can serve two Masters He that acknowledgeth the Government and Power of the Beast to be Lawfull cannot bear a faithfull Testimony to the present Cause and Interest of Christ For to have now the Testimony of Jesus is to bear a witnes against the Beast 2. That he slayes the Testimony of Jesus by preferment in many great Professours such as formerly asserted what they now either deny or are silent in By this means the common people ignorant of the mystery of iniquity working in the last dayes following the others example have their Testimony kil'd likewise Gal. 2. 13. Secondly Another way is by his hypocrisie and dissimulation in religion As David said of Goliahs sword there is none to that give it me So I think there is no weapon or crafty course which this Beast will use like to his hypocrisie in the things of God as his fasting weeping praying honouring Ministers Sermons c The report and noise of this will ring far and neer and by the simple who believe every thing so believ'd and he taken for such a Saint that now he may do what he will For though he have all the Characters of the little Horn and do whatsoever is foretold of the Beast yet his hypocrisie will cover all and hence slaves the Generation Testimony Thirdly When Christ was put to death by the Jewes though they could prove nothing against him neither indeed had any thing to lay justly to his charge yet they pretended great matters and would have men believe what they did in the killing of him they had cause and reason enough for it So will this Beast slay Jesus Christ in his Testimony Hence it is said Where our Lord also was crucified Howsoever he hath nothing against the present Generation Truth born Witnesse to For what can he have Seeing nothing is Asserted by them but what the Scriptures plainly declare nor is he able to resist the Wisdome and the Spirit by which they speak yet will he pretend high things against them As Nero when his Mastives would not destroy the Christians clad them in Bear-skins So will this Beast doe that his Dogs may rent and tear the Testimonie of Jesus He will cloth it with reproachfull names as Blasphemy Errour Madnesse Faction Treason Sedition c. And by this trick the sooner effect his purpose So that howsoever it be the Testimonie of Jesus that he kills yet he will kill it under pretence that it is the doctrine of Devills blasphemie the delusion of Satan c. Fourthly This Testimony is to be slain by War He shall make war against them Howsoever I have shewed my opinion already yet the matter being considerable I would have the Reader observe 1. This Beast whosoever he be shall trust in the arme of slesh by this he will seek to strengthen his Government and Greatnesse and to reach his ends and designes every way 2. His Army will be so corrupt that whatsoever he shall bid them doe against the Testimonie of Jesus they will doe it right or wrong For they will be men not having principles of honesty or conscience And by this meanes likewise he will prevaile very far over the Witnesses viz. by his Soldiers For those men if he command them will banish and imprison any of the Lords faithfull Servants that they may not Witnesse for Christ against the Beast Fifthly No sooner is this Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit but doubtlesse he will enact some Law against the Testimonie of Jesus As for Example That it shall be Treason for men to speak or act any thing against his Person promise to live quietly under his Government not call him the little Horn and Beast And what is the meaning of all this But to require all men upon pain of death to deny Christ before men For if it be the Government of the little Horne and Beast in the three years and halfe Not to Witnesse then against it much more to promise not to Act any thing against it is no other then to deny Christ so far as concernes a Generation-Testimonie But howsoever this be so yet the dread and terrour of such an Edict will so seaze upon people of low and poor spirits as they will chuse rather to have the Witnesse of Christ kild in them then be persecuted by the Beast for bearing any publick Witnesse against him Thus I have shewed Who the Beast is and the Witnesses and how they are kild Our Third Point is How it doth appear their lying three dayes and an halfe unburied contemporizes with the last Apostacie and the little Horn. And after three dayes and an halfe I shall speak the lesse of these three dayes and an halfe because it is not questioned scarce by any one neither indeed rationally can it But here is meant either the last three years and an halfe which close the number 1260. Or so much time following immediately upon it Indeed there are some few whose opinion is the terme here is the same with the 1260 years But 1. This is plainly against the Text. For the Witnesses are not slaine till about the finishing of their Testimony that is when the 1260 years are almost expired 2. To take dayes for years and then againe to reckon so many years by dayes I see no ground for this in Scripture to cast up Prophetical numbers This Point needs no further enlargement 3. The Apostacy is to be in the last days Now if we consider Times and seasons by their appointments and periods No Days can be said to be last but the distinct time closing the 1260 years in which Time is the little Horne and Beast And therefore necessarily they must contemporize But there are some other things which need Explanation First What the Street is in which ly the dead bodies of the Witnesses Answ Where they were slaine there doubtlesse they ly The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is well observed by many signifying a broad and spacious place cannot be taken for any street within the walls of the great City For 1. Our Lord was slaine in no street of Rome or Jerusalem but without the gate in Golgotha 2. Men seldome make war within the City walls but in open fields 3. In Cities are many Streets but this is expressed in the singular number neither is the word properly a street 4. That their dead bodies lie visible and obvious to all Nations kindreds peoples c. it must be without the City and not within the walls By the great City I understand here and so alwayes in this Book the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast not onely the Ecclesiasticall kingdome but all Civill States and Governments under the Sea of Rome acknowledging the Pope head of the Church This is the Great City often mentioned in the Revelation It is said And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell v. 13. Here it is not the great City
me seems very clear by the Angel's words to Daniel But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the book even unto the Time of the end Chap. 12. 4. Again Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Chap. 12. 9. Three things are here observable 1. The opening and understanding of the Vision is referr'd to a certain and prefixt time and not to be reveal'd till then 2. In both places it is called The time of the End which methinks must needs be the three years and half for I know no other time but this that periods the number of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years 3. He faith not times but time intimating howsoever the whole account should have several times or periods in respect of the divers actions of the Beast Civil and Ecclesiastical and the various changes and condition of the Witnesses and Woman all the time of his Tyranny yet the unsealing of the Book should not be till the last time of all the several periods So Habak 2. 3. The vision is yet for an appointed time at the end it shall speak and not lye What can we understand by the end and the appointed time but as Daniel hath it the time of the end that is the three years and half then is the vision to speak and not before So Rev. 1. 3. For the time is at hand And Chap. 22. 10. Seal not up the sayings of the prophecie of this book for the time is at hand For my part I cannot conceive what time may be taken as distinct from other times and proper to the places if not the three years and half But that in Daniel seems yet to be more full It shall be for a time times and an half Chap. 12. 7. What shall be for a time times and an half till the end of these wonders that is before they shall be opened As if he should say So far forth as the Christian Gentiles are concerued in these wonders the manifestation of them is reserved till the three years and half and then the wise shall understand Here observe 1. It should be no cause of stumbling unto any person that many good men have miss'd of the time in their accounts seeing in their time the words were closed up and sealed 2. The cause of their mistake was not as some think of an impossibility as if the time of the end were not to be known but because the appointed time or end was not then come in which the vision was to speak 3. Such as are now enquiring into the numbers of Daniel and John to know when the Beasts dominion shall end ought to minde whether they are come to the time of the end in which and not before that great Mystery is to be known CONSID. III. The way which some good men have taken to finde out the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years viz. by beginning at the head of the account is not in my opinion the best nor surest For here we must credit and depend on humane Histories and Records of Nations things so uncertain and disagreeing among themselves as nothing but conjectures and ghesses can be concluded and gathered from them And hence it is that many have been misled concerning the times whereby others have taken advantage to condemn all which search the times and the Prophetical Numbers of the Scripture as medling with things too high and secret If any should ask Why are these Numbers mentioned as fourty and two months and one thousand two hundred and sixty days I answer The Lord would have it known how long the Beast should reign and the woman continue in the wilderness that his people might wait with the more faith and patience till their enlargement came Not that when the time of the end should come he would carry them back to enquire what was done some thousands of years before or search uncertain Stories for the rise of the Beast I take it he hath a neerer and better way to lead them in more free from doubts and mistakes then the other and easier to be found out and known by babes and sucklings The way-faring men though fools shall not erre therein Isa 35. 8. CONSID. IV. So for the Signes of the times which are much spoken of and matter of singular joy amongst Saints everywhere These shew us without doubt that the kingdom of God is nigh and that the great work of the Lord is approaching upon us but as to the set time they come not home And therefore we must have more light then these to order our motions by For example be it granted that the Lord hath a people enquiring after the Numbers in Daniel and John much enlightned in the work of their generation take pleasure in Zion's stones and favour her dust are a willing people and a praying people and such as have their hearts raised up against Babylon to take vengeance on her I say grant all this as blessed be Jehovah it is all true and more too yet it will not follow that the one thousand two hundred and sixty years the time of Antichrists tyranny and the Womans persecution must therefore end this year or the next I confess these are blessed Signes and tidings of great joy and do evidently declare like the tender branches and leaves of the fig-tree that Summer is nigh that the Lord will arise and have mercy upon Zion and that the breaking work of the Stone is not far off But yet they do not tell us how nigh the time is this must be known some other way When the Dove brought to Noah in her mouth an Olive-leaf he knew that the waters were abated from off the earth yet he went not forth of the Ark till the Lord did call him Gen 8. 11 15. Indeed these signes like the olive-leaf do plainly demonstrate that the Antichristian deluge which hath so long covered the face of the earth is towards an end nevertheless we must abide where we are till we hear that great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth Rev. 16. 1. CONSID. V. So again howsoever Providence is to be observed and followed when people are called forth to their work yet we must take heed that we make noâ— Providence alone our call Moses Gedeon David and others improved providences but it was after they were confirmed that the time was come wherein they were to serve their generation so and so and in such cases we are still to follow Providence When we know the fourty and two months are expired and so the time come in which the Lord God of heaven and earth will set up his kingdom take away the dominion of the little Horn and execute vengeance upon Babylon Here we must in the prosecution of the judgement written eye and follow the leadings
himself and his Family great by the ruine of that CAUSE so much before pretended to In a word that hee is said to have Mans Eyes I take the meaning thus This Horn shall bee a notorious Hypocrite a very Atheist a Monster a monstrous Monster one that shall discover more Hypocrisy and Atheisme if his former and latter actions be compared together then ever was done before him by any person upon the face of the earth And a mouth speaking great things This is often mentioned I behâ—ld then because of the voice of the great words which the Horn spake vers 11. Again A mouth that spake very great things vers 20. the which is afterward explained by the Angel He shall speak great words against the most high vers 25. So indeed many Interpreters read But others Translate it otherwise as Vatabluâ— Pagnim Montanus Ro. Steven c. Men known to bee skilful in the Tongues Not against the most high but ex parte altissimi Letzad On the part of the Almighty for the Most High or in his behalf Symmachus renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee shall speak as the high God That is his words shall be of Holiness Righteousnesse Goodness and Truth Though in his Actions and Practice there be no such thing And if the matter be considered there is good ground for this reading That which doth most astonish Daniel are the words of the Little Horn. Now there is little cause of Admiration to hear a man speak wickedly that doth wickedly But to see a man make warre against the Saints weary them out by Bonds and Imprisonment destroy the Laws Liberties and Rights of the People and commit all kinde of Tyranny and yet in words to Professe hee is for God and for the interest of Christ and his people and for the Priviledges safety and publick good of the Nation this indeed is enough to amaze a Prophet Therefore as Graserus rightly observes this Horn is one qui impietati suâ—e Dei nomen pretendit which shall pretend the name of God in all his Impieties Hee shall not cast a Saint into Prison but will pretend Gods glory for it Hee shall not pluck up three Kingdomes by the roots but will say it is for the honour of God If hee break his Vows Promises Oaths c. Really saith hee it is for the sake of the most high Thus every thing hee doth though it bee for Babylon and the great Whore and to keep up any base corrupt interest in the Nation it is for Christs sake as he saith Again the reason why the word Letzad hath been rendred against the most high I conceive it to bee thus the little Horn hath been taken by Interpreters for the open professed enemie of the Truth as Antiochus Ephiphanes Mahomet the Pope c. where as hee is a subtle Hypocrite alwaies speaking for God and good things though in his Actions if you observe him there he shall plainly demonstrate that hee regards neither God nor goodness I would not have men to bee rash and heady Censurers specially in the Application of this little Horn. For truely I think one of the clearest Characters of him is set forth in this place Whensoever this Dominion of his shall bee erected if any complaint bee made against it for unrighteous doings and for doing worse than any men did before what will they say for excuse ex parte altissimi it is in the behalf of Christ for the sake of the godly party to prevent new warres and effusion of bloud Briefly all the impleties and wickednesses committed against God and man shall bee defended this way And to say the truth except it bee this shift they will not find a fig-leaf to cover their Nakednesse And here it will not be a misse to give the Reader notice that this little Horn shall bee so famous and notorious in his day concerning the matter here mentioned that the same in scripture is often foretold Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my name sake said let the Lord bee glorified c. Isa â—6 5. Observe here four things 1 This casting out must bee by a Government men who have gotten Power into their hands and so are stronger than their brethren 2 They were Brethren either in some Church Army Councel Parliament Equals and Companions 3 How unjust and sinful soever their proceedings are against their brethren by banishing some or imprisoning others c. Gods Glory is pretended as if all were done of Conscience and to do God good service 4 Though this Apostate-State thinks to cover their Malice and Cruelty by mocking God yet God will not bee mocked but as hee sees their Hypocrisy and Deceit so hee will discover it to their everlasting shame and the honour and comfort of the other This little Horn or Apostate-State is likewise as I take it foretold by our Saviour But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord delayeth his comming and shall begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken c. Mat. 24 48 49. First this smiting must bee understood as I said before of persons that have gotten power into their hands and so exercise tyranny by authority 2 They are fellow-servants All professors of the Gospel the persecutors have a form of Godlinesse as the sufferers have both form and Power 3 That the wicked servant smites his fellows he pretends Justice Conscience and necessity for it For so I take the sence as if hee should say I acknowledge Jesus Christ to bee your Lord and mine and do expect his comming as well as you and that hee shall bee the onely Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords have all power and Dominion given him notwithstanding seeing it will bee a long while before that time comes and you would perswade the people that day is at hand whereby occasion is given of warres and Commotions and to have my Dominion as the LITTLE HORN taken away and consumed these things I cannot suffer as being against the honour of God and the good of his people and therefore must correct such persons as disturbers of our present Government 4 Notwithstanding the specious pretences of this wicked servant as if hee did not smite his fellow-servants but out of tenderness and Conscience to the glory of God yet this all the while apparently shall bee seen in him that hee eats and drinks with the drunken all the vices and sinnes which Paul reckons up of the Last-Apostates are as visibly to bee seen in him as was the Leprosy in Gehezies forehead For the close of this Character it seems to mee that Isa 66. 5. and Mat. 24. 48. with the little Horn Dan. 7. and the last Apostacy 2 Tim. 3. are parallel Texts of Scripture-prophesies His looks were more stout then his felows If this Character had been well minded William the Conqueror Charls Stuart and the like had never been pitch upon
but City which I take to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place without the walls of the great City where the slaine Witnesses lie that is the power and Government of the Beast by which they were kild But to open the matter more fully The place where the Witnesses lie dead is not any Kingdome Common-wealth Province or Country under the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Pope Neither are they slaine in their Testimony by any State or Government that holds the Great Antichrist of Rome head of the Church For all this is within the wall and part of the great City So that the Witnesses are not to be slain under the power of the Germane Emperour nor the Kings of France Spaine Poland or any Catholick King Prince Duke c. so called But by a power and State that is off from subjection and Obedience to the Romish Beast There are two things one I hinted before which will give us much light to understand where the Witnesses lie and by whom they are slaine 1. By a Beast that shall not ascend out of the Bottomlesse Pit till the 1260 yeares are neer expir'd Neither shall his power and dominion being risen continue above three yeares and an halfe Hence then none of the present States and Governments of the world which have stood many three yeares shall kill them 2. Their dead bodies lie not in any Popish Country Nor are they slaine in their Witnesse by any State subject to the Sea of Rome So that whosoever the Beast is it cannot be the Emperour nor the Duke of Savoy or such like nor in any such Countries For it is but one State or Goverment that slayes them neither shall they ly dead under more States then one And this one not under the obedience of the Church of Rome Reader Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Object Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be without the walls yet it is of the great City Answ It is so indeed and the thing is very much to be heeded For howsoever the State and Government by which the witnesses are slaine is not under the Jurisdiction of the Romane Beast yet it is FOR IT That is it doth more strengthen and support Babylon at this time then any State or Government properly the Beasts For observe who are slaine the last Witnesses that is the Testimony of Jesus never till now so high eminent and full of light and life against the Antichristian Kingdome The Witnesses before pluckt off but leaves and branches these laid the ax to the Root and would have the very Foundation of Babylon razed down And now ascendeth the Beast out of the bottomlesse pit and slayes such A WITNES as the like was never before held forth against the Great Whore So that in doing such a thing he hath done more in the behalfe of the Great City then any State under the Beasts dominion ever did before For in this regard he would not suffer her abominations to be ript up her basterdly Brats to be dash't against the stones nor the blood of the martyrs found in her to be reveng'd But sought to cure her deadly wound And therefore not without cause doth the holy Ghost tell us though the place be without the great City yet FOR IT a friend and brother to it and one that doth her more service then any formall member and part of it One thing further may be meant here Whereas the Spirit of God tells us that the place where the Witnesses lie slaine is without the great City yet of it The hypocrisie of the Beast the GREAT CHARACTER of him is here againe notably laid open As if he should make war with one part of Babylon For Example The Spaniard pretending therein to be without the great City and against the Whore and yet at the at the same time to be of it and for it in making Leagues and Covenants Offensive and Defensive with others of the same Antichristian kingdome suppose Portugall and France and as Idolatrous and as great Enemies to Jesus Christ as that part of Babylon against whom he Wars Secondly That the slaine Testimony of Christ is set forth under dead bodies This may be to signifie 1. As a thing dead is soon forgotten yea men will endeavour to put away the remembrance and thoughts of it So Apostates having forsaken the Truth It is no other now then Dead and that their consciences may not smite them for it They fall upon new matters not intending to bear witnesse any more to the good old cause IT 'S DEAD 2. Persons dead loose their beauty No fairnesse or comelinesse appeares in them Though living sweet and lovely to behold So the Principles of Justice honesty Conscience c. When once slaine what excellency can the Beast see in them Hypocrisie deceit pride oppression look better in his eye a thousand fold 3. To shew the cruell design of the Beast that nothing would satisfie his turn but the HEART BLOOD OF GODS CAUSE the utter extirpation of it that the name of Israel might be no more 4. Dead men are not fear'd Neither doth the Beast now fear the Testimony of these men for he hath by craft and cruelty taken such a course As he thinks himself very secure and the dead Interest of the holy Child Jesus will never rise to trouble him more 5. When they put Christ to death some mockt at him Let him come down from the Crosse and we will believe him As if he could not be the Son of God because they slew him So here is meant How the Enemies of our Lord passing by the dead bodies will scoff wagging their heads Had it been say they the Testimony of Jesus it would have sav'd it self and not been kild but it appears now it was onely their own Testimony when they were so hot against Tythes Tryers Priests Lawyers Ha ha And this is one Reason why the wrath of God will be so terrible upon the Beast and the Apostates of his Time because none before them caused the holy name of God and his Truth to be so much blasphemed For in the whole Time of his Reigne men will not cease to curse and revile the Testimony of Jesus yea the very Apostates themselves will turne Scoffers Specially near the Time of the Witnesses Rising Then Apostate-Professours will begin to jeere and taunt indeed when they see Christ in his Testimony not onely naild on the Crosse but to their thinking gives up the Ghost Now hearken Where is your fist Kingdome say they The little Horne Your three years and a half Neither will they spare the slaine Testimonie in their Pulpits But there they will break their Jests against it to have the people laugh But Thirdly It is worth enquiring Why not onely the great City is nam'd which should be preserved and defended by the Beast slaying the Witnesses But added which spiritually is called Sodome and Aegypt where also our Lord