of this Revelation are no lesse sooth and true then if he had received them from the Oracle of God which spake from over the Ark of his Testament within the Temple of Jeruâ—alem whose words and answers for their divinity Majesty power and glory are here as elsewhere figured by voyces proper to God and not to man as Fightning thunders earth quakes and haile VERS 2. And a great signe appeared in Heaven a woman cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feet and on her head a Crowne of twelve Starres BUt before the Spirit takes in hand to discover the persecutors of the Church it pleaseth him fiâ—st to describe the Church it selfe that so the barbarous immanitie of her enemies may be more apparent and justly abhorred being used against a creature of such virginall innocent and patient modestie who for her rare and admirable beauty is here called a great signe or heavenly apparition symbolizing her â—earfull modest sober and matron-like behaviour with th' appellation and quality of a woman for so she is in holy Scriptures often called The fairest woman the Kings daughter daughter of Sion daughter of Jerusalem the Spoâ—se of Christ Mother of the just c. And to the end she may the better be discerned of us the Apostle describeth her garments and wearing saying she was cloaâ—hed with the Sunne meaning that she had put on the Lord Jesus Sunne of justice that is to say her Soule was vested with an assurance of the mercy and love of God in Christ Jesus her Lord which justice or justification of the Spouse and her children is called in holy Scripture by way of Metaphor the white stone and the wedding Garment For as a Stoale or Garment covereth the shame and nakednesse of our vile bodies so the mercy and love of God insured us in Christ Jesus our Lord hideth the shame and nakednesse of our sinfull souls And to prove that her Garment was truly woven of the two divine threads to wit the assurance of mercy and the assurance of love in Christ Jesus her Lord the Spirit giveth in for evidence the fruits of this her lively and justificall faith closely hiding her newnesse of life her hatred of sin and her love of God as under a vaile in these words And the Moone under her feete signifying thereby that she had now quite forsaken and forgotten her fathers house that is had slaine her naturall sinfull and wonted affections and was revived and renewed in mind and with her Lord was now risen and ascended up as he into the heaven of heavens so she to a new custome and carriage of life far above and higher then the Moone for all her study and hearts delight was now in heaven where her hope her love her life and her dearest Lord liveth and reigneth God to be praised for ever and ever Amen Last of all the Spirit setteth forth her head-attire whereby her honour and estate was best knowne and wherein she most delighted saying that she wore on her head a Crowne made of a mettall much finer then gold for it was made of the doctrine of the 12. Apostles who for that they are the Lords lights and lanterns to guide the feet of sinners when sin hath benighâ—ed them are here cal'd by the names of Stars And on her head a crowne of twelve Starres VERS 3. And being great with child she cryed travelling and labouring to be delivered ANd by the words which her eares received her heaâ—t conceived and she was great with feare and godly sorrow tâ—avelling under the burden of her sins and restleâ—â—e desire to be reconciled to God which anguish and paines of her sorrowfull heart and broken spâ—rit the Apostle most excellently compareth to the sorrows of a woman in travell In which her spiriâ—uall labour and paine she could by no means be relieved or eased untill her Lord were fashioned in her that is uâ—till her heart were sanctified by faith for no Treacle could hâ—al her miserable wounded soul but the assurance of mercy onely nor any water could quench the burning flaâ—es of her restles desire but the love of God onely insured her in Christ Jesus her Lord and written in the fleshly tables of her heart by the finger of God according to his promise his first and last and everlasting covenant VERS 4. And another signe appeared in heaven for lo a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten hornes and on his heads seven diadems AS night doth follow day and the shadow the body so must the Câ—osse â—olâ—ow Christ and affiction his Church whose Sunne could no sooner shine but the envious man raised up a mighty storme of persecution to cloud the brâ—ghâ—esse of her beautifull beams which for the extraordinary surie thereof the Apostle calleth a wonder or signe meaning the Churches first and primitive persecution raised by Ethâ—ik Rome who for hiâ— power immanitie and malice to the Church of God is here called a great red Dragon and both for that his Throne and City was feated on seven hills as also for that he was in all â—mpietie pride and prophanation the totall sum and epitome as it were of all the seaven Monaâ—chies unto whom from the beginning of time to the end thereof was given and gâ—anted the charter and commission of blaspâ—eming God and corrupting his world as in the 13. Chapter following is more particularly discovered the Apostle addeth Having seven heads And in regard his power did beat downe the power of all Nations and made spoile and purchase of all Kings and Kingdomes on earth the Spirit saith he had ten bornes for the hornes signifie Kings and Kingdomes and the number of ten include all be they never so many as all numbers are made of ten and their reduplication be they never so infinite And because he came to advance his â—ead so high by the power of his sword his Leaders and legions the Spirit crowneth his heads with magnificence and diadems saying And on his heads seven diadems VERS 5. And his taile drew the third part of the Starres of heaven and cast them to the earth And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered that when she had brought forth he might devoure her Son THe head of this great red Dragon was his Regall first estate governed by Romulus and six other successive King coaâ—s which Seneca calleth his infancy or nonage wherein he lived swathed and nourished in blood 244. years as his owne Historian reporteth The body of this great red Dragon was his Consuls second estate which Seneca calleth his full age part Aristocraticall part Democraticall and was therefore stiled Senatus populusque Romanus from whence partly by reason of his over-weâ—ghâ— and fulsome abundance as one of his owne noteth Romanis laxitas mundi rerum amplitudo damâ—o fuit and partly for want of enemies abroad to wreak their proud and kingly humours on he fell into th'intestine evill of civill wars at home
were very learned was not asham'd of this low and contemptible Calling For he was in that estate instructed of God prepared and fitted for a more excellent work and employment to feed the flock of God to comfort and refresh the Souls of repentant Men and Women He was not troubled at the Glory nor affraid of the pride and power of Rome Whose power saith he is breath not to be accounted of nay To the Church of Rome p. 1. we are not only ready to give up our bodies but our souls to be sacrificed in witness of the cause pleaded before you this day Or should our voice be ashamed of her preparation Behold yee scorners like as a mighty wind that passeth your ear and bloweth not upon yee so shall yee hear great things to day and not be moved therewith And poor and slight and simple as she goeth she hath authority to give joy to the living and life unto the dead And in the Treatise to Q Eliz. thus he writeth I your Servant cannot but speak the things I know and testifie what I have Advertis to Q. Eliz. p. 41. seen and heard what though I be no Minister nor Son of a Minister Shepherds and Clowns have been Divines sometimes and why not I 7. But to come nearer the matter chiefly intended here we may consider that when the Assyrian Chaldean and Persian Monarchies drew to their fatall end and period it pleased God to raise up Prophets holy men Jonah Amos Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Ezra c. whom he instructed with heavenly wisedome and furnished with extraordinary gifts enabling them to foreshew and denounc his Judgments upon the Churches Adversaries inevitable ruine to their chief Cities seats of the Empires and also to admonish the people and forewarn them of the evils to come that his Elect might be brought to repentance and all others being admonished left without excuse So now in this last age the time of the reign of the 4th Beast the Roman Monarchy hastning to an end it cannot be denyed but that God raised up many Prophets sent divers of his Servants to detect oppose and cry out against th' Abominations Idolatries Superstitions and Delusions of Rome the Western Babylon denounc Judgments to his and his peoples implacable Enemies and comfort his chosen and faithful with promises of deliverance and salvation To the Church of Rome p. 1. Amongst whom certainly this Author who ever he was is not to be accounted the least Many and sundry voices saith he have been heard out of the wildernesse in these latter dayes whereunto had we given good and diligent ear we had perhaps discerned the time of our visitation Nevertheless he that writeth testifyeth the Kingdom of God is at hand 8. Amongst many great and weighty matters which he treateth of and unfoldeth in his writings that concerning the period and final determination of the reign of Antichrist and his Church Dominion is one of the most remarkable at present chiefly noted and generally fixed in the minds of the people in respect of its near approach He declareth the number of the Beast viz. the Pope sole Monarch as the Jesuits will have it both spiritual and temporal of the Western Babylon in manner as Daniel did the hand writing against Belschatzar the last Monarch of the Eastern Babylon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mene Mene i. e. Numeravit Numeravit which Daniel thus interpreteth Dan. 5. 25. seq Numeravit Deus regnum tuum complevit illud God hath numbred thy Kingdome and finished it h. e. God hath finished and ended the dayes of thy Kingdome and the end of thy life and the Chaldean Empire is come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thekel appendit i. e. Appensus fuisti lancibus inventus es minus habens Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upharsin or as after v. 28. Upharsin dividentes i. scindunt Allusio est ad Persas qui dicuntur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam haec dictio est aequivoca Gemminatio autem ista 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 facta est ad majorem exaggerationem vel ut alii volunt prius significat finem Regni secundum mortem Regis finem vitae ejus Vatab. Annot. in Dan. 5. 25. Nota Upharsin verti potest primo dividentes secundo Peâ—sae Pharsin enim sunt Persae Q. d. Persae in stant tibi ô Belshazzar qui cum Medis divident regnum tuum Ar. Mont. in Loc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pheres Divisum est Regnum tuum datum est Medis Persis Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians In the same night saith the Prophet v. 30. was Belschatzar slain and Darius the Mede took the Kingdom And then ended the Babylonian Monarchy So that the number of the Beast or the number of the man of sin is nothing else but the period and final determination of the usurped Tyranny and Dominion of Antichrist as this Author well Expos Apoc. c. 13. v. 18. interprets which the Lord for the glory of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her Foes with a mighty and outstretched Arm will bring to passe in the year 666. viz. in 1666 the Millenary number for brevities sake being omitted For the time of the Reign of the Beast and of the Churches sufferings and persecutions during her abode in the wilderness is expresly mentioned to be 42 Months Apoc. 11. 13 15. a time times and half a time Apoc. 12. 14. 1260 dayes v. 6. that is so many years a day being put for a year as Ezek. 4. 6. the beginning of which term he placeth at the year 406. at what time Innocent the first then Bishop of Rome obtain'd at the hands of the Dragon priority of place suffrage and censure over all Which was effected and brought to passe when Honorius the Emperour at th' importunity of the said Bishop subjected the power of th' East Empire which most withstood the West and Roman supremacy with all other Churches whatsoever to the Church and Sea of Rome in the said year 406. 9. And then in that year saith this Author In Apoc. 13. 18. my Lord of Rome shal lay down his proud waves and though he fortifie never so strong and lay his foundation low as Hell and build his Turrers as high as Heaven and place his Miter above the Stars yet in that day he shall die the death of the Uncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from above and root from beneath and the multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his Forces and it shalâ— be more possible for him and easie to him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call again the day that is past or recover the verdure of the withered Grasse as a holy one saith then to avoid this Council and Decree of his downfal here determined by the Spirit against him saying And his
the Lamb to give thee leave among the rest to bid battel to the seed and remainder of his handmaid and to give up their blood to the pleasure of thy Swords during the thousand two hundred and sixty the dayes of relegation but when those two and forty moneths shall be expir'd thou shalt lay downe thy proud waves and he that is highest shall set thee alive in judgement and the earth shall accuse thee of deceit the Heavens of blasphemy and thou shalt be divided and cut out in pieces for thou hast troubled the meek and him that pursued peace hast loved lyers destroyed the true and fruitfull branch and overthrowne the walls of such as mourn'd and did thee no harme And in that day thy Crownes shall be turn'd to baldnesse thy silke to nakednesse thy sweet and pleasing voices to houling thy lights to darknesse and the blood of his servants shall he weigh before thee and value it unto thee and thy parts shall burne untill thou pay the price thereof And that judgement may even now begin to take hold of thy bones it shall be shewed thee this day what manner of men they are which heare and doe the Commandements of God their bredth their length their heigth their depth their name and their countenance shall be laid before thee and thou thy Prophets and Children shall see and wonder and die All are learned all have knowledge and the covenant of death was written in our hearts when wee were yet but tender lodged and sleeping in the loins of Adam wrapt us up in our sins and transgressions like as the Spider in his toile the silly Flie against the day of slaughter But he that is highest pittying the world which he loved so in the riches of his benignity devised a way to set free againe the work of his hand which law through sin had imbondaged to death and made a testament of life and peace in the blood and mediation of his Son the price and redemption of that which was lost and wrote inheritors of his mercifull Covenant all and as many as beleeved in the Mediator thereof And unto Adam his lost Child gave it he saying The seede of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and all the Children of Promise tooke hold thereon imbracing the seed which by the death of death delivered the sinner And unto Abraham his Servant renewed he his Covenants Cast me out Agar with her Sonne quoth he for that which is borne after flesh is bond and shall not inherite with the free And remembring his mercy promised in his time to visite Sara and to raise unto him a seed which should be the joy of many Nations and Abraham beleeved and got a grave and honourable name above all his Brethren namely to be the Father of all those many Nations that were to inherite the Covenant and Testament of promise And by the hand of Moses his faithfull calling Israel unto him in the Wildernesse before the fearfull Mount gave unto them the Covenant of captivity once for all written downe by the hand of his Angell in two Tables of stone commanding it to be set up in the eye of Israel that they might see and read their wounds and transgressions which had subdued them to death and calling to mind his Testament of mercy wherein from beginning his soule delighted promised by the same Moses to raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto him and every soule that would inherite his favour and Covenant of promise should heare him And Moses calling Israel together testified unto them that day heaven and earth bearing witnesse he had set life and death curse and blessing to wit the Covenants of works and faith of Law and grace before them But Israels heart was fat and understood not all these things and seeking the inheritance by the Law of works which had concluded them being yet unborne under curse and reproofe fell out and lost the way which led to the blessing and land of the Fathers covenanted by promise but by David his Boy whom his heart approved calleth them back againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving them to understand the table of Sina whereon they thought to save themselves justified to their face all their doings were abominable as it is written The Lord looked downe from heaven upon the Sons of men to see if there were any that understood and sought after God But behold they are all gone astray all are become abominable there is not one that doth good no not one There is not a godly to be found on earth not a righteous amongst the sons of men all lie in wait for blood and every man hunteth his neighbour as with a net he that is best is but a bryer and he that is most righteous as a thorne And ever and anon remembring his mercy testified by the same David that if they would attaine the Land and Inheritance promised the Fathers they should not offer him his beasts or his birds to eate but unharden their hearts and heare his voyce that day that then it should come to passe they should enter into his repose and Canaan spirituall into the which their Fathers could not for their unbeliefe All the Prophets bearing witnesse thereunto that looke how high the heavens were distant from the earth so far were his offerings differing from theirs for all their wayes and thoughts were spotted like to the garment of a Tyger transgressors of his fiery Covenant which he strake with their Fathers in Horeb as it is written And the testament which I gave them they kept not and my soule despised them saith the Lord And still and evermore remembring his mercy commended unto them the day to come wherein he would strike a new and an everlasting Commandement with the house of Israel not like to that he covenanted in the Wildernesse which neither they nor their Fathers were able to beare but his new Covenant should be a Covenant of mercy and love and no man should be able t' attaine it by rending his Garment by Rams or streams of Oyle but by rending his heart by hearing and beleeving the redemption which should be set in Sion for he had said and would not repent for ever The just shall live by faith But Israel was hard and evermore in heart turned back into the Wildernesse chusing rather to be the Sons of Agar inhabitants of Sina which ingendereth to death then children of promise Citizens of Jerusalem from above which begetteth to life refused his Law and Testament of grace so often covenanted and commended unto them which he notwithstanding in fulnesse of time performed unto Jacob sending downe out of his bosome the Mediator thereof apparrelled in blood mounted on his little hill in his city of peace with promise that every sinner should be deliver'd from shame that putteth trust in him And when the time came was found walking in the stâ—eets of
travell and guard and watch him day night behold and learne his end he that is wise will marke his deliverance and happy man that can tell his teares and sit and sorrow with him To this man maketh God answer early or late delivereth him and how much the longer withholdeth his countenance retyring as it were his pitty from him so much the more entendeth t' advance his love and mercy towards him to make him great and a pillar in his house a comforter of the weake and broken knees of others and in his time sendeth downe his promise the rich and hidden treasure which from the beginning dwelled with himselfe and with his holy one who day by day laboureth washeth and bindeth up this broken one not leaving t' apply unto his stripe untill he have wrought and shaped in him a full and perfect assurance that God hath given him unto his Sonne in him and through him forgiven and covered all those his transgressions which cryed our so justly against his bloud and whereas in the day of his trespasse was a stranger and an enemy now in his Son and for his sake is reconciled and beloved and is unto him as a sonne and he to him a Father the treasure which his soule in the great day of his trouble so unspeakeably desired and therewithall commandeth him to beare written up in the apple of his eye night and day to read and consider what great things have been done for him This man is now so assured his â—innes are forgiven him as sure and perswaded that his Lord and Redeemer was once dead now liveth never dyeth more what Register may record the sinnes of him whose transgressions God forgetteth what power may discover the nakednesse of him whose shame and offence God covereth who shall be able to cast away whom God approveth or lay to the charge of him whom God chooseth may sinne wherein he was conceived may trespasse and filthinesse wherein his youth delighted may the bold and bloudy offences which his age hath committed may flesh and infirmities wherewith he is clothed may powers and blasphemies wherewith he is compassed nay this man is at rest fully perswaded God being with him nothing may prevaile against him as it is written God justifying who may condemne This man is now so assured God loveth him as that he is sure and fully perswaded neither fire nor sword neither death nor life neither Angels nor powers nor principalities neither things present nor things to come neither natures above nor depths below nor any creature other whatsoever may separate him from the love which God beareth him in Christ Jesus his Lord. And this is the saith of Abraham and of Abrahams posterity which reacheth justice to the sinner and life unto the just as it is written But the just shall live by faith And this is the faith whereof th' holy Ghost pronounceth by the mouth of his servant Paul in a place saying Being justified therefore by faith wee have peace with God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For he is truly justified whose sinnes are forgiven as it is written Blessed is the man whose sinnes are forgiven and whose transgressions are covered And he is truly at peace and one with God that is beloved of him and all this grace is reacht unto him in Christ and through him as it is written For death and bondage was given by Moses but grace and truth by Christ Jesus And this is the rest and peace from above the birth and baptisme of the holy Ghost the fire that purgeth the sonnes of men transforming them from sinners into the sonnes of God and no man shall see it or have his part therein that cannot sing the song of the little children which sat in the market place crying and calling one t'another We have mourned and yee have not sorrowed Murtherers stand forth tell me may you compare your beleefe with this mans saith behold thou beleevest one onely God Father Almighty of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ his onely Sonne for whom and by whom are all things and one Spirit God holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne the power the life and quickner of all things and thou beleevest that the Sonne in the fulnesse of time descended from the bosom of his Father came into the world was made flesh conceived by the holy Ghost borne of a Virgin and that he dyed and rose againe for the redemption of all that beleeve in his holy name and thou beleevest those that beleeve in him are his Church chosen and gathered from all the winds a Company undefiled a holy Universitie as he is holy that hath chosen them and thou beleevest they wayle and weep and joy together and thou beleevest their Lord is mounted up into the heavens seated on the right hand of God all power in heaven and in earth subdued unto him and thou beleevest all flesh shall rise and stand before him every man to receive according to his thoughts And all these things beleevest thou thou doest well thy father the Devill beleeveth them also and it is so farre that this faith may save either thee or him as that it shall encrease both your stripes for unto whom much is committed of him much shall be required and he that knoweth and doth not shall be beaten with many rods And better it were thou hadst never been borne then to have heard and beleeved all these things and not to have sorrowed with the Mourner And this was the faith of Simon Magus one of your first-borne who hearing Philip preaching th'Incarnation Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and forgivenesse of sinnes in his holy name and seeing the great and wonderfull works wrought by the same beleeved the promise and revelation of life and was baptized as it is written And Simon also beleeved and was baptized and yet was neither begotten by water nor by the holy Ghost he beleev'd as did the lyar his father of whom he learnt his jugling to plane the creatures of God and was reborne by water from below not able to beget the sinner a new for it is impossible that bloud of beasts or water of fountaines may either purge or prepare the sinner And therefore Peter comming to Samaria to purge those sinners whom Philip had prepared by water from above laid his finger to the wound fellow quoth he thou hast no part nor fellowship with us nor in this administration and shewed him the cause why namely his unrepentance giving him t' understand it was not possible for his soule to be purg'd of that gall and bitternesse wherein it lay because his heart was not prepared by water And this was the faith of the Traytor thy predecessor Balaam who sold the truth and life everlasting for the reward of iniquitie like unto thee he knew and beleeved as thou doest that the bloud of his Master was innocent bloud and was baptized with the selfe same baptisme
that day falleth downe dissolved into water beseecheth him to looke upon his Lord and Redeemer in him and for his sake to cover his fault and offence committed calling him to witnesse unto his poor and dryed soul how that the Sun hath not gone down upon his anger that day and seing the weaknes wherein he dwelleth the power and pride of unrighteousnesse wherein he 's as with a Garment mantled in great and strong teares cryeth unto his God and Father to deliver him from th' Aegypt and wounds of th' enemy that no temptation may lead him to commit evill in his sight And therewithall in quietnesse and sure trust reclineth himselfe upon th' arme of his Heavenly Father knowing in it dwelleth all strength Kingdome and power to save and deliver the soul that putteth trust in him And thus and so prayeth he in forme and manner as his Lord hath taught him Thou watchest and risest early like him that waiteth innocent blood and comming forth bowest thy selfe before the tranâ—gression and abhomination of th'Heathen and not considering the Sunne is darkened openest thy bold and filthy mouth blaspheming his Tabernacles which are in Heaven setting them up as did thy Fathers in the Wildernesse Moloch and Repham gods of Aegypt to grieve th' ears of the Holy Ghost For as betweene God and the sinner there is but one Mediator and Reconciler Jesus Christ the righteous so there is but one onely Advocate and Intercessor betweene God and the beleever namely the Spirit which proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne whose right hand dwelleth in the bosome of the Redeemer and left in th' heart of the beleever and lifting up from hand to other his poore and broken voices pointed with teares placeth them before the Throne of God and giveth them such grace through his presentation that they stand among his holy Angels beholding his face day and night depart not his eye nor memory till all their requests be granted And this is the great and honourable Advocate whose iâ—tercession so farre excelleth in power in worthinesse in grace in glory th' intercession of the mother of Christ his brethren his sisters his Prophets his Apostles his Servants his Saints and Martyrs as is the blood of the Lamb of God more excellent and precious then is the blood of Abel And this is the high and holy one that beareth record with his poore servant which wrote these things and we know that his record is true thereunto bearing witnesse thousand sighes and tears and that it might be confirmed under three the love of God diffused in his heart the Garment dipt in the blood of the Lamb cryeth out unto yee testifying with him these things are true And being compassed with testifiers in number so sufficient in quality so honourable yet have yee not received our witnesse and behold on earth there are none to be found that have or may or shall beare witnesse to the truth but these three alone Murtherers may yee compare your pilgrimages with his behold thou goest from Citie to Citie from one place to another and weariest thy selfe in wayes and labours which no man requireth at thy hands and when they say unto thee Goe into the wildernesse to this or that Hermites Cave there shalt thou see the life and imitation of the Lambe and of his servant John or come to this grave goe to that here at Loretta there at Compostella there shalt thou see the powers of God and of his holy one thou â—not caring noâ— considering they are the commanâ—ements of abhomination that â—itteth in the place â—here he ought not goest beleevest adding to thy â—lasphemy scorne and derision offering to the Highâ—st the labour and stinke of thy feete for the sinne â—f thy soule This man all the dayes of his life are the dayes of his pilgrimage wherein like the childe that beâ—aileth the death of his Mother covered with darke â—nd mourning colours wandreth the desarts of this â—ife in an assured hope one day to come to a Citie â—romised whose walls are made of everlasting stones whose foundation is the strength of God whose towâ—r's his glory And if any voyce say to him goe into â—he wildernesse to this or that Fremites denne there â—halt thou see Christ to these or to those dead bones â—here shalt thou see his works of wonder he abhorâ—eth it for he remembreth the commandement of his Lord. But goe not beleeve not take heed behold I have foreâ—old yee all Murtherers may vee compare your fastings with his Behold thou eatest fish once and twice a weeke to honour God withall Egyptians who hath required this honour at your hands careth he whether thou eate the flesh of fish or the flesh of Beasts hath he not made meat for bellies bellies for meats and shall he not destroy both it and them And knowest thou indeed that which entreth into the belly goeth out into the draught and duâ—st presume t' honour him with either one or other wherefore thus saith the truth the sacrifice and fasts of Hierusalem shall â—ise in judgement against th'offerings and fish-fasts of Babylon and had yee knowne what that Scripture meaneth No man drinking old Wine will straight way commend the new for he saith th' old is better then had ye never condemned the new and true fast t' establish a fast more vile and filthy then was the fast of Pharisies This man all the dayes of his pilgriâ—â—ge are a continuall fast night and day fasteth he his bread is become affliction his wine is turned to trouble because the Bridegroom is taken from him and his Lord whom he loveth so is gone into a farre Country And as concerning meates and bellies this man is taught of God that besides the person of a Christian in which respect all the creatures of God are clean unto him received in godlinesse moderation and thankesgiving he sustaineth the person of a Citizen and knowing his King his Governours or State whereunder he is placed for good and probable causes tending to the peace and maintenance of the many which God especially will have preserved have authority to command and forbid in meates in drinkes in cloath in dayes and such like so eateth so drinketh so weareth so keepeth he as his Prince commandeth giving to his Prince th' obedience that to a Prince belongeth and honoureth his God with th' honour which to God appertaineth Murtherers may ye compare your almes and mercy with his Behold thou devourest the widdow and waterest the seed of adulterie and sayest thou feedest Orphans arrayest thy selfe with the spoile of Kingdomes and nourishest Dragons egges of Serpents and every unclean bird and sayest thou feedest the sonnes of Prophets Foole how canst thou give a drinke of cold water to a Prophet thy selfe being none of the generation of Prophets Balaam doest thou know him that wrote these things or hast thou considered his hunger and his wants as thou regarding passest by like one of the dead and rotten graves of Sodome
be long free from like retaliation but as the truth fore-saith He that divideth with the sword shall perish by the sword For how may Esdr 4. 12. the sword for ever escape him whom heaven hateth and earth doth persecute and of whom may be truly said which was spoken of Ismael Manus eorum contra omnes omnium contra illos And thus shall these heads perish and hast the faster to their end because the judgement of the beast is nigh in the very next verses attending to come in Vers 36. Then I heard a voice which said look before thee and consider the things which thou seest Vers 37. So I saw and behold as it were a Lyon came hastily out of the wood roaring And I saw that he sent out a mans voice unto the Eagle and spake saying Vers 38 Hear thou and I shall tell thee what the most High doth say unto thee The roaring of the Lion is the breath of the Highest which shall rebuke th' Eagle for her unrighteousnes and cast before her all her spoyls and set her alive in judgement and with the spirit of his mouth rise up against her and lay unto her charge as in the text following Ver. 39. Art not thou he which of the 4 Beasts remainest whom I made to reigne in my world that by them the end of things might come Vers 40. And the fourth is come and hath overcome all the beasts that were past and obtained power over the world with great fearfulnes and over the whole compasse of the earth with extream oppression and hath possessed so long time all the world with deceit Ver. 41. For thou hast not judged the earth with truth Ver. 42. But hast troubled the meck and hurt the peacefull and thou hast loved lyers and destroyed the dwellings of them which brought forth fruit and hast cast down the wals of such as did thee no harme Ver. 43. So as thy unjust dealing is ascended to the most High and thy pride unto the Mighty Ver. 44. And therefore he that is Highest hath beheld the proud times and behold they are ended and their abominations are finished And if thou plead not guilty hereunto behold a thousand witnesses shall rise up against thee and prove the inditement true that the just judgement which hath so long attended for thee may at the length be pronounced against thee in form as in the text followeth Vers 45. Therefore appeare no more thou Eagle nor thy fearfull wings nor thy wicked fethers nor thy malitious heads nor thy cruel claws nor thy vaine body And least in thy drunkennes thou maist think thy sin may over-shoot this judgement to come and in thy madnes glorifie thy selfe as thou hast ever done perswading thy selfe thou shalt ever be because thou hast been long and like a fool hast not considered the more thy yeares the nigher thy grave behold thus saith the truth In the year which shall be 1666. this Rev. 13. 18. judgement here pronounced shall lay hands on thee And as all thy fearfull wings and fethers be already descended and blown down so before that day which is so nigh at hand the tyranny of thy malitious heads and cruel claws shall be consumed and brought to nought And in that day thy vaine body shall be burnt with fire and shall so cleane be cut off from the land of the living that neither son nor nephew as the Prophet Esay 14. 22 Esay 14. 24 saith nor branch nor remnant of thy name shall be found upon the earth For as it is purposed so shall it come to passe and as it is consulted it shall stand Go to now take counsell of thy Seers and call thy inchanters about thee build thy devices as high as heaven and lay their foundations low as hell yet shall they not deliver thee from the day appointed but as Salmanazar destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battel wherein the mother with the children was dasht in peeces or like the milstone which the mighty Angel did cast into the Sea with such violence shalt thou be thrown down and be found no more And all hell shall be moved at thy comming and prepare it self and raise up all her dead against that day to meet thee and all the Princes and Kings of Nations whom thou hast slaine with the cup of thy fornication shal rise out of their torments against thy coming and at thy fight shall wonder and cry and Esay 44. 10 say unto thee Art thou become weak also as we art thou become like one of us Is thy pomp bowed down unto the grave and are thy pleasures departed like ours and is the worm spread under thee and do the wormes cover thee also how art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer son of the morning which hast cast lâ—ts upon the Nations and saidst in thine heart I will ascend into heaven and exalt my throne above besides the stars of God and I will sit upon the mount even the holy mount of his Sanctuary and Congregation I will ascend above the height of the clouds and will be like the most High And all hell which once did wonder worship and kisse thy feet beholding now thy nakednes thy shame and judgement shall die for grief of mind and dying shall say Is this the man that made the earth to tremble and Esay 14. with his word did shake the Kingdoms that made the world a wildernes and a wast of the Cities thereof Then shalt thou lying in tormenâ— death gnawing on thee answer them and say We have erred from the way of truth and the light of righteousnes hath not shined upon us nor hath the Wisd 5. Son of understanding risen over us we have wearied onr selves in the ways of wickednes and we have gone through dangerous paths but the way of the Lord we have not known What hath pride profited us or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought ns all these things are vanished like ashadow and as a Post that passeth by And casting up thy eye to heaven shalt see the righteous stand in great boldnesse before thee and before the face of such as tormented them and took away their labors and thou shalt fear exceedingly at the sight of them and be amazed at their wonderfull deliverance and dye for grief of mind and dying shalt say These are they whom we sometimes had in derisron and in a parable of reproach we fools thought their life madnesse Wisd 5. and their end without honour But how are they counted among the children of God and their portion among the Saints Vers 46. That all the earth may be refreshed and come again as one delivered from thy violence that she may hope for the iudgement and mercy of him that made her And thy death shall comfort and refresh the earth and deliver Sion from her great and violent oppressions but their prosperities may not long endure as testifieth the Prophet Daniel
each intercommoners severall by stake or by rod so in the wide and common field of Christians the Lord commandeth his servant John to survey and apportion out his Church and partage which he severeth from the residue of carnall Gospellers and such like outcasts in recommending unto us their inward frame and renewed graces under the â—ppellation and names of the Temple of God the Altar and them that adore therein meaning that as in the Tabernacle of the congregation the holy and most holy places wherein stood the Table of the Shew bread Candlestick Altar of incense Ark propitiatory and oracle of god over-covered within and without with Angel gold into which places none but the priests might enter adore were separated by a vail from the outer Court where the brazen altar was erected for all the house of Israel to enter and sacrifice which therefore was call'd the Court of the people so in the common field and Vniversitie of Christians they onely are the Church and heritage of God which are sanctified in heart and holy in life and conversation and separated by the vail of regeneration that is to say by the tears of true repentance and the assurance of pardon and reconciliation unto God in Christ Iesus ingraven in the tables of their hearts by the finger of the Spirit from all carnal professors and nominal Christians in whom is but an outward face and protestation of the name of Christ onely VERS 2. But the base Court which is without the Temple cast out and measure not for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot two and forty months BUt as for those Common Caâ—holique Christians here resembled to the base Court which is without the Temple because they are but overcast onely with a profession of my name which heare my word participate my Sacraments and yet are separated by an unregenerate heart as by a vai ' from those Altarsand priests in whom my name is honoured cast forth saith the Lord and measure not for howsoever such unleavened companions seem to boast in the name of my Church and in the protestation of a Christain calling yet they are so farre from belonging to my peculiar saith the Lord as that I have given them up in reckoning with the reprobate of the Gentiles and they shall justifie mine account and rejection of them by their like uncircumcised carriage and heathenish conversation for they shall no lesse defile my holy Citie that is to say they shall no lesse hate accuse persecure and keep under water the true and sanctified Christian then do the heathen and uncircumcised as by over-long experience is wel known to the Church of God which hath been is and shall be till her captivitie be returned opposed for melancholy mad new factious schismaticall hereticall by Christian Catholiques politicians Atheists carnall Gospellers and such heathenish protestors like to theis And that the Church of God may not look for other or better entertainment at these her intercommoners hands she is here by the predeterminate counsell of God to be troden like a way by these Gentiles and heathenish Christians 42 moneths meaning moneths of yeers to every moneth accounting by propheticall suppâ—tation thirtie yeers as in the verse following shall be further manifested confounding therein the Remisa ies of Rome who sweat to perswâ—de that they are but moneths of days thereby to turne the worlds eye from the great Antichrist that now is to a pettie Antichrist which shall never come VERS 3. And I will give to my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and sixty days cloathed in sackcloth DUring which time of the Churches disgrace and desolation for the greater comfort of her Children and judgement of her adversaries I will saith the Lord I by a wonderfull outstretehed providence will preserve unto the world the light and power of my two Testaments to guide their knowledge and conversation into the wayes of peace Whereby the Lord manifestly reproveth the grosse and vaine expectation of those that translate his meaning in this place to the coming of Henoch and Elias whereas of Henochs return either in flesh or in spirit there is no syllable of promise in all the Scriptures and as touching the spiâ—ituall returne of Elias promised is already Mal 4. 5. Mat. 11. 14. performed as the Lord himselfe proveth Now touching the time of their keeping watch while the world sleepeth the Lord voweth it shall be 42. moneths before mentioned which being dissolved into dayes after the Kalender of the Hebrews whose year did drive thirty dayes to every moneth and twelve moneths to every year amount to the just number of 1260. days here specified which computation of the years is observed throughout the whole Bible Daniel onely excepted who counteth after the use and stile of the Chaldeans in whose tongue and amongst whom he wrote and consequently the moneths being Propheticall that is to say moneths of years to each accounting thirty years the reâ—gne of Antichrist must needs endure 1260. years Which manner of reckoning years by dayes though it seem strange is usuall notwithstanding with the Prophets of God and therefore is called Propheticall as Ezekiel a day for a yeare and Ezek 4. 6. Dan 9. 24. Daniels seventie weeks are weeks of years every week containing seven years as throughout this Prophesie Also the moneths are moneths of years to every moneth accounting thirty years From whence we conclude Antichrists three years and a halfe both here and in Daniel deciphered by a time times and halfe a time to be years of years every year containing 12. moneths of years which amount to 360. years and multiplied by three and a halfe do in the totall amount to 1260. years And to the end the world may take better notice of these his two testifiers and preservers of truth the Lord commendeth the knowledge of the parties by the description of their Garments in saying they are cloathed in sackcloath thereby not onely diffevering their testimonies from all the soft and courtly commentaries of flesh and blood which for the most are raised with infected matter and vested with affected stile but also teaching us that no man can retaine to the Lord before whom they minister unlesse he serve in the same livery that they doe and can turne over the leaves of his life and pilgrimage in fasting and sackcloth and true repentance as these his servants the Prophets and Saints have done VERS 4. These are the two Olive branches and the two Candlesticks which stand in the presence of the Lord of the Earth ANd these my two Testaments are those two Olive Trees saith the Lord described by my Prophet Zachary which stand and fructifie before the Ruler of the earth for ever and ever For their leafe that is to say their word and judgements shal neither wither nor fade though heaven and earth should perish and melt away And they are
also two Candlesticks which carry in them the light of my truth and power of my Spirit the great Moderator of heaven and earth VERS 5. And if any man will hurt them fire shall come forth of their mouth and devoure their enemies and if any man will hurt them so must he be slaine ANd if any man shall wrest their word from the aime and intention of their meaning saith the Lord or turne their Prophesie out of the way by perverting or clipping the honour or purpose of their word the fire of my wrath denounced by the the mouth of these my two Testaments for though they be two yet they have but one mouth shall surely judge and execute those lovers and makers of lies and for the more assurance of this sentence against them the Lord doth iterate the curse and vengeance of his heavy displeasure saying And if any man will hurt them so must he be slaine meaning I say by hurting all manner diminishing of the words of their testmonie by fals blasphemous and lying expositions as some have done VERS 6. These have power to shat heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesie and they have power over the waters to turne them into blood and to smite the earth with all manner of plagues so often as they will FOr the Lord hath touched the mouth of these his two Prophets as he did the mouth of Jeremy the rest of his servants of whom he saith Behold this day have I set thee over Nations and Kingdoms to pluâ—k up root out destroy and throâ— down build and plant And in another place Therefore have I cut them downe by my Prophets and slaine them by the words of my mouth Such priviledges the Lord hath given to these his two Testaments that if they once shut the heavens that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesy that is to say if they denounce a famine of the bread of liâ—e to wit the word and knowledge of God or pronounce a sword to come upon a Nation Kingdome or People which the Lord here signifieth by turning waters into blood or if it pleaseth them to Prophesie which the Lord here calleth to strike of any Pestilence Earth quake or other judgement to come such power is given them that if they say the word it is done as it is written Heaven and earth shall perish but the words of their Prophesie shall not passe till all be fulllfiled VERS 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony the beast which ascendeth from the depth shall wage battell against them and kill them ANd when his servants the Prophets and Apostles shall have fulfilled their course and be translated from the land of their labours to the land of rest leaving to the world the inheritance as it were of their ministry sealed up in the two Testaments of God to preserve the feare of his Name and the knowledge of his pleasure among the Sons of men which the holy Ghost calleth finishing their testimony Ant christ the Beast whose proper p'ace whence he is and whither he must is here described by the name of the depth shall not onely hurt and wound them by slanderous and lying Expositions as his Clerks and Assects doe but shall set his feet upon their Necks and tread downe their divine authority by the advancing of his cursed keyes and the beauty of his whorish Church above them which the Spirit calleth waging battell inhibiting them to Prophesie or teach the words of their testimony vulgarly And not onely putting them to silence but also reproving condemning them for corrupters seducers and sowers of heresies among the people which presumpâ—uous blasphemy and murder the Spirit discovereth in saying that he shall overcome them and kill them VERS 8. And their carkasses shall remaine in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where their Lord also was crucified ANd the letter or text of their testimony which the Spirit calleth their corps or carkasses shall remaine in their Hoâ—ses Cels Temples hang at their girdles through all the Cities and Kingdomes where the Beast and his Church is adored which in regard of their number be here named the great City so in respect of their execrable worship and adulterous service contrary to God and his holy City they are here called also spiritually Sodome meaning that as Sodome her Sister did for sake the lawfull use and prescription of nature and wrought filthinesse against nature so these loathing truth and loving lies should erect strange oblations and propitiations as contrary to the offerings and satisfactions of the Saints as was the sin of Sodome opposire to nature And the Spirit further calleth them by the name of Egypt for that in blindnesse and hardnesse of heart they every way match the presumptuous and indorate Egyptians still pursuing and persecuting the truth as Pharaoh did Israel till the God of Israel destroy them by the Spirit of his mouth as he did Pharaoh and his hoast by water And in further detestation of the cruell murther and immanitie of this Beast and his adherents the holy Ghost layeth the blood of the Prince of the Covenant to theiâ— charge also as cunningly as they think to convey his murther and post it over to Jerusalem For as the Lord doth lay the blood of his servant Abel to the charge of the Scribes and Pharisees of his own time although he were slaine long before those Pharisees were borne or Jerusalem builded because they were the very image and lively imitation of his brother that murthered him so the holy Ghost doth here lay the innocent blood of the Lord of glory to the Charge of this Crucifier and his Citizens because they are the Children and Generation of that high Priest and those murtherers which cryed Away with him crucifie him crucifie him And that we should not marvell thereat the holy Ghost in another place goeth further and saith In her shall be found the blood of the Apostles and Prophets also and all that ever for the testimonie of the truth were staine on earth VERS 9. And there shall of the tribes and people and Gentiles see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their corps to be laid in monuments ANd all Nations and Kingdoms where the Beast is worshipped whom the holy Ghost for their prophanation in life and Religion calleth Gentiles shall have handle and gaze upon the letter and corps of his two witnesles three days and a halfe that is to say the time times and halfe a time wherein the Beast shall Reigne and persecute even three propheticall yeares and 〈◊〉 accounting as in Ezekiel all dayes 〈◊〉 Neither shall they suffer the word of 〈◊〉 Proâ—â—efie to be read opened understood and â—â—d up in the hearts of the people the true and naturall monuments and sepulchers wherein the testimonie of their words ought to be interred VERS 10. And the inhabitants of
with a word of audience Behold the third woe will come meaning the great and terrible day of the Lord fore-denounced by his servants the Prophets in the which all Nations shall stand as Prisoners before him and receive every one according to the wayes wherein their heart hath walked And because the day of the Lords comming in glory and consummation of the world shall not lonâ— tarry after the determination and consumption â—â— Antichrist as in the last verse of the thirteenth Chapter following shall be more fully declared the holy Ghost addeth the word quickly as a precise note of his speedy comming which our Lord also in another place confirmeth by a like word immediatly saying And immediatly after the tribulation of those dayes speaking of the tyrannous reigne of the Mat. 24. selfe same Antichrist they shall see the Son of man comming in the clouds of the aire VERS 15. And the seventh Angell sounded with a Trumpet andthere were made loud voices in heaven saying The Kingdomes of this world are made our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for ever and ever Amen TH' understanding of this verse dependeth upon the 8. Chapter where it is said And when he had opened the seventh Seale there was made silence in heaven c. And I saw seven Angells stand in the sight of God and there were given them seven Trumpets c. Where the holy Ghost meaneth by the Lamb the Son of God and by opening the seaventh Seale a more particular discovery of all such things as concerne the estate of his Church from his ascension to his comming in Majesty divided into seven acts declared by seven Trumpets sounded by seven Angels of which acts the sixth was the pageant of the deâ—olation of Antichrist the seventh and last is the comming of the Lord in the clouds of Heaven and consummation of the world uttered in these words And the seventh Angel sounded with a Trumpet and with a loud voice proclaimed the Kingdomes of this world so long time usurped by Monarchs and Antichrists which by right of Lordship and Inheritance did evermore belong to the God of Heaven and Prince of the Covenant shall how at length be restored to the right Lord and lawfull owner and of his reigne dominion and glory there shall be no end as the Spirit concludeth saying And he shall reigne for ever and ever Amen VERS 16. And the four and twenty Elders which sat on their seats in the sight of God fell on their faces and adoring God said We thanke thee Lord God Omnipotent which art which wast and which shalt come because thou bast received thy great power and brightnesse BY the foure and twenty Elders is meant the testimony of Moses and the Prophets who for that they spake by the seven-fold Spirit of Majesty which burneth night and day about the Throne of God are here said to sit on their seats in the sight of God And for that their judgements denounced from time to time agaiâ—st Antichrist and his Worshippers are now justâ—â—â—â—â— upon them and the everlasting Kingdome of the Lord their God who hath stretched his wings from Sea to Sea and from the river to the end of lands is now set up for evermore therefore the Spirit saith that they fell on their faces and adoring the justification of God brake forth in praises and thanksgiving saying We thank thee Lord God Omnipotent c VERS 17. And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be judged and to render reward to â—hy Servants the Prophets and Saints and to theâ—â—haâ— feare thy Name little and great and to destroy theâ— that have corrupted the earth ANd all Kiâ—gdomes Nations and people which have evill intreaâ—ed Jerusalem and made a sport of the shame and affliction of Jacob shall now reap the fruit of their savage and heaâ—henish lives and mangre their fury shall endure the wrath and judgement of him who with justice judgeth and fighteth as the Spirit affirmeth saying And the Gentiâ—â— were angry and â—hy wrath iâ— come and the time of the dead to be judged And the Spiâ—it further â—estifieth that the Lord for whole glory that day was made shall render to every one their due hire or wages foâ— so â—â—e Originaâ—l importeth commonly inteâ—preted reward first to his Saints and servants and all that ove come their hiâ—e and wages which by promise and for his ownâ— Name sake is due unto them Next to all exâ—craâ—le Atheists blasphemous Catholicks incredulous Heathen liers Hereticks carnall Gospellers and all other brazen and unregenerate Châ—istians the hire and wages whâ—ch to their works and deeds anâ— merits â—s due â—s the Spâ—rit concludeth saying And to render reward unto thy servants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feare thy name little and great and to destroy them that have corrupted the earth But concerning this seventh age wherein the Lord shal come in Majesty to judge the quick and the dead the Holy Ghost deferreth yet a while to speake moâ—e particularly thereof and resumeth more exactly to intreate of the terme and persâ—cution of Antichrist and his aâ—complices against the Church and Spouse of Christ that so the glory of his justice in theiâ— just refuration and judgement may bee more bright and manifest CHAP. XII 1. A confirmation of the Prophecy following 2. The description of the Church and of her Primitivâ— fruit 4. The Chur hes first persecution raised by Ethnick Rome by whose immanity it came to passe that her beauty was no more seen in her visible and eminent graces but lived here and there dispersed and scattered over the face of the Earth 8. The great battell betweene Christianisme and Pâ—ganisme Christ and his Truth overcommeth Jupiter and hiâ— profenation 18. The Emperour reâ—oveth his Throne pretending to stop the float of th' Enemy but intending to root out the dispersed remnant of the Church VERS 1. And the Temple of God was opened in heaven and the Aâ—k of his Covenant was seen in his Temple and there was made lightnings voices thunders earth-quakes and great haile TH ' Apostle having drawne in the former part of this Prophesie a slight draught as it were and designment of Antichâ—ist doth now in the Prophecy following revisit and perfect the discovery of the Beast and hang him up to the view and discerning of heaven and earth And to the end that this his worke of manifestation may carry in it faire and uncontrollable credit the Apostle in this Verse assureth us that he revealeth no other word concerning the Church and her pressures here on earth during the personall absence of her Lord then that which he heard at the Councell table of God which he delivereth in a manner of speech usuall with the Prophets And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and the Ark of his Covenant was seen in the Temple alluding to the Temple of Jerufalem and â—ignisying thereunder that the words
and goddesses of their owne forging must be resigned now to the true Lord and owner of all who hath taken his place at the right hand of the Father and hath deposed for ever from their usurped titles of deitie all gods and goddesses phantasmes made of worms created and divified by th'inventions relations consecrations and canonizations of the Dragon his Taile and successors as the spirit discovereth in saying Neither the place of them was found any more in Heaven VERS 10. And that great Dragon was throwne downe the old Serpent called the Devil and Satanas which seduceth the whole world and he was cast into the earth and his Angels were throwne downe with him ANd the great and prophane power of the Roman Monarchy which had so long time oppressed and corrupted the earth was now at length detected and thereupon disseized of and from her usurped claim of heaven for ever as the Spirit discovereth in saying And that great Dragon was throwne downe And for that the Devil did corporally dwell as it were in her spreading the beams of his wickednesse at full in all idolatry impietie and presumption against God and in all oppression injustice and immanitie towards man the Spirit crowneth her with the cognoments of her Sire calling her for her malice to the truth a Serpent for her crimination of the Saints a devil and for hostility to God and his Saints Satanas speaking therein after the manner of the Lord himselfe who calleth his treacherous steward a Divel though he were a man because the fullnesse of Satan did dwell in him filling his heart withâ—such a perfect hatred of his innocent Lord and â—amentable love of his guilty penie that he sold Caâ—aan for Egypt heaven for hell and God for silver And because th' impietie of Governors is not onely their owne decay by evil doing but also by enforcement and evil example the ruine of their people the Spirit layeth the seduction of the whole earth to the charge of the Dragon for ruling it after the level and prescription of Rome saying which seduceth the whole world and thereupon giveth just judgement and sentence of death against him namely that as in his beginning he crept out of the earth and by the scale of his wickednesse ascended so high as to presume to thrust his haughty head into heaven and build his nest above the stars as did his antecefsors Assur Beltassar Darius Alexander and the rest of their compeers so by a like power of sword and cruelty he shall shortly returne to his friends againe and be made even with the earth from whence his stock and first estate was borrowed and the power of his Cesars counsell of his Senators sophistry of his Sorcerers which with such indurate and obstinate minds stood for th' honour and worship of Devils should be no longer able to uphold the reverence of their Jupiter Capitolinus who was now detected for a Rogue and by the voices of Michaels Angels as by whips and pasports was sent home againe to the place of his birth namely the earth from whence his mortall and vile genealogie was taken and with with him also were Cesars undivified and for all their Senates proud relations were made to take up the grave for their latter end and shame for their same and wormes for their heritage as the Spirit soretelleth saying And be was cast downe unto the earth and his Angels were throwne downe with him VERS 11. And I heard a great voice in heaven saying Now is made salvation and force and Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ because the accuser of our brethren is cast downe who accused them before the sight of our God day and night NEither was this famous victory obtained in â— corner or spoken in the ear but as the Spirit reporteth so valourously gotten and so audibly proclaimed that all the world heard the repoâ—â— thereof witnesse the records of those times at whiâ—h the holy Ghost pointeth in these words And I heard a loud voice in beaven saying and sounding the victory of Christ and Christianisme against the Dragon and his Angels his sorcerers and their prophane and â—dolatrous paganisme in these devout and divine notes Now is made salvaâ—ion and force and the Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ and yieldeth a reason of this so pious and triumphant joy because the folly and fury of the Dragon and his Angâ—ls which so continually accused the Saints and servants of God for pestilent fellows movers of sedition maintainers of sects polluters of the Temple teachers of new Gods enemies to Caesar word-soweâ—â— babblers blaspâ—emers is now upon setting and going downe for ever Which death and downfall of their spirituaâ—l whoredome the holy Ghost diâ—closeth in saying Because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth And for the greater comfort of the Church and judgement of her enemies concludeth that there is a perfect Court-roul kept as well of the sufferings of the Saints as of the slanders of their soes so openly â—ommitted in the face of the Court and before a â—udge of so clear a fight and eternall memory as that they shall never be discharged or forgotten which the Spirit inferreth in saying Who accused them before the â—â—ght of our God day and night VERS 12. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives even unto the death LAst of all the holy Ghost discovereth the spirituall armour and weapons wherewith the Angels and servants of Michael obtained this famous victory over the Dragon and his Sectaries and saith that they were tempered of these two divine vertues faith and patience For by the shield of faith which the Spirit by a metonymie calleth the blood of the Lamb and with the sword of his two witnesses and by the word of their testimony they overthrew all forces and arguments drawne from reason or reading which the Spirit observeth in these words And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and all such arguments as were drawne from the block as fire sword persecution interdiction and such like the Children of the Church quenched them with tears prayers patience and martyrdome as their Lord had given them charge and left them example which the Spirit uncovereth in saying And they loved not their lives even unto the death VERS 13. Therefore rejoyce O Heavens and you that dwell in them Wo to the Earth and to the Sea because the Divel is discended to you having great wrath knowing that he hath but a little time AS after victory followeth division of spoile so the Spirit shuts up this heavenly conquest with triâ—mph and joy inviting thereunto all the Saints and â—ervants of God which have from time to time mainâ—ained and defended th' honour of his Name against the Dragon his sorcerers and sorceries And beâ—ause by their good profession and godly conversation
and lay his foundation as low as hell and build his turrets as high as heaven and place his Miter above the stars yet in that day hâ— shall die the death of the uncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from above and root from beneath and the Amos 2. 9. multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his forces and it shall be more possible for him and easie unto him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call againe the day that is past or recover the verdure of the withered grasse as a holy one faith then to avoid this counsell and decree of his downfall here determined by the Spirit against him saying And the number of him is 666. And then all Kingdoms and people shall see th' eternity of that eternall City as one of her own calleth it and th'immortality of her soul meaning the soveraign power and supremacie of her Caesars and high Priests to wither die and sorsake the earth for ever and as Babylon her mother left unto her th' inheritance of her pride and prophanations so shall she also leave unto her the heritage of her death and judgements for as her glory hath been great so shall her dishonour when all her excellency shall be translated into shame and sorrow Now therfore as King Belshazzar cried aloud when he saw the hand-writing against him that they should bring the Chaldeans Astrologians and inchanters to read and interpret so thou that once and long before our dayes hast been deemed by Laws of all Nations a power so soveraigne and holy call now about thee thy Councell and thy Clergy who call themselves good men learned and wise whose onely grace is to love antiquity gravity wisdome and constancy caâ—l them I say cloath them with purple and chaine them with gold yet shall they not deliver thee from this judgement to come but as the mill-stone which â—he mighty Angel tooke and cast into the sea which may not rise and float againe with such violence thou and thy Church in that houre shall be thrown down and shall be found no more And all such Kings on earth or rather Kings of earth whose love thou hast stollen to the losse of their souls that have lived in drunkennesse delights and wantonnesse with thee shaâ—l weep and waile for thee as for their fiâ—st-borne when they shâ—ll see the smoake of thy torments ascend and the Apples which thy soule Iusted after to depart from thee and no man to buy thy tâ—ash and commodities any more for that God which judgeth thee is a strong Lord and thy derision shall be the joy and Allelujah of Sion But her faire and â—aâ—cyon day may not long endure before the Lord that with justice judgeth and fighteth shall come in the clouds of heaven to render unto every man according to the wayes wherein his heart hath waâ—ked as more directly is revealed in the 20. Chapter following But as concerning the day and houre of the comming of that Lord who for the glory of his name shall bring these things to passe it is fast sealed up in the treasury of God far beyond the aime of all â—is servants on earth or Angels in heaven and yet his beloved servant Daniel is bold in spirit and layeth downe the yeare to be the five and fortieth yeare according to his Chaldaicall supputation after the consumption and extermination of Antichrist that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Verily the Lord of hoasts will doe nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his Servants the Amos 3. 7. Prophets DAN 12. 11 12 13. And from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes Blessed is he that waiteth and commeth to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty dayes But goe thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand up in thy lot at the end of the dayes FINIS
or other creature of strange shape as some have vainly phantasied the Spirit calleth him a man saying For it is the number of a man comprehending by a Synecdoche under the word Man a successive state and Kingdome of men after the speaking and stile of the Prophers for so the Lord informed his servant Moses to speake Let my sonne goe that is let my Exod. 4. Dan 7. Dan. 8. People of Israel depart and so in Daniel under the forme and name of foure singular Beasts aâ—e designed foure severall Monarchies most of them containing a long succession of many Monarchs The Ramme which thou sawest are the Kings of the Medes and Persians after which maâ—ner of speaking the Spirit speaketh also in this place and under the name of a man presenteth unto us the whole race and succession of men of sinâ—e whose totall summe is one Antichrist the bounds and limits of whose dominion and tyâ—anny the holy Ghost impâ—leth within the circuit of a certaine sure prefixed period and determinate number of yeares saying And the number of him is six hundred sixty six Wherein many as well ancient as late writers as in the rest have vainly imagined that Antichrist is one singular person which must suddenly start up and after three civill yeares and a halfe depart againe and that he must bee by birth a Iew and of the Tribe of Dan when notwithstanding those cursed Scatterbags have neither Tribe nor shadow of Tribe left amongst them and that he must reigne in Ierusalem of which Citie and Temple there is not any one stone left upon another and that he must kill Enoch and Elias who are to appeare about the Kalends of Greece with divers other such legendary phantasies never meant nor sent from God so in this point also concerning the number of Antichrist they have given up an account so far from the audite of truth as nothing can be more And as men that thought it worth the labour to find a knot in a rush so by a conceited framing and anagramming of letters they have endeavoured to find out such a name as by characters might express the number 666 and withall might something square either with the name nature blasphemie or residence of the Bishops of Rome as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remiith Adonikam filius perditionis c. whereunto also may be added the conjectures of John Wickliffe John Bale Francis Junius men otherwise of good and worthy memory in the Church of God as also the conjectures of others as worthy and honourable as they that have reserred the number of 666. to the time of Antichrists revealing and yeare of rising when notwithstanding it is a strange voyce and not knowne to the eares of the Scriptures for the word number to be used for the beginning and rising of any terme of time limited and predicted by the Prophets but onely for the end period and determination thereof But if it were lawfull to smile in so grave an inquisition amongst all phantasticall charmes and cabalisticall conjectures upon this word number there is none more ridiculous then that which most pleaseth our Rhetoricall Rhemists who by a rare supputation of characters have as roundly found out the Beasts number as the Sodomites did the doors of Lot in the name Luderus which in the Almain tongue is the name of Luther and although we are sure they cannot so much as think upon the poor Frier Luther but for very feare they stinke all the world over yet this device so tickleth the Clergy of Antichrist that they pretend to laugh for joy But as for their prefixed time of three naturall or civill yeares and a halfe which they allot to the reigne and rage of their Antichrist it doth so unevenly square with Luther or Lutherans continuance that these miserable Sardonians are faine to eat their word and to endure the foolish world to laugh at them whiles as dying they faine would seem to laugh at it But to leave these cursed leaders of the cursed blind and returne againe to those that have thought to calculate and find out the mystery of Antichâ—ists number 666 in a word at a word we say they are deâ—eived and erre not knowing the power and construction of the Scripture For fiâ—st by the word name delivered in the former verse in these words Or the number of his name is meant the very existence and person of the man of sin by a propriety of speech common to holy Scriptures as Acts 1. 15. Apoc. 3. 4. 11. 13. where by an Hebraisme names signifie men and are converted with the parties and persons themselves as the name of God in holy Scripture is often taken for God himselfe and therefore as in the former verse the Scripture calleth it the number of his name so in this verse he calleth it the number of a man understanding by a man as is aforesaid the totall sum of that succession of beastly men which make and constitute the existence and person of one Antichrist and by the word number is meant the fatall end and finall determination of their reigne and government for so the finger of God speaketh to Belshazzar God hath numbred thy Kingdome that is God hath ended and finâ—shed the dayes of thy Kingdome so that the number of his name or the number of the man is nothing else but the period and finall determination of the usurped tyranny and domination of Antichrist which the Lamb the Lord and preserver of Israel for the glory of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her foes with a mighty and outstretched arme shall bring to passe in the yeare which shall be 666. For forasmuch as the egge of Antichristianism was laid in the daves of Innocent the first successoâ— to Anastasius the first also of that name in the yeare of salvation 406. as is before delcared and that by expresse commission there was furthermore granted to the Beast his heirs and successors 1260. years for the hatching fostering and perfecting this child of perdition and mystery of iniquity which being added to 406. by rule of true audite must needs verifie this admirable judgement which the Spirit of God hath here denounced and determined to make good upon him in the yeare which shall be 1666. In which account and discovery of his end the holy Ghost of purpose leaveth out the millenary number as not onely knowne perfect and immutable for that these vile and evill dayes shall not exceed more thousands then one but as respecting also the common use of all Nations as well Hebrews aÌ„s Gentiles who in their stiles for brevitie sake do no lesse often speak and â—rite by th'â—mperfect number omitting the â—illenary then after the perfect adding the millenary as Munster well observeth And in that year my Lord of Rome shall lay down his Vide Calendarium Hebraicum Sebastiani Munsteri proud wavesâ— and although he fortifie never so strong