and glorious Reign and Government of Christ and his Saints on Earth Dan. 7. 27 28. with Psal. 72. the whole Psalm Well might these heavy Tydings cause his countenance to change by the trouble of his mind about this matter as the Repetition after Dan. 8. in the description of the 3 that were to Reign the 2300 years yet to come as v. 19 20 21 26. caused him to faint even to sickness for certain days v. â—7 I say well might these things be so diâ—â—ressing to the Mind and Spirit of the Prophet when he was expecting deliverance to the Church of God For in this very year the first of Darius Dan. 9. 1 2. He understood by the Books of Jeremiah the ending of the â—o years Captivity in Babylon together with Gods providence in ending that first Monarchy Jer. 27. 7. they â—â—ing at a loss at which of the 3 goings into Captivity to head that number before for there were â— goings into captivity as 2 Chron. 36. 6. and 10 17. The next thing is how to carry on this time of 2300 years according to Scripture And first I shall premise 1. That it is not so material to enquire what of this time is run out in and under each of these Monarchies there being so much time alloted by Divine appointment for the whole if we can but find the time carried on in Scripture it is sufficient for as God set the time then to come of the first Monarchy in the 70 years of his Churches sufferings under it so he sets the whole time of the three that were to succeed in the 2300 years of his Churches sufferings then to come 2. That Histories do greatly differ both as to number of Persons reigning and the time that each reigned that they rather confound than help in this matter and is one reason why Expositors have so varied each following him whom he liked best and endeavouring to reconcile the Scriptures to them when indeed we should reconcile them to the Scriptures and if they speak not according to them not to hear them And therefore to prosecute my design I find we may reckon up this account of 2300 years so many of them as were past at Christs death by Scripture thus First 21 years after the 70 years expired in the ending of the Babylonian Monarchy which was the time of Darius his Reign after he took Babylon before Cyrus came to the Throne who was foretold by Isaiah the Prophet Chap. 44. 28. to be the Person that should let go Gods Captives who accordingly did Ezra c. 1. Now the Scriptures give us this account 1. That the Medes and Persians were but one Monarchy 2. That the Government was in the seed of thâ— Medes at the time when Babylon was taken Dâ—â— 5. 31. ch 9. 1. 3. That Darius was 62 years old when he took Babylon Dan. 5 31. there is some reason for the Spirits noting of that so that he might well Reign 21 years more for that is but 83 and many live to that age 4. That he ordered over the affairs of the Kingdom 120 Princes and 3 Presidents c. 5. He by the motion of these Princes made that Law as firm as the Laws of the Medes and Persians that Daniel was cast into the Lions Den by Dan. 6. 7 8 9 10. 6. Upon his miraculous deliverance he made a Decree to own the God of Daniel chap. 6 25 26. and published it through all his Dominions all these things must take up time 7. Daniel c. 6. 28. is said to prosper all his Reign therefore he did Reign 8. The Holy Spirit gives us the description of this Monarchy under the Ram He tells 〈…〉 Horns came up one after the other and the last grew highest which was Cyrus a Persian How he came to the Throne Historians differ some say by conquest this could not be Others by marriage or some natural Alliance which is probable but that is not material to me it 's sufficient that I find the Scriptures say that he came to the Throne 9. Now these 21 years I judge are the 21 days a day for a year the Angel saith the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood him Dan. 10. 13. For the better understanding of which 1. In Dan. 9. after Daniel had understood by Books the expiration of the 70 years captivity under the Babylonians he sets himself to pray for Mercy and Deliverance and hath no other Answer than â—th Vision of 70 weeks and the division of them Dan. â—9 25 26. which account was to begin from the going forth of the Commandment to build the City Jerusalem 7 weeks it should be building and built 62 to the Messiah and in the midst of the last week the Messiah should be cut off So that in all this there is no direct answer to Daniels prayer for present deliverance for the Temple took up a long time in building through the long death upon the work before the command here spoken of for building the City came forth Now as his prayer was in the first year of Darius that is not of his being a King but his taking Babylon and so being concerned with the Church of God for God in his Word takes little or no notice of earthly powers but as in Relation to his people so when Daniel was even now going out of the World He sets himself to pray again in ch 10. which is said to be in the third of Cyrus v. 1. and has this for Answer that God was not unmindful of his Prayer as v. 12. and gives a reason why deliverance was not yet to come The Prince of the Kingdom of 〈…〉 the Prince of Persia but the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia i. e. Darius who tho'he was of the seed of the Medes was Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood him that is had not let Israel go tho' he had strengthned him in his Kingdom ch 11. 1. Now this third year of Cyrus might possibly be but the first of his absolute Reign for it 's like he might under Darius being old rule 2 years before his death because it s said 2 Chron. the last and 1. Ezra 1. That in the first of Cyrus he let Israel go and 't is probable that Daniel died in the first of his absolute Reign Dan x. last for he continued but to the first of King Cyrus Now the continuance here cannot relate to his honours that King Nebuchadnezzar advanced him to chap. 2. 48. for after his death if not before he retired and lived obscure at Court chap. 5. 11 13. Neither did the Prophet Daniel come out of captivity which it's like he had done if he had lived to the time of liberty to return being a man whose Heart was so ingaged for the good of the Church of God besides it hath been that such as were to succeed in the Throne have been in the management of the Government before the death of him that preceded as
ordained as sufficient to establish a Truth by as much as to say God hath â—ad sufficient witnesses to bear a testimony to his Word and Gospel in every age against Antichrist his abominable lies usurpation and cursed Idolatry 2. As touching the slaying of them it must either intend a natural Death or external slaying or else â— civil death now I see no ground to conclude the former because they were so killed all along whilst they Prophecied in sack-cloath besides friends nor enemies would not suffer their Dead Bodies to lie â—â—buried in the Street for the space of three years and half for the best of expositors conclude generally that is the time meant by three days and a half therefore it must be a civil Death or slaying This then I conclude to be intended viz. near the end of the two and forty months or 1260. years of their Prophecy the Beast who rose out of the bottomless Pit shall make a new rally or attempt upon Gods faithful people quite to extinguish or put â—n end to their testimony and so far prevail as they shall be lookt upon as dead in Law or be accounted as dead and lost people in the eye of the Enemy and in their own sight also both in respect of the Ministry and Magistracy too To this effect also Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks p. 154 155. This killing them considered as witnesses not as men that is a taking away of all power from them of prophecying as they were wont a general silencing of Ministers and deposing Magistrates and men of worth that profess and uphold Religion c. putting them out from all places c. That the Popish party should again arrive to such â— in some one or more Kingdoms that were formerly a Horn or Horns of the Beast or one â— the Streets of the great City nay and prevail â— far as to have great hopes to work the utter â— of Gods faithful people and witnesses as to rejoyâ— and conclude the day will nay is their own â— that to such a degree that she viz. Mystery Babylâ— shall say in her Heart I sit a Queen and shall see â— sorrow nor know less of Children any more This â— ing dead saith the Dr. here of the witnesses â— needs be taken metaphorically and understâ—â—â— of a civil death and of a suppression of them â— their cause And as they are witnesses to be put doâ— and extinguished that they for a time remainâ— men dead laid forth by the Walls for dead and â— men in whose Testimony there is in appearâ—â—â— no likelyhood of a revival their Enemies has â— now got such power over them this certaiâ— made the great matter of their Enemies rejoycâ— that as the Pharisees thought they had Christ 〈◊〉 enough when they got him condemned and crâ—cified and had him in the grave so these Enemies shall think they have the witnesses doâ— sure enough for ever so great desperate 〈◊〉 helpless in all view will the suppression of 〈◊〉 witnesses be by their Enemies And this is principally intended in their being said to lie 〈◊〉 And oppositely the revival of them and the cause is set forth by a resurrection from the deâ— this great man hath given such an account of â— slaying and lying dead of the Witnesses that cannâ— I think be gainsayed and speaks tho' so maâ— years ago as if he had lived to see what our Eâ— have beheld actually accomplished in this Kingdom in a few years last past time is the only opener â— interpreter of these Mysteries was there ever sâ— â—n hour upon the Lords people since the beginning of the Reformation as hath been in these five or six years last past both here and in France if he is right certainly we have seen the death of Gods witnesses â—nd with this doth a worthy pious and learned friend â—gree in a late manuscript which is come to my â—and and also in his said Papers he speaks of that â—treet in which they are said to lye as dead and alâ—o of the Resurrection of them as already tho' but â—ately come to pass yet with that care and caution that 't is left to the consideration of the wise and thinking Christian for too great confidence in matters of this nature is not necessary But because some are ready to object saith he that if the witnesses are already slain and are rose in these nations they think there would then be a far greater appearance of divine Glory in order to the rescue and deliverance of Gods people in other parts of the World as well as here whereas we know that the generality of Christs witnesses elsewhere do yet remain under great Persecution c. In answer whereunto he saith it ought to be duely considered that the death and resurrection of the witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. must have of necessity a peculiar reference unto one of the Streets only of the great City for so the Text expresly tells us their dead bodies shall lye in the Street or in that Street of the great City v. 8. which â—eems plainly to point unto some one principal Street or part of the Roman Jurisdiction which must needs denote such a Street as where there shall be the greatest number of the most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ even are such who have born the clearest testimony against the supperstiâ—ions and abominations of the Mystery of iniquiâ—y and that have born the clearest testimony concerning Christ and the Gospel in the due exercise and administration of the Kingly Priestly and Prophetical offices of the Lord Jesus for aâ— reference hereunto it is that Christ values natioâ— and Kingdoms not in respect of their opulency â— greatness or vastness of dominions but where there are the greatest numbers of his chosen Jewels this may serve to Answer clavis Apoc. in assertiâ— Germany to be this Street also our French Authoâ— concerning the Kingdom of France some one Street we see by the plain words of the text is designed â— the scene where this glorious Prophesie was to bâ— accomplished for the work must begin some where And what that Street should be but thâ— Kingdom of Great Brittain we see no cause to doubt which all acknowledge to have been once one â— the ten Horns of the Beast and where also I thiâ— we may modestly affirm there are the greatest number of Christs most enlightned faithful Witnesses I will not determine but I suppose there are fâ—â— of Ingenuity but have read and considered tâ— several convincing arguments of Dr. Goodwin â— Rev. 11. wherein he doth assert and I think â— clearly prove that that prediction concerning tâ— death of the Witnesses and their Resurrection muâ— of necessity be limited to one of the Streets of the great City and cannot fairly be expounded as having any immediate reference unto any of the rest so â— doth as clearly demonstrate that the English Juridiction must of necessity be that street which â— doth by comparing the
look back â—ut for six hundred years last past in which â—me we shall find hundreds of thousands of proâ—st Christians most Butcherly and Barbarously â—ut to death for their Zeal and Love to the â—hristian Religion in the respective Nations â—f Europe before which the Heathenish state â—f Rome was gone off about the space of six â—undred years so that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about Mystery Babylon we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome 6. Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon under consideration because the discoverie of other Prophecies relating to the same State no way agree to the Power of Rome Heathen 1. This State of Babylon is called Mystery of Iniquity This no way agrees to Rome Heathen but fully agrees to Rome Papal compare 2 Thes. 2. 7. with Rev. 17. 7. viz. For the Mystery of Iniquiry doth already Work The Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the Woman and of the Beast that carryeth her 2. The head of this State of Mystery Babylon is called the Man of Sin by way of Eminency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only beyond the common rank of Men but beyond the highesâ— Sons of wickedness that went before him And there is a great Truth in this for if wâ— consider the Pope in respect of Pride Hypocrisy Idolatry and Blood he is the most unâ— parallel'd Man of Sin. 3. This State or Mystery of Iniquity bâ— gan to work in the Apostles days which 〈◊〉 no way applicable to the Power of Rome Heaâ— then for that did not then begin it beinâ— at that time in the very Meridian of its Greatness and universal Sovereignty Luke 2. 1. And it came to pass in those days that there came out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be Taxed 4. This man of Sin mystery of Iniquity or head of the Babylonish State is said to be let or hindred in his designs He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way 2 Thes. 2. 7. But now Rome Heathen had no let or hindrance either from the Word of God or that declared it as it was a Civil Magistracy to be Gods ordinance nor from any opposite power either Civil or Military they giving Laws to the greatest part of the World and enjoying the supream Government of the best Kingdoms in the Universe none being able to Cope with them at that time 5. This head of the Babylonish State is said to sit in the Temple of God which the Power of Rome Heathen did not do neither in the Temple of Jerusalem nor in the Church which is more properly the Temple of God for the Jews kept the possession of the Litteral Temple till it was destroyed and for the Church of God the Heathen Emperors never loved it so well as to make their residence in it but the Bishop of Rome before he shewed himself to be that wicked one viz. the man of Sin did evidently sit in the Church or Temple of God and so fulfilled this Prophecy in the very Letter of it 6. He that is the man of Sin or head of this Babylonish State was to rise by Apostacy or falling away from the Christian Religion 2 Thes. 2. 3. There shall come a falling away first exactly agreeing with another Prophecy to the same purpose 1. Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith c. But Rome Heathen did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion or a departing from the Faith which they never professed as is Evident to the whole World Ergo. Rome Heathen Cannot be this Babylonish State. 7. This man of Sin or head of mystery Babylon lay hid in the Apostles time and was not revealed but the Power of Rome Heathen did not then lye hid or wanted to be revealed for it stood visible and high upon a Hill even upon seven Hills according to the Roman Poet Ovid who lived about the very time of Christ's being on Earth in Lib. de Tristibus Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit Orbem Montibus Imperii Roma Deûmque Locus That is But Rome which from her seven Hills the whole Earth views around the place of Gods and Rule c. Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State. 8. This mystery of Iniquity is said to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped 2 Thes. 2. 4. But this the power of Rome in its Heathen State did not do for they Worshipped offered Sacrifices and bore a reverence to their Gods which by nature indeed were no Gods and 't is only the head of Rome Papal that runs down all Gods but those of his own making Ergo Rome Papal and not Rome Heathen must of necessity be this mystery of Iniquity 9. The rise or coming of this mystery of Iniquity is after the working of Satan 2 Thes. 2. 9. But the rise of the Romish greatness and power when Heathen was not after the working of Satan but was said by Daniel to be produced by the Providence of God or the four winds of Heaven And by the Apostle to the Powers ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be the mystery of Iniquity c. here meant 10. This mystery of iniquity is not only said to come after the working of Satan 2 Thes. 2. 9. but also with all Power c. But the rise of Rome Heathen was not after that manner Ergo c. To illustrate the first Proposition note that the Term all Power marks out the Romish Pope so notoriously that whosoever runs may read it for if we do but impartially consider his impudent usurpations upon Crowned Heads and his pretences of supremacy over the whole Christian World his proud imperious Decrees Bulls c. his disposal of the Kingdoms of Princes and the Inheritances yea the very Lives of private Persons of any Rank that dare disobey him his pretences to shut and open Heaven Hell and his feigned Purgatory his carrying a symbol of that vast and God like Power viz a brace of Keys hanging at his Girdle All these will appear as clear demonstrations that the head of Rome Papal is the head of Babylon and the grand Impostor or the capital manager of this mystery of Iniquity he having most sacrilegiously assumed to himself all Heavenly Power of Damning or Saving and all Earthly Power both Temporal or Civil and Ecclesiastical or Spiritual 11. The wicked Babylonish State comes forth with a great pretence of Miracles which are but false Signs and lying Wonders to deceive and cheat the People and by this means they Conquer Nations and carry away their Kings to their wicked Interest This Rome Heathen did not do for though the Heathenish Power of Rome did Conquer Nations and Countrys with their Kings yet it was by State
Babylon XIII But further to put it out of all doubt who this Whore is 't is said she was drunk with Blood this is another Mark and Character the Holy Ghost hath given to know her by And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great admiration Rev. 17. 6. Now if the Church of Rome be guilty here or hath this black Mark and Character upon her she is the unhappiest Church and People in all the World and gives cause enough to Angels as well as to the Apostles and Holy Men to wonder i. e. to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended the Daughter of the great King of Heaven and Earth the only chast Spouse of the Lamb the Mother of all Peace Holiness and Innocency not only defiled with all those foul and abominable errors Idolatries and detestable pollutions but also guilty of so much Blood of Saints and of the precious blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and not only guilty of Blood but also drunk with Blood yea drunk with such Blood but that this the Church of Rome is guilty of nothing is more clear which indeed gives cause to every good man in the World to abhor her And that we may make this most evidently to appear 1. Consider what it is to be drunk 2. What things do necessarily contribute to it 3. Shew what the true and proper signs of it are 4. Whether such things can be fixed upon the Church of Rome 1. To be drunk is to take in excessively any thing as disorders nature in its course and operations this we take to be a general definition of it including the proper and metaphorical notions thereof 2. Such things as necessarily contribute to it are 1. Great and vehement desire or thirst after it 2. Plenty of the thing thirsted after 3. The greedy taking their fill of it 3. The signs of drunkenness are 1. When the faculties are so disordered that they will not submit to the best Reason that can be given them 2. When they will abuse those whom they are most obliged to love and respect 3. When they have cast off all considerations of their own and others good and for bear no mischief but what they are restrained from by force 4. That these things are evident in the Church of Rome will appear 1. Because she hath shed a Mass a very great Mass of Blood of Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus who is able to account the numbers of them that she hath murthered in all parts of the Christian World only upon the account of Religion particularly in Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Spain Italy Portugal Low Countrys England Scotland and Ireland 'T is enough to peirce an heart of Stone to hear of the barbarous crueltys and devilish inhumanities exercised for more than five hundred years upon the poor Waldenses and Albingenses by the hands of this Bloody Whore or Romish Harlot besides the wonderful numbers and multitudes of them for according to the account I have met with in History hundreds of Thousands nay some millions of those Godly Christians were most unhumanely butchered by the bloody Papists Children Born of her own Body nay in every street of this great City the Blood of the Saints hath run down like a River were this not notoriously known to the whole World I could give an account of the vast numbers slain in Bohemia in France and in Ireland of late years where there were not fewer than two hundred thousand souls sacrificed to allay the thirst of this Bloudy Whore. So that it is out of dispute she hath the first signs of a most filthy shameless drunken Strumpet i. e. she has been excessive in drinking of innocent Blood and 2. Not only so but she has drunk so much that she is intoxicated and disordered that she would never submit to the best reason that could be given her for she has been so mad that none could disswade her from exercising her cruelties on the Bodies of the Saints whose Blood she thirsted after in as unhumane a manner as incarnate Devils could devise as if to murther them was not sufficient nor could it satisfie her but she would have them die many deaths as hanging by the Feet by the Hands by the middle on a Beam by the Hair of the Head on Tenters pouring melted Lead on their Heads Boiling in Caldrons rosting alive and burning alive The poor Waldenses living in and about the valleys of Piedmont about the year 1560 were most cruelly and barbarously murthered to allay her excessive thirst some were stript stark naked and whip'd to death with Rods of Iron others drawn through the Streets and Burnt with fire brands some thrown down an high Tower and some cut in pieces with sharp Knives fourscore persons had their Throats cut as Butchers kill their Sheep threescore Women were so cruelly rackt that the Cords pierced their Arms and Legs to the Bones and then being cast into Prison they all died except nine of them young Virgins were Ravished in a Barbarous manner until they died Children were pull'd alive out of their Mothers Bellies and the Breasts of many Women cut off so that the Infants died of Famine and many other strange kind of tortures for many years together multitudes of those Godly Waldenses indured And the Albingenses who professed the same doctrine and principles were all along in the like or worse sort and manner if possible butchered in the City of Bezier there were saith my author threescore thousand persons slain the Priests and Fryers going about the Streets in the mean time with Crosses and Banners and singing Te Deum Laudamus in the year 1655 in the Valley of Lucerna and other places this bloody Strumpet thirsting still after the Blood of the Saints and like a filthy drunken wretch caused an Edict to be put forth that such who would not turn Papists within three days must take what would follow and indeed that was bad enough as you may see in Sir Samuel Morelands History of that late Persecution it began Jan. 25. 1655. upon which some Thousands of those poor Souls were forc't to fly for their lives in the depth of Snow when all the Valleys were covered with Water there being amongst them some Women with child others newly delivered some sick and diseased Children crying and lamenting Old Men and Women some decreâ—it leaning on their Staves all dragged or forc't over the Ice Snow c. with bitter tears sighings cries and wringing of hands beating of Breasts mourning and complaining of the cruelties of those merciless Papists but alas so drunk with Blood before that they like brutes regarded none of their cries no more than the bleating of Sheep but this is not all no sooner that they were forc't from their haâ—itations but their houses were pillaged rifled and ransackt of all that was left and this not sufficient neither to
satisfie their rage and cruel thirst they fell upon them putting them to all manner of unhumane and cruel deaths they could devise so that in a few days they destroyed near thirty thousand Souls in one place they most cruelly tormented an hundred and fifty Women and Children and afterwards chop'd off the Heads of some and dash'd out the Brains of others some had their Feet nail'd to Trees with their Heads downwards one antient Woman they ript up alive putting a sickle into her privy parts and so slit up her Belly after which they dragg'd her about and at last cut off her Head other Women had their Breasts Noses Privities and Hands cut off and so left miserably to perish Another they stab'd in the Soles of his Feet then cut off his Privities and Fry'd them giving them their comrades to eat as a delicate dish then they seared his Wounds with flaming Candles cut off his Ears and toâ—e off his Nails with burning Pincers to make him renounce his Religion and then ti'd one of his Legs to a Mule being yet alive and drag'd him about the Streets and after all this they bound a Cord about his Head and twisted it with a stick till his Eyes and Brains burst out and then cast his Body into a River An Old Woman had her Hands and Nose cut off and so was left alive some had their Bodies cut all into pieces and their limbs strowed in the high-ways some had their flesh sliced from their Bones chop 't like minced meat little Infants were thrown down steep Rocks whereby they were dash'd to pieces Some Children they tore limb from limb before their Parents faces others they flead off their Skins alive in another place they took eleven Protestants and heating a Furnace they forc'â— them to throw one another into it till it came to the last and him they threw in If these are not signs of one drunk with Blood I know not what is But time would fail me to tell you of all the cruel deaths and sufferings of this poor people for that it contains a great volume In Bohemia Poland and Lithuania the sufferings of the Lords Witnesses were as great and their cruel usages as Bloody besides in one or two of those places they began very early about 977. where my Author says Godly Ministers and other Pious Holy and Godly People suffered such Barbarities and Inhumanities from this Harlot that the Ears of a Christian cannot hear nor his Tongue relate them without the greatest abhorrency and indignation Some of them were Stoned to death others hanged upon a Beam with a soft fire made under them were Roasted to Death as well as Hanged they Hanged one Minister up by the Privy Members being seventy years old and burn'd his Books under him Another they laid on his back ramming his mouth full of Gunpowder set Fire to it and so blew his Head all to pieces At a Town called Meldorp a Godly Minister was forc't out of his Bed and to go some Miles on Foot in Frost and Snow upon the Ice bare-footed and bare-legged beating cutting and slashing him and pricking him with their Halberts andat last they cruelly roasted him to death They yoak'd some Ladies and Gentlewomen together like Beasts and forc't them into Woods where they were ravished and abused and then had their Hair and Ears cut off and disfigured they forc'â— some poor Christians to eat their own Excrements and if any refused so to do they thrâ—â— them down their Throats till they were choaked they cram'd the secret parts of several Women with Gun powder and setting fire to it most barbarously tore their Bellies and Wombs thereby Others they hung up by the privy parts some they plained the faces off with Chisels others they made 〈◊〉 put on Boots filled with scalding Oil and then roasted their legs over a fire Some men theâ— Gelt in the presents of their Wives and Children Some had Gags put into their Mouth and then put stinking Water and Piss down their Throats through a Tunnel till theâ— Bellies swelled like a Tun whereby they perished in a miserable manner They sawe off the Legs of some alive a Godly Minister they bound upon a Table and placing a Câ— so that she scratcht his Guts out of his Belly with her Teeth and Claws till he miserable died In Lithuania 1643. this Whore thirsting still for more Protestant Blood great slaughter was made without regard to Aged Sex here many had their Skins flead of whilst they were alive Others had their Hands and Feet cut off The Bowels of divers were also taken out alive Others having their Shin-Bones bored through they poured melted Lead into the wounds of others whom they had cut in the Head and other parts of their Bodys Some had their Eyes pulled out and multitudes were hanged in divers places nay and the poor Protestants accounted it a mercy and great favour to be killed outright without any other torment Should we come into France and give an account of the horrid cruelties of this great Whore there it would if possible exceed what you have heard the Blood of ten thousand this cursed Strumpet has drunk off as it were at one draught there and not a jot more satisfied than she was before here they roasted young Children ravishing Women and Maidens in such a shameless manner and barbarously killing them afterwards that 't is not fit to be spoken A black smith had his Head laid on his own Anvil and then his Brains beat out with Hammers also a young Woman was forc't after they had ravished her to take hold of a Rapier wherewith one of the Villains thrusting her Arm made her kill her own dear husband some Women with child were rip'd up and divers buried alive I migh come to the siege of Rochel and tell you what misery some thousands suffered by famine some hundred thousands of poor Protestants have been barbarously murthered by her means in France and tho of late she hath not put many to death yet they have exercised all manner of new invented ways to destroy their Souls and the Souls of their Children too I might also speak of the Spanish Inquisition and of the hellish torments thereof as also of the crueltys of this Whore exercised on the poor Heathen in America by the Spaniards where they destroyed more than 20 millions of Souls as appears by History besides they put them to all manner of cruel deaths they could devise but I am weary of relating these dismal stories besides they are generally well known together with the Massacre in Ireland where no less than the Blood of two hundred thousand persons could satisfie the Blood of this craving Locust and sh'd in as barbarouâ— a manner as you have heard in other places â— might also mention the Bloody Persecutioâ— here in England in the reign of Queen Maryâ— wherein many holy and gracious Prelates anâ— People were burned to Ashes for witnessing to the
levying Souldiers By which means he struck in witâ— partys and encroached upon Italy and the parts adjacent 2. This power arising upon the weakening and division of the old State of the fourth Monarchy or Kingdom is called a little Horn because truely so at its first beginning Dan. 7. 8. And behold there came up among them another little Horn c. The Papâ—â— power or Bishop of Rome before this division was but low and small being confined to his Episcopal power over the Church till by his Arts he had got up gradually to the Regal Seat and power of the Temporal Sword which he managed with so much Craft and Policy that afterwards he enlarged his Dominions but is very rightfully in his Infancy stiled a little Prince Power or Horn arising up amongst or after the rest which began presently after the death of Julian about the year 365 in which time was a most fearful Earthquake the like never known before betokening the decay of the fourth Kingdom in its Civil State or Power by a division or falling of Nations who set themselves against the power of Rome and harassed wasted and destroyed the Provinces thereof for near forty five years together See Mede lib. 3. pag. 659. 3. This little Horn after his rise to Temporal Power plucks up three of the ten Horns by the Roots Dan. 7. 8. Before whom there were three of the first Horns plucked up by the Roots The Papal Rome having gained the Temporal Sword tho but a little Horn at his beginning did practise and prosper so that betwixt the year 365 and the year 456 or soon after when Rome was sack'd by Gensericus he gained such enlargments that he came to possess about three parts of ten of the former or old Roman dominions according to the rule or measure of the Compass as we find in Mr. Mede Lib. 3. p. 658. and famous Du Moulin ubi supra upon which three characters of the little Horn we frame this short argument If the Pope of Rome did rise to Temporal Power upon the weakening of Caesarean Dominion which before did hinder him in his aspiring usurpation was but little in his first rise and appearance did enlarge and grow to a possession of power about a third part of the old Roman Dominion Then the Pope of Rome is the little Horn the wicked power and vile person sâ—… forth by the Prophet Daniel But the anâ—â—cedent is true Ergo so is the consequent 4. This little Horn hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man c. The Pope of Româ— hath Eyes like the Eyes of a Man i. e. the resemblance of a humane look but a Heart likâ— the Dragon out of which foul mouth he utters presumptuous things His predecesson had Eyes like a Leopard a Bear a Lion 〈…〉 Dragon But his high Eyes like a Man 〈…〉 which there are three things to be noteâ— 1. He looks higher 2. Sees further and 3. Is more enticing than those thâ—… went before him 1. He looks higher that is makes pretence of Prety and desigâ—… for Heaven 2. Sees further that De ceit Flattery and Policy will do more than strength 3. Is more inticing to Kings and People than the Eyes of a Leopard Lion or Dragon or the former powers in their Heathenish State. 5. This little Horn hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous things above the rate of ordinary men Dan. 7. 8. The Pope of Rome hath a Mouth speaking great or presumptuous things above the ordinary rate of men This is evident in many respects of which we shall give you but a few instances out of many 1. That he is he says the highest Deputy of God above all the Kings of the Earth 2. That he is infallible and cannot err which is an incommunicable attribute of the most high 3. That he is universal Head and Bishop of the Catholick Church 4. He assumes the attributes of his Holiness and holy Father such an oracle that has right or power to give Laws to the World to which all ought â—o subscribe and yield obedience and none â—…ught to dispute greater and more loftily â—an no man speak unless he will say I am â—he supreme Being and there is no God in Heaven or Earth above my self which would â—e so highly ridiculous that every Idiot would be able to detect it 6. The little Horn had his looks more stout than his fellows Dan. 7. 20. whose looks were â—ore stout c. The Pope of Rome has looks more stout than the Horns that have been contemporary with him which appears in three things 1. In his terrible Bullâ— that he makes to roar and stare most dreadfully 2. In his power and acts of deposing Princes 3. In asserting himself to be Gods Vicegerent against whom no person upon any cause or pretence whatsoever ought to lift up hand or tongue upon the penalty of a total ruine in this World and an eternal ruin in the World to come 7. The little Horn makes War with the Saints Dan. 7. 21. I beheld and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them and for a long time even to the wearing out of the poor Saints of the most high v 25. The Pope of Rome hath made Waâ— with the Saints and prevailed against them and that to their ruine as to Liberty Estate and even Life it self as the true Witnesses of Christ have most sadly experienced in many Countrys in divers by past ages even for such a series of time that may be properly called a wearing out of the Saints of the moâ—… High. for his cruelty ended not in a month or a year but hath lasted for many hundred years so that for length of time numberâ— of Countrys and multitudes of Persons there is no Power that ever reigned hath out-done or equalized this vile and bloudy Monster upon which we frame this Argument If the Pope of Rome may be more fitly said to have Eyes like the Eyes of a Man a Mouth speaking presumptuous things and looks more stout than his fellows to have made War with the Saints to have prevailed against them and worn them out more than any other power that ever yet reigned Then he is the little Horn or vile person under consideration But the former is true Ergo so is the latter 8. The little Horn is diverse from the rest of the Horns Dan. 7. 24. And he shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three Kings The Pope of Rome is diverse from the rest of the Potentates in these four respects 1. The manner of his rise 2. His pretentions to power 3. In his progress to his height of dignity 4. In his management of the power he has usurped 1. He was small or little in his rise but an ordinary Bishop before he came to be a Temporal Prince 2. He pretends not to hold his Kingdom by Inheritance or gift of the people as other Kings do but by a special and divine
Gods a kind â—â— middle Beings between their highest Gods and Men whose Office was to be Advocates or Mediators between Men and the highest Gods because they judged it was not lawful for Men to come to the highest Gods immediately and these they worshipped by Images Even so the Papists or Mystery Babylon hath divos and divas Saints of all sorts whom she hath Canonized to be called upon in her publick Prayers Altars and Feast days dedicated and kept unto their memory and many other Honours acknowledging them to be Mediators between God and Men and unto these Daemons or petty Gods she makes her Prayers and hath their Images and to whom they do divine Homage like as did the Pagans of old CHAP. VI. Shewing the Judgments of divers Eminent Men concerning the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and final downfal of Mystery Babylon and that in all probability it will be in this present Age Together with an account of divers strange Prophesies relating thereto some very Ancient c. HAving clearly demonstrated that the Church of Rome is that great Whore Mystery Babylon It may not be amiss before we conclude this 〈◊〉 Treatise to give you some account concerning her full and final overthrow which hath been for â— long time the expectation of Gods people and multitudes of Prayers have and still do go up to Heaven for the accomplishment thereof and reason there is for it considering what a Plague she hath been to the World and Church of God for so many hundred of years and certainly God will at laâ—â— hear that mighty cry of Prayer and of innocenâ— Blood that continually is in his Ears and since the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses if rightly understood gives such clear light as touching the fall of Babylon we shall give you some brief hints concerning this important and weighty point The Beast is to continue for the space of forty two Months and the Witnesses are to Prophesie in Sackcloth for the space of 1260 days which most Writers conclude to be one and the same term of time and that by days is meant yeaâ—â— all generally conclude and the long continuance of the Beast and Papal power clearly shew that to be the mind of Gods Spirit in those Mystical numbers Yet a late Worthy and Learned Writer hath said a great-deal to prove the forty two Months are to be reckoned by the Moon and not by the Sun and if so then as he shews the time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth is thirty eight years longer than the forty two months but yet are to terminate together he concluding the Witnesses put on their Sackcloth so many years before the beginning or Epoch of the forty two Months See his Book intituled The command of God to his people to come out if Babylon Moreover he saith the time Epoch or beginning of the forty two Months must be fixed at the cessation of the seventh sort of Government or Christian Emperors Reign which saith he was in the year 475. and the whole time of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny being but forty two Months which by the Moon he accounts to be just 1222 years the period of which will be saith he in 1697. And this we will say he hath doubtless fixed the Epoch or beginning of the Beasts Kingdom more fairly than many Writers before him have done because all along where the Reign of one Head or Government ended the other begun as 't is said you know the King never dies Take his own words p. 25. Thus far the matter is determined according to the Prophesie i. e. Whenever the 7th King asserted to be the Christian Emperors Government expir'd viz. by a civil death or the cessation of the Imperial Name and Power immediately the eighth King according to the Prophesie must succeed and bear up the Roman City in gratideur and whoever hath born up that City in Supremacy since that time must be according to Prophesie that eighth King i. e. the Beast Now I appeal to all the World what year that was when the Western Imperial Name fell and it is known in all History to be the year of our Lord 475. For in the wonderful disposes of God no one hath claim'd a Title of Empire from that City since that year but the Pope I do commend the ingenious Reader to the Book it self Now if this be true or can be granted we are very near the final ruin of the Papistry nay and from divers other authors most or all that I have met with agree it will be in this very age Peter du Moulin a wise and renowned French Authour in his book intituled the accomplishment of the Prophecy saith from the year 1689. Popery shall fall and go down but all conclude that the tenth part of this great City falls first and I doubt not but the providence of God hath brought us forth in the time of the accomplishment of that part of the Prophecy for that great Brittain is that part of the great City I see no cause to doubt and that also the witnesses are risen or arising and will soon be upon their feet is the thoughts of several worthy men but I being limited to the number of Sheets cannot inlarge as I would do therefore we shall 1. Briefly give you our understanding who the tâ— witnesses are in which we agree and accord with sâ—vâ—iâ— learned men 2. What is meant by the slaying of the witnesses 3. Also some probable conjectures concerning the tiâ—â— when slain as also of their Resurrection standing 〈◊〉 their feet and ascention 1. 'T is not unknown to the Judicious Reader what different sentiments there have been about who or what the two witnesses are some thinking they are the Old and New Testament others Magistracy and Ministry others two sorts of Godly Churches some have thought them to be Moses and Elias who tho along time since are glorified in Heaven yet shall come again and be killed on Earth which is the most improbable of any of the otherâ— yet the Papist writers and some others of late timeâ— have asserted this But we Judge by them are meant Gods faithfâ—â— people called two witnesses because of the smaâ—ness of their number who have born witness to the truths of Christ all the time of Antichriâ—â— reign or else called two as comprehending both Ministers who are more directly intended and people also they may be called two as soâ—â— think in respect of their twofold Testimony to 〈◊〉 true Gospel Ministry and Magistracy and this thâ—â— conclude because called also two Candlesticks 〈…〉 alluding to those two Sons of Oyl i. e. 〈…〉 and Zerubbabel 't is evident God calls his people especially his faithful Ministers his witnesses Ye are 〈◊〉 witnesses saith the Lord Isa. 44. 8. and saith Christ â—â— shall be witnesses unto me Act. â— 8. and Act. 5. 32. We are his witnesses c. also called two because two 〈◊〉 the number which God
and abroad many good men basely misled joining in with them unawares in carryâ—â— on the design of this Whore in this her great 〈◊〉 last attempt wherein she doubted not but to 〈◊〉 all the Hereticks under her Foot and utterly to extirpate the Protestant Religion such a death 〈◊〉 face of things never sure appeared before this hoâ—â— and power of darkness and it was strangely prâ—â—ged as many feared by that lightening before 〈◊〉 in 1678. upon the discovery of the Popish 〈◊〉 when our hopes were raised by that great zeal 〈◊〉 our brave English Parliaments against the Paâ—â— and Popish Religion most thinking at that 〈◊〉 our morning light appeared to break forth the â—â—â—terness of death was over but lo what a sudden châ—â—â— did we see how was our light turned into darkâ—â— and our joy to sorrow and lamentation and 〈◊〉 â—oy and triumph attended our Popish Enemies what â—ingings of Te deum at Rome and in all Popish Countreys and sending gifts one to another for joy that these witnesses of Christ were overcome and â—aid by the walls and their testimony and spirits gone in this Kingdom which was always a terror to the Popish Church together with that wonderful success they had about the same time over the Protestants Turks in Hungary that Kingdom being restored to her too these things made her doubtless to say â—n her Heart I sit a Queen c. But as God foretold the â—eople of the Nations viz. the neighbouring Nations would not see nor indure to see the dead bodies â—f Gods witnesses and people put into Graves 〈◊〉 for their eyes were upon us before they appeared for our help and the fear of them doubtless â—â—id prevent under God our Enemies from attempting that which we may conclude they longed to be 〈◊〉 The worthy Gentleman I mentioned before â—ells us that he was so much the more strengthned in â—is opinion in respect of the death and resurrection of the witnesses from a threefold testimony The first is that of Socrates who in his Ecclesiastical History affirmed that such things did appear in â—â—ch a year which he mentioned that gave him â—â—use to conclude there to begin the Epoch or beginning of the 1260 years of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth viz in the year 426 which brings â—â—wn the said time of the slaying of the witnesses â—â—ft to the same year he speaks of which if he was â—â—ght the witnesses must now be risen and upon â—â—eir feet The second was Mr. William Alleine whose â—â—count brings the great things down to the very â—â—ne year Third Mr. Bright-man he says also affirms that about the self same year Antichrists Kingdom should expire And our Author looking for these great revolutions just at that time and now perceiving them to appearance come to pass as he says it may be easily supposed could not but be filled with joy besides intimates he still continues in a hopefulness of expectation that the present work will go on sol hope it is with us all for that God who hath begun to work such a miraculous and blessed work wâ—â—â— perfect it he that hath shewed us such things wâ—â—â— yet shew us greater and certainly the present work of God in this Nation is the admiration of all the Nations round about and strikes terror into the Hearts of all the Lords Enemies And in particular makes the French King to have other thoughts thâ— he had a few months ago and we hope his time 〈◊〉 at hand to drink of the cup of divine vengeance Dr. Goodwin speaking p. 172. of the resurrectiâ—â— of the witnesses saith that whereas through a forced consent and yielding the Popes power 〈◊〉 again been entertained by that tenth part of 〈◊〉 City for the killing the witnesses they now 〈◊〉 cast off that power with a mighty commotion 〈◊〉 insurrection and so proceed to ruin the oppoâ—â—â—â— party unto the witnesses who were the instruments of that former slaughter of which pâ—â—â— the remnant unslain do as men affrighted gâ—â— glory to God and turn back again to embrace thâ— truth and acknowledge God to be in these witnesses and in their cause So that although this may and shall end in 〈◊〉 ruin of Rome which is the highest effect of 〈◊〉 fifth Vial for this Resurrection and Ascenâ—â—â—â— of the witnesses are truly the preparation unto 〈◊〉 yet this other passage of the Earth quake c. 〈◊〉 here is said to be the same hour with their rising is rather to be understood of the means or thing making way unto that their Resurrection so that this Insurrection or rising of the people in the tenth part of the City which is meant by the Earth quake is the preparation unto their resurrection which ends in the ruin of Rome the scope of the holy Ghost here being to shew what did properly and peculiarly concern the rising of the witnesses as the means to it yet so as still this Earth-quake here and fall of the tenth part of the City are reducible unto that fifth Vial as a degree unto it and so that fifth Vial may also be ultimately intended in this passage recorded of the witnesses rising as the preparation unto it thus in the interpretation of the Vials I shewed that there may be many sprinklings of the same Vial both long before it come to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigour also after all which are notwithstanding to be reduced unto that Vial of the kind whereof they are or unto which they are either preparations or appendixes 1. By the tenth part of the City I understand as Mr. Brightman before me some one tenth part of Europe which as it all once belonged to the Jurisdiction of the City of Rome and is in this book called ten Kingdoms so now again upon the Gentiles or Idolatrous Papists their recovering the outward court shall now at last more or less come under the Jurisdiction of that City but especially or at least this tenth part of it here intended where most faithful witnesses shall be â—ound and where most of them shall be triumphed over and slain shall during these three years and a half become a part of the City again and so is â—â—lled a tenth part of the City City being put â—ere as it often is in this book for the extent of the jurisdiction of the City of Rome which had these ten European Kingdoms by Charter allotted unto it Chap. 17. and unto which these Kingdoms are a second time to agree to give up their power in one of which ten or in the tenth part of the whole the witnesses shall first begin to rise and therein shall this Earth quake accompany their resurrection this tenth part of the City may perhaps be all one with that Street of the City mentioned v. 8. 2. By the Earth-quake here which is said to be a great one is meant as still in this book it is a great concussion or shaking of States Poliâ—ique 〈◊〉
of them as yet poured forth but do believe they shall all be poured out under the seventh Trumpet which contains the third wo and will effect the utter overthrow of the Beasts Kingdom and the setting up the Kingdom of Jesus Christ we shall therefore give you some brief hints of what most of our late Interpreters have said in respect of this matter in order to the doing of this it is not amiss to note unto you the three several periods spoken of in the Book of the Revelations which seems to me to be a Key to open most of those deep Mysteries contained in that wonderful Prophecy First The Seven Seals Second The Seven Trumpets The Third The Seven Vials or seven last Plagues Expositors generally all agree that the six first Seals contained those Judgments of God executed upon the Heathen or Pagan Emperours which fell out and was wholly accomplished in the space of three hundred or three hundred and ten years or thereabouts after Christ and so as some conceive brought in the first Wo. The seventh Seal according to the late famous Peter Jurieu a French Writer and some others produced or brought in the Seven Trumpets and brings the events even to the last Judgments the first Trumpet not being sounded until the seventh Seal was opened so that these Seven Seals as he observes are like six Branches that shoot forth from the Body of a Tree with a seventh great Branch which it self became a great Arm and shoots forth into seven other Branches which are the seven Trumpets Secondly The six first Trumpets contain the Judgments of God upon the World under the Arian Apostate Persecuters and the bringing in the Antichristian state i. e. the Beast or man of Sin and Mystery Babylon with the Mahometan Monarchy together with the death or slaying of the Witnesses of Christ which lasteth for a long series of time at least as some conceive 1300 and odd years and compleats the second Wo. Thirdly The seventh Trumpet some wise and understanding men of late do conclude produces the seven Vials and seven last plagues which they do not think any of them as yet are poured forth but will gradually effect the utter overthrow of the Papal Church containing the intire Judgments or wrath of God upon the Beast and Babylon and therefore called the seven last Plagues and so let in the Third Wo. Upon the Antichristian World and brings in the glory of the latter day or Kingdom of Christ if this may be admitted we may very well say that the Seven Seals contained in them the whole events of things from the time that St. John received his Revelation to the end of all Gods Mysteries there spoken of but then you must observe the rule we have noted and this seems to me the clearest and best exposition I can arrive to the knowledge of who have laboured according to that light and understanding God hath given me to find out the Mysteries contained in this Book for near 30 years last past though I dare not be positive that none of the Vials are yet poured out knowing what has been said by our able expositers to the contrary some of which I shall here mention and their arguments upon which they build their conceptions amongst those that say the three first Vials are poured forth are these following First Mr. Joseph Mede Dr. More Du Moulin Mr. Durham De Launay Dr. Goodwin and many others the first Vial they say was poured forth by the faithful Ministers of Christ at the first reformation before Luthers time and that grievous sore that fell upon the Antichristian state was the discovery of the abominable Idolatry of the Romish Clergy together with that hatred of them for their odious impure lives The Second Vial some of them affirm was poured forth by the Preaching of Luther and those worthy Witnesses of Christ in his days The Third Vial was poured forth according to their Judgments by other worthy Ministers signified by the third Angel who rose up in the Church after Luthers time who in some things had more light and partly also by laws made against Popery in the days of Queen Elizabeth c. Mr. Mede and Dr. More seem to agree in this as likewise do our late Annotators read them on Rev. 16. The Fourth Vial they as well as Dr. Goodwin seem to hint we are under which is said to be poured forth upon the Sun which the Dr. concludes p. 99. to mean either the Emperor or King of Spain or both they being of the same house of Austria Mr. Parkins long before hinted that by the Sun did mean some Protestant Prince in Germany who should have some of this Vial poured forth upon him by the Popish party but being provoked thereby afterwards he should rise again and like the Sun scorch them with his heat but the Dr. rather inclines to Mr. Mede and Dr. More But to proceed our late French Author Peter Jurieu positively affirms that six of the Vials are already poured forth and that we are under the seventh which will effect the final ruin of the Papistry or Church of Rome if I mistake him not one reason why he doth thus believe is because the Vials signifie seven periods of time which ought to be distinguisht one from another 2 part p. 68 69. as the seven Seals and seven Trumpets did signify seven periods which succeeded one another and he concludes that the periods described by every Vial are each of them more than one age so that saith he if there is but two or three of them yet to be poured out we shall have four or five hundred years to come before Antichrists Kingdom comes to an end which I do not find him to give any convincing demonstration to make appear tho' I cannot but say he seems to be a person of good understanding in many respects touching these great Mysteries contained in the Book of the Apocalypse moreover he distinguishes between the Vials and Plagues viz. saying the Vial signifies the Period of time the Plague signifying the Judgment of God which falls out during the Period which if it be granted yet why must every Period contain a 100 years or at least as he intimates 50 years or 70 the first Plague of the 7. he fixes to the 10 Century in respect of the dismal corruption of the Popedom in that age p. 79. the first Vial was poured out saith he upon the Earth i. e. upon the whole Globe for Earth contains both dry and moist the corruption of manners was spread over the Head and the Members over the whole Papal seat and all its subjects but saith he the Second Vial is poured out only upon the Waters the Sea and Rivers i. e. upon the people of the Antichristian Empire or upon the different Nations Tribes and Languages the Waters of the Sea were turned into Blood and every living Soul died What more native and lively representation saith
a most glorious pouring forth of the holy Spirit upon the Angels who pour out the Vials and that they must tarry in the Temple as the Disciples were to do at Jerusalem until endued with power from on high Luk. 24. 59. and this may be expected at the Ascention of the Witnesses and not before for as yet we see not such a spirit given from the glory of God and from his power nor may we expect it until then that the Church cometh out of the Wilderness as clear as the Sun and as terrible as an Army with Banrers Cant. 6. 4. and like Pillars of smoak perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincese Cart. 3. 6. 7. the Judgment of the 7 last Plagues for the ruin of the Enemy will be the time of Glory and Salvation of the Church and by the 14440 on Mount Sion with Harps c. Singing the Song of Moses c. are held forth I am perswaded the ministrations of the Saints under the seven Angels with the seven Vials or seven last Plagues which days we hope are now even upon us or very near and that we might let in what light worthy men of different opinions have helpt us to about the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses we shall give you a brief account of what Jurieu our French Author saith of them see p. 241. c. these words when they shall have finisht their testimony must saith he not be understood as if the holy Ghost would say when the 1260 years shall be finisht for after the 1260 years are run out there can be no Persecution seeing the Beast shall have lost his power so that this Persecution must begin and end within the 1260 years but yet at the end of them 't is the ordinary custom not only of Scripture but of all men to say that something comes to pass when this or that is finisht because it happens when that thing is finished and very near its end this is therefore the last Persecution of Antichrist against the Church this Persecution hath its Characters 1. 'T is compared to a War The Beast that comes up out of the Bottomless Pit shall make War against them 2. This War of Persecution must end in a victory over the two Witnesses and shall overcome them mark God does not reckon the Death and Martyrdom which the faithful suffered for the truth as a victory that the Devil gains over them a very good note for 't is said they i. e. the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus overcome them i. e. the Beast and his Emissaries and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12. 11. He speaks of martyrs when he saith He that overcometh I will make to sit down on my Throne c. So that when 't is said that the Beast shall overcome the Witnesses this signifies that he shall make them saint under their Tryals which thing ought to be well observed that we discern the singular Character of this present Persecution that hath conquered and overcome above a Million of Souls he means the late and present Persecution in France 3. This victory of the Beast must prevail even to a total extinction of profession there shall remain no more signs of outward life in the faithful who shall stand for truth they shall lye on the ground as dead bodies 4. This murther and effects of this Persecution shall be done in the Street of the great City 5. The death of these Witnesses must be 3 years and a half denoting these 3 years and a half 6. During those 3 years and a half the truth shall remain as it were dead but notwithstanding not buried men shall not dare to make profession of it notwithstanding it shall be visible the people who are neighbours of them who shall have slain it shall hinder it from perishing and putrefaction 7. At the end of 3 years and a half the faithful who are oppressed and whose profession shall have been violently suppressed shall rise again after that shall ascend to Heaven and shall be exalted 8. At the same time and after the exaltation of the faithful there shall be an Earth quake i. e. a great emotion and trouble in the World and in Antichrists Kingdom 9. In this emotion a tenth part of the City shall fall i. e. a tenth part of the Antichristian Kingdom shall be taken away from it and seven thousand men shall perish in this Earth-quake and be buried under the ruin of this City that this shall be brought about with some Blood sheâ— tho' not considerable Now when I search after the time in which this Persecution must happen I cannot doubt but this is that in which we now are after this Persecution shall be over God will begin to strike those sore blows to destroy the Antichristian Kingdom which must be destroyed with in 25 or 30 years That none may wonder saith he that I speak so positively about a thing which seems to be as yet hid in futurity I intreat all equitable minds to consider that I have as I think with great evidence proved 1. That the Reign of the Popedom must last 1260 years 2. That these 1260 years began about 450. or 455. and consequently they must end about 1710. or 1715. This being so we are but 25 or 30 years from the end of the Popish Kingdom And if this be so the present persecution must needs be the last since there is no probability that this present persecution being ended the calm restored to the Church should leave room for another For we must allow the space of at least 20 or 25 years in which Popery shall be attacqued and not be the Aggressor and the Persecutor And certainly a shorter time cannot serve for the utter destruction of so vast a Kingdom for it shall not be destroyed in a way of violence but in a way of perswasion Yet he says it shall not be done without blood and slaughter I have saith he further proved that the fall of this Popish Babylonian Monarchy is divided into two parts viz. The Harvest and the Vintage that the Harvest is the reformation of the last age and the Vintage is the reformation that must be made in this present age c. He then proceeds to shew his apprehensions that France must be that Street of the great City in which the two witnesses should be slain and lye as dead c. p. 24â— The bodies of the two witnesses saith he shall lye in the Street of the great City 'T is to be observed that in the Text 't is not in the Streets in the Plural but 't is in the Street in the Singular And I cannot hinder my self from believing that this hath a particular regard to France which at this day is certainly the most eminent Countrey which belongs to the Popish Kingdom her King is called the Eldest Son of the Church the most Christian King i. e. The most Popish according to the dialect of Rome
there especially will be the Seat of this War and the field where this Combate is to be fought Now then look generally over almost all the Reformed Churches and how few of such Witnesses with difference from the common croud do appear amongst them the fire the heat of those godly men their first Reformers which is the thing that should torment these Enemies at last being gone and the light only remaining which gives but a faint cold and dull Testimony and which these Enemies do therefore despise Only in the Witnesses of Great Britain both the light and heat of Religion have been kept up and increased and among them only hath the profession of the power of godliness been continued with difference from the croud of common Professors And according to what appears in view more of such true Witnesses now in these last days wherein this slaughter is to fall out are to be found in it and belonging to it than in all the Reformed Churches besides and that according to the Testimony which they of those Churches who in these times of scattering have come hither for refuge have and do give and surely the place of this killing the Witnesses must be where most Witnesses are And so that that Kingdom may be designed more than any other as in which also more Eminent are found of those last sorts of Champions for the Beast who receive only the number of his name who yet shall be the chief Executioners of this last slaughter Add unto this this conjecture upon Daniel 11. ult which Chapter from v. 36. hath Graserus and Mr. Mede in his Discourse of Daemons upon 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. applied unto the Pope who is that King there mentioned Now when he shall go forth in this last War in such fury and rage with a purpose utterly to destroy the main event and issue of that expedition of his is made to be this viz. That he shall plant the Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy Mountain yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him Dan. 11. ult which the Dr. says he fears that these British Islands are here intended in that they so eminently above all other places of the Churches Reformed and with difference also from all others do stand between the Seas even wholly among Seas penitus toto divisos Orbe Britannos which Islands likewise God hath made the Eminent Seat of the Church in these latter days and which he hath loved above all the Inhabitants of Jacob. And in that the Angel there calls this Mountain in an high and transcendent phrase yet of further difference the Mountain of delight of holiness or as Junius turns it the Mountain of holy comeliness it seems in some way of peculiarity from others even in that respect also to note out a place which for holiness should more eminently be Gods delight and comely in his Eyes where he should have a most holy people and which he should make a Land of uprightness where his Ma jesty and Glory should more eminently shine which place notwithstanding for the tryal of the Witnesses in it God shall again give up unto the power of Antichrist there to plant the Tabernacle of his Palace or Throne or his Clergy as Graserus reads it even as a sign Nebuchadhezzar did his Throne at Taph-hannes when he had Conquered Egypt as a sign of that his Victory by the Conquest of which Kingdoms and regaining them unto him he shall seem so rooted in his ancient power that in hope of all the rest the Whore shall fing I am no Widow and that just before her fall Yet this prevailing is but a preparation to Antichrist's ruin for is follows there in Daniel Yet he shall come to his end and noâ—e shall help him which notes out as that this is to be done just before his end so also that that regaining his power should seem so to strengthen him that he should be as it were out of the danger of ruin and as for ever secure But this his sudden Victory is but as the planting of a Tent or Tabernacle in a Field not to stand past three years and a half tho that Party and their Abettors do in their hopes think they build for Eternity but it being of mans not Gods planting it shall come to nothing I cannot but conclude what this great man hath said that Great Britain is more like to be that Street of the great City in which the Witnesses should be slain rather than France or Germany or any other Kingdom and also am much persuaded the late times have accomplished what he so long ago foretold Methinks three years and a half sometimes since expired looked just like the times he mentioneth had not the Pope placed his Tents here again and hoped to have had a setled Throne and hath not also here been a dreadful slaughter of the true Witnesses of Christ as we before have hinted and doth there seem any ground to expect the like again So that either the time is past or I hope the Dr. was mistaken if it be to come it will be the amazingest providence and revolution that ever was in the World I must conclude we are in a most happy hour or else there is the most dismal hour near that ever the Godly knew or saw since the Reformation a little time will shew us more I can't but expect the ascention of the Witnesses to draw on apace in which will first fall out that great Earthquake wherein 7000 men of name will be slain who were the chief instruments in bringing that death and dismal hour upon the Witnesses of Christ which the Dr. hath most excellently opened moreover there is one thing more he hath shewed his thoughts upon that I am affected with viz. concerning Daniel's 1290 days and 1335 days or years the first he says begun from Julian's time which he concluded ended at 1650 or 1656 and that the other 45 years will bring in the Kingdom of Christ which makes 1335 and that will expire about 1695 or 1701 between which time he prefixeth the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and the Earthquake c. We are no doubt coming towards the end of the wonders and the Vials of Gods wrath will suddenly be poured forth upon the Enemies of the Church neither can I think that Jurieu is in the right who thinks the Papal power c. will fall without or with little Blood for although when the Harvest is ripe there may not fall so many as at the time of the Vintage yet 't is said of men of name shall be slain seven thousand how many of other sorts who can tell Besides that is a certain number put for an uncertain but when the Vintage time comes the Blood shall come out of the Wine-press even to the Horse Bridle by which our Expositors generally say is intended a wonderful slaughter and under the second Vial which
those who worship the Beast and his Image and not upon the Beast himself and false Prophet To which our worthy Author replies that it is Impossible that an Empire should be smitten with Plagues and Judgments of God in order to its being weakned and impaired and that its head and Soveraign should in the mean time no ways suffer to which I might add but contrarywise great strength thereby the union saith he that is between the head and the members is wholly inconsistent with any such a notion whensoever the body is very sick the head is in a very ill condition and this holds more truly in reference to a Political body than to the body Natural whereas 't is a Spiritual Empire viz. Antichristianism the Judgments that are to be executed upon it are to be Physical and Penal evils which as punishments are to weaken and subvert it the Judgments of God against an Empire whose criminalness from the very nature of it lies in its Errors i. e. Idolatry Tyranny c. which comprehends in them the corruption of manners cannot consist in evils of offence but the first 4 Vials according to Jurieu import evils of crime not of punishment do strengthen and advance the Empire or Papistry in all that is essential to it instead of depressing and enfeebling it for it never had so great power and Splendor as it enjoyed from the 10th to the 14th Century and that is the time according to Mr. Jurieu for the effusion of the 1st 4 Vials never man was certainly more mistaken our author proceeds and confutes Jurieu as fully in respect of what he affirms to be the effects of the other 3 Vials which I have not room to insert p. 17. In p. 24. our Author confesseth that Luthers reformation was a Judgment of God upon the Papal Kingdom yet not the effects of the 5th Vial according to Mr. Jurieu nor the 1st Vial according to some of our English Writers for he withal says that it was an effect of the 6th Trumpet which continueth to represent the War of Antichrist against the Church of God till then Antichrist had been always victorious against the Saints for more than a 1000 years but then came to receive a disaster now this misfortune befel the Papal Empire saith he under the sixth Trumpet which being the last save one was the season that the War was hastning to an end and that the last Trumpet was about to sound under which this War will both actually end and all the Vials come to be poured forth but the damage which the reformation hath done the Papal Kingdom tho' it hath dismembred it is only a beginning of its sorrows and is but an effect of the War which was to continue 42 months during the time of all the six Trumpets and which shall be finished thro' the effusion of the Vials under the 7th Trumpet to which let me add what greater reason have our English Writers to fix the pouring forth of the 1st Vial about the time of Luther's reformation wrought by his preaching above others who go as high as Waldo nay with Jurieu to the tenth age since there was some worthy men in every Century that bare a brave testimony against the Papal Idolatry and wounded the Papistry very sorely tho' 't is granted not to such a degree as in the last age Besides what reason is there to conclude the Harvest of Gods wrath is come till 't is fully ripe and why should we conclude it will be fully ripe till the 42 months are expired which seems to be the set time of cutting down I do conclude the slaying of the Witnesses of Christ quite fills up their measure and so makes way for the 7th Trumpet and Harvest of Gods wrath when the measure of the Churches afflictions shall come to their height and the Beast will have filled up his number and measure of wrath against Gods people then will the time of Gods fury break forth which will be as he observes when the 6 Trumpets cease sounding and the seven Vials which are the seven Plagues shall arrive and begin to take place against the Papacy and against Mahometism 't is saith he for this reason that 't is said by the seven last Plagues which are the Vials the wrath of God is finished from whence it followeth that the Vials are not contemporary with the sixth Trumpet and that it is not the sixth Trumpet that is subdivided into the seven Vials but that this subdivision is to be assigned to the seventh Trumpet the sixth as well as the five preceding speaketh nothing save War against the Church of God so long as it lasts Antichrist abates nothing of his fury but constantly makes the same Efforts for the oppressing of the Truth and such who do profess it But as soon as the seventh Angel comes to sound the case will be quite altered the Wrath of God will break forth and the Vials empty themselves And this is the reason why the Vials are called the seven last Plagues by which the Wrath of God is fulfilled Lastly He shews us that the seven Vials or last Plagues do manifestly allude to the Plagues of Egypt because they are called Plagues as well as Vials and are also poured out upon Spiritual Egypt and seeing saith he the Plagues of Egypt did take up but a short space of time we may not allot years nay may be saith he not allow months for the Execution of all the Egyptian Plagues why then should it seem strange that all the Vials should be poured out within the space of fifteen or eighteen years The third woe cometh quickly under which all the seven last Plagues shall be poured out which signifieth that all the Plagues shall be poured out saith he close upon one another in this he so agrees with what Mr. Canne hath written upon the same account directly let us remember that there is no natural Agent which acteth with the rapidity that fire doth our God is a consuming fire and 't is a terrible thing to fall into his hands the fire of Gods wrath will burn doubtless when it begins to seize upon the combustible matter of the Antichristian state with great fury God will make a short riddance of his Enemies the second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly Rev. 11. 14. We are to observe saith he that this is not said in prediction of the two first woes all that is said of them they shall come but this quickly is not added save in the prediction of the third woe When we may conclude that the seventh Trumpet shall immediately follow the Resurrection of the Witnesses whose death as it fell out in 1685 so their Resurrection shall ensue within three years and a half in this he agrees directly with Jurieu it will be well if they do not both prove mistaken However there is no doubt but we are near the time of the end and I hope the Witnesses
in the case of Solomon and Darius being 62 years old when he took Babylon must be 81 when Cyrus came to the Government if he managed these affairs the two last years of his life as it 's probable he did and 83 when he died being the third of Cyrus his being concerned in the Government but the first of his absolute rule and then he gives liberty to the People of God to return and build the Temple Now this work after they entred upon it did soon meet with interruptions in the time of Cyrus that made the Decree for building the Temple Ezra 4. 5 24. But in the Reign of Darius as v. 25. with chap. 5. 1. In the second year of his Reign Hag. 1. 1. Zech. 1. 1. God stirred up the Spirit of his People to set about the work afresh incouraged from the Prophesying of those two Prophets speaking to them from the mouth of God and God disposing the Heart of that Prince to incourage it also so that it was finished in four years i. e. the sixth of his Reign Ezra 6. 14. 15. How many years this interruption continued or how many years it was between the first Decree of Cyrus when they laid the Foundation of the Temple including the years of Preparation Ezra 3. 8 10. and the Decree of this Darius in the sixth year of whose Reign it was finished the Prophet Zechariah gives us an account chap. 1. 12. to be seventy years for the seventy years here intended cannot be the seventy of their captivity in Babylon in which time they were to pray for the peace of the City and of the place where they were carried Captive For God promised that in the Peace thereof they should have peace till the time came of their return according to divine appointment they were to build Houses to Plant and to Marry Jer. 29. 5 6 7. without attempting to return to build the Temple till the seventy years were out therefore in that time to build Houses in Babylon and not God's House in Jerusalem was no crime But the great thing the Prophets Zechariah and Haggai reprove them for was this consider 1. The Prophets were contemporary and prophesied in the second of Darius the time that the Temple work is revived and finished 2. They tell the People 1. That God was displeased with their Fathers and now with them 2. For what he was displeased viz. For minding their own private things as Houses and Lands c. and letting the House of God lye waste 3. The effects in blasting all their labours c. 3. He promiseth them that upon their applying themselves to the work of finishing his House and the service of it he would abundantly bless them So that the Prophets applying it to that time we have reason to judge that it was no other but the interruption upon the work which was as all apprehend some considerable length of time but are at great uncertainty how to reckon it when the labour may be saved and we at no loss in the thing when the Holy Spirit hath reckoned it for us now the Scripture tells us that as the work was revived after seventy years Death upon it in the second year of Darius so it was finished in his sixth year Ezek. 6. 15. which sixth year was his last Artaxerxes succeeding him in the seventh of whose Reign there is another decree to beautifie the House of God and to provide it with Sacrifices Ezra 7. 21 22 23 24 27. for this decree relates only to the House of God and his worship therein In the twentieth of whose Reign another Decree comes forth to Build the City Neh. 2. 1. to the ninth and here begins Daniel's seventy weeks of years so that if this account be right we have a very plain and certain account of the time adding the seventy weeks of years to the death of Christ. I know it is the Opinion of most if not all to reckon otherwise and indeed they cannot otherwise do that go by History which tells of more Kings Reigning and that some of these I have mentioned did Reign longer as that this Darius in the sixth of whose Reign the Temple was finished Reigned in all nineteen years as Helvicus Juniâ—s Alsted and others say but whence have they the account which we with so much confidence take up from them It 's from no infallible Writ they say also that from Cyrus including him there was fourteen Kings Reigned in the Persian Monarchy before it was taken by the Grecians also that Cyrus in the nineteenth year of his Persian Monarchy Conquered Darius the Mede King of Babylon all which could not be For 1. The Babylonish Monarchy was to end and did in Nebuchadnezzar's Grandsons Reign Jer. 27. 6 7. which was Belshazzar 2. Darius who was of the Seed of the Medes Dan. 9. 1. Was King of Media and Persia when he took Babylon Dan. 5. 28 31. 3. There was to be but four Kings in Persia after Cyrus how then could thirteen Reign Dan. 11. 2. The Angel for the help of our Faith tells Daniel he would shew him the truth and that there should stand up yet that is after Cyrus for this Vision was in the third of Cyrus as before I have noted for the 10 11 12 chap. are but the continuance of the same Vision for as I have noted also Daniel died this year three Kings and the fourth shall be richer c. and shall stir up all against the Realm of Greece and here this Monarchy ends To sum up all that we have said there is I. -21. years Of Darius before Cyrus came to absolute Regal Power II. 70. years Interruption after Cyrus's Decree for building the House III. 4. years Of Darius in finishing it after they set to the work again IV. 7. years To the Decree of Artaxerxes to furnish it with Sacrifices V. 13. years To that of the 20th of Artaxerxes to Build the City Jerusalem In all 115 years after the 70 years Captivity in Babylon was out before they began to Build the City Jerusalem again In Daniel 9. 24. the Angel tells Daniel that 70 Weeks are determined upon his People and the Holy City to finish transgression to make an end of sin to make reconciliation for the people and to bring in everlasting righteousness Then v. 25. he divides them that from the going forth of the Commandment to Build the City should be seven Weeks that is before it should be Built and Finished so long in Building 49 years and 62 Weeks it should be Built but it should be trouble some times and so it was with the Jews what by the Grecian Monarchy and after the Roman for when the Messiah Christ came they were tributary to the Romans and in the midst of the last Week the Messiah should be cut off but not for himself by whose Death the Everlasting Covenant was Sealed Ratified and Confirmed and all the Typical Sacrifices and Oblations to cease as
now no longer useful to the true Church of God and great desolation was to ensâ—e upon that people for their unbelief which accordingly fell out and was brought upon them by Titus Son of Vespasian some years after the death of Christ as Christ also fore-admonished them Mat. 24. 15. Luke 21. 20. Add now these 69 Weeks of years and ½ Week for he was to suffer in the midst of a Week which amounts to 486 ½ unto the 115 years aforementioned and it makes up 601 ½ 69 Weeks ½ 486 ½ before 115. In all 601 ½ As to all the other Numbers Dan. 7. 25. of Time Times and dividing of Time and the same Dan. 12. 7. and the 1290 and the 1335 I conceive all relate to the Times under the Gospel and in Dan. 11. 31. and 12. 11. when 't is said the Daily Sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that makes desolate placed in the room of it and Dan. 12. 11. that from the time that this shall be done there shall be 1290 days that is years as before Dan. 8. 14. the Sanctuary shall be cleansed that the purity of Gods worship shall be restor'd at the end of that time and that blessed is he that comes to 1335 which is forty five more than 1290. As these relate to the Church under the Gospel and Gods worship there therefore not properly rendered Sacrifices as Dan. 9. 27. but by way of Supplement so I shall rather offer my thoughts of them under that of the Witnesses Prophesying c. only all must and do fall in within the time of this great number of 2300 years and from what hath been spoken to it we may guess how long it will be before it will expire There are 601 ½ to the death of Christ and if we are right in the Tradition of years since his Birth for Divine Writ being finished a little after his death we have nothing else to go by taking off the years of his Life which were 30 Luke 3. 23. when he entred upon his Ministry which he accomplished in or about the three years or half Week spoken of by Daniel 5. so that thirty three from 1686 there rests 1653 which added to 601 ½ makes 2254 ½ which last Substracted from the Capital Number 2300 there remains 45 ½ the only over-plus of Daniel's last number 601 ½ 1653 2254 ½ 2300 2254 ½ 0045 ½ so that I hope that Deliverance to the Church and people of God is not far off and all our sad sights are but good signs To what hath been said there is something Objected the which with the answers take as followeth Obj. That this calculation cannot be right because it 's said that when the Foundations of this second Temple were laid many of the Priests and Levites and chief of the Fathers that were ancient men that had seen the first Temple wept when others that were young and had not seen the first house rejoyced c. And if this be true that it was so long before Cyrus came to the absolute Government and before the Decree for their return out of Babylon to build the House of God they must be older than in reason we can Judge men to live and this first Because they must not be Infants when carried into Captivity for then they could not remember what the first Temple was â—ly The 70 years of Captivity and the 21 years of Darius before Cyrus came to the Kingdom and at least a year of preparation before they began to build with their own age when carryed Captive which could not be in reason much less than twenty years is 102 years in all which is an age beyond what usually men lived and it 's said there were many of those Ancient men that wept c. Ans. First It 's to be noted for so it is in the Scriptures of Truth That there was a threefold going into Captivity The First in the 3d year of Jehoiakim 2 Kin. 24. 1. with Dan. 1. 1 2. which was the 1st year of the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar Jer. 25. 1. In this Daniel the Prophet was carried Captive and was but young as v. 4. This Jehoiakim Reigned in all 11 years 2 Chron. 36. 5. Then Nebuchadnezzar Bound him in Chains and carried him to Babylon v. 6. And made Jehoiachin King in his stead who Reigned 3 Months and 10 Days and then the King of Babylon carryed him and the rest of the Vessels of the house of God and a great Captivity of the People 2 Kings 24. 10. to 17. This was the second going into Captivity Zedekiah was made King by the King of Babylon and Reigned 11 years as 2 Kin. 24. 18. In the last of whose Reign and the 19 of Nebuchadnezzar's Jerusalem was taken as 2 Kin. 25. 8. with Jer. 52. 4 5 6 12 13. and burnt with the Temple This is the third and last going into Captivity between which and the first it evidently appears there were 18 or 19 years and the Temple was not destroy'd till the last So that the ancient men spoken of in Ezra might be of the last going into Captivity and then there is no need of reckoning them older than 20 years when carried Captive 51 years of the Captivity 19 being gone before and 21 of Darius in all 92 years and it 's very probable many might live to that Age. Obj. But how doth it appear that the 70 years doth begin in the 1st of these goings into Captivity Ans. Very plainly For in Jer. 28. 3. The false Prophet saith that the Yoak of the King of Babylon should be broken and the Captivity should return in two years In the 29th of Jer. the Lord tells them that were then in Captivity that they should build houses Plant Gardens and take Wives in the Land of their Captivity and pray for the peace of the place for in the peace thereof they should have peace and and in the tenth verse that after seventy years were accomplished they should return and not before so that it is evident that the seventy years in Gods appointment did begin in their going into Captivity that were then in Captivity and not in their Captivity that was yet to come which was not till the last of Zedekiah's Reign Obj. 2. Zerubbabel who came out of Captivity the Prince and Governour did not only lay the Foundations of the house of God Ezra 3. 8. But did also finish it c. 5. 2. Now if the interruption was seventy years he must be very old when he finished it or very young to be chief when they first came up and laid the Foundations Ans. We know they were reckoned Princes or Chiefs by their being Elder Brothers or Families whether Younger or Elder in years and he might live as doubtless he did all the time of the Interruption and be twenty or thirty years old when he came out of Babylon and be but ninety or a hundred years old when the Temple was finished and we read
not of him afterward For Ezra who came up the seventh of Artaxerxes and Nebemiah who came the twentieth of his Reign both Governed and set things in Order themselves according to the Commissions they had And what Ezra writes of Zerubbabel is but Historical of things past and done But if this be not right they that go by History must be much more out who make the time between Cyrus his decree and the sixth of Darius his Reign in which it was finished to be at least a hundred twenty four or six which is almost double seventy Obj. 3. is about the one and twenty days Dan. 10. 13. Some reckon it in the time of Cambyses Reign and so part of the time of the interruption upon the work after the Foundation was laid but this could not be For Daniel lived but to the first of Cyrus absolute Government Dan. 1. v. last He prospered all the Reign of Darius Dan. 6. 28. and in the Reign of Cyrus that is to the first of his absolute Government and then dies For he came not out of Captivity which doubtless he had done if he had lived being a man whose heart was set upon the work of God and the good of his Church Others take it to be the one and twenty natural days of Daniels fasting as v. 2. But this cannot be because the holy Spirit that we might not be misled reckons them twice by weeks of daies as v. 2. 3. That we might not take them for the time after v. 13. Of one and twenty days as usual in Scripture a day for a year And in what sense can we suppose that the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia could withstand an answer from God of Daniels prayer when the Angel tells him that from the first day he set his heart to understand c. he was heard v. 12. Therefore to conclude what Persons Histories say did Reign which the Scripture knows nothing of or the time they say they did Reign is nothing to me For I cannot think that God in his Word would have been so distinct and particular in the persons Reigning and their time had it not been for a guide to us to calculate by Therefore let others go by what Rule they please I desire to abide by that word which I know is a sure word of Prophesy and cannot deceive any that have the mind of God in it An Essay towards the understanding the Time set in the Scriptures respecting the Witnesses left in the Word for the Use and Benefit of the Church AND First why two Witnesses First Either because the Scriptures tell us That in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every thing shall be established Two are sufficient and less cannot holding forth this truth to us That let God's faithful Servants be never so much reduced as to their number yet he hath not left himself without sufficient Witness in this World. Or Secondly To signifie unto us the greatness of that Apostacy that should be from the truth of which the false Church should be composed the whole Earth wondring after the Beast and that but few comparatively should be found faithful in the time of the Holy Cities being trodden under footby the Gentiles Or Thirdly Signifying to us That as the Church at the time of Christ's coming was but one National Church therefore represented by one Candlestick Zech. 4. 2. Now under the Gospel the true Church of God the Mystical Body of Christ her Head consists of several visible Churches and therefore is represented by two Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. Secondly Who those Witnesses are Ans. Leaving them to their own thoughts who take them to be either the two Testaments or Magistracy and Ministry or two particular Persons I conceive them to be the faithful people of God that have obtained Grace to hold the truth of Christ in all Ages in a faithful adherence to him under all the Apostacies that have been made from them and Oppositions that have been made by them that have Apostatized from them that have not loved their Lives unto the death for the Love they have had to Christ and his Gospel Thirdly The time of their Prophesie is set down Rev. 11. 3. and is 1260 days that is so many years which time is contemporary with the Gentiles treading under foot the Holy City for forty two Months Now although in forty two full Months there are more days by about eighteen than 1260 yet the Text seems to give us to understand that these times shall begin and end together though thus differently reckoned the one by the Sun the other by the Moon as may more fully appear in the next consideration of their work Fourthly Their work is implied in the name given them they are called Witnesses To make a Person a true Witness he must have a full knowledge of what he says or testifies 1 John 1. 1 2 3. Therefore they are Gods Children here intended that have experienced the things they testifie unto so the matter of their Testimony is that Act. 1. 8. to testifie to Christ his Person and Offices the alone Mediator as revealed opened and held forth in the Gospel which is that upon which the true Church of God is Built Eph. 2. 19 20 c. And which is the Temple not given to the Gentiles whilst the Court and Holy City is given to them to tread under foot forty two Months all which time the Witnesses here intended are to Prophesie and Testifie to those truths that others under a name and profession of Christ Apostatized from and intruded their false Doctrines and Corruptions instead of the truths and true worship of God Acts 20. 28 29 30. 2 Thes. 2. 1 2 3 12. c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 1 Pet. 3. the whole chapter 2 Pet. 2. the whole chapter the Epistle of Jude all are Prophetical of great Apostacies that would be from the Truths and Purity of the Gospel Now I say the work of the Witnesses is to stand up for the defence of the Gospel and they shall do so for 1260 years together and then they are slain and lye dead for three days and a half that is three years and a half then the Spirit of life from God shall come upon them Fifthly Their finishing their Testimony this must either respect their Testimony it self or the time allotted to them that is the 1260 years I conceive the first is intended for after or when they are upon the finishing it there is a fresh War made upon them in which they that make the War upon them prevail so as to overcome them and kill them and then they lye dead for three years and ½ now how long time this shall take up is not said And if the holy Spirit who had been so exact in setting down the time of 1260 years of their Prophesy and the three days and ½ of their lying dead had omitted
to scatter the power of the Holy People then all shall be finished i e. the sufferings of the Church or deliverance shall thence begin and bear date from the end of this three years and ½ In Dan. 7. 25. He tells who shall act this last part compared with Rev. 11. and in Rev. 12. 14. how God even in that time will provide for his Church when the Devil pours out his last wrath upon her knowing his time is short and what time this should be except the three years and ½ of the Witnesses lying dead I cannot see the time when Babylon shall say in her Heart she sits a Queen shall see no sorrow Widdow-hood or loss of Children any more having accomplished what she had been 1260. days labouring 1260 425 1685. at the slaughter and death of the Witnesses whom she hath now dead at her feet Therefore they make merry send gifts to one another not knowing how near utter destruction is at her door she being like Pharaoh of old but a noise and past her time For I conceive the Witnesses cannot be said to Prophesy when dead therefore this time follows immediatly upon the end of the 1260 days of their Prophecies which ending in 1685 according to the preceding computation at which time Popery came to be inthron'd in this Nation accomplished the slaughter and death of the Witnesses the time of whose lying dead which was to be three years and an half being added to 1685 amounts to 1688 and an half which was the very time of Gods lifting up his hand by his present Providence to save these distressed Nations FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for Nath-Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside History 1. ENgland's Monarchs Or A Relation of the most remarkable Transactions from Julius Caesar adorned with Poems and the Picture of every Monarch from K. Will. the Conqueror to this time With a List of the Nobility and the number of the Lords and Commons in both Houses of Parliament and other useful particulars Price one shilling 2. THe History of the House of Orange Or a Relation of the Magnanimous Atchivements of his Majesties Renowned Predecessors likewise oâ— his own Heroick Actions till the Late Glorious Revolution Together with the History of K. William and Q. Mary Being an Account of the most remarkable passages to this time By R. B. Price one shilling 3. THe History of the two late Kings Charles II. and James II. and of the most observable Passages during their Reigns and the secret French and Popish Intrigues in those Times Pr. 1s 4. THe History of Oliver Cromwel L. Proâ—ector being an Impartial Account of all the â—attles Seiges Military Achievements wherein he waâ— ingaged in England Scotland and Ireland and of his Civil Administration when he was in Supream Dignity till his Death With a Character of his Humour Temper and Inclinations Relating matters of Fact without Passion or Partiality Adorned with Pictures of some remarkable Passages By R. B. The third Edition very much Inlarged and Altered price 1s 5. THe Wars in England Scotland and Ireland containing an Account of all the Battels Sâ—eges and other remarkable Transactions from the beginning of the Reign of K. Charles I. 1625. to 1660 The Tryal of â— Charles I. at large and his last Speech with Pictures of several Accidents Pr. 1. shilling 6. HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Antient and present State of London Westminster shewing the Foundation Walls Gates Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters and Priviledges thereof with the most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagnes c. for above 900 years past Pr. One Shilling 7. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable Persons and Places of the Battles Sieges Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Fires Thunders Murders other Occurrences for many hundred years past with the natural and artificial Rarities in every County several Pictures p. 1â— 8. THE History of the Kingdom of Scotland containing an Account of all the Wars Battels other remarkable Transactions Revolutions State Intrigues in that Nation during the Reigns of 72. Kings Queens to the reign of King William II. Intermixt with variety of strange Accidents Prodigious Appearances and other considerable Events And a List of the present Nobility of that Kingdom Illustrated with Pictures Pr. One Shilling 9. THE History of the Kingdom of Ireland being an Account of all the Battles Seiges other memorable Passages during the late Wars there till the entire Reduction thereof by the victorious Arms of K. Will. III. To which is prefixed a relation of the Ancient Inhabitants the first Conquest of that Nation by K. Henry II. The horrid Rebellion in 1641. the Popish and Arbitrary designs in the last Reigns Pr. 1s 10 THE History of the Principality of Wales in three parts Containing 1. A brief account of the antient Kings and Princes of Britain and Wales till the final extinguishing of the Royall British Line 2. Remarks upon the Lives of all the Princes of Wales of the Royal Families of England from K. Edward I to this time particularly of Edward the Black Prince of Wales who with 30000 English defeated an Army of 100000 French at Cressy at Poictiers with 10000 beat 80000 and took John the French King Prisoner Also of Hen. of Monmouth afterward K. Henry V. who with 13000 routed 90000 French whose Son Henry VI. was crowned K. of France at Paris 3. Remarkable Observations on the most memorable Persons and Places in Wales and of divers considerable Passages for many hundred years past VVith the birth and strange actions of Merlin the famous Welsh Prophet And the Natural and Artificial Rarities in every County of that Principality price one shilling 11. THe Unfortunate Coâ—rt Favourites of England Exemplified in some Remarks upon the Liveâ— Actions and Fatal Fall of divers Great Men who have been Favourites to several English Kings and Queens Namely I. Peirce Gaveston Favourite to K. Ed. 2. II III. Hugh Spencer the Father and Son both Favouritoâ— to K. Kd. â— IV. Rog. Mortimer Favourite to Q Isabeâ— Mother to K. Ed. 3. with their private Amourâ— c. V. H. Stafford Favourite to Crook backe Richard with that King 's secret Intrigues for usurping the Crown murdering his Nephews Likewise the Character of Jane Shore by Sir Tho. More who saw her VI. Cardinal Woolsey VII Tho. L. Cromwell both Favourites to K. Henry 8. VIII E. of Essex Favourite to Q. Elizabeth IX D. of Bucks Favourite to K. James I. K. Charles I. X. E. of Strafford Favourite to K. Charles I. With all their Pictures Price one shilling 12. THe English Empire in America or a prospect of his Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-found-land New-England New-York New-Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Carolina Bermudas Berbuda Anguilla Monsetrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Mevis or
Nevis St. Christophers â—arbadoeâ— Jamaica With an account of their Discovery Scituation and Product The Religion and Manners of the Indians c. To which is prefixed a Relation of the discovery of the New-World and of the remarkable Voyages of Sâ—bastian Cabot C. Frobisher Captain Davis C. Weymouth C. Hull C. Hudson Sir T. Caâ—endish the E. of Câ—mberland Sir W. Rawleigh other English Worthies VVith Pictures of the strange Fruits Birds Beasts Fishes Insects Serpents Monsters found in those parts of the World. pr. 1â— 13. A View of the English Acquisitions in Guineâ— the East-Indies With an Account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpeâ—â—â— Monsters other Observables in those Countries A description of the Iste of St. Helena and the Bay of Souldâ—nia intermixt with pleasant Relations pr. 1â— 14. THe English Hero Or Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full Account of the dangerous Voyages admirable Adventures notable Discoveries â—â—â—gnanimous Atchievements of that Valiant and Reâ—â—owned Commander As â— His Voyage in 1572. to â—…os in the West Indies where they saw a Pile of Bars of Silver near 70 foot long 10 foot broad and 〈◊〉 foot high II. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. which he performed in 2 years and 10 months gaining a â—ast Quantity of Gold and Silver III. His Voyage into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jâ—go St. Domingo Carthagena and St. Augustine IV. His last Voyage into those Countries in 1595. with his Death and Burial Revised Corrected enlarged and beautified with Pictures By R. B. price one shilling 15. TWo Journeys to Jerusalem Containing first An account of the Travels of a English Pilgrims some years since and what Accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Cairo Alexandria c. II. The Travels of 14 Englishmen in 1669. With the Antiquities Monuments Memorable Places mentioned in Scripture To which are prefixed Memorable Remarks on the Antient and modern State of the Jewish Nation As 1. A Description of the Holy Land its Scituation Fertility c. 2. The several Captivities of the Jews 3. Probable Conjectures what is become of the Ten Tribes carried Captive by the Assyrians with Divers pertinent Relations pursuant thereâ—o 4. The State of the Jews since their extermination with the present condition of Palestine 5. Of the Septuagint or 70 Jewish Interpreters of the Law of Moses Together with a Relation of the great Council of the Jews in Hungary in 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ. Written By S. B. an Eye-witness The Wonderful delusion of the Jews by a false Christ at Smyrna 1666. The final extirpation of the Jews in Persia the same year and the occasion thereof The Proceedings between the Jews â— O. Cromwel L. Proâ— in 1655. The Epistle of Agbarus to our Saviour with his Answer Beautified with Pictures pr. 1â— 16. EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men With the strange Events sigâ—al mutations and changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages being an account of a multitude of stupendious Revolutions Accidents and observable matters in divers States and Provinces throughout the World With Pictures Pr. 1â— 17. THe History of the Nine worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector Som of Priamus K. of Troy. 2. Alexander the Great King of Macedon 3. Juâ—â—us Caesar first Emp. of Rome Three Jews 4. Joshua C. General of Israel 5. David K. of Israel 6. Judaâ— Maccabeus a valiant Jewish Commander against Anâ—iochus Three Christians 7. Arthuâ— K. of Britain 8. Charles the Great K. of France Emâ— of Germany 9. God frey of Bullen K. of Jerusalem Being an account of their Lives and Victories With Poems and the Pictures of each Worthy By R. B. Pr. 1â— 18. FEmale Excellency or the Ladies Glory Illustrated in the Lives of nine Famous Women At 1. Deborah the Prophetess 2. The valiant Judith 3. Q. Esther 4. The virtuous Susanna 5. The Chast Lucretia 6. Boadicia Q. of Britain in the Reign of Nero containing an account of the Original Inhabitants of Brittain The History of Danaus and his fifty Daughters who murdered their Husbands in one night Of the valour of Boadicia under whose conduct the Brittains slew 70 thousand Romans with other remarkable particulars 7. Mariamne Wife of K. Herod 8. Clotilda Q of France 9. Andegona Princess of Spain Adorned with Poems and Pictures Pr. 1â— 19. VVonderful Prodigies of Judgment and mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers Perjured Villains 2. The miserable end of many Magicians c. 3. Remarkable Predictions Presages of approaching Death how the Event has been answerable 4. Fearful Judgments upon bloody Tyrants Murderers c. 5. Admirable Deliverances from imminent dangers deplorable distresses at Sea Land. Lastly Divine goodness to Penitents with the Dying thoughts of several famous Men concerning a Future State. With Pictures Pr. 1â— 20 UNparallell'd Varieties or the matchless Actions and Passions of Mankind displayed in near 300 notable Instances Examples discovering the Transcendent Effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And thee contrary the Tremendous Consequences 4 Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Of Cowardice Barbarity Treachery 6. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Figures Pr. 1â— 21. THe Kingdom of Darkness Or The History of Demons Specters Witches Apparitions other supernatural Delusions Malicious Impostures of the Devil Containing near 80 memorable Relations Foreing and Domestick antient and modern Collected from Authors of undoubted Verity VVith a Preface obviating the common Objections of the Sadduces Atheists of the Age who deny the Being of Spirits Witches c. With Pictures Price one shilling 22. SUrprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing 1. Miracles of Nature or the wonderful Signs and prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea with an account of the most Famous Comets and other Prodigiâ—s from the birth of Christ to this time 2. Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings 〈◊〉 other Curious Inventions in all Ages as the seven Wonders of the World many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with Pictures price one shilling 23. THe General History of Earthquakes Or An Account of the most Remarkable Earthquakes in divers parts of the World from the Creation to this time particularly those lately in Naples Smyrna Jamaica England and Sicily With a Description of the famous Burning Mount Aeâ—na and several other late strange Accidents As I. A surprizing Account of Angels Singing Psalms in the Air over the ruins of a Protestant Church in France in the year 1686. With the words they Sang in the hearing of many hundreds II. The Life of a great Person of near an hundred years old now an Hermit in a Forest