But that this must be understood not of a reall killing but a mysticall hence appeares Such as is the resurrection of these Witnesses mentioned at the eleventh Verse such must needs be the killing here mentioned for of opposites there is the same reason But their resurrection Oppositorum eademratio we must needs understand mystically for of no resurrection properly so called do we read before the twentieth Chapter of this prophesie which must necessarily Cha. 20. 5. follow some space the rising again of these Witnesses here mentioned This then is a mysticall killing a throwing them from place out of office some civill death As when a man in place formerly now thrown out may be said to be killed in his office is dead in law So these ceasing from place in Church and Commonwealth which as Magistrates and Ministers they sometimes enjoyed and this accompanied perhaps with the killing of some of them indeed this seems the killing of the Witnesses we are to understand here I say again the killing of these Witnesses by this reckoning seems no other then the throwing them from that station which once they held in the Reformed Churches being taken off from executing that Magistracie that Ministry they once had and this possibly attended with the reall slaughter of some of them Though the other the killing of them in their office seem the main and more generall slaughter here intended Having seen what 's done to these Witnesses They are slain we next enquire who slayes them and to this the Text makes answer The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit this now next in order comes to be handled For this therefore you may take notice there is a severall Chap. 4. Vers 6 7 8 9. Chap. 13. Vers 1. 11. mention made of beasts in this prophesie in the fourth Chapter you have four beasts spoken of in the thirteenth Chapter theres mention made of two one with two horns another with tenne But no where doe we finde a beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit this character being expresly affixed save onely in the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie whitherto having recourse Cha. 17. 8. where the holy Ghost seems not more to prophesie then interpret we shall best finde what 's meant by the beasts ascending out of the bottomlâ—sse pit here mentioned and so in conclusion who it is that doth slay these Witnesses In that 17 Chapter therefore you have a woman presented sitting upon a Scarlet-coloured beast having seven heads and ten Vers 3. horns In the opening whereof the woman is expresly by the holy Ghost called The great City which ruleth over the Kings of Vers 11. the earth that is Rome for at that time Rome onely of all the Cities of the world was capable of any such description and if so the Woman be Rome it must needs follow the Beast she sits upon must be the Roman Empire this follows so cleer from the former none needs to make question of it But because the Roman Empire in its Bulk considered and according to its materiale doth no more ascend out of the bottomlesse pit then other Empires and Kingdomes do to loose this knot hear a little further The holy Ghost shewing the mystery of the seven heads and ten horns tells us The seven Vers 10. heads are seven Kings or seven kindes of Government five whereof namely That of Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemviri and Dictators were expired already one namely That of Caesars was it was when John saw this Vision and the seventh that of Popes was to come and when it comes this kinde of Government Vers 8. was to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit So that by this account not so much the Empire the body of the Beast as the seventh head of this Beast comes out of the bottomlesse pit or else thus The Empire as ruled by the Popes and thus cast into an Antichristian Form this is the Beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit The Roman Empire Antichristianized is the Beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit slaying these Witnesses But why is this kinde of Government said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit I was once thinking the same thing meant by this expression as by the same Beast's ascending out of the Sea at the 13 Chapter and 1 Verse which Sea is frequently in Scripture called the Abysse or bottomlesse pit and there as in other places signifies no more then a multitude of people which because subjecting themselves to the Government of this Beast thence is this Beast said to rise out of the Sea But when I finde that none of all the former heads but might in this sense be said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit namely Because arising from the multitude of people subjecting themselves to them and yet finde none of them said to rise out of the bottomlesse pit save this last this of Popes onely it cleerly to me holds forth thus much The other kindes of Government shadowed out by the former heads had somewhat of God in them at worst were but the Ordinances of men but this seventh head this Government of Popes this hath its originall from hell its coming as the Apostle speaks is after the working of Sathan 't is his divising 2 Thess 2. 9. comes from the bottomlesse pit and shall in due time be sent thither back again So that adde this to the former and the Romane Empire under the seventh head namely that of Popes a Government devised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and established by the contrivance of hell the workman-ship of Sathan this is the Beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit slaying these Witnesses You have seen then the enemy that wages War with these Witnesses and slayes them the next thing we are to enquire is the time when these Witnesses are slain and this is then when they have finished their testimony this now follows to be enquired concerning I finde this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 severall wayes translared some render it as here when they have finished others and those very accurate Interpreters translate the Aorist by the future and so render it when they are about to finish which latter if so the meaning must fall thus then when the Witnesses draw toward end of their mourning testimony the Church by this time being in some good measure reformed and having now gained much ground upon Antichrist are ready to throw off their Sackcloth then the Beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit makes War with them and slayes them So that putting all together viz. Their killing The beast that kills them and The time when they are killed and you have the meaning of all at one view thus much Then when the Witnesses are about to close up their testimony and having done much in reforming the Church having regained much of the utter Court which Antichrist had gained whole possession of before are now about to put off their
Sackcloth the Antichristian power at this time collecting it self possibly by murthering some but chiefly by putting them from their places disinabling suspending and silencing shall thus overcome kill and make an end of these Witnesses And now perhaps it will be expected especially having so fair a hint given by the Text we should come to some determination Whether the killing of these Witnesses be past yea or no but in regard we shall be furnished with most light then when we have heard the Prophesie speak out we shall therefore adjourn the decision till the last still continuing to proceed forward in opening the Prophesie onely before we do proceed any further from this last verse we now opened take these observations 1. Are the Witnesses slain when they have done their testimony Hence take notice Best men and best Offices are sometime of all other the worst rewarded here are Witnesses calling sinners home from dangerous and perishing wayes beseeching them to turn from dumb Idols to serve the living God then which none can do a better Office yet after all their pains bestowed they are killed for a recompence 2. Are these slain then when their mouths are stopped when they cease to witnesse By this account men live no longer then they work and whoso hath left off to do the Lords work as the Apostle speaks in another case is dead while he lives he that 1 Tim. 5. 6. Rev. 14. 13 hath rested from his labour by this reckoning is no other then dead 3. Doth the Beast slay these Witnesses Oh the plague this Beast this Antichrist is to the world but two lights leading a blinde world from perdition and the Antichristian power puts them both out slayes both the Witnesses 4. Doth the Beast ascend out of the bottomlesse pit the Antichristian kinde of Government ascend out of hell sure then they much mistake themselves that tell us 't is jure divino they much mistake its originall that tell us it is from heaven 't is from hell from the bottomlesse pit if we believe the Scriptures there it had its conception and shall in due time be returned thither back again VERS 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City which is Spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified OUr last work concerned the killing of the Witnesses It follows now we look what becomes of their dead bodies in these words And their dead bodies shall lie in the street c. The slaughter of these Witnesses being for the most part an unbloody slaughter the killing of them in their Office as we saw before by the like proportion their lying dâ—ad what can it mean but their continuing in that state of civill death which their former slaughter brought them into They remaining suspended from the execution of that Office which as Magistrates and Ministers they held before remaining silent not prophesying not witnessing any thing authoritatively as they did formerly this seems meant by the Witnesses lying dead I say again Their mouthes were stopt at what time they were slain and since then they continue silent dead to all that life which as the Lords Prophets and Witnesses they lived before thus they lie for some space as dead corpses after their slaughter But passing from this let 's take a view of the place where these Witnesses lie dead this follows and 't is In the street of the great City spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified A place so at large set forth and by such apt resemblances as indeed it seems even next door to naming it in the description whereof the holy Ghost bestows so many words that when he woâ—ld not name it yet would seem to make such sure work that any who had but half an eye should not misse the understanding of it This place because it will afford much variety of matter not unprofitable we shall therefore take a more exact view of it enquiring first What this great City is Then what the street Why this great City is called Sodom Why Egypt Why the place where our Lord was crucified For the first of these Whereas it is said the dead bodies of these Witnesses do lie in the street of the great City by the great City it seems we must necessarily understand Rome So much is understood by this same expression the holy Ghost himself inerpreting at the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie and last Verse And when further you have mention of the great Whore Great Babylon and the like still Rome is meant by all those expressions Cha. 17. 1. Ch. 16 19. Ch. 20. 10. Only once in this book the new Jerusalem extant after the fall of Babylon is called the great City but that the new Jerusalem should be meant by the great City here none can be so far lost to all understanding as once to imagine it And sure not without cause is Rome called great Babylon the Ch 16. 19. great City for whether you take greatnesse to signifie an amplitude of power for so sometimes 't is used to signifie hence the great King is as much as King of kings or take greatnesse for Psal 48. 2. spaâ—iousnesse What City can compare with Rome in either of these In the former What City can when you have Rome by the holy Ghost himself described the great City that ruleth over the Kings of the earth Nineveh Babylon no Citie ever extending Chap. 17. ult its power so far as Rome And for spaciousnesse which can at this day when but a part of it remains 't is 15 or 16 miles in compasse within the Walls if Lipsius may be believed but when this Prophesie Admirand lib. 3. was written it was then in compasse 42 miles And is not this then with good reason called the great City I know Bellarmine with some other Popish Writers as also Bell lib. 3. de Pa. some late ones of our own contend Jerusalem must be here meant the great City but how likely let others judge For first for extent of power none will say it ever came neer Rome 't was utterly inconsiderable to Rome which was indeed urbs Hicronim caput orbis the City the Empresse of the World yea which at once did swallow up Jerusalem with all its Territory and little lesse then an hundred times as much as all that came to And for spaciousnesse take this record concerning Jerusalem Wilhelmus Tyrius lâ—b 8 de bello sacro urbs minâ—r mâ—â—imis mediocribus maiâ—r It was a City lesse then the greatest greater then the least a midling City as we say this is all that can be said for the compasse of it which if so Jerusalem then cannot be the great City here meant and if not Jerusalem then must Rome be it for besides Jerusalem there is none else that stands in competition Rome then is the great City but now the street of the great City follows
The Witnesses ascend up to heaven and their enemies behold them Put all together now and the summe of all these severalls is this much After that the Witnesses are by a speciall hand of God restored to office again have their mouths open which is their Resurrection Such as are then in authority in the Reformed Churches do call them to some more ample condition more free more honourable the multitude with joynt endeanour helping while the Antichristian faction are strucken with fear and great indignation at the beholding This seems the meaning of the words the observations now follow 1. Are the Reformed Churches heaven And the Act of some in power there A voyce from heaven See then the vast diffâ—rence betwixt these Churches and the Synagogue of Satan This is earth and the members thereof The Inhabitants of the earth as we saw before but on the contrary the Reformed Churches are heaven and those that appertain thereunto are such who dwell in heaven And not without cause so called for certainly if the presence of God of Christ of the Spirit will make heaven Sure then the Churches of Christ are not undeservedly so called The policy these walk by is a heavenly policy Our conversation or as the originall our policy is in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heaven sayes the Apostle Eph. 3. 20. their graces are from heaven the Ordinances they attend upon come from thence and will in due time as a means carry up the comers thereunto Heb. 10. 1. also 2. Doth a voyce from heaven call the Witnesses up thither Why then however the rising again of the Witnesses be by the speciall hand of God yet their ascension is by the means and intervention of men A voice from heaven calls them up thither Take notice of it the hand of God raises up the Witnesses from the lead the hand of men does help them up to heaven God will take order the Witnesses once slain shall again Prophesie We must take order it be no more in Sackcloth 3. Do the Witnesses ascend up to heaven T is plain then there is a time a time here I mean when these Witnesses shall have their mourning Weeds their Sackcloth taken from them There is a time when they shall have honour esteem and recompence for all the scorn and injuries have been put upon them Yea a time also when they shall be above the enemies â—â—â—ch and danger Vex and storm at them they may But when they once ascend up to heaven they get so farre above them a they shall be aâ—le to slay them no more 4. Do the enemies of the Witnesses behold their ascending up to heaven Oh what indignation what gnashing of teeth will this cause in such beholders To see these have their Sackcloth taken from them ride in the second Chariot honour have and esteem put upon them certainly Haman could not be more Estlâ— â— sad at the preferment of Mordecai then will these be grieved and vexed at the Ascension of the Witnesses VERS 13. And the same hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven NOw follows the other Concomitant of the Witnesses Resurrection and ascending up to heaven together with the severall Consequents thereon depending in the words last mentioned The same hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell c. In the handling whereof we shall observe 1. The time of the Earthquake here mentioned in these words The same hour there was a great earthquake 2. The Earthquake it self 3. The severall consequents of this earthquake being in all three all whereof we shall handle as they fall in their own order But first of the time The same hour there was a great earthquake The same hour Some copies reade The same day But whether day or hour both seem to come to one neither to be understood of either day or hour properly so taken If you reade The same hour it is not to be taken properly for the 24 part of a naturall day no more then 't is in the 14 Chapter of this Prophesie and 7 verse The hour of his Judgement is come Or at the 17 Chapter and 12 verse These receive power one hour with the Beast besides many such like instances which might be fetcht from other places If you reade The same day it seems not to be understood either of a naturall or artificiall day properly so called no more then in many other places But whether one or other day or hour this appears the plain meaning of the holy Ghost About the time of the Resurrection and Ascension of the Witnesses about that time there is a great earthquake The earthquake it self now follows There was a great earthquake There is a naturall carthquake as I may call it when some windy matter being inclosed in the caverns of the earth impatâ—ent of being imprisoned there long breaks forth at last causing Aristo 2. Meâ—co 7. great and violent concussions and motions of the earth Such as this you reade of the 1. of Amos 1 such a kinde of earthquake as this was at our Saviours Resurrection but this Mat. 28. 2. kinde of earthquake we are not to understand here Besides this there is a mysticall earthquake when there are great stirs and commotions in Kingdoms and States and by these the Forms of Government changed Such earthquakes are those mentioned at the 8 Chapter of this prophesie and 5 verse and 16 Chapter and 18 verse And if I mistake not where we finde mention of an earthquake in all this book we are to conceive it to be a mysticall earthquake such is the great earthquake here mentioned a mysticall earthquake a State-quake a Kingdom-quake this seems the great earthquake here intended When therefore the holy Ghost tells us The same hour there was a great earthquake 't is this in effect About the time of the rising again and Ascension of these Witnesses there are great State and Kingdom-shakings The Consequents of this earthquake next follow in these words The tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand And the remnant were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven Which Consequents if you take them asunder are three as was before hinted 1. The tenth part of the City falls 2. Seven thousand men slain 3. The remnant are terrified and give glory to the God of heaven Of these in this order 1. The fall of the tenth part of the City then of the other as they follow The tenth part of the City fell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I finde nothing in this Prophesie of the Witnesses with more variety and difference interpreted then this same and doubtlesse could we hit right here it would contribute no little to our satisfaction in the greatest intricacie of this
businesse Give me leave to offer a taste of these different Interpretations especially of them which seem to carry most likelyhood which when I have done I shall propound and submit my own thoughts in the businesse The great question is What we should understand by the The Arabique without consent of any either Copy or Translation that I have met withall reads The third part of the City fell Tenth part of the great City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In answâ—r whereto you have some will tell you 't is the Tenths of the City meaning That whereas the Popes have Tenths paid them which was the manner of the Romans formerly as also of other Princes of elder times now upon the rising again of the Witnesses and the great earthquake thereupon attending this Tribute of Tythes or Tenths whereby he was in great part maintained before shall now at last be utterly with-held from him This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which we translate The tenth part of the City falling But as some well observe to make this good it must have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore this cannot be the meaning Another therefore by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we translate The tenth part of the City would understand Those ten Kingdoms which at the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie and 13 verse give up all thâ—ir strength and power to the Beastâ— And when those at last draw off from Antichrist which they do for these shall hate the Whore cat her flesh and burn her with fire Chap. 17. ver 16. This is the fall of the Decharchy of the City Those ten Kingdoms that had formerly supported Antichrist now drawing off and preparing for her destruction this is the fall of the tenth part of the great City And sure if these ten Kingdoms withdrawing themselves hating the Whore eating her flesh and burning her with fire should not fall in with the time of the seventh Trumpet and last Vial and be not that destruction which at that time is to be executed upon her I mean the Romish Babylon I should think this interpretation did carry much appearance of truth with it But then another by the tenth part of the City would understand the City it self Rome it self falls making this same all one with the fifth Vial which poured out upon the Throne of Chap. 16. 10. the Beast that is upon Rome sayes this Interpreter Rome hereby comes to be destroyed And if any object The holy Ghost doth not say the wholâ— City falls onely the truth part of thâ— City to this it is answered That when Rome comes to be destroyed it is but the Tenth part of what it was formerly Iâ— was in compasse in former times neer 42 miles within the walls now about 15 And if we measure it will appear That that whch is in compasse 15 miles will make up but the tenth part of that which is in compasse 42 miles And so accordingly when the tenth part of the City falls as is here said the whole City is meant for now the whole is but the tenth part of what it was formerly This I confesse is a pretty Notion but yet such as I durst in no wise conclude is the meaning of the holy Ghost in this place It carries with it too much acutenesse to be the meaning of the Spirit and indeed it seems too much forced also That the tenth part of the City should mean the whole City the words seem not in any reasonable congruity to admit of it Give me leave now in the last place to adde what hath most taken upon me in all the variety of thoughts in this matter and it is this The Antichristian Kingdom as made up of those ten horns ten Kingdoms into which the Roman Empire upon its fall was resolved these ten at the same time with one consent giving their power thereunto seem here as also in other places compared to a great City Which City answerably to the ten part of the Antichristian Kingdom hath ten parts also every one of those ten Kingdoms by submitting it self to the Government of this mysticall City I mean this mysticall Babylon hereby making it self a part of it This stated we say accordingly the tenth part of the City must mean Oâ—e of those ten Kingdoms which having suâ—mitted it self to the Government of this mysticall Bâ—bylon hereby became to a part of it and then answerably is this tâ—nth Kingdom the tenth part of the great City said to fall when thâ—t â—inde of Government which submitted to made this one part of that City I mean of Romish babylon is now utterâ—ly dissolved and abolished in that Kingdom So then all this togâ—ther is thus much About the 〈…〉 Witnesses rise again and ascend up to heaven there are great stirs and commotions this is the earthquake and among these that Antichristianism which in one of the ten Kingdoms submitted to made it one of the parts of the Romish Babylon is utterly quash'd and dissolved in that Kingdom This seems to be the fall of the tenth part of the great City And here observe it 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an Artiticle which I confesse I had once let passe but should by no means passe without notice That tenth part of the great City so we might render it where the holy Ghost seems to tell us which tenth part of the City which of the ten Kingdoms he means why that tenth part that which seems easily discernable from all the rest that tenth part falls But which this is I shall hereafter speak my conjecture let this suffice at present that in That tenth Kingdom which seems easily differenced from all the rest Antichristianism is abolished this is the fall of that tenth part of the great City This seems the meaning and I must confesse I have nothing readily to object against it but from this first consequent of the earthquake viz. The fall of the tenth part of the City we may proceed to the second in these words And in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand This follows and this is not without its difficulties neither Some reade the heads of men that were slain were seven thousand but if we reckon by the pole seven thousand men numbred by the pole were slain and no more it will readily be objected How can it be imagined the tenth part of the Antichristian Kingdom should fall and yet but seven thousand heads or seven thousand men reckoned by the Pole slain and overwhelmed in so great a ruine Seven thousand thus reckoned seem not a number any whit proportionable To which it may be answered This number of seven thousand is a perfect number and is here put as in other places not to signifie just so many and no more but rather a certain number for an uncertain and may very well signifie a great many more then precisely that number But if this should not
passe there is another Interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides and this seems without all exception This therefore instead of reading the names of men that were slain which is the Originall reads the men of name that were slain were seven thousand And this not rashly this kinde of speaking being not infrequent in the Scripture hence you reade Silver of Talents for Talents of Silver and the like so here names of men for men of names And if you would know what 's meant by this expression men of name and what name imports in this construction men of name consult that 6 of Gen. and 4 verse and you finde those Giant-like men whom the Originall calls men of name our Translation calls men of râ—nown And so both the Originalls signifying name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orae Oâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza Anno. often translated so here There were slain seven thousand men of name that is men of note of quality So many were slain in thâ— fall of the tenth part of the City And if this should be so it cleerly takes off the former objection viz. That the number of bare seven thousand were not proportionall for granting that so many of quality of name are slain besides these numbers of the common sort that may be overwhelmed in those ruines and sure seven thousand men of note with those other are a number answerable to the fall of the tenth part of the City But before I passe further I must tell you this slaughter of these seven thousand seems not to mean a reall and proper slaughter no more then did the slaughter of the Witnesses before mentioned for if the earthquake were not such properly so called onely signifying stirs and commotions in the tenth part of the great City and so a mysticall earthquake as we saw before in like manner neither can this slaughter which is done by a mysticall earthquake be any other then a mysticall slaughter And if a mysticall slaughter what can it be but the Antichristian faction the abettors and maintainers of Antichristianisme in that tenth part of the great City have their place their power their maintenance taken from them they cease to be in office as before they lose their Livings this is to them the losing of their lives this seems the slaughter of the seven thousand eminent men here intended I do not deny but in these stirs some of them may be slain indeed somewhat like whereto was formerly spoken concerning the slaying of the Witnesses but this is not the slaughter is here chiefly aymed at it is especially a mysticall slaughter We have seen now the second Consequent viz. Seven thousand men slain the third follows in these words The remnant were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven And who is this remnant but some of that party I mean the Antichristian faction who seeing the just and apparent hand of God upon them are stricken with it acknowledging their errour and thus give glory to the God of heaven Jos 7. 19. Or else the remnant were terrified that is the other sort of people who scaping the slaughter wherein the professed Antichristian faction were especially concerned they seeing the hand of God upon them are terrified and by confessing their former mistake in cleaving to them do thus give glory to the God of heaven Sum up all this verse now and 't is thus much About the time these Witnesses rise again and ascend up to heaven about this time there are great stirs and commotions in some of those ten Kingdoms into which the Roman Empire upon its fall became divided By means whereof Antichristianisme becomes utterly abolished in one of those ten Kingdoms upon the abolishing whereof many of note and professedly of the Antichristian faction are thrown from all Authority and Place as also that large maintenance which they had before which the other people cleaving fast to them before now beholding and taking notice of the finger of God in it confesse their former errour strike off from them never to cleave to them any more The Observations now follow 1. Is one Kingdom but the tenth part of the great City hence observe the extent of the mysticall Babylon The Popish faction may well cry up Visibilty Universality the Catholique Church and the like why one Kingdom is but the tenth part Bell. de Not. Eccl. of it 2. Hence we have the reason why that Call of God viz. Come out of her my people is not to be restrained to the City of Rev. 18. â— Rome properly and in the letter so taken but takes place in all the ten Kingdoms and in all the parts thereof though never so far remote from Rome in regard of distance of space The Government of this great Balylon takes in severall Kingdoms and so far as her Government and Worships are retained in any of them so far doth God call such a people out of Babylon 3. If any of the ten Kingdoms have withdrawn themselves utterly from Antichrist then is the tenth part of the City fallen I need not trouble you with the rehearfall of the ten Kingdomes they are commonly known to be these 1. There was the Alanes the Almains the Britains the Burgundians the Frankes the Greeks the Ostrogoths the Saxons the Vandals the Wisigoths If any of these have utterly withdrawn themselves from Antichrist then is the tenth part of the City fallen If not thâ—n is not the tenth part of the City fallen But if any be utterly withdrawing then is the tenth part of the City falling 4. There is a time when the Antichristian faction shall be paid in their own coyn Have they slain the Witnesses why when the tenth part of the City falls they become slain also Have they silenc'd and suspended the Witnesses even so shall it be measured to them also And perhaps of this there hath been a taste given already We have seen those brought to the Bar who have used to sit in Judgement passing hard and unjust sentence upon others Those suspended and their livings sequestâ—ed who formerly have been active to do as much for others And no marvell As Babylon falls so the Popish faction also 5. Do a remnant repent upon the fall of part of Babylon and the slaughter accompanying it Observe then there is some good to be expected from the fall of Babylon when the tenth part falls then do the remnant repent and give glory to the God of heaven How earnestly therefore should we pray for the destruction of Babylon It did no good standing but unspeakable mischief it will do good fallen for then will people hereby be brought unto Repentance VERS 14. The second Wo is past and behold the the third Wo cometh quickly NOw follows the Close of this Prophesie of the Witnesses which also as a sure direction tells us where we are especially while in hand with the latter part of this Prophesie In
these words The second Wo is past and behold the third Wo cometh quickly The meaning whereof that I make not many words about it seems in short this The second Wo that is The sixth Trumpâ—t For the three last Trumpets being three Wo-Trumpets as appears Chap. 8. verse 13 the second Wo must needs mean the sixth Trumpet Is past that is Is past in mention The third Wo that is The last Trumpet Cometh quickly that is cometh speedily to be mentioned As if the holy Ghost should say Now after this Prophesie of the Witnesses is related you have been told all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even all the businesse of the sixth Trumpet after which I proceed speedily to acquaint you with the businesse of the seventh Trumpet Or else this may be the meaning Then when all that which appâ—rtains to this Prophesie of the Witnesses is come to passe and the earthquake attending the Resurrection and Ascension of these Witnesses is perfectly ended then is the strength of the Wo of the sixth Trumpet gone also Which the seventh Trumpet and the Wo it brings along with it speedily follow which seventh Trumpet is to close and shut up all this Mystery And now we have gone over this whole Prophesie of the Witnesses having carefully enquired the meaning of all the parts thereto appertaining But before we proceed to speak any thing in that great Question Whether the Witnesses are slain yea or no reserved to be discussed till we had gone over with the Interpretation of the Prophesie give me leave to draw together under one view the brief meaning of all the severalls already handled which being set so neer and as a Preface to the Work yet behind will be as a Toâ—ch held at the entrie shewing us where we should tread in all that obscure way we are yet to go as also be a rule neer at hand whereby to examine what may be propounded in the great disquisition following Verse 3. ANd I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred threescore dayes clothed in Sackcloth DUring the time that Antichristianisme shal continue to spread it self thorow the world God will raise up such all this time who shall by their Sermons Writings Actions testifie against it mourning to behold the spreadings thereof hereby also kept down constrained to live in an obscure and mean condition this their testifying against it continuing 1260 yeers Verse 4. These are the two Olive trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth These Witnesses moreover for their quality are godly Magistrates and Ministers such as were Zerubbabel and Jeshua formerly who all the while of Antichrist his prevailing shall bestow themselves in maintaining whatsoever of Church Worship they have reforming repairing restoring as there is need and regaing what hath been lost by Antichristian encroachments Verse 5. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and destroyeth their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed And if any shall attempt to harm them they furnished as once Moses and Elias were by praying and denouncing Jâ—dgements procure certain destruction upon them Verse 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the dayes of their Prophesie and have power over wâ—â—eâ—s to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will And as Elias shut heaven so that it rained not upon the Apostate Israelites while they clave to Baal so while the Antichristian Gentiles continue such these Witnesses hold back all tydings of mercy and forgivenesse that blessed Train so refreshing weary souls declaring them while in that condition a people to whom no heaven no forgivenesse belongs as also to render their torment compleat do pour forth upon them all the Vialls Verse 7. And when they have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomelesse pit shall make warre against them and shall overcome them and kill them But when these Witnesses are about to close up their mourning testimony and having done much in reforming the Church and regaining of the utter Court which Antichrist had gotten from them before are now about to throw of their Sackcloth the Antichristian power collecting it self by suspending silencing and the like shall thus overcome and kill these Witnesses Verse 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified These Witnesses being slain in their office continue in this state of civill death within the Dominion and Territory of Rome which Rome is for her filthynesse Sodome for her Idolatry and cruell persecutions Egypt which when heathen puts our Saviour to death now Antichristian puts to death his Witnesses Verse 9. And they of the kinreds and people and tongues and nations shall look upon their dead bodies three dayes and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves While they thus lye dead the Antichristian faction with scorn and derision look upon them not suffering any to afford shelter honour countenance to these silenced Witnesses Verse 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts â—â—e to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth Who also in regard they were greatly tormented by these Witnesses when alive having then poured forth some of the Vials upon them Now that they are slain do out of measure rejoyce they are thus got rid of them Verse 11. And after three dayes and an half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great feâ—r fell on them which saw thâ—â— But when these Witnesses have continued for some space silenced suspended after three yeers and an half they are by a speciall hand of God restored to liberty and office again at which the Antichristian faction become greatly afraid not having the least thought the Witnesses once slain should by any means be ever raised again Verse 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and thâ—iâ— enemies beheld them But being now raised and restored to former liberty such as are then in authority in the reformed Churches do call them to some more honourable and ample condition then was that of their Sackcloth the people contributing all their help thereunto while the Ahtichristian faction with fear and great indignation behold it Verse 13. And the same hour then was a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fâ—ll and in the Earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven About this time of the Witnesses Resurrection and ascending up to heaven there are great Commotions By which Antichristianisme
the holy Ghost seems cleerly to limit it to the tenth part of the great City viz. to one of the ten Kingdoms and if I say England is this tenth part doth not the Article tell me so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that tenth part That one of the ten Kingdoms which seems most discernable from the rest and which is so easily differenced from the rest as is this Penitus toto divisi ab Island And let any say which is well worthy our observing where have the Witnesses of latter times been persecuted save onely in this Kingdom In France in the Low Countreyes and so in other places they have been quiet onely persecuted here in these Kingdoms I should not deny but the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth takes in other places and hath been done either at once or successively in most of these Western Kingdoms yet withall it seems to me evident the close and Chatastrophe of this same I mean the slaying and rising again of these Witnesses must be acted in one Kingdom onely Otherwise why do not five or six parts or more or all the parts of the City fall and not onely the tenth part if so be we say the Witnesses should be slain and rise again at once in so many But one part of the City falls upon their rising which could not be imagined if the Witnesses were slain and rose again at once in all the parts Which same if I may step so far aside may help to answer that question which I perceive some make in this businesse viz. Whether this slaughter of the Witnesses may not be successive and so acted in one Kingdom after another And this answer I should give to it Granting the Witnesses may prophesie in Sackcloth in one Kingdom after another in regard it is not limited to place as also is a businesse of long continuance and so hath time enough to move from one place to another but for their killing and resurrection in regard these are limited to a certain place namely To the Tenth part of the City as we saw before as also farther to a certain and fixed time namely To the end and term of the Witnesses Prophesie in Sackcloth and to the end of the sixth Trumpet as a full stop and period to both of them unlesse we can conceive The thousand two hundred and threescore yeers of the Witnesses Prophesie may end in one Kingdom after another and the time of the sixth Trumpet expire in one Kingdom after another and also the seventh Trumpet begin to sound in one Kingdom after another which we cannot we may not conceive the slaying and rising again of the Witnesses which are the exact periods of these certain and fixed times can be accomplished in one Kingdom after another neither But enough of the former part of the objection urging us as too much restraining the killing of the Witnesses in regard of place and for restraining it to particular persons which was the thing objected I further answer I should not restrain it to two or three men I would be unwilling to put so much envy upon any Some indeed there were that suffered more publikely then others yet all the sufferers Ministers and others for there were others also of quality were at an under before this Parliament yea Parliaments themselves rose up as from the dead in this Parliament All these together make the two Witnesses Ob. But if they be slain and risen again also how is it That since they are so miserably persecuted whence it is this warre is since raised against them and some of them suffer more deeply now then ever they did before Resp. To which it may be answered This is nothing else but the great Earthquake upon the Witnesses resurrection T is nothing but the Popish Prelaticall faction struggling for life now overthrown in the fall of the tenth part of the City It is not any solemne Authoritative persecution such as was the former 't is the Earthquake only and their strugglings for life all which ere long are like to end in their utter ruine Ob. If the Witnesses have thrown of their Sackcloth how is it that Antichrist is not yet destroyed the time of Antichrist's continuance and of the Witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth ending â—oth together Resp. The tenth part of Antichrists Kingdom is fallen at least a falling which being a leading â—ase to the other they moulder down apace after And as we do not begin the account of Antichrist his time from his full growth but from his birth so neither do we end it with the utter ruine and overthrow of Antichrist but with that great and visible declining of his when he utterly looses a whole Kingdom this breaking the Ice for all the other to follow after In short Then seems the Beast his forty two moneths to end when the tenth part of the City falls wherein is laid the ground-work of the ruine of all the other also You have now the conceived slaying and rising again of the Witnesses which hath fallen out in our times at large represented you have seen it in all the likelyhood and advantage I could hold it forth withall Now let every one take their liberty to speak their apprehension in the businesse for my part I cannot but think this same is like to be the slaying and rising again of the Witnesses only that I may not dissemble where I am at a stand give me leave after all to make these two or three queries 1. When did they of the Kinreds and people and tongues and nations look upon the silenced Ministers and others of this Kingdom who yet at the nineth verse of this Chapter are said to look upon the dead Witnesses 2. If with the rising of the Witnesses the second Wo passes Vers 13. 14. and this second Wo is the Turk how is it we say the Witnesses are risen and yet the Turk still continuing and like enough for some space yet to continue 3. If with the rising of the Witnesses the second Wo passes and the third Wo viz. The seventh Trumpet bringing in with the beginning of it the utter destruction of Antichrist as also the glorious coming and Kingdom of Jesus Christ quickly follows after Can our times be so neer the accomplishment of these as is the end of the second Wo which is the sixth Trumpet to the beginning of the third Wo which is the seventh Trumpet Somewhat I could answer unto these but not that which would quietare as the Schoolmen speak but these answered I know little else materiall and of weight further to be excepted And now to draw toward a conclusion and from all this to say somewhat to that question viz. What will become of us which was indeed the occasion of it all Why if the Witnesses be yet to be slain and slain in this Kingdom Then yet a little while expect and prepare for a suffering condition I say yet a while expect the times should frown and look
heaven that it rain not and as formerly Moses and Aaron turn the Waters into bloud and smite the earth withall plagues as often as they will But when the three yeers and an half of their Prophesie in Sackcloth is expired then the Beast the false Prophet there resident slayes them slayes them indeed after which their dead bodies lie just three dayes and an half in the street of Jerusalem which is here meant by the great City Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt Where also our Lord was crucified where for that space the severall Nations at that time there meeting shall look upon the dead bodies of these two Witnesses During which time the misled inhabitants shall rejoyce and make merry and send presents because now got rid of these two Prophets that did in their life time miserably tormented them But after those three dayes and an half they rise up from the dead after this ascend up to heaven in a cloud whereupon there being a great earth-quake the tenth part of Jerusalem falls seven thousand men slain all of it to be understood in the letter and all this to be done toward the end of the sixth Trumpet Thus you have the Interpretation Now if any ask the reason why the letter is so exactly kept to and this whole Prophesie of the Witnesses understood to be fulfilled in the letter 't is this in the generall This part of the Prophesie I mean all that which appertains to the Witnesses is not shewn the Prophet in a Vision but reported to him of the Angel as an Interlocuter speaking all this to him by word of mouth For this is a Rule Look what things are presented to the sight by similitudes and images those are all to be understood mystically But the things that are represented to the ear whether in proper or figurative terms unlesse necessity enforce are to be understood historically and in the letter This in the generall But now further Why the one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes of the Witnesses Prophâ—sie in Sackeloth are to be understood in the letter Why the great City means Jerusalem and the like you these have reasons in particular First For the one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes to be conceived just three yeers and an half properly There are these reasons offered 1. This time falls out toward the end of the sixth Trumpet now to conceive one thousand two hundred and threescore yeers to come in toward the end of the sixth Trumpet how absurd how impossible 2. This term is supposed to be the same with the term of that last and most cruell persecution of the last and worst Antichrist the same also with that most unparalell'd time of trouble mentioned at the 12 Dan. 1. Such as never was since there was a Nation which if so it cannot be so long as that which the mysticall Interpretation contends for but must be only three yeers and an half properly and in the letter so taken according to which account the two Witnesses may well be two single persons also The reason why the turning waters into blood and smiting the earth with all plagues be to be understood in the letter also besides that in the generall before mentioned is because some such thing as this is expected to be done about the time of the Conversion of the Jews so you finde Mich. 7. 15 16. According to the dayâ—s of thy coming out of the Land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvelious things The Nations shall see and be confoundâ—d c. And then the reason why these two Witnesses who also are called two Prophets together with the false Prophet have all of them reference to the Jews being all of them to reside there is this because wheresoever you finde mention of Prophets whether true or false there is still a reference had unto the Jews to whom only it was peculiar and their great priviledge to be furnished with the Ministery of extraordinary Prophets And then lastly the reasons why Jerusalem is here to be understood by the great City and not Rom as is commonly conceived are first because these two are expresly distinguished at the 16 Chapter of this Prophesie and 18 19 verses where you finde the great City that is Jerusalem is divided into three parts and great Babylon that is Rome comes into remembrance being there mentioned as two dinstinct places Besides Rome is no where in Scripture called Sodom and Egypt but Jerusalem is Sodom 't is called Isai 1. 10. and Egypt it is called Ezek. 23. 18 19 And further Rome was not the place where our Lord was crucified but Jerusalem and therefore when 't is here said The Witnessâ—s dead bodies lye in the street of the great Citie Jerusalem is this place where they lye dead where also the false Prophet hath his residence and when t is said The tenth part of the Citie falls it means the tenth part of Jeruâ—alem falls And now you have together with the Interpretation the reasons aâ— I could meet with them which this Interpretation chiefly leans upon If the Presse would have but respighted me a little I had not only barely propounded this Interpretaâ—ion with the reasons but had spoke my thoughts thereto also But since I can procure leave â—ut only to propound the Pâ—inter thinking long till the discourse be gotten abroad suffice it that I have proposed it hereby giving others an occasion to examine and upon examination either to receive or refuse as it shall be aâ—le to abide the tryall I having the opportunity only to bring it in Medie where also I must leave it Errata Good reader amend these faults of the Presse which could I have tended upon might happily have been prevented Pag. 4. Line 7. for state read fate p. 10. l. 6. for Church worships read Church worships p 13. l. 24. for come when r. come when p. 22. l. 23 for those r. these p. 28. l. 21. for these r. those l 37. for it however r. it howeuer p. 31. l. 23 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 40. l. 8. for from r. for p 49 l. 23. for former whereof r. former whereof p. 63 l 3. for honour have read have honour p. 68. l. 16. for these r. the p. 71. l. 10. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 73. l 2. for Train r. Rain p. 75. l. 11. for ends with it r ends with iâ— p. 80 l. 31. for fifteenth r. thirteenth p. 81. l. 14. for the r. that p. 82. l. 10. for to r. two p. 88. l. 14. for thing r. second thing FINIS
that must be our next enquire And concerning this same it is not to be conceived I suppose a street properly so called such as every great City hath many of for besides That Armies do not use to make the City and so no one street of a City their place of fight which yet they must say who shall here be peremptory for the letter besides this I say neither was our Saviour crucified in any street of the City but without the Gatâ— who yet is said there to be crucified Heb 13. 1â— where these Witnesses lay dead even in the street of the great City from all which it appears not to be a street properly so called and therefore some other must be enquired after Shall we therefore say the street of the great City means the Romish Territority the space wherein the Romish Government is exercised This seems not unlikely and if the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a street be well examined 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often by the Lxx translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Quicquid est extra regio c. Job 5. 10. Likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred also by the Lxx 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not gainsay but a whole countrey may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Mede Com. Apoca. it will be found not altogether to abhor from such a meaning In regard therefore this cannot be a street properly so taken and then further 't is but one street such as the greatest Cities seem to have but one of though of streets properly so taken there is no City but hath many as also because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will bear it be the Roman Territory that space wherewith the Roman Jurisdiction is coâ—xtended The street of this great City But now why is this great city Spiritually called Sodom this next follows to be enquired concerning This word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiritually bars us out from any thought that this City here mentioned should be Sodom indeed No this City is spiritually Sodom and yet not spiritually as often the word is taken viz. when earthly and carnally are opposed for so both the one City and the other have little to do with any thing spirituall in this meaning But spiritually it is Sodom that is this great city Rome is Metaphorically Sodom 't is Sodom by way of resemblance this is meant when you have Rome called spiritually Sodom And that this is so and there is a cleer resemblance betwixt them who so shall compare them each to other will no longer make question For instance Sodom to which Rome is here resembled not to name other things was the most silthy place then in being in the world we read the story of that notorious wickednesse of theirs in that nineteenth of Genesis From which Gen. 19. the sinne of Sodomy taking its name retains it to this day And for the great City of Rome here mentioned sure for uncleannesse 't is nothing at all behinde Sodome For look upon her spirituall uncleannesses and because of these you have her called the great Whorâ— the mother of Harlots and abominations of the Râ—v l. 17. and 5. earth she being the parent of all abominable Idolatries whatsoever And for carnall uncleannesse let him speak who thus upon his knowledge reports her I pudor ad villas si non patiantur easdem Bapt Mantu Et villae vomitas Roma est jam tota Lupanat Who also taking his leave of Rome thus be speaks her Vid. Fran Petrat Epist 20. Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse revertar Cum leno meretrix scusra Cynaedus ero But then for the sinne of Sodomy it self the foundation of this resemblance is there any thing more common in this City then this most infamous wickednesse that of the Epigramatist speaks a great deal both of wit and truth together Roma quid est Amor est quem dat preposterus ordo Roma mares noli dicere plurascio Can this sinne be a stranger in that City when Jerome Zeged Brightman Mutius does dare to write in the defence of this sinne of Sodomy and these writings of his allowed by the Bull of Pope Julius the third When also the Archbishop of Beneventum becomes so lost to all shame as to make a Panegyrie in commendation of this most detestable wickednesse But no more of this least I wrong modest spirits In short the uncleannesses of this place are not to be mentioned of which I say no more if any be ignorant lâ—t him be ignorant still for my part I had rather he should be so then by my inveighing against them so to come to learn them Sufficient I am sure hath been discovered to shew that Rome is Sodome which was our purpose Next we proceed to enquire why t is called Egypt And doubtlesse the resemblance holds as well in this as in the former as if we but take a view thereof we shall easily discover Observe therefore Egypt was a place for Idolatry none like it none had more gods then they and then their Herodat Juve Saty 15. gods some of them were Cats Crocodiles Serpents Oynions as the Satyrist scoffs at them even the vilest and most abject creatures And doth not the resemblance every way answer Have any people more gods then are to be found in the Romish Egypt Can you come into any place of theirs any Temple any Oratory where you do not finde every Wall every Window every corner thronged with them And then to give divine honour to a pair of shooes a shirt a pair of breeches with Carthus Alexand Hal Thomas Cajetan Bonavent Bellar. infinite such kinde of Reliques then which both their opinion and practise speaks nothing more common is not this every way as bad as to worship a Cat a Crocodile or any other such vile creature But this is not all As Egypt was an Idolatrous place so was it to the people of God a place of cruelties it was to them the house of Iron bondage However it was friendly at first yet Deu 4. 20. Exod 1. 8. when an other King arose that knew not Joseph then did Egypt begin to shew it self then lest Israel should overmuch encrease they must be had to the firy furnace if so be the toyl and anguish Vers 11. and 14. hereof might lessen and consume them When this succeeds not then all the malâ—-children must be destroyed as soon as born that thus stopping the spring the stream within a while might wither and be cut off also And hath not all this been done in the Romish Egypt What ever fair quarter the Church at fiâ—st found among them it was not long before the Dragon a title formerly given to Pharaoh Isai 51. 9. Chap. 12 Vers 1 2 3 4. but now entailed upon the Heathen Roman Emperours doth stand before the woman new in travell ready to destroy the Male-child so soon as ever
it was born When this takes not then are they brought unto the furnace and however the people of God Vers 13. and 17. Sanguis martyrum semen Ecclesiae did multiply in their persecutions and their numbers encreased by those very courses they took to lessen them in like manner as did Israel before yet was not the furnace of the Romish Egypt lesse scorching then of the other nay rather the furnace in this Egypt is heated seven times hotter then ever that of the former It could be no lesse when besides all those who were put to death in the tenne Primative persecutions at least ten hundred thousand of the Waldenses and Albigenses as was hinted before are after made away by the Antichristian Power And since those bloody times to our dayes no fewer destroyed by this Egyptian fiery furnace also In the first thirty yeers after the Order of the Jesuites was brought forth were Baldwin de Aâ—tich cap 6. Fra Iunius Tilmus ad Bell. slain of godly Christians neer ninety thousand And the Inquisition it self in the space of scarce thirty yeers made away with no lesse then a hundred and fifty thousand whereto if we should adde all the blood of Martyrs spilt in Germany France and England together with that Protestant blood now shed in Ireland what would all this amount unto but the former is sufficient for our purpose and what hath been said abundantly shewing that Rome is to the people of God the house of Bondage for which together with its notorious Idolatry 't is not unelegantly by the holy Ghost stiled another Egypt Rome then for its Idolatry and Cruelty apparently is Egypt now next we enquire which in the Text follows why 't is resembled to the place where our Lord was crucified The Jesuites to the end they might deliver their beloved Rome from the foul and odious stains here asperst upon her will needs turn Ribera Apoc 11. num 12. Bellar lib 3. de Pap Ro. all this over to Jerusalem telling us Jerusalem is the place here described for where say they was our Lord crucified but onely at Jerusalem Of our own there are that carry it thus As Rome before was for its filthinesse Sodom as also Egypt for Idolatry and cruelty so now in her blasphemous Masse for crucifying Christ Petra Epist 19. afresh every day and killing these Witnesse as once indeed she did Christ himself is therefore here call'd Spiritually Jerusalem But if this please not you may refer this clause to that which went before I mean those words the street of the great city as if the Verse ran thus And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city where also our Lord was crucified According whereunto the meaning must be this Our Saviour was crucified in the street of the great city where also lie dead the bodies of these Witnesses Object But some may say Our Saviour was crucified in Jerusalem how then in any street of Rome Resol I answer in both He was crucified at Jerusalem That was the certain literall place as I may call it where he was crucified yet in regard he was not put to death by any power the Joh. 18. 31 Jews had for they acknowledge It was not lawfull for them to put any man to death but by the Roman power in regard Pilate a Roman Judge passes sentence And further because adjudged to dye a Roman death And this in a place at that time under the Roman Jurisdiction within the Roman Territory therefore with good congruitie he is here said to be crucified in the street of Rome also In brief our Saviour was crucified within the Roman jurisdiction This as we saw before is The street of the great City Gather up now the sum of all the former into one and the result of all is clearly thus much These Witnesses formerly slain in their office and now continuing in that state of civill death their slaughter brought them into thus lie dead within the Dominion and Territory of Rome which Rome is for her filthynesse Sodome for her Idolatry and cruell persecuting of the people of God Egypt which when heathen puts our Saviour to death now Antichristian puts to death his Witnesses The words thus opened the observations now follow 1. Is the street of the great City the Roman Territory then if the salying of the Witnesses should be yet to come as also to be accomplished in all the Roman territory then only out of the Roman territory can be exemption expected from this slaughter onely in the further parts of the world or some more priviledged place neerer home if there be any such can any Witnesses hope this killing shall not befall them 2. Is Rome Sodome Take notice then of that strange blindnesse or rather perversenesse of the Romish Crew Rome is in their apprehension and in their mouthes also Sancta Roma holy Rome notwithstanding there being no place so unholy t is by the holy Ghost deservedly called Sodome 3. Is Rome become Sodome Observe from hence the sad yet proper punishment of Idolatry Rome through her Idolatry is by a just judgement transformed into Sodome These by their Idolatrous imaginations depose the Lord into the likenesse Rom 1. 23 24 25 26 27. of themselves God by a just punishment deposes them into worse then very beasts For this cause God gives them over to vilo affections They entertain unbecoming thoughts of God and God gives them to do things altogether unbecoming themselves 4. What a mercy was it to be delivered from Rome What a mercy was it for Lot to be delivered out of Sodom from so much filthinesse and from such an unclean Generation the beholding whereof could be no other to a gracious heart then a 1 Pet. 2. 7. continuall vexation 5. If Rome from her Idolatry and cruelty is become another Egypt How thankfull then should we bear our selves for our deliverance from it an Idolatrous place as also a cruell such as would by the former destroy the soul or if it could not that then by the latter the body should not the deliverance from such a place be alwayes had in remembrance 6. If Rome be Egypt Ah cruell they that have formerly and dayly do contend to bring a poor escaped people into Egypt back again Israel had a Law That none should bring again a Deut. 23. 15. servant who because of the harsh usage of his Master had got away from him This was and yet continues to be our case and is among us the great quarrell at this day Poor we are scaped from Egypt from Rome being able to bear her harsh usage no longer and cruell hard-hearted they by all endeavours possible will trie to bring us thither again 7. Is Rome the place where our Lord was crucified Oh the destruction and vengence that doth await Rome when God shall recompence upon her the blood of Prophâ—ts the blood of Saints yea the blood of
shall no further determine but from it passe on to enquire how long the Witnesses are lookt upon and kept unburied by the People and Tongues and Nations which sayes the Text is Three dayes and an half the last thing we were to enquire after and comes now to be handled Concerning which three dayes and an half I shall not say as some do it signifies some very short time yet not at all limited Paraeus Comâ— Apo. or determinate I shall not say so for being that it is a broken number three dayes and an half as broken numbers use to do it must needs signifie a time determinate Nor further can this signifie the same space with the Witnesses Prophesie which yet some imagine for that of the Witnesses Deut. Exp. Prophesie is three yeers and an half this of their lying unburied but three dayes and an half Besides this space of the three dayes and an half doth then begin when the term of the three yeers â—nâ— an halâ— is about to determine For when the Witnesses have continued their prophesie almost three yeers and an half and are now drawing toward an end then are they slain and after slain they lic unbâ—ried three dayes and an half so that this cannot be the same space with the term of the Witnesses Prophesie Once more Nor seems it to be understood in the letter viz. Ribera for three dayes and an half properly and in strictnesse so taken it being hard to conceive that all that which is mentioned to be done during this space should in so short a time as three dayes and an half be possibly accomplished Is it possible that tydings of the slaughter of these Witnesses should be carryed from one people to an other in the space of three dayes and an half so that in that space also they might congratulate with one another for this so happy turn of the Witnesses slaughter Or is the space of half a day perceiveable in a time of such publike and universall solemnity as that is when the Witnesses are killed Which if so If this three dayes and an half be not on indetâ—râ—inate time as we saw before nor yet the same with the 1260 dayes the terme of the Witnesses Prophesie nor yet three dayes and an half in the letter as we saw just now what can it mean but three dayes and an half propheticall that is three yeers and an half Thus long is the space while the Witnesses lie unburied So we understood the three yeers and an half of the Witnesses Prophesie before which resolving into one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes and then accounting a day for a yeer as is the manner of the Prophets sometime to reckon the whole came to one thousand two hundred and threescore yeers So these three dayes and an half take them is sometimes the Prophets do and as we reckoned the former and they make three yeers and an half alâ—o The meaning of this Verse and all the severalls thereof being thus at large opened I shall not for this once draw up the summe of all offering it to one view so as hath been my former manner but studious of brevity shall forthwith proceed to the observations which are these 1. From the former Interpretation Do the reformed people keep the Witnesses from being thrown in to graves Then if this should not be past here is a lesson for the reformed people here 's this hint for them Though they may suffer Antichrist to slay their Witnesses yet when he goes about to throw them into the grave to the end they might never rise again then does it behove the reformed people with all their united strength resolvedly to oppose it Let the reformed people remember this now they are told of it if such a thing were yet to be accomplished That they do their parts and not suffer Antichrist after he hath slain their Witnesses to the end they might never rise again to throw them into the grave also 2. From the latter 1. Do the Popish party look upon the dead Witnesses and will not suffer them to be buried that they might still delight themselves in the beholding of them Oh the insinite spleen the Popish party do bear against the Lords Witnesses Is it not sufficient they have slain them but they must have their dead bodies lye before them to scorn and mock at Is it not sufficient the Philistimes have put out Sampsons cyes Jud. 16. 21 and 25. but they must send for him in this condition to make them sport also Take notice of the immortall hate these bear against Gods Witnesses which doth not determine with their death For after this they must have their dead bodies to make may-games of 3. Observe the salvagenesse of Antichrist and his crew who will not suffer the dead Witnesses to have the honour of buriall When they have stopped the Witnesses mouths and so slain them they cannot bear it that any shall take a silenced Witnesse into house give him shelter entertainment Hence such search such enquiry made after these proscribed Witnesses heretofore and should this not be accomplished it will be greater yet then ever the Antichristian party will not suffer the dead Witnesses to be put in graves 4. Does this unburied state of these Witnesses last but three dayes and an half three yeers and an half here 's some comfort Omâ—ia adversâ— quâ—ntuâ—â—s magn◠〈…〉 Though this time when ever it is may be troublesome yet 't is not like to last long How long soever they be a slaying when once slain they lie dead but three yeers an half no longer are they left to be the scorn of the Popish brood no longer are the people of God deprived of them VERS 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth IT now follows we see what is done the while these Witnesses lye dead gazed upon and uninterred in the street of the great City In these words And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce and make merry and send presents one to another because these two Prophets tormented c. In opining whereof we shall observe such like method as in the former enquiring 1. What it is that 's done the while the Witnesses lye slain and unburied laid down in these words They rejoyce and make merry and send presents 2. The persons thus rejoycing and making merry And they are stiled The Inhabitants of the earth They that dwell upon the earth 3. The ground why they that dwell upon the earth are thus over joyed In these words T is over these two Prophets because they tormented them that dwell upon the earth Of these briefly in this order In opening the former whereof I mean The rejoycing and making merry c. here mentioned I shall for this purpose referre to two or three Scriptures which taken
is commonly believed by this reckoning we leave the Beast the space while six Vials are a pouring forth after that the term of the Witnesses Prophesie is past and ended 2. If but one Vial be poured forth when they are slain and the sixth and seventh Vial fall neer their Resurrection which they do what becomes of the second third fourth and fifth Vials where finde we any room for them they hereby become utterly excluded To say they are poured forth in the three yeers and an half betwixt the slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses sure this time is too scant for four Vials to be poured forth in And besides the Witnesses who as we have shewn formerly do pour forth all the Vials do lie dead during all that space and therefore those Vials cannot then be poured forth To gather up all this in brief The Witnesses torment the earth with four or five Vials before they are slain the sixth and seventh Vial falling in with the time of their Resurrection and therefore that time wherein either none or but one of the Vials was poured forth as was the time of the Counsell of Trent cannot be the time of the slaying of the Witnesses 3. If the slaying and rising again of the Witnesses was then Whence is it that since that time these Witnesses have been so grievously persecuted how is it that since that time so many have continued to prophesie in Sackcloth yea so many have been silenc'd and suspended in this Kingdom in other places Had they been once slain and risen again afterward they prophesie in Sackcloth no more are slain no more If they rose again then how is it that for a hundred yeers space since that time we have found them still continuing to prophesie in Sackcloth 4. If it can be cleared that the one thousand two hundred and threescore yeers the term of the Witnesses Prophesie cannot begin so high as Constantine the Great so as to end about the time of the Councell of Trent as those that favour this opinion contend but must begin after Constantine and so reach over the Councell of Trent neerer to our times then the businesse is at an end there will be no further question in this matter To cleer this same therefore and so I shall essay to shew you when this one thousand two hundred and threescore yeers of the Witnesses Prophesie doth begin that which every one so greedily enquires after For this purpose I must remember you of what I formerly hinted namely That the time of the Gentiles treading down the holy City the time of the Beast his reigning forty two moneths the time of the woman in the Wildernesse time times and half a time and the time of the Witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes seem all of them to be the same time so that if we can finde where any of these either begin or end we shall finde where every of them begin and end also This stated which none need question proof being so obvious Vid Mede Clav. Apo. Napier Paraus to any that shall make enquiry and which only for brevity sake I do not produce I say this granted Let us essay to finde when the beast begins his forty two moneths which seems easiest of the rest and for our better direction in this work we shall make these enquiries 1. When that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Let which the Apostle tells 2 Thes â— 6 7. the Thessalonians hindred Antichrist his coming was removed out of the way For if we can finde when that hinderance was removed we shall certainly finde when Antichrist comes whose coming is just upon the removall of the hinderance 2. When the Beast had his deadly wound with the sword Revel 13. 4 5. and that healed up again for from that time forward the Beast hath power to continue forty and two moneths 3. When the Beast became ten-horned for however the Chap. 17. horns in nature are somewhat after the Beast and so here yet not so long but that by this enquiry we may gain some light and direction in this businesse For the first of these viz. When that Let that hindered Antichrist his coming was taken out of the way Sure this could not be when Constantine came to be Emperour which quashes the former opinion for after him the Roman Emperours which were the Let the Apostle speaks of continued a good space Ob. But may some say the Pagan Emperours were the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hinderance which determining in Constantines time then the hinderance became removed Resp. I answer no It was the Emperours whether Pagans or Christians that were the hinderance For both these making but the sixth head I mean the sixth kinde of Government the Roman Empire was to be cast into while these staid on they hindered the rising up of the seventh It was the sixth head standing on that hindered the rising up and appearance of the seventh To make this more plain conceive it all thus The Roman Empire is presented in this Prophesie as a Beast with Chap. 17. Verse 3. seven heads which seven heads are seven kinds of Governments one in order succeeding an other Five of these heads were gone and the sixth namely That of Emperours was in Verse 10. being then when John wrote this Revelation Which kinde of Government I mean of Emperours being but heathenish at present was afterward to become Christian yet still continuing the sixth head notwithstanding all this alteration otherwayes the Beast must have more heads then seven Till this head was wounded to death as it was to be there was no place for the seventh The Emperours the sixth head must be wounded to death before the seventh viz. That of Popes could succeed in the room of it But then it will be asked when had this sixth head the deadly wound The second thing we were to enquire concerning But before I speak directly to this query give me leave to note these two things 1. This deadly wound of the sixth head was made by the sword so you read expresly at the fifteenth Chapter 14 verse 2. Upon this deadly wound this sixth head dies not declines not but by degrees every step of its declining advancing the seventh head accordingly that was to succeed This premised we say Then seems this deadly wound of the sixth head the head of Emperours begun to be made when in the yeer 365 or there about Those barbarous Nations the Almains Quades Gothes with severall other broke in upon the Roman Empire burning and destroying where they came from this time seems laid the ground-work of the ruine of the Western Emperours Not long after this about the yeer 412 as Slâ—idan reckons Sleidâ—n Sum Imper lib. 2. or 410 as others Alaricus the Goth sacks Rome it self sure this was a deadly blow to the Emperours indeed when the Seat of the Empire it self becomes conquered It could not
open opposer of Prelacy and the Câ—remoniâ—s any emminent one that openly hâ—ld forth any such thing in all this Kingdom And say freely doth this look like the slaying of the Witnesses yea or no You have godly Ministers and others opposing what of Antichrist remains in the Kingdom silenced suspended thrown out of place thus killed You have all done so to all the bold opposers through the Kingdom thus killed You have it done by the Prelacy no â—oubt an Antichristian power and this just about the time when by the liâ—â—liest computation it should be done That every thing should with such consent fall in Witnesses slain all slain slain by the beast and this then when the course of times tells us they should be slain Can it be but we must confesse this is the slaying of the Witnesses Further. After they are slain they lye dead in the street that Vers 8. is They continue in that state of civill death their killing brought them into they remain for some space suspended their mouths sâ—aled up whom in this case if any should attempt to give shelter succour honour to it must not be for they will Vers 9. not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves And hath not all this come to passe accordingly And when all the Witnesses were thus silenced and slain did they not for some good space so continue was not the Pulpit shut against them yea the Presse also no breath of their former life of Witnesses now coming from them And then did not the Prelaticall faction forbid any to shelter countenance or succour these silenced Witnesses You know what search hath been made for these same what care that none should shelter then Thus not suffering their dead bodies to be put in graves When they have brought things to this passe and slain all the Witnesses then they rejoyce and make merry And did not Vers 10. that faction do so here Did they not triumph they had made suâ—h a hand of the Puritan Preachers through the Kingdom Have I not heard some of them have boasted and hugg'd themselves in it They had not left a Puritan Preacher in their Diocesse This was the sad condition of the godly Ministers and some others well affected for some three or four yeers before this Parliament How think you now doth this appear like a slaying of the Witnesses yea or no. But proceed After three yeers and an half the Spirit of life from God enters Vers 11. into the Witnesses and they stand upon their feet God by his speciall hand restores the Witnesses to their liberty again which the Antichristian faction beholdiâ—â— thereupon become greatly afraid And haâ—h not all this been made good among us also doth any question when after the three yeers and an half silencing and imprisonment of those who suffered more publikely for just so long to a day these suffered They together with many other silenced and dead Witnesses were again restored to liberty the beginning of this Parliament At the beholding whereof and to see such a sudden and unexpected tuâ—n of things I appeal to any man did not the Popish Prâ—laticall faction become no little affrighted How think you now Was not this like a resurrection of the Witnesses But yet further being risen again they are called up to Heaven whither ascending in a cloud their enemies beheld them Some act of them in place in calling the Witnesses to some more ample condition this is the voice calling the Witnesses up Vers 12. to heaven The multitude of people congratulating with them for their freedom as also setting to their shoulders to help forward their advancement This is the cloud wherein thèy ascend thither And was not this made good also was it not a great voice from heaven which fetch some of these Witnesses from the uttermost parts of this Kingdom where they were imprisoned to this place And did not thousands of people a cloud of Witnesses rejoycing and with triumph accompany them hither where also hath it not been consulted for the enlargement of their maintenance and their better accommodation that so they might never more Prophesie in Sackcloth Of all which also were not their enemies the Popish Prelaticall party as the Text further addes The no whit over-joyed beholders All which put together seems it not to be the Witnesses Ascension Once more The same hour there is a great Earthquake About Vers 13. the time of the rising of the Witnesses there are great stirs and Commotions And since that time have their not been such in this Kingdom nay do they not continue with us to this day All which what other thing are they then the great Earthquake accompanying the rising again of the Witnesses But further in this Earthquake The tenth part of the great Citie falls Antichristianisme in one of the ten Kingdoms falls Vers 13. And is not this a doing Prelacy and the Ceremonies the only remains of Popery have they not been falling ever since They are gone in Scotland and are they not a going in this Kingdom also And then lastly Seven thousand men of name slain in the Vers 13. Earthquake That is many deprived of power honour maintenance which they had before And is not this a doing also And when so many Prelates Deans and Chapters with all their appurtenances shall have their honour place maintenance taken from them which then is done when the bill is once passed drawn up for this purpose Then is the slaughter of the seven thousand men of name fully accomplished The summe of all this that I may give it you at one view is thus much The godly Ministers or others opposing Antichristianisme and being kept under thereby are the Witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth Their silencing suspending This is their slaughter Their restoring to liberty again is there resurrection The state calling them to more freedom and honour is the voyce from heaven calling them thither The multitude of people congratulating with them the cloud wherein they do ascend The Commotions now in the Kingdom are the great Earthquake Prelacy and the Ceremonies taken away this is the tenth part of the Citie falling and the Bishops Deans and Chapters with all their rabble being utterly deprived of Authority honour maintenance are the Seven thousand men slain in the Earthquake And now speak every one his thought seems not this indeed the slaying and rising again of the Witnesses and do not things fall in and answer beyond all expectation It cannot be denyed but this same hath likelynesse of event to commend it none more and then for the time where else would a man have pitch'd had he been to choose And indeed what can be objected against it Ob. You will say this same doth too much straiten this Prophesie in regard of time and place It seems a businesse more generall then to be confined to this Kingdom or to those we aym at in it Resp I answer for place