Selected quad for the lemma: head_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	beast_n	crown_n	horn_n	2,520	5	10.5049	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91909	The mystery of the two witnesses unvailed Wherein wee have a description of their persons time acts death and office. manner of prophecie. sufferings. resurrection. With the consequences that follow. Together with the seaventh trumpet, and the kingdome of Christ explained. by John Robotham, preacher of the Gospel in Dover.	Robotham, John, fl. 1654.	1654 (1654)	Wing R1732; Thomason E1469_3; ESTC R208689	148,859	409

taketh with himselfe seven other spirits more wicked then himselfe and they enter in and dwell there c. Something of the workings of iniquity doth appeare from this Text. The uncleane spirit cast forth of man is the spirit of open and gross prophannesse the naturall conscience being in some measure convinced cannot any longer content it selfe in such palpable wickednesse but by some outward profession or externall reformation this Devill is cast forth as not to be born with any longer But what comes of it This same evill spirit comes againe makes a reentry dwells there and in what appearance doth he shew himselfe He finds the heart emptie swept garnished with some externall forme of religion and is now exercised in some excellent performances of prayer preaching hearing fasting and the like and here the soule takes much satisfaction in comparing it's present actings with it's former courses Yet here is seven worse spirits or the very perfection or mystery of iniquity for though these garnishings be never so beautifull and glorious though the outward profession be painted over and much adorned yet the evill spirit dwells within the perfection of wickednesse within the perfection of wickednesse the mystery of iniquity remaines still in the heart and this is the highest deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse the very spirit of Antichrist and inward actings of the man of sin Then while we looke abroad in the world and strike here and there at the externall formes and images of Antichrist let us behold the spirit of Antichrist within us having it's throne and seat in our hearts continually acting of it's parts in all our duties and performances in all our worships and services all the blindnesse deceit self-love and hypocrisie that lies wrapt up in our hearts proceeds from this corrupt principle Therefore it will not be enough that we cut off the top-boughes of outward prophanenesse but that we lay the Axe to the root of the Tree and destroy that spirituall wickednesse that lies hid within our owne breasts Thus much for the spirit and mystery of Antichrist Secondly We have the forme and appearance of Antichrist Now though the spirit of Antichrist or that corrupt principle in mans heart be the very sourse and root of all evill yet it doth not onely lurk privily in mans heart but puts it selfe forth into the world openly and visible to the eye and that in many severall formes and figures in many shapes and appearances Hence it 's said There be many Antichrists 1 Joh. 2. 18. that is there be many shapes and appearances in which Antichrist shall come forth to act his part Concerning these variable shapes of the man of sin I shall now endevour in some measure to demonstrate These forty two moneths notes the various and changeable images of the beast which terme of time is the same in proportion with the three dayes and halfe mentioned in vers 9. being the time the witnesses should he dead and slaine I shall make use of that terme of three dayes and halfe in stead of the forty two moneths and shall shew how in each day and halfe day we have a changeable forme in which Antichrist doth shew himselfe The first terme of time or day of Antichrists visible raigne was in the shape of a Dragon mentioned in Revel 12. 3. By which we have represented to us the Romane Emperours who usurped authoritie over the Church and Saints of Christ being very much corrupted were exceeding great persecutors and tormentors of all that professed the name of Christ This great red Dragon is said to have seven heads ten hornes and seven Crownes which doth import the largenesse of his Dominion the greatnesse of his power and strength And for his carriage 't is Pharaoh-like who sought to destroy the first-borne of Israel and as Herod sought to destroy Christ as soone as he was borne so this beast was ready to devour the child that the woman was to bring forth The spirituall Church is compared to a woman as being espoused to Christ and likely to bring forth some excellent and worthy instrument as Constantine who was sought to be destroyed by Galerius but God taking this child into his own bosome and prorection and preserving the woman in the wildernesse from the fury and rage of this Dragon at last raising up Constantine here called Michael which spiritually is meant of Christ to fight against Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius and overcame them that they ruled no more in the Roman Empire Thus those wicked and persecuting Emperours that did so much vex and oppresse the Saints are now cast out of heaven as not retaining their usurped authority of the Church Now the subtilty of the Serpent put forth in the cruelty of the Dragon or corrupt Magistracy acting in such grosse and abominable wickednesse is now detected and cryed downe for bloudy tyranny and oppression so that Antichrist could no longer continue in this forme this his first day being ended and he being cast to the earth is forced to seek some other habit or disguise to appeare in under some fair shew or pretence of Religion The second day of Antichrists powerfull raigne or new forme that he comes forth in is in the likenesse of a beast like unto a Leopard as appeareth from Revel 13. 1. This beast doth prefigure the universall Bishop of Rome or Popish Empire Now this universall Bishop came in like an Angel of light pretending religion and reformation but intended nothing but hypocrisie and abomination This beast ariseth out of the sea or Nations round about having had seven heads and ten hornes as the former beast had and ten Crownes ten kingdomes being subjected to the Popish Empire his likenesse was like unto a Leopard fierco and cruell his feet like the feet of a Beare devouring and ravenous and his mouth as a Lion powerfull and mighty And received the seat and authority of the Dragon Now this beast being exalted in dignity and greatnesse and all begin to submit themselves to his service and formes of worship crying Who is like unto the beast but now what doth he Notwithstanding at the first he pretended to sanctifie and reformation yet now by degrees he comes to blaspheme God his name Tabernacle and people making warre against them by subduing and slaying them And thus did this beast trample upon the Temple of God and upon the holy Cities in his moneths and seasons while they were given into his hand But the Lord having raised up many eminent instruments as Hush Luther Melancton Wickcliff Calvine and Bede with many others that have respectively according to their light given forth their testimony against this beast laying open his hypocrisie and deceit his filthinesse and abomination whereby hee hath received such a deadly wound that it never will be recovered and therefore is ever since upon the declining hand So that now Antichrist is forced to cloth himselfe in some other dresse and come forth in some new habit

of truth from divine prophesies And in this respect the Saints under the new Testament are called Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 29. These were not so called in relation to any divine predictions that they could declare but rather from that dexterity readinesse they had to interpret and open the mystery of those truths prophesied of before From such gifts as these were they called Prophets Thirdly to Prophesie is when beleevers by their experience can give testimony of the fulfilling of prophesies And thus those primitive Saints were sayd to prophesie when the prophesie of Joel was fulfilled in them and they were able by experience to testifie of the truth forespoken of Act. 2. 16 17. where it 's sayd I will powre out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie c. These by an allusion to the former manner of discovery of God to the Prophets are said to prophesie because by a divine revelation of truth and glorious discovery of grace upon their hearts they could by experience say this day is the Scripture fulfilled and the grace of the prophesie powred forth upon us So beholding the vision of divine grace they are sayd to prophesie In each of these sences the Saints under the raigne of Antichrist may be sayd to prophesie First from a spirituall inspiration and glorious discovery of heavenly things they are able to ●oretell and prophesie that Babylon shall fall This is their message and this they testifie continually Secondly They by a spirituall judgement and apprehension of the things of God are able to understand enigmaticall and difficult things and make glorious discoveries of the mysteries of truth and also of the mysteries of Antichrist Thirdly in every age according to their light and experience they give forth a testimony of the fulfilling of those prophesies both of the raigne and ruine of Antichrist And thus the Witnesses are said to prophesie Secondly for the testimony that they give forth and that is they hold forth the truth and authoritie of Christ against the falshood and usurpation of Antichrist These witnesses give forth a double testimony First against the seed of the Serpent Secondly against the power of the beast First they testifie against the seed of the Serpent by holding forth the nature and grace of Christ whereby he should break the head of the Serpent as it was foretold in Gen. 3. These acknowledge that Christ tooke the seed of Abraham was clothed with our nature was made flesh and came forth in our habit and forme became Emanuel God with us or in our flesh but so filled with heavenly anoyntings and so clothed with the divine nature that he was able to subdue Satan and to tread him under his feet he was impowered to breake the head of this Leviathan and to cast him forth into the earth Thus the Apostle testified to the Romans that the God of peace should bruise Satan under their feet Rom. 16. 20. By yertue of that Evangelicall promise Christ should overcome and crush the cursed seed of the Serpent Of this the witnesses doe testisie by holding forth Christ to be the seed of the woman in whom dwelt the anoynting by which all wickednesse is subdued Secondly They testifie against the power of the beast and that is by holding forth the office dignity of Christ against the power government rule dominion of Antichrist for though he acknowledge verbally that Christ hath the sole power and government in his Church yet vertually he doth deny it by usurping those dignities and offices to himselfe The testimony that the Saints doe especially give out against the rule and domination of Antichrist is of the prophesie Priesthood and kingdome of Christ First Of the prophesie of Christ they acknowledge Christ to be the great Prophet of his Church Act. 7. 37. To be the great Doctor teacher of his people according to that exptession in Cant. 5. 13. His lips like L●●es dropping sweet smelling myrrb By Christs lips are meant his divine prophesies and heavenly teachings by which he doth instruct teachings his people his words are beautifull as the lilie and odoriferous as myrrhe Now the Saints holding forth the sufficiency and power of Christs teachings doe overthrow the fleshly wisdome carnall knowledge and humane teachings of Antichrist accordding as the Lord hath said I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1. 19. And the Apostle tells us in vers 27 28. That God hath chosen the poore weake and despised things of the world to bring to nought things that were high and mighty Hence it is that we have that saying of the Apostle in 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. We speake wisdome to them that are perfect saith he yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but we speake the wisdome of God in a mystery c. By them that are perfect the Apostle meaneth those that are of full age that are men in understanding of divine mysteries so that his preaching was wisdome to the wise but it was not humane wisdome such as the world accounted of nor politi●●ll wisdome of Princes but a hidden and secret wisdome a divine mystery of heavenly wisdome such as the reason and understanding of carnall men cannot reach or comprehend And thus these witnesses testifying of the prophesie and wisdome of Christ doe oppose the wisdome and understanding of Antichrist Secondly They testifie of the Priesthood of Christ acknowledging him to be the eternall Priest of God set over the house of God Heb. 10. 21. And that he is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7. 11 12. And not after the manner of Aaron therefore of necessitie there is a change of the Law So that hereby they give a testimony against all the Jewish rites and ceremonies that Antichrist doth set up and enforce an observation of And thus the Apostle doth testifie against Circumcision when he sayth If ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing for saith he I testifie to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to the whole law and Christ is become of none effect c. Gal. 5. 2 3. That which is here said of Circumcision is true of all other Levicicall rites if men will Judaize and stick now to Mosaicall rudiments Christ will be unprofitable unto them for they are againe enthralled and bound to keep the whole law and if they will be justified by such legall observations then Christ shall availe them nothing they hold not the head when they cleave to such ordinances They that will againe set up the Pedigogie of Moses and bring men under Jud●icall rites and ceremonies these doe in effect deny Christ come in the flesh and therefore are of Antichrist according to that Text 1 Joh. 4. 2 3. So that the Saints bearing witnesse of the Priesthood of Christ doe oppose Antichrist in all