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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96871	The two vvitnesses: discovered in severall sermons upon the eleventh chapter of the Revelation, wherein, after the prophesie opened, the great question of these times. Viz. whether the two witnesses are slain, yea or no, is modestly discussed. / Preached at Lawrence-Jewry in London, by F.W. lecturer of the said place. It is this seven and twentieth day of April, 1643. ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament, concerning printing, that these sermons intituled, the two witnesses, be printed for Luke Fawne. John White.	Woodcock, Francis, 1614?-1651.; England and Wales. Parliament. aut	1643 (1643)	Wing W3433; Thomason E100_1; ESTC R13873	76,978	106

have then the sense thus much Then when the Witnesses pray Judgements and denounce Judg●ments upon their enemies then does fire proceed out of their mouth and d●stroyes their enemies And whereas you have it repeated And if any mon will hurt them and again If any man will hurt them repetition betokening certainty so Joseph interprets the doubling of the Vision Gen. 41. 32 shewn to Pharaoh to note the certainty thereof it is as much as if in other words the holy Ghost had said If any man shall presume to hurt these Witnesses that man certainly shall be destroy'd The meaning given thus piece-meal put all together and the result is this These two Witnesses formerly Zerubbabel and Jeshuah now because of like spirit and employment but expresly because in like manner protected from enemies are Moses and Elias whom if any man shall attempt to harm by denouncing and praying Judgements they procure certain destruction upon them And now having opened the words before I proceed to draw out any Observations give me leave to satisfie for what I took on trust before of which till now I could make no ready payment I formerly gave this one reason why the Witnesses are said to be two viz. Because they are described by pairs but then shewed no such thing Now you have seen two pair already Zerubbabel and Jeshuah one Moses and Elias another and there is one other pair behinde not yet come into mention I said before The Scriptures the two Testaments were the Testimony of these Witnesses but denyed them to be the Witnesses themselves because they are described as men and by men but then gave proof of neither but now I hope 't is evident they are described as men and men of former times such as Zerubbabel and Jeshua brought in to personate these Witnesses which together with that which follows gives abundant and every was satisfying evidence in this matter The Observations now follow 1. Does fire proceed out of th●se Witnesses mouthes destroying their enemies then must none think to harm these Witnesses impune they must not hope to carry it scot-free be they who they will be that shall presume to offer violence to th●se Witnesses either by praying or d●nouncing Judgements they do procure destruction and ruine upon their enemies 2. Are the Judgements of God denounced fire Then wonder not that waxie hearts are melted by them as was the heart of Josiah and on the contrary the clayie hearts of others more 1 Chro. 34 29. hardned and their chaffie hearts burnt up and devoured by them marvell not at all it is so the Judgements of God denounced they are fire 3. In that it is repeated If any man will harm these Witnesses h● must be destroyed take notice of the certain vengeance that doth a wait the persecutors of these Witnesses Let them flatter themselves in their present impunity as they list and because sentence is not speedily executed upon them for their violence done Eccles 8. 11. unto these Witnesses therefore please themselves in pursuing of them still yet withall remember a certain and inevitable destruction will at last seize upon them VERS 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the dayes of their prophecie and have power over waters to turn them into bloud and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will NOw forward with our description in which having already seen how well able these Witnesses are to repay the wrongs done to their own particular wherein also we have received further light concerning their persons proceed we now on and we shall further understand in what manner they are furnished to avenge the Churches wrongs almost deprived of beeing if not wholly of appearance through the spreading and prevalence of the Antichristian Apostacie This you have laid down in these words These have power to shut heaven c. In which you may observe a threefold power wherewith these Witnesses are invested 1. A power to shut heaven that it rain not 2. A power to turn waters into bloud 3. A power to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will Before you heard they pursue their enemies with fire here they shut heaven against them turn their waters into bloud and smite their earth with all plagues as often as they will What a miserable plight are the enemies of these Witnesses in who have the fire armed against them before and now the benefits of heaven earth water all taken from them But let us take them in order first These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the dayes of their prophecie In which Jam. 5. 17. who sees not the forementioned Elias a new pointed at of whom it is recorded that praying he shut up heaven that it rained not the same thing here mentioned and this for three yeers and a half the just terme of these Witnesses prophesie in sackcloth But that we mistake not by understanding all this in the letter I mean either the thing it self or the time we must again borrow the the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enquiring out a mysticall understanding of them both For the time I have touched upon it before and hereafter may have occasion further to shew 't is to be reckoned according to the propheticall account every day in this three yeers and a half being put for a yeer as is the manner of prophesies sometime to reckon and then for their shutting up heaven that it rain not we shall now trie to finde out some mysticall meaning of it For this purpose therefore in that Matt. 16. 19. you have mention of Keyes shutting heaven heaven is then shut according to the minde of that place when such as live in ignorance prophanenesse idolatry or any the like grosse wickednesse are by the Ministery of the Word declared a people to who no comfort no forgivenesse no heaven doth belong However I doubt not but the same thing is meant in both places yet in regard it is there heaven shut that people cannot enter here heaven shut that it do not rain and so though in substance they come both to one yet the allusion seems not so clear we shall therefore trie further The glad tydings of the Gospell are severall times in Scripture compared to rain this me thinks will nick the allusion I say again the tydings of forgivenesse mercie c. are oftentimes in Scripture compared to rain so Deut. 32. 2. Isa 45. 8 c. and sure could we stay to shew it we should finde the resemblance patt and every way answeing Doth rain refresh the weary and thirsty earth doth it soften doth it make frutfull and do not the glad tydings of the Gospell the tydings of peace forgivenesse refresh soften make fruitfull also This so shall we say accordingly then do these Witnesses shut heaven that it rain not when they with hold all tydings of forgivenesse mercy peace from the Antichristian

Church was but one the Christian Churches are many as others or whether any other may be the reason I not determine You have the differences but that in the main they agree take notice of these severalls for the purpose 1. As there you have a Candlestick signifying a Church so here Candlesticks signifying Churches also so I would understand them In no wise conceiving the two Witnesses to be the two Candlesticks as they are said to be the two Olive trees before and therefore I had rather reade as they do These are the two Olive trees with or by the two Candlesticks as is the manner of the Hebrews sometime to render their copulative for 't is evident 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loco 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Sam. 14. 18. alibi from the first Chapter of this Revel and 20. That Candlesticks are Churches The seven Golden Candlesticks sayes the holy Ghost are seven Churches 2. As two Olive trees there shew two ranks of men namely godly Magistrates and Ministers so by the two Olive trees here we understand men of the like condition godly Magistrates and Ministers also 3. As those by dropping Oyl into a Candlestick are so presented restoring the Jewish Church so the Witnesses by dropping Oyl into these Candlestick as Instruments of light and grace both which Oyl in Scripture doth aptly signifie do keep alive and lighted the Churches all the times of Antichrist and by this light restore recover them as also expell and win upon that darknesse which had gained much upon the world before 1 Sam. 16. 22. Psal 102. 26. Ier. 52. 12. compared with 2 Ki. 25 8. 4. As those are said to stand by the God of the earth which whether it means their stable and firm abiding for so much the word not unfrequently signifieth or whether by it be meant they minister before the Lord for so also t is often used these likewise stand before the God of the earth these in dropping Oyl into the Candlesticks spending themselves in caring for Church and Worships they minister before the God of the earth also Thus you have the Agreement Draw up now the sum of all this Verse together and 't is in short this In that the holy Ghost describes the two Witnesses by two Olive trees dropping Oyl into the candlesticks a type formerly used to signifie Magistrates and Ministers bestowing themselves in caring f●r Temple Church Worships then decayed it is as much as if he should tell us These Witnesses are godly Magistrates and Ministers who during the times of Antichrist shall bestow themselves in maintaining what of Church and Worships th●y have reforming repairing restoring as there is need and regaining what hath been lost by Antichristian en●roachm●nts And that all this hath come to passe accordingly That there have been such persons and they done all that we now mention how obviously were we acquainted with the Ecclesiasticall Histo●y would it appea how cleerly should we see not only the common sort of people such as those poor men of Lyons but Ministers yea Nobles yea Princes and Emperours have been of these Witnesses who not only have dropt Oyl into the candlesticks but even their blood also in preserving them pure and endeavouring to reform them from Antichristian impiety So you have the meaning of the words the Observations now follow 1. In that the Witnesses are typed out and described by persons of quality for such Zerubbabel and Jeshua were how likely is it these Witnesses must be persons of quality as they were And if they were Magistrates and Ministers by whom they are set forth and presented how warranta●ly may we pronounce these Witnesses are Magistrates and Ministers also I do not deny but even the meanest testifying against Antichrist is in a sort a Witnesse but to be a Witnesse by way of eminence to be such by office as I may say and so authoritatively to bear witnesse this seems restrained onely to men of quality and when the event answers accordingly as was in part hinted before me thinks there needs no further question in the businesse when Histories will tell us besides a succession of godly persons in the Ministry there were also in the Magistracy even in the highest places thereof that did oppose themselves against the Idolatry and Tyranny of Antichrist such as were Picus Mirandula John Frederick Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave Ernestus Brunswick his son Emperors also Henric. 4. Henric. 5. L●wis 4. with others besides some of the Princes of this and other Kingdoms And so it appears they have been Magistrates and Ministers in deed and in event even just such as were the types before by which they are shewed forth Judge whether from all we may not safely pronounce The Magistrates and Ministers opposing Antichrist are the two Witnesses 2. Are Candl●sticks Churches this learns us whence alone as from the ordinary means Spirituall and saving light is to be expected 't is from the Churches from the candl●sticks and sure repair we to any other Societies of men whatsoever and so far as they have nothing common with these so farre there is no saving light at all in them Here onely 't is that the Scriptures appear as a flaming Beacon upon a hill by which the Ministers Matth. 5. 15. as so many candles being lighted and set up in the candlestick give light to all them that are in the house all that is without this Verge being nothing else but pitchy darknesse And if so what a sad thing to be without a candlestick or as Rev 2. 5. Christ once threatned Ephesus to have the candlestick taken away How sad was the condition of the Egyptians when in regard Exo 10. 23 of that plague of darknesse then upon them no man did rise from his place for the space of three dayes How much more sad in Spirituall regards is their estate who are without a Candlestick and so in Spirituall darknesse knowing not whither they go 1 Joh. 2. 11. Mat. 8. 12. Nay Is not this that utter darknesse the Jews are threatned withall whereby seems meant if well considered as well their unchurch'd condition in this life as their state of condemnation in the life to come when the Kingdom of heaven the Candlestick was taken away from that time they have been cast forth into utter darkdesse 3. Are there two candlesticks in all this time then sure that cannot but be too hard a censure that cries down all as Antichristian Churches Antichristian Ministers all this time 't is true the Churches are now reduced to the smallest number yet is there a number however two Churches two Candlesticks at least in all the time of the prevailings of Antichrist 4. Are the Witnesses Olive trees dropping Oyl into the candlesticks this tells you whereabout the proper work of these Witnesses lies 't is about the Candlesticks 't is Church-work theirs their care their businesse is to have an eye to the Candlesticks And if

Gentiles while they continue such the Church the mean while being refreshed with these showers every day and further declare as that third Angell does Chap. 14. vers 9 10 11. who no doubt is of these witnesses that such as those who worship the Beast and receive his marke shall drink of the wrath of God no mercy no forgivenesse at all appertains to them And thus the former shutting heaven in Matth. and the withholding of the rain of heaven here do now appear to be the same of which the summe in short is this much As Elias shut heaven that it rained not upon those apostate Israelites whil● they clave to Baal which plainly is h●re alluded to so while these Antichristian Gentiles continue such these two Witnesses hold back all tydings of mercy and forgivenesse that blessed rain so chearing and refreshing weary souls declaring them while in that condition a people to whom no forgivenesse no heaven but rather wrath hell and everlasting vengeance appertains We have seen the Witnesses power to shut heaven that it rain not laid open their turning waters into bloud and smiting the earth with all plagues as often as the will next follows which in regard they both concern the same thing as may appear by and by in the handling of them therefore we shall joyn both together And here me thinks we meet with some thing like the vials those seven vials I mean emptying out upon Antichrist the seven Rev. 15. 1. last plagues of the wrath of God And because this seems not unlikely and the cleering of this will help us to understand the words as also not a little cond●ce to satisfie in that great question Whether the time of these witnesses be past yea or no as we shall see hereafter our satisfaction in which is the great designe we drive in all this undertaking we shall therefore first enquire whether at all we have any thing here relating to the vials yea or no and when this is done then proceed to take a view of the words more particularly The grounds perswading to beleeve the Vials are here meant are such as these 1. Those plagues of the Vials and these here do fall together into the same time the space of the sixth Trumpet receives both of them The Vials so many wastes and graduall destructions of the beast must needs be pouring forth the time of the sixth Trumpet for at the beginning of the seventh with which the last Vials falls in the beast his time is no more the beast Antichrist is then destroyed by an utter irrecoverable destruction The tenth Chapter of this Prophesie and sixth verse compared with the sixteenth Chapter 17 and 19 Verses cleers this same to any that shall with care and observation examine them And that the plagues here mentioned bear the same date fall in with the time of the sixth Trumpet also hence appears for these plagues being chiefly drawn forth by these witnesses toward the end of their Prophesie and that ending with the sixth Trumpet the second Wo as is plain from the 13 and 14 vers of this Chapter who sees not that these fall in with the time of the sixth Trumpet also And so because those plagues and these here are both wrapt up in the sixth Trumpet and so fall into the same time this is one inducement perswading they are the same plagues also 2. Those who pour forth the Vialls and the Witnesses who inflict the plagues here mentioned seem all the same persons The Angels who pour out the Vialls described coming forth of the Temple clothed with pure and white linnen and their brests Cha. 15. 6. girded with golden girdles who are they but godly ones whether Magistrates or Ministers who appertaining to or coming forth of Reformed Churches do pour forth the Vialls And are not the Witnesses who execute these plagues godly Magistrates and Ministers who pertrining to the Temple mentioned at the first Verse of this Chapter that is The Churches reformed come forth thence and inflict these plagues upon the Antichristian Gentiles And indeed how can we imagine that any should come forth of Reformed Churches and pour out a Viall a plague upon the Antichristian party and not be of these Witnesses when such is the nature of the plagues contained in the Vialls as we may see by and by that in nothing can any more openly and effectually witnesse against Antichrist and the Antichristian brood then by pouring out any of these Vialls upon them They are the same persons then the godly Magistrates and Ministers of Reformed Churches that pour forth the Vials and that execute the plagues the Text here mentions 3. As they fall out at the same time are inflicted by the same hands so upon enquire you will finde them the same plagues also To cleer this same Have you here a turning waters into blood upon the pouring out of the second and third Vials you have the waters then turned to blood also Chap. 16. 3 4. Do you reade here of plaguing the earth with all plagues mark it plaguing the earth what can hereby be meant but the other Vialls all whereof at the first verse of the 16 Chapter are to be poured upon the earth the Ang●ls there are commanded to pour all their Vialls upon the earth also Adde this now to the former These plagues are inflicted at the same time by the same hands yea are the very same plagues and now who sees not the Vialls are here pointed at which was the thing in question and when the holy Ghost tellsus The W●itesse● turn waters into blood smite the earth with all plagues as in the Text who sees not 't is as much as if in other words we had been told These witnesses are they who pour forth the Vialls I must not dissemble what dissent I finde in this matter some conceiving these plagues here mentioned do rather relate to some of the foremost Trumpets which sounding you finde the like plaguing the earth and turning of waters into blood even Chap. 8. Vers 7. 8. such like plagues as you have here mentioned With submission I cannot conceive those plagues to be the same with those of the first and second Trumpet for these Reasons 1. Not to mention those which prove these the same with the Vialls first because these fall within the time of the sixth Trumpet as we shewed before and therefore cannot be the plagues of the first and second Trumpet the consequence is cleer because the plagues comprized in the time of the sixth Trumpet must needs be a long space after the plagues comprized in the time of the first and second Trumpet the sixth Trumpet being a good space after the first and secnod Trumpet 2. Those plagues of the former Trumpets and these of the Witnesses fall not upon the same subject those of the former Trumpets as is evident to any observant Reader falling upon Rome Christian these of the Witnesses falling upon Rome