son Others leaving out Demetrius chuse Antiochus the great father to this Antiochus the vile And a third sort leave it indifferent which bee nam'd So for others applying the little Horn to the Pope One takes it for the excommunication of this King and that Emperour another for the deposing of such and such Now that which I shall say to all is this whether wee consider Kings or Kingdomes named by them they were not any of the ten Horns neither were they broken by a little Horn which grew upon the fourth Beast nor in three years and half neither together and at one time Nor doth it appear by any History that so many Horns more nor lesse were pluckt up by the persons named by them nor that it was the last Horn which grew upon the fourth Beast and another from the ten Horns Therefore I shall propound this to the Reader to bee considered and weighed by him whether England Scotland and Ireland are not three kingdomes and these three at one time as to their Priviledges Laws Rights Freedomes c. broken And whether this bee not done by men who have the Characters of the last Apostacy upon them and such as call themselves a State and Government but never could formally put themselves either into a Kingdom or Commonwealth And whither the time in which all this was done were not as probably it may be thought neer or about the period of the forty-two months But it is likely some will question whether England Scotland and Ireland are three of the ten Horns in the division of the Roman Empire To this I Answer 1 All know that are acquainted with Histories and Interpreters such difference there is among them in the enumeration of the ten Horns whether understood of persons or States that nothing from them can be certainly concluded And therefore I may say and as groundedly granting there were ten disstinct divisions that England was one Scotland another and Ireland a third as others who name either this or that Countrey But 2. My opinion is and so is the judgement of most by ten no precise and certain number is meant but an uncertain and indefinite that is the Roman Empire dissolved into several States and Kingdomes And thus was England one Scotland another Ireland another Neither doth the Holy Ghost I think intend any thing further But many Nations and Countries should withdraw from the Power of Rome and become Independents free and absolute in and among themselves So that by ten many are understood as it is often so in scripture Numb 14. 22. Job 19. 2. Pluckt up by the rootes The Angel opening these words vers 24. saith hee shall subdue three Kings Humiliabit saith Rob. Steven and Pagnim bring them low or humble them as if hee should say three Kingdomes which shall arise after the division of the Roman Empire I would have the reader to consider whether these may not bee England Scotland and Ireland being by the mighty hand of God brought off and raised up from a great deal of Tyranny and arbitrary Poner under which they were enslaved and having obtained much of their ancient freedome rights and Priviledges and in a hopeful way to a thorow Reformation at home and to have been instruments abroad of much good us other Nations in suppressing Tyranny and Idolatry Behold on a sudden out of the last Apostacy as the bottomlesse pit up starts the last Little Horn who humbles them and brings them down under the oppression and bondage wherein they were before or rather more hinders them in going on in the work of Reformation and instead of doing good to other Nations makes these three Countries a reproach and scorn every where Now howsoever this Humbling bringing down may largely bee taken Yet I think the holy Ghost chiefly intends religious things that is this last Horn shall be an occasion of rendring the blessed name of God and the cause of his dear Sonne contemptible to the World The which before was not onely mightily cried up and pretended to but gloriously held forth as a burning light before all people and kindreds and Tongues and Nations In this Horn were eyes like the eyes of a man This may bee taken two wayes 1 Of his Carnal Wisdome worldly prudence subtlety policy making an outward shew to bee a great lover of Laws of justice and Equity and the interest of the People hereby the easier and sooner to effect his own design That he is said to have Eyes and no such thing mentioned of the Ten This I understand comparatively For they did see that is they were crafty and politick yet so as blind to what sight this Horn shall have in all cunning devices Hee will exceed all that were before him both for matter and manner of deceits their craft was shewed but now and then and onely in some of their publick affairs and transactions they studied other things besides carnal policy and carried on some of their Actions without deceit simply and honestly In a word their Policies were but rough draughts at the belt Whereas this Horn whosoever hee be will mannage none of his actions without deceit his head and heart will never bee off from studying craft and for all his projects and contrivements they will be most artificial works But 2. And this I rather take to bee the meaning The Little Horn hath Eyes the other none Here is signified that hee will by a subtle Practice cal'd Religion Liberty of Conscience Gods glory the advancement of Christs kingdom c. set up himself and his own Interest A thing which the ten Horns never saw such eyes will bee proper to this Horn for hee shall joyn himself to the people of God and take part with them against Tyranny and Idolatry as seeing it to bee the way for his own advantage As the Pope Mahomet and others brought their designs to pass by such Eyes to wit religious pretences In the same way will this Horn exalt himself It will not bee so much by carnal Policy and the Wisdome of this World for in this respect the other Horns were not blinde but hee gets power place and authority another way into his hands namely by standing up for And with a good Interest and so gains the hearts and prayers of Gods people and afterwards having what hee desired turns his HORN that is his Power Army and Councel against the holy People and the good old Cause by which he was first raised Eyes of a man Not of an Angel this is added to shew that all the time of his Saint-like carriage and when hee appeared most earnestly zealous for the interest of Christ and his people like another John his heart is not upright before the Lord but is a very Hypocrite even that Fool who saith in his heart there is no God For under all his Protestations Oaths Covenants great undertakings c. The Plot and Design which hee will carry on is how to make
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
specially comprehended such who before witnessed against his Apostacy and Tyranny and suffered under him for their testimony Isa 14. 2. and 33. 1. Ezek. 39. 10. As Gideon with three hundred men broke the Hosts of the Midiarites and others afterward came in to them and pursued the enemy and so obtained a full and perfect victory Thus some may beginne the work and then others fall in with it till his Power and Government bee utterly destroyed Quest But shall none but Saints bee used as instruments to execute Gods judgement upon him Answ Some indeed think so and give these Reasons 1 This honour have all his Saints Psal 149. 9. as if this were their priviledge alone to execute the judgement written the which relates say they unto the Vials 2 If the hundred forty and four thousand Rev. 14. 1. do take in the whole number which the Lord will imploy against the Dominion of the Beast Civil and Ecclesiastical then it must follow that Saints onely shall destroy him But the first is clear and cannot bee denyed Ergo c. 3 They read no where in scripture that Christ will take any Instruments with him to execute his last plagues upon the Kingdomes of the World but holy persons neither are wicked men in any place so much as once named Psal 149. 5 6. 7. â—sa 13. 3. Dan. 7. 18. Joel 3. 11. Rev. 17. 14. Psal 110. 2. Psal 50. 5. 4 The work it self they think will not admit of any but Saints For First It is to destroy all manner of ungodliness and unrighteousnesse in persons and things Secondly It shall bee done fully and faithfully not by halves and haltingly as things formerly were which cannot bee so if prophane persons should bee used Thirdly The work is properly Christs and for Christ that hee alone may bee exalted and therefore very unlikely it is that hee will bee beholden to his Enemies for it Fourthly It is a work that requires spiritual principles neither can it bee done without Faith which wicked men have not Thus some Howsoever I do agree with these men that the Kingdome-work shall bee in the hands of Saints and by them managed and carried on And therefore called the Warre of the Lamb. Yet two things are to bee minded 1 Though they shall all have I think the Characters of visible Saints yet not all alike Some will bee weaklings men very low and of little light and life to the work to what others have and yet received Again Secondly howsoever in the judgement of Charity all may bee reputed Godly yet there may be some not enlightned further than for Reformation in Civil things And in that respect to wit upon Common-wealth principles will joyn with their brethren the fift Kingdome men against the Little Horn and Babylon thereby to recover their Ancient Liberties and Rights As the Two Tribes and half went armed over Jordan before their Brethren and left them not till the other Tribes were set and setled in Canaan and then returned back to the Country which they had chosen So it is probable some who have chosen the Land on this side Jordan I mean COMMONWEALTH-PRIVILEDGES will not onely joyn with their Brethren whose Lot is on the other side but it may bee bee before them in the Warre and when the Canaanites are subdued will be content to sit down in their Lot of Freedome and Liberty Object But some say that Saints shall not destroy the Little Horn nor the ten Horns neither the Image Babylon c. neither must they as Saints and to advance the cause and Kingdome of Christ make Warre at all But suffer all things and bee patient under Tyrants and Oppressours till Christ himself appear and march in the head of his Army When the Ziphites had treacherously betrayed David unto Saul what saith the Tyrant blessed bee yee of the Lord for yee have compassion on mee 1 Sam. 23. 21. I must confesse these men shew a great deal of Compassion to Tyrants and Persecutors as to hearten and incourage them in their cruel and bloody waies But in the mean time let them know whether it bee done of knowledge or through ignorance that I leave They do most unworthily betray the son of David as to his Cause Kingdome and People into the hands of Bloud-thirsty Sauls That much work shall bee done by Saints as Saints and upon the account of the fift Kingdome before Christ personally appear I prove thus 1 Christs personal comming will not bee till after the pouring out of the sixth Vial at the great battle of Arma-geddon against Gog and Magog specially in the Jews behalf Rev. 16. 15. and 19. 11 12. c. Ezek. 38. 12. Joel 2. 11. Zach. 14. 1 2 3. Dan. 12. 1. But before that time the Little Horn and the ten Horns and the great Whore or Babylon are to bee destroyed as the subjects of the five first Vials 2 The Ten Kings which shall hate the Whore and make her desolate c. Rev. 17. 16. do not this untill the Lamb overcomes them vers 14. Now by the Lamb Christ personally cannot bee understood but his powerful presence with his called chosen and faithfull as instruments in that work For if Christ overcome them personally how can it bee said that they afterward have burnt the Whore and yet Christ not come Reader note this it seems clear by the Scripture that the Whore I mean the State and Dominion of the Beast must fall by the ten Kings before Christ come in person see Revela 18. with Chapter 19. 1 2 3 4. where the Lord is praised for that victory and this is before Christ appears vers 11 12. c. Now then what more absurd than to say Christ in person shall overcome the ten Kings and they afterward ruine Babylon and yet Christ doth not come till Babylon be ruined 3 In Psal 110. The Prophet shews how and in what manner the Father will set his Son upon his holy hill of Zion and the Throne of David to order it and to establish it with judgement and with Justice The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion ve 2. By the rod of his strength surely hee means the Saints called the Rod of his inheritance Psal 74. 2. Jer. 10. 16. with which Rod hee will smite the earth Isa 11. 2. break the Powers of Nations and Kingdomes to peeces like a potters vessel Psal 2. 9. ler. 51. 19 20 21. c. Then follows The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath vers 5. meaning no doubt at the Arnia-geddon Battle where the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World are gathred together Rev. 16. 14. In the former Warre Christ sits at the fathers right hand whilst hee is making the enemys of his Son his foot-stool that is by the rod of his strength sent out of Zion But in the latter warre the Father is at the Sonnes right hand Besides
Jesus can deny himself can take up his Cross daily and follow his prince and his Saviour through the fire and through the water if need be and the cause of Christ call for it The wicked instead of understanding these Prophecies shall do wickedly against those who watch and pray for the accomplishment of them shall secretly wish that the Lord would delay his coming cannot eccho to the voice of the Spirit and of the Bâ—ide saying Come Lord Jesus shall be found smiting their fellow servants conforming themselves to this old evil world eating and drinking with the gluttons and with the drunken the Kings and the Inhabitants of the earth who are made drunk with the wine of the fornication of the mother of Harlots c. They cannot brook the hand-writing of God in the Scriptures concerning the numbring weighing and finishing of their Kingdoms and Governments so well as that Baby lonish Prince Belshazzar did bear the interpretation of the hand-writing upon the plaster of the wall But in stead of doing them honour who forewarn them of their approaching destruction cannot behold them with a cheerful aspect from the moment of such their faithful admonitions and reproofs but the will of the Lord be done I desire moreover it may be understood and remembred by friends and enemies that we have not by our Testimony ingaged our liberties and lives against the Gen. the Apostatizing part of the Army meerly or indeed principally upon the account of the expiration of the time allotted to the litle Horn the Beast as it may be some have done but upon the account of that good righteous and blessed Cause which He and his Officers seemed formerly to have loved better then their own lives though since they have most unworthily preferred Barabbas before Christ and so gratified the humours and the lusts of the children of Belial throughout the Nations whilst the Lords remnant have been weeping and mourning in this day of trouble rebuke and blasphemy for that abominable back-sliding whereof they are guilty before the Lord Let that counsel of Solomon and Paul rake place among those who have not yet fallen before him because there hath been no opportunity of conversing with him but yet through the power of credulity and simplicity are obnoxious to entanglements When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart Avoid those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple All such upright Christians as are not nor shall be softned by his tears nor intrapped by his spies have cause to reckon those two deliverances in the catalogue of their choice mercies from the Lord the best preservative is to keep out of the sight of the one and out of the reach of the other far enough and safe enough What is written in the few following sheets may be through the Lords blessing of great use to caution many pretious souls for the time to come who having little experience and acquaintance with the spirits and designs of the worldly Powers in their managing the mystery of iniquity the deceivablenes of unrighteousness are very apt to plead their cause and make Apologies on their behalf of whom they will find cause to be ashamed when the hidden things of darkness and of dishonesty shall be brought into the open light The truth is we erre not knowing the Scriptures We erre not being well instructed in the mystery of godliness and in the mystery of iniquity Godliness and ungodliness righteousness and unrighteousness are both of them mysteries they lie very deep they are remote from common understanding We need the candle of the Lord to find out the depths of God and the depths of Satan for each have their deeps as Paul and John have written but those who are light in the Lord are inabled to descend into the depths of God and into the bottomless pit or depth from whence the Beast who slayeth the Witnesses ascendeth and into which the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan shall be cast and deceive the Nations no more Amen Although we in our preachings and writings may to the present age seem audacious men thus to meddle with these dark prophecies yet the succeeding generations shall bless the Lord for raising up some before their times to forewarn them to flee from the wâ—ath that is to come The Lord give forth such a measure of the holy unction to his people in reading these things that being inabled to distinguish betwixt probabilities and certainties they may receive the Truth and inquire further into that which is but probable and so come to make a judgement of things according to the mind of Jesus Christ I shall not add any more at this time save only that through the rich administrations of Free-grace I am still and hope to continue to the end The servant of Jesus Christ and of all the Saints for Jesus sake according to the measure received CHR. FEAâ—E AN Epistolary Perambulation OR A Word to every one round the World IT was a saying of one who read a Comment upon the Patience of Job That poor Job was more miserably tormented with his Comment then with his Condition of botches and boyls and indeed I was the more doubtful of answering my friends desire in publishing my poor Epistolary thoughts upon so pregnant a piece and profitable as this is lest he should suffer more by so deficient and indigent a Comment as mine then by the whole matter or subject of this discourse so feelingly and faithfully since his exile and suffrings presented to the publike judgement Wherefore I fear to adde to what with so much Evidence and Demonstration he hath produced lest I should diminish and do rather wish that men would proportion Meditation to reading that they may prove them staple Truths and Commodities in their own Souls and Consciences For they can best report them who best relish them and dispirit them into their own Spirits or Breasts When I prepend how perplexable and out of order we are in these times I the less wonder at those high Distempers and burning Paroxysms of Opinion Pride lust and Passion among carnal Church-members and worldly professors who like thirsty Travellers are ready to drink of every puddle let the water be wholesom or hurtful and in their heat will have it though they surfeit for it Such must be purged and better dieted if ever they do well Now I do think as to the venome of the times contracted by taking in things untrue and obnoxious to the things and times of the end these Streams which run from the Rock Christ and glide through the valley of this Book or Brook may be of singular use to expel through the Savour Sweetness Sence Simplicity Evidence and Wholesomness of them to all Souls They are slain and so perhaps not such placentia to the Court-palates that
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
themselves to be without affections of piety and charity then not to regard whom they destroy nor how many nor how illegal it be so their own wills and lusts may be satisfied 2. Are not they without Christian affection who will deal worse and more cruelly with good men I say good men then if they were murderers and high-way thieves 3. Is not all humanity extinguished in such men who are so far from pitying the Saints when they are devouring them as is a Beast from pitying a poor Lamb whilst he is sucking his blood 4. What natural affection have they who care not for their Country nor what wrong they do to the people by taking away their Laws Liberties and Rights and imposing what burdens and pressures they please meerly to support and hold up their own private Interest Consider of it take advice and speak your mindes Truce-breakers Some read absque foedere without fidelity the Dutch translates implacable unappeasable Beza and Pagnin Nescii soederis Salmero Inconfoederabiles The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies men who make no consciences of their Promises and Agreements and having done so are irreconcilable will admit of no truce but upon their own unlawful terms It is likely the Reader will expect that I should be large here because the word as he thinks leads directly to the present Apostacy But I will speak the less because it is so plain alas poor Creatures here they cannot sew fig-leaves together and make themselves aprons as our Parents did to hide their nakedness Two things Reader I would have thee minde 1. As the Lord fore-saw what would be the special sins of the Later Apostacy so he doth mention them the oftner He knew that breaking Promises Covenants and Ingagements would be the sins and evils chiefly committed by them so he repeats the same again and again The Judgement of the present Apostacy I leave to others whether it be that in Timothy or not only this is clear by the Text That Covenant-breaking will be the sin as most eminent and remarkable in them 2. The Declarations Remonstrances Petitions and other Writings of the Army are worth the reading specially a Book entituled A LOOKING-GLASS FOR THE ARMY In this Book he shall finde truly collected what Vows Promises and Covenants have been made and whether all be not broken let hims lf be Judge But this remember also It is not the last Apostacy if the Vows and Promises which have been broken be not upon religious Pretences that is for the glory of God the safety of the Nation the good of the Godly party c. and so Righteous men still False Accusers or Calumniators slanderers Greek Devils Aretius saith it signifieth treacherously to take or deceive by false and lying words 1. Wherein can men be more treacherous then having unjustly cast Gods people into prison afterwards to lay things to their charge which they never knew 2. What greater slander then to belye the Holy Ghost in saying that to be done by Satan which is wrought by the Finger and Power of God So 3. in reporting strange Plots and Conspiracies to be among the Saints whereby to render the Cause of Christ and his people contemptible and vile to the Nation There being no Truth in it but a meer slander 4. Are not those Calumniators who asperse their Brethren with the reproachful terms of fools knaves villains rogues traytâ—rs c. though known to be wise honest sincere and sober Christians because they will not serve their wills and lusts 5. Was it not Absolom's trick that he might get the power into his own hands to slander his Fathers Government There is no man saith he deputed of the king to hear thee Oh that I were made judge in the land I would do justice read 2 Sam. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Inquire whether our former Governours have not been charged with much untruth to the end that some might the sooner and easier like Absolom raise themselves In continent so the old version ' reads Beza intemperantes Junius Subjecti affectui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui cupiditatibus suis laxant habenas ingenio suo indulgente saith Baldvin Men who loose the reins to their lusts and indulge their wit and will properly the word signifies Excess men that cannot contain themselvs within Bounds Limits Laws observe no Rule Order or Medium exorbitant unlimited He that desires light here let him read The Armies Remonstrance against the late King There this word is opened in setting down particularly his Excess his Exorbitancy the unlimited power which he took For which Excess nothing will satisfie some but his Head So the Impeachment of Strafford for High-Treason in the House of Commons Anno 1640 and 41. The Articles exhibited against him are now worth the reading He died for Excess Likewise the great Case of Ship-money when Sir John Finch then Lord-Keeper Chief-Justice Bramston Judge Berkley Judge Crawley Chief-Baron Davenport Baron Weston and Baron Turnow were accused and impeached of High-Treason by the House of Commons for their extra-judicial Opinion in the Case of Shipmoney Here Reader thy work is short It is onely to give thy judgement whethes such men as condemned the King and Strafford for being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EXORBIT ANT and had a chief hand in taking away their lives made the Case of Ship-money High-Treason because it was breaking Law-bounds If they themselves should do worse in exercising an unlimited and arbitrary power I say suppose so thou art then to judge whether without wresting the Text the APOST ACY IN TIMOTHY so far as this word bears may not fairly be applied to them And here I think good not going out of my way to set down the Excess and Exorbitancies of Duke d' Alva leaving the Application to the Reader That which he did first in stead of assembling of the general States he appointed a Council of twelve men which was called The bloody Council in French The Council of troubles The first second and third months the Duke and these sate in Council every fore-noon and after-noon as being directed still by the Duke whose intent was that the Opinion of the Council should be but Consultative as giving judgement in some causes but to have all things depend upon himself alone and they to stand to the judgement he should give By this Council and by the Duke himself all power and authority was taken from the Provincial Councils and the Inhabitants robbed and spoiled of all their Jurisdictions and Appeals clean contrary to the Priviledges of their Country yea and the Councils themselves which were like our Parliaments were forced to stand to the judgment of the said council which had the command over all noble and unnoble spiritual and temporal so that the DUKES WILL WAS AN ABSOLUTE LAW without suffering or allowing any Appeal Reformation or Reviewing of the Sentence once given and pronounced by the Duke And that
the Duke should be accounted by all men absolute Governour and all men dispenced withal not to hold or observe any Ordinance or Institution made by any others then by him and that all things should be referred to his discretion I would not be understood as if Duke d' Alva were meant in this Prophesie for I think otherwise 1. Because he was no Apostate that is did never vow and promise better things 2. He had no form of godliness Both which must be in the persons here foretold Fierce or unmild not tame wilde savage â— Inhumani seri beastiarum more saith Osiander Inhumane and wilde after the manner of Beasts So Junius Feri Bestiaruns more efferatos Arias Montan. The Dutch Cruel with whom it is perilous to converse The word properly is applied to the rage and cruelty of Beasts Hence some translate Bestiales Memorable is the thing which fell out lately at Abingdon The Souldiers were more wilde and savage then the Beasts they rid upon for the poor Beasts would not do the cruelty upon the Saints though spurd kickt and beaten to trample them under foot being at Prayer as their barbarous Riders would have had them do How will some stamp rage rail threaten and shake their Heads as if they would eat up God's people when they are brought before them But that which I take to be chiefly meant by the word is this Look as Beasts will hear no reason neither is there any stopping of them in their fierceness by speaking to them So to speak to these men meant here in the Text of Reason Law Justice Conscience Right it is to no purpose they are Feri wilde Beasts their Will and Lusts must be satisfied Again as some Beasts having gotten by force or fraud mastery over their Fellows rule them by no Law but their will such a Beast-like Government doth the Spirit of God here intend so that without doubt by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tyrants are here meant Now according to Statists and Lawyers there are two sorts of Tyrants One absquetitulo qui Rempub. sibi non commissam sine ullo justo Titulo vel Successionis vel Electionis invadit aut vi aperta aut malis Artibus He is called a Tyrant without Title who invades the Commonwealth not committed to him without any lawful Title either of Succession or Election either by open fraud or wicked designs Others describe him thus Qui sine ullo jure aut iniquo minimè legitimo Titulo Principitatum invadit who without any right or the least lawful Title usurps the Principality The other is Tyrannus exercitio sive â—su id est qui legitimum quidem jus ad Principatum habet sed eum injuste contra Leges exercet A Tyrant by Practice or Exercise who though he have a lawful right to the Government yet administers the same unjustly and against Laws Of this later Tyrant Bartolus and others give Ten Notes Again touching the former Tyrant their judgement is thus Quia Tyrannus absquetitulo nullum habet Fundamentum sut Principatus sive Regiminis ideo eâ— tanquam privato licet sine ulla conscientiae difficultate resistere eumque pellere velâ— medio tollere Quin desensio est juris Naturae A Tyrant without Title having no Foundation of his Principality or Government may as a private man without scruple of Conscience lawfully be resisted and expelled and removed from his place The Reason is because it is the defence of natural right The Conclusion is When the Later Apostacie shall be in the World or rather in the Church Tyrants shall then reign it is not said which of the Two but one of them will be Neither have we ground to think that such an Apostacie is already come unless so much doth appear There may be yet something more in the word Out of this Apostacie as the Bottomless Pit ascendeth the Beast that slayes the Witnesses Now observe it Reader it is a Beast that kills the Witnesses and what are the Later Apostates said to be Feri wilde Beasts Despisers of those that are good or not lovers of good men nor good things for the word takes in both minimè amantes bonorum Beza Negligentes bonorum Pagn If good men are not lov'd it is for the good things which they hold and practice Two ways men are said to be good men either as they stand for the good of their Country against Tyranny and Oppression and for the Liberties Freedom Priviledges and just power of the people Or standing up for the Truths of the Gospel and the Interest and Cause of Christ Now the Later Apostates shall appear against Good Men both these wayes And if this be not so now it is not the Apostacy in Timothy Traytors A name given to Judas Luk. 6. 16. and to the Murtherers of Christ Act. 7. 52. So that there are two sorts of Traytors 1 Spiritual or Gospel-Traytors 2. Civil or Law-Traytors Whether the Present Back-sliders are meant here I shall onely shew what they have said and leave the Reader to be Judge For the first thus they have said We have not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ King of Saints to be our King by profession but to admit him to the Exercise of his Royal Authority And upon this simple account we engaged not knowing the deep policy of Wordly States-men And those things simply were in our eyes namely THE DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRIST THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHRIST's KINGDOM THE DELIVERANCE AND REFORMATION OF HIS CHURCH IN THE BEST ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS ORDINANCES ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD and the just Civil Liberties of English-men Besides not onely would they have That the exaction of Tythes and all manner of Impropriations removed but all corrupt forms of an outside-Religion and Church-Government Now with this compare their PRACTICE since whether the good things they declared for and the evil things they witnessed against they have not onely declined and most unworthily betrayed as the destruction of Antichrist and the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ but have do most cruelly hate persecute by banishment and imprisonment many of the Lord's people Because they do desire and for no other cause to have such things made good as they themselves pretended sometimes to be zealous and earnest for but now have betrayed into the enemies handâ— if this be not true the Holy Ghost intends them not neither do I. For Civil or Law-Treason besides what was said before in the Case of the King Strafford and the Judges about Ship-money I finde four Acts of Parliament not yet as I know of repeal'd which say thus Be it Enacted and Ordained That whosoever shall declare publish or any way promote any Person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or Ireland c. without consent in Parliament shall be judged and deemed a TRAYTOR to the Commonwealth and shall suffer pains of death and such other punishments
as belong to the Crimes of High-treason The like Act was made March 17 1648. and May 14 1649. Again in July 17 1649. it was Enacted That if any person shall maliciously or adâ—â—â—edly publish by writing painting or open declaring c. that the Commons in Parliament are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation or shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up or raise force c. that every such offence shall be taken deemed and adjudged by the Authority of this Parliament to be High-treason Treason saith our Law is an offence committed against the Security Anâ—plitude and Majesty of the Common-wealth I am so far from taking the word Traitors for single persons or to apply it to things doubtful that I think the Holy Ghost intends a Combination of men and such as shall most eminently betray both Gospel and Law even Christ and their Countrey But I shall not take the Readers work out of his hand Heady or rash inconsiderate unstable fickle or giddy headed such as suffer them selves to be driven this way and that way by their passions and lusts Dutch Note The word as some think is taken from yong birds which venter to fly before their Feathers are grown or from little children who through their headiness fall and get many knocks When thou hast viewed their actions first and last beginning at their Instrument or new model of Government and consider what that was and how hastily done Their clapping up a sudden peace with the Dutch and making war as fast against Spain What loss we had of men and treasure at Hispaniola the manner how and what shame and scandal the English Nation had by it Then pass over to Jamaica and inform thy self truely what hath succeeded since their arrival Besides how many hundred Ships have been taken from us by the Dunkerkers whilst our Fleet were abroad for what I know not Their throwing of Good Men one while into Prison another while releasing them again without shewing any cause either for one or other Their Creating Major Generals like the Image that was made to the Beast preferring some to high Offices and Places whom they had before publickly charged to be Betrayers of their Country Summoning the Countries to chuse Parliament-men and when they came up sent them home again a hundred at a clap It would take up too much time to enumerate all particulars If these things considered prove them not Heady and Rash this then I would add It may be doubted and I do whether the Later Apostacy be fulfilled in them If any wise and sober man not being one of them can see upon any of their publick Actions wherein the good of the Commonwealth is concerned whereon there is not engraven and fairly to be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HEADY RASH AND INCONSIDERATE Either it is so or this is not the last state Apostacy High-minded or puff d up as a Tympany for that sore comes from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat eos qui sibi videntur insignes in re quapiam aut opinione quam de se concipiunt ideo intumescunt The word saith Salmeron signifies men who to their own thinking are famous in their actions and opinion and being thus conceited of themselves are therefore puffed up Some Translators have Câ—eci blinde others Fanatici dementati fanatical and sottish Indeed the word doth signifie one that is blinde and wants his understanding yet conceives that he hath both fight and reason and would have others think so too It is not to be doubted but these men whose Apostacie is here arraign'd for King Craft and Statesmen deem themselves the None-such of the Word and all Ruling men before them Simplicians and laugh at their Commonwealth Notwithstanding if that which they are designing and building be 1. Against God and therefore he shortly will destroy it 2. If that which the Saints are every where praying against 3. If that which was done before by the King against the Priviledges of Parliaments and Liberties of the People 4. If that which the people every day more and more do hate them for 5. If that which may ruine their Families and render their Names odious to posteritie I say Should such be their designe and actions The Question is though highly conceited of their own opinion and doings whether according to the word here they are not in truth BLINDE and FOOLISH STONE BLINDE as the Aethiopick reads it Lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God greedy upon voluptuousness Old Translation The word signifies such as are Friends to pleasures Here Reader consider 1. The Heathenish vanities and sports taken up since this Apostacie was made banished and buried before witness what was done this yeer upon their Lord Majors day though an Independent and Church-member Such lightness and foolery was then as was a scandal to Religion and a grief to the Saints Many poor Christians wanting bread whilst they in wantonness vainly wasted away money see Amos 6. 3 4 5 6 7. 2. Where can we see any of the present Revolters specially if crept up into High Places and Offices whether at Court or in Country but they are voluptuous and given to pleasures yea those which seemed sometimes to be Barzilla's men so mortified to carnal pleasures and risen with Christ as such things were irksom and burdens to them But now who for excess and riot more then they who more then THESE MEN for fine Clothes sumptuous Houses costly Fare and Court-Fashions so that to see them now they are more like Dives then Barzillaâ— In every vanity and foolery as carnal and light as other men Truly I should have wondred to see this great Change among professors how Barzilla's are become Diveses's those who have preached much and printed much against base delights are now the Men addicted to them I say To see this I should have thought it strange but that I know this Prophesie of the Later Apostacy every jot and every tittle of it must be fulfilled Having a form of godliness or formality shew appearance an outward visage Quibus est species reverentiae Dei Junius in whom there is a shew of fear or worship of God Specieminanem sive inane simulacrum Piscator I beseech thee Reader Take notice of the singular Wisdom and Counsel of God who will discover the men of the Later Apostacy in that way which they think to cover their Apostacie How will the Later Apostates being lovers of themselves covetous Covenant-breakers Traytors c. think to hide these Vices so at least to hide them that they may not be thought to be the Apostates foretold in Timothy By having a form of godliness that is by their often praying fasting preaching and practicing Church Ordinances c. And how will the Lord make it known That they are the Apostates there prophesied of By having this form of godliness that is being men so forward for fasting and praying yet living all
offence or fault they have committed Reader the Application is thy part And prevailed against them How this is done is shewed chap. 12. 7. hee shall scatter the Power of the Holy people the which place hath reference to Moses words when hee sees their Power is gone Deut. 32. 36. Not onely may the slaying of the Witnesses bee here meant but this Horn shall proceed and prosper so farre in this war as all hope will bee taken away from Christs cause ever to rise again I shall give the Reader my thoughts of the thing As the darkest time of the Night is about the dawning so a little before the expiration of the three years and half The interest of Christ and his People will bee at the lowest ebb and the Horn-State at the highest spring of glory and greatnesse For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Thus Moses and Daniel speak of one thing that the Horn will not bee to the height of his persecution till his body bee ready to bee given to the burning flame and therefore whosoever shall live under his Dominion must expect that hee will bee most fierce and cruel when the period and end of his time is come And shall wear or tire out the Saints of the most high Here wee have the Angels explanation of the words before how hee shall prevail namely weary out the Saints that is by keeping some of them under bonds and banishment as thinking thereby to yre them out and so compel them to deny Christ as himself had done before Others by poverty and outward wants being forced to leave their former imployment and maintenance that they might not be partakers of his sins Re. 13. 16 17. This makes mee think that the Lord will not suffer him to shed much bloud for howsoever hee will not fear God nor man and bee most wrathsul specially towards the end of his time Neverthelesse hee shall but fulfil the Councell and purpose of God as did Pharoah Judas Herod and Pontius Pâ—late that is not put the Saints to death but â— eary them out no further or very little shall hee go in spight of his Stont looks But again they are not onely Saints but of the most high which seems to import that some Saints shal do well enough under this Horn as to their peace liberty and worldly enjoyments onely those who are not for him but for the most High he will make war against And in this his Hypocrisy and other wickedness will bee â—he lesse seen and noted In honouring some Professors of Religion promoting them to great places and offices in his Councel Army Colledges and making them his familiar friends such I mean as will have fellowship with him in the works of darknesse and justifie his unrighteous wayes howsoever in the mean time hee shall persecute others who are in truth and really for the cause and interest of Christ I would have the Reader likewise to observe this as a special thing whereby to know the time of the Little Horn. There will bee then two sorts of Saints the one hee will hate the other seem to love the one he will take into his Palace the other cast into Prison the one shall be raised from one degree of preserment to another the other thrown out of all And the Reason is because the former are Saints of the most high The latter are not according to the meaning of the text The former like Moses will esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt The latter like Demas will imbrace the present world and not care what becomes of the Kingdome of the most high so they may reign as Kings themselves in Pomp Pride and Pleasure c. with the HORN And think to change times and Laws To know what is here meant it must bee observed what the Holy Ghost speaks of this Horn as to bee his great work and businesse and this is set down in two things viz. making warre against the Saints of the most high and plucking up by the roots three Kingdomes so that as he takes twosorts of people for his greatest enemies The fift Monarchy-men and the Common-wealth-men so hee is fallen upon a design whereby he thinks to keep up his Power and Dominion in spight of both Parties that it by changing times and Laws where note how in the first hee shews himself a very Atheist in the latter a deep Polititian We will speak of both distinctly By Times in this place I understand the set Time in which the father hath promised to give his son and the Saints with him the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven Psal 102. 13. Isa 14. 31. Hab. 2. 3. Rev. 10. 6 7 and 22. 10. Dan. 8. 19. and 10. 1. and 11. 27 29 35. As the Israelites after four hundred and thirty years were set free from the Egyptian bondage And afterward delivered from the Captivity of Babylon the seventy years being expired So the forty two months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the three years and half being sulfilled it is Gods purpose to begin the deliverance of his people from Tyrants and Oppressours and to make them his battle Axe and rod of his strength to break the Image to peices and take the Kingdome Dan. 7. 18. Now the little Horn reading such prophesies and what great things are promised the Saints after a Time Times and dividing of time and when three dayes and an half are ended And perceiving what encouragement some take from such places as intending to follow the call of God when that Appointed time shall come What doth he I not beleeving the holy Prophesies bee thinks to change the Times that is wheras after three years and half the Saints make account the Times will bee Christs and Theirs he on the contrary THINKS to have it his still and to continue the Little Horn as he was before Yea and to have his son a Horn after his decease That the Reader may clearly understand what my meaning is This I think When the dayes of the Little Horn are almost expired the Wise shall understand that hee is the Horn and God will put in their hearts to fulfill his Will upon him which is to take away his Dominion to consume it and to destroy it unto the End Dan. 7. 26. This being perceived by him hee shall perswade himself to frustrate what the Scriptures testify and the Saints beleeve concerning him by some crafty devises which he hath thought upon As Herod a Type of this Horn when hee heard of the birth of the King of the Jews gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to know of them where hee should be born Though hee intended onely the death of the Holy Child Jesus yet hee seeks to know
three years and an halfe before the end of the 1260 years neither sooner nor later and done with so much secresie policy and craft as no such Beast or Government shall be expected or thought of till it be brought forth And howsoever it hath a mean and low beginning yet it will rise to a monstrous height of Pride against God and man This State or Kingdome of the Beast will be full of darknesse great oppression exercised by reason the people have their power Laws and liberties taken from them And howsoever this be so yea and withall the blessed Cause of Christ destroyed in his Witnesses by an usurped power yet this Beast or Goverment shall have with it such a glorious out-side of Religion and Form of Godlinesse as among Gods own people many of them shall not know this State or Government to be the Beast which slays the Witnesses till the three years and halfe are expired And thus much for the Beast who he is and what is signified by him We come now to the Witnesses and how they are kild 1. By the Witnesses I understand not persons but the Truth or Testimony it selfe which is held forth and asserted by them I say it is not the person which the Beast is said to kill but the holy Cause and Interest of Christ witnessed too and for by the Saints of the most High So that the person may live though he be slaine in his Testimony 2. For the Testimony or Witnesse it comprehends not all Truth For the Beast shall allow much Truth and countenance men in the practice of it Therefore the Testimony which he shall slay is to be taken restrictively that is some particular Truth which he will not indure as proper to that Generation and Time In all the dayes of the Papall Beast the Sack-cloth Witnesses might safely and without danger assert many Gospel-Truths That which they suffered for was for asserting such Truths and speaking against such Errours and lies as that Time would not bear it being to the disadvantage of the Beasts Kingdome that such abominable filthinesse should be discovered So this Beast will not make war against every Truth but seeks only to destroy that Testimony which he thinks if not kild will be his utter ruine Quest What is that Truth or Testimony here slaine by the Beast Answ It is the last witnesse which Saints shall hold forth for and in the behalfe of Jesus Christ against the Enemies of Gods people And being the last of their Testimony it can be no other then bearing witnesse to Christs blessed and visible Kingdome That he as heir of all things will take all power rule dominion into his own hands and that all the present Powers and Governments of the world shall be broken to pieces And more particularly they shall now bear witnesse against this Beast as to be that Power and State by whom the witnesses are to be sâ—ain and after three years and an half his Dominion shall be taken from him The observing of this will lead us to the knowledg both of the Beast and Time for it cannot be this Beast unlesse he slay such a Testimony in the Saints as is here set down that is A testimony for Christ against all present powers and particularly against the Government of this Beast as declaring openly who he is where his seat is and that the Lord after three years and an halfe will utterly consume him And here I think lies the difference between the Testimony of the Sackcloth witnesses before the Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit and afterwards Their Testimony before was mainly against the Idolatry of the whorish Church bearing witnesse to the Propheticall and Priestly office of Christ and suffered upon that account But afterward when the three years and half begin their Testimony is as I said before for his Reigne and Kingdome And this witnesse will the Beast seek to murder allowing that Testimony which was born before to his Propheticall and Priestly office by which meanes the slaughter and murder he commits will not easily be observed 3. That the witnesses are said to be two I conceive it is for this reason Because their Testimony consists of two parts viz. 1. That Jesus Christ ought to have his right his honour glory service dominion 2. That his enemies in not giving the same to him But instead of exalting him exalt themselves and their own interest shall extreamlysuffer for it Or two as witnessing for righteous things and against unrighteous things Now for the manner of their Slaying He shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them First though the witnesses in their Testimony are slaine upon the rise of the Beast and there we are to begin the three days and an half yet doth he continue his persecution till the whole terme be ended Secondly There may be something in the words make warre overcome and kill more then hitherto hath been minded In Chap. 12. 14. The womanâ— to shun the face of the Serpent slyes into the wildernes where she is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time The slaying of the witnesses and that slight of the woman is at one time And I think the occasion of that flight is this war of the Beast So that he slays not the whole Testimony or witnesse but the Lord preserves a remnant as he did the 7000 in Israel up and down the Nation which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus all the time that the witnessesly slaine Thirdly He shall make warre against them and shall overcome them These words are taken from Dan. 7. â—2 and have been opened before It is true in Daniel there is no mention of killing The reason may be because he hath respect to what the Horn or Beast shou d doe against the persons of the witnesses but speaks nothing of killing because the Lord will not suffer him to proceed unto blood John names killing in regard he should slay the Truth and Testimony in many persons though not the person for the truths sake This likewise is worth the Observing to know the Beast by Quest But how doth he slay the Testimony of Jesus I answer many wayes First In some he slays their Testimony by preferment and bestowing great Offices and places upon them Here I may say changing a few words what is said Rev. 12. Woe to the Inhabiters of heaven Churches and Church-Officers and Professours of Religion for the Devill is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that the hath but a short time This Beast scornes to be serv'd for nought specially if they are religious and men searing God these rather then others shall be prefer'd in his Councel Army Navy Vniversities Parish-Tithes so they will fall down and worship HIM and his Image And in this designe he hath a double advantage 1. He is sure to slay in them the last Testimony of Jesus for Noman
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
So in this Controversie about the dead Witnesses the Woman and her seed will certainly overcome which is comfort and encouragement enough 2. They will not suffer it because of their zeal and affection to the Testimony of Jesus Though David a long time was numbred among the Dead by reason of Sauls bloody persecution yet alwaye he had some friend which stuâ—k fast to his Intâ—rest It is true there may seem to be a death upon the Cause of Christ during the Beasts reigne but it shall not want friends to keep it from the Grave The love of God will constraine them 3. The Beast in slaying the Witnesses will shew so much hypocrisie falshood lying Tyranny c. As will occasion People and Tongues and Nations c. continually sometimes in one place otherwhile in another to appear against him and plead the Cause of the poor and needy In so much as he will not know what to doe Nor how to proceed any further to wit having slaine them to put them in Graves 4. The Testimony of Jesus being slaine that is comparatively now dead to what spirit and life it had For it stood upon its feet before and had Power and Authority with it till the Beast came up Notwithstanding all this I say though Dead in respect of Spirit Life Power Authority yet shall not the Beast be suffered to extinguish it altogether in the Nation where he hath slaine it 1. Because if he should so far prevaile it would not onely strengthen the present Atheists but open a gap of Athiesm to many others For as the Beast in slaying the last Witnesse makes many Hypocrites so should he bury it he would make as many Atheists 2. Should he be suffered he would doe more wickedly then he doth For in that he cannot bury Christs Testimony he is restrained from acting the mischiefes which otherwise he would 3. He is not suffered Because this Witnesse though comparatively dead to what life it had shall be his ruine when the three years and halfe are expir'd Fourthly For the last point How they keep them out To open this it must be remembred It is the Witnesse of Christ I take to be slaine Not suffered to be put in Graves because some shall plead for it defend it and hold it forth all the time of the Beasts rage and Tyranny So that in one respect it is kild in another alive For some shall still appear for that Testimony which in others the Beast hath slaine In the days of Elias when they had thrown down the Lords Altars and slaine his Prophets with the sword yea and the Prophet himselfe forc't to fly for his life here it might well be said that the Lords witnesse was slaine yet not put in grave For at the same time The Lord had 7000 which had not bowed the knee unto Baal And this I take to be the meaning here The prevailing power of the Beast shall be such as he will slay the visible Testimony of Jesus held forth in some publick manner before his rising yet he shall not be suffered to put it in grave For God will have some thousands still which shall not bowe the knee to the Beast but own and honour the truth n urdered by him all his Reigne And thus much for the first Party The other sort followes And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send guists one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth To these is given a speciall Character Dwell on the Earth The subject of the first Vial is Earth Rev. 16. 2. and the same mentioned here the latter Apostacy whose description we had before from 2 Tim. 3. The Cause of their joy is the great advantage which they have by the death of the Testimony For no sort of men shall outwardly thrive and prosper under the Beast like Apostates It being a Government or State erected by them and for their owne Interest alone Another good Note to know the reigne of the Beast by viz. WHEN APOSTATES FLOURISH It cannot be his time if it be not Apostates time if carnall Professors doe not hold up their heads look big and domineere and he that will like Judas get the bag must get himselfe into some Church For as in Christs time buying and selling was in the Temple and there were the Money changers So under this Beast places offices and preferment will be crept into the Church In so much as no considerable preferment will be gotten unlesse the person be a Church-member or can procure some Church-mans hand for it Thus we see who they are that will rejoyce at this time and make merry and send guifts one to another None like Apostates who are fallen from Heaven to dwell upon the Earth As for others who are faithfull and constant to the Interest and Cause of Christ they sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done under the Beast It is said Because the two Prophets tormented them But wherein Because they spake against all unrighteousnesse of men Pressed men to keep their Promises and Engagements Declared openly against dissembling lying and hypocrisie would have Babylon down with all her will-worship and inventions People to have their power freedome and liberty according to Reason and Conscience and none to have any Arbitrary Government fore't upon them But such a Testimony as this could not be borne it was worse then an Egyptian boile Insomuch as they had no peace or rest till they had slaine that which so tormented them This place puts me in mind of what hapned upon the Dissolution of the little Parliament The Joy then among the Priests and formall Professours was much like that of the Philistines when they had Sampson in their hands Then the Lords of the Philistims gathered them together for to Offer a great Sacrifice unto Dagon their God and to rejoyce for they said Our God hath delivered Sampson our Enemy into our hand And when the People saw him they praised their God for they said Our God hath delivered into our hands our Enemy and the destroyer of our Country which slew many of us And it came to passe when their hearts were merry that they said call for Sampson that he may make us sport Judg. 16. 23 24 25. Some of them more Religious seemingly at least were for Sacrifice Hence Dayes were kept of Thanksgiving as they call it And now the Trumpets sound aloud Oh what the Lord hath done for the Sons of Levi the holy Ministery and Maintenance The Enemy and Destroyer of their Country had likely to have put out all the lights of the Tabernacle One of them I remember told the people The National Clergy was like good Isaac bound and ready to have been Sacrificed And that God by a wonderfull deliverance had preserv'd them when the Parliament-Knife was at the throat of their sacred Calling Tythes and the like For the other