Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	king_n	people_n	power_n	4,914	5	5.4287	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71105	Generation-work, or, A brief and seasonable word offered to the view and consideration of the saints and people of God in this generation, relating to the work of the present age, or generation we live in wherein is shewed, I. What generation-work is, and how it differs from other works, II. That saints in the several generations they have lived in, have had the proper and peculiar works of their generations, III. That it is a thing of very great concernment for a saint to attend to and be industrious in, the work of his generation, IV. Wherein doth the work of the present generation lye, V. How each one in particular may find out that part or parcel of it, that is properly his work in his generation, VI. How generation-work may be so carried on, as that God may be served in the generation / by John Tillinghast ...	Tillinghast, John, 1604-1655.	1655 (1655)	Wing T1175; Wing T1177; Wing T1178; ESTC R17254	317,518	510

time in which God was leading them into Canaan he and and all his people perish by it Take heed of doing all that thou conceits thou hast a principle will bear thee out in doing 9 Take heed of lending an ear unto such friendly respectful offers which carry in the bowels of them though guilded over with outward respect and friendship a crafty design against the work of the Generation As Generation-work hath never wanted a party who have by open force opposed the same So likewise there hath mostly been a party attending of it who by secret fraud and pretences of Friendship have sought to undermine it which latter have oft-times prospered in their designs through the over-much credulity of persons imployed in Generation-work when and where the first have failed Was it not a very fair offer of Moab when otherwise they could not have their wills upon Israel then to come and in a friendly way to call and invite the people to their houses and to grant to them though strangers and men of different principles liberty to worship with them What a large shew of respect and curtesie was here And yet no other but a meer crafty design to draw Isracl to sin by which when no other way they could do it they drew the wrath of God upon Israel Numb 25. So was it not a very fair Petition of Adonijah 1 Kings 2.16 17. to ask Abishag the Shunamite to wife a thing one would think to man could have blamed yet Solomon spies out a crafty design laid in this smooth Petition which was to get the Kingdome and consequently to put by the great work of that Generation viz. the building of the Temple which Solomon was appointed unto So likewise what a friendly motion and seemingly full of dutiful respect and obedience was that of Shemajah to Nehemiah Chap. 6.10 wherein no other thing is pretended but the discovery of a dangerous plot in the hatching and tender respect to the safeguard of his person and yet this no other but a crafty design to draw Nehemiah to sin and to bring a slurre upon him in managing the work of his Generation vers 13. To say no more What could be in outward appearance a more friendly offer then that of Judahs Adversaries Ezra 4.2 to come and freely proffer their help and to joyn with Judah in the carrying on that great work of Temple-building which was the work of that Age Yea and to do this at such a time when the work was despised and had lien dead many years the instruments imployed in it few and weak so that laying all things together one would judge that there could be nothing in their hearts more than good will to the work and desire the same should prosper when as yet there was no thing in all this fair shew but a crafty design lying at the bottome of it to obstruct this work of God as vers 4 5 6. 10 Take heed of making reason of State the rule of publick actings Jeroboams reason of State made Johu perform by halves the work of his Generation destroying the house and image of Baal but winking at the Calves in Dan and Bethel This reason of State was that which led a grave wise Counsel into a most cursed practice viz. the voting the Son of God to death John 11.47 to the 54. The results of pure reason of State are oft-times dangerous most times contrary to the work of the Generation 11 Take heed of setting up humane Laws above the work of the Generation My meaning is in case these two come in competition rather to choose neglect in the work of the Generation than in any way to be offensive to humane Laws If the Commands of God himself and the special acts of his worship are to give place as hath been before proved to the work of the Generation then surely without any want of that due respect that is and ought to be given to mans Law it may be said and also without offence that humane Laws are much more to stoop and fall down to it the Authority of God being above that of man In Esters time there was a Law in the Kingdome of Ahasuerus and the foundation of it was no other but the priviledge and honour of the supreme Magistrate that whosoever man or woman should come in unto the King in the inner Court except such to whom the King should hold out the golden Scepter he should be put to death Chap. 4.11 Which Law in it self was not evill as it was meerly Politick respecting only the Honour State and Priviledge of the King Yet when the Cause and People of God lay at such a plunge that without intrenching upon this Law Gods Cause in that Age must have fell to the ground Esther though uncalled by the King yea more having no other Command from God as formerly hath been shewed but only the visible Call of a Dispensation pusheth upon the Pikes of the Law and runs the hazard of the perill of death and how wonderfully God did stand by her and preserve her in so doing the issue of this her dangerous attempt recorded in the History may sufficiently inform us 12 And lastly Take heed of conjunction with such who are not reall hearted to the Cause of God and the work of the Generation When Israel went up out of Egypt a mixed multitude of Egyptians and others that were not Israelites went up with them Exod. 12.38 Which mixed multitude did afterwards prove a snare to them even in the very work of the Generation by drawing the Congregation to murmure against the Lord Numb 11.4 And the mixed multitude that was amongst them fell a lusting and the Children of Israel also wept again and said Who shall give us flesh to eat What need I relate that which every one knows how godly Asa lost himself by his League with Benhadad King of Syria and good Jehoshaphat by his compliance with Ahab and Ahaziah And although it be true that the examples of the Kings of Judah are not in all things patterns for States and Kingdomes in Gospel-dayes to walk by yet the reason upon which the Seer reproves Asa because he relied upon the King of Assyria and not on the Lord fals as strongly upon professing States under the Gospel as it did on him who shall I hope be kept both from his sin and so from his reproof Which he shall continue to pray for who is a friend to Sions prosperity and also Englands welfare and interest which is and will be found solely depending on it They shall prosper that love thee Psal 122.6 Amen FINIS Generation-work The Second Part. Wherein is shewed what the Designs of God abroad in the World may in all likelyhood be at this present day and in the days approaching Being an Exposition of the Seven VIALS Rev. 16. And other Apocalyptical Mysteries By John Tillinghast the meanest and unworthiest of Christs Laborers Rev. 14.7 Fear God and give

cause of his people against him shall the power of this fourth Monarchy stand up and by him without the help of any Creature shall it be destroyed therefore said in the following words to be broken without hand i.e. without mans hand by Christ alone agreeing to other places which speak of the same time Isa 63.3 I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me Chap. 66.16 The slain of the Lord shall be many Rev. 19.21 the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the Horse with many others The final destruction also of that proud King spoken of chap. 11. viz. the fourth Monarchy is by the personal appearance of Christ as compare chap. 11. ult He shall come to his end and none shall help him with chap. 12.1 And at that time shall Michael or Christ stand up So that the utmost point of either Prophecy or the concluding act of that long Tragedy which we have First Rehearsed in brief chap. 8. Secondly More fully declared in that last and great Prophecy chapters 10 11 12. is the standing up of Michael therefore the 2300 days which bring us to the end of the first and the 1335 which bring us to the end of the second must both expire at one and the same point viz. with Christs personal appearance THESIS XXXV The point of time at which either ends is A.D. 1701. THESIS XXXVI The true beginnings of either number do necessarily infer this year to be the end THESIS XXXVII The 1335 days are to be begun at the same Head with the 1290 therefore but one Head of account is laid down to both which is the taking away of the daily Sacrifice and setting up that abomination that maketh desolate vers 11. Onely it is to be extended so many years farther as there are more days in the 1335. then we have in the 1290 which is 45 years now 45 years being added to the year 1656 where as hath been proved endeth the 1290 the 1335 wil expire with the aforesaid year 1701. THESIS XXXVIII The 2300 days are to be begun with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy namely with the first year of Cyrus The reason is because the eighth Chapter of Daniel is as I have said a Prophecy of the three last Monarchies onely viz. Medes and Persians Grecians Romans therefore may we not go upward into the Babylonish Monarchy for a beginning because in so doing we exceed the bounds and limits of the Prophecy but we are to begin with the first year of Cyrus with which year begins the Prophecy it self THESIS XXXIX That the Heads of either number which yet both end at one and the same point are so stated as that the greater begins with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy and so with the Head of the Vision it self running down quite through it the lesser not till near a 1000 years after about the midst of the Vision a little before the coming forth of the Beast is no less than the most glorious result of the wonderful wisdom of the All-wise disposer of all things who for divers reasons hath thought good so to order it 1 That hereby the Mysteries of these two Prophecies yea all Daniels Prophecies might be the greater for observe there being not above three years betwixt either Vision Daniel having the first of these two in the third of Belshazzar chap. 8.1 which year was the last of the Babylonian Monarchy his second in the third of Cyrus chap. 10.1 the third year of the Persian had both been to be begun from the time of the Visions then would the number of dayes in either have been equal to about three dayes which little time too the Text hath clearly determined to pass betwixt Vision and Vision and if so this one thing alone would have been so great a Standard of light into both these Prophecies yea all the Prophecies of Daniel his 70 weeks excepted all the rest having dependance on these as could no way stand with the design of the Holy Ghost which was to have the Book sealed up until the time of the end for hence it would have been obvious and evident to every eye 1 That either Prophecy were the same and had one and the same beginning and ending 2 That the thing spoken of the little horn chap. 8. and of the vile person chap. 11. were not to be applied to the time of Antiochus rage which very opinion hath been a cloud upon the Prophecies of Daniel for a long time for as Mr. Parker in his Daniels Prophecies expounded pag. 37. hath well proved the 2300 days are no way appliable to the time of Antiochus persecutions 3 That all Daniels Visions and Prophecies viz. That of the great Image chap. 2. That of the four Beasts and the little Horn chap. 7. together with these chap. 8 and chap. 10 11 12. do terminate at one and the same point and this point to be no other but the end of the 2300 the 1335 days for if these two be the same and terminate at one point then by a parallel of reason the other two also viz. that of the great Image and that of the four Beasts for either of those conclude with work of a like nature and glory of a like kind with these And if so then is that other clouding opinion which darkens all Daniels Prophecies at this day viz. That the little Horn chap. 7. is to be understood either of the whole Norman Race here in England from William the Conqueror the first of that Race as some conceive or of the late King Charles onely the last of that Race as others shaken off for that Race hath been extirpated root and branch these five years already whereas to the end of the 2300 days the 1335 it is near 50 years yet to come and therefore we must of necessity unless we deny that which from the scope of each Prophecy is so clear as that it is undeniable viz that Daniels Prophecies have but one and the same end conclude that either the little Horn Chap. 7. is no such thing as many now adays suppose or affirm that the final destruction of this little Horn is come upon him upwards of fifty years before the determined time Now this one beam of light followed being such as that it discovers most of those by-wayes that men have gone in and thereby darkned the truth of Daniel it could not I say stand with Gods design of sealing this Book to make Revelation of so great and clear light as would have come in had the heads of each number been placed with the time of each Vision 2 Reason Because hereby the latter Prophecy which is the clearer and intended by the Lord as a farther and more particular light into those things that in the general had been revealed before should have been as dark as the other in regard of making up any account of time had the same began as

the Seat he should upon his rise sit in he should not differ from the Roman Empire that then was and had its beginning long before John wrote is not in respect of a power Ecclesiastical as well as Civil which Antichrist was to have so he was not the present Government when John wrote neither knowing nor allowing any such power for which cause though Antichrists Seat and Civil Power was in the Roman Empire as Pagan yet was not the Empire or Government then the Beast here spoken of or Antichrist Yet is in respect of will and desire and a secret aspiring which then was after such a thing or power which once obtained would Midwife this man of sin into the world 2 Thes 2.7 The mystery of iniquity doth already work 1 Joh. 2.18 Even now there are many Antichrists shall ascend out of the bottomless Pit because the rise of this Beast which must as I have said be one and the same in all the several expressions was to be afterwards when the Civil power that now was in the hands of Pagan Emperors should fall into the hands of the Beast and withall an Ecclesiastical power set up with it both going together hand in hand which should be a Government so abominable that it is said to ascend out of the bottomless Pit i.e. the rise of it should be as from Hell it self And therefore of this very Beast that was and is not it is said he is the eight vers 11. that is the eighth kind of Government which should be in the Roman Empire a clear Argument that not the Empire in general but the same as under Antichristian onely is the Beast that was and is not for all the several Governments are comprehended under the Empire in general but the Beast that was and is not is spoken of particularly as but one and that too the eight and last which can agree to none but Antichrist for five distinct kinds of Government had been before Johns time First Kings Secondly Consuls Thirdly Dictators Fourthly Decem-viri Fifthly Tribunes which all were fallen therefore saith he vers 10. five are fallen One that is the sixth then was which was a Government by Cesars who ruled the Empire in Johns time therefore one is another the seventh was yet to come that is by Christian Emperors therefore saith he the other is yet to come and of this seventh he saith when he commeth he must continue a short space for indeed this continued but a little while but the Empire growing corrupt the Beast that was and is not i.e. Antichrist creeps in who is called the eight And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eight vers 11. because he sets up a new form of Government distinct from all the former viz. an Ecclesiastical and Civil State mixt together which none of the former Governments had and may therefore well then be called the eight or another Government And yet he is of the seven and is of the seven i.e. besides the new Ecclesiastical Power erected by this Beast this Beast doth also exercise that Civil Power which the seven or the several Governments before him had or did exercise And for this reason the seven Heads of the Beast ver 9. are interpreted of the seven kinds of Government ver 10. Not to shew that by Beast is understood as is generally conceived the Empire at large including all the several Governments that were to be in it But to shew that the power of all the seven former Governments should center in this Beast whatsoever Civil power they had he should have it all who yet over and above should erect a new power which none of the former had in which sense he should be the eighth And of this Beast it is said he goeth into perdition either because destruction will be his end as chap. 19.20 or because under this Beast the Fourth Monarchy is to be utterly destroyed So that the Beast here ascending out of the bottomless pit which is the same Beast with that which kils the Witnesses Revel 11.1 is to be understood of the Political and Ecclesiastical State both of the Roman Empire as now it is though of the seven in respect of the Political State and yet the eight in respect of the Ecclesiastical added to the other yet but one and the same Beast for the same Beast is the eight and of the seven I therefore conclude that Beast when spoken of without distinction denotes Antichrists Civil and Ecclesiastical power both When Beast is spoken of with distinction as Beast and Beast Beast and Woman Beast and false Prophet We are then by one to understand the Roman Civil State onely by the other the Ecclesiastical This is manifest Rev. 13. where we have two Beasts spoken of the one arising out of the Sea ver 2. the other out of the Earth vers 11. By the first we are to understand the Civil State onely for vers 2. The Dragon gives to this first Beast his power Seat and great Authority i.e. the Devil who all the time the Roman Empire was Pagan did rule in it and was openly worshipped there seeing himself by Christian Emperors now come to the Imperial Dignity dethroned so as that he cannot under that form procure any more as he had done to be openly worshipped and to persecute the Saints he therefore resigns his Power Seat and great Authority i.e. Rome the Seat of the Empire and the Power and Authority of the former Emperors which was Civil onely to this first Beast for which reason the seven heads of the Antichristian Beast Chap. 17.9.10 are by the Holy Ghost interpreted first Of the seven Mountains of Rome the Seat of the Beast And secondly of the seven distinct kinds of Government namely the Power and Authority of the Beast because both these viz. the Seat and Civil power of the former Empire are given into the hands of this first Beast the principal limb of Antichrist so that by first Beast the Civil State onely is to be understood for the first Beast hath onely what the Dragon resigns and the Dragon could resign no more the power of the former Empire in which the Dragon ruled being Civil onely But so subtle is this Dragon the Devil that by resigning to the first Beast a second Beast doth arise vers 11. by which Beast the Devil obtains to be worshipped again though under a more specious form and devout way of Idolatry devised by the second Beast and so what the Devil was before forced to let go in one kind he now by policy gets again in another Now this second Beast is the Ecclesiastical State of the Roman Empire the Pope his Hierarchy and Clergy as appears 1 Because his rise is out of the Earth vers 11. that is his beginning is base mean and low as the Popes at first when the Beast first began to rise were poor Bishops who in time by the favour of Princes got up to

and crouch to her by which she is grown rich and gallant having by whoring and jugling got the riches the gold the precious stones and pearls of the first Beast to her self and to shew what an aspiring spirit she is of instead now of exercising the power of the first Beast i. e. of the Civil State by leave any longer she is now like Lord and King got upon the back of the first Beast who dares not cross her humor for she rides him and rules him at pleasure And indeed the first Beast is justly recompenced for setting up and countenancing such a Beast at first who according to the Proverb give an inch of power he will take an ell for whilst the first Beast remains a Beast still this second Beast is from a Beast advanced to be a Woman which not onely had robbed and plundered the coffers of the Beast and got all his riches from him but also knows how to ride the Beast master him and rule him as she list And certainly had not the first Beast been a very Beast I mean had not the Civil State at first so far degenerated as instead of acting rationally as a man to act sensually and bruitishly as a Beast this great inconvenience would have been foreseen in the beginning at least remedied in time before the second Beast was grown to such a height that he was now past taming and able to ride and master the first Beast that set him up Now whereas the Woman verse last is said to be the Great City it is as I suppose rather lain down as a Mark or character to know the Woman by and that from the place she was to sit in then a description of the Woman which verse 9. confirms me in by giving us to understand that the woman sits upon the seven Mountains i.e. the City Rome anciently built upon seven Mountains therefore the seven Mountains i. e. the City Rome is not to speak properly the Woman but the Seat of the Woman What I have said of the two Beasts the Beast and the Woman I may also say of the Beast and the false Prophet spoken of in the words I am opening The Beast here is the Civil State or the first Beast that ariseth out of the Sea the false Prophet the Ecclesiastical or second Beast whose rise is from the Earth And indeed he that shall but parallel the second Beast spoken of chap. 13. with what is spoken of the false Prophet chap. 19. will find them to be one and the same The false Prophet is a worker of Miracles chap. 19.20 so is the second Beast chap. 13.17 The false Prophet by his miracles deceives the Beasts followers chap. 19.20 so doth the second Beast chap. 13.14 The Beast and the false Prophet are helpful the one to the other for the Beast defends the false Prophet by his strength for chap. 19.19 no force at all is mentioned that this false Prophet had at that great Randezvouze who yet was presonally present with the Beast for he is taken prisoner vers 20. therefore the Beast defends him and the false Prophet by working miracles encourageth the Beast and his multitude with hope of good success God is of their side In like manner the two Beasts chap. 13. are as before hath been shewed helpful to each other The conclusion is that by false Prophet we are to understand the second Beast spoken of chap. 13. and by Beast and false Prophet to understand the same here as of the two Beasts there viz. the Civil and Ecclesiastical State onely with this difference that Beast which in his first rise was but a Beast afterwards when more grown a Woman riding upon and over-topping the Civil power or first Beast which gave him his rise is now in his declining condition a false Prophet For the loss of Rome where was his Magazine of Treasure together with the seizing and intercepting his Rents and Tributes by the Conqueror hath so pulled down the Beast so plucked the plumes of the Romish Ecclesiastical State i.e. brought the Pope and his Clergy to so low an ebb that it is now but little that they can contribute either to the assistance of the first Beast the Romish Civil power or towards the upholding of their own sinking Kingdom yet because having been a proud Whore this Beast is loath to be of little repute and to come back again to his first original of a poor earthly Beast yea would fain have the first Beast the Civil power still to dote upon him and reckon him a considerable party he will therefore seem now to make up by his fained piety and devotion what is wanting in his former outward strength and glory and now he can be nothing else he will needs be a Prophet to foretell good to his cause and Kingdom though none he can do it But observe as when he was a Beast he was an earthly Beast as when a Woman a Whore so now when a Prophet a false Prophet Though Antichrist may change shapes and formes he can never make himself better than he is but Antichrist he will be an Enemy to Christ an Imposter a Deceiver a Lyar still Having thus seen the meaning of the words and names which I have purposely insisted the larger upon because the right understanding hereof doth if I mistake not open the door into the very mystery of this Book I come to apply them to the business in hand thus The Dragon Beast and false Prophet who from the beginning were Partners going hand in hand and venturing States together seeing by the fall of the City Rome such a terrible shaking blow giving to their Kingdom as that the next blow if not prevented is like unavoidably to be fatal and to prove their utter ruin they therefore now all of them convene in some General Councel where they lay their heads together what thing is best for them to do to prevent another blow or if possible to recover their own again And upon debate two things being laid before them as matter of deep and serious consultation viz. The late loss they have received by the fall of Rome and that by causing some of the Kings of the Earth who were friends to their cause before now for fear of her torment lest the like should befall themselves to with-draw and stand a loof off 2 The great provocation since given to the Turk by those very Instruments their Enemies which is like to make him joyn in with the utmost strength hee can make out of desire to revenge himself and recover his own again to ruin if it may bee this growing party The vote or result of the meeting from the foregoing premises is that as the thing which doth most conduce to the upholding of their cause Agents and Ambassadors of the fittest they can find for such imployment be speeded away to such Kings of the earth as for the present seem backward in the cause to put life into

King with acclamations which is all that such poor creatures as we are can do for him Nay if it be a duty to expect from God returns of our prayers then it is also a duty to have inspection even into publick affairs so far as the managing of these may have a tendency to the furtherance or hinderance of those good things which we hope we have been graciously holpen by the Lord and also had some favorable smiles of his acceptance in seeking his face for Nay if it be a duty to observe and follow God in the way of his visible dispensations or on the contrary a sin to be of a sluggish temper not regarding the works of the Lord nor considering the operation of his hands then of necessity must there be a reflection upon the publick actings of instruments either in a way of owning or disowning without which no observation can be made of Gods dispensations or our duty in this respect Nay lastly If it be a duty to mourn for the sins of Rulers to mourn when Christs cause lies bleeding then certainly it cannot be evill to have inspection into the one and the other And notwithstanding it is a more precious thing in a Christian to be found watching in his own heart and ways than to be prying into the waies and actings of others for which cause so far as this is neglected the common accusation laid to the charge of those who contend for the Kingdom of Christ without as if they did neglect the Kingdom of Christ within is a thing most just Yet let it withall be considered that the doing of the one layes no necessity upon a man of a neglect of the other for if there be but any thing of truth in that opinion it will be hard to say God hath laid a necessity upon us to neglect our hearts whilst which yet is a thing he wills us to do we are seeking after his truth And if through that corruption that is within any man should so do doth not this evill attend him as well in other studies as this by consequence therefore from this principle no truth must be inquired into But I have observed in this day a close design of the Devil driven on under this vizard and no wonder for Satan himself is now transformed into an Angel of light and I can the better speak it having felt when time was this temptation and thereby learned these who Lessons 1 To discern somewhat of the depths of Satan viz. That he perceiving the work that God is about to do in the world and knowing full well how acceptable a thing i● is to God as well as advantagious to the work it self to have his Children following him in his great designs and how provoking the thing will be if by any sleight he can but make them like Peter cross the Lord in his way and thwart God in his work God as a man in like case would do resenting one error of this nature worse than forty of another kind and knowing also that to say to them in plain language neglect this or oppose that without some very specious and glorious pretence would be no boot he therefore now comes forth as the most glorious Saint that ever came into the world and tels them that they must look to their own hearts for this is a blessed thing and therefore they must beware of such and such things for if they once meddle with them then farewel their hearts and to set a better face upon the business whilst he disswades these he sets on work some that are marked in their fore-heads for his children giddily and furiously to broach and set on foot those very things and designs he disswades the other from and then saith he now see whether this generation of men go and where you had been had you followed them 2 I have learned likewise to discern somewhat of the depths of the heart which would exercise the highest pride under a pretext of great holiness and humility for it being indeed a most blessed thing to attend to inward purity and mortification wherein lies the glory of a Christian now saith the heart how strangely do such and such contend for this outward thing and the other well I will follow none of them but I will attend to the mortification of the inward man I am sure in that I shall be right Now with this conceit the man goeth on secretly blessing and lifting up himself and he turns him and looks him round and loe all are out of the way but he Pride as it quickly grows upon such a root so is it more abominable to God by how much it is more spiritual then that which may yee discover it self more outwardly Yet let me say thus doth the Devil and mans heart at this day marvellously deceive many precious Saints in this thing who are apt to think that they cannot mind these things and as they should study and look to their hearts too Whereas indeed it argues a Childish temper in a man to think that he cannot learn the things of his heart or keep the same up for God any longer then it is exercised in those truths which more immediately concern the heart and life and have their foundation in Christian experience as if those truths which lie out of the reach of my experience as a Christian and more imediately concern Gods Cause and Glory without had not in them as natural a tendency to give a soul a sight of God and as great an efficacy to cause the heart to cleave to God and walk humbly with him as truths that lye within the r●ach of my experience Nay I will here be bold to say that that soul who faithfully followeth God in those things wherein his glory is more immediately concerned shall learn more of his heart as it were by the by and have the same better ordered then shall that man who neglecting this makes that his continual study for it is not by our poring that we come to know our hearts nor by our struggling to mend them so much as indeed by laying them in that path where Christ in this or that day more commonly goes and waiting there to receive life and strength from him And farther My Lord as for contenting themselves with their own liberty which is the great thing objected to us our injoyment whereof as yet is indeed a mercy beyond what the people of God far more deserving in former ages have had the people of God could at this day do it were it not but that the sufferings of Christs cause their prayers having been long going forth and their hopes raised are now more unto them than any sufferings of their own And as Daniel first and Nehemiah afterwards though they for their own particulars were well in the Court of the King of Persia yet could not be well because it went not well with Gods cause at that day so notwithstanding Gods

ordinary Prophetical days noting three years and a half which three years and a half are not to be added to the 1260. as a lesser period which takes beginning where the greater ends because then as one saith well the Beast should Tyrannize above 42. months the woman be in the Wilderness above 1260 days namely 1263 and a half whereas the utmost tyranny of the Beast is but 42 months the utmost period of the womans being in the wilderness but 1260 days but we are to look upon them as a smaller period comprehended within the greater or to speak plainly we are to understand them of the very last three days and a half of the 1260. and therefore M. Mede in his Cl and our German Author in his both translate those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they shall have finished their testimony Chap. 11. thus Cum finituri sint testimonium suum When they are about to finish their testimony the 1260 days now drawing to an end then shall the Beast make war against them overcome them and kill them As for that urged by a late Author who calls in reason to be Umpire or Judge in this business how the Beast now ready to die as our Author supposeth he will at the end of the 1260 days should be so magnanimous and warlike as to kill the Witnesses how the Sea being at this time tempestnous the earth terribly shaken can it be imagined that the Sont of the Sea and Earth i. e. wordly men should be so jocund and to banquet it sport it make merry send gifts one to another c. as they shall do in the day the witnesses lye dead I say no more but this that all time upon a mistake viz. That the rise of the Witnesses shall not be till the Empire of the ten-horned Beast i.e. Civil power of Antichrist is in a manner destroyed and this upon another that the subject of the fifth Vial is the political state of the present Roman Empire or Antichrists Civil State But as I have in my discourse upon the Vials proved the Subject of that Vial to be another thing so let me say here to the first it cannot be because the Whore but a little before Romes fall is so high and proud as that she fears no danger but saith I sit as a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow which were her political State where lyes her outward strength and as for inward she hath none destroyed she should have little cause thus to brag and brave Nay what do the witnesses after their rise if the Beasts power were destroyed before onely kill him whose sword was taken away before they came at him Or how falls the tenth part of the City upon their rise if it were fallen before SECT V. AS for the particular time of the Witnesses slaughter the most certain and convincing demonstration that can be given thereof is that which must be fetched from a right supputation of the 1260 days which is the term of their Prophecy their killing time being as hath been faid the very last three days and a half of the 1260. But because the doing hereof to free the truth from the mists men have raised about it will require in a manner a Treatise of it self and also because no Mystical number by reason of that glorious harmony that is in all can carry with it that forcible demonstration going alone as will appear to be in it when accompanied with others I shall therefore that I may not make this single Section to become a Book wave this enquiry in this place contenting my self to lay down two or three more general Conclusions concerning this Grand Question What time we are to pitch upon as the killing time of the Witnesses The Conclusions themselves are these 1 CONCLUSION That the killing of the Witnesses shall be in that very three years and a half which shall immediately precede the Jews first stirring which is manifestly clear hence because Daniels 1290 dayes which point us to the time of the Jews first stirring are concurrent in their end with the end of he time times and a half which is the time of the Witnesses rising as shall be made appear in our following Discourse 2 To this agrees what I have formerly written upon the Vials The rise of the Witnesses I have there stated under the fourth Vial. The drying up of the Turkish Powers thereby to instate the Jews in their own Land under the Sixth Now as the first stirring of the Jews must needs be some little time before the sixth Vial is poured out because their stirring is as I have shewed the chief moving cause to the Gentile Saints to engage in this War against the Turk So also it is observable that the time from the Witnesses rise until the pouring out of the sixth Vial shall be but a very little time the fourth and fifth Vials being both to be poured out in an instant upon the resurrection of the Witnesses as may be seen with the reasons thereof in our Discourse upon the fifth Vial. Hence in regard the first stirring of the Jews must of necessity be before the pouring out of the sixth Vial as the cause is before the effect and the time betwixt the Witnesses rise and the sixth Vial is so short we may very well conclude that the first workings among the Jews themselves in a way of stirring will be upwards even as high as the time of the Witnesses resurrection And for this reason because the Jews shall about the time of Romes ruine which falls in the middle time betwixt the fourth and sixth Vials be stirring are the praises rendred for Romes fall as is Mr. Cottons conjecture expressed by an Hebrew word Hallelujah Revel 19.1 2 3 4. 2 CONCLVSION That the killing of the Witnesses shall be but a little before the downfal of Rome which therefore presently falls upon their rise First The Order of the Vials proves this for under the fourth Vial the Witnesses rise as upon the Vials I have shewed This Vial is poured out in an instant and therefore said to be in an hour In the same hour the tenth part of the City fell Rev. 11.13 that is Germany one of the ten Horns and the very place as shall appear by and by where the Witnesses lye dead is upon their resurrection in an instant broken off from being any longer a Horn in Antichrists Kingdome and then as the next thing and that in an instant too is Rome ruined by the pouring out of the fifth Vial. So that Romes ruine succeeding presently upon the rise of the Witnesses their killing must be but a little before it Secondly This is further clear Rev. 18.7 where wee have the proud Whore instantly before her downfal glorying I sit as a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow What is the cause hereof Ans Undoubtedly the very same with the cause of that joy and triumph of the

was the only man of that age that knew the times and seasons yet doth not he know the deliverance of Gods people to be so nigh as indeed it was until as I may say the very day before their deliverance or untill that very year was come in which they were delivered D●niel 9.1 2. compared with Ezra 1.1 2 3 c. THESIS XXIX The great unlikelihood in an eye of reason of bringing such great and wonderful things about within so short a time to which as yet we see so little visible preparation may well be a block in the way of carnal reason but why should it be so to Faith Seeing God hath assured us again again and again Rev. 18. that from that time wherein the proud Whore shall bee glorying boasting triumphing conceiting her self far enough from danger it shall bee but an hour i. e. a very little time to Gods passing judgement upon her in the overthrow and ruine of Rome the glory of her Kingdom THESIS XXX The sentence of death that is upon this work at present is matter of incouragement to faith no matter of discouragement seeing that from what I have laid down in many places of my foregoing Discourse it is a thing manifestly clear that a very black cloud to the end the work may come forth upon the sudden from under it with the greater glory and brightness is to come upon the work and cause of Christ among the Gentiles at the very ending time of the 42 Months the 1260 dayes as a like dismal cloud is to befall the Jews and Gods work among them at the very ending time of the 2300 the 1335 dayes If no such cloud did begin to appear there would bee cause of questioning our former principles but that it doth is a confirmation of them THESIS XXXI The fixedness of the time and certainty of the thing when the time is expired is no more an Argument for us at this day to sit still and do nothing in order to the effecting these glorious things than it would be to say in another case did I know the time of a mercy I may now sit still be idle sleep do what I will for I cannot have my mercy before and I shall have it at such a time THESIS XXXII The end of the 1290 dayes the 1260 the 42 months being so neer 1 Hence the several Discourses and hints laid down in our first Part our second and third tending to perswade That the day of the resurrection of the dry bones or the Jews stirring is neer are confirmed and made good 2 Hence what I have written Vial 5. p. 52. appears to be a truth viz. That the suffering of the Gentile Churches will shortly bee at an end for the 42 Months of the Beasts tyranny and treading underfoot the holy City the 1260 Dayes of the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth the Womans being in the Wilderness will shortly expire Now the Beasts Tyranny and treading under foot the holy City the Womans being in the Wilderness the Witnesses wearing sackcloth being the original cause of all the sufferings of the Gentile Churches their sufferings shall therefore end with the end of these for the Beasts limited time being once cut he shall have no new Lease of time to persecute the Woman tread the holy City underfoot the Woman once out of the Wilderness shall not return thither again the Witnesses having once put off their sackcloth shall not put it on again 3 Hence that which I have said Chap. 1. Sect. 5. viz. That the Witnesses do in all likelihood at this present day lie dead appears a truth for their killing is to be as I have proved Chap. 1 sect 4. in the last three years and a half of the 1260 and according to this our computation there are not at the utmost above three years of the 1260 to expire 4 Hence the glorious Rendezvouz of the 144000 of which our third Chapter treats cannot be full three years off for that is to be some little time before the compleat expiration of the 1260 days Thus much as touching the Numbers of the first Rank Numbers of the Second Rank THESIS XXXIII The Numbers of the Second Ranck are the 2300 days the 1335. THESIS XXXIV The 2300 daies and the 1335 dayes are likewise both to end at one and the same point Which is clear 1 Because the Prophecy of the eighth Chapter which lays us down the first number and the Prophecy of the 11 and 12 Chapters which gives us the second are one and the same the subject matter of either being the three last Monarchies viz. Medes and Persians Grecians Romans and also either Prophecy terminates at one and the same point viz. the final destruction of the Fourth and last Monarchy which thing needs no farther proof save onely diligently to compare the one with the other therefore the 2300 days which bring us to the shutting up of the one Prophecy and the 1335 which bring us to the shutting up of the other must of necessity end at one and the same point 2 Because as the 1335 days bring us to that time in which Daniel was to stand in his Lot i. e. to rise again chap. 12.13 But go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand up in thy lot as our old translation reads it at the end of the days i.e. at the end of the 1335 days mentioned in the foregoing Verse Daniel should rise So the 2300 days brings us to the last end of indignation Ch. 8.19 Behold I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of indignation And what is this last end of indignation but only the last Vial of Gods wrath Rev. 16. the pouring out of which is at the time of Christs coming and the Resurrection as I have elsewhere proved at large Therefore the 2300 days and the 1335. do yea must terminate at one and the same point 3 Because the Personal appearance of Christ is the concluding point of both The last King Chap. 8.25 or the fourth Monarchy comes to his final end by standing up against the Prince of Princes i. e. Christ Now this standing up is not a standing up against Christ in his Members for that he did it before vers 24. He shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practise and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people But this standing up is brought in with an also he shall also stand up against the Prince of Princes as noting it to be another and a distinct standing up from the former that was against Christ and his members onely but this standing up shall be a higher act of boldness and wickedness in him viz. a standing up against Christ himself in person who now appears as the Prince of Princes the very name written on his vesture and thigh at the day of his personal appearance to destroy the Beast Rev. 19.16 King of Kings and Lord of Lord to vindicate the