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
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
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
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
of his rise to fill up the measure Dan. 8. 17 19 23. wear out the Sâ—ints and think to change Laws and the Times Now this must be in Novissimis Diebus in the last time of the Times or at the three years and half and not at the Rise of the fourth Monarchy or Antichrist in the first Apostacy but of the Man of sin and mystery of iniquity that must be revealed by the last Apostacy and Defection 2 Thef 2. 8. Rev. 17. 5. Hence Iustin Martyr in Dial cum Tryph. p. 336. called the little Horn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Man of the Apostacy Further from Reason and proportion of things therein I proved how unavoidably they are huâ—ricanoed into absurdities that assert the little-horn Government to be the fourth Monarchy or Pope or Turk or the like and though it be abundance more arduous to determine in the Positive who he is then in the Negative who he is not yet between both and in the Argumentative I may say many marks to know him by are now brought to light which before have been hid as will suddenly pursue the discovery of him into a hew and cry after him where ere he lurks But thus I say the Author doth help us much and like some excellent Musioian hath a grace above others to the car by stops So that according to the Arabick Adage Gamalon bimaudiâ—i Gamalin jarkabo A Camelin the place of a Camel may bend his knee and so doâ— to yield all that I could have said upon this Subiect to what he hath said and so energetically cleared in this book leaving them to apply that finde the little Horn out by these descriptions But a little more particularly and 1. To the men of these Times that serve the Times and men it may be they must of course be offended with this Treatise and think it too plain but poor Wretches are they so unsound that they must not be touched no! nor at such a distance neither how then would they have endured the primitive Spirit and plain-dealing Saints in those dayes then Must we counterfeit with you and come to you with Pythanology must we either speak in Tropes and Figures or else in Ropes and Faggots or imprisonment at least durante bene-placito Do you take us by the Throat saying Pay me what you owe me yea what we do not owe you and can you think to have compassion shewn you or yours when the judgement sits See but Mat. 24. 49. with Mat. 18. 33 35. Shouldst not thou also have had Compassion And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the Tormentors c. Can you be called a Christian Government that so far exceed the very Heathens in this matter Why Titus Vespasian when one spake scurrilously of him said Ego cum nihil faciam dignum propter quod contumelia afficiar nihil cuâ—o c. Well! if I have done nothing worthy of these Reports or to be thus spoken ill of I care not but if I have O then I have more reason to be angry w th my self the Transgressor then with him the Relater for he hath told nothing but the truth then He sent not out his Pursuivants presently or Sword men to apprehend such a Man Nor did we ever read among the Heathen that Tâ—câ—â—â— was ever blamed or punish d for personating and publishing Tiberius's dissimulation Nero's Cruelty Sejâ—nus's pride Mâ—sâ—alina s Adultery or Domitian's Tyranny and bruitishâ—esâ— though he was his very Creature and advanced by him And good Lord are we worse then Heathen yea then the Heathen at this day as in China where the Zaulâ— and Choli have their liberty to say any th ng against the evils of their Emperor and his Government then the Dragon Government of the Heathen at that day and yet these men that make us offenders for words Isa 29. 21. yea Words of truth and sobriety too imprisoning and persecuting year after year contrary to the Rule of Reason N uure and Religion would be accounted fain the farrest and best Government of any before it but alas for th m let men say what they will we see it and feel it every day to be of the Beast and more bruitâ—sh then those that have gone before bloody Mary her self abhorring to make it Treason for words as they have done Yet for this we bless our over-ruling God that as to Beasts of the greatest power is given the least immanity so to these of the greatest ferocity the least force for the curst Cow hath but short horns 2. To the Academies Heathen schools and Secular Clergy of England especially the Heads of Houses and Colledges Doctors and Learned men have we much to say if we might be heard or admitted to speak our minds freely 1. For that they have been such implacable enemies to the purest Truths and present testimony in every age how fierce against the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes yea against the Brownists and Puritans in Queen Elizabeth's and King Iames's dayes accusing them to the Powers and calling them as they do us absurd ridiculous frezzy fools illiterate fellows mad seditious and such as would bring all to ruine in Church and State sitter to be chastized by the Magistrate then refuted Vid. Defence of the Brownists in King James's daâ—es p. 114 115 c. this hath ever been their language against the Saints as they called Paul a Bablâ—r contradicting and blaspheming the Truth Act. 17. 19. Now it is our mercy to be of them that the Stoicks Peripateticks Academicks and Pythagoreans rage at and revile 2. Because we are perswaded in our very souls and know it that we have the Truth the Gospel the cause of Christ and the Testimony of Jesus on our side who suffer so by persecutions imprisonments oppressions over our consciences and faith in these matters Now me thinks it is easie for so many Learned wise and able Doctors Triers and Chaplains to handle us if we be in Error or out of the Way and to make it appear by the Word of God and convince us of it in charity therefore if they have received the Truth in the Love thereof we require it of them and adjure them to it in the name of him who shall shortly judge the quick and dead for the weaker we are the easier will their work be to answer us 3. For that some of your chiefest Heads were once of the same minde with us in these matters as appears by their Sermons and former practices untill they came to leave the Churches and their Pastor-ships for Colledge-places and Corner-caps and so became Vice-Chancellors Doctors Proctors Presidents Tryers and such as are in deep Traffick with the Whores merchandise Did we ever think the Dragons tail could drag down such Stars as these to the Earth to such earthly yea Antichristian titles Orders Customs Laws and Degrees as they have taken the Lord have mercy upon us with what fear and trembling do I think
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
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
what the Scriptures had foretold of the place and time And why so to change the time that is to make void the Councel of God The like may be done by the Little Horn being Troubled to hear that Christ is appearing against him to take away his Dominion hee gathers the Priests and Scribes together and inquires of them about the Time who can inform him some of them at Least that after three years and half the Horn must bee destroyed what doth hee now Thinking to change the Time hee doth all that hee can by power and craft to escape the revenging hand of God Again it is worth the noting though the chief Priests and Scribes had not the Grace to go with the Wise men unto Christ yet had they so much knowledge in the Scriptures as they could tell the Tyrant the place where hee should bee born whereby to further his bloudy design So some Ministers of the last Apostacy by the light which they have of the Prophesies of the Last Times may bee able to inform the Horn when his three years and half are ended and yet remain still with him and not go forth with the Wise to follow the Lamb. Quest How will hee think to change the Times that it may not bee Christs time but His after the three years and an half are expired Answ My opinion is these three wayes 1 As the Saints of the most high will rise in their Testimony against him especially about the Time of his End So on the other hand hee will ingage revolted Professours to appear for him more than they did in justifying his Government and wayes aspersing their Dissenting Brethren to speak things of spight ignorance Preposterous zeal and what will they have men may be as good as they will c. And thus getting the Apostates every where to cry him up for a Nursing Father and his Government the prop and pillar of Religion he will think to change the times As a little before Israels deliverance out of Egypt Moses and the Magitiaâ—s had a sore conflict and the like between Elias and Baals Priests a little before they were put to death So I conceive a little before his Dominion is taken from him the Controversy will grow high between the Witnesses of Christ and Apostates on whose side the Truth is 2 Hee will scatter the Power of the holy people grow so high in Pride and Stoutnesse neer his end that it shall seem their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left So farre shall hee prevail against the remnant of the womans seed that having before stain the witnesses hee shall think there are none left either in prison or out of Prison to take away his Dominion and cast his body to the burning flames when the three years and half are expired As the scum and drosse is wiped off and thrown into the fire when it hath spread it self over the Pot and nothing of the liquor seen so the destruction of this Horn will bee when he thinks hee hath the cause of Christ down under him and no appearance or sight thereof is left Psal 119. 119. But lastly Hee thinks to change the Times by his Army And indeed his greatest hope will bee in this For first The Army must bee purg'd that is to say not a conscientious Souldier left in it specially an Officer not a Man if known that his Principles are for smiting the Image Secondly Such mercinary fellows shall bee raked together as like the Turkish Janazaries and Spanish slaves in the Indies they will serve his turn in any thing As those Bloud-suckers which are applied to mens bodies Wheresoever they are laid be the place well or ill there they stick and do the work they are applied for So the Souldiers of this Horn whatsoever they are Commanded that they will do bee the party good or bad sick or sound all is one to them The will and Lust of their great Master shall bee obeyed though it bee against the expresse Law of God 3 Their main businesse is now to hunt after the Saints of the most high break their meetings and imprison such as they think might promote the interest of Christ and his people against the Little Horn had they liberty Fourthly it is probable hee will cause his souldiers to take away from some of the Fift Monarchy-men their Armes and Weapons not leave them a Sword Musket Pistol Pike c. it may bee not a Horse nor Money to buy them bread And having done all this now hee thinks and hath hee not reason for it he hath changed the Times It is observed by some when Ahab was told by the Prophet that the Lord would bring evil upon him and cut off his posterity 1 King 21. 21. that hee takes more Wives and Concubines and begets no lesse than seventy Sons 2 King 10. 1. Thinking thereby either to have prevented what the Lord had threatned or to make him the more work So the Horn understanding that his Power and Dominion is to bee destroyed now hee will bestir himself devising and practising all hee can either to cross the Lords decree against him change the Time or put him hard to it Thus vain man would be wise though man bee born like a wild asses colt Job 11. 12. For the other particular Wee are to consider 1 What is meant by Laws 2 How he thinks to change them Quest. What are these Laws which he thinks to change Answ 1 That Form of Government which was established before and to which the People had submitted and engaged to maintain This I think is meant by changing the Laws the abrogating of that kinde of Government which by the Legislative Power of the Nation was ordained and the good people every where had consented to 2 A change in all Fundamentals As to that Power and Right which is in the people to chuse their own Representatives and the Priviledges of Parliaments These two things hee will pluck up by the roots viz. take away from people and Parliaments their power and priviledges and assume all to himself yea so Arbytrary and Lawlesse will hee bee herein that never a Tyrant before him governing the Nations where hee shall bee ever durst to attempt the like And so much the Reader is to observe For my minde gives mee whosoever doth not this hee is not the little Horn in Daniel If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do Psal 11. 3. 3 Such laws as were made for every individual person wherby every private man before had ways and means to help himself in case of wrong and oppression whether it concern'd his person or Estate But these hee will make void and instead thereof his Will shall be for a Law as to imprison and banish whom he will and keep them there as long as hee will And to take mens Goods and Estates from them when and how much hee pleaseth So that onely his will and nothing