meaner and lower sort and quality but men of renowne for wisdome learning parts and gifts and men of place of rule and authority The names of men shall be slaine their honour and greatnesse shall lie in the dust their excellency stained and their power broken These are the persons that shall be slaine In the second place the manner of their slaying presents it selfe This cannot be meant of a reall and proper slaying no more then that of the witnesses for if the slaying of the witnesses be a mysticall slaying the earthquake a mysticall earthquake so the slaying of these men is mysticall also The witnesses were alwayes slaine in their testimony and cause sometimes they gave testimony also by their bloud Sohere these that are the abettors and upholders of Antichrists cause these I say are slaine in their cause and mannagement thereof some of whom may also lose their lives in the quarrell Then this slaughter of these men of name is in their honours and preferments in their titles and offices in their pomp and riches in their rule and dominion in their parts and nams in all these they shall be slaine and suppressed even as they themselves formerly dealt with the witnesses in keeping them under this now shall be their owne lot and portion Lastly we have the number of those thus slaine and that is seven thousand which doth imply a full and perfect number and doth not here signifie just so many in an equall proportion but is put indefinitely as it 's often a certaine number for an uncertaine and may as well signifie many more or lesse then the precise number that is expressed The number here mentioned seven thousand doth imply the whole and perfect number that doth mannage and uphold the cause of the beast There were many of the people of all Nations that were seduced and misguided and drawn to wonder after the beast but these men of name are those that undertake to mannage and uphold the worship forme and power of Antichrist all these the whole and perfect number of them shall be slaine Thâ—se be not the poore vile and base sort of men but those of a more noble degree and ranke men of fame for wisdome learning gifts and offices the full and compleat number of these shall be slaine and fall in this earthquake The third and last consequent followeth which is thus expressed And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven In the unfolding these words we may consider First the persons here meant called a remnant Secondly their passions and actions 1 They are affrighted 2. They give glory to God The persons here specified are called a remnant A remnant is so called in respect of it's smallnesse or littlenesse it 's most commonly attributed to a small peice or fag end of cloth that is some fragment or very small peice left of the whole and it 's alwayes put for that which is poor few and contemptible Then by the remnant we are to understand the poor ignorant seduced people that by dependance upon complyance with those men of name that did mannage the cause of Antichrâ—â—â— have been drawne to worship the beast and to receive the marke of his image These poore sottish people are called a remnant Their passions and actions follow First they are affrighted and well they may when they see all their props and pillars gon the men of name power throwne downe from their station When the Nobles and great ones of Israel were led captive into Babylon the poore and weake of the people were left behinde so the great undertakers of Antichrists cause and quarrell are slaine and throwne downe now here is a poore company of seduced persons that have wondered after the beast they behold their great men slaine and men of renowne and power throwne downe and overthrowne and now this poore remnant they are very much affrighted and amazed they are cast downe and terrified at the fight thereof when they shall see an utter ruine of those that seduced them whom they owned and beleeved and had great dependance on and therefore are striken with exceeding great feare when they see these taken away Secondly this poore affrightned remnant gave glory to the God of heaven God was stiled God of the earth vers 4. And is called The God of heaven and earth Gen. 24. 3. Here called the God of heaven Also in Dan. 2. 18. This notes the greatnesse of his power and soveraignty who is mightier then all the powers of the world The remnant shall glorifie the God of heaven that can subdue all the powers and dominions of the earth But how shall the remnant glorifie God That shall be by acknowledging the just judgements of God upon all those men of name that he had throwne downe and slaine Suitably wee have the expression in Josh 7. 19. My Son confesse saith Joshua and give glory to God that is by an acknowledgement of the truth and righteousnesse of Gods just judgement So here the poore affrighted remnant shall freely acknowledge the equitie and justnesse of all those evils enflicted upon the men of name of greatnesse office and power these shall say that they suffered justly and deservedly and though they be affrighted terrified to see these great men of the earth both in civill and in ecclesiasticall dignity and power to fall and be cast downe yet they shall glorifie God by acknowledging of the just hand of God in his judgements upon them The words being thus far opened we proceed now to touch upon some observations clearly offered to us from them First observe from the earthquake it selfe That the rising and ascending of the 1 Observ witnesses doth cause a great earthquake in the world No sooner doe the witnesses begin to rise out of their sackcloth ascend up to heaveÌ„ but the earth shaks the world trembles great concussions and commotions are among the men of the earth and upon all their affaires States and Kingdomes powers and governments men and interests these all shake and tremble The very foundations of mans peace and joy are shattered and broken the worships and wayes the riches and preferments of the man of sin they all expire and die The powers of the beast whether civill or ecclesiasticall they are all subdued and cast to the earth All the corruption of Magistracy and all false shews and formes of worship shall be dissipated and shaken in pieces An earthquake is one of the greatest evils and perplexities that can possibly befall the world the earth being mans center and stay when the very foundation of mans comfort and happiness is shaken it must mightily affrighten astonish the men of the world There is no shelter in an earth quake for Kings Parliaments Armies Nations Common-wealths it shakes all yea rich poore high and low it throws downe every thing that stands in it's way the very bottome and ground-work of the peoples joy trust comfort
the beast as is declared vers 13. to serve his ends and designes And though it be true that all this while Christ hath intermedled with all the affaires of the Nations their policies and governments that all occurrances therein hath tended at least by degrees to advance his own kingdome and to bring about his owne ends yet these kingdomes and policies and governments have served Antichrist and it hath been their worke and businesse to oppose the kingdome of Christ and suppresse and persecute his people and truth so that these kingdomes of the world have not served Christ though Christ hath served himselfe by them but they have been devoted unto Antichrist and served him Thirdly How doth Christ recover these againe into his owne hand And that is by breaking and scattering the powers of the world he will shake all Nations Hag. 2. 6. when the Lord shall cast aside these oppressing tyrants of the earth he will come forth in the ministry of his owne people and by them administer righteousnesse and peace unto the world The Lord will dash in pieces all the powers of the earth that have oppressed his people and will so come forth in his owne people to administer to the world that the earth shall be at rest and quiet when violence shall be no more heard in the Land but our officers shall be righteousnesse and our exactors peace And how shall this be See what the Lord saith by the Prophet Esa 24. 21 22 23. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth and they shall be gathered as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison and after many dayes they shal be visited or found wanting as the margent reads it Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of host shall raigne in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously or as the Margine renders it There shall be glory before his ancients The meaning of these words take thus The great and mighty Kings of the earth who have opposed the kingdome of Christ and have undertaken all power ecclesiasticall and civill to rule in Church and State to determine all spirituall causes by temporall power and civill sanction God will so advance his Saints by his spirituall appearance in them that they shall oppose and punish these Kings of the earth not onely by the sword of the spirit but also with a temporal sword the Kings of the earth upon the earth they shall be able to overcome those that did enslave and rule over them He that kills by the sword shall be killed by the sword here is the patience of the Saints Revel 13. 10. This is the fruit of all their patience in all their former sufferings And after many dayes they shall be found wanting men shall after a time be willing to beare the losse of Kings and great ones without trouble or vexing when the Moone shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed viz. all civill ecclesiasticall powers governments orders and rulers shall be broken Then the Lord shall raigne in Mount Zion to wit in his Saints and people as before his ancients in whom he shall gloriously appeare to administer righteousnesse peace unto the world By these ancients are meant no more then the twenty foure Elders mentioned Revel 4. 4. who sit in white clothing having Crownes upon their heads as raigning in royall state glory and trâ—umph So that the Lord will no longer come forth in and by the men of the earth to raigne by Kings and Potentates but he will come forth in his glorious appearance in his Saints and thorow them will administer righteousnesse to the world Sutable hereunto is that Scripture Dan. 7. 22. where it is sayd that the little horne should make war with the Saints and prevaile against them untill the Ancient of dayes should come and then judgement was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdome Christ himselfe shall inherit all Nations and he will put his people in possession of all power riches rule and dominion When the Lord shall take away power and dominion from the men of the earth Then the kingdome and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdome is an ever lasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him vers 27. All that 's good and excellent that 's rich and beautifull that 's noble and honourable shall be given to the Saints The forces of the Gentiles and their Kings shall be brought to them Esa 60. 11. And they shall eat the riches of the Gentiles and boast themselves in their glorie Esa 61. 6. All Dominions and States shall serve them strangers shall stand and feed their flock and the sonnes of the alient shall be their plow-men and vine-dressers dressers vers 5. So then when the Lord shall take the power riches dominion and authority from the great ones of the earth and invest his Saints with the same when all power rule shall be brought under the feet of Christ who will come forth in the appearances of his people then Christ doth take to himselfe his great power and raign Thus the Lord doth recover the kingdomes and nations into his own hand stripping the men of the earth with their strength riches glorie rule and conferring of the same upon his people and so will administer no longer by Kings and Nobles but by Saints and faithfull ones He will raigne among his Ancients gloriously Fourthly By what right or title Christ will lay claime to the kingdomes of the world and that is by his owne native and proper right These kingdomes shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ The originall right and propriety of all the kingdomes of the world are the Lords they are his right and he will maintaine his owne priviledge and prerogative he will take to himselfe and possesse all they of right belong unto him and he from the beginning did possesse all It is true the Lord did intrust Kings and great ones of the earth to be his Substitutes and Stewards he committed the care of these to them as his Servants or Deputies but when the Lord will cast these Stewards out of their places dispossesse the Kings and Nobles of the earth then presently the kingdomes of the world returne to him whose they were from the beginning But these kingdomes of the world are so the Lords as they are Christ's also Christ the anointed one of the Lord he shall raigne he is son over his owne house Heb. 3. 5. He hath right and propriety with the Father by vertue of Sonship and anointing The actuall administration is put into his hand he being
abilities such as these shall be exercised about the dead bodies of the Witnesses There is not a man that hath a language gift tongue or dominion and rule but he is taken up and employed about these dead bodies These are the persons thus exercised Secondly how are they exercised about these dead bodies First They shall see them Secondly They shall not suffer them to be buried First they shall looke upon the dead bodies of the Witnesses not as the high Prie and the Jewes did upon Christ with disdaine and scorne Lu. 23. 25. The people with the Priests beholding of him derided him but rather these looke upon them with delight and affectation and as it 's expressed in the next verse they rejoyce over them they make these dead bodies or outward Carkase of heavenly things to be the very object of their joy and delight they live upon these Carkasses they uphold them as their very life and comfort Secondly they shall not suffer these dead bodies to be put in graves this commonly is done in dis-favour and scorn it was spoken it was spoken to the indignity of the Babylonian Monarchs that they should be cast out of their graves as on abominable branch Issa 14. 19. But I take the meaning here in the contrary sense that they kept these dead bodies above ground out of favour and liking that they might see them and satisfie themselves with such a pleasing object These are they that possess the outward Court and will not suffer the dead bodies to be buried the outward fleshly form of the Witnesses they will not let pass out of their sight it is their life and Religion the life and spirit of these things that were wont to torment them is departed and therefore they will not part with the externall forme that the Witnesses did once administer in These outward forms and figures of worship they will keep above ground and will not suffer them to be put in graves Abraham desired that when Sarah was dead shee might be buried out of his sight Gen. 23. 4. because the sight of his Wife was a griefe unto him but it is not so here with those that manage the cause of the Beast they preserve the dead bodies of the Witnesses that they may from the Carkass or formes of the Saints frame out and set up a Religion unto themselves and therefore though they slay the testimonie of the Witnesses that did vex and trouble them yet they keepe their bodies above ground that they might live and be comforted by them Thirdly how long these shall see their dead bodies and hinder their buriall that is three dayes and a halfe which is spoken indefinitely and undeterminate and as in Prophesie days are taken for years so here it is meant of three yeares and a halfe and so holdâ— proportion with the thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and 42. moneths and a time times and halfe a time For it cannot be meant that the Witnesses should prophesie three yeares and a half and at the end of their prophesie should be slain and lie dead three dayes and a halfe afterward But this three dayes and halfe in which the dead bodies of the Witnesses lie slaine and their dead bodies continue unburied is the same terme of time with that of the Witnesses prophesie even all the space that Antichrist doth possess the ouâ—ward Court and trample under foote the holy Citie The words being thus explained we proceed to the Observations which are these First That the power and greatness the 1 Observ wisdome and abilities of men are exercised about the dead bodies of the Witnesses What is all the studie and care that men take what do they spend their time and parts about but concerning these dead bodies yea the most excellent of men Nations Kindreds and Tongues these with all their dominion and greatness with all their learning and wisdome they are all employd about the Carkass or externall forme of things All the syllogisticall reasonings and disputes all the maximes and rules that worldly men are exercised in what are they but the very forme and figure the superficiall and externall part of those things that the Saints have in their time administred in now the Gentiles come to possess the outward Court and all their paines and endeavours they use about it to advance it and make it glorious in the earth Secondly observe That the great care that those of the Nations and Tongues c. take about the dead bodies of the Witnesses is to keepe them above ground The remembrance and sight of these are very deare and precious to the world these are their very life peace and joy they cannot live or enjoy themselves without them The externall formes of Religion that the Witnesses have sometimes given forth their testimonie by and having laid them aside the world doth with much greedinesse take up to use them and to make them their very stay comfort I have observed that the Saints did never cast aside any externall form of Religion that sometimes they have been exercised in but worldly Christians did readily embrace them they use them they keep them above ground and will not suffer them to be put in graves because they cannot subsist without these their very life and being is upheld by these dead bodies by these Carkasses or outward things Hence it is that when the Witnesses have cast aside some formall wayes of worship what is the question of worldly professors what Religion shall we be of now say they when shall we be setled Alas their Religion and life is gon if the external from be taken away They will not suffer these to be put in graves if they can with all their endeavonrs keep these bodies above ground and why the life and spirit of these things is departed with the Witnesses laying of them down so the world is willing to embrace them So long as the Witnesses used them and there was some spirit and life in them it tormented and vexed the worldly people they continually opposed the Witnesses in those very wayes and formes that now they take up themselves they only persecuted the spirit and testimony of the Saints but their Carkases they keep above ground for alas take away these you take away their Religion their life and all they have they have but the outward Court to possess and if you deprive them of that they have nothing left No wonder then if worldly Christians will not suffer the dead bodies of the Witnesses to be put in graves Now what is all the work and labour of those that manage the cause of the beast but this that after they have-slain the testimony of the Saints to advance the fleshly part and outward Carkass of heavenly things in relation to their owne advantage It 's said in vers 18. The nations were angry for his wrath is come and the time of the dead that they shouid be judged All the Ordinances and
use From the words thus opened take these few Observations First observe That the people that 1 Observ serve Antichrist are earthly and carnall They are a generation that doe arise from the earth and they are earthly they neither know nor favour the things of God Their Church is carnall their Ordinances are but inventions their Government is but a worldly power all the whole forme of service and worship is but of an earthly and humane institution Their wisdome and knowledge is but of the flesh the wisdome of this world and of the first Adam they are not endued with wisdome from on high All their parts and gifts are but acquired and made up by art and science they are not the pure gifts of the spirit but of a false annoynting of a common spirit Indeed these may cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men as it 's said Chap. 13 13. pretending they have the spirit of God when they have but a false and seducing spirit to draw Proselites to themselves So that all the things these enjoy are but carnall Churches invented Ordinances humane gifts worldly governments all proceeding from the earth are earthly and shall be cast forth into the Earth againe Secondly observe That the greatest 2 Observe joy that Antichrist hath is over the dead bodies of the Witnesses The greatest expression of the joy and rejoycing of earthly people is in slaying of the Witnesses when they can overcome and trample upon their Testimonie when they can suppresse the spirit of God in them and stop them in the course of their prophesie then they will rejoyce over their dead bodies and make their Carkasses their very life and glory These of the Earth have no quiet or peace in themselves untill by their power and wickednesse they have crucified the very apperance of God in these two Prophets and when having slaine their testimonie and set up their Carkass as their form of Religion then they rejoyce they stir up one another to triumph and exult they comfort one another in this great victory Oh what great rejoycing hath there been in all ages when the world and men of the earth could at any time suppresse these Witnesses it hath been their greatest aime and ambition and when they have accomplished it it hath been their greatest joy and rejoycing Thirdly observe That the Witnesses 3 Obser by their prophesie doe most of all torment the men of the earth The Earth and the Inhabitants thereof could rejoyce in their earthly enjoyments in all their carnall actings and humane inventions were it not for the testimony of the Witnesses these continually vexe and trouble earthly Christians and worldly Professors The men of the Earth would take much comfort and contentment in all their fleshly worship and formality but that these Witnesses are always giving in their testimonie against their falsenesse and emptinesse of all their performances But when these come and say this is Antichristian to tell the world their Church is carnall their Ordinances invented their gifts and abilities are but humane and their government but worldly this doth exceedingly enrage and torment the men of the earth Thus they turn their sweete waters into blood and contention as we heard before and plague the earth with all plagues they pour out whole vials of wrath upon all the worships and ways of Antichrist Thus we see as the men of the earth doth overcome and slay the Witnesses so these Witnesses make their part good against their Adversaries They reward Babylon as she hath rewarded them and in the cup wherein she hath filled they fill to her double Revel 18. 6. And as she hath glorified her selfe and triumphed over the Witnesses so great shall be her torment her punishments shall be answerable to her pride and tyranny Therefore when the Witnesses shall by the word of their testimonie cause vials of wrath to fall upon Antichrist then shall the men of the earth be scorched with great beate and shall gnaw their tongues for paine and blaspheame Grd because of their soares and their paines Rev. 16. 9 10 11. Their hearts shal be enraged with rancour and malice as burning with fire they shall speak evil of God and gave their tongues for anguish and vexation of spirit Thus do the witnesses by their prophesie vexe and torment the Inhabitants of the earth VERS 11. And after three dayes and a halfe the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great feare fell upon them that saw them VVE have spoken of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth of their death slaying which was a time of mourning sadnesse to them but of joy and triumph to their adversaries who sport and rejoyce over their dead bodies Now cometh a season wherein these poore despised witnesses shall exult and be glad when their enemies shall be vexed tormented for when they had slaine the faithfull witnesses of Christ they thought never to heare of them more but that which will damp all their mirth jollitie is this these witnesses shall stand upon their feet and rise againe Now of their resurrection we are to consider First the time when they shall rise and that 's After three dayes and a halfe Secondly the cause or meanes by which they shall rise and that is The spirit of life from God entred into them Thirdly we have their resurrection it selfe expressed in these words And they stood upon their feet Fourthly and lastly we have the consequent or sequell thereof And great feare fell upon them that saw them Concerning the time or season of the rising of these witnesses it 's expressed by three dayes and a halfe which terme of time hath been opened already and as you heard holds proportion with forty two moneths And with 1260 dayes and with a time times and halfe a time All the time of the powerfull raigne of the beast the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth they are alwaies killing and slaying they lie dead in the great Citie and their bodies are kept above ground for the space of three dayes and a halfe which holds a just proportion with the time of the womans being in the wildernesse in Chap. 12. 14. expressed by a time times and halfe a time After which time of sorrow and sadnesse that shall befall these witnesses they shall rejoyce for they shall rise againe Now in that it 's sayd After three dayes and a halfe it doth seem to imply an earnest expectation in the witnesses of their resurrection when the time shall draw neer when the last period of time shall come of their sadnesse and mourning then suddenly they shall expect a time of rising and rejoycing Before the time they cannot expect deliverance but when it draweth neer then they are exceedingly taken up in the expectation of it Secondly the cause or meanes of their resurrection The spirit of life from God entred into them After this 〈◊〉
the ballance goes downe when the other goes up so the honour prosperity dignity of these witnesses and of carnall men are inconsistent one with the other Then this amazement falls irrisistibly upon worldly men fearfullnesse and astonishment doth surprize them all palenesse of face and sadnesse of heart strikes the men of the earth when they thought they had slaine these Saints so that they should never rise more they thought they had made an utter riddance never to heare of them never to see them more unlesse their dead bodies and carkases to make merry withall but now that these should revive and live againe the sight of this nay the very thought hereof is like a milstone that breaks them in pieces and doth make their hearts to melt and their spirits to faile within them VERS 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld IN the former verse we heard of the witnesses resurrection here in this verse we come to treat of their ascention wherein we have an evident allusion to the resurrection and ascention of Christ And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying Come up hither c. In which words consider First the cause of the witnesses ascention They heard a voyce from heaven c. Secondly the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud Thirdly we have a speciall Adjunct of their ascention And their enemies beheld them We are no more to understand this ascention of theirs in the letter then we did of their resurrection but as we understood before a mysticall resurrection so now understand a mysticall ascention also Their killing was mysticall as being slaine in their testimony so of necessity we must understand their resurrection and ascention to be mysticall This having been formerly inculcated and now also premised that we are to enquire after a mysticall ascention We proceed to speak of the first thing viz. the cause or meanes of their ascention And they heard a voyce from heaven saying to them come up hither In these words observe First a voyce Secondly from whence it comes Thirdly to whom it speakes Fourthly what it speaks The first thing to be taken notice off is the voyce This voyce is no other then the very call of God the appointment of the Lord. The great voyce of his spirit 'T is not like the still voyce in which God did impart his minde to Eliah or the voyce speaking behinde his people but a great and mighty voyce like the sound of a Trumpet as it 's expressed in Revel 4. 1 2. This is a translating voyce changing the Saints into the voyce it selfe they are such as the voyce is as John confesses immediatly saith he I was in the spirit This voyce is the breathing forth of the spirit of God the spirit of the Lord appointing calling enabling directing the witnesses to ascend up to heaven and accordingly they doe ascend Secondly the place from whence this voyce cometh that 's from heaven that shews it is a most eminent powerfull and certaine voyce It 's the voyce of righteousnesse revealed from heaven it 's full of certainty the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it 's full of excellency coming from the excellent glory it 's powerfull and full of majesty it comes from heaven and brings the power of heaven along with it it prevailes in the thing unto which it was sent it commands all it carries all before it All the power of the earth is not able to withstand this great voyce Thirdly take notice unto whom this voyce is sent it speaks unto them namely the witnesses and faithfull servants of the Lord. This voyce speaks onely to the holy ones of God none else can understand it's language Those that accompanied Paul in his way to Damascus in Act. 9. heard a voyce but saw no man neither did they understand the meaning of the voyce that was spoken to Paul So the men of the earth may heare the outward sound of this voyce but they understand it not neither is it spoken to them it 's onely spoken to the witnesses and they heare it it 's directed to them and they onely understand it Fourthly what direction doth this voyce give forth it calls the witnesses to ascend saying Come up hither As if the Lord had said Come my people you have been clothed in sackcloth and ashes you have been made the reproach of the world and the Gentiles have trampled you under their feet you have lived upon the authority and opinion of men you have lived much below in the earth you have lived too far and remote from my selfe you have mourned as in the absence of the bridegroome but now you shall live so no longer Come up hither live in me in my glory in my spirit in my strength in my kingdome you shall have liberty peace and joy in me come up to me from under the captivity of Babylon from under the oppression of Egypt from amidst the filthinesse of Sodome come now enjoy my selfe my wisdome my strength my kingdome you shall now live upon my holy mountaine and there shall be no destroying beast you shall not be destroyed by your adversaries neither shall the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomles pit be able to make war w th you to overcome and kill you any more Here is the voyce of the Lord powerfully calling the bosome of the Lord opened in goodnesse and love the face of God shining forth in beautie and sweetnesse the hand of the Lord effectually reached out here are the gates of the new Jerusalem and of the kingdome of Christ set wide open and all comprehended in this most excellent and precious in this most transcendent and glorious voyce of the Lord expressed in these words come up hither Thus we see by what means the witnesses are made to ascend The mighty voyce of the spirit of the Lord enabling calling and directing them It comes from heaven having the majesty power certainty of heaven with it It speaks to the witnesses only because they onely understand it therefore directed to them And the glorious direction it gives forth it calls up the poore despised servants of the Lord to live in the power and kingdome of Christ saying Come up hither We now goe on to that which follows The second thing to be considered is the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud In the consideration hereof wee may consider three things First their action they ascend Secondly the place whether that 's up to heaven Thirdly the manner of their ascention It 's in a cloud Their action is to ascend which signifies some greater accession of honor dignity greatnesse and prosperity When Nebuchadnezzar once said I will ascend up to heaven I will exalt my selfe above the clouds Isa 14. 14. it's meant that he would in his heart be greater in
also of internall light and glory This is part of the glory of the new Jerusalem and of the Kingdome of Christ when Antichrist shall be throwne downe from his throne and authority and when Christ shall be exalted and the Saints possesse his Kingdome Wee now proceed to the next observation Fourthly do the Witnesses ascend 4 Obser in a Cloud then observe That in the middest of the great confusion and darknesse upon the face of the world shall the Witnesses ascend There is a great thick cloud of darknesse distraction division and confusion upon the minds and actions of the men of the earth this day Now I say that in these thick mists and fogs of trouble and contention the Witnesses daily get ground and arise higher and higher and ascend gradually every day though the world neither sees it nor knows it Israel of old passâ—d through the Wildernesse untill they came to Canaan by the conduct of a cloud So this cloud that hath this day over-shadowed the world shall not passe away untill the Israel of God are ascended up to the land of Messiah our new Jerusalem Suitable unto our purpose is that place Isa 51. 9 10. Awake awake put on strength O arme of the Lord. Awake as in the ancient dayes Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon Art thou not it that hath dryed the Sea the waters of the great deep Thou hast made the depth of the Sea away for the ransomed to passe over God hath seemed in former times as it were to be asleep as if he had altogether forgotten the sorrows and sufferings of his people But now when the Lord shall arm himselfe with power and cloath himselfe with strength as with a garment as in the generations of old or auncient dayes when thou didst cut Rahab and wound the Dragon that 's meant of Aegypt and Pharaoh And how was this done by dividing of the waters and drying up the Sea he rescued his people from the bondage of Pharaoh and the oppression of Aegypt Thus God delivered his people from the captivity of Babylon by the same power as in the ancient dayes Now in the same manner when the Lord shall redeeme his people from those burthens of spirituall captivity that his people have endured under the tyrannicall dominion of Antichristian Babylon God will dry up the Sea and divide the waters that is he will wast and consume the state and strength of man and divide Peoples and Nations one against another a thicke Cloud of darknesse shall over-cover them all what a grosse thick Cloud hangs over all men this day upon all their Actings Counsels and Designes Most men grope in the darke and know noâ— what they doe what a darke cloud of feare anger division contention disquietnesse and confusion of face is this day upon the men of the earth Now in the midst of these confusions and divisions aomngst the men of the world in these Clouds of darkenesse the faithfull Witnesses of Christ they get ground and ascend higher and higher untill at last they shall fully ascend up unto the heavenly state and glory of Christs kingdome The Witnesses ascending in a Cloud the world sees it not 't is a misterie that few understand Then this thick cloud of darknesse fear division and confusion upon the world doth plainly demonstrate that the Witnesses are now arising shaking off their sackcloath and mourning and are now ascending up to Heaven to live in and enjoy the Kingdome of Christ to enjoy that freedome and peace that light and glory that we last spake of Fifthly and lastly do the enemies 5 Observ of the Witnesses behold their ascending up to Heaven Then observe That all the power and policie of the Enemies of the Witnesses shall not be able to hinder their ascention The Adversary doth behold them doth see them get ground arise and ascend and faine would hinder them but cannot This is the greatest and most amazing fight that ever the world did see the saddest spectacle that ever it beheld this fills the earth with astonishment and trembling to perceive the rising and ascending of these Witnesses formerly slain and it cannot in the least retard or hinder them This shall be the very glory and triumph of the Saints that they shall ascend in the view and â—ight of all their Enemies that hated persecuted and killed them Now as it was the sport and joy of these Enemies to kill and slay these witnesses how much more will it be their griefe and torture to see them arise from the dead and ascend into honour It could not be more grievous to Haman to see Mordecai advanced then it amazeth the world to see these ascend and that in their sight and presence This shall be the honour and joy of these Witnesses that they shall ascend in the view and sight of their Adversaries who shall look on them and be exceedingly troubled and vexed but yet shall not be able in the least to hinder them from ascending into the glorious liberty peace light and comfort of Christs Kingdome VERS 13. And the same hour was there a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the Citie fell and in the Earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heave HAving spoken of the resurrection and ascention of the Witnesses we now come to handle the great and notable effect that succeedeth thereon together with severall consequents thereunto annexed The same hour there was a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the Citie fell c. In the handling of which we may consider First the time of this Earth-quake in these words And the same hour c. Secondly the Earth-quake it selfe mentioned in the Text there was a great Earth-quake Thirdly the consequents thereunto annexed and they are three 1. The tenth part of the Citie fell 2. Seven thousand men are slain 3. The affrighted remnant give glory to God But first of the time The same houre there was a great Earth quake This terme of time is not to be taken restrictvely as if it should be meant of an hour consisting of so many minutes Some read the same day neither may wee take it for a naturall day of twenty foure hours It is an indefinite speech and holds no certainty for the space of time but it imports that the time of this great Earth-quake should answer the time of the Witnesses rising and ascending up to heaven Those words expressed in Chap. 17. 12. These receive power one houre with the beast import the same meaning the whole terme of their raigne with the beast Secondly the earth-quake it selfe follows And there was a great Earthquake The naturall cause of an Earth-quake is when the wind is pent up in the bowels of the earth and seeking vent from thence breaks forth into violent concussions and motions so that the earth shakes and rends contrary to its naturall firmenesse and
stability Of such an Earth-quake we reed Amos 1. 1. And the like appeared when Christ arose from the dead as it 's recorded Mat. 28 2. But here we are to understand a mysticall and spirituall Earth-quake a shaking of Kings Kingdomes States Powers Formes Goverments and the very dignities orders strengths and comforts of men The same Earthquake is meant Chap. 6. 12. And Ch. 16. 18. Thus the Lord saith He will shake the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and the dry land all nations Hag. 2. 6. This was partly fulfilled when Christ came in the flesh the heaven of Ceremonies and shadows and of all the Jewish worship was shaken and abolished and also the earth was shaken both Sea and dry land all the whole earth was full of great commotions and ruines But this is again to be fulfilled yet once more will the Lord shake heaven and earth The heaven of Antichrists worship Church forme order and government And the earth also all those worldly powers that have engaged to uphold and manage the cause of the Beast these powers dominion authorities and states shall be shaken also Thus we see what wee are to understand by this Earth-quake the great commotions and troubles that shal even rend tear the earth in pieces all its order power government and dominion both in Church and State shall be broken all shal be turned upside down by these violent breakings forth that shal happen upon the world at the rising and ascending of the Witnesses In the third place we have the consequents of this great Earth-quake in these words The tenth part of the Citie fell and in the Earth-quake were slaine of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven This first consequent in order is this The tenth part of the Citie fell Whereof we are to take notice of three things viz. what is meant First by the City Secondly by the tenth part Thirdly by the fall thereof First this City is great Babylon mentioned in Chap. 17. 5. which is meant of the whole universall power dominion and territories of the Antichristian Church and State The nations combined together and gathered into a Church worshipping the Beast and his image submitting to his rule and government this is the great City Babylon of which we have spoken already from vers 8. Though Rome it selfe hath mystically ruled over the Nations hath been the rise of abominations and therefore in some sense is meant by the Citie yet it cannot be taken so restrictively but it takes in the whole State and Church of Antichrist that is called this Citie the mother of Harlots that hath corrupted the earth with her abominations Secondly the tenth part of the Citie the principall thing here to be enquired after is variously interpreted Some would have the tenth part to be meant of the Levites part such a part as was offered to the Priests under the Law as a maintenance of the legall Priest-hood So that hereby the lot or portion of the Priest-hood the chiefest and most devoted part should fall that the tribute of Tythes on tenths whereby the Antichristian Ministry was maintained should fall and utterly be withheld at the rising and ascending of the Witnesses But by the tenth part of the Citie we may understand of the tenth part of the Nations and Peoples that were devoted to the service of Antichrist In Chap. 17. 13. Ten kingdoms give up their power and strength to the beast to serve and worship him Now the tenth part of those Kingdomes Nations or Peoples that have wholly given up themselves to Antichrist and have resigned up their rule and authority their worship and service to the Beast these are here called the tenth part of the Citie Thirdly this tenth part shall fall by with-drawing themselves from the yoake and bondage of the service of Antichrist as it 's foretold of them in Chap. 17. 16. These shall hate the whore eate her flesh and burne her with fire Those tenne kingdomes or nations that had formerly given up all their strength and power to the Beast and did formerly support Antichrist now they shall withdraw themselves again now they shall with one consent prepare themselves for her destruction For God hath put into their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdome unto the beast untill the words of God should be fulfilled Chap. 17. 17. The Lord in justice gave over the nations to be servile to Antichrist for an appointed time untill he had executed all his cruelties and enjoyed his dominion and tyranny over them so at the end of his determined time God will put it into the hearts of the nations to consent and agree to rise up unto the destruction of all Antichristian dominion and power And though these nations shall not fully wholly thus rise up to effect this great worke to hate the whore eat her flesh and burne her with fire untill the last seale be opened the last Trumpet sounded and the last Viall powred out when there shall be a finall and totall destruction of Antichrist's power and raigne yet there shall be a tenth part of the nations that God will raise up to begin this worke God will honour some nation or nations first to withdraw their power and authority from the service of the beast and to oppose his tyranny and oppression and that at the opening of the sixt seale the founding of the sixt Trumpet the powring forth of the sixt Viall at the time in which the witnesses shall begin to rise and ascend Now these nations that the Lord shall first begin withall to raise up to oppose the power of the beast I say this nation or nations is meant here by the tenth part of the Citie For before that all Nations shall hate the whore and cast her off and burne her flesh with fire there shall be some particular nations that God will honour with the first of his worke and this is called the tenth part of the Citie that should fall not onely by withdrawing their owne power and assistance but also opposing and suppressing the dominion and power of Antichrist The second consequent followeth in these words And in the earth-quake were slaine of men seven thousand In the opening hereof it will be necessary that we consider of three things concerning those here that are sayd to be slaine First the persons Secondly the manner Thirdly their number The persons here slaine are expressed by an elegancy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The names of men put for men of name that is of power greatnesse of office or dignity of some place or eminency The Hebrews expresse men of honour or renowne by men of name Gen. 6. 4. So here names of men being put for men of name are meant men of note and quality such as are of place and dignity men of worth and greatnesse These men here slaine by the earthquake are not of the
in some respect and in some things cast off the service and dominion of the beast yet they have not cast off the image of the beast For if we cast our eyes upon the reformed Churches abroad we shall see a national church a carnall Ministry worldly Christians invented ordinances of mans framing civill and earthly lawes and institutions humane and naturall gifts parts exercised so that these reformed churches so much talked of are but some politick and humane frame that sets up an image to the beast or Antichrist coming forth in another forme and shape then that of downright Popery And therefore we cannot judge any of them to be the tenth part of the Citie neither can we expect the rising of the witnesses to be from thence Now for as much as England is the first nation that is wholly thorowly casting off and disowning all Antichristian powers and for as much as the Lord hath raised up his people in a great measure from their sackcloth and mourning the Saints here begin to stand upon their feet to ascend above the power of their adversaries into the liberty of Christs kingdome and in that God hath begun this great earthquake here shaking all powers both accleâ—â—asticall and civill this I say doth plainly demonstrate that England is that tenth part of the Citie where the witnesses shall first rise out of their sackcloth bondage Now this great earthquake that had it's first beginning here shall continue and by degrees reach other nations the Lord will from hence goe on to shake all nations the sea and the dry land And though Dutch and Dane and French shall combine against us and becompasse the Camp of the Saints and the holy Citie yet the fire of the Lord shall come from heaven and consume them The Lord shall be unto this Island a wall of fire round about Zech. 2. 5. And thus the Lord will undoubtedly goe on untill he hath subdued the power of the nations broken the strength of the ten hornes that they shall wholly withdraw their power and authority from the service of Antichrist and shall devote all their strength riches authority to advance the kingdome of Christ Thus not onely a tenth part shall fall in the earthquake but all the ten hornes by degrees shall be scattered and broken and whereas they have given their power and service to the beast so now all their strength and power shall serve Christ and his ends The kingdomes of the world shall become Christs at the sound of the seventh Trumpet of which we shall speake in it's due place now we proceed Fourthly from the second effect 4 Observ and there were slaine of men seven thousand Observe Those principally and chiefly shall be slaine in the earthquake that are the upholders and maintainers of Antichrists cause and quarrell Those here sayd to be slaine are the names of men or men of name of fame of note of qualitie of office of dignity such as these are slaine these are slaine in their offices The Lord puls downe the mightie from their seats and exalts the humble and mâ—eke â— powers riches honours these are cast out of ecclesiasticall civill power and rule and as it 's said of the Dragon they are cast out of heaven down to the earth they are degraded and cast out as an abominable branch This earthquake doth not so much shake and scatter the poore ignorant seduced people as those that are great in power in office in parts and renowne There is not one of these shall escape the seven thousand the full perfect and compleat number of those chiefe props and stays of Antichrist such as mannage his cause and maintaine his quarrell there is not one of those that shall escape that shall not be throwne downe How hath this earthquake shaken men out of their honours and dignities out of offices places as those that were in ecclesiasticall jurisdiction Bishopâ— Deans Chapters Câ—ancellors Commissaries Ordinaries Parsons and Curates with all the rest of the Prelaticall crew And then those in civill power dominion King Lords Parliaments and all others of place and power that have set their hands to uphold the power of the beast the Antichristian or Cleargie interest they have been broken and sâ—ared All men of name of civil or ecclesiasticall power and rule that have set and engaged themselves to uphold or maintain the cause interest of the beast they have been all broken slaine in this great and â—errible earthquake Therefore let all States and powers take heed how they mix their authority with the usurped ecclesiasticall power for whosoever doth so shall surely be destroyed For the beast and the false Prophet shall be both taken together and be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Revel 19. 20. The beast is corrupted Magistracy or forme of power ecclesiasticall and civill mixâ— together compounded and joyned into one and so acts and comes forth in the forme of a beast The false Prophet is meant of those Priests that speake lies in the name of the Lord that seeme to work miracles and cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men counterfelting the spirit of God when they speake but a divination and falshood of their own spirits Now the beast and the false Prophet fall together The one speaking lies and the other upholding him The Clergie first studying and inventing formeâ— of worship and the earthly power mainâ—aining them O that the powers of the earth might see how much they are damnified by Cleargie interest what a heavie burden it is to carry the weight of spirituall jurisdiction which will prove as a talent of lead upon the shoulders of all that stand under it The woman is sayd to ride upon the beast Revel 17. 7. The Antichristian church carried upon the back of earthly powers Hath not experience told us that there hath not been any sort of men of what title or qualitie soever that have layd hold of Antichrists interest and sought to uphold and maintaine his cause but they have been ensuared and broken in pieces Why hath there been all those turnings and overturnings of men of note and place but because they have joyned interest and power with the beast and have endeavoured to uphold that usurped ecclesiasticall power either Prelaticall or Classicall Fiftly from the third consequent And the remnant were affrighted c. observe That when God doth scatter the great 5 Obser and mighty ones of the earth it doth much amaze affrighten the poore and ignorant people that have been seduced by them When the pillars of Antichrist are shaken it must needs perplex and trouble those that depended upon them For when the poore misled people shall see the men of name their great rulers throwne downe and debased this cannot but affright them when that power that ruled them shall be subdued when that wisdome that led them shall be