indeed the Lord Jesus Christ that doth order and dispose all things in and concerning his Church and all things in the world and therefore it is that all power is given unto him in heaven and earth Mat. 28. He is the King of the holy hill of Sion Psalm 2. And he must rule the Nations with a rod of iron and break them in peeces like a Potters vessel and he must raign untill he have put all his enemies under his feet Rise and measure The Lord Jesus doth not leave his people in the hand of enemies nor under the rod of the wicked in a carelesse manner as if he did not care how much they were given up to the hand of the enemies no but they are measured out to affliction and so far as they are measured out unto it so far shall they be under affliction and no farther So God measured Job to affliction All that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thine hand Job 1. 12. and again Behold he is in thine hand but save his life The wicked shall not goe a hairs-breadth beyond the measure Jesus Christ hath such a tender respect unto all his people in their sufferings that they shall have no more then need 1 Pet. 1. 6. Measure the Temple The word Temple in the old Testament is used only for that House that Solomon built in Jerusalem unto the Lord which was called the Temple of the Lord it being the place wherein God was in a speciall manner present and wherein he would in a speciall manner be worshipped But in the new Testament it is used first for the Church the Saints of God of which that Temple was a figure for as God was in a speciall manner present in that Temple so he is in a speciall manner present in his people And so we have it 2 Cor. 6. 16. For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your bodies are the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you c. and thus the word Temple in the new Testament is used for the Saints as the Temple was a figure of them as they have a speciall presence of God in them Which is likewise spoken of Isay 66. 1 2. Thus faith the Lord the Heaven is my Thron and the Earth is my foot-stool where is the house that ye build unto me and were is the place of my rest for all these things hath my hand made and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even unto him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word So that he that is of a poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at the word of God shall be the house the Temple of God As we have it also Isay 57. 15. But secondly The word Temple in the new Testament as it is used for those in whom there is a speciall presence of God so it is used to signify that means by which knowledge and instrustion is given out as the Temple of old was the place where people were to receive instruction and knowledge And in this sense it is used Rev. 21. 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it This is spoken of the new Jerusalem of that glorious state the Church shall be in when they shall be all taught of God from the greatest to the least Now the word Temple heer in the Text doth signify these Eirst It signifies the Saints of God as they are they in whom God in a speciall manner dwels And Secondly It signifies the Ordinances and means whereby knowledge is dispensed and instruction is received for it is the Saints that are as lights in the World and they both instuct the ignorant and edify one another especially when they are congregated assembled together to worship God according to his own will and to prophesy to edify one another The Temple of God and the Alter and them that worship therein It clearly appears in these words that the word Temple heer includes the Saints both as they are an habitation of God through the spirit and so are his Temple and as they are being assembled together the means of instruction and increasing knowledge and doe worship God aright For least the word Temple should not be full enough to expresse this it is added And the Altar which in the Temple was the place where they worshipped God and them that worship therein Not only the place of worship but the worshippers So that this takes in all Saints as they are a Temple as their assemblies are the place wherein God is worshipped and instruction is given and received and as they are worshippers as Saints worshipping God and possessing God Verse 2. But the Court that is without the Temple The Court is said to be without the Temple as of old the Court was without the Temple and was a more common place not so holy as any part of the Temple was so that the Court heer being without the Temple it is some outside thing it is no part of the Temple Now it being apparent that Saints onely are the Temple of God this Court heer mentioned though it seem to be neer the Temple yet is not the Temple is none of the Saints but some outside professors that seem to the outward eye to be near to Saints as the Court was near to the Temple yet they are not of that holy place they are but an outside they are without the Temple But the Court that is without the Temple leave out or cast out and measure it not Though Jesus Christ have a tender care of his Saints under affliction and they are measured out to the chastisement appointed to them yet hath he no such respect unto such as are not his Though they are professors Though they seem to be near the Temple yet if they be not the Temple though they do professe him yet if they do not possesse him as the Temple doth they must be left out cast out of the care of Jesus Christ But the Court that is without the Temple cast out and measure it not Jesus Christ will not own that as his and therefore it must not be measured For it It was the Temple and the Altar and them that worshipped therin that was measured out to chastisement So then it was it that was to be given unto the Gentiles by measure so that this word for it may be read thus for the Temple Is given unto the Gentiles The word Gentiles in the old Testament when the Temple was in its glory was used to expresse such as were not of the Church of God for the Israelites only were accounted the Church all others were looked upon as
feet were as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gave him his power and seat and great authority And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make war with him And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue fourty and two months And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwelt in heaven And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world The third place where the enemies of the Temple and the holy City viz. The Saints are described is Rev. 17. 3 4 5 6. as it followeth And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured Beast full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns and the woman was arraied in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication and upon her forehead was a name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And I saw the woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Thus now the enemies of the Church the Temple or holy City which in the text in hand are only described by this word the Gentiles in these passages are more largely characterized But these expressions used in these descriptions of these enemies being for the most part very mysterious we have these mysteries opened and unveiled in the 17. Chap. from the 7 vers to the end of the Chapter as it followes And the Angel said unto me wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven heads and ten horns The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomelesse pit and goe into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World when they behold the Beast that was and is not and yet is And here is the minde which hath wisdome The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth and there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is and the other is not yet come and when he commeth he must continue a short space And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seven and goeth into perdition And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kindome as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast These have one minde and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast These shall make warre with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull And he saith unto me the waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast untill the words of God shall be fulfilled And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth In these words we have the mysterie opened of what is delivered in the 12 13 and 17. Chapters concerning the Beast and the Woman and the Heads and the Horns and the many waters which are all mysterious expressions and hard to be understood as those were Dan. 7. from the 1 to the 9 ver untill the interpretation was given to Daniel at the 16 verse and so on but the Angel having in this 17 Chap. opened these mysteries now the meaning of them is more apparent So that First If it be queried What is the Beast We have it answered verse 8. in these words The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit and go into perdition Now by comparing this with some passages in the 12 and 13. Chapters we shall plainly see what the Beast is In the 11. Chap. at the 9 verse the Dragon there mentioned is said to be That old serpent called the Devill and Satan which deceiveth the whole world And in the 13. Chap. at the 1 and 2. verses it is said That a Beast did rise up out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the names of blasphemy and the Beast was like unto a Leopard and his feet were as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority So then The Beast that hath seven heads and ten horns and is like unto a Leopard c. is some wicked one in whom the devil raigns who hath power and a seat and great authority in the earth which power and seat and great authority was given unto him of the devil And though that wicked one that hath that devilish power and authority be distinct from the devil as he that receives is distinct from him that gives yet they are so one as the devill is said to be in the Beast for what the Beast is said to doe the devill is said to doe for in the 13. Chapter at the 7 vers it is the Beast that is said to make war with Saints but in the 12. Chapter at the 17 verse the devill is said to doe it And again they are so one as the Beast is said to be the devill and therefore when the Angel comes to declare what the Beast is in the fore-mentioned place saies he The Beast shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit It is not said he shall receive his authority from him that ascends out of the bottomlesse pit though that be the meaning of it as before appears but He shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit to shew the onenesse of the devil and the Beast Thus the mysterie of the Beast is unfolded and it appears that the Beast is a wicked one that hath
For on the 23. day of October 1641. did the Beast begin the war in Ireland and he continued overcomming the Witnesses the Saints of Jesus Christ in Ireland and in England untill the 5. day of April 1645. and from the 23. of October 1641. unto the 5. of April 1645. there is just a thousand two hundred and sixty daies which according to the Scripture account though not according to the Heathen account is three years and a half compleat and when this three years and a half were expired which was I say one the 5. of April 1645. then was the resurrection of the Witnesses for they having lain dead for three years and a half before then the Spirit of life from God entred into them And the year 1645. as it is the year wherein the Witnesses were raised from the dead so it is the year wherein the term of time in which they were to prophesie in sack-cloth and to be troden under foot was to expire and the year also wherein the prevailing power of the Beast over the Saints was to expire as is made evident in the opening of the 2 vers pag. 60. c. Now that one the 5. day of April 1645. the Saints Witnesses and Servants of Jesus Christ were raised up and that then a Spirit of life from God entred into them appears thus On the 5. day of April 1645. the Parliaments Army who had stood for the defence of the Saints against the Beast and had bin before that time exceedingly overcome and were brought into a very low condition at that time being new modelled and having a great many precious Saints in it both eminent Commanders inferiour Officers and common Soldiers and being then put under the conduct of Sir Thomas Fairfax they then began to march against the enemy and then had a Spirit of life from God that entred into them as did appear in all their actings afterward for they went on with such vigour courage life and fortitude as they effected every work they took in hand defeated all the enemies with whom they did encounter had the victory in every battle they fought never sate down before any City Town or Castle but they took it in before they raised their siege Thus they acted like men raised from that dead low condition they were in before And why Because now a Spirit of life from God was entred into them and unto God did they give all the praise and so let them doe still for they had as surely fled before their enemies and been beat down as the myre in the streets then as ever they had been before if the Spirit of life from God had not been put upon them Thus the 5. day of April 1645. did the Witnesses the Saints of whom the Beast thought to make an utter end stand upon their feet having a spirit of life from God put upon them when the Army that fought their battles and defended their righteous cause began to march against the Army of the Beast to the overthrowing of it And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them The Saints being raised from the dead from that dejected low condition in which they were for three years and a half a Spirit of life from God being put upon them they then stood upon their feet to the fear and amazement of their enemies Before indeed the Saints did lie dead in the street and were as the street to them that went over them but since the Spirit of life from God entred into them they have stood upon their feet and as men that stand upon their feet so long as they doe stand upon their feet are not in a capacity of being trod under foot of men So the Witnesses and Saints of Jesus Christ since they stood upon their feet could not be troden under foot of men Though they have been troden under feet a thousand two hundred and threescore years and the Beast hath had power so long to trample them under feet yet since the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet it was not possible for the Beast nor any of his adherents so to trample them under foot any more And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them The Witnesses standing upon their feet as men risen from the dead did cast a great fear and terrour upon their enemies for now they begin to fear what will become of themselves and their great Idoll The Beast they seeing the Witnesses of Jesus to stand upon their feet fearfulnesse doth surprize them because now they conceive that their Kingdome is going down as indeed it is going down wonderfully as they did rejoyce and make merry when they saw the Saints or Puritans as they termed them brought into a low condition when they lay dead so now on the contrary they seeing these Puritans the precious Sonnes of Sion to stand upon their feet now a fear a great fear is fallen upon them Vers 12. And they heerd a great voice from Heaven saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them As the Beast and they that joyn with him are in severall places of the prophesie of this book called The earth So the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus Christ are in opposition to the Beast called Heaven As Rev. 13. 6. it is said of the Beast That he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwelt in Heaven By them that dwelt in Heaven is meant the Saints of God who are called Them that dwell in Heaven As the members of the Beast are called Them that dwell upon the earth Rev. 11. 10. And so Rev. 15. 5. It being said in the former verses of the Saints that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his image and over his mark that they sung the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb saith John After this I looked and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened And Chap. 11. 19. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament c. It is evident that in both these places the Saints the Church of God is called Heaven for it cannot be understood of Heaven it self for there is no Temple So in this verse whereas it is said the Witnesses heard a voice from Heaven by Heaven here also is meant the Church the Saints of God So that the meaning of this verse is this The Witnesses of Jesus being raised from the dead and having a Spirit of life from God put upon them and standing upon their feet like living men that part of the Saints that in a more especiall manner acted in opposing the Beast and had a most eminent Spirit of life and courage put
Witnesses against the enemy so as it was only kept as it were above-ground though it seemed to be as dead And so God would have it to be for the first three yeares and an half but when the first three years and an half were compleatly according to Scripture account expired then it was not possible for the adverse party to prevail over them for then the time was come in which the Witnesses were to be raised and then the Spirit of life from God entered into them and that was the reason why they went on like active living men so couragiously and victoriously for God had appointed them to carry on his worke for the fall of this Kingdom from Rome Deduction 13. Thirteenth In the next place this serves to exhort all those that were drawne to engage in the late war against the Parliament and those godly people that adhered to them to relinquish that act of theirs And that First Because it is so apparent that in so doing they were instruments of upholding the Kingdome of the Beast and that they did in it endeavour to support the Beast as much as in them lay whatever the pretences were upon which they were drawne to engage in it and therefore if they desire to be enemies to the Beast let them be enemies to this act of theirs for in it they went about to support the Beast though it was in vain the time of his ruine being come and therefore it behoves them to repent of what they have done in it for it is not good pretences can justifie an evil action It would be their wisdome therefore now at last to renounce it as they renounce the Beast himself And Secondly It concerns them to repent of this deed of theirs considering against whom they fought not against ordinary men but against the choisest of men the Witnesses and servants of Jesus Christ nay they fought not against them onely but against Jesus Christ for as Jesus Christ saith to his Disciples That the world hated them because it hated him and he that hateth him hateth the Father also Joh. 15. 18. 23. So it may be said that they that fought against the Saints of Iesus Christ fought against Iesus Christ himself and against the Father also Now therefore you that were active in that quarrel of the Beast how doth it concern you to renounce what you have done therein least you be found to be fighters against God and let no longer a spirit of emnity and difference remain between you and those that you opposed in that particular but be of one minde with them in a mutuall opposing of the Beast with them And this doe least persisting in that way of defending the Beast you be destroied with the Beast Deduction 14. Fourteenthly In the next place it enformes all those that did engage in the late defensive warre that they have cause to rejoyce in what they have done in that particular and no cause to repent of it Have you contributed to the maintenance of the warre in England and Ireland by lending plate and disbursing money And have you sent horses and arms and provisions to the Army And have your servants or children or your selves in person been actually in that warre You have cause to rejoyce in all that you have done therein for you see it was a most just and righteous act and God hath by it brought a most glorious worke to passe in the bringing this Kingdome from that vassallage to Rome in which it hath been this twelve hundred years and putting the cup of trembling into the hands of the enemies of Iesus Christ the dregs whereof they shall at last take off And therefore you have no cause to repent but to rejoyce in what you have done therein to rejoyce that you had the honour to be in any measure instruments of promoting such a cause and if you suffered any losses by being opposers of the adverse party yet it was farre better to be losers in opposing them then in any measure to comply with them And you that have received wounds or lost limbs for promoting that cause may glory in them for what soever you have herein done or suffered it hath been in and for opposing that grand enemy of Iesus Christ The Beast and in being instruments of bringing Gods designe to passe for the ruining of great Babylon and the setting up the Kingdome of Iesus Christ And therefore how ever you seem to be rewarded of men for it yet never repent of it but rejoyce in what you have done in it Deduction 15. Fifteenthly In the next place this may convince those of their errour that take to themselves a power over the consciences of Saints to rule over them and make laws for them and to force them to obedience to those laws Let such seriously consider this that this is apparently that cursed power that the Beast hath usurpt to himself or at least it had no other Donor then the Dragon the old Serpent the Devil who gave the Beast his Power and Seat and great authority And by this Power the Bishop of Rome first became and still continues to be the Beast And this is a Power that is abhorred of God for those men that exercise this Power doe take away the legislative power of God who is the King the Judge and the LAW-GIVER of his Saints and doe give Iesus Christ lesse honour then the Heathens doe their idols who doe allow them to be the orderers of their own worship O that these men therefore might be convinced of their errour in imposing their lawes upon the consciences of Saints and constraining them to worship God according to the rules that they have hammered out from them though they dare not affirme that they themselves are infallible for surely if they persist in it God who is jealous of his glory and will not give it to another will break out in the fire of his jealousie against them as well as against the Beast that great man of sin who sitteth in the Temple of God and takes upon him to make lawes as God It concerns them therefore to beware how they goe on in these waies least they be destroyed with that son of perdition Again Let such consider that all those that ever exercifed this power for the generallity of them were alwaies enemies of the most precious and most spirituall Saints and were followed with a curse Let them but look upon the Bishops and generally they were enemies of Saints and a curse rested on them even a blindenesse of minde and hardnesse of heart and at last they were brought down and shame and contempt cast upon them And it may be some of you that have endeavoured to take the same power have opposed the Bishops for the same thing O therefore that in the consideration heerof you might at last lay down that imposing power although thereby you may seem to lose that honour that you seek from men and
look upon them as Saints then if you love the Lord Jesus you cannot but love them what ever their judgements be And if you be deficient herein you are to condemn your selves in it and to be humbled for it And henceforth considering the onenesse that is between you all what ever your judgements are and that you have been as one in your sufferings and as one in deliverances from sufferings doe you still be one in love and then upon you will the Lord command the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. 3. Deduction 17. 17. The next and the main Deduction that flows from these verses being thus explained is a speciall encouragement in particular to the high and honourable Court of Parliament and to his Excellency the Lord FAIRFAX and the honoured his Councell of Warre and all inferiour Officers and Souldiers and in generall to all the Witnesses of Jesus Christ in this Kingdom of England First It is of speciall encouragement unto the high and honourable Court of Parliament for as much as a great number of them being the Witnesses of Jesus Christ they were the primary or first instruments that God made use of to defend the cause of his people and to preserve them from the tyranny and fury of the Beast Now you being the first instruments that God made use of to plead the cause of his people God having into your hand first put the power of opposing the Beast and that wonderfull hath been the spirit of courage and constancy that hath been put upon you in that high Court of Parliament that make it your design to advance the honour of Jesus Christ and the good of the Saints and of all the Subjects of this Kingdome in generall so that though you have been opposed by great and potent enemies yet your courage hath not failed but you have persisted constant in prosecuting the same designes since you first began to oppose Strafford and Canterbury in 1641. unto the year 1645 still opposing the adverse party and you have not basely complied with them though some corrupt members diserted you and did so but you still stuck to your first principles and God having put power into your hands hath inabled you to carry on his designe in the worst of times and after all having graciously given you good successe to your unwearied pains and labours thorow which you had gone by giving you a happy conquest over your enemies And in all this the word of God being fulfilled these things being according to what is written even your being first laid low and also your raising again it being written predeclared that the Beast should make warre with the Witnesses of whom you are a part and whose cause you defend and should overcome them and kill them and that they should lie dead three years and an half and after three years and an half should be raised to the terrour of their enemies and that in their rising a tenth part of Babylon should fall c. These things being written and fulfilled the Beast having made warre against the Witnesses whose cause you have been principle instruments of defending against him and his adherents and having overcome them and killed them both in England and Ireland and they being dead for three years and an half the enemy rejoycing over them and making merry because they thought they had been so slain as they should never recover life again your Armies being overcome and your Garisons being possessed by the enemy and after three years and an half the Spirit of life being put upon your Army and they as it is written standing upon their feet and therein at the same time England being fallen from the Beast from being a part of great Babylon and this in the year 1645. and that year being the year wherein it is written The prevailing power of the Beast should come to a period I say these things being so here is special incouragement to you Witnesses in the high Court of Parliament to goe on in defending that cause that God hath given you the honour hitherto to be instruments of defending I say to go on to defend it And that First By doing justice upon your and the enemies of Jesus Christ Hath God delivered any of the chief actours of this unnaturall bloudy warre into your hands then you being a Civil Power ordained of God are to doe justice upon evil doers for the Apostle saith of a Ruler Rom. 13. 4. He is the minister of God and he beareth not the sword in vain for he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil And they are evil-doers in a high degree that are theeves and murderers and such are the chief actours of an unjust warre Now if God have delivered any such into your hands you are to execute wrath upon them for it is an observable passage 1 King 20. 42. The Prophet of the Lord there tels Ahab King of Israel after he had let Benhadad King of Syria whom the Lord had delivered into his hand to go away with his life that Ahabs life should goe for his life Therefore it is not safe to neglect doing justice upon such persons although they consent to such Articles of agreement being constrained to doe it for their own ends as Benhadad did 1 King 20. 34. Now you in the high Court of Parliament whom God hath honoured to be the chief instruments of defending the righteous cause of the Witnesses have speciall encouragement to goe on to execute just wrath upon such grosse evil doers without fear And also secondly You have encouragement to goe on to deal well with all the Witnesses and servants of Jesus Christ that walk soberly and justly toward men and holily towards God that are under your jurisdiction whether they be such as are commonly called Presbyterians or Independents or Anabaptists c. even to deal well with them and all the Subjects of the Kingdome and to undoe the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed goe free and to break every yoke and to establish just and righteous laws I say here is speciall encouragement for you to doe thus for in doing thus you shall prosper and become a glory to the Kingdome and no enemy shall ever henceforth be able to prevail against you for though formerly you were brought into a low condition and the enemy prevailed over you with a very high hand yet henceforth the enemy shall no more prevail against you although they were in number a hundred thousand more then they are And secondly From these verses thus opened here is speciall encouragement in particular for his Excellency the Lord FAIRFAX and the honoured Councel of warre since as the Parliament are the primary so they are the secondary instruments of defending the cause of the Saints of God against the Beast Now since you and the Army under you in an especial manner according to what is written and declared long agoe were they
that had a spirit of life from God put upon you in the year 1645. whereby life was put into all the Witnesses and whereby you were inabled to act like living men men that had a life from God in the overcoming the Beast and his adherents in this Kingdom and seeing you have been instruments of defending that cause ever since I say seeing God hath honoured you so as to make you such eminent instruments of this great worke and the hearts of all the Saints in England are generally knit unto you and the eyes of all the Saints in England are upon you most Noble General and Worthy Commanders here is I say special encouragement for you to goe on still to improve the power that God hath given you for the same end for which it was given you viz. The suppressing of the Beast and defending all the Saints and servants of Jesus Christ in this Kingdome and to goe on having the honour of Jesus Christ and not your own and publike good more then private ends in your eye and in your heart to endeavour to cause justice and righteousnesse to abound in this Kingdome and this is your encouragement that in so doing as you have alwaies been since 1645. So you shall ever be conquerours in all the battles you fight and overcomers of all the enemies with whom you encounter no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper nor no enemy shall be able to stand before you yea though all the people of the Earth should be gathered together against you yet you should be but as a burthensome stone unto them and all that burden themselves with you should be broken in pieces And thirdly Here is speciall encouragement for all the Saints in England in generall to be of good courage not to fear the menaces or threatnings of any enemy for no enemy shall ever any more prevail over them Now what I say for the encouragement of the Parliament and of the Generall and chief Commanders of the Army in particular and of all the Saints in England in generall is clearly grounded in the Scripture and therefore is it unquestionable and to be received and observed of the Parliament Army and Saints in England Indeed if I should declare any thing to you and tell you that I had it by vision or revelation and it were not apparent in Scripture I know no warrant you had to receive it or to have any confidence of it For as Paul speaking of the day of Christ saith to the Thessalonians Now we beseech you by the comming of the Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering unto him that you be not soon shaken in minde nor be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first c. So may I say you have reason to beware that you be not soon shaken in minde or troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter from any concerning any thing for which they doe not bring a word from the Scripture and let no man deceive you for you may be deluded and deceived if you receive any thing from any which is not according to what is revealed in the Scripture as the young Prophet was deluded by the old Prophet when he received that Doctrine which was contrary to the Word of the Lord which before he had received So may you if you should so doe Therefore if a Prophet or an Apostle or an Angel from heaven should bring any message which is not consonant unto the Word which you have already received in the Scripture you are not to be shaken in minde nor to be troubled by it nor to imbrace it But now the Scripture grounds upon which I doe for their encouragement declare and affirme That the Parliament and the Army in prosecuting the righteous cause of the Saints and that all the Saints of England in generall shall all overcome their enemies and go on victoriously hence forward are these First Because the Witnesses are raised from the dead The Spirit of life from God is entered into them and they do stand upon their feet Secondly Because England is fallen from Rome and is no more a tenth part of that great mystical Babylon Thirdly Because the one thousand two hundred and threescore years in which the Beast was to tread the holy City under foot did expire in 1645. Now the first of these grounds is evidently drawn from Scripture as appears in the explicatory part of this Discourse where it is evident That that great and considerable number of Saints in England and all reall Saints of Jesus Christ of whom it is said That the Beast should make warre against them and overcome them and that they should lie dead three years and an half the Spirit of life from God should enter into them and they should stand upon their feet to the fear of their enemies and to the glory of their God And it is evident that this which this Scriptrre hath said of them is punctually come to passe The Beast did make warre against all Saints in making warre against that great number of the Saints in England in the late warre the Beast did overcome them and kill them and they were mystically dead for three years and an halfe and as soon as the three yeares and an halfe were compleatly expired the Spirit of life from God entered into them a Spirit of life vigour and courage was put upon them and they did no longer lie as dead men but like living men they stood upon their feet to the fear and amazement of their enemies and to the glory of their God who had put such a Spirit of vigour and courage upon them And now upon this ground may all the Saints in England and those Worthies in the Parliament of England and their Army who have been instruments of bringing down the power of the Beast in England be encouraged to continue opposing the Beast and acting justly and righteously toward all and be assured God having put a Spirit of life upon them and made them to stand upon their feet they shall overcome every enemy that shall rise up against them and the enemie in no battle shall be able to stand before them nor give them one defeat but shall fall before them and bee cut downe as mowne grasse and the men of warre shall not finde their hands but turne their backs and flee before them for they shall now finde them living men such as have a Spirit of life from God put upon them The second ground upon which I affirme That no enemy shall be ever able to prevail over them is clear in Scripture For it is also evident in the Explicatory part of this Discourse That England is that tenth part of the Citie which the holy Ghost in this Scripture speaks of