not the spirit and life of God in them all these must be judged well may the world then vex and rage and gnaw their â—ongues for paine This is the reason of all that bitternesse malice sury and madnesse that is in the hearts of men at this day what makes them vexing and fretting but that all things they set up maintaine enjoy and take pleasure in are judged and condemned for dead power dead ordinances dead gifts all things of man are judged to be dead When the Lord comes to judge the earth confusion and a consuming fire goes before his face Psal 97. 2. which must needs make that judgement very dreadfull and terrible to all formall powers and fleshly actings especially because the Saints shall judge the world yea and Angells also 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. They shall judge men and things of highest principles and places those things that carry a civill or spirituall excellency upon them shall be judged by the Saints What follows Secondly The Saints are rewarded and advanced And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that feare thy Name small and great As the portion of the world is vexing fretting cursing and wrath so the portion of Saints is love goodnesse blessings thankesgivings The dreadfull day of doome and darknesse of judgement and confusion unto the world is a day of light and joy of comfort and reward unto the Saints The worlds trouble and ruine is the Saints peace and salvation Though the Lord come in fire and wrath to destroy Antichrist yet he comes in love and mercy to save Sion and therefore when he comes forth and a devouring fire burning up his enemies round about Psal 97. 3. Yet Sion heard and was glad and the daughter of Judah rejoyced because of his judgements vers 8. The Saints have been a long time under oppression shame and persecution now the Lord will reward them and give them light for darknesse strength for weaknesse glory for shame they shall now receive reward and praise for all their former sorrow and sufferings The Saints shall rejoyce in heaven for the vengeance powred out upon Antichrist Therefore rejoyce over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her Revel 18. 20. When the Kings of the earth and Merchants mightie and rich men shall weep and wayl and cry alas alas then shall the Saints here called the holy Apostles and Prophets rejoyce and sing because the ruine and fall of these shall be their joy and reward Thirdly The Lord will not onely judge the dead principles practices ordinances and powers of Antichrist and give reward unto his servants but also will destroy the Antichristian partie And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth The word translated destroy signifies corrupt that is Those that have managed the cause of Antichrist have corrupted the earth according as it 's said in Revel 19. 2. The great whore did corrupt the earth with her fornication That is by her sosseries and fornications she hath corrupted the minds of the men of the earth drawing them aside from the Lord by the intoxicating wine of her fornication she hath blinded the mindes adulterated the affections and polluted the hearts of the men of the world and have made them to serve Satan the God of this world These that have managed the cause of the beast and have thus corrupted the earth shall be destroyed This destruction is not so much meant of a bodily destruction as of place and power these that have by their power rule by their deceit and falshood corrupted the earth these in their dignity office rule and authoritie shall all be slaine It followeth VERS 19. And the Temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in the Temple the Arke of his Testament and there was lightnings and voyces and thunderings an earthquake and great hail COnsider three things from these words First The Temple of God opened The time was it was shut up as once the Temple of Jerusalem was under Ahaz 2 Chron. 28. 24. So this spirituall Temple was shut up when it was measured in vers 1. When the outward Court or visible face of things were in the hands of the Gentiles vers 2. The Church was driven into the Wildernesse for many yeares into desert places there to be nourished for a time from the face of the Serpent that sought to devoure her But now the Temple is set open as of old it was by Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29. 3. Thus it 's said of the new Jerusalem that the gates should not be shut Revel 21. 25. And the reason is because there shall be no night nor danger the gates shall stand open continually This noteth the free accesse for multitudes of Saints to enter in to the new Jerusalem without impediment or stop Not as in times of persecution when they sought to worship the Lord in corners but they shall come and enter freely and boldly and that without let or molestation So that the woman shall no more be driven into the Wildernesse and shut up there but the Temple of God shall be set open and there shall be a free and great accesse unto it Secondly That which appeared in the Temple was the Arke of his Testament As the Temple was opened so the Arke was made visible which was shut from the eyes of men under the old Testament 1 King 6. 19. It was very seldome seen and that by the high-Priest onely the Arke was a pledge of Gods presence with his people and denotes unto us the mysteries of truth which formerly lay hid but now are made manifest The great high-Priest hath opened the Temple and made visible the Arke by making knowne the mysteries of truth In former time the Church was in the Wildernesse the Gentiles possessed the outward Court le ts of truth were discovered onely something was hinted out by a few choise instruments but now the Saints have a Temple opened a full and free accesse and now they have an Arke made visible or the hidden mysteries of God revealed not onely to a few called Clergie men but generally to all Saints the knowledge of the truth is revealed Thirdly The close of all And there were lightnings and voyces and thunderings and an earth-quake and great hail Earth-quake hail and lightning set forth Gods judgements most terrible and irresistible Esa 30. 30. Of an earthquake wee have spoken before from vers 13 of this Chapter Hail-stones was one of the plagues of Aegypt that destroyed their trees Exod. 9. 25. And by which the Amorites were destroyed in Canaan Josh 10. 11. By these judgements wee have the finall destruction of Antichrist This is the third woe that shall accompany the seventh Trumpet and is agreeable to the plagues of the seventh Viall by which Antichrist shall be wholly destroyed and should blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail that was exceeding great By this last and great judgement the mysterie of iniquitie is discovered and the power of Antichrist wholly broken at which his partie shall vex and fret gnaw their tongues and blaspheme God for all their paines sores whereby they shall be utterly ruined and consumed Thus we have the Effects of Christs kingdome and reigne layd open wee see for what it is that the Elders doe so exceedingly praise the Lord for that he takes to himselfe his great power and doth reigne by which he doth offend the Nations and reward his servants The Temple is no more shut up under restraint but free accesse is given the Arke is no more hidden but the mysteries of salvation made evident And the Lord by his sweeping judgements will wholly consume Antichrist both in his policy and power Hence it is that the Saints shall thus triumph and rejoyce How can the daughter of Sion but rejoyce when heâ— King cometh the redeemed of the Lord must needs triumph And besides the whole world shall rejoyce when the oppressor shall cease when violence shall be no more heard in the Land when our Exactors shall be righteousnesse then I say the world will sing and rejoyce because the whoâ—â—â—â—â—th shall be at peace and be quiet Esa 14. 4. 7. When Christ shall come to reigne in his appearance in his Saints bâ— shall judge the Nations with righteousnesse and governe the people with truth Psal 67. 4. 7. Therefore when the Lord shall come to reigne to set all things in order to governe and give settlement to the Nations well may Antichrist vex and fret and all oppressing powers be angry but the Saints shall rejoyce and sing and all the world besides shall be glad because of his righteous judgements So much to be spoken of the Effects of Christ's reigne and so I end this whole Discourse FINIS
word of God and despised his long-suffering in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was preparing Here that which Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse did is attributed unto Christ because Noah was but instrumentall in the businesse it was Christ in the spirit that put himselfe forth in and through Noah In like manner it was sayd that whatsoever the prisoners did in the prison Joseph was the doer of it Gen. 39. 22. because they did it by warrant leave from him or by his dictation commandement Just so Christ is sayd to prophesie all the dayes of Antichrist because his people receive their commission and power from him as managing of his cause and quarrell It is sayd in vers 8. that Christ was crucified in Egypt and in Sodome which cannot be meant of Christ's person because he was crucified at Jerusalem but it 's meant of Christ in his people his Saints being overcome and killed in spirituall Egypt and Sodome So that we sâ—e plainly that the testimony that these witnesses give forth is Christ's testimony it 's Christ in his Saints it 's the power of the most high one in his people In these respects Christ is brought in as having a share in this prophesie under the powerfull raigne of the beast From this whole verse thus opened take this one observation That all and Observ every one of the Saints are Gods witnesses The witnesses here meant cannot be onely appropriated to Magistrates and Ministers or to any two eminent persons neither are they to be restrained to those onely that suffered martyrdome in their bodies but of all Saints of evâ—ry individuall Saint of what quality or degree soever that gives forth a testimony of the truth of Christ all that doe according to their measures and abilities continually oppose the wayes and devices of Antichrist Christ the great and faithfull witnesse as the olive treâ— doth powre out his oyle of divine spirit into the Câ—ndlesticks of his people whereby they are enabled to shine as lights in the middest oâ— all the perverse generations of men and among ali the gain sayers of the truth The Propheâ— testifieth that the Lord will sinite the earth with the â—oâ— of his mouth and with the breath of his lips will destroy the wicked Esa 11. 4. The Saints of the most high have the everlasting word of God abiding and dwelling in their hears and as they hold forth the testimony thereof they are the very lips and breath of the Lord whereby â—e bruiseth his enemies and bâ—eaks â—hâ—n in pieces The Apostle doth affiâ—â—e that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christs coming 2 Thâ—s 2. 8. Now what is the brightnesse of Christâ— coming but his gloâ—â—ion rayes and bright bâ—â—mâ—s of heavenly diâ—coveries of light and truth that he shine forth withall through his people The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to consume by degrees to wast a thing by little and little untill it be consumed and come to nothing So shall the dissolution of Antichrist be by degrees by little and little even as the Lord shall be pleased to encrease and double his Spirit upon his people whereby they are enabled to testifie against the beast his image against the false Prophet and the deceiver and thus by degrees shall the man of sin be destroyed Now we perceive that it 's not onely for the wise and learned neither for the great and mighty ones to testifie of Christ or that they are those by whom Antichrist should be destroyed but it s for Saints of all degrees for every member how poore how meane soever that have received of that holy oyle from Christ the true olive tree that shines forth with the glorious testimony of Christ I say every such one is a Prophet and witnesse of the Lord. Then all those poor low and despised ones that have according to their measures and attainments given forth their testimony for Christ his truth against Antichrist and his falshood all the times of persecution as it were in the wildernesse and in sackcloth these I say are the witnesses here spoken of these are the two Candlesticks who receive a full supply from the two olive branches these stand before the Lord of the whole earth holding forth the word of truth and the testimony of Jesus in opposition to the man of sin that wicked one that son of perdition Such honour have all his Saints though in the wildernesse and clothed with sackcloth though under much persecution and trouble yet these are the Candlesticks of the Lord set by the true olive tree Jesus Christ receive of his oyle into themselves they together with Christ stand before the Lord of the whole earth and shine as lights in the world So much for the discovery of whom is meant by the two witnesses It followeth VERS 5. And if any man hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed HAving made a large description of the witnesses declaring who they are and what their businesse Now we come to shew how they are impowered to deale with their adversaries whereby we perceive the powerfull effects of their prophesie If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. In this verse consider first the haâ—mful carriage of the adversaries towards the witnesses If any man hurt them Secondly the means of defence or opposition made by the witnesses towards their adversaries fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. First the deportment of the adversary and that is expressed hypothetically or conditionally If any man c. whereby a certainty is affirmed This indefinite speech doth not imply that it should be a rare thing for men thus to doe but rather a certainty of punishment should be inflicted upon all those that should any way oppose these two faithfull witnesses If any man hurt them c. It cannot be meant as though few should hurt or injure them but rather that there should be no exception of persons amongst any that should hurt them none should goe unpunished for any exterior adjuncts or qualities whatsoever let them be of any kinde ranke or degree they should suffer for their violence offered to them The certainty of the enemies opposing the witnesses is held forth by the doubling of the phrase So Joseph tells Pharaoh that by the doubling of his dream the thing was established Gen. 41. 32. But how are these witnesses hurt by their enemies First by restraining of their persons by persecution imprisonment banishment and the like It hath been the practice of the beast continually to make war with the Saints with those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Revel 11 17. Secondly by rejecting their testimony the enemy doth not onely go about to hinder the course of their testimony but also to turne the truth they hold forth into a
lye Hence it is said that the beast opened his mouth in blasphemy against God his name Tabernacle and people Revel 13. 6. Now to blaspheme is to speak evill to revile and reproach the testimony of the Saints to bring some blot upon the truth they stand to maintaine Thus we see how certaine it is that the enemies will oppose and hinder the witnesses in the course of their prophesie And as certaine it is that the enemies shall suffer for this their attempt Secondly the meanes by which the witnesses do oppose their adversaries fire proceedeth out of their mouths to devour their enemies As before we had a description of the witnesses by the two anointed ones relating to Zerubbabel and Joshua so here we have their actions declared by an allusion unto Moses and Elias both which were revenged for wrong done upon their enemies by fire from heaven Thus you may read in Numb 16. 35. That when Korah and the rest of his company did rise up in rebellion against Moses fire comes from heaven destroys those two hundred and fifty chiefe men of the Congregation of Israel Also of Elias you have it related 2 Kings 1. 10 11. That when Ahaziah sent two captains with their fifties to apprehend the Prophet â—ire cometh downe from the Lord and destroys both the Captaines and their fifties So here the witnesses are said to command fire to consume their enemies This cannot be meant of a materiall but of a mysticall fire that the witnesses do thus breath out of their mouths It is the word of their testimony that doth consume and destroy their adversaries it is this fire that doth constantly torment and devour them Thus we have the word often called fire in Scripture Jere. 23. 29. Is not my word like fire saith the Lord And we have the Lord telling the Prophet that he would make his word as fire and the people wood and it should devour them Jer. 5. 14. So here the witnessâ—â— thougâ— in sackcloth testifie against all the wickednesse of Antichrist their persons are oppressed their testimony contemned but the word of their testimony is as fire proceeding out of their mouths to devour their opposers The Adversary shall in this manner be killed by the Fire that issueth out of the mouths of the Witnesses Sutable hereunto is that passage in Isa 9. 5. where the Prophet speaking of Christ prevailing over his Enemies saith For every battaile of the warriour is with confused noyse and garments rolled in blood but this shall be with burning and fewell of â—ire This should be of another manner and kinde then the ordinary battaile of the Warriour this should be Fire or by the two-edged sword that proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ The fire that goeth forth out of the mouths of the witnesses is all one w th the brightnes of Christs coming mentioned in 2 Thes 2. 8. by which Antichrist shall be destroyed The light and glory of Christs word that the Witnesses give forth as fire out of their mouths â—â—all destroy Antichrist This is the very forme and manner of Antichrists destruction though happily some that uphold his cause may fall by the Sword in respect of their pâ—â—sâ—nâ— as 〈◊〉 of the Witnesses have suffered death for giving forth a testimonie of the truth yet the cause and being of Antichrist shall be destroyed in this manner even by the word of truth that proceeds out of the mouths of the Witnesses The words being thus opened take notice of these observations they afford unto us First That the Adversaries of Christ Obser 1. are alwayes ready to hurt his witnesses It is most certain that the friends of Antichrist are alwayes willing to oppose the friends of Christ These Prophets are cast out rejected and slightâ—d by the men of the world The seed of the Serpent is continually making War with the seed of the Woman The Dragon waited to devour the Man-childe that the woman was about to bring forth Rev. 12. 4. And though he could not wholly prevail yet hee cast forth a flood of persecution afâ—â—â— her and makes Warr with the remnant of her seed ver 16. 7. Secondly They that goe about to hurt Obser 2. the Witnesses or hinder them in the course of their Prophesie shall not goe unpunished There is none that offers violence to the Prophets of the Lord but shall receive their just demeâ—â—â—s the Fire that proceeds out of the mouths of the Witnesses shall devour them in this manner they shall be killed even by the word of their testimony There was never any person or people that dealt cruelly with the deare servants of the Lord but the hand of God found them out The Psalmist speaking of the glorious conduct of the children of Israel through the wildernesse by the powerful hand of God saith He suffered no man to doe them wrong he reproved KINGS for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed nor doe my Prophets no harme Psal 105. 14 15. There might none hurt or injure they might not harm nor persecute the anointed ones of God for the Lord had sharpely rebuked Kings for their sakes All the woes and calamities all the judgments and confusions that ever came upon Kings Kingdomes States or powers have been for the hurting and opposing of his people In like manner all the plagues that are this day upon the world all the War Famine Death and all plaguâ—â— are for the persecuting reviling and misusing of the Witnesses And this shall be the portion of all men of what rank quality or degree soever be they never so wise or learned be they never so great or powerful that shall oppose and hinder these witnesses in the course of their Prophesie must in this manner be killed Fire shall proceed out of their mouths and destroy them they shall be tormented burnt and consumed by the word of their testimony Thirdly observe That the Witnesses Obser 3. shall prevaile against their Enemies by the word of their testimonie The testimonie that the Witnesses give forth is as fire in the bosome of al their adversaries and shall eate them out and consume them Hence it is said the Lord will slay the wicked by the breath of his lips Isa 11. 4. By the breath of Christ uttered by the lips of his people and by the brightnesse of his coming in the light and knowledg of his Saints he wil destroy Antichrist God will judge the world and burne up the earth by fire This fire of the Lord conveyed into the world by the mouths of the Witnesses shall destroy all that is before it all greatnesse and dominion all power Ecclesiastical and Civill all the forms and superstitions of Antichrist are consumed brought to nothing by this fire that proceedeth out of the mouths of the Witnesses Our late experience hath taught us that whensoever the Saints and faithfull of God have given out the word of their testimonie against whatsoever superstitious inventions whatsoever
the world doth enjoy and exceedingly desire Secondly To turn these waters into blood is no other then to imbitter all that sweet peace and rest the world would enjoy all those pleasant streams of union peace and delight are turned into contention and bitternesse so that the world cannot drinke them downe at pleasure they are disturbed and troubled their sweet streames are turnâ—d into blood and contention their quiet waters are disturbed by the prophesie of the Witnesses Thus we see what is meant by waters and how they are turned into blood It followeth Thirdly and lastly They smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will Here is one word to comprehend all evills that should befall Antichrist by the prophesie of the Witnesses There needeth no more particulars be named to expresse those calamities that should befal the world This doth relate to the powring forth of the vials mentioned in Revel 16. where it is said that the seven Angels should powre out the vials of of the wrath of God upon the earth vers 1. So here these shall smite the earth with all plagues that is these by their Prophesie and testimony of the truth shal pour out the vials of Gods wrath and indignation upon Antichrist and his adherents Here then take notice of the plagues that light upon the world by the powring forth of the Vials and of them consider First that there is a full agreement between the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials each one dotâ— correspond and answr to the other The opening of the first Seale the sounding of the first Trumpet the pouring forth of the first Viall are at one and the same time and so of them all they have neer affinity and relation each unto the other the opening of the Seals do occasion the sounding of the Trumpets and the sounding of the Trumpets doe cause the Vialls to be poured forth The opening of the Seals by degrees and in a graduall way are those several degrees of light knowledg that the Lord doth discover to his Saints in their severall ages of the secret and hidden mysteries of truth which contains in it selfe a perfection of mysterie as being sealed up with seven seals now gradually in every age the Lord comes forth in the discoveries and revelations of these mysteries unto his Saints The sounding of the Trumpets follow hereupon which is the outward declaration and profession of truth by the witnesses whereby they give forth a visible testimony of the truths of GOD thus revealed to them by preaching praying professing they do as it were sound forth the Trumpet of divine truth The pouring forth of the Vials are those judgments and evils that fall upon the man of sin by reason of the trumpets sounding But know that every Seal every Trumpet and every Viall wil agree together in their opening sounding and pouring forth every Seal hath its Trumpet and every Trumpet hath its Vial that doth follow So that we may not conceive that the opening of the Seals presents us with one age the sounding of the Trumpet with another and the pouring forth of the Vials with a third but that the first Seal first Trumpet and first Viall are opened sounded and poured forth in one age and the second Seal second Trumpet and second Vial in another and so they agree and goe together untill they are finished Secondly consider that the plagues that are the effects that follow upon these Seals opened Trumpets sounded and Vials poured forth are not only or so much meant of outward or temporall plagues but rather of mysticall of such spiritual judgements that should be poured out upon the head of the man of sin to destroy him not only in body but in spirit and worship whereby the very interest and cause of Antichrist shall be overthrown And now I say that these plagues and evill effects that follow the first seal are the same that doth follow the first Trumpet and first Viall so of the second and in like manner to the end Wee shall only speak of those plagues that follow the powring out of the Vials and so consequently wee include those also that follow the Seales and the Trumpets The first Viall was poured upon the 1 Viall earth that is upon the Antichristian Church and State which consisteth of of earthly worship and is made up of worldly Christians and the effects of this Vial poured out was that there fell a grievous sore upon the men that had the marke of the Beast upon them and worshipped his Image This soare is like to be incurable agreeing with that which followed the sound of the first Trumpet Chap. 8. 7. And there followed hail mingled with hlood and they were cast upon the earth and the third part of the trees were burnt up and all greene grasse was burnt up This haile and fire agrees with the Thunder which hapned at the opening of the first Seale Chap. 6. 1. All which shewes that by this Thunder this Fire and Haile together with this great sore that the life and peace the worship and forme of the third part of those that served the Beast were burnt up and sâ—â—rched they that were like green trees in shew of holinesse and zeale became as dry and withered without blossome without any fruit at all The second Viall was poured out upon 2 Viall the Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and every living soul dyed in the Sea Ch. 16. 3. This is the same with the effect of the Witnesses prophesie when they turn waters into blood Sutably at the opening of the second Seal Ch. 6. 3 4. there appeared a red horse signifying blood preparing for War and death The same effect follows the second Trumper Chap. 8 9. A great mountaine buring with fire was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood c. This effect presents us with the death of all the sweet comforts sweet enjoyments that the Antichristian Church did feed on all those formes of worship and service they took much delight in and were refreshed by now they are turned into blood yea like the blood of a dead man which was most deadly and corrupt in its own nature that none may drink of it but the shall dye every soule that was at rest and peace before and thought it selfe most safe and in a good condition now it languisheth gives up the ghost and dieth The third Viall was poured upon the rivers 3 Viall and fountaines of waters and they became blood c. This differs from the former where the sea or water of comfort was turned into blood those comforts they enjoyed were taken away but this third Viall is poured out upon the very spring and fountaine of all their supplies as they lost what they enjoyed so they cannot receive any more their spring and fountaine is stopped up The same judgment will be seen if we looke back to the
use From the words thus opened take these few Observations First observe That the people that 1 Observ serve Antichrist are earthly and carnall They are a generation that doe arise from the earth and they are earthly they neither know nor favour the things of God Their Church is carnall their Ordinances are but inventions their Government is but a worldly power all the whole forme of service and worship is but of an earthly and humane institution Their wisdome and knowledge is but of the flesh the wisdome of this world and of the first Adam they are not endued with wisdome from on high All their parts and gifts are but acquired and made up by art and science they are not the pure gifts of the spirit but of a false annoynting of a common spirit Indeed these may cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men as it 's said Chap. 13 13. pretending they have the spirit of God when they have but a false and seducing spirit to draw Proselites to themselves So that all the things these enjoy are but carnall Churches invented Ordinances humane gifts worldly governments all proceeding from the earth are earthly and shall be cast forth into the Earth againe Secondly observe That the greatest 2 Observe joy that Antichrist hath is over the dead bodies of the Witnesses The greatest expression of the joy and rejoycing of earthly people is in slaying of the Witnesses when they can overcome and trample upon their Testimonie when they can suppresse the spirit of God in them and stop them in the course of their prophesie then they will rejoyce over their dead bodies and make their Carkasses their very life and glory These of the Earth have no quiet or peace in themselves untill by their power and wickednesse they have crucified the very apperance of God in these two Prophets and when having slaine their testimonie and set up their Carkass as their form of Religion then they rejoyce they stir up one another to triumph and exult they comfort one another in this great victory Oh what great rejoycing hath there been in all ages when the world and men of the earth could at any time suppresse these Witnesses it hath been their greatest aime and ambition and when they have accomplished it it hath been their greatest joy and rejoycing Thirdly observe That the Witnesses 3 Obser by their prophesie doe most of all torment the men of the earth The Earth and the Inhabitants thereof could rejoyce in their earthly enjoyments in all their carnall actings and humane inventions were it not for the testimony of the Witnesses these continually vexe and trouble earthly Christians and worldly Professors The men of the Earth would take much comfort and contentment in all their fleshly worship and formality but that these Witnesses are always giving in their testimonie against their falsenesse and emptinesse of all their performances But when these come and say this is Antichristian to tell the world their Church is carnall their Ordinances invented their gifts and abilities are but humane and their government but worldly this doth exceedingly enrage and torment the men of the earth Thus they turn their sweete waters into blood and contention as we heard before and plague the earth with all plagues they pour out whole vials of wrath upon all the worships and ways of Antichrist Thus we see as the men of the earth doth overcome and slay the Witnesses so these Witnesses make their part good against their Adversaries They reward Babylon as she hath rewarded them and in the cup wherein she hath filled they fill to her double Revel 18. 6. And as she hath glorified her selfe and triumphed over the Witnesses so great shall be her torment her punishments shall be answerable to her pride and tyranny Therefore when the Witnesses shall by the word of their testimonie cause vials of wrath to fall upon Antichrist then shall the men of the earth be scorched with great beate and shall gnaw their tongues for paine and blaspheame Grd because of their soares and their paines Rev. 16. 9 10 11. Their hearts shal be enraged with rancour and malice as burning with fire they shall speak evil of God and gave their tongues for anguish and vexation of spirit Thus do the witnesses by their prophesie vexe and torment the Inhabitants of the earth VERS 11. And after three dayes and a halfe the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great feare fell upon them that saw them VVE have spoken of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth of their death slaying which was a time of mourning sadnesse to them but of joy and triumph to their adversaries who sport and rejoyce over their dead bodies Now cometh a season wherein these poore despised witnesses shall exult and be glad when their enemies shall be vexed tormented for when they had slaine the faithfull witnesses of Christ they thought never to heare of them more but that which will damp all their mirth jollitie is this these witnesses shall stand upon their feet and rise againe Now of their resurrection we are to consider First the time when they shall rise and that 's After three dayes and a halfe Secondly the cause or meanes by which they shall rise and that is The spirit of life from God entred into them Thirdly we have their resurrection it selfe expressed in these words And they stood upon their feet Fourthly and lastly we have the consequent or sequell thereof And great feare fell upon them that saw them Concerning the time or season of the rising of these witnesses it 's expressed by three dayes and a halfe which terme of time hath been opened already and as you heard holds proportion with forty two moneths And with 1260 dayes and with a time times and halfe a time All the time of the powerfull raigne of the beast the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth they are alwaies killing and slaying they lie dead in the great Citie and their bodies are kept above ground for the space of three dayes and a halfe which holds a just proportion with the time of the womans being in the wildernesse in Chap. 12. 14. expressed by a time times and halfe a time After which time of sorrow and sadnesse that shall befall these witnesses they shall rejoyce for they shall rise againe Now in that it 's sayd After three dayes and a halfe it doth seem to imply an earnest expectation in the witnesses of their resurrection when the time shall draw neer when the last period of time shall come of their sadnesse and mourning then suddenly they shall expect a time of rising and rejoycing Before the time they cannot expect deliverance but when it draweth neer then they are exceedingly taken up in the expectation of it Secondly the cause or meanes of their resurrection The spirit of life from God entred into them After this 〈◊〉