rising of the Witnesses The Third and last woe comes quickly it speedily followeth and shutteth up the whole mysterie The death of the Beast is proclaimed under the sixth Trumpet and in the time of the second woe Chap. 10. 6. Time should be no more in which Antichrist should live and raigne Then at the sound of the seventh Angel the mysterie of God should be finished vers 7. The mysterie of Antichrist fully laid open and the mysterie and glory of Christs kingdom fully revealed This last woe is meant of those calamities mentioned in the last verse of this eleventh Chapter And there was lightnings and voyces and thundrings and an earthquake and great haile All which doth imply Gods heavy terrible astonishing and irresistable judgements upon the world hee will plague the earth as once he did Aegypt with haile Exod. 9. 25. This is the third and last woe that accompanieth the seventh Trumpet Observe That great and terrible woes Observe befall the world in the three last ages of Antichrist Here is three woes but the second that falls at the rising of the Witnesses is the greatest This second woe is a bitter one indeed it will fall like a milstone and grinde in pieces the inhabitants of the earth Great are the torments and vexations this woe brings upon the world all Famines Sicknesses Feares Warres and all sorts of evils weaknesse aâ—â—rightments strange amazements this woe brings with it The present calamities upon the world that are occasioned by the Earth-quake throwing downe States Nations Governments Powers and shaking men of quality state wisdome and parts bringing wars feares famines deaths c. These and the like woes upon the world this day speak forth the rising of the witnesses And as the rising of the Witnesses is a work of time and is of a graduall product so also shall this second woe be a lasting woe and lasting woes are the worst of all The third woe followeth the second it comes quickly this brings it's sting along with it but 't is of a shorter dispatch then the former This last woe that immediately succeedes the second comes with the seventh Trumper and therefore is the last woe that befalls Antichrist This last woe is the reason of all those plagues as death mourning famine fire that God will destroy Babylon withall which shall cause the Kings of the Earth to lament her and the Merchants to mourn over her for shee is stript of her gold and silver of her precious stones and pearles of her purple and scarlet of all her sine linnen and cloathing and in one houre shall be made utterly desolate Thus we are come to an end of the Prophesie of the Witnesses resurrection and ascention with the great effects that followes namely the great Earthquake and the second woe which is the work of the first Trumpet Next followeth that of the seventh Trumpet and the state of Christs Kingdom after the full and perfect ascention of the Witnesses and the finall downfall of Antichrist VERS 15. And the seventh Angell sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying the kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and hee shall raigne for ever and ever HAving spoken of the Prophesie Death Resurrection and ascention of the Witnesses with the effects of their rising namely the great earthquake that shakes the world which doth accomplish the second woe This being the first resurrection of the Saints from shame and sack-cloath from misery and affliction upon which the tenth part of the City falls and the little horne that thought to change times and lawes is subdued Dan. 7. But after comes a second Resurrection of truth and light of life liberty to the Saints in all nations when there shall be a universall ruine of Antichrist Then all Saints throughout all Nations shall come in to the enjoyment of internall and externall glory when all former persecution and shame shall be past away and they shall live raigne with Christ a thousand yeares and shall fully enjoy the immunities and liberties of the kingdome of Christ which shall be fulfilled at the sound of the seventh Trumpet And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ c. That which wee shall enquire from hence is to know what is meant First by the Trumpet sounding Secondly by the seventh Trumpet Thirdly by the voyces in heaven Fourthly the subject matter that those voyces doe proclaime and that is The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord c. First a Trumpet is that with which men sound to give an alarme or a preparation unto the battell 1 Cor. 14. 8. Also to publish or proclaime a thing Joel 2. 1. The counterfeit Pharisees when they gave their almes are sayd to sound a Trumpet Mat. 6. 2. Alluding to the custome of the Jewes who when they would gather an assembly or proclaim a matter did use to sound a Trumpet So here by the Trumpet sounding is meant the Saints proclaiming and sounding forth the word of truth declaring the testimony of Jesus and extolling his praises This they doe either by preaching forth or declaring of the truth or by making profession thereof These Trumpets doe respectively follow the seales opening as the vials follow the Trumpets sounding The first seale first Trumpet first viall goe together and every one of these respectively in order follow each other The beginning is with the opening of the seals which is Christ opening and disclosing of heavenly and divine truth unto his Saints and accordingly as the seals be thus opened to them they by declaring and professing of the truth so discovered to them are said to sound forth the Trumpets each Trumpet in his season according as the seals are opened and heavenly light and knowledge is discovered unto them Secondly what is meant by the seventh Trumpet In Chap. 8. we read of the sounding of the foure first Trumpets And in Chap. 9. of the fift and sixt Trumpets sounding and here we have the seventh and last Trumpet So that there is a graduall and orderly sounding of the Trumpets answerable to the opening of the seals when the last seale shall be opened then the seventh Angel comes to sound the last Trumpet which is the highest and last declaration of the truth and excellency of God Seven is the number of perfection of rest and blessednesse the seventh Trumpet is the proclamation or declaration of the kingdome of Christ caused by the Saints sounding forth the highest and the last glory of Christs raigne and dominion Thirdly we have the effect of the seventh Trumpet and there were great voyces in heaven The most perfect and exact the most distinct and sweet note of musick is the tongue of man there is no sound so perfect and compleat as these voyces in heaven these are the
and act more in the power of God p. 274 278 4. They shall enjoy more immediate communion with God p. 276 277 4. Ob That in the middest of the great confusion and darknesse upon the face of the earth shall the witnesses ascend p. 278 279 280 5. Ob That all the power and policie of the enemies of the witnesses shall not be able to hinder their ascension p. 281 282 In verse 13. we have the great earthquake that followeth the rising of the witnesses p. 283 where we have opened 1. The time of the earth-quake p. 284 2. The nature of it p. 285 3. The consequents p. 286 Which are three First the tenth part of the Citie fell where is shewen what is meant 1. By the Citie p. 287 2. By the tenth part ibid 3. By the fall thereof p. 288 289 Secondly there were slaine seven thousand men where we have 1. Their persons p. 291 2. Their manner of slaying ibid. 3. Their number p. 292 Thirdly the Remnant were affrighted and gave glory to God where we consider 1. The persons p. 294 2. Their passions ibid. 3. Their actions p. 295 Observations from the words 1. Ob That the rising and ascending of the witnesses doth cause a great earth-quake in the world p. 296 297 298 2. Ob That all the time of this great earth-quake the witnesses are in â—ising and ascending p. 299 300 3. Ob That nation that shall first of all shake off and disclaime the power of Antichrist God will honour that nation first of all in raising up his witnesses in it p. 301 302 303 304 305 4. Ob That those principally and chiefly shall be slaine in the earthquake that are the upholders and maintainers of Antichrist's cause quarrell p. 306 207 308 5. Ob That when God doth scatter the great and mighty ones of the earth it doth much amaze and affrighten the poore and ignorant people that have been seduced by them p. 309 310 6. Ob That it 's the poore affrighted remnant that will give most glory to God p. 311 312 313 In verse 14. we have the second woe p. 313 Where wee have opened The first woe p. 314 The second woe p. 315 The third woe p. 316 Obser That great and terrible woes befall the world in the three last ages of Antichrist p 317 318 319 In verse 15. we have explained what 's meant 1. By the Trumpet sounding p. 321 2. By the seventh Trumpet p. 322 3. By the great voyces in heaven p. 323 These are sayd to be 1. Great voyces 324 2. Voyces in heaven p 325 326 3. Plurality of voyces p. 327 Observations from the words 1. Ob That the Lord hath alwayes had a people to declare his truth unto the world p. 328 2. Ob That the Lord hath manifested his truth by degrees or in agraduall way p. 329 3. Ob There shall be a most compleat and glorious discovery and declaration of truth made out by the Saints under the seventh Trumpet p. 330 331 4. Ob That the Saints fully risen and ascended up into heavenly enjoyments at the finall destruction of Antichrist shall harmoniously sing forth the glory praises of Christ's kingdome p. 332 333 How the kingdomes of the world shall become the kingdomes of Christ wherin we have opened 1. What is meant by the kingdomes of this world p. 334 2. How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ p. 335 336 3. How Christ shall recover these kingdomes againe into his ownhand p. 337 338 339 340 4. By what right or title Christ will lay claime to the kingdomes of the world p 341 342 343 5. The manner of Christ's reigne wherein the spirituall reigne of Christ is illustrated in four particulars p. 344 345 346 347 6. The duration of Christ's reigne and kingdome p. 348 349 350 How the Saints shall reigne with Christ p. 351 352 How the Jewes shall be converted p. 353 Observations from the whole That Christ will come and reigne gloriously in his people subduing all his enemies advancing his Saints unto the glory and dignity of his own kingdome p. 354 355 In verse 16. we have shewed 1. What is meant by the title given to Saints being called Elders p. 356 2. What 's implyed by their number being twenty-foure p. 357 3. Their posture and action falling on their faces p. 358 In verse 17. we have 1. The praises of the Elders p. 359 2. The subject of their praises ibid. 3. The ground of their praises p. 360 In verse 18. we have 1. The Adver saries vexed p. 361 362 2. The Saints rewarded p. 363 3. The Antichristian partie destroyed p. 364 In verse 19. we have 1. The Temple opened p. 365 366 2. The Arke manifested p. 367 3. The great irresistible judgements that befall Antichrist p. 368 Lastly the close of the whole Chapter p. 369 370 Reader By reason of the Authors absence we have observed these faults which we desire thee to amend and all others which thou doest finde ERRATA IN page 59. line 16. for sanctifie read sanctitie p. 62. l. 8. for Rome r. home p. 75. l. 5. for meat r. meant p. 221. l. 11. for Prie r. Priest p. 319. l. 17. for first Taumpet r. sixt Trumpet p. 244. l. 8. for out read but. p. 341. l. 12. for with r. of p. 166. l. 15. for the great multitude of Saints add who are as some hold THE MYSTERIE OF THE TWO WITNESSES UNVAILED REVELATIONS 11. 1. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein THere is much talke and discourse of the two witnesses and great enquiry is made to know who they are what is their testimony whither they be slaine when they shall rise c. All which I shall endeavour to disclose according to the measure of light that I have received in the knowledge and revelation of this mystery Before I make entrance upon this Chapter give me leave from the whole booke of the Revelation to take notice of six things First of the Author who was Jesus Christ Chap. 1. 1. He is both the Author and subject matter thereof being the Alpha and Omega and all the letters besides in this divine Revelation in whom is the sum and substance of all holy Writ the whole mystery of spirituall truth all visions of divine glory lies wrapt up doth meet and concenter in the person of the Lord Jesus Hence he is said to have the seven spirits of God Chap. 1. 4. because all perfection of knowledge was treasured up in him by which he is onely able to be the dispenser of such heavenly revelations and divine mysteries as these are Secondly of the Messenger that Christ doth here imploy to convey this booke unto his Apostle and that is an Angel as is evident Chap. 1. 1. Now in that Christ doth signifie his message unto John by an Angel
also of internall light and glory This is part of the glory of the new Jerusalem and of the Kingdome of Christ when Antichrist shall be throwne downe from his throne and authority and when Christ shall be exalted and the Saints possesse his Kingdome Wee now proceed to the next observation Fourthly do the Witnesses ascend 4 Obser in a Cloud then observe That in the middest of the great confusion and darknesse upon the face of the world shall the Witnesses ascend There is a great thick cloud of darknesse distraction division and confusion upon the minds and actions of the men of the earth this day Now I say that in these thick mists and fogs of trouble and contention the Witnesses daily get ground and arise higher and higher and ascend gradually every day though the world neither sees it nor knows it Israel of old passâ—d through the Wildernesse untill they came to Canaan by the conduct of a cloud So this cloud that hath this day over-shadowed the world shall not passe away untill the Israel of God are ascended up to the land of Messiah our new Jerusalem Suitable unto our purpose is that place Isa 51. 9 10. Awake awake put on strength O arme of the Lord. Awake as in the ancient dayes Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon Art thou not it that hath dryed the Sea the waters of the great deep Thou hast made the depth of the Sea away for the ransomed to passe over God hath seemed in former times as it were to be asleep as if he had altogether forgotten the sorrows and sufferings of his people But now when the Lord shall arm himselfe with power and cloath himselfe with strength as with a garment as in the generations of old or auncient dayes when thou didst cut Rahab and wound the Dragon that 's meant of Aegypt and Pharaoh And how was this done by dividing of the waters and drying up the Sea he rescued his people from the bondage of Pharaoh and the oppression of Aegypt Thus God delivered his people from the captivity of Babylon by the same power as in the ancient dayes Now in the same manner when the Lord shall redeeme his people from those burthens of spirituall captivity that his people have endured under the tyrannicall dominion of Antichristian Babylon God will dry up the Sea and divide the waters that is he will wast and consume the state and strength of man and divide Peoples and Nations one against another a thicke Cloud of darknesse shall over-cover them all what a grosse thick Cloud hangs over all men this day upon all their Actings Counsels and Designes Most men grope in the darke and know noâ— what they doe what a darke cloud of feare anger division contention disquietnesse and confusion of face is this day upon the men of the earth Now in the midst of these confusions and divisions aomngst the men of the world in these Clouds of darkenesse the faithfull Witnesses of Christ they get ground and ascend higher and higher untill at last they shall fully ascend up unto the heavenly state and glory of Christs kingdome The Witnesses ascending in a Cloud the world sees it not 't is a misterie that few understand Then this thick cloud of darknesse fear division and confusion upon the world doth plainly demonstrate that the Witnesses are now arising shaking off their sackcloath and mourning and are now ascending up to Heaven to live in and enjoy the Kingdome of Christ to enjoy that freedome and peace that light and glory that we last spake of Fifthly and lastly do the enemies 5 Observ of the Witnesses behold their ascending up to Heaven Then observe That all the power and policie of the Enemies of the Witnesses shall not be able to hinder their ascention The Adversary doth behold them doth see them get ground arise and ascend and faine would hinder them but cannot This is the greatest and most amazing fight that ever the world did see the saddest spectacle that ever it beheld this fills the earth with astonishment and trembling to perceive the rising and ascending of these Witnesses formerly slain and it cannot in the least retard or hinder them This shall be the very glory and triumph of the Saints that they shall ascend in the view and â—ight of all their Enemies that hated persecuted and killed them Now as it was the sport and joy of these Enemies to kill and slay these witnesses how much more will it be their griefe and torture to see them arise from the dead and ascend into honour It could not be more grievous to Haman to see Mordecai advanced then it amazeth the world to see these ascend and that in their sight and presence This shall be the honour and joy of these Witnesses that they shall ascend in the view and sight of their Adversaries who shall look on them and be exceedingly troubled and vexed but yet shall not be able in the least to hinder them from ascending into the glorious liberty peace light and comfort of Christs Kingdome VERS 13. And the same hour was there a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the Citie fell and in the Earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heave HAving spoken of the resurrection and ascention of the Witnesses we now come to handle the great and notable effect that succeedeth thereon together with severall consequents thereunto annexed The same hour there was a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the Citie fell c. In the handling of which we may consider First the time of this Earth-quake in these words And the same hour c. Secondly the Earth-quake it selfe mentioned in the Text there was a great Earth-quake Thirdly the consequents thereunto annexed and they are three 1. The tenth part of the Citie fell 2. Seven thousand men are slain 3. The affrighted remnant give glory to God But first of the time The same houre there was a great Earth quake This terme of time is not to be taken restrictvely as if it should be meant of an hour consisting of so many minutes Some read the same day neither may wee take it for a naturall day of twenty foure hours It is an indefinite speech and holds no certainty for the space of time but it imports that the time of this great Earth-quake should answer the time of the Witnesses rising and ascending up to heaven Those words expressed in Chap. 17. 12. These receive power one houre with the beast import the same meaning the whole terme of their raigne with the beast Secondly the earth-quake it selfe follows And there was a great Earthquake The naturall cause of an Earth-quake is when the wind is pent up in the bowels of the earth and seeking vent from thence breaks forth into violent concussions and motions so that the earth shakes and rends contrary to its naturall firmenesse and
the new Jerusalem the holy Citie Now all the services of formall professors and carnall Christians shall be disowned of God Esa 43. 20 21. And humane ministrie shall be abhorred vers 27 28. And Jerusalem shall be a burthensome stone breaking in pieces Kings and Kingdomes States and powers that shall take upon them to judge of spirituall things that shall intermeddle with Church-work or shall any wayes goe about to interpose between God and the spirits of men Because none can none shall reigne over the Saints but the Lord himselfe Man hath had his time of power and dominion but now he is to give account of his Stewardship and reigne no longer The riches the glorie the strength the dominion of the world are Christs he hath let out these to man to be imployed but the men of the world have abused them these have been used in opposition to Christ therefore Christ will recover these to himselfe againe he will come and redeeme these from Antichrist from Babylon from the power of darknesse and all these kingdomes of this world shall immediatly become the kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ The Lord shall take all owne all possesse all and his Saints shall possesse all iâ— him he must raigne and they shall reigne with him The whole earth is the Lords and he will put his people into possession of all that 's good excellent and glorious All the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords and his anointed ones I shall now proceed to shew the effects that follow in which I shall give you a briefe Paraphrasticall sence of the following verses and so conclude Because the Lord raignes and we shall reigne with him what is the issue VERS 16. And the foure and twenty Elders which sat before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshipped God IN this Verse observe three things First the title given to the servants of the Lord his anointed ones they are called Elders because the Lord doth appeare with them and in them with much gravity and majesty by his glorious indwellings of his everlasting Spirit These be his Ancients as the Prophet calls them Esa 24. 23. before whom the Lord doth appeare Saints taken up into the Ancient of dayes living in the eternall spirit these are called the Ancients the Elders of the Lord. Secondly Their number twenty-foure The number of the Apostles were twelve but here is the number of twenty-foure answerable both to the twelve Tribes and also to the twelve Apostles Suitable hereunto is that place Revel 21. 12. 14. In the description of the new Jerusalem it 's sayd That upon the twelve gates thereof were the names of the twelve Tribes and upon the twelve foundations the names of the twelve Apostles which doth demonstrate that the Spirit of God shall appeare in a double measure twice as much as in the Apostles these shall have a fuller measure of the Spirit The names the vertues the gifts the graces both of the twelve Tribes and twelve Apostles shall be engraven upon these anointed ones These shall enjoy a double measure of the Spirit they shall not appeare as twelve but as twenty-foure Elders before the Lord. These are they which sat before God as having rule and dominion with him Thirdly We have their posture and action they fell upon their faces and worshipped God 1. They fell on their faces that sheweth their humility and selfe-deniall as disclaiming all fleshly glory and excellency they doe as it were put their faces in the dust as abhorring their own beauty and excellency 2. They wership God the time was they did worship men and meanes they adored selfe creature but now they cast off their idols of Gold and their idols of silver which they made each one for himselfe to worship to the moles and to the bats as the Prophet speakes Esa 2. 20. And now they exalt the Lord alone they worship him and him onely The voyce of praise follows VERS 17. We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned HEre likewise three things are considerable First The praises of the Saints we give thee thankes c. They sing the song of deliverance and joy of triumph and victory saying we thanke thee O Lord not to us not to man not to creature be the praise but to thee O Lord thou onely deservest all praise O Lord God Almightie therefore we will praise thee onely The Saints exalted into the liberty and glory of Christs kingdome they sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb Revel 15. 2. They give thankes for deliverance and salvation-Their hearts and their mouths are full of divine praises they sound forth Halelujahs and sing aloud the glory of the Lord. Secondly They praise him who is the everlasting and eternall being which art and wast and art to come Here we have the very circle of eternitie that is most comprehensive and doth comprehend both the beginning and end of all things The Lord was before all creatures and shall abide alwayes though all creatures should perish from him all creatures had their being and to him they are referred as their utmost end Therefore the Lord is worthy of all praise being before all things by whom all things are and to whom all things tend the Lord is the beginning being and end of all things meeting and concentering together Thirdly The ground of their praise Because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned As if they had sayd Lord thou hast given thy power to others thou hast let Satan Antichrist and wicked men reigne on the earth but now thou hast taken thy power to thy selfe again and hast wrested it out of the hands of earthly men that have abused it and thou wilt use it thy selfe The men of the earth have reigned by wisdome policy by plots carrying on their own designes but the Lord will reigne in truth and righteousnesse It must needs be matter of great joy unto the earth that the Lord will reigne for while man reigned there was nothing but oppression on the earth but the Lord rules reignes with deliverance and salvation It followeth VERS 18. And the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that feare thy Name small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth FRom these words take notice First how the adversaries vex and fret and doe even rage in furie and madnesse and good reason they have so to doe for the time of their dead was come that they should be judged all dead power rule and authority all dead ordinances and services all the dead wayes and practises of Antichrist these must all be judged condemned and destroyed all things that have
or disguise to act his part in and so flyes out of the appearance of this beast into another The third day of Antichrists powerfull raigne is in the forme of a beast with two hornes like a lamb mentioned in Revel 13. 11. This beast doth relate to Episcopacy and such like formes of pretended reformation so that this appearance carries with it more fair pretences and greater shewes of religion then the former and therefore more closely hypocriticall and deceitfull then the former This beast is said to arise out of the earth viz. from a Kingly or earthly power and had two hornes one was a politicall or civill the other called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall like a Lamb professing much meeknesse and gentlenesse but speak like a Dragon as being very feirce and cruell taking upon him to exercise the power of the first beast to act by humane force and governe the Church by civill authority and so did but heal up the wound of the former beast And this he doth by lying miracles as to cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men seeming to have the very spirit of Elisha counterfeiting the spirit of God in his workings by which he deceived the people of the earth But these deceits and hypocrisies of this beast being perceived by the Saints of God he is forced to flee into some other forme to hide himselfe under some other disguise being closely beset and driven up into a narrow compasse must fly farther for succour and refuge and is compelled to make some other image or pretence to shelter himselfe This being the third day Lastly We have the halfe day in which time we have the image that the last beast causeth to be set up Revel 13. 14. The beast being changed into an image comes forth more refined moreglorious in shew pretending the greatest reformation of all as being the last refuge that Antichrist hath the last terme of time he hath to raign the halfe day and therefore now he puts on his best dresse and cloths himselfe with his finest ornaments This halfe day and last appearance comes neer Rome to our owne times and therefore I shall not describe those that set up the image of the beast by any proper name but rather by these six particulars following that we shall collect from that place in Revel 13. from verse the 14. to the end of the Chapter First They that set up the image of the beast arâ— those that will make Disciples unto Christ by a humane power and by pressing some externall comformity upon men they will convert the world into a Church and make many to be Christians against their wills and hence it is that there are so many poor darke and carnall professors of Christ Now this is diametrically opposit to Christs rule who prevailes upon the heart by meeknesse and gentlenesse and doth gaine upon the soule by truth and righteousnesse and winne upon the affections with peace and love Christ doth not use any coactive or constraining power to compell men to be subject unto him but of an unwilling people he makes them willing by the swavity sweetnesse of divine grace working upon their hearts But contrarily these advance their Church by humane force and worldly power causing all that will not worship the image of the beast to be killed Thus by force and cruelty they make Disciples or rather make many hypocrites bring many under the force of Religion that know nothing of the power of godlinesse Secondly Those that cause an image to be made they prescribe rules of worship service according to their own fancy and invention Hence it is said vers 15. They cause the image to speake That is by constituting and appointing platformes of worship advancing their owne devices and directories above the lawes and institutions of Christ These onely will define what is truth and what not as comprehending the whole mystery of truth within their systems or models of divinity as if they were the onely Cisternes of living water and the very oyle that must cause the lamp to shine making themselves to be the very treasury and storehouse of all wisdome and knowledge and thus they sit down in Christs Throne and Temple officiating his office and authority robbing him of his dignity and glory by putting of his crowne upon their own heads Thirdly These cause all to worship the image which they set up and by humane force and secular power doe compell all men to follow their edicts and platformes to observe their invented ordinances and devised worship It hath been the custome that the Clergy so called must first study the faith and afterward the earthly powers would confirme it by some civill sanction and so enforce their owne devices upon the consciences of people Hence it was that the late Bishop that suffered here in England did professe at his death that he dyed in that Religion that was established by law Now Christ doth never call up the powers of the earth to rule and beare sway in his kingdome The Lawes by which Christ doth rule by are the law of the new creature and of love the law of his word and spirit by these he doth enforce a sweet compliance of the heart unto the will of God The law of Christ is most heavenly and divine and it is of the most constraining force and of the most indispensible necessity of any law This is called the law of liberty because it frees the soule from the vassallage and power of mans devises and brings the soule into a reall compliance with the divine will Thus Christ doth change the minde renew the spirit and alter the constitution of the soules of men and so make them subject unto his own kingdome while Antichrist doth enforce many to his kingdome to yeeld blind obedience unto him by vertue of some humane law or secular power Fourthly those that undertake to set up the image of the beast they enforce some marke or badge to every one as a token of subjection unto their way or invented forme of worship Revel 13. 16. These require worship and homage of all sorts both small and great and cause them to receive a mark in their right band by some externall obligation and in their forebeads as some badge to be knowne by otherwise none may buy or sell or have any communion with them or enjoy any power or priviledge that they themselves doe enjoy So that these give forth some Character or mark whereby all that come under them may both be knowne to be of them and also engaged unto them Fiftly Those that erect the Image of the beast have not the power of the beast because all they set up is but a statue image or shadow We must remember the time of the image is but the halfe day therefore short and hence it is that those that manage the worke of framing the image are hardly warme in their seats they are no sooner advanced
of truth from divine prophesies And in this respect the Saints under the new Testament are called Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 29. These were not so called in relation to any divine predictions that they could declare but rather from that dexterity readinesse they had to interpret and open the mystery of those truths prophesied of before From such gifts as these were they called Prophets Thirdly to Prophesie is when beleevers by their experience can give testimony of the fulfilling of prophesies And thus those primitive Saints were sayd to prophesie when the prophesie of Joel was fulfilled in them and they were able by experience to testifie of the truth forespoken of Act. 2. 16 17. where it 's sayd I will powre out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie c. These by an allusion to the former manner of discovery of God to the Prophets are said to prophesie because by a divine revelation of truth and glorious discovery of grace upon their hearts they could by experience say this day is the Scripture fulfilled and the grace of the prophesie powred forth upon us So beholding the vision of divine grace they are sayd to prophesie In each of these sences the Saints under the raigne of Antichrist may be sayd to prophesie First from a spirituall inspiration and glorious discovery of heavenly things they are able to â—oretell and prophesie that Babylon shall fall This is their message and this they testifie continually Secondly They by a spirituall judgement and apprehension of the things of God are able to understand enigmaticall and difficult things and make glorious discoveries of the mysteries of truth and also of the mysteries of Antichrist Thirdly in every age according to their light and experience they give forth a testimony of the fulfilling of those prophesies both of the raigne and ruine of Antichrist And thus the Witnesses are said to prophesie Secondly for the testimony that they give forth and that is they hold forth the truth and authoritie of Christ against the falshood and usurpation of Antichrist These witnesses give forth a double testimony First against the seed of the Serpent Secondly against the power of the beast First they testifie against the seed of the Serpent by holding forth the nature and grace of Christ whereby he should break the head of the Serpent as it was foretold in Gen. 3. These acknowledge that Christ tooke the seed of Abraham was clothed with our nature was made flesh and came forth in our habit and forme became Emanuel God with us or in our flesh but so filled with heavenly anoyntings and so clothed with the divine nature that he was able to subdue Satan and to tread him under his feet he was impowered to breake the head of this Leviathan and to cast him forth into the earth Thus the Apostle testified to the Romans that the God of peace should bruise Satan under their feet Rom. 16. 20. By yertue of that Evangelicall promise Christ should overcome and crush the cursed seed of the Serpent Of this the witnesses doe testisie by holding forth Christ to be the seed of the woman in whom dwelt the anoynting by which all wickednesse is subdued Secondly They testifie against the power of the beast and that is by holding forth the office dignity of Christ against the power government rule dominion of Antichrist for though he acknowledge verbally that Christ hath the sole power and government in his Church yet vertually he doth deny it by usurping those dignities and offices to himselfe The testimony that the Saints doe especially give out against the rule and domination of Antichrist is of the prophesie Priesthood and kingdome of Christ First Of the prophesie of Christ they acknowledge Christ to be the great Prophet of his Church Act. 7. 37. To be the great Doctor teacher of his people according to that exptession in Cant. 5. 13. His lips like Lâ—â—es dropping sweet smelling myrrb By Christs lips are meant his divine prophesies and heavenly teachings by which he doth instruct teachings his people his words are beautifull as the lilie and odoriferous as myrrhe Now the Saints holding forth the sufficiency and power of Christs teachings doe overthrow the fleshly wisdome carnall knowledge and humane teachings of Antichrist accordding as the Lord hath said I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1. 19. And the Apostle tells us in vers 27 28. That God hath chosen the poore weake and despised things of the world to bring to nought things that were high and mighty Hence it is that we have that saying of the Apostle in 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. We speake wisdome to them that are perfect saith he yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but we speake the wisdome of God in a mystery c. By them that are perfect the Apostle meaneth those that are of full age that are men in understanding of divine mysteries so that his preaching was wisdome to the wise but it was not humane wisdome such as the world accounted of nor politiâ—â—ll wisdome of Princes but a hidden and secret wisdome a divine mystery of heavenly wisdome such as the reason and understanding of carnall men cannot reach or comprehend And thus these witnesses testifying of the prophesie and wisdome of Christ doe oppose the wisdome and understanding of Antichrist Secondly They testifie of the Priesthood of Christ acknowledging him to be the eternall Priest of God set over the house of God Heb. 10. 21. And that he is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7. 11 12. And not after the manner of Aaron therefore of necessitie there is a change of the Law So that hereby they give a testimony against all the Jewish rites and ceremonies that Antichrist doth set up and enforce an observation of And thus the Apostle doth testifie against Circumcision when he sayth If ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing for saith he I testifie to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to the whole law and Christ is become of none effect c. Gal. 5. 2 3. That which is here said of Circumcision is true of all other Levicicall rites if men will Judaize and stick now to Mosaicall rudiments Christ will be unprofitable unto them for they are againe enthralled and bound to keep the whole law and if they will be justified by such legall observations then Christ shall availe them nothing they hold not the head when they cleave to such ordinances They that will againe set up the Pedigogie of Moses and bring men under Judâ—icall rites and ceremonies these doe in effect deny Christ come in the flesh and therefore are of Antichrist according to that Text 1 Joh. 4. 2 3. So that the Saints bearing witnesse of the Priesthood of Christ doe oppose Antichrist in all
his legall observances Thirdly and lastly they testifie of the kingdome of Christ and doe antribute all headship power rule and domination to Christ they make him alone to be coput ecclesiae the supreame head of his Church and ridiculous is the Popes challenge to be the Ministeriall head whereas Christ hath not instituted any such image of his government The witnesses doe acknowledge the whole dominion and government to be upon Christs owne shoulders Esa 9. 6. he alone to have the soveraigne power and authority in governing of his Church he onely to have the supremacy of Regiment Hereby the witnesses doe testifie against the authority power and domination that Antichrist doth exercise and against those Cannon lawes and humane institutions that he doth set up Great hath been then surpation of Antichrist in this kinde he undertakes to rule over the soules and consciences of men one of the chiefest of all Babylons merchandizes are the soules of men Revel 18. 13. But this practice was never tollerated by Christ Antichrist doth rule by an earthly and humane power accordingly we have it expressed in Revel 17. 1 2. That the kings of the Earth committed fornication with the whore that is by joyning their power with her they give up their power to uphold her interest for this who rish woman doth ride on the beast vers 7. The woman is the Antichristian state riding upon the powers of the world in the forme of a beast unto whom the kings give their power So that when Antichrist and the kings of the earth have mixed and knit cheir power together that kingdome or that Empire that doth uphold the power of the whore becomes as a beast being inslaved to her yeilding unto her all their strength and dominion Then the power of States and Kingdomes thus begotten and brought forth by spirituall fornication is but a false and whorish power a corrupted and persecuting power by which meanes the idolatrous woman becomes drunken with the bloud of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Now the Saints giving testimony of the kingdome and dominion of Christ doe oppose all the false and tyrannicall powers of Antichrist And thus we have described what is the prophesie of the witnesse and the testimony that they give forth Fistly we are to consider the forme and state in which these witnesses prophesie and that is in sackcloth To prophesie in sackcloth denotes that sad and mournfull condition of the witnesses under the power and raigne of Antichrist Thus sackcloth and mourning is set forth as a badge or signe of sadnesse and distresse in 2 King 6. 30. and Amos 8. 10. This state of the witnesses doth hold forth unto us these three things First that the witnesses give out their testimony in a poor weak low and despicable way there being in some measure the absence of the bridegroome according to that speech of Christ in Matth. 9. 15. When the Bridegroome shall be taken away they shall mourn So that the reason why the witnesses mourne and put on sackcloth is because in a great measure the Bridegroome is absent and at a great distance and they in a very sad weak and meane condition and they doe but prophesie or foretell things to come beholding things a far off and not fully enjoying that glory that they prophesie of Secondly it imports that their persons were under restraint and persecution The beast alwayes making warre with them by fines imprisonment banishment and death they were continually under persecution trouble and vexation all the time of the raigne and dominion of Antichrist Thirdly it argues that their testimony was alwayes rejected cast forth and trampled under foot The world hath alwayes slighted and cast off the restimony of the witnesses as of old the Jewes did neglect the testimony of Christ of whom it is said No man received his testimony Job 3. 32. So that the 〈◊〉 cannot but mourne and lament as it were in sackcloth when their bridegroome is in a great measure absent when their persons are restrained and their testimony rejected Thus much for their state being clothed in sackcloth Sixtly and lastly the duration and continuance of their prophesie and that is a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes In the former verse when we opened the terme of forty two moneths accounting thâ—â—ty days for a moneth make just three yeers and a halfe holds proportion with the terme of 1260 dayes The Gentiles shall â—read under foot the holy Citie forty two moneths The witnesses shall prophesie in sackcloth 1260 dayes The woman nourished in the wildernesse 1260 dayes The terme mentioned by Daniel A time times and halfe a time The witnesses lie slaine three dayes and a halfe all these termes of time hold one and the same proportion So that the witnesses prophesying 1260 dayes is meant they shall prophesie the whole time of the visible raigne of Antichrist in sackcloth But here we may note that Antichrists time is counted by moneths which are reckoned by the course of the Moon unconstant and changeable and it shews forth thus much that all the worships formes and actions of Antichrist are brought forth by a weak and dim light a light borrowed from the Sun they are workes of darknesse and of the night wherein the Moone ruleth Gen. 1. 16. It is not a light of the Sun it ariseth not from Christ it shineth not immediatly from the Lord. But on the contrary the prophesie of the witnesses is accounted by dayes a day is measured by the Sun as a moneth is by the Moone and notes that it is a day time more constant more brightsome and full of light as appeares in Act. 26. 18. The true servants of Christ are brought out of darknesse into light and are children of the day and of the light and therefore it is their prophesie is measured out not by moneths but by dayes But however the witnesses time is accounted by dayes it holds the same proportion of time with forty two moneths that so long as Antichrist shall raigne and domineer so long shall the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth continually powering forth their testimony against the wickednesse of the man of sin So much for the time of the witnesses prophesse Having opened the words give me leave now to draw forth some observations from them First Observe That none can give 1 Observ forth a testimony of Christ but such as are impowered thereto by Christ I will give c. The Lord gives what the witnesses have Christ himselfe the great and faithfull witnesse saith As the Father hath said unto me so I speake Joh. 12. 50. Thus we have the Apostle speaking in 1 Joh. 1. 5. This is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you The servants of Christ can onely declare what they have received of him and that upon the surest evidence and clearest demonstration And hence it is that the Apostle saith What we have heard and seen we declare
unto you ver 3. So that onely those that receive from the Lord a gift a revelation or spirituall understanding such onely are able to give forth a testimony of Christ and of his truth These witnesses can admonister the things of God suitably to what they have received of the gift or measure of Christ Secondly Observe That all those that 2 Observ bold forth the truth of Christ opposing Antichrist are his witnesses This is the title the Lord gives them here these are my two witnesses these testifie of me these hold forth my truth by declaration and by profession as if the Lord had said these are mine they owne me they suffer for me they indure the word of my patience and I will own them for my witnesses they bearing witnesse of my truth Therefore every individuall Saint that doth according to his measure and ability either by preaching praying writing or profession hold forth the power and authority of Christ against the usurpation and tyranny of Antichrist whosoever he be of what quality or degree soever the same is a witnesse of Christ to testifie against the man of sin that wicked one that son of perdition Thirdly Observe That the witnesse 3 Observ of the Saints is a sufficient testimony They are called two witnesses by whom a thing is confirmed and ratified Therefore God hath not left himselfe without witnesse but hath alwayes sent forth such as would have healed Babylon but she refused to be healed and repented not of her deeds still persisting in her abominations Hence it is that the Apostle saith God should send them strong delusions that they should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beleeve a lie that they might be damned or judged that beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 2. 11 12. That is because of their obdurate malice and incredulity shutting their eyes against the truth that was sufficiently held forth by these witnesses therefore the Lord would blinde their eyes by a restraint of his grace and wholly give them up to Satan to captivate their mindes and seduce their understandings that they should beleeve lying false doctrines to take pleasure in unrighteousnesse so as by their prodigious lies and forged superstitions they should mightily oppose the truth Fourthly Observe That the whole 4 Observ been of the witnesses prophesie hath alwayes been to uphold the truth of Christ against the falshood of antichrist The things they prophesie shall come to passe is the kingdome of Christ and the ruine of Antichrist The testimony they give forth is that the power of the anointing in the anointed shall subdue the seed of the Serpent and that Christ as Prophet Priest and King shall overcome the wisdome worship and dominion of the beast Thus they prophesie and continually powre forth their testimony bearing witnesse unto the truth this is their message they have to declare and they make it their continuall study and practice faithfully to discharge this message and trust Thus Christ tells Pilate For this cause saith he came I into the world to beare witnesse of the truth Joh. 18. 37. This was Christs worke and businesse and this is the great arrand and embassage of all his people to beare witnesse of the truth and to set to their scales that Christ is true and that Antichrist is a lier a seducer full of untruth and unrighteousnesse Fiftly Observe Those that have been 5 Observ most faithfull unto Christ and his truth have been most rejected of the world These witnesses being persecuted in their persons and flighted in their testimony they are made to mourne and put on sackcloth Thus it was with Christ while he was on earth he did as it were prophesie in sackcloth being rejected Esa 53. 3. and despised of men was a man of sorrows and griefe his testimony was rejected his words contradicted his person set at nought and all because he did testifie of the truth The same measure is given forth to all his faithfull servants the true ground of all their sufferings is the testimony they give forth for bearing witnesse unto the truth The soules under the Altar were slaine for the testimony that they held Revel 6. 9. Sackcloth and mourning have been the portion of all such as witnessed the truth in the time of the powerfull raigne of Antichrist Sixtly and lastly Observe That Christ 6 Observ hath alwayes had a people to beare witnesse of his truth even in the saddest and darkest time of Antichrists raigne The time of the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth is as long as the time as the man of sin hath to trample under the holy Citie Though the times werenever so dark and persecutions never so cruell yet still there was alwayes a remnant that were neither so farre blinded nor so much discouraged as to give out as that they should withhold their witnesse unto the truth When Elijah thought he had been left alone the Lord had preserved to himselfe seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal nor kissed him I King 19. 18. So all the time of the generall apostacie and defection under the man of sin the Lord hath reserved to himselfe such as he hath kept from the evill of the time that would not yeeld to the worship nor conforme to the idolatrous courses of Antichrist VERS 4. Those are the two Olive trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth HAving already spoken of the authority title number and office of these witnesses also of the manner and duration of them in their office now we are led to enquire who they are of whom in this fourth verse we have a sufficient draught and ful description Before I come to declare positively who these witnesses are I shall first shew you what the various opinions of men are in this thing First There are those that would have these two witnesses to be meant of the two Testaments which they call Law and Gospel namely the Scriptures but this interpretation is too remote from the adequate sence and meaning of the place for these witnesses are brought in as men and personated by men that are brought in as their types and are described by such actions that they should performe before the world therefore I shall consent that the Scriptures are the Testimony that these witnesses give forth but not the witnesses themselves Secondly Others understand the two witnesses to be meant of Godly Magistrates and Godly Ministers viz. two eminent ranks of men of the same quality as Zerubbabel and Joshua were of Now though this interpretation doth beare some Analogie and proportion to the truth the text cannot be so restrained for those two eminent types did rather prefigure Christ who is here brought in as the great witnesse meant by the two Olive trees as will appeare by the sequell therefore if Christ be chiefly personated by Zerubbabel and Joshua there is then no necessity to
ministration of all things should be in the hand of Christ and that himselfe should continually minister in the holy things of God Then without question Zerubbabel the chiefe governour and Joshua the high Priest these anointed ones were eminent types of Christ who was the anointed King and Priest over his Church into whose hands God hath put the judgement and administration of all things Fourthly and lastly These two olive trees are said to stand by the Lord of the whole earth Now there is none that stands by the Lord of the whole earth but Christ himselfe as appeares by that place Dan. 10. 21. The Lord speaking by an Angel to Daniel saith I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth and there was none that boldeth with me or strengtheneth himselfe in these things but Michael your Prince The Lord had threatened to fight with the Prince of Persia and therefore saith to Daniel I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth this being a figurative speech doth mean the determinate counsell and minde of God and that none strengtheneth himselfe but Michael the Prince as if he had said There is no humane force or power whereby I will sustaine my selfe but by Michael the Archangel Jesus Christ the Prince Leader and chiefe Conductor of his people To stand by the Lord of the whole earth notes these four things First Dignity and honour that is peculiar onely to Christ according to that of the Apostle where he saith God hath exalted him and given him a name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above every name Phil. 2. 9. Christ in taking our nature made himselfe of no reputation or as the word signifieth he evacuated himselfe he did as it were exhaust and draw himselfe dry denuding and stripping himselfe of all his glory but now in his exaltation standing before the Lord his excellency and glory doth shine forth Secondly It notes power and strength for to stand before the Lord is all one with sitting at Gods right hand mentioned Heb. 10. 11. Gods right hand in Scripture is taken Metonymically for strength whereby Christ is enabled to uphold and protect his people and to dissipate and scatter all his enemies as having all things subjected under his feet Hence it is said He standeth before the God of the earth God is called the God of heaven Dan. 2. 18. Here he is called the God of the carth noteing that though Antichrist seemeth to bear all the sway in the world yet Christ hath the rule and world yet Christ hath rule and power of things in the earth and he rules in the kingdomes of men and that he interposeth and meddles in all secular affaires in order to his owne kingdome and to the preservation of his owne people Thirdly It notes the actuall administration of the kingdome of God to be put into the hands of Christ for the Father hath loved him put all things into his hand Joh. 3. 35. And in respect of the dispensatory part of the kingdome of God the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son John 5. 22. And hath appointed him over his owne house Heb. 2. 8. So that Christ by standing before the Lord is impowered to subject the hearts of men to himselfe captivating the thoughts and imaginations of his people to counsell and direct to govern and protect them and also to tread upon the necke and power of his adversries confounding their plots and destroying of their persons Fourthly To stand before the Lord of the whole earth acceptation and delight to be as it were alwayes in the eye and heart of God and this priviledge is eminently attributed to Christ in Prov. 8. 22 23 24 c. The Lord Possessed me in the beginning of his way before his workes of old the phrase of beginning is put for eternity a parte ame as we say as if Christ should have said even from eternity before the creation of the world I was my fathers darling for when he made the heavens girded the sea and gave the unresistible decree that it should keepe it's bounds I was as one brought up with him I was as a child with the father I was daily his delight The Hebrew word is in the plurall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 number delights intimating that Christ was the greatest delights of the father he was variety of delights unto him in so much that while God was making of the world he took such delight in him that he made all things by him that is he made all things as bearing some analogy or proportion of him So that every creature hath some Character some inscription or shadow of his excellency upon it Againe he addeth I was alwayes rejoycing before him In the Hebrew it is sporting greatly the phrase being a metaphor or simile taken from little children that sport and play before their parents Thus Christ is alwayes standing before the Lord being his continuall delight his joy and rejoycing as alwayes in his eye and favour Thus we see plainly who is meant by the two olive trees namely Christ who standeth on the right side and on the left side of the Candlestick emptying oyle out of himselfe being the anointed one of God standing by the Lord of the whole earth Now it followeth that we shew who are meant by the two Candlesticks The two Candlesticks doe represent unto us the Saints and servants of Christ the whole number of Churches and beleevers and this will appeare if we consider some particulars in relation to these Candlesticks First These receive oyle into themselves as the olive trees doe emptie oyle out of themselves so the Candlesticks receive in oyle into themselves As it was said of Aaron that the oyntment powered upon his head ran downe to the skirts of his garment Psal 133. 2. Alluding to that fragrant oyntment made of so many precious ingredients mentioned Exod. 30. 23. So Christ being filled with heavenly and divine anointings that all his members receive of his fulnesse Joh. 1. 16. They receive an unction from the boly One I Joh. 2. 20. There is in Christ plenitudo redundantie a fulness of redundancy and everlasting spring of heavenly grace continually flowing forth upon all his people whereby they are filled with the fullnesse of God Eph. 3. 19. and are replenished with a perfect supply of light and life Thus the Saints are made the anointed ones of God by receiving the golden oyle into themselves though it be true they receive it as it were at second hand as through a Mediator Christ having first received of his father all fullnesse of divine grace doth abundantly communicate to all that are his Secondly These Candlesticks were sayd to be made of pure gold Revel 1. 12. According to the description we finde in Exod. 25. 31. which denotes the purity and righteousnesse of the Saints Christ himselfe is sayd to be a head of gold Cant. 5. 10.
third Seale Chap. 6. 5 6. And when he had opened the third seale I beheld a black horse and he that sate on him had a pair of ballances in his hand and a measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny c. The black Horse and he that â—ate thereon with a pâ—re of ballances signifie scarcity â—aminâ— a great dearth and want which is all one with the Viall poured out upon the fountaine of waâ—â—â— Agreeable hereunto is the effect of the third trumpet Chap. 8. 10 11. At the sound of the third Trumpet a great starre fell from heaven burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountaines of waters and the name of the star is called worm-wood and the third part of the waters became wormewood many dyed of the waters because they were made bitter The starr falling from heaven burning like a Lampe shewes forth some glorious discovery made of the mysterie of truth by the Angell that sounded this third Trumpet and this becomes worm-wood making all the fountaines of water to be bitter so that all the fountaines and springs of the water of consolation and comfort all the streams of light and life that the men of the earth or of the Antichristian Church did draw forth and were refreshed by these were all become bitter as worme-wood So that as by the former viall poured out the Sea and the waters became blood now by this third Viall being poured forth the Rivers and Fountains became as blood and as wormewood bitter and unsavory for the the Fountain is corrupted the streams are defiled they cannot drinke or be refreshed by them The wisdome and policie of the Beast all the invented ordinances and worships all the power and rule of Antichrist these fountaines these streames are all become unsavoury all that feed upon them feed on the curse they feed on bitter waters and dye therewith The fourth Viall was powred out 4 Viall upon the Sun And this scorched men with fire they blaspheme God because of their plagues and repented not c. Revel 16. 8 9. Agreeable hereunto is the effect of opening the fourth seale Revel 6. 8. When the fourth seale was opened or a fourth discovery of truth revealed there appeared a pale horse upon whom sate death and hell followed him and power was given him over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with the beasts of the earth Under the former seale we had famine now here we have death and hell following this is meant of the spirituall death that the men of the earth who worship Antichrist shall be slaine withall as in their parts professions and power The same consequent followeth the fourth Trumpet Chap. 8. 12. The fourth Angel sounded and the third part of the Sun was smitten and the third part of the Moone and the third part of the Stars so as the third part of them was darkned and the day shone not for the third part of it and the night likewise The whole state and kingdome all the ordinances and worships with their offices ministry were all darkned confounded and destroyed by the sound of this Trumpet So the Viall powred out upon the Sun darkens all the Churches and Ordinances all the powers and governments all the doctrines and worships of Antichrists their Sun looseth his light and their Moone her shining and their Starres their glory and darknesse and confusion come in their roome The fist viall was powred out upon the 5 Viall seat of the beast and his kingdome was full of darknesse and they knawed their tongues for paine and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their paines c. Revel 16. 10. The seat of the beast is that earthly power that upholds Antichrist as kingdomes States powers dignities rules and dominions these powers upholding the power of the beast shall be shaken and torne in pieces Suitable hereunto is the effect of the fift seal Chap. 6. 9 10. And when he had opened the fift seal I saw the soules under the Altar of them that were slaine for the word of God and for the testimony which they held and they cryed how long Lord c. These cry out for vengeance and wrath to be powred out upon the head of the powers of the earth that persecuted and tormented them Compare with this the fist Angel sounding in Chap. 9. 1. whereat there was a Star that fell from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomlesse pit c. This Star doth represent us with such as before disowned the power and seat of the beast but now fall to the earth or would set up some new forme of worship and ground it upon an earthly power and so fall from that seeming heaven they lived in to strengthen themselves from the earth and so cause a great smoake and confusion to arise that so truth can hardly be discerned from error light from darknesse the bottomlesse pit is now open and the Temple is full of smoke whereby the Sun and ayre are both darkned so that Church and State are brought into confusion So that when the Viall of Gods wrath is powred out upon the seat of the beast or power and strength of Kings and States that the Gospel must onely be supported by the power of Christ alone then the state and kingdome shall be full of darkness and confusion they shall gnaw their tongues and blaspheme God because of those sores and breaches that be made upon them The sixt viall was powred out upon the 6 Viall great river Euphrates the waters thereof were dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared Chap. 16. 12. The drying up of the river Euphrates seemes to be spoken by an allusion to the taking of old Babylon Jer. 50. 38. And to the drying up of the Red Sea Exod. 14. 21 22. and also of Jordan Josh 3. 16. By this is signified that by the powring out of the sixt Viall all the strength and power of the beast should be dryed up then the Kings of the East both Jew and Gentiles shall come to embrace the Gospel upon the glorious manifestation of the glory and power thereof The great effect of this Vialls powering out is That three uncleane spirits like frogs comes forth of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false Prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which goe forth to the Kings of the earth and to the whole world to gather them to the battell of the great day of God Almightie and he gathereth together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon Vers 13 14. 16. By the Dragon the beast and false Prophet are meant all the powers of Antichrist Civill and Ecclesiasticall these send forth uncleane spirits like frogs who send forth their Legats and
be when they have finished their testimony These witnesses have a time to prophesie and also a time when they shall finish their testimony and then they are slaine The maine thing we are to quire after is to know when these have finished their testimony and then we shall easily know when they are to be slaine Now the most received opinion is that these witnesses never come to finish their testimony untill neer the end and period of Antichrists raigne that there should be some great and eminent slaughter at the latter end of their prophesie upon the declining of Antichrist's state and kingdome but this is far remote from the true scope and sence of â—he truth in this place for so the slaying of the witnesses should be restrained to some particular persons and to some particular time and that neer the end of Antichrists raigne whereas the slaving of the witnesses is a continued act even all the dayes of the powerfull raigne of the beast who doth alwayes make war against these and doth alwayes overcome and kill the holy people all the time that the holy Citie is given into his hand to trample upon them and abuse them Then the time when these witnesses have finished their testimony is meant no more then this that when any of the faithfull servants of Christ shall in any age or time of Antichrist faithfully and fully discharge their trust deliver their message give forth their testimony of those truths of Christ that they are convinced of against Antichrist and the present evills of the times they live under then they are sayd to finish their testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is variously translated the most accute render it when they are about to finish their testimony This they doe before they are slaine and because they doe this therefore they are slaine for they are slaine because of the testimony they give forth Thus Christ was sayd to finish hu worke Joh. 17. 4. by that faithfull testimony he gave of the Father And Paul tells us he had finished his course 2 Tim. 4. 7. when he had faithfully discharged his trust by preaching the Gospel according to his Commission So the Saints in every age and time when they have faithfully given in their evidence and testimony of that truth they know then they have finished their testimony and not that all the witnesses should first give in their testimony and at the last a few of them should be slaine but that I say every Saint every witnesse of the Lord in every age and time shall faithfully give in his testimony and then is slaine so that the slaying of the witnesses is not confined to one time or the last period of Antichrist but their slaying continues as long as their prophesie in sackcloth as we shall shew more hereafter Secondly by whom shall these witnesses be slaine and that is by the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit Now for the opening of this passage consider three things First who is meant by this beast Secondly from whence he cometh Thirdly the forme or manner of his coming First by this beast is meant Antichrist who is so called from his beastly nature being most fierce and cruell most barbarous and dangerous So he is called a beast in Chap. 13. 4 5. because his mouth is full of blasphemy and his carriage full of inhumanity for his rage fury and madnesse he is like unto a beast being of a devouring nature and of a beastly disposition The whorish woman is sayd to ride upon the beast Chap. 17. 7. The woman is that whorish and Antichristian spirit that doth ride forth and act by a beastly inhumane power and as a beast doth devour and destroy and the Kings of the earth give their power unto the beast and so they become beastly fierce and untractable also The beast then is no other then that wicked one that son of perdition that spirit of wickednesse that mystery of iniquity putting it selfe forth in some corrupt and beast-like power and carriage most fierce and devouring it is Antichrist in his power and greatnesse oppressing and destroying the Saints of the most high So much for the description of the beast Secondly from whence this beast doth arise and that is from the bottomlesse pit or deep Abysse The beast mentioned in Chapt. 13. 1. is sayd to arise out of the sea that is out of many peoples and nations And the beast in vers 13. is sayd to arise out of the earth from a kingly or earthly power But this beast that slayeth the witnesses shall arise out of the bottomlesse pit Three things are sayd to ascend out of the bottomeesse pit First the smoke of the bottomlesse pit Chap. 9. 2. which is meant of all Antichristian darknesse and confusion Secondly we read of the Angel of the bottomlesse pit Chap. 9. 11. which is Satan called therefore Apollyon that is to say a destroyer whose worke is to destroy others Lastly we have the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit spoken of here and also in Chap. 17. 8. First the smoke of the bottomlesse pit is meant of that darknesse and confusion of that ignorance blindnesse that doth arise upon the soule as a thicke cloud from the fleshly acting of the heart whereby the minde and understanding is wholly darkned and obscured according to that of the Apostle speaking of the Gentiles saith Having their understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart Ephes 4. 18. Blindnesse and darknesse is upon all the thoughts and inventions upon all the carnall actings of the flesh Secondly the Angel of the bottomlesse pit is Satan that Prince of darknesse that evill spirit that rules in the children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. The Prince and power of darknesse by his instigations and suggestions doth rule and sway mans heart By the close of mans heart with Satan he is captivated ensnared and so brought into subjection unto him as unto a mighty Prince or Ruler Thus we see who is ment by the Angel of the bottomles pit Thirdly the beast of the bottomlesse pit is Antichrist in the forme of a beast or acting in his beastly inhumane power with much cruelty and fiercenesse Now what is this bottomlesse pit or deep Abysse that hath no bottome it cannot be measured none can take a dimention of it now I say what is this but that hellish working those fleshly imaginations those blacke and beastly devices of mans heart whereof there is no measure or end none can fadome them none can search the bottome of them Wee told you before that the frame and image of Antichrist did arise from the spirit of Antichrist so here this beast or power of darknesse that slayeth the witnesses ariseth out of that hellish wickednesse that rage and cruelty from that darknesse and confusion in the heart of man this is the pit
name honour strength and dignity then he had been formerly So the Witnesses shall ascend into a state and condition much more excellent then they had before enjoyed This ascention is diametrically opposed to their sack cloath condition to that meane and low condition these Witnesses had lived in while they were under the power and raign of the beast This ascention is not a carnall or bodily transmutation or a motion from place to place but of a mutation of state and condition 't is an ascention unto more liberty freedome knowledg strength and glory then they had lived in before Secondly the place unto which they are to ascend and that 's to heaven the kingdome of Christ is mystically called Heaven The Saints are said to dwell in Heaven as Antichrist is said to dwell in Earth the meaning is they shall ascend into a more heavenly condition of liberty power strength wisdome knowledge light and life They shall come to possesse the Kingdome of Christ and enjoy all the immunities thereof They shall live more in heavenly discoveries of God and Christ and his will their externall peace and internal glory shall be very heavenly and glorious And in this respect the Saints that shall sound forth the everlasting Gospel are said to be in the midst of heaven Chap. 14. 6. The Saints are called Heaven it selfe Chap. 18. 20. The multitude of Saints that shall sing Allelujah's and praises unto God upon the destruction of Babylon are called a people that dwell in heaven Chap. 19. 1. because they live in heavenly enjoyments and praises So here the Witnesses are said to ascend up to heaven in respect of that heavenly and glorious condition and state that the Lord will advance his people unto when hee shal wholly break the power of the beast and advance his people to partake of the glory and dignity of his owne kingdome Thirdly wee have the manner how these Witnesses ascend that 's in a cloud This great thick Cloud that God draws over the Earth and with which he doth over-shadow the face of all things this is that darkness that confusion division contest warre envie this I say is that dark cloud that the Lord hath drawn over the face of the Earth Hath not God drawn this black cloud upon the affairs counsels wisdome and actions of men the order government peace prosperity of the world is all over-shadowed men know not where they are nor what they doe when they goe too fast nor when too slow the very hearts and affections of men are divided the world is full of contests and wars and confusions and there is such a mist upon mens spirits that they scarce know which way to turn themselves It 's in this cloud of confusion in which the Witnesses do ascended We cannot but remember that the Lord brought his people from Aegypt by dividing of the Sea by separating of the great waters so wil the Lord raise up his Saints by dividing of the men of the earth the great Sea or peoples of the earth by dividing of them by confounding of the wisdome and policie of the world by dashing one part of the earth against another I say in this manner and by this means the Lord will cause his faithfull ones to ascend Lastly we have that special Adjunct that is hereunto annexed And their enemies beheld them By their enemies we are to understand People Nations Kindreds and Tongues with all the inhabitants of the Earth All worldly carnall Antichristian men these shall behold them to their griefe and vexation This is mentioned first as to the torment and excessive grief that the Adversaries shall take when they shall see them that they have despised trampled upon and contemned to be lifted up to ascend unto honour and dignity unto life and glory And secondly it 's mentioned in the praise and happinesse of those that doe ascend in the view of their Adversaries As the Prophet makes it an augmentation of bounty that the Lord should spread his table in the midst of his foes Psal 23. So this is an addition to their honour they shall ascend in the midst of their Adversaries in their view and before their eye This is the saddest sight that earthly men can behold they shall see them ascend and shall not be able to stop their passage this shall be as worm-wood as gall and bitternesse to their spirits this shall even make them gnash their teeth but they shal not be able to help themselves The words being thus far opened we now come to raise some observations from them First observe That the Witnesses are 1 Observ enabled to ascend by the powerfull voyce of the spirit of God They can never rise nor ascend until they are called up to the Lord by this great voyce this loud heavenly voyce this voyce of Majestie and glory Antichrist was able to suppresse and keepe under these two Prophets of the Lord untill the Lord comes and raises them up by his owne voyce and command If all the world should call upon them to arise they could not untill the Lord speake the word and say Come up hither When the Lod speaks with a heavenly voyce it is so full of love and joy of light and life that every thing in the hearts of his doe heare his voyce every faculty every member all parts heare and obey The soule is never willing to ascend untill the Lord calls by his eternall voyce and that hath such force and power such excellency and and majestie that it removes every obstacle out of the way and sets aside every thing that would hinder And again this voyce is so great so powerfull carries with it so much authority that the men of the Earth cannot hinder their rising If the Lord speak with a powerful voyce to the world â—o Antichrist to the men of the Earth Let my people ascend lâ—t them come up hither all the force power policie of men shall not hinder them This voyce is dreadful to the men of the earth and doth so much affright them that they are forced at last as once Pharaoh was to let the Israel of God goe and ascend out of Aegypt to Jerusalem from bondage to liberty from weaknesse to strength from persecution to dominion from light to darknesse from Earth to Heaven Now the Saints are taken up to live in heavenly comforts and joyes in heavenly discoveries of â—ight and life in heavenly immunities and priviledges And all this is done by the great the mighty and powerful voyce of God Secondly observe from the ascention it selfe That the Witnesses have their 2 Observ time of triumph and rejoycing as well as they have a time of sack cloath and mourning When they ascend they shal shake off their sack-cloath and mourning they shal ascend farre higher unto an estate of more liberty honour peace and glory then their former estate was They shall not alwayes be made the scorne and reproach of the
stability Of such an Earth-quake we reed Amos 1. 1. And the like appeared when Christ arose from the dead as it 's recorded Mat. 28 2. But here we are to understand a mysticall and spirituall Earth-quake a shaking of Kings Kingdomes States Powers Formes Goverments and the very dignities orders strengths and comforts of men The same Earthquake is meant Chap. 6. 12. And Ch. 16. 18. Thus the Lord saith He will shake the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and the dry land all nations Hag. 2. 6. This was partly fulfilled when Christ came in the flesh the heaven of Ceremonies and shadows and of all the Jewish worship was shaken and abolished and also the earth was shaken both Sea and dry land all the whole earth was full of great commotions and ruines But this is again to be fulfilled yet once more will the Lord shake heaven and earth The heaven of Antichrists worship Church forme order and government And the earth also all those worldly powers that have engaged to uphold and manage the cause of the Beast these powers dominion authorities and states shall be shaken also Thus we see what wee are to understand by this Earth-quake the great commotions and troubles that shal even rend tear the earth in pieces all its order power government and dominion both in Church and State shall be broken all shal be turned upside down by these violent breakings forth that shal happen upon the world at the rising and ascending of the Witnesses In the third place we have the consequents of this great Earth-quake in these words The tenth part of the Citie fell and in the Earth-quake were slaine of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven This first consequent in order is this The tenth part of the Citie fell Whereof we are to take notice of three things viz. what is meant First by the City Secondly by the tenth part Thirdly by the fall thereof First this City is great Babylon mentioned in Chap. 17. 5. which is meant of the whole universall power dominion and territories of the Antichristian Church and State The nations combined together and gathered into a Church worshipping the Beast and his image submitting to his rule and government this is the great City Babylon of which we have spoken already from vers 8. Though Rome it selfe hath mystically ruled over the Nations hath been the rise of abominations and therefore in some sense is meant by the Citie yet it cannot be taken so restrictively but it takes in the whole State and Church of Antichrist that is called this Citie the mother of Harlots that hath corrupted the earth with her abominations Secondly the tenth part of the Citie the principall thing here to be enquired after is variously interpreted Some would have the tenth part to be meant of the Levites part such a part as was offered to the Priests under the Law as a maintenance of the legall Priest-hood So that hereby the lot or portion of the Priest-hood the chiefest and most devoted part should fall that the tribute of Tythes on tenths whereby the Antichristian Ministry was maintained should fall and utterly be withheld at the rising and ascending of the Witnesses But by the tenth part of the Citie we may understand of the tenth part of the Nations and Peoples that were devoted to the service of Antichrist In Chap. 17. 13. Ten kingdoms give up their power and strength to the beast to serve and worship him Now the tenth part of those Kingdomes Nations or Peoples that have wholly given up themselves to Antichrist and have resigned up their rule and authority their worship and service to the Beast these are here called the tenth part of the Citie Thirdly this tenth part shall fall by with-drawing themselves from the yoake and bondage of the service of Antichrist as it 's foretold of them in Chap. 17. 16. These shall hate the whore eate her flesh and burne her with fire Those tenne kingdomes or nations that had formerly given up all their strength and power to the Beast and did formerly support Antichrist now they shall withdraw themselves again now they shall with one consent prepare themselves for her destruction For God hath put into their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdome unto the beast untill the words of God should be fulfilled Chap. 17. 17. The Lord in justice gave over the nations to be servile to Antichrist for an appointed time untill he had executed all his cruelties and enjoyed his dominion and tyranny over them so at the end of his determined time God will put it into the hearts of the nations to consent and agree to rise up unto the destruction of all Antichristian dominion and power And though these nations shall not fully wholly thus rise up to effect this great worke to hate the whore eat her flesh and burne her with fire untill the last seale be opened the last Trumpet sounded and the last Viall powred out when there shall be a finall and totall destruction of Antichrist's power and raigne yet there shall be a tenth part of the nations that God will raise up to begin this worke God will honour some nation or nations first to withdraw their power and authority from the service of the beast and to oppose his tyranny and oppression and that at the opening of the sixt seale the founding of the sixt Trumpet the powring forth of the sixt Viall at the time in which the witnesses shall begin to rise and ascend Now these nations that the Lord shall first begin withall to raise up to oppose the power of the beast I say this nation or nations is meant here by the tenth part of the Citie For before that all Nations shall hate the whore and cast her off and burne her flesh with fire there shall be some particular nations that God will honour with the first of his worke and this is called the tenth part of the Citie that should fall not onely by withdrawing their owne power and assistance but also opposing and suppressing the dominion and power of Antichrist The second consequent followeth in these words And in the earth-quake were slaine of men seven thousand In the opening hereof it will be necessary that we consider of three things concerning those here that are sayd to be slaine First the persons Secondly the manner Thirdly their number The persons here slaine are expressed by an elegancy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The names of men put for men of name that is of power greatnesse of office or dignity of some place or eminency The Hebrews expresse men of honour or renowne by men of name Gen. 6. 4. So here names of men being put for men of name are meant men of note and quality such as are of place and dignity men of worth and greatnesse These men here slaine by the earthquake are not of the
in some respect and in some things cast off the service and dominion of the beast yet they have not cast off the image of the beast For if we cast our eyes upon the reformed Churches abroad we shall see a national church a carnall Ministry worldly Christians invented ordinances of mans framing civill and earthly lawes and institutions humane and naturall gifts parts exercised so that these reformed churches so much talked of are but some politick and humane frame that sets up an image to the beast or Antichrist coming forth in another forme and shape then that of downright Popery And therefore we cannot judge any of them to be the tenth part of the Citie neither can we expect the rising of the witnesses to be from thence Now for as much as England is the first nation that is wholly thorowly casting off and disowning all Antichristian powers and for as much as the Lord hath raised up his people in a great measure from their sackcloth and mourning the Saints here begin to stand upon their feet to ascend above the power of their adversaries into the liberty of Christs kingdome and in that God hath begun this great earthquake here shaking all powers both accleâ—â—asticall and civill this I say doth plainly demonstrate that England is that tenth part of the Citie where the witnesses shall first rise out of their sackcloth bondage Now this great earthquake that had it's first beginning here shall continue and by degrees reach other nations the Lord will from hence goe on to shake all nations the sea and the dry land And though Dutch and Dane and French shall combine against us and becompasse the Camp of the Saints and the holy Citie yet the fire of the Lord shall come from heaven and consume them The Lord shall be unto this Island a wall of fire round about Zech. 2. 5. And thus the Lord will undoubtedly goe on untill he hath subdued the power of the nations broken the strength of the ten hornes that they shall wholly withdraw their power and authority from the service of Antichrist and shall devote all their strength riches authority to advance the kingdome of Christ Thus not onely a tenth part shall fall in the earthquake but all the ten hornes by degrees shall be scattered and broken and whereas they have given their power and service to the beast so now all their strength and power shall serve Christ and his ends The kingdomes of the world shall become Christs at the sound of the seventh Trumpet of which we shall speake in it's due place now we proceed Fourthly from the second effect 4 Observ and there were slaine of men seven thousand Observe Those principally and chiefly shall be slaine in the earthquake that are the upholders and maintainers of Antichrists cause and quarrell Those here sayd to be slaine are the names of men or men of name of fame of note of qualitie of office of dignity such as these are slaine these are slaine in their offices The Lord puls downe the mightie from their seats and exalts the humble and mâ—eke â— powers riches honours these are cast out of ecclesiasticall civill power and rule and as it 's said of the Dragon they are cast out of heaven down to the earth they are degraded and cast out as an abominable branch This earthquake doth not so much shake and scatter the poore ignorant seduced people as those that are great in power in office in parts and renowne There is not one of these shall escape the seven thousand the full perfect and compleat number of those chiefe props and stays of Antichrist such as mannage his cause and maintaine his quarrell there is not one of those that shall escape that shall not be throwne downe How hath this earthquake shaken men out of their honours and dignities out of offices places as those that were in ecclesiasticall jurisdiction Bishopâ— Deans Chapters Câ—ancellors Commissaries Ordinaries Parsons and Curates with all the rest of the Prelaticall crew And then those in civill power dominion King Lords Parliaments and all others of place and power that have set their hands to uphold the power of the beast the Antichristian or Cleargie interest they have been broken and sâ—ared All men of name of civil or ecclesiasticall power and rule that have set and engaged themselves to uphold or maintain the cause interest of the beast they have been all broken slaine in this great and â—errible earthquake Therefore let all States and powers take heed how they mix their authority with the usurped ecclesiasticall power for whosoever doth so shall surely be destroyed For the beast and the false Prophet shall be both taken together and be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Revel 19. 20. The beast is corrupted Magistracy or forme of power ecclesiasticall and civill mixâ— together compounded and joyned into one and so acts and comes forth in the forme of a beast The false Prophet is meant of those Priests that speake lies in the name of the Lord that seeme to work miracles and cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men counterfelting the spirit of God when they speake but a divination and falshood of their own spirits Now the beast and the false Prophet fall together The one speaking lies and the other upholding him The Clergie first studying and inventing formeâ— of worship and the earthly power mainâ—aining them O that the powers of the earth might see how much they are damnified by Cleargie interest what a heavie burden it is to carry the weight of spirituall jurisdiction which will prove as a talent of lead upon the shoulders of all that stand under it The woman is sayd to ride upon the beast Revel 17. 7. The Antichristian church carried upon the back of earthly powers Hath not experience told us that there hath not been any sort of men of what title or qualitie soever that have layd hold of Antichrists interest and sought to uphold and maintaine his cause but they have been ensuared and broken in pieces Why hath there been all those turnings and overturnings of men of note and place but because they have joyned interest and power with the beast and have endeavoured to uphold that usurped ecclesiasticall power either Prelaticall or Classicall Fiftly from the third consequent And the remnant were affrighted c. observe That when God doth scatter the great 5 Obser and mighty ones of the earth it doth much amaze affrighten the poore and ignorant people that have been seduced by them When the pillars of Antichrist are shaken it must needs perplex and trouble those that depended upon them For when the poore misled people shall see the men of name their great rulers throwne downe and debased this cannot but affright them when that power that ruled them shall be subdued when that wisdome that led them shall be
voyces of Aâ—llelâ—jahs and praises to God And of these voyces here mentioned we may note three things First they are great voyces they are mighty and powerfull voyces God once spake to Elijah in a low still voyce so he hath done unto his people while they prophesied in sackcloth but now upon the great and various discoveries of God the Saints are made to sound forth mighty declarations of his truth glory It is said in Psal 29. 3 4 c. The voyce of the Lord thundereth upon many waters it 's powerfull and full of Majesty breaking downe the Cedars of Lebanon dividing the flames of fire and making the wildernesse to shake c. So these voyces of the witnesses risen are so great and powerfull that they shake the wisedome glory strength riches power and excellency of the world The appearances of God in former time have been faint and low in his people they have seene things at a great distance and have as it were whispered in a low private voyce of the things of the kingdome of Christ but now they shall publish them on the house-top and as John Baptist could say Behold the Lamb of God so shall these cry aloud with boldnesse and confidence with assurance and liberty and say the kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ There is no eare but shall heare and no heart but shall tremble at this voyce Hell and Devills all the glory of flesh and power of the world shall be affrighted and consumed before this great and mighty voyce Secondly These voyces are sayd to be in heaven The witnesses are risen and ascended up into heaven to live in heavenly discoveries and enjoyments to walke in the light and to act in the glory of God These voyces come from the excellent glory like the voyce that came unto Christ at his transâ—iguration The Saints that lived in a poore earthly condition before under the oppressing power of the earth are now raised up into heaven and there doe rejoyce over that vengeance that the Lord executeth upon the earth Therefore in respect of Babylons destruction the Saints are thus called upon Rejoyce over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged her Revel 18. 19. Nothing but songs of praise and glorious voyces of deliverance are heard of those that live in heaven who live in the spirit of God and in the glorious discoveries and divine manifestations of the Lord. There can be no voyce from heaven but it must be full of excellency and glory the voyce of joy and gladnesse the voyce of praise and triumph These voyces are heard round about the throne of God and they sound forth nothing but the power throne dominion and glory of God Here is heaven opened the glory of God manifested and Saints under those heavenly dispensations singing Allelujahs saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of Christ Now they can say the Lord lives the Lord raigns When the Lord shall raigne before his Ancients gloriously Esa 24. 23. The Saints of God called the twenty-foure Elders vers 16. are meant by the Ancients before whom the Lord will raigne upon whom the glory of God shall shine Now the Ancients or Elders being raised up by the Ancient of dayes to sit with him in heavenly places will abundantly Trumpet forth the glory of God and sing from heaven his wonderfull praises Thirdly These were voyces in heaven not one single voyce but voyces a plurality of voyces and those not a few but many here are a multitude of voyces now at the rising of the witnesses the Saints are multiplyed they are not now as a poore few scattered people but they increase to thousands of thousands here are multitudes of hearts enlarged and multitudes of voyces sounding in heaven They shall not be a poore despised remnant who are accounted the off-scouring of all things but now abundance of the Sea shall be converted and a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong Nation Esa 60. 5. 22. There shall be a miraculous increase and multiplication of Saints that shall utter their voyces together and yet they shall all sing with one voyce with one tune all these voyces sound one and the same thing they all concentre in one they all sound forth the praise and glorie of Christ's raigne and kingdome Now before I proceed to speake of the subject matter that these voyces do proclaime viz. the glory of Christ's raigne and kingdome I shall give you some observations of what hath been already spoken from this verse First From the succession of Trumpets or the Saints declaring the glory and truth of God observe That the 1 Observ Lord hath alwayes had a people to declare his truth unto the world There was alwayes some that did proclaime and professe the truth of Christ though in weaknesse yea the first Trumpet hath it's time of sounding as well as the seventh In every age according as the Lord made a discovery of his truth there were some ready to give forth a testimony thereof before the world When the Prophet Elijah thought in his owne judgement there was none left in Israel besides himselfe there was seven thousand left that the Lord reserved to himselfe that had not bowed the knee to Baal So in the saddest and darkest times of Antichrists raigne there have been those that have according to their measure given forth their testimony of the truth Every Trumpet sounding did in some measure hold forth the glory of the Lord and every such declaration of truth hath caused a viall of wrath to fall upon the man of sin Secondly observe That the Lord hath 2 Observ manifested his truth by degrees or in a graduall way hath caused his Saints to declare it The seventh Trumpet doth imply six other Trumpets that went before and so every one is brought forth in it's time and order untill that of the seventh cometh to sound The Lord opened one seale after another letting light breake forth Minutatim by little and little and as it were by piecemeals drop by drop untill at last he comes to open the seventh seale by making a perfect and compleat discovery of his truth The Saints in sackcloth in the midst of Antichrists raign were under much dimnesse and darknesse but the Lord in every age respectively hath made severall advances of truth and hath by degrees brought up his people from the state of bondage and darknesse by making a more full manifestation of his truth unto them So the Saints hold forth the truth of God by degrees and proceed gradually from the sounding of the first Trumpet untill they come to the seventh It is with the Saints in this case as it 's said of the waters of the Sanctuary Ezek. 47. That these waters did increase and arise first to the ancles then to the knees afterwards as high as a mans loyns
at last the waters arose to that height that they became a mighty river wherein a man might swim and without which he could not passe over them So that the Saints under the first second third Trumpets did all hold forth a profession of the truth and according to their measures did give a testimony thereunto though but in some small weake and faint discoveries of it and more in the letter then in the spirit These were glorious lights also in respect of the darknesse of those ages and generations they lived in but yet in respect of that light discovered and that declaration of the truth made out by the Saints under the sixt and seventh Trumpet they were under much darknesse and weaknesse not being come up to that degree of light that the Lord hath of late discovered and will make knowne unto his people Thirdly observe There shall be a most 3 Observ compleat and glorious discovery and declaration of truth made out by the Saints under the seventh Trumpet The seven Trumpets are all comprehended in one the last Trumpet includes all the former Seven as you heard is the number of perfection and rest So all the Trumpets are involved and wrapt up in this last The seventh seale is the highest revelation of truth the seventh Trumpet is the highest and most perfect declaration by which the Saints do proclaime and make it forth Suitable unto this is that Prophesie Esa 30. 26. Moreover the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven dayes So that here is seven dayes brought into one day and one day shall have the light of seven So that the last and highest discovery of truth shall comprehend all the former The seventh and last Trumpet signifies the highest declaration of the glory of God the truth and kingdome of Jesus that ever the Saints publish or sing forth it is the breaking forth of the highest praises and greatest glory of God In this great and last dispensation the Saints obtaine a fuller measure of the spirit then ever they are now sevenfold more enabled to proclaime the glory power and kingdome of Christ then ever they could doe in former time Fourthly from the great voyces heard in heaven observe That the Saints 4 Observ fully risen and ascended up into heavenly injoyments at the finall destruction of Antichrist shall with one harmonious and sweet consent sound forth the praises and glory of Christ'â— kingdome Indeed the Saints could alwayes sing while they prophesied in sackcloth but it was like David when he sung of his deep waters so it was of their afflictions and sufferings as Paul and Silas sung in prison they had weake and faint joy in the middest of their sufferings But now the Saints in heaven they cry out they sing aloud and shout for joy These voyces be full of power and authority the world and it's strength and foundation trembles to heare them the riches the strengths the powers the governments of men are shaken by them So great and powerfull are these voyces that as it was said of Israel of old The voyce of a King is among them they sing forth the grace the excellency the authority and glory of Christ's kingdome saying The kingdomes of this world are become our Lords c. The Saints are sayd in Revel 15. 3. To sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. As Moses sung forth the praises of God for delivering his people Israel and destroying their enemies the Aegyptians Exod. 15. so his people shall sing forth the praises of his power and greatness for delivering them from Antichrist's yoke and tyranny And the song of the Lamb who worketh great and marvellous things to the destruction of Antichrist whose cruelty and oppression he had long suffered They shall extoll him as being King of Saints and shall acknowledge him just in his judgements punishing Antichrist and in his wayes true in performing all his promises made unto his people Having given you the observations from the former part of the verse namely from the seventh Trumpet and the voyces heard in heaven I now proceed to speake of the subject matter of these voyces The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raigne for ever and ever These words containe a glorious proclamation or declaration of the kingdome and raigne of Christ wherein we may take notice of these six particulars to be enquired into First What is meant by the kingdomes of this world Secondly How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ Thirdly How Christ will recover these kingdomes to himselfe Fourthly By what right Christ shall possesse them Fiftly The manner or nature of Christs raigne Sixtly The time and duration of his raigne Concerning the first thing namely what is meant by the kingdomes of this world we may easily perceive what they are by opposing them to the kingdome of Christ for these kingdomes of the world are diametrically opposit and contradistinct to the kingdome of Christ The kingdome of Christ is of a heavenly and spirituall nature Rom. 14. 17. It 's King Laws government and subjects are all spirituall it 's set up and advanced by no humane force or power but by that which is meerly divine Dan. 2. 45. Now the kingdomes of this world are called the kingdomes of men consisting of externall glory riches strength government policy that men by humane power have set up and doth act by In a word all the wisdome and policy all rule and government all power and strength all Constitutions and Lawes all the riches and glory of men of these are made up and formed the kingdoms of this world called the kingdomes of men Dan. 4. 25. consisting of worldly greatnesse externall glory humane policy outward strength advanced into the forme of rule government acted and brought forth by man this is the state glory and kingdome of the world Secondly How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ and that 's thus whereas Christ hath given forth his power by earthly men as by Kings and Princes of the earth according to that place in Pro. 8. 15 16. By me Kings reigne and Princes decree justice by me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth These have been the substitutes and deputies of Christ having received all their wisdome their strength their authority and dominion from him the Lord hath by these administred unto the world even by carnall fleshly wicked men by the Kings of the earth the Lord hath not administred by his people but by those that have raigned as Kings and Princes of the world Now this being so these Kings of the earth have committed fornication with the whore Rev. 17. 2. having mixed and joyned their power with hers and have with one consent and minde given up their power and strength unto
the beast as is declared vers 13. to serve his ends and designes And though it be true that all this while Christ hath intermedled with all the affaires of the Nations their policies and governments that all occurrances therein hath tended at least by degrees to advance his own kingdome and to bring about his owne ends yet these kingdomes and policies and governments have served Antichrist and it hath been their worke and businesse to oppose the kingdome of Christ and suppresse and persecute his people and truth so that these kingdomes of the world have not served Christ though Christ hath served himselfe by them but they have been devoted unto Antichrist and served him Thirdly How doth Christ recover these againe into his owne hand And that is by breaking and scattering the powers of the world he will shake all Nations Hag. 2. 6. when the Lord shall cast aside these oppressing tyrants of the earth he will come forth in the ministry of his owne people and by them administer righteousnesse and peace unto the world The Lord will dash in pieces all the powers of the earth that have oppressed his people and will so come forth in his owne people to administer to the world that the earth shall be at rest and quiet when violence shall be no more heard in the Land but our officers shall be righteousnesse and our exactors peace And how shall this be See what the Lord saith by the Prophet Esa 24. 21 22 23. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth and they shall be gathered as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison and after many dayes they shal be visited or found wanting as the margent reads it Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of host shall raigne in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously or as the Margine renders it There shall be glory before his ancients The meaning of these words take thus The great and mighty Kings of the earth who have opposed the kingdome of Christ and have undertaken all power ecclesiasticall and civill to rule in Church and State to determine all spirituall causes by temporall power and civill sanction God will so advance his Saints by his spirituall appearance in them that they shall oppose and punish these Kings of the earth not onely by the sword of the spirit but also with a temporal sword the Kings of the earth upon the earth they shall be able to overcome those that did enslave and rule over them He that kills by the sword shall be killed by the sword here is the patience of the Saints Revel 13. 10. This is the fruit of all their patience in all their former sufferings And after many dayes they shall be found wanting men shall after a time be willing to beare the losse of Kings and great ones without trouble or vexing when the Moone shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed viz. all civill ecclesiasticall powers governments orders and rulers shall be broken Then the Lord shall raigne in Mount Zion to wit in his Saints and people as before his ancients in whom he shall gloriously appeare to administer righteousnesse peace unto the world By these ancients are meant no more then the twenty foure Elders mentioned Revel 4. 4. who sit in white clothing having Crownes upon their heads as raigning in royall state glory and trâ—umph So that the Lord will no longer come forth in and by the men of the earth to raigne by Kings and Potentates but he will come forth in his glorious appearance in his Saints and thorow them will administer righteousnesse to the world Sutable hereunto is that Scripture Dan. 7. 22. where it is sayd that the little horne should make war with the Saints and prevaile against them untill the Ancient of dayes should come and then judgement was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdome Christ himselfe shall inherit all Nations and he will put his people in possession of all power riches rule and dominion When the Lord shall take away power and dominion from the men of the earth Then the kingdome and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdome is an ever lasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him vers 27. All that 's good and excellent that 's rich and beautifull that 's noble and honourable shall be given to the Saints The forces of the Gentiles and their Kings shall be brought to them Esa 60. 11. And they shall eat the riches of the Gentiles and boast themselves in their glorie Esa 61. 6. All Dominions and States shall serve them strangers shall stand and feed their flock and the sonnes of the alient shall be their plow-men and vine-dressers dressers vers 5. So then when the Lord shall take the power riches dominion and authority from the great ones of the earth and invest his Saints with the same when all power rule shall be brought under the feet of Christ who will come forth in the appearances of his people then Christ doth take to himselfe his great power and raign Thus the Lord doth recover the kingdomes and nations into his own hand stripping the men of the earth with their strength riches glorie rule and conferring of the same upon his people and so will administer no longer by Kings and Nobles but by Saints and faithfull ones He will raigne among his Ancients gloriously Fourthly By what right or title Christ will lay claime to the kingdomes of the world and that is by his owne native and proper right These kingdomes shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ The originall right and propriety of all the kingdomes of the world are the Lords they are his right and he will maintaine his owne priviledge and prerogative he will take to himselfe and possesse all they of right belong unto him and he from the beginning did possesse all It is true the Lord did intrust Kings and great ones of the earth to be his Substitutes and Stewards he committed the care of these to them as his Servants or Deputies but when the Lord will cast these Stewards out of their places dispossesse the Kings and Nobles of the earth then presently the kingdomes of the world returne to him whose they were from the beginning But these kingdomes of the world are so the Lords as they are Christ's also Christ the anointed one of the Lord he shall raigne he is son over his owne house Heb. 3. 5. He hath right and propriety with the Father by vertue of Sonship and anointing The actuall administration is put into his hand he being
indued with all power in heaven and earth Matth. 28. 18. Christ hath not onely propriety in the holy Citie but the ends of the earth are his possession Now all the Saints are the anointed of the Lord gathered up into that one anointed and therefore shall raigne with Christ as it 's sayd He hath made us Kings and Priests to our God and we shall raigne on the earth Revel 5. 10. The Lord shall raigne and his Chirst must raigne and all the Saints the anointed ones of the Lord these being all comprehended in the one anointed Christ these shall raigne with the Lord. As the Lord comes forth in Christ Christ in his Saints so the Saints shall ascend into Christ and Christ into the Father and so all in one they raign in the glory of God whereupon the speech of Christ shall be eminently fullfilled in Joh. 14. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father and you in me and I in you The power of God falls upon Christ and Christ becomes a quickning spirit in all his Saints that he might by his power put forth in them rule over the Nations So that we see the right of all Nations belongs to the Lord originally and to Christ his anointed and to all Saints as being the anointed ones of the Lord they all making up the fulness of the anointed one of God These have right to all the glory power riches excellencies of the earth it 's theirs they shall possesse the power and strength the riches and glory of the earth these shall raigne and the earth shall be filled with the glory of God Then there are none have right unto the kingdomes of the world but the Lord and his anointed all other are but pictures and images of government and rule their power and authority was lent them from the Lord and now he will take it againe to himselfe whose owne it is now he will cast forth the men of the earth and shake them from the seat of greatnesse and dominion and now the kingdomes of the world shall be given to the holy ones of God to the anointed of the Lord and they onely shall raigne First the Manner of Christ's raigne is that to be spoken off in the next place that Christ shall raigne in and by his Saints for they having overcome shall sit downe upon Christ's throne as Christ hath overcome and is set downe upon his Fathers throne Revel 3. 21. The Saints shall judge the world and Angels 1 Cor. 6. 2. That is they shall not onely judge poore low earthly things but things of an Angelicall and most excellent nature It 's the Lord through his Saints that shall judge the Nations with righteousnesse and governe the people with truth Psal 67. 4. 7. This glorious dispensation of Christ shall be administred by his Saints the Saints or the Lord in them shall judge the world that is they shall fust of all destroy and throw downe all confusion and disorder and afterwards save and governe the world they shall give settlement in the Nations by a right ordering of all things civill and spirituall Now as for the personall and fleshly reigne of Christ that is asserted by many Godly men whom I love and honour I shall not at all undertake either to affirme or deny that opinion but I shall say with them the kingdome of Christ is at hand I dare not say it is a far off though I cannot describe the manner of it but of the spirituall raigne of Christ which none deny I shall speake off from these foure reasons First The spirituall reigne seemes to me to be the most glorious appearance and manifestation of Christ unto his people and hence the Apostle did not desire to know Christ any more after the flesh 2 Cor. 5. 6. And therefore I believe that Christ by the spirituall manifesting of himselfe in and through his Saints will first break downe the powers of the world and then administer righteousnesse unto the earth Secondly the spirituall raigne of Christ doth most of all besuite the glory spirituality of his kingdome Christ tells Pilate that his kingdome was not of this world that is it was not fleshly or carnall but of a spirituall nature and quality Christ coming in the spirit to his Disciples did more enlighten comfort and spirituallize them then his fleshly presence did In Esa 11. 2 3. It 's sayd of Christ that he should not judge after the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his eares c. That is he shall not judge according to outward appearances but according to righteous judgement The glory of the Saints in the latter dayes shall be spirituall their knowledge spirituall their comforâ—s and joys shall be spirituall yea Christ shall raigne by his divine presence in his people of whom shall be made up his spirituall kingdome Thirdly It is by the spirituall appearance of the Lords brightnesse and glory that he will destroy Antichrist 2 Thes 2. 8. What is the word of Christs mouth and the brightnesse of his coming but the word of the witnesses testimony and the bright shinings forth of spirit life knowledge and righteousnesse in his people whereby the iniquity of the man of Sin is detected and laid open whereby Antichrist is destroyed as by fire wasting and consuming him to nothing Now by the same appearance as in his people will the Lord administer righteousnesse and goodnesse to the world as that whereby he doth destroy Antichrist Fourthly and lastly all the glory that is spoken of Christ and his kingdome that shall be in the latter age doth amount but to thus much that the Lord will eminently manifest his gracious and speciall presence with his people As in that 37 Ezek. latter end The Lord speaking of the glory he will bring upon his people saith I will Tabernacle with them and I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore c. The Lords presence and glory shall most of all appeare in the midst of his people he shall so manifest himselfe as to be admired in his Saints So what doth all the glory of the coming down of the new Jerusalem mentioned in Revel 21. imply but onely thus much Behold saith God I will Tabernacle with men and I will dwell with them Intimating thereby that as the Lord made the Tabernacle a signe pledge of his presence with his people so now in his last and most glorious discovery of himselfe it should be by the manifestation of his divine presence in his Saints by erecting the Tabernacle of his owne spirit life and glory in the middest of them And so much for the manner of Christs reigne It followeth Sixtly and lastly we are to consider the time and duration of Christ's reigne and that is expressed for ever and ever The raigne of Christ is an everlasting raigne he receives a kingdome that cannot be shaken there shall be no end of it his
Throne endureth for ever and it shall never expire let the enemies thereof use what craft or policie they will they shall never destroy it The God of heaven saith the Prophet shall set up a kingdome which shall never be destroyed neither shall it be left to other people but it shall stand for ever Dan. 2. 44. If that of the Apostle be objected where he saith that Christ shall deliver up the kingdome to God even the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. I answer that this doth nothing at all impeach the everlastingnesse of Christ's kingdome for the meaning of it is this that when Christ shall have finished his worke destroyed all his enemies and have compleated his worke upon his Saints then he shall cease to raigne any longer as Mediator he shall cease to administer according to his present dispensation and office then God shall be all in all God shall be all to his Saints by the immediate and glorious communication of his light and glory and Saints shall enjoy the all of God his wisdome his goodnesse his love and the like So that however the Mediatorship of Christ shall cease when he hath finished his worke and office and the dispensatory part of his kingdome shall cease yet in respect of the nature and being it shall be for ever and ever The raigne of God shall be to eternity and Châ—â—st shall raigne in the Father and Saints in Christ so that God and Christ and his Saints shall raigne for ever and ever The Apostle doth stile Christ to be a King eternall and immortall 1 Tim. 1. 17. Christs kingdome is immortall because it is not subject to succession it 's not liable to be devolved and rould downe to after-comers which Daniel expresseth thus His kingdome shall not be left unto other people that is it shall not be translated from man to man and at last quite dissolved And the Apostle doth not onely call Christ an immortall King but also an eternall King his kingdome shall hold on constantly throughout all Centuries and ages of the world there is no period of time that shall cause it to expire give up the ghost but it shall attaine to it's full beautie and perfection it shall never decline or decay but shall last beyond all ages and times it shall endure for ever and ever But now concerning the glorious raigne of Christ upon the downfall of Antichrist the time expressed to be a thousand yeares Revel 20. And it 's prophesied of Christ in Esa 60. 15. that he should be the joy of many generations both this expression of many generations and of a thousand yeares are an indefinit number to expresse the very large and spacious time wherein Christ shall rule in and by his Saints when he shall appeare before his Ancients gloriously and all the Elders before his Throne shall worship him If it be objected from Revel 20. 4. That those that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God c. These lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeares this being the first resurrection and the rest of the dead lived not againe I answer that it cannot be meant that the persons of those that were beheaded for Jesus and refused to worship the beast or his image should bodily raigne with Christ but that God will raise up a people of the same spirit with those that suffered for the testimony of Jesus Thus Elias was sayd to come againe in John the Baptist And thus the Lord tells Daniel that he should stand in the lot at the end of the dayes when his prophesie should be fulfilled All Saints gathered up into one spirit they make but one And thus we have the Prophet speaking And the Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee Zech. 14. 5. When the glory of God shall appeare more glorious in the Saints in the time of his spirituall raigne the glory of all the former Saints shall be gathered up in them and appeare most gloriously The resurrecteon here spoken off is meant of a resurrection from shame and reproach the witnesses rising from their sadnesse and sackcloth and ascending into the glory of Christ's kingdome And when the seventh Trumpet shall sound and the glory of the Lord be fully discovered and layd open then all that heare the glorious sound of the everlasting Gospel shall live but the rest of the dead that heare not the voyce of the seventh Trumpet or that great proclamation of the truth and glory of Christ they shall not live untill the thousand yeares be past Againe if it be objected from Ezek. 37. 21 22 23 24 25. That the Lord hath promised to call the Jewes and gather them into their owne Land and make them one Nation and David their King shall raigne over them I answer this prophesie is of a spiritual and mysticall interpretation for the land of Messiah are the Saints of whom the land of Canaan was a type for if we take it litterally that the Jewes should rebuild Jerusalem and dwell peculiarly in the land of Canaan then also it must be meant that David and not Christ should be King over them But we know that the promise doth onely borrow expressions from the state of the Jewish Church but it shall be fulfilled in spirit for he is a Jew which is one inwardly Rom. 2. 28. The Jewes shall be called when the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall come Rom. 11. 25. which is not meant as if God would first finish his work among the Gentiles and then call the Jewes as a peculiar people but that the Jewes should be brought in with the fulnesse of the Gentiles when Antichrist shall be ruined and that which letteth be taken out of the way and the everlasting Gospel goe forth with freedome in the fulnesse and abundance of the Gentiles shall the Jewes finde acceptance also Now from all that hath been said of the kingdome and raigne of Christ observe That Christ will come and raigne Obser gloriously in his people subduing all his enemies advancing his Saints unto the glory and dignity of his owne kingdome Christ will take to himselfe all power rule strength riches glory peace joy and whatsoever is good and will bestow it upon his owne Satan and wicked men have reigned long but now they shall cease to reigne any longer The whole earth shall be filled with the righteousnesse goodnesse and glory of God and the anointed ones of the Lord shall reigne and the Saints shall reigne with him for ever as it 's sayd Revel 5. He hath made us Kings and Priests to our God and we shall reigne on the earth The strength glory riches of the Gentiles shall be given unto us we shall no longer be subject to Satan and wicked men but we shall be brought into the glorious libertie of the sons of God and shall live in the new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousnesse our habitation shall be
not the spirit and life of God in them all these must be judged well may the world then vex and rage and gnaw their â—ongues for paine This is the reason of all that bitternesse malice sury and madnesse that is in the hearts of men at this day what makes them vexing and fretting but that all things they set up maintaine enjoy and take pleasure in are judged and condemned for dead power dead ordinances dead gifts all things of man are judged to be dead When the Lord comes to judge the earth confusion and a consuming fire goes before his face Psal 97. 2. which must needs make that judgement very dreadfull and terrible to all formall powers and fleshly actings especially because the Saints shall judge the world yea and Angells also 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. They shall judge men and things of highest principles and places those things that carry a civill or spirituall excellency upon them shall be judged by the Saints What follows Secondly The Saints are rewarded and advanced And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that feare thy Name small and great As the portion of the world is vexing fretting cursing and wrath so the portion of Saints is love goodnesse blessings thankesgivings The dreadfull day of doome and darknesse of judgement and confusion unto the world is a day of light and joy of comfort and reward unto the Saints The worlds trouble and ruine is the Saints peace and salvation Though the Lord come in fire and wrath to destroy Antichrist yet he comes in love and mercy to save Sion and therefore when he comes forth and a devouring fire burning up his enemies round about Psal 97. 3. Yet Sion heard and was glad and the daughter of Judah rejoyced because of his judgements vers 8. The Saints have been a long time under oppression shame and persecution now the Lord will reward them and give them light for darknesse strength for weaknesse glory for shame they shall now receive reward and praise for all their former sorrow and sufferings The Saints shall rejoyce in heaven for the vengeance powred out upon Antichrist Therefore rejoyce over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her Revel 18. 20. When the Kings of the earth and Merchants mightie and rich men shall weep and wayl and cry alas alas then shall the Saints here called the holy Apostles and Prophets rejoyce and sing because the ruine and fall of these shall be their joy and reward Thirdly The Lord will not onely judge the dead principles practices ordinances and powers of Antichrist and give reward unto his servants but also will destroy the Antichristian partie And shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth The word translated destroy signifies corrupt that is Those that have managed the cause of Antichrist have corrupted the earth according as it 's said in Revel 19. 2. The great whore did corrupt the earth with her fornication That is by her sosseries and fornications she hath corrupted the minds of the men of the earth drawing them aside from the Lord by the intoxicating wine of her fornication she hath blinded the mindes adulterated the affections and polluted the hearts of the men of the world and have made them to serve Satan the God of this world These that have managed the cause of the beast and have thus corrupted the earth shall be destroyed This destruction is not so much meant of a bodily destruction as of place and power these that have by their power rule by their deceit and falshood corrupted the earth these in their dignity office rule and authoritie shall all be slaine It followeth VERS 19. And the Temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in the Temple the Arke of his Testament and there was lightnings and voyces and thunderings an earthquake and great hail COnsider three things from these words First The Temple of God opened The time was it was shut up as once the Temple of Jerusalem was under Ahaz 2 Chron. 28. 24. So this spirituall Temple was shut up when it was measured in vers 1. When the outward Court or visible face of things were in the hands of the Gentiles vers 2. The Church was driven into the Wildernesse for many yeares into desert places there to be nourished for a time from the face of the Serpent that sought to devoure her But now the Temple is set open as of old it was by Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29. 3. Thus it 's said of the new Jerusalem that the gates should not be shut Revel 21. 25. And the reason is because there shall be no night nor danger the gates shall stand open continually This noteth the free accesse for multitudes of Saints to enter in to the new Jerusalem without impediment or stop Not as in times of persecution when they sought to worship the Lord in corners but they shall come and enter freely and boldly and that without let or molestation So that the woman shall no more be driven into the Wildernesse and shut up there but the Temple of God shall be set open and there shall be a free and great accesse unto it Secondly That which appeared in the Temple was the Arke of his Testament As the Temple was opened so the Arke was made visible which was shut from the eyes of men under the old Testament 1 King 6. 19. It was very seldome seen and that by the high-Priest onely the Arke was a pledge of Gods presence with his people and denotes unto us the mysteries of truth which formerly lay hid but now are made manifest The great high-Priest hath opened the Temple and made visible the Arke by making knowne the mysteries of truth In former time the Church was in the Wildernesse the Gentiles possessed the outward Court le ts of truth were discovered onely something was hinted out by a few choise instruments but now the Saints have a Temple opened a full and free accesse and now they have an Arke made visible or the hidden mysteries of God revealed not onely to a few called Clergie men but generally to all Saints the knowledge of the truth is revealed Thirdly The close of all And there were lightnings and voyces and thunderings and an earth-quake and great hail Earth-quake hail and lightning set forth Gods judgements most terrible and irresistible Esa 30. 30. Of an earthquake wee have spoken before from vers 13 of this Chapter Hail-stones was one of the plagues of Aegypt that destroyed their trees Exod. 9. 25. And by which the Amorites were destroyed in Canaan Josh 10. 11. By these judgements wee have the finall destruction of Antichrist This is the third woe that shall accompany the seventh Trumpet and is agreeable to the plagues of the seventh Viall by which Antichrist shall be wholly destroyed and should blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail that was exceeding great By this last and great judgement the mysterie of iniquitie is discovered and the power of Antichrist wholly broken at which his partie shall vex and fret gnaw their tongues and blaspheme God for all their paines sores whereby they shall be utterly ruined and consumed Thus we have the Effects of Christs kingdome and reigne layd open wee see for what it is that the Elders doe so exceedingly praise the Lord for that he takes to himselfe his great power and doth reigne by which he doth offend the Nations and reward his servants The Temple is no more shut up under restraint but free accesse is given the Arke is no more hidden but the mysteries of salvation made evident And the Lord by his sweeping judgements will wholly consume Antichrist both in his policy and power Hence it is that the Saints shall thus triumph and rejoyce How can the daughter of Sion but rejoyce when heâ— King cometh the redeemed of the Lord must needs triumph And besides the whole world shall rejoyce when the oppressor shall cease when violence shall be no more heard in the Land when our Exactors shall be righteousnesse then I say the world will sing and rejoyce because the whoâ—â—â—â—â—th shall be at peace and be quiet Esa 14. 4. 7. When Christ shall come to reigne in his appearance in his Saints bâ— shall judge the Nations with righteousnesse and governe the people with truth Psal 67. 4. 7. Therefore when the Lord shall come to reigne to set all things in order to governe and give settlement to the Nations well may Antichrist vex and fret and all oppressing powers be angry but the Saints shall rejoyce and sing and all the world besides shall be glad because of his righteous judgements So much to be spoken of the Effects of Christ's reigne and so I end this whole Discourse FINIS