own counsel which tend's mainly to reveal the glorie of Christ over all and the felicitie of those that partake with him in his glorie as also by what means the world is subdued under him and conquered by him for the good of his Church for this is the issue of all as in the close of this Prophesie doth appear by the coming down of the New Jerusalem from Heaven and the making of all things new to give unto the Saints their inheritance The second vision then doth shew distinctly four things First what the frame and constitution of the Church in Heaven is How it is ordered round about the throne of God and set in his presence that it should take notice of the passages of his glorie to acknowledg and declare the same chap. 4. Secondly what the administration of affairs in heaven and Government of the Church is over the world how the decrees and counsels of God and by whom they are brought to an issue Here it is shewed unto the Prophet that the whole administration of the government is put into the hand and upon the shoulder of Jesus Christ alone who by the Sacrifice of himself as of a lamb without spot did meritoously purchase to himself this honor and by his seven eies of wisdom and seven horns of almightie power is alone able to discharge so great a Trust as to open all the Seals of God's decrees in their due times and seasons concerning the government of the whole world for the good of his Church chap. 5. Thirdly what changes are brought forth in the affairs of the world and what the condition of the Church and Saints is therein by the opening of six of the Seals where is shewed how after the preaching of the Gospel through the world great troubles and terrible wars arise in the earth amongst men in which the witnesses of Christ are slain and lie as sacrifices at his Altar but they are comforted with the hope of just vengeance to bee executed upon the earth for their sakes after a season and the enemies of Christianitie are terrified at the beginning of the execution of Christ's wrath against them chap. 6. And lest the Judgments which were to bee executed against the enemies should take hold of the friends of Christ there is a careful Provision made for the preservation of these from danger and the Hopes of future glorie are assured unto them by the first fruits thereof chap. 7. Fourthly what the destruction is which at the opening of the seventh Seal is brought upon the world and what the glorie and settlement is which is brought unto the Church of Saints therein for the seventh Seal doth contein and produce all what ever doth follow till the end of the Revelation Here then seven Angels with seven Trumpets are appointed to sound and declare the Judgments of God over the Earth which accordingly are executed where the four first trumpets are remarkably distinguished from the three last becaus to the last three a warning of great wo is promised by an Angel over the inhabitants of the Earth As for the four first they all tend to deprive the world of the third part of the Creatures which are great comforts to the life of mankinde as of trees the third part and of all green grass which in proportion may bee the third part of lesser plants the third part of the Sea and of Creatures living therein and of the ships that sail thereon the third part of the Rivers and fountains of waters and the third part of the Sun Moon and Stars and of the light of the daie and night where wee may take notice of a gradual progress from the lesser to the greater judgments from earth rising up to heaven and from the effects to the causes Chap. 8. As for the woes the first of them by Locusts is a tormenting judgment not putting men to death but vexing them so that they should seek death and not finde it and the second of them by horsmen is a destroying judgment by which the third part of men on earth are cut off Chap. 9. Thus then by the second vision is shewed what in heaven is sealed in the hand of God and what from thence is published to all the world by the progress of the Gospel by the sufferings of the Saints and their comforts and by the Judgments befalling to the world for their hatred to the Gospel for their Idolatrie and for their other sins of Murder witchcraft fornication and theft of which they repented not and therefore the third wo is to bee brought upon them when the seventh Angel shall sound for at the time of his sounding there shall bee to time of forbearance of anie more but the full mysterie both of wrath against the wicked and of Mercie to the godlie shall bee fulfilled towards the world and towards the Church both in heaven and earth Here then to shew this the third and last vision is given to the Prophet which hee again receiveth on earth by the hand of the mightie Angel which come's from heaven with the open book and stands both upon the Sea and upon the earth where I observ First for a Translation from the two former to this last vision that as there are but three substantial differences of things revealed to the Prophet so there are but three substantial diversities of places mentioned where they are revealed and three main changes in the frame of his Spirit in receiving them The first substantial matter of vision is Christ's administration of his offices on earth amongst his Churches The second is his administration of his offices in Heaven over all the world to propagate and preserv his Church And the third is his administration both in Heaven and earth to make an end of all wickedness in the world and to perfect the glorie and happiness of his Church each of these matters are shewed to the Prophet in the places where they were chiefly to bee translated for to leav the sight of the first hee was on earth as amongst men at the sight of the second hee was in Heaven as in the presence of God and of the Saints perfected and of Angels At the sight of the third hee is on earth again but so as communicating still with Heaven and looking into it back again as one com down from thence and having still a relation to it The frames of his spirit appear to mee diversified sutably unto these matters and places For in the first vision hee is meerly passive as a dead man to bee quickned In the second hee is Actively passive as I may so say that is as one concerned in the businesses which are transacted hee is an inquisitive observer of the passages thereof And in the third hee is effectually emploied as a coagent to help to fulfil the Mysterie of God by the spirit of Prophesie and in each of these Manifestations Christ is represented to him sutably to the
administration which is revealed In the first as a Man in dealing with men in the second as a Lamb offered up to God in dealing with God and in the third as a mightie Angel in dealing with Satan and his Angels and with the powers of darkness in the world Secondly for the opening of the matter of this vision I observ that the summe of all is to shew when and how the Mysterie of God which hee hath spoken by the Prophets should bee finished and to shew this First two means are used to lead John to the knowledg thereof then secondly the thing it self is summarily related by word of mouth unto him and afterward thirdly it is represented in several visions The means leading to the knowledg of the finishing of the Mysterie are two First an open little Book inable's him to prophesie Chap. 10. Secondly a Reed given him like unto a Rod to measure the Temple the Altar and those that worship therein The summarie relation of the whole business by word of mouth doth concern the time of the treading of the utter court under foot the power of prophesiing given to the two Witnesses during that time the war which the Beast shall make with them while 's they prophesie and the issue of that war set forth in the circumstances of their death and resurrection and that which immediately doth follow thereupon both in earth and in Heaven In earth there was an earthquake which made the tenth part of the Citie to fall and killed seven thousand men and frighted the rest The second wo doth pass and the seventh Angel doth sound his Trumpet In Heaven there is great joie and and thanksgiving offered unto God becaus hee hath taken the Kingdom to himself and doth reign over the Kingdoms of the world to give rewards unto his servants chap. 11. Hitherto the whole Series of matters concerning the Mysterie of God hath been related in plain terms to shew the things by which it should bee accomplished now followeth the description of the visions by which the particulars of the things summarily mentioned in this Narrative are more at large reveled whereby the Prophet is made to understand concerning the Mysterie of God which is Christ in the Church Ephes 5. 32. or which is all one Christ in us the hope of glorie Colos 1. 27. what the state of the Church was in Heaven at that time and what it should afterward bee on earth during the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness during the time of her comming out of the wilderness and during the time of her Reign over the earth as the Spous of the Lamb with her bridegroom At that time the temple of God in Heaven beeing opened and the Ark of the Testament therein beeing seen the Church as shee was constituted by the Apostles appeared and brought forth a Man-child against whom the Dragon did set himself to devour it but the child was to bee caught up to Heaven and the Dragon to bee cast out of Heaven upon the earth where hee set's himself to persecute the woman which fled into the Wilderness and to make war with the remnant of her seed chap. 12. During the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness the mysterie of iniquitie is set up and come's to it's perfection in the earth God send 's his judgments upon it when it is com to it's height c. 13 till 19 This Mysterie of Iniquitie hath two parts the Mysterie of the Beast and the Mysterie of the Woman riding upon the Beast The Mysterie of the Beast ruling over the earth is seen in one Beast coming out of the Sea with ten horns and another coming out of the earth with two horns Chap. 13. during the time of the rising and reigning of these Beasts over the earth the state of the Church upon Mount Sion and God's administrations for the knowledg of his will thereby unto the world concerning the everlasting Gospel concerning the future fall of Babylon and concerning the punishment of those that adhere unto the Beast and for the waie of gathering up the harvest and vintage of the earth are revealed chap. 14. God's Judgments upon the Beast are poured out in the Phials of his last wrath whereunto seven Angels are appointed and prepared Chap. 15. and commanded to put the Judgments in execution Chap. 16. The Mysterie of the Whore of Babylon riding upon the Beast is shewed to the Prophet chap. 17. and the Judgment which befalleth unto her for her destruction is described chap. 18. The state of the Church in her comming out of the Wilderness is described in the congratulatorie acclamations given to God in Heaven at the destruction of Babylon and at the preparations of the wife of the Lamb for the Marriage-Supper and in the war which the Armies of Heaven under Christ's conduct do make against the Beast the fals Prophet and the Kings of the Earth For by this means the power of all her adversaries beeing destroied shee is fitted to appear visibly upon the stage of the world Chap. 19. The state of the Church during her Reign with Christ on earth is before the last Judgment a thousand years and after the universal Resurrection both in Heaven and earth for ever and ever Chap. 20. 21. and 22. till vers 6. Thus wee see the contexture and coherence of the matter and parts of the whole Book if then wee should consider how these particulars relate unto the main scope of the Prophesie which is to reveal Jesus Christ unto us in the Mysterie of his Kingdom wee see that everie thing is most directly subordinate thereunto and that the whole doth most completely reach a full discoverie of the accomplishment of the Mysterie whereof the brief summe is this That the professors of the name of Jesus Christ by their sufferings for his sake by their testimonie of him in opposition to the Dragon to the Beasts and to the Whore by the Judgments of God against all these to destroie their power by the war of the Saints against them by the setling of the Kingdom of Christ in the hands of his Saints and by the Manifestation of the Glorie of the heavenlie Jerusalem comming unto them from Heaven to earth whereinto the Kings of the earth shall bring their glorie shall get the full victorie over the world and with the purchase of the Inheritance of all things in the New Heavens and the New earth they shall have the enjoiment of the presence of God for ever In all which at this time as to our present condition the opposition which the Beast hath to the Lamb the fals Prophet to the two Witnesses and the Whore to the Bride and the manner of their warfare is most considerable for in the opposite properties of their Natures and waies the Mysteries of Iniquitie and of Godliness are most completely revealed and by the manner of the war which is between them and the issue thereof the state and
of glorie both in himself and in all his members Wee conclude therefore that the whole Mysterie of Godliness is intended here to bee manifested in respect of the waie by which it is to bee carried on unto the end of the world and fully accomplished at the end thereof by the destruction of the enemies of that Kingdom which hee erected in the nature of man over the whole Creätion by the renewing of all things for the elect's sake to put them in full possession thereof as is promised Revel 21. 5 6 7. and by uniting them to God for ever Revelations 22. 4. 5. This beeing the full intent and purpose of the Prophesie let us now briefly look upon the heads of matters handled therein to see how suitable the particulars are to reach this main aim and bow this design is thereby made known to bee carried on The things handled in the Prophesie are of three kinds as they are in the first vision by Christ himself commanded to bee written chap. 1. vers 19. Write saith hee the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall bee hereafter The things which hee had seen are written Châ—p 1. The things which then were are written in chap. 2. and 3. And the things which should bee afterward are from chap. 4. till chap. 22. vers 6. The things which John saw in chap. 1. are Christ's presence with his Churches revealed in the first vision whereof the properties shew him to bee First the Mediator and High-Priest of the Churches administring the affairs thereof in things perteining to God by his walking in the midst of the golden Candlesticks Secondly the King who hath all power to support the Rulers thereof as holding the seven Stars of the Churches in his right hand Thirdly the Prophet of the Churches who dispenseth the word of God unto them which as a two-edged sword com's out of his mouth chap. 1. vers 12. till 17. These are the chief properties of his presence relating to the Churches which are heightned with other circumstantial perfections of his head eies feet and whole countenance c. and withal there are other properties of glorie expressed which relate to his person in himself considered by which hee is manifested to bee the first and the last hee that was dead and is alive and living for evermore and having all power of hell and death vers 11. 17 18. This vision then tend's cleerly to set him forth in his Mediatorie office by the properties of his inherent and relative glorie The things which then were are the seven Churches under Christ's What Christ's intent in the seven Epistles written to the Churches is and how it is gathered from the matter and words of them care and administration which are set forth in the seven Epistles which by Christ's appointment and inditement are written unto them in Chap. 2. 3. wherein I conceiv that under the Characters of perfection and imperfection given to the Churches and under the threatnings and promises together with the admonitions reproofs exhortations and commandements annexed thereunto all the degrees both of the defection from Grace and of the progress in Grace which our nature is capable of together with the changeable conditions under which the Churches should bee till the Marriage of the Lamb com to pass are set forth For if wee should call to minde the Rule of scriptural interpretation heretofore mentioned that no Prophesie is of private interpretation it will appear from the words of the text that these Epistles are by Christ intended not onely to those particular Churches or to the Angels thereof alone which are named but to all the Churches which then were elswhere in the world and which should bee in all ages till his second comming and to all the men of any spiritual understanding that should hear thereof till the end of the world Becaus it is not onely certain that Christ still hold's the seven Stars in his right hand and walk's between the seven Candlesticks and speak's unto them but it is evident by the matter of the promises that they are universally appliable unto all the professors in all ages who shall overcom and bee faithful unto the end and the peculiar admonitions at the close of everie Epistle do intimate no less for to my understanding these words Hee that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches doth speak this much that others even all who ever should hear the tenor of these Epistles ought to think themselvs spoken to and concerned therein although they should bee no visible members of these particular Churches For what els can bee the meaning of that expression hee that hath an ear but that everie one should take that to himself which is said of and to these And then if wee observ the expression to run in the plural number what the Spirit saith unto the Churches this will make it yet more manifest that these seven are here put in stead of all for no doubt the Spirit then spake effectually and doth still speak to more Churches then to these and therefore wee may conclude that the things spoken off to them are taken as relative unto all both men and Churches not at that time onely but at all times so long as the seven Candlesticks should bee on earth and the Spirit hath a voice to speak unto them for to daie if you will hear his voice out of Psal 95. was not onely meant for that daie but for this also as the Apostle make's it plain Heb. 3. If then the narrow limits of this discours would give mee leav it might bee made out that in the cases of these seven Stars and Churches as here they are described all the varieties of the conditions of Professors and all the fundamental defects of Church-societies in all the Churches which have been since the Apostle's times are set forth and that in the promises made unto them all the degrees of perfection atteinable in this life by single believers or Societies are expressed but this would bee a matter of inlargement beyond my present purpose I shall therefore leav it till another season onely this may bee further observed as a translation from this first to the second vision that in the first John saw the Administration of Christ's Kingdom as then it was on earth but in the following vision which begin's chapter 4th hee is taken up from earth into Heaven to see the administration of the Kingdom there also and from thence how it should bee managed over the whole world for the Churche's sake in time to com So that wee ought to take notice that the Manifestation of Christ and in him the Mysterie of Godliness doth fill not onely the Churches on Earth but the Church also in Heaven and that God by him as hee is in the Church both in heaven and earth doth govern the world for Christ's interest towards the fulfilling of his
and what application soëver wee make to other weapons which the powers of darkness can make use of aswel as wee they will but weaken us and in the encountring with the Inhabitants of the earth wee shall finde them stronger at those weapons them wee can bee so that by such means I exspect not that they shall fall before us although our victories bee never so great therefore as for mine own part till I can perceiv that wee who pretend to bee in the first rank of the Lamb's followers can make better use of these spiritual weapons then hitherto wee have don and can in the Communion of Saints join our forces together otherwise then now wee do to imitate the Captain of our Salvation I shall bee a man of no great exspectation yet becaus I believ that these things shall com to pass and that by the armor of light the Children of light will at last prevail therefore I do speak and becaus I both believ and speak therefore I am not inclined to make haste as som who take the shadows of their own conceits for the substance of Christ's Kingdom are inclined to do for this caus although I will not contradict the appearances of Hopes which the autor of this Treatise doth give unto the Protestant Caus to rife within a few years in a considerable Posture against Poperie yet I must take leav to confess that although the splendor of the Whore and her influence upon the Kings of the Earth and the power of the Papal Sea as it is Hierarchical were utterly consumed and abolished by the brightness of Christ's appearing in the Spirit on the one hand and by the hatred of the whore's Lovers and the turning of their hearts against her on the other hand yet that the war with the beast aud with the fals Prophet and with the Kings of the Earth shall continue and that the beast and the fals Prophet with the Kings of the earth will bee found to have their friends not onely amongst those who are called Papists but even amongst those that are most fierce enemies to Poperie and count themselvs the best of Christians and reformed Protestants It is one thing to bee no friend to the State and predominant power and craftiness of the Whore as shee appear's from without and in another place at a distance from us and another thing it is to renounce the beastlie nature and the deceitfulness by which wee are led to embrace the Image the mark the name and the number of the name of the Beast within our selvs that is for our own interest and the concernments of flesh and blood I do not finde in the last battel the Whore named at all I finde onely as leaders of the partie opposite to Christ the Beast and the Kings of the earth which I take to bee the Beast with his horns for the Horns which are in the heads of the Beast are the Kings of the Earth which make use of the Bodie of the Beast and of her strength and are made use of by the heads of the Beast to war against the Lamb and I finde that these horns although they fight against the Lamb yet that they are not alwayes friends with the Whore and for their own interest 's sake not onely rob her of her ornaments but feed upon her flesh although for a season whiles it was their supposed advantage they suffered her to ride upon them aud govern them with the bridle of her autoritie but when shee is cast off from the beast's back the Beast and his horns are as strong as ever and more fit to fight in their brutal waie against the Lamb then before I believ therefore that the Whore as shee is alreadie little considerable in comparison of what shee hath been may vanish and bee made desolate by her own beastlie complices before the last battel but I believ not that wee shall have anie great earthlie Potentates at all ever to appear for the Lamb in this battel but that they shall all join alwayes with the beastlie nature of men against the Lamb-like holie nature of the Saints to discountenance to oppose and to destroie it but wee have a promise that although the two Witnesses of the Lamb shall bee killed by the Beast when they have finished their prophesying in Sackcloth yet that the Lamb when hee shall com in his own appearance with more witnesses then two or three even with a whole armie of witnesses not in Sackcloth upon earth but in their fine linnen white and clean and upon their white horses in their spiritual emploiments as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven following their leader against the powers of the earth when I saie the Lamb shall com thus attended the promise is that the Beast and all his horns shall bee overcom by him for there is no power in the world able to resist the united strength of the holie ones and the dints of the sword which hath two edges which beeing able to divide between the soul and the Spirit and to discern the subtilest thoughts and the deceitfullest intents of the beastlie heart of man it shall undoubted slaie them therefore although I finde not the fals Prophet here mentioned as active in leading on the war whereunto certainly for the contrivance of it on the Beast's part hee cannot bee wanting yet hee is found to bee taken prisoner with the Beast and with him cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and Brimstone The Whore and the fals Prophet are cleerly distinct Mysteries and have their several waies of Acting though with a concurrence for so long as the Mysterie of the Whore doth last which the fals Prophet who is the intellectual subtiltie of the Serpent's nature in man as the Beast is his brutish sensualitie and strength fed with prosperitie and delicacies did beget and set upon the beast's back the said fals Prophet doth make use of her that by her baits and allurements hee may draw the Inhabitants of the earth to drink out of the cup of her fornications but when prosperitie and delicacies ceas by reason of the Phials of God's wrath upon the Beast and the distress of Nations then shee is not of use any more but the fals Prophet which begat her will to serv the Beast's interest destroie her also and will bee active in another waie against the Lamb without her And thus I conceiv the battel will bee or is alreadie formed on the side of the beastlie partie which fight 's onely to maintein the interest of flesh and blood which is self-greatness and the conveniences of pleasure with all outward force and deceit against the interest of the Spirit which is self-denial and the conveniences of serving others in the Kingdom of Christ through love and by the other side the battel is formed in the spirits of the Saints to maintein the interest of the Lamb of God who having taken away the sins of the world will now appear
to destroie the works of the Devil by setting up the power of his life amongst men till therefore I shall see either the Characters of this life apparent in the beautie of Love and Holiness amongst us or the waies fully opened and prepared by which the power of the life of Christ by his word will becom prevalent to lead all men's thoughts and affections captive to the obedience of his will I shall not much rejoice nor greatly triumph at anie of our outward Conquests I remember that the Whore was long ago cast out from amongst us for our Hierarchie by the King and Queen's consent was abolished before the Beast begun to rage and fight so then as amongst us so also in all Europe the Papal Hierarchie may bee cast off and yet the Beast's rage bee greater then ever for the interest of a tyrannical power aswel over the Consciences as over the bodies and estates of men and that two manner of waies either by the absoluteness of a governing power through the necessities of war enforcing all men to concur with the interests which it settles for common safetie to preserv us in freedom from a forreign power or by a total dissolution of all government wherein everie man who hath more might then his neighbor may take a libertie to tyrannize over him and oppress him without controul by both these waies the Beast may rage over all Europe against the Lamb-like state of Christianitie a long while after the destruction of the Pope and Protestants may by the means of the fals Prophet bee intangled amongst themselvs and embroiled into quarrels and beastlie animosities for the designs of flesh and blood as much as ever for if God send not forth another Spirit then as yet is apparent in the greatest part of our Professors to unite us in his waie and to guid us in this warfare wee shall bee found as much as anie to favor the Beast Till therefore I can perceiv that the banner of this Spirit is lifted up amongst us and that those who are upright in heart rank themselvs under it and make use of the weapons of Righteousness and the armor of Salvation for the end for which Christ hath put them in their hands I shall not conceiv much of anie sudden enjoiment of the glorious libertie of the Sons of God nor of anie full deliverance from the bondage whereinto Satan by the power of darkness and the spiritualitie of malice hath brought our beastlie nature I watch therefore and look out more after the appearances and discoveries of these things then after other outward events and changes I know that the shakings and Changes of States tend to make waie for this object of my Hope but I know also that before I can partake of it there shall bee a greater change brought upon the Spirits of men then now is upon their outward Estates God hath hitherto been shaking the earth to some purpose but hee hath said that hee will also shake Heaven this hee hath begun to do and will do more fully becau◠his aim is as the Apostle saith not onely to shake these things but also to remove the things which are shaken that the things which cannot bee shaken may remain I therefore look out to see the foot-steps of his proceedings towards the accomplishment of this promise for till the things which are shaken in the Spirits of Professors bee removed out of them I cannot exspect a cleer manifestation in and settlement of their spirit about the things which must remain and till this appear and break forth amongst us I cannot also saie that the Bride is com out of the Wilderness or that wee have gotten the conquest over the Beast and over the fals Prophet When therefore the banner of the Spirit of love without partialitie shall bee lifted up in the beautie of Holiness as the Ensign of the unitie of Faith and the badg of the common profession of Christianitie amongst Professors and when the Magistrates and Ministers shall understand their true conjunction in the waie of their Testimonie when by this means the Lord shall have washed the visible filth of the daughters of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof and shall also create upon everie dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the assemblies and glorie thereof a defence also the Prophets shall not studie to make themselvs anie more considerable by a peculiar interest upon believers but shall know how to propose in common the waies of edification so demonstrably that everie one who shall sincerely affect the knowledg of Truth shall finde no difficultie to com by it when the names of the Idols which everie partie for distinction's sake have made unto themselvs shall bee cut off when the mercinarie waie of serving the Common-wealth of Israël chiefly in things belonging unto God shall ceas when the just measures and dimensions of the Citie of God shall bee known to the Master-builders and the waie discerned how to open the dores thereof unto those that have a right unto the tree of life when the Temple in Heaven shall bee opened and the ark of the Covenant seen therein when the Children of Israël shall com they and the children of Judah together going and weeping and seeking the Lord their God and asking the waie to Zion with their faces thitherward then and not till then shall I exspect that the Bride will bee suddenly prepared and com out of the Wilderness to celebrate the marriage with the Lamb. And when together with these preparations of her comming and of the Supper of the Lamb the sword of the Spirit the word of God according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testimonie shall bee drawn out of the sheath thereof by that evidence of the Rules of Interpretation which none shall bee able to contradict and by that exactness of order of the waie of Prophetical exercitation so that none shall bee able to complain of the want of just freedom to propose Truths or Scruples and yet bee restrained from the licentiousness of passionate railing proud disputing and vain jangling and by that meekness of love power of zeal and prudence with discretion in the application to correct the particular errors of men's waies so that there shall bee no caus of offence offered to the single-hearted although the wicked one shall bee discovered and slain in them when I saie the sword of the Spirit shall bee thus unsheathed then I shall exspect that Judgment shall bee laid to the line and Righteousnes to the plummet against the unrighteous self-seekings of the Beast and that the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters overflow the hiding places which the fals Prophets have made unto themselvs for then the foundation which is laid in Sion will bee seen and by the conformitie which everie thing in the Spirit of man shall bee obliged to have to Christ it shall bee tried whether
followed in other parts of the Empire especially in the Kingdom of Bohemia and in all the hereditarie Lands of the mightie and eminent hous of Austria is manifest to the world and there is in all these proceedings which are here described nothing els wanting but the last Act which shall yet bee put in execution in Silesia When this Act shall bee finished then shall this war victorie and execution bee at an end and therewith shall the 3 ½ years begin at which time the dead bodies of the two Witnesses shall lie in the street whereof the text speaks V. 9. And som of the people and kindreds and tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies three daies and a half Strange people forreign Nations and people of strange tongues did meet in this Germane war for Religion And at Munster and Osnabruck were in like manner such kinde of people at the Treaties of Peace of which is said Som of the people shall see the dead bodies of the two Witnesses When the Treatie of Peace shall bee fully executed then shall the forreign Nations which have mainteined the Evangelical caus cleerly discover what they have neglected in that Treatie and conclusion of Peace how manie dead bodies they have made and how manie they have in the hereditarie Provinces shut up and excluded by this Pacification from the Exercise of Religion from Libertie of Conscience from their Privileges c. and how they have wholly cut them off and deprived them of all hope which before this Pacification they yet had and which by their victorious arms was at last held forth unto them What are the Evangelical Professors in the hereditarie Provinces at this time els then dead bodies or corps which civilly have neither breath nor life in them nay how manie thousand souls shall yet bee killed by the execution of this Pacification This they shall see three daies and an half That is three years and an half from the time that the execution of the Pacification shall bee fully accomplished the last Act of the persecution finished and the Evangelical Ministers expelled and deposed out of the hereditarie Principalities of Silesia Thus far namely till the 3 ½ years before the end of the appointed one thousand two hundred sixtie years should this last persecution reach whereby it appeareth that there is none other intimated in this text but this whereof mention hath been made in Germanie But they shall not onely see the dead bodies of the two Witnesses but they shall also have som consideration over them Which the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth import which as Budeus doth prove out of Aristotle doth signifie rationem habere to look to a thing and to have som care for it as it doth appear by the text following And shall not suffer their dead bodies to bee put in graves Here the question is whether these words are to bee understood of the friends or of the enemies of the Professors of the true Religion Commonly these words use to bee referred to the enemies of the Evangelical Professors and are expounded That in this last persecution there shall bee such crueltie used that the dead bodies shall not have so much as earth given them to bee buried in But wee must take notice that these words are not propriè and according to the meaning of the Letter to bee understood For as in the eleventh and twelfth verses there quickning and rising must bee taken in a civil sens so likewise their killing a lying in the street must bee civilly understood Moreover the tenth vers following doth describe also the enemies by the name of them that dwell upon the earth wherefore wee do infer That the forreign Nations will not wholly laie down the sword but will have at all times a watchful eye upon the designs of Papists in Germanie and will not give waie that the Evangelical Protestants shall bee totally destroied and buried under ground Vide Josephum Medum and M. Gottlicb Heyland super hunc locum philipp Nicolai de R. Christi p. 6. 4. Read also Wisd chap. 3. vers 1. 9. Vers 10. And they that dwell upon the earth That is The Papists in general who have their heaven here upon earth Finckius-Can Theol. Cent. 11. can 90. In scriptura S. peccatores appellantur habitatores Terrae non autem justi Hi enim passim appellantur Advenae peregrini incolae Ex Hieron Epist 129. ad Dardanum Shall rejoice over them and make merrie and shall send gifts one to another These words are taken out of the book of Esther chap. 9. vers 19. 22. and they have their peculiar sens the effect whereof is found in that which doth actually appear Because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth vers 5. is said of the two Witnesses that they are hurt unjustly here is attributed unto them that they torment their enemies by sifting and searching out their Doctrine and conversation by examining and trying all things in them according to the Divine Scriptures by contradicting their fals Doctrine and abominable Idolatrie and by laying their shameful abominable Sodomitical life before them Thus did Eliah and Micah torment the King Ahab 1 King 18. v. 17 18. Jeremiah the Priests and the Prophets Jeremiah 27. vers 11. the Prophet Amos the people of Israel Amos 7. vers 10. The Son of God the Devils Mattthew 8. vers 29. Which must now bee called to do injurie to rais sedition and to oppose the Magistrates The fault is in thine own people said the Officers of the Children of Israël Exodus 5. vers 16. For this is found most true Mali cùm injuriam facere non sinuntur injuriam se accipere existimant As Grotius in his Annotation upon Mat. chap 8. ver 29. writeth Hitherto hath John written what the Son of God hath declared unto him by word of mouth Hereupon followeth a sudden change in the vision and thereby is represented a sudden change in the Romane Empire In respect that the Son of God doth end his Prophecie and speech and John tronsported in a vision seeth before his eies what after the issue of of 3 ½ years befel to the Witnesses and what terrible unexspected events and alterations suddenly and unawares com to pass Here beginneth now the third Period in the year one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth of our Lord. Where the enemies of the Gospel are quelled and therewith doth break forth the true peace and tranquillitie of the Church Vers 11. And after three daies and an half the Spirit of life from God entred into them c When these 3 ½ daies or years com to an end with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year then also together therewith do exspire the fortie two moneths of treading the holie Citie under foot chap. 11. vers 2. The one thousand two hundred sixtie daies of the two Witnesses clothed with sackcloth vers 3. The one thousand two hundred sixtie daies
of the Woman in the wilderness chap. 12. vers 6. The fortie two moneths of the Beast and of his blasphemies chap. 13. vers 5. The time of the Image of King Nebuchadnezzar Dan. chap. 2. The determined time of the four Monarchies Dan. chapter 17. vers 12. 25. The one thousand two hundred ninetie daies of Dan. chap. 12. vers 11. c. The spirit of life from God entered into them In the chapter 37. vers 14. of Ezekiel God in the behalf of the Jews in the Captivitie of Babylon doth use such an expression saying I will put my spirit in you and yee shall live and I shall place you in your own Land c. The same will befal to the exiled and oppressed Evangelical Professors God will send them an unexspected help by such means which never entred into anie man's thoughts God will revive them again bring them into their own Land re-establish them in their dignities and publick functions and give them greater and higher Privileges and Liberties then they ever had before And they stood upon their feet The Exiled Evangelical Professors do appear again and take possession of their Land and places The oppressed also com forth again and are delivered from their heavie yoak And great fear fell upon them which saw them As now there is great joie and exsultation amongst the Papists about the issue of this war so there will bee great terror when they shall see the Exiled return into the hereditarie Provinces again and the Oppressed take possession of their former dignities and honorable functions Then will bee a livelie example set before us of that which is written in the book of Wisdom chap. 5. Vers 12. And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Com up hither c. By the Heaven the Church is understood By the great voice is signified that after the end of three years and an half a great and chief Instrument an high Potentate amongst the Evangelical Professors shall rise and bee exalted who to the great fear and terror of Papists shall open again a free cours to the Gospel and Call with a great voice upon the exiled and oppressed re-establish them into their publick imployments and possessions and saie unto them Com up hither This is the Divine Diploma or Letters Patents the vocation or calling which is published by that High Potentate The exiled do obeie They ascend up to Heaven that is they enter into their charges again and perform that in the Church which is committed to their trust In a Cloud that is with great autoritie respect power and glorie Isa 14. vers 13. 14. And their enemies beheld them namely those that formerly did rejoice at their afflictions and miseries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie contemplari ludos spectare vel celebrare to see a Comedie or plaie The Papists had hitherto acted as it were a Comedie with the Euangelical Professors and tormented them with all sorts of plagues Now they see the event and issue thereof wherin doth befal unto them what is threatned Jer. 50. vers 10 11 12 13. Vers 13. And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake All the Peace which the Papists do imagine to themselvs is now at an end For immediately the reformation of this Evangelical Potentate causeth an exceeding great insurrection and combustion in the Romane Empire And the tenth part of the Citie fell By the Citie is here meant 1. Either the whole Papacie and thus one of the ten streets hath its fall Namely the Germane Empire which is the street where the dead bodies of the two Witnesses had lien who are now standing again upon their feet 2. Or the Citie of Rome it self which in regard of the old Citie of Rome when shee was in her florishing condition is counted this daie but the tenth part As the same is proved by Lipsius lib. 3. admirand And there were slain That is cut off and destroid In the Earthquake That is in this war Seven thousand That is a great number or multitude Of men That is high and great persons chief heads and noble families And the remnant were affrighted and gave glorie to the God of Heaven The rest of the Papists stand amazed and do acknowledg the just judgments of God which hee poured out over them Vers 14. The second wo is past These words do not import that by the destruction of the Citie of Rome and the other things which have been set down in the aforegoing words the second wo is brought to an end but the overthrow of the Turkish Empire is thereby especially intimated Revelations 8. vers 13. St John beheld and heard an Angel flying thorough the midst of Heaven saying with a loud voice Wo wo wo to the inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound The first Wo hapned by the Saracens and Arabians whereof in Revel 9. vers first till the twelfth The second Wo hapned by the Turks Revelations 9 vers 13. till the 19. Hereunto do agree almost all the Expositors and refer this second Wo unanimously to the Turkish Empire And do infer from thence becaus it is said here the second Wo is past that immediately after the destruction of the Citie of Rome and these Revolutions in the Germane Empire the Turkish Empire shall have it's fall Vers 14. Behold the third Wo cometh quickly All the three Woes are poured over the Popish Romane Empire But the third Wo is the last and beginneth at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words do immediately follow Vers 15. And the seventh Angel sounded Wherewith beginneth the seventh and last plague poured out over Babel And withal is briefly described 1. The great joie which ariseth in the Evangelical Church 1. Becaus they have gotten an Evangelical head Vers 11. 2. Becaus the Citie of Rome is destroied and Germanie is fallen away from the Papal State vers 13. 3. Becaus the Turkish Empire is com to an end Vers 14. 4. Becaus the Son of God hath taken possession of the Kingdoms of this world and useth his great power and reigneth vers 15 16 17. This joie is also described in the 19. chapter vers 17. And upon this joie did David in the spirit reflect In the 93. Psal The Lord reigneth and is cloathed with Majestie c. In the 97. Psal The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice And in the 99. Psal The Lord reigneth bee the people never so impatient 2. The wrath of the Heathen That is the furie and rage of the Papists against these the Lord riseth becaus the daie of his wrath is com utterly cutting them off and destroying them vers 18. This Act is with a double sign confirmed 1. The Temple of God is opened and there was seen in his Temple the ark of his Testament 2. There were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an Earth-quake and great
and dependance upon the Popish Romane Empire as Spain France England Poland Hungarie c. For the greatest Whore sit's upon manie waters Revel chap. 17. vers 1. aud reigneth over the Kings of the earth vers 18. The fountains of water are the Kings their Roial Council is Parlaments and other great and prime Lords in those Kingdoms who are interessed in the Government How this Vial of the wrath of God hath been poured out over great Brittanie and the well thereof and how the river and the head-Spring there became blood and doth yet sprout out is alas evident to all the world And although those who are the Fax and Clamor sive Tubâ— in these proceedings wee know not how to excuse yet wee must by virtue of this cleer text saie with the Angel Lord thou art righteous becaus thou hast judged thus How France doth feel the pouring out of the wrath of God out of this third Vial and how much more it will bee sensible of it in time to com time will discover The caus which the Angel maketh mention of here in the sixth vers saying For they have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthie concerneth France more particularly becaus there was so much innocent Christian blood shed therein in these hundred years last past How the other Kingdoms in this Classis shall fare time will shew chiefly that whose head-spring did flow out the eighth of April Anno one thousand six hundred five The Ecclips of the Sun which on the seventh of April one thousand six hundred fiftie two will darken the locum Hylegialem thereof whereupon within a short time it may stop happily the flowing out of the same and change it's river into blood Vers 7. And I heard another Angel out of the altar saie c. A voice is heard out of the Thysiasterion or place of Sacrifices where the souls of them that were slain did lie whereof wee may read in the sixth chapter vers 9 10. that they crie to the Lord for vengeance The sens and meaning of which words is this that the Martyrs prais God for the hearing of their praiers and the execution of vengeance applauding the Angel saying Even so Lord God Almightie true and righteous are thy Judgments Hence also may bee concluded that this vengeance shall then begin when the last war against the two Witnesses shall bee finished whereof hath been spoken in the 11. chap. Vers 8. And the fourth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sun c. By the Sun all the Expositors commonly understand the Sun of righteousness Mal. 4. vers 2. Jesus Christ wherewith the Woman is clothed Revel chap. 12. vers 1. But this is repugnant to the scope and intention of these plagues which are poured all over the earth that is upon the Systema mundi Papistici over the Popish world which is opposed to the church-Church-Heaven of the faithful Children of God wherein the Lord Jesus is the Head Therefore wee must seek this Sun in the popish Heaven and search what in the Revelation of John is represented by the Sun in other places The Sun became black as a sackcloth of hair Revelations 6. vers 12. whereby the ruine of the Imperial dignitie in the Heathenish Church-heaven which happened in the time of Constantine the great is intimated The third part of the Sun was smitten according to the prophesie of the fourth Trumpet Chapter 8. vers 12. That is The smal remainder of the greatness and brightness of the old Romane Empire shall wholly bee abolished and pass away An Angel did stand in the Sun Revelations 19. vers 17. That is a great Potentate an Evangelical valiant Prince gathered together a great Armie against the Papists The Citie hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it chap. 21. vers 23. That is hath no need of anie Temporal Potentate to govern it If wee compare these texts with the Sun upon which the Angel poureth out the fourth Vial wee finde that thereby a great and high head of the State is signified who in Systemate Mundi Papistici doth uphold all and by his splendor and government giveth strength unto all like as the Sun Systemate Mundi Physico by it's light and motion doth guide and move the forces of nature And power was given unto him to scorch men with fire And men were scorched with great heat c. When the Head which hath been a mightie support hitherto to the Papal State shall lie down and rest then the fire of God's wrath will extremely scorch the Papists The Lord will make them like a fierie oven Psal 21. vers 9. But for all this they will not amend nor repent and give God the glorie but rather continue in blaspheming the name of God and grow more and more obstinate Vers 10. And the fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the seat of the Beast and his Kingdom was full of darkness Assoon as the Beast with ten horns was risen up out of the Sea Revelations 13. vers 1. the Dragon immediately gave him his power and his seat and Citie of residence the Citie of Rome Which the Beast hath possessed hitherto without beeing disturbed from thence and reigned over the Kings of the earth chapter 17. vers 18. Now the Angel poureth out the fifth Vial of the wrath of God upon this seat the Citie of Rome as mention hath been made hereof above in the 11th chap. vers 13. that after the two Witnesses were ascended up there was a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the Citie fell and was destroied And the Kingdom was full of darkness c. By the distruction of the Citie of Rome shall the Government and power of the Pope which hitherto hee hath used bee made extremely void and all his dispatches or commissions suspended But the Papacie shall not yet by this means bee utterly dissolved and taken away For this doth follow afterwards at the pouring out of the seventh Vial in the last war in a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon vers 16. Whereof iâ— spoken more at large in the 19. chapter vers 17. until the 21. by this plague the Papists are yet more embittered and more and more hardned Vers 12. And the sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof was dried up c. By Euphrates are understood the Nations which border thereupon that is the Turks But by the drying up of the water is meant the ruine and overthrow of those Nations as it is evident out of the Prophets as Isaiah chapter 19. vers 5. chap. 44 vers 27. Jeremiah chap. 48. vers 34. chap. 50. vers 38. chap. 51. vers 36. Ezekiel chap. 30. vers 12. chap. 31. vers 4. The Application of this text to the ruine of the Turkish Empire doth agree with the eleventh chap. of Isa vers 13.
29. these spirits do expostulate with the Lord Jesus saying What have wee to do with thee art thou com hither to torment us before the time At the pouring out of this Vial upon the Aër no expostulation will serv tnrn for the time is at hand and shall bee accomplished what the Son of God saith Matthew 24. vers 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The mightie Host of Devils which dwell under the Heaven in the Aër shall bee moved with a terrible nois and tumult Then their torments shall begin when they shall bee cast down from the aër and their Head the Dragon shall bee shut up in the bottomless pit as beneath in Revelations chapter 20. vers 1 2 3. at the issue of this war may bee seen And there came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the throne saying It is don Here sit's the Ancient of daies upon the fierie flaming seat Daniel chap. 7. v. 9. and pronounceth the sentence against the fourth Beast and becaus the measure is full and the determined time over him is run to an end hee break 's the rod and denounceth the irrevocable judgment saying It is don The Beast shall bee slain and bee cast into the burning flame as in the said place followeth Dan. 7. ver 11. Vers 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings and there was a great Earth-quake such as was not since men were upon the earth so mightie an Earth quake and so great Now beginneth the Execution Upon the Devil and his whole Armie Upon his Vicar and what dependeth on him Upon the whole Romane Papacie and it's Kingdoms Now Heaven and earth are shaken for the second time and the mightie Kingdoms of the Heathen are destroied Hagg. chapter 2. vers 22 23. In the Aër are heard dreadful thunders and lightnings terrible voices lamenting and crying of the Devils Upon the earth will bee nothing but war and rumor of wars In all parts shall bee heard tumults seditions insurrections terrible distractions and grievous bloodsheds such as never were since the beginning of the world to this time nor ever were heard of Daniel chapter 12. vers 1. Matthew 24. v. 21. Vers 19. And the great Citie was divided into three parts By the great Citie is understood either the Citie of Rome as the seat and Citie of residence for the Beast and his rider Or the whole Papal State the Citie together with the streets The Citie of Rome was already by the fifth Vial darkned and ruined Wherefore it is spoken here of the whole Papacie which is divided into three parts By the accomplishment of these words it will appear that the Pope doth not wear his triple Crown in vain for under the same do sit and reign 1. The Dragon 2. The Beast 3. The fals Prophet Under the Command of these three Generals shall on the Popish side the battel bee set in arraie and led forth For these three eaâ—h of them have raised their men severally ver 13. 14. They stand all three in battel-arraie and are readie to fall on But what success have they The Beast is taken and with him the fals Prophet and both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Revelations chapter 19. vers 20 21. But the Generalissimus the Dragon is laid hold on and cast into the bottomless pit and shut up Chap. vers 1 2 3. And the Cities of the Nations fell The Heathenish life and conversation the Heathenish Idolatrie Sodomie and other Heathenish sins and abominations which hitherto have been practised in the Popish State are at once altogether abolished and utterly removed as that nothing more is heard thereof And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath God sate still hitherto and seemed as if hee knew nothing of the Beast's blaspheming and persecution But when the determined time of the fortie two moneths were exspired hee remember's Babylon fill's unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath and punishing her hee doth reward her according to her deserving Vers 20. And everie Island fled away and the Mountains were not found All whatsoëver had anie relation or dependance on the Papacie even the remotest pleces and all whatsoëver was highly exalted therein is not seen any more whereby the total ruine and destruction of the Papacie is signified Vers 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven everie stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God becaus of the plague of the hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great By the great hail-stones are understood the great punishments of God's wrath and by the words about the weight of a talent are meant the heaviest and most dreadful Judgments the weight of a talent beeing the heaviest and greatest weight yet all this notwithstanding men will not know the righteous judgment of God but by their blasphemies of the name of God are cast into everlasting perdition Hitherto the sixteenth Chapter AGainst this plain and cleer exposition manie will have different apprehensions and esteem these things impertinent and incredible Paradoxes To these is opposed 1. That the cleer text not beeing forced but as it is literally or figuratively referred to the times so it hath been explained 2. That the figures and Images which make this work difficult and dark are cleered out of other places of the Revelation or out of the Old Testament especially the Prophets from whom the whole Revelation of St John is taken and are applyed to the civil and Ecclesiastical State as the text and the time doth require 3. That what is past or is now in full action cannot bee overthrown by a bare contradiction or doubt but search should bee made in the Acts of the Romane Empire to see what things may bee more sutably applyed another waie Yet so that the Method and Harmonie may nâ—t bee disturbed or rather that a better waie may bee shewed and offered 4. That the Text and Method doth shew what is shortly to bee exspected especially the end of the determined time by God over the fourth Monarchie wherein the Romane Papacie shall blaspheme God and make war against the Saints for the space of fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years Hereupon ariseth the greatest and principal scruple or doubt Whether the Epocha or the beginning of the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years bee rightly referred to the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord In the Prophetical keie certain characters and marks have been set down and applied whereby the certaintie doth appear which wee shall here repeat and confirm with more proofs As 1. First becaus the Epocha of the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of the Prophet Daniel chapter 12. vers 11. is exactly incident into the three hundred sixtie fifth year it followeth that the one thousand two