cause of Idolatry but a false Opinion of Grace of Truth of Authority of Invocation of Intercession which this Antichrist hath taken away from God to attribute it to Ceremonies and the Works of his Hands and to Saints and Purgatory And this Iniquity of Antichrist is directly against the first Article of Faith and against the first Commandment of the Law The second cause In like manner an Inordinate love of the World which is in Antichrist and that is it from whence sprung all the evils and sins that are in the Church in those who are the Guides to govern her and her Officers who sin without any restraint these are against the Truth of the Faith and against the knowledge of God the Father as St. John Witnesses He that sins neither knows nor hath seen God for if any one love the World the love of the Father is not in him The second Iniquity of Antichrist is trusting in the Creatures The second Iniquity of Antichrist lies in the hope which he gives of Pardon of Grace of Righteousness of Truth and of Life Eternal as being what are not in Christ nor in God by Christ but in men living or dead in Authorities in Ecclesiastical Ceremonies in Benedictions in Sacrifices in Prayers and in the other things above mention'd and not in true Faith which produces repentance by Charity and makes men to depart from evil and brings them to do good So that Antichrist teaches not firmly to trust on such things as Regeneration Spiritual Confirmation or Communion Remission of Sins and everlasting Sanctification but to trust in the Sacraments or in his base Simony by which the people is deluded so that selling all things he hath invented many Ordinances old and new to get Money suffering if any one hath done this or that hereby to obtain Grace and Life And this double Iniquity is properly called in the Scriptures Adultery or Whoredom and therefore those Ministers who lead the brutal People in these Errors are called the Whore in the Revelation And this Iniquity is against the second Article and also against the second and third Commandment of the Law The third Iniquity of Antichrist is the Establishing the merit of Works The third Iniquity of Antichrist lies in this That he hath invented besides what hath been already said false Religions and Rules and Monasteries giving hopes of obtaining Grace by building of certain Churches As also in this viz. If any one often and devoutly hears Mass if he hath partaken of the Sacraments if he hath been at Confession things that rarely shew men to be contrite or if they have satisfied by Fastings and emptying the Purse or if they have been or are Members of the Romish Church Or whether they have not devoted themselves already or vowed to be of any Order either to take the Cap or Monks Hood which they affirm against all Truth that they are obliged to And this Iniquity of Antichrist is directly against the 8th Article of the Creed I believe in the Holy Ghost The fourth Iniquity of Antichrist is covering all with specious titles The fourth Iniquity of Antichrist lies in this That as he is the fourth Beast before described by Daniel and the Apocalyptick Whore he covers himself nevertheless with the Authority Power Dignity of Ministers Officers and Scriptures and equals and compares himself to the true and holy Mother Church wherein Salvation Ministerially is and no where else wherein is Truth of Life and of Doctrine and of the Sacraments For if he should not cover both himself and his wicked Ministers these being known to be open sinners he would be abandon'd by all For Emperors and Kings and Princes looking upon him to be the true and holy Mother Church have loved and endowed him contrary to the Commandment of God And this Iniquity of Ministers and those subject to him who are thus upheld in error and sin is directly against the 9th Article I believe the Holy Church This as to what respects the first part Of Unction and the Superstitious Shaving of Priests and Monks Secondly for as much as they who partake only of the outward Ceremonies ordain'd by humane Inventions believe and hope to partake of the Truth of the Pastoral Offices and Cures provided that they be shorn like Lambs and Anointed and blessed by touching the Book and Calice with the hand they profess to be ordain'd as Priests ought In like manner as is above said the people who are under them communicating by the words signs and outward Exercises and their diverse Actions think they partake of the Truth drawn out from them And this is against another part of the 9th Article I believe the Communion of Saints Wherefore it 's necessary to depart from the wicked Communion of Monks by whom Carnal men are drawn in they through their Avarice making them trust in such vain things so that though they be Luxurious or Covetous yet if they do but give to them