Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	see_v	think_v	3,978	5	3.8757	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47362	Antichrist stormed, or, Mystery Babylon the great whore, and great city, proved to be the present Church of Rome wherein all objections are fully answered : to which is added, the time of the end, or a clear explanation of Scripture prophecies, with the judgment of divers learned men concerning the final ruine of the Romish Church, that it will be in this present age : together with an account of the two witnesses, who they are, with their killing, resurrection & ascention : also an examination and confutation of what Mr. Jurieu hath lately written concerning the effusion of the vials ... : likewise a brief review of D. Tho. Goodwins exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelations, concerning the witnesses, and of that street in which they should lie slain, proving it to be meant of Great Brittain : and a brief collection of divers strange prophecies, some very antient / by Benj. Keach ... ; to which is annext, a short treatise in two parts : 1. The calculation of Scripture numbers by Scripture only, without the help of humane history, 2. Upon the witnesses, giving light to the whole book.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1689 (1689)	Wing K44; ESTC R19009	133,186	254

ordained as sufficient to establish a Truth by as much as to say God hath ●ad sufficient witnesses to bear a testimony to his Word and Gospel in every age against Antichrist his abominable lies usurpation and cursed Idolatry 2. As touching the slaying of them it must either intend a natural Death or external slaying or else ● civil death now I see no ground to conclude the former because they were so killed all along whilst they Prophecied in sack-cloath besides friends nor enemies would not suffer their Dead Bodies to lie ●●buried in the Street for the space of three years and half for the best of expositors conclude generally that is the time meant by three days and a half therefore it must be a civil Death or slaying This then I conclude to be intended viz. near the end of the two and forty months or 1260. years of their Prophecy the Beast who rose out of the bottomless Pit shall make a new rally or attempt upon Gods faithful people quite to extinguish or put ●n end to their testimony and so far prevail as they shall be lookt upon as dead in Law or be accounted as dead and lost people in the eye of the Enemy and in their own sight also both in respect of the Ministry and Magistracy too To this effect also Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks p. 154 155. This killing them considered as witnesses not as men that is a taking away of all power from them of prophecying as they were wont a general silencing of Ministers and deposing Magistrates and men of worth that profess and uphold Religion c. putting them out from all places c. That the Popish party should again arrive to such ● in some one or more Kingdoms that were formerly a Horn or Horns of the Beast or one ● the Streets of the great City nay and prevail ● far as to have great hopes to work the utter ● of Gods faithful people and witnesses as to rejoy● and conclude the day will nay is their own ● that to such a degree that she viz. Mystery Babyl● shall say in her Heart I sit a Queen and shall see ● sorrow nor know less of Children any more This ● ing dead saith the Dr. here of the witnesses ● needs be taken metaphorically and underst●●● of a civil death and of a suppression of them ● their cause And as they are witnesses to be put do● and extinguished that they for a time remain● men dead laid forth by the Walls for dead and ● men in whose Testimony there is in appear●●● no likelyhood of a revival their Enemies has ● now got such power over them this certai● made the great matter of their Enemies rejoyc● that as the Pharisees thought they had Christ 〈◊〉 enough when they got him condemned and cr●cified and had him in the grave so these Enemies shall think they have the witnesses do● sure enough for ever so great desperate 〈◊〉 helpless in all view will the suppression of 〈◊〉 witnesses be by their Enemies And this is principally intended in their being said to lie 〈◊〉 And oppositely the revival of them and the cause is set forth by a resurrection from the de● this great man hath given such an account of ● slaying and lying dead of the Witnesses that cann● I think be gainsayed and speaks tho' so ma● years ago as if he had lived to see what our E● have beheld actually accomplished in this Kingdom in a few years last past time is the only opener ● interpreter of these Mysteries was there ever s● ●n hour upon the Lords people since the beginning of the Reformation as hath been in these five or six years last past both here and in France if he is right certainly we have seen the death of Gods witnesses ●nd with this doth a worthy pious and learned friend ●gree in a late manuscript which is come to my ●and and also in his said Papers he speaks of that ●treet in which they are said to lye as dead and al●o of the Resurrection of them as already tho' but ●ately come to pass yet with that care and caution that 't is left to the consideration of the wise and thinking Christian for too great confidence in matters of this nature is not necessary But because some are ready to object saith he that if the witnesses are already slain and are rose in these nations they think there would then be a far greater appearance of divine Glory in order to the rescue and deliverance of Gods people in other parts of the World as well as here whereas we know that the generality of Christs witnesses elsewhere do yet remain under great Persecution c. In answer whereunto he saith it ought to be duely considered that the death and resurrection of the witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. must have of necessity a peculiar reference unto one of the Streets only of the great City for so the Text expresly tells us their dead bodies shall lye in the Street or in that Street of the great City v. 8. which ●eems plainly to point unto some one principal Street or part of the Roman Jurisdiction which must needs denote such a Street as where there shall be the greatest number of the most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ even are such who have born the clearest testimony against the suppersti●ions and abominations of the Mystery of iniqui●y and that have born the clearest testimony concerning Christ and the Gospel in the due exercise and administration of the Kingly Priestly and Prophetical offices of the Lord Jesus for a● reference hereunto it is that Christ values natio● and Kingdoms not in respect of their opulency ● greatness or vastness of dominions but where there are the greatest numbers of his chosen Jewels this may serve to Answer clavis Apoc. in asserti● Germany to be this Street also our French Autho● concerning the Kingdom of France some one Street we see by the plain words of the text is designed ● the scene where this glorious Prophesie was to b● accomplished for the work must begin some where And what that Street should be but th● Kingdom of Great Brittain we see no cause to doubt which all acknowledge to have been once one ● the ten Horns of the Beast and where also I thi● we may modestly affirm there are the greatest number of Christs most enlightned faithful Witnesses I will not determine but I suppose there are f●● of Ingenuity but have read and considered t● several convincing arguments of Dr. Goodwin ● Rev. 11. wherein he doth assert and I think ● clearly prove that that prediction concerning t● death of the Witnesses and their Resurrection mu● of necessity be limited to one of the Streets of the great City and cannot fairly be expounded as having any immediate reference unto any of the rest so ● doth as clearly demonstrate that the English Juridiction must of necessity be that street which ● doth by comparing the

Antychrist Storme● Antichrist STORMED OR Mystery Babylon the great Whore and great City proved to be the present Church of Rome Wherein all Objections are fully answered To which is added The Time of the End or a clear Explanation of Scripture Prophecies with the Judgment of divers Learned men concerning the final Ruine of the Romish Church that it will be in this present Age. Together with an Account of the Two Witnesses who they are with their Killing Resurrection Ascention Also an Examination and Confutation of what Mr. Jurieu hath lately written concerning the Effusion of the Vials proving none of them are yet poured out With Mr. Canns Reasons to confirm the same Likewise a brief Review of D. Tho. Goodwins Exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelations concerning the Witnesses and of that Street in which they should lie slain proving it to be meant of Great Brittain And a brief Collection of divers strange Prophecies some very Antient. By Benj. Keach Author of Sion in Distress To which is annext A short Treatise in two parts 1. The Calculation of Scripture numbers by Scripture only without the help of Humane History 2. Upon the Witnesses giving light to the whole Book LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1689. TO THE READER Christian Reader THat which induced me to publishthe insuing Treatise at this time is first the consideration of the present Providence of the great God under which we are exercised wherein it may appear to all that he hath with an out-stretched Arm begun to deliver his people and to plead the controversie of Sion against his old and implacable Enemies such a gracious dispensation as we have certainly never before seen and what the issue or event of it will be we cannot be ignorant if we consult his word Babylon must fall that is evident and that this Mystery Babylon is the Church of Rome is fully cleared in this Treatise which we hope may tend to convince such who have had any doubt upon their Spirits about it and confirm others in the stedfast belief thereof true 't is not above 6 or 7 years since we wrote something of the same nature but that lying in a folio a book that comes but into a few hands Besides this is great part new and many things of another nature insisted on I have been stirred up to make it publick in this small tract hoping that such who read it will see some further cause to hate the Whore and all her off-spring who still retain her Persecuting Spirit tho' blessed be God this Nation and Scotland likewise are stirred up of late with just revenge against her the Lord continue it for there is much work still to be done both here and abroad before that glorious state of the Church comes in which we have so long waited for as touching the time of Babylons final ruin and overthrow something we have here said and have also given the various Apprehensions of many learned and worthy Writers in respect of that as also tou●●ing the Slaying and Resurrection of the two Witnesses together with their Ascention which will have its further opening by the works and providence of God so that our light like the path of the Just shall shine more and more to the perfect day time will make manifest what is in the Womb of the present Providence That which adds further incouragement is I perceive almost every where Gods people are much upon the search into the Prophesies of the Scripture and Revelations of St. John about the time of the end We have given some brief hints touching the seven Seals Trumpets and the seven Vials or last Plagues spoken of by St. John which may we hope let in a little light into some mens understandings and tend to the putting of them upon a further search we conclude that the six first Seals spoken of Rev. 6. open things that were to come to pass in the World from the time that John received his Revelations until the years 311 or 320 or there abouts which produced 1. That fearful Apostacy from the Apostolical Faith and true Christianity of the Gospel Church 2. The utter overthrow of the sixth Head of the Beast or Pagan Emperors Reign and so put an end to the ten bloody Persecutions under them for under the sixth Seal was effected or brought to pass their final ruin signified by an Earthquake Rev. 6. Which overthrow was first begun by Constantine the great and fully compleated according to History by Theodosius about 379. under the 7 Seal there was silence in Heaven for half an hour viz. A short time of rest for the Church and Saints of God which began in Constantines dayes and lasted as some conceive till the troubles rose by the Arians which was if I mistake not about the latter end of his Reign but others say it continued till Theodosius died in the year 395. also under the Seventh Seal come in the Angels with their Seven Trumpets the 6 first Trumpets 't is concluded by most learned writers brought in those things that were effected or accomplished under the Papal power and Turkish Empire as also the death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and so brings in the second woe The seventh Trumpet as I conceive brings in the Ascention of the Witnesses and then comes out the seven Angels with the seven Vials and last Plagues the first of which I cannot believe hath as yet been poured out nor shall till the Ascention of the Witnesses which will be attended with that second Earthquake Rev. 11. and from that very time I conclude the Kingdom of Christ will begin which I know is quite contrary to what Dr. Goodwin Dr. More Du Moulin and of late Peter Jurie● have written the reasons why I am of this Opinion you will find if you read the latter part of this Treatise Dr. Goodwin if I mistake him not says that Waldo c. might be said to pour out the first Vial and that two or three more of them have since been poured out by the Angels or Ministers of God out of the Temple as they have been indued with more or lesser light but we cannot think any of the Sackcloth Witnesses who have lived under the time of the Beasts 42 months can be said to pour out any of those Vials because they are said to be clothed with pure white linnen and to have Golden Girdles about their breasts and for several other reasons which we have here given 't is indeed very strange to many wise men that Mr. Jurieu should so confidently affirm that all the Vials should be already poured out by Gods Ministers and that they are still in their Sackcloath and have so all along Others there are who Judge that the Seven Vials shall none of them be poured out till the Seventh Trumpet shall begin to sound which will effect her utter overthrow and so bring in the third woe of this

Secret that is to be opened and considered namely Whether all things in John's Vision or Prophecy that are applied to Mystery Babylon did compleatly terminate in Rome Heathen and came no further In answer to this great Enquiry we do with the body of Protestants in opposition to the Papists conclude the negative viz. That all things in the Apocalypse applied to Mystery Babylon did not terminate in Rome Heathen the reasons of which Negative are as followeth 1. Because the Beast that Mystery Babylon rides on is the eighth Head or last Ruling Power of that City that is seated upon seven Hills which must be Rome Papal because the whole Race of Rome Heathen was gone off before the eighth Head came up The sixth Head was in John's time the seventh was to come and continue but a short space The Beast that carries the Woman viz. Babylon is of the seventh but is the eighth and shall be the last for he goeth into Perdition This being so evident from the Letter of the Text needs nothing more to confirm it Now that Rome Heathen was not the last part of the Romish Power is not only the full and joynt Consent of all Writers upon this subject but is so evident to all the Christian World that it would be vanity it self to make a shew of proof The Conclusion then is this If the very last part of the Roman Power carries the Woman Babylon and that the Heathen State of Rome went off before and was not the last then Babylon could not terminate in Rome Heathen but must come down to Rome Papal see Rev. 17. 3 7 9 11. 2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the Latter ages of the Christian World For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church and the slaughter and destruction of God's Enemies did end in Rome Heathen then it served only to give a Characteristical account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old and ready to go off the Stage but hath wholly left us in the Dark and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion and Bloody Persecutions which have Reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand years last past which for length of time Numbers of Murthers and manner of Cruelties hath outdone all the wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State. Which is not at all likely that a Vision should be given and a Revelation made and call'd so about a State that was almost expired and the most and great principal part wholly left out and said nothing to Who can Imagine that a careful Saviour should be so full in his discoveries to the Jewish Church concerning their sufferings and the time under Egypt and Babylon Literal and be so short and lean to his Gospel Church to leave them altogether without any written Prospect or extraordinary Prophet to inform them what should come to pass in the world from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen to the end of all the Churches Troubles which have already lasted above a thousand years The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of men to Receive viz. The Roman Catholicks and such Protestants as Look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World after the Restauration of the Jews to their own Land and building a material Temple at Jerusalem where Antichrist shall sit three days and an half or years to kill two men called the two witnesses 3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen then there was no cause of wonderment and great admiration for a wise man to see in a Vision an Heathenish State under a Diabolical Influence to perform Actions suitable to their State and not contrary to their Professions for what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow to see the Sea foam and hear the Waves Rage and Roar when the Winds oppose his Effluxion And what cause of great wonderment and admiration for a wise man to see wicked Heathens oppose and Persecute Christianity when it is so suitable to their Spirit and agreeable to their Profession so to do we cannot yet understand and we will diligently Listen to them who will undertake to inform us For the thing is true that a wise man did wonder at the sight he saw with great admiration Rev. 17. 6. I saw the Woman drunk with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Wondred O strange At what To see that which was Common to all ages the Seed of the Serpent that profest Heathenism the wicked even the worst of the Wicked by Principles and profession to plot again● the Righteous and to gnash upon him wit● their Teeth Idolaters Profest Idolaters t● persecute the Servants and Worshipers of th● true God those that were born after the flesh and live after the flesh to persecute them tha● were born of the Spirit and lived after th● Spirit Surely if our adversaries opinion w● true in this Case that Babylon is only Rom● Heathen St. John had forgot that Cain kille● Abel and Ishmael persecuted Isaac and too● not so much notice of the course of the World common to every Age as Paul did wh● said But as he that was Born after the Flesh persecuted him that was Born after the Spirit as it was then so it is now And what strang● wonder is in all this 4. Rome Heathen never was espoused married or united to the Lord Jesus in spiritual way Visibly owning his Laws and submitting to his Government as a Wife submits to and obeys her Husband and afterwards casts him oft and chuses another Hea● and Husband and therefore cannot be mystical Babylon or the great Whore for though the Heathens were great Idolaters yet were they never charged with Spiritual Adultery● nor could they unless they had once by visible profession made a covenant with o● espoused themselves to the Lord Jesus which Rome Papal before its Apostacy did Therefore Rome Heathen could not be the great Whore or mystical Babylon 5. Rome Heathen cannot be the Babylon ●et forth by St. John unless she be guilty of all the Christian Bloud shed upon the Earth since the destruction of Jerusalem for as the guilt of all the Blood shed from Righteous Abel to the Death of Zacharias is by our Saviour fix'd upon Jerusalem and cannot be ●emoved to another People so the Blood of ●ll Martyrs and followers of Jesus is by the Revelation fix'd upon the last Babylon Rev. ●7 6. I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood ●f the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the ●lood of the Prophets of Saints and of all ●hat were slain upon the Earth But Rome ●eathen was not guilty of all the Christian ●lood that was shed upon the Earth by Mur●ers Massacres and Martyrdoms since the ●istruction of Jerusalem for to

Gods a kind ●● middle Beings between their highest Gods and Men whose Office was to be Advocates or Mediators between Men and the highest Gods because they judged it was not lawful for Men to come to the highest Gods immediately and these they worshipped by Images Even so the Papists or Mystery Babylon hath divos and divas Saints of all sorts whom she hath Canonized to be called upon in her publick Prayers Altars and Feast days dedicated and kept unto their memory and many other Honours acknowledging them to be Mediators between God and Men and unto these Daemons or petty Gods she makes her Prayers and hath their Images and to whom they do divine Homage like as did the Pagans of old CHAP. VI. Shewing the Judgments of divers Eminent Men concerning the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and final downfal of Mystery Babylon and that in all probability it will be in this present Age Together with an account of divers strange Prophesies relating thereto some very Ancient c. HAving clearly demonstrated that the Church of Rome is that great Whore Mystery Babylon It may not be amiss before we conclude this 〈◊〉 Treatise to give you some account concerning her full and final overthrow which hath been for ● long time the expectation of Gods people and multitudes of Prayers have and still do go up to Heaven for the accomplishment thereof and reason there is for it considering what a Plague she hath been to the World and Church of God for so many hundred of years and certainly God will at la●● hear that mighty cry of Prayer and of innocen● Blood that continually is in his Ears and since the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses if rightly understood gives such clear light as touching the fall of Babylon we shall give you some brief hints concerning this important and weighty point The Beast is to continue for the space of forty two Months and the Witnesses are to Prophesie in Sackcloth for the space of 1260 days which most Writers conclude to be one and the same term of time and that by days is meant yea●● all generally conclude and the long continuance of the Beast and Papal power clearly shew that to be the mind of Gods Spirit in those Mystical numbers Yet a late Worthy and Learned Writer hath said a great-deal to prove the forty two Months are to be reckoned by the Moon and not by the Sun and if so then as he shews the time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth is thirty eight years longer than the forty two months but yet are to terminate together he concluding the Witnesses put on their Sackcloth so many years before the beginning or Epoch of the forty two Months See his Book intituled The command of God to his people to come out if Babylon Moreover he saith the time Epoch or beginning of the forty two Months must be fixed at the cessation of the seventh sort of Government or Christian Emperors Reign which saith he was in the year 475. and the whole time of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny being but forty two Months which by the Moon he accounts to be just 1222 years the period of which will be saith he in 1697. And this we will say he hath doubtless fixed the Epoch or beginning of the Beasts Kingdom more fairly than many Writers before him have done because all along where the Reign of one Head or Government ended the other begun as 't is said you know the King never dies Take his own words p. 25. Thus far the matter is determined according to the Prophesie i. e. Whenever the 7th King asserted to be the Christian Emperors Government expir'd viz. by a civil death or the cessation of the Imperial Name and Power immediately the eighth King according to the Prophesie must succeed and bear up the Roman City in gratideur and whoever hath born up that City in Supremacy since that time must be according to Prophesie that eighth King i. e. the Beast Now I appeal to all the World what year that was when the Western Imperial Name fell and it is known in all History to be the year of our Lord 475. For in the wonderful disposes of God no one hath claim'd a Title of Empire from that City since that year but the Pope I do commend the ingenious Reader to the Book it self Now if this be true or can be granted we are very near the final ruin of the Papistry nay and from divers other authors most or all that I have met with agree it will be in this very age Peter du Moulin a wise and renowned French Authour in his book intituled the accomplishment of the Prophecy saith from the year 1689. Popery shall fall and go down but all conclude that the tenth part of this great City falls first and I doubt not but the providence of God hath brought us forth in the time of the accomplishment of that part of the Prophecy for that great Brittain is that part of the great City I see no cause to doubt and that also the witnesses are risen or arising and will soon be upon their feet is the thoughts of several worthy men but I being limited to the number of Sheets cannot inlarge as I would do therefore we shall 1. Briefly give you our understanding who the t● witnesses are in which we agree and accord with s●v●i● learned men 2. What is meant by the slaying of the witnesses 3. Also some probable conjectures concerning the ti●● when slain as also of their Resurrection standing 〈◊〉 their feet and ascention 1. 'T is not unknown to the Judicious Reader what different sentiments there have been about who or what the two witnesses are some thinking they are the Old and New Testament others Magistracy and Ministry others two sorts of Godly Churches some have thought them to be Moses and Elias who tho along time since are glorified in Heaven yet shall come again and be killed on Earth which is the most improbable of any of the other● yet the Papist writers and some others of late time● have asserted this But we Judge by them are meant Gods faithf●● people called two witnesses because of the sma●ness of their number who have born witness to the truths of Christ all the time of Antichri●● reign or else called two as comprehending both Ministers who are more directly intended and people also they may be called two as so●● think in respect of their twofold Testimony to 〈◊〉 true Gospel Ministry and Magistracy and this th●● conclude because called also two Candlesticks 〈…〉 alluding to those two Sons of Oyl i. e. 〈…〉 and Zerubbabel 't is evident God calls his people especially his faithful Ministers his witnesses Ye are 〈◊〉 witnesses saith the Lord Isa. 44. 8. and saith Christ ●● shall be witnesses unto me Act. ● 8. and Act. 5. 32. We are his witnesses c. also called two because two 〈◊〉 the number which God

of the Prophecy page 345. distinguished as we before shewed all which Kingdoms as King James the First in his learned works makes out took their rise with Rome Papal upon the division or ruine of the Roman Empire in its civil state the body of which Kingdoms may well be called many waters viz. people multitudes nations and tongues or people of several languages which were as well known to have been under the Usurpation and Jurisdiction of Papal Rome as 't is known there have been and still are Papists in the World which doth fully answer to the very letter of the text viz. The Waters which thou sawest whereon the Whore sitteth are people and multitudes and nations and tongues Rev. 17. 18. 2. This is very evident yet further by her making all the European Kingdoms and Merchants thereof Rich that traffick by Sea by the great expence of all commodities which are swallowed up by reason of her pride and bravery which could never be effected unless she had nations and multitudes under her jurisdiction to contribute to her great pride and luxury 3. A third Instance to confirm it is the numberless number of good Christians she has prey'd upon and murdered in most of these Kingdoms for no other cause but for witnessing against her Idolatry and Usurpation which shews what power she had over these nations and tongues c. 4. And lastly The vast sums of Money she has extorted and squeezed from these Kingdoms and Nations to uphold her pretended right preheminency and usurpation over them which you have an account of by several worthy Writers who fully witness to the truth of what we say upon this respect And from the whole we shall draw this argument and proceed Arg. If there be no Body of people professed Church or State in the World under any single denomination that sits upon i. e. commands or bears rule over people multitudes nations and tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth then Rome Papal or the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon But there is no Body of people professed Church or State under any single denomination that sits upon i. e. commands or bears rule over people multitudes nations and tongues as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon To the establishing this argument let it be considered that the whole state of the Christian World consists but of these two parts viz. the Church of Rome considered as Head and Body and those who dissent from her who are so inconsiderable whether the Waldenses Albingenses Hugonots or other parties of Protestants that no one party of nay if we put them altogether can be said to sit upon i. e. command or bear Rule over people multitudes nations and tongues to answer to this Character of Mystery Babylon the Waldenses and Hugonots have been and still are a Persecuted People the Lutherans never got up so high as to command many States or Kingdoms or people of many languages Great Britain tho a Protestant State or Kingdom comes not up to answer this character much less the seven united Provinces that of late times revolted from the Crown of Spain so that if Rome Papal hath done so and no other people that dissent from her have ever yet nor could do the like then this proves Rome Papal that great Whore viz Mystery Babylon that sits upon many Waters c. VII The seventh mark or character of Mystery Babylon is this viz. She is such a Whore that Kings and great men of the Earth are said to commit Fornication with her see the text Rev. 17. 2. With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication i. e Spiritual Fornication or Fornication in a mystery or after a mysterious manner such as Jerusalem of old was charged with 2 Chron. 22. 1. Isa. 16. 26. Which was a following like Idolatry that this Woman Babylon hath done viz. corrupting the true worship of God and adoring Idols or making of Images and Representations of the true God by which they pretended to worship him and so great was her Fornication that 't is said she did corrupt the Earth with it Paral. Now that Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath this black mark and character upon her is most evident viz. such a Whore that the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with her she having corrupted the Earth with her filthy Fornications they following her abominable Superstition and Idolatry 1. For First Hath she adored the Pope as her Lord God universal Head and infallible Bishop setting him up above all Laws The Kings of the Earth have been so intoxicated with the cup of her Fornication that they likewise have done the same 2. Hath and doth she worship the Virgin Mary Angels and many departed Saints Even so have and do many of the Kings of the Earth likewise 3. Hath she adored Images the Crucifix the Host and Pictures of pretended Saints Even so she has caused the Kings of the Earth to do likewise 4. Hath she foolishly and Idolatroully de based her self with the adoration of the Relick● of known and unknown Saints So the very same has she caused the Kings and great men to do also 5. Hath she grosly and superstitiously worshiped the true God in a false manner By crouding in an innumerous train of detestable and foolish fopperies into his worship and pretended service which he never ordained as Candles Candlesticks Altars Vestments Spittle Salt Oyl Holy Water Beads and a world of such like trumpery So have the Kings and Noble ones of the Earth done and still do as the Emperour of Germany Kings of France Spain Portugal and England formerly and of late also from whence we will draw this argument Arg. If there be no Body of people in the Christian World pretending to a Church State that have set up Idolatry to such a degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have jointly agreed and complied as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this mystery Babylon spoken of But there is no Body of people in the Christian World pretending to a Church State that hath set up Idolatry to such a degree and with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as Rome Papal c. hath done Ergo the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon To reinforce this argument let any man that will become an advocate for the Church of Rome shew that any people differing and dissenting from the Church of Rome are guilty of like Idolatry with whom the Kings of the Earth have complied as aforementioned and we will reject this argument but if this Character doth more fitly nay directly meet in Papal Rome our argument is good and unanswerable VIII Another Scripture Mark and Character of Mystery Babylon is this i. e. she doth not only cause the Kings of the Earth to commit Fornication with her but she hath intoxicated the minds

Babylon XIII But further to put it out of all doubt who this Whore is 't is said she was drunk with Blood this is another Mark and Character the Holy Ghost hath given to know her by And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great admiration Rev. 17. 6. Now if the Church of Rome be guilty here or hath this black Mark and Character upon her she is the unhappiest Church and People in all the World and gives cause enough to Angels as well as to the Apostles and Holy Men to wonder i. e. to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended the Daughter of the great King of Heaven and Earth the only chast Spouse of the Lamb the Mother of all Peace Holiness and Innocency not only defiled with all those foul and abominable errors Idolatries and detestable pollutions but also guilty of so much Blood of Saints and of the precious blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and not only guilty of Blood but also drunk with Blood yea drunk with such Blood but that this the Church of Rome is guilty of nothing is more clear which indeed gives cause to every good man in the World to abhor her And that we may make this most evidently to appear 1. Consider what it is to be drunk 2. What things do necessarily contribute to it 3. Shew what the true and proper signs of it are 4. Whether such things can be fixed upon the Church of Rome 1. To be drunk is to take in excessively any thing as disorders nature in its course and operations this we take to be a general definition of it including the proper and metaphorical notions thereof 2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it are 1. Great and vehement desire or thirst after it 2. Plenty of the thing thirsted after 3. The greedy taking their fill of it 3. The signs of drunkenness are 1. When the faculties are so disordered that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them 2. When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect 3. When they have cast off all considerations of their own and others good and for bear no mischief but what they are restrained from by force 4. That these things are evident in the Church of Rome will appear 1. Because she hath shed a Mass a very great Mass of Blood of Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus who is able to account the numbers of them that she hath murthered in all parts of the Christian World only upon the account of Religion particularly in Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Spain Italy Portugal Low Countrys England Scotland and Ireland 'T is enough to peirce an heart of Stone to hear of the barbarous crueltys and devilish inhumanities exercised for more than five hundred years upon the poor Waldenses and Albingenses by the hands of this Bloody Whore or Romish Harlot besides the wonderful numbers and multitudes of them for according to the account I have met with in History hundreds of Thousands nay some millions of those Godly Christians were most unhumanely butchered by the bloody Papists Children Born of her own Body nay in every street of this great City the Blood of the Saints hath run down like a River were this not notoriously known to the whole World I could give an account of the vast numbers slain in Bohemia in France and in Ireland of late years where there were not fewer than two hundred thousand souls sacrificed to allay the thirst of this Bloudy Whore. So that it is out of dispute she hath the first signs of a most filthy shameless drunken Strumpet i. e. she has been excessive in drinking of innocent Blood and 2. Not only so but she has drunk so much that she is intoxicated and disordered that she would never submit to the best reason that could be given her for she has been so mad that none could disswade her from exercising her cruelties on the Bodies of the Saints whose Blood she thirsted after in as unhumane a manner as incarnate Devils could devise as if to murther them was not sufficient nor could it satisfie her but she would have them die many deaths as hanging by the Feet by the Hands by the middle on a Beam by the Hair of the Head on Tenters pouring melted Lead on their Heads Boiling in Caldrons rosting alive and burning alive The poor Waldenses living in and about the valleys of Piedmont about the year 1560 were most cruelly and barbarously murthered to allay her excessive thirst some were stript stark naked and whip'd to death with Rods of Iron others drawn through the Streets and Burnt with fire brands some thrown down an high Tower and some cut in pieces with sharp Knives fourscore persons had their Throats cut as Butchers kill their Sheep threescore Women were so cruelly rackt that the Cords pierced their Arms and Legs to the Bones and then being cast into Prison they all died except nine of them young Virgins were Ravished in a Barbarous manner until they died Children were pull'd alive out of their Mothers Bellies and the Breasts of many Women cut off so that the Infants died of Famine and many other strange kind of tortures for many years together multitudes of those Godly Waldenses indured And the Albingenses who professed the same doctrine and principles were all along in the like or worse sort and manner if possible butchered in the City of Bezier there were saith my author threescore thousand persons slain the Priests and Fryers going about the Streets in the mean time with Crosses and Banners and singing Te Deum Laudamus in the year 1655 in the Valley of Lucerna and other places this bloody Strumpet thirsting still after the Blood of the Saints and like a filthy drunken wretch caused an Edict to be put forth that such who would not turn Papists within three days must take what would follow and indeed that was bad enough as you may see in Sir Samuel Morelands History of that late Persecution it began Jan. 25. 1655. upon which some Thousands of those poor Souls were forc't to fly for their lives in the depth of Snow when all the Valleys were covered with Water there being amongst them some Women with child others newly delivered some sick and diseased Children crying and lamenting Old Men and Women some decre●it leaning on their Staves all dragged or forc't over the Ice Snow c. with bitter tears sighings cries and wringing of hands beating of Breasts mourning and complaining of the cruelties of those merciless Papists but alas so drunk with Blood before that they like brutes regarded none of their cries no more than the bleating of Sheep but this is not all no sooner that they were forc't from their ha●itations but their houses were pillaged rifled and ransackt of all that was left and this not sufficient neither to

Ecclesiastical for of either or of both it is used thus under the sixth seal the great alteration wrought in the Roman Empire when it turned from Heathenism to Christianity brought abo●● by the power of Constantine with the depo●●●● those Heathenish Emperors Captains and altering the face of the Empires Religion is called 〈◊〉 Earth-quake Chap. 6. so that the like mighty commotion with an alteration of the face of things either civil or ecclesiastick shall fall out in a tenth part of the City and shall accompany or usher 〈◊〉 this rising of the witnesses 3. Now by and through this Earth quakes falling thus out in a tenth part of the City this tenth part of it is so shaken that it falls that is ceased to be a part of the City or to belong unto its Jurisdiction any longer or which is all one falls of as we say from being of the number of those th●● give their power to the Beast which if it prove 〈◊〉 be any of the Protestant States that should yet again as was said embrace the Beasts power and come under his Jurisdiction or in order to 〈◊〉 bringing in again of the Popes power should 〈◊〉 these witnesses and so thereby become a part 〈◊〉 that City and be reckoned pertaining unto its Jurisdiction yet now revolting from under the power of this City and recoiling again through this Earth-quake it may truly be said to fall namely quâ Urbis pars est as it is a part of the City which it before was but now ceaseth to be it now utterly renouncing either to belong to its Jurisdiction or to be of its party any longer and as Earthquakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the Earth so this here may seem to rise from within that Kingdom it self whether thro' the supream Magistrates beginning to hate the Whore as the promise is Chap. 17. or the peoples abominating the cruelty and contempt put upon the Witnesses and their cause their Consciences having been enlightned in the truth while themselves were troden under as the outward Court by these Gentiles and so they come to shake off that Yoke and the Witnesses having a Spirit of life now come into them these take heart and join with them and their cause whether I say through the working of either or both of these I cannot determine but I think through both for the ruin of the City unto which this is at least the preparation is to be effected through Gods changing one of the ten Kings Hearts so to hate the Whore as to eat her flesh and burn her with fire Chap. 17. And this voice speaking unto the witnesses out of Heaven Mr. Mede conjectures to be that supream authority with which the people also shall joyn for an Earth-quake certainly notes out a commotion in the people and nations Thus far the Doctor Now that which is said to be previous to the slaying of the Witnesses is the War which the Beast would make against them when they were about finishing their Testimony in Sackcloath or in the end of the 1260. days or years which plainly implys two things First That about that time as the Doctor intimates the Beast that rose out of the Bottomless Pi● viz. the Papal power would recover strength again in this Nation or that tenth part of the City called also a Street where the Witnesses should be ●●ain and lie dead Secondly Make War against them with all imaginable power craft and policy that Hell could afford endeavouring utterly to root out Gods faithful Witnesses or Protestant Interest now have not we seen these things which the Dr. hath upon this account writ is it not evident that things in England have for many years last past been carryed on by the Papal Power not only in the late Kings reign but also before have not we seen a strange Spiritual War managed by Popish councils Priests and Jesuits and had they not very far prevailed Yea so far as to the killing of Gods Witnesses according to what the Dr. saith is meant thereby how much different hath the late times of trouble been to former days What a base compliance with the Antichristian party have we seen What a strange dispiriting of godly people nay and Ministers too Never sure such a civil death in every respect hath been seen nor known before this hour Now as to the witnesses standing on their Fee● saith the Dr. p. 170. First As men erect and taking Heart their cause being just tho' before condemned Secondly As ready to defend it and as men able and resolved now to confront their Enemies which strikes a mighty dread into their guilty Consciences great fear fell upon them that saw them their Hearts begin to sink and die at the Witnesses first beginning to live and have not we seen somewhat much like this what a strange Spirit do we see now in all sorts of Protestants against the Whore or Antichristian party both here and in Scotland also More especially as touching the Ascention of the Witnesses they shall hear a voice Come up hither it certainly signifies some more glorious Church State and restoration of the Primitive Purity that shall attend the Saints and Church of God and when that comes to pass may be such a measure of the spirit may be given as to unite all Faithful and Godly Protestants into one Body and Communion and then the Spouse or Church of God will come forth out of the Wilderness as terrible as an Army with banners Cant. 6. 4. CHAP. VII Shewing the Judgment of divers Learned Me● upon the pouring out of the seven Vials particularly Monsieur Jurieu a late French Writer as also Dr. Goodwin Mr. Canne c. Proving that none of the seven Vials are yet poured out and Monsieur Jurieu's Arguments answered c. Together with an answer to what he says of the slaying of the Witnesses and that by the Street is not meant the Kingdom of France THus I have given you a brief account of the Judgment and Opinion of divers Worthy and Learned Men concerning the ri●e and ruin of Antichrist and Mystery Babylon together with the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses which is left to you to receive or reject according to your own conceptions and understandings according to the Light and Knowledge God hath given you of these great Mysteries There is one thing more I shall speak to and a little further open which is a matter of great Importance to understand in order to the finding out the final overthrow of the Papal Power and ruin of Antichrist which is that of the seven Vials and last Plagues spoken of Rev. 16. It seems not a little strange to me to see how exceedingly the learned and most renowned Expositors differ about the time of the pouring out of the Vials some concluding they are all already poured forth others that there are only the first three poured out and some others affirm there is not one