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
The Mystery of the two WITNESSES UNVAILED Wherein wee have a Description of their persons time acts death and office manner of prophecie sufferings resurrection With the Consequences that follow TOGETHER With the seaventh Trumpet and the Kingdome of Christ explained by JOHN ROBOTHAM Preacher of the Gospel in Dover LONDON Printed by M. S. for G. and H. Eversden at the Greyhound in St Pauls Church-yard 1654. TO HIS EXCELLENCY the Lord Generall CROMWELL c. MY LORD IT is not for any worth performed on my part that I have taken the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or boldness here to prefix your name but rather from the subject matter of this ensuing Discourse it being an Exposition of the mystery of the two Witnesses wherein we have a description of their persons and prophesie their time and actions their death and resurrection together with the consequences that follow thereupon all which I humbly conceive may be very suitable for you As well for the greatnesse of your place and imployment as it 's necessary to be retained in your knowledge and judgment Therefore in the first place I present this to your Excellency as unto a choise faithfull witness of the Lord and after to all those that give forth their testimony for the truth and authority of Christ against the falshood and usurpation of Antichrist It 's most certain as the Apostle doth affirme that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christ's coming which is no other then his coming forth in the bright beames and glorious rayes of divine light shining forth in his people The Saints of the most High by the testimony they give forth are the rod of his mouth and the breath of his lips Whereby he will bruise his enemies and breake them in pieces Thus the true Spirit of Christ in the Saints shall darken and dry up that counterseit and corrupt Spirit of Antichrist that is abroad in the world But not withstanding the power and authority of the Beast shall be dissipated and broken as it were vi armis And hence it is that in these times the Lord hath appeared among us as a mighty man of warre clothed with his zeale as with a garment and hath indued his people with such masculine vertue strength that their hornes have been as iron and their hoofs as brasse whereby they have threshed the Mountaines and the hills as Chaffe And this they have not done by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord. It was the glorious appearance of GOD in the midst of his people that hath subdued these three Nations Now though Dutch Dane and French should combine against us yet shall the arme of the LORD awake for his people and shall as in former dayes cut Rachah and wound the Dragon he shall dry up the sea and the waters of the great deep It 's not an arme of flesh can doe this but a divine presence with an Army with whom are the hearts affections prayers and spirits of the Saints with a sweet complyance gathered up into and going along with them This causes the shout of king to be in the midst of us though the king in his person be taken away yet the everlasting King lives and shall take to himself his great power and raigne It 's a most undeniable truth that the sword hath been the originall of all kinds forms of government in the world it 's the mother of all power protection and preservation When any disturbance doth arise in a kingdome or Common-wealth whither do they run but unto a military power for succour and defence as not being able to subsist untill they do as it were resolve into their first principles And though the sword in it's selfe be a dark and sad dispensation eating flesh and drinking bloud it 's proper worke being to wast and destroy yet when t is accompanied with wisdom righteousness goodness and justice it becom good and desireable My Lord I have but three words more to speake The first is of you The second to you The third for you That of you is That the Lord hath so far honor'd you as to make you an instrument of glorious atchievements and hath made you head of your brethren and hath given you a name with the great ones of the earth but above all he hath bestowed on you the spirit of his Son which makes you most acceptable to himselfe and precious in the eyes of his people It 's a true saying Honor est in potestate hono heart and make it suitable to your worke that your will may be drawn forth to the extent of the divine will that your soule may have a true sympathy with God that your heart may be fortified against all stormes without feares within and that you may cast down your wisdome valour honour succeste at the feet of Christ so shall you take all up againe with unspeakeable advantage What ever you expend sor Christ in Christ you shall finde it againe Now that you may enjoy all in Christ spend all for him is the desire of him who shall indeavor to be in all faithfulnesse Your Excellency's humble servant JOHN ROBOTHAM To the Reader THe importunity of diverse Friends caused me to suffer these notes to passe abroad into the world they were taken by writing from my mouth my time and occasions would not permit to cast them into such a forme as would have best becomed the presse therefore thou shalt meet with truth coming forth in it's owne nakednesse without the clothing of humane Eloquence As for the matter it 's mysterious and therefore if in any thing wherein I may possibly be mistaken thy candour and ingenuity is desired to passe it by If thou art Criticall and thy aime be onely to espie out the faults either of the Writer Printer or Preacher I suppose thy time would be more advantagiously spent to search out the defects of thy own heart If thou wilt accept of it as it 's presented to thee with the right hand it 's all that 's desired by him that shall remaine thine in any office of love JOHN ROBOTHAM The Contents of the following Treatise concerning the principall things therein contained SIx things from the Book of the Revelation observed 1. The Author who indited it Pag. 2. 2. The Messenger who brought it idem 3. The Pen-man which writt it p. 3. 4. The forme into which it is cast id 5. The matter that is containes p. 4. 6. The parties unto whom it 's directed id The summe of the whole Chapter p. 5. From verse 1. we have 1. Johns call to measure p. 6 7. 2. His qualification p. 8. 3. The things to be measured 1. The Temple p. 9. 2. The Altar p. 10. 3. The worshippers p. 11. Observations from the words 1. Ob That the Lord doth suitably prepare his people to receive such things as himselfe doth impart unto them p. 12 13 14. 2. Ob
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
lye Hence it is said that the beast opened his mouth in blasphemy against God his name Tabernacle and people Revel 13. 6. Now to blaspheme is to speak evill to revile and reproach the testimony of the Saints to bring some blot upon the truth they stand to maintaine Thus we see how certaine it is that the enemies will oppose and hinder the witnesses in the course of their prophesie And as certaine it is that the enemies shall suffer for this their attempt Secondly the meanes by which the witnesses do oppose their adversaries fire proceedeth out of their mouths to devour their enemies As before we had a description of the witnesses by the two anointed ones relating to Zerubbabel and Joshua so here we have their actions declared by an allusion unto Moses and Elias both which were revenged for wrong done upon their enemies by fire from heaven Thus you may read in Numb 16. 35. That when Korah and the rest of his company did rise up in rebellion against Moses fire comes from heaven destroys those two hundred and fifty chiefe men of the Congregation of Israel Also of Elias you have it related 2 Kings 1. 10 11. That when Ahaziah sent two captains with their fifties to apprehend the Prophet â—ire cometh downe from the Lord and destroys both the Captaines and their fifties So here the witnesses are said to command fire to consume their enemies This cannot be meant of a materiall but of a mysticall fire that the witnesses do thus breath out of their mouths It is the word of their testimony that doth consume and destroy their adversaries it is this fire that doth constantly torment and devour them Thus we have the word often called fire in Scripture Jere. 23. 29. Is not my word like fire saith the Lord And we have the Lord telling the Prophet that he would make his word as fire and the people wood and it should devour them Jer. 5. 14. So here the witnessâ—â— thougâ— in sackcloth testifie against all the wickednesse of Antichrist their persons are oppressed their testimony contemned but the word of their testimony is as fire proceeding out of their mouths to devour their opposers The Adversary shall in this manner be killed by the Fire that issueth out of the mouths of the Witnesses Sutable hereunto is that passage in Isa 9. 5. where the Prophet speaking of Christ prevailing over his Enemies saith For every battaile of the warriour is with confused noyse and garments rolled in blood but this shall be with burning and fewell of â—ire This should be of another manner and kinde then the ordinary battaile of the Warriour this should be Fire or by the two-edged sword that proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ The fire that goeth forth out of the mouths of the witnesses is all one w th the brightnes of Christs coming mentioned in 2 Thes 2. 8. by which Antichrist shall be destroyed The light and glory of Christs word that the Witnesses give forth as fire out of their mouths â—â—all destroy Antichrist This is the very forme and manner of Antichrists destruction though happily some that uphold his cause may fall by the Sword in respect of their pâ—â—sâ—nâ— as 〈◊〉 of the Witnesses have suffered death for giving forth a testimonie of the truth yet the cause and being of Antichrist shall be destroyed in this manner even by the word of truth that proceeds out of the mouths of the Witnesses The words being thus opened take notice of these observations they afford unto us First That the Adversaries of Christ Obser 1. are alwayes ready to hurt his witnesses It is most certain that the friends of Antichrist are alwayes willing to oppose the friends of Christ These Prophets are cast out rejected and slightâ—d by the men of the world The seed of the Serpent is continually making War with the seed of the Woman The Dragon waited to devour the Man-childe that the woman was about to bring forth Rev. 12. 4. And though he could not wholly prevail yet hee cast forth a flood of persecution afâ—â—â— her and makes Warr with the remnant of her seed ver 16. 7. Secondly They that goe about to hurt Obser 2. the Witnesses or hinder them in the course of their Prophesie shall not goe unpunished There is none that offers violence to the Prophets of the Lord but shall receive their just demeâ—â—â—s the Fire that proceeds out of the mouths of the Witnesses shall devour them in this manner they shall be killed even by the word of their testimony There was never any person or people that dealt cruelly with the deare servants of the Lord but the hand of God found them out The Psalmist speaking of the glorious conduct of the children of Israel through the wildernesse by the powerful hand of God saith He suffered no man to doe them wrong he reproved KINGS for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed nor doe my Prophets no harme Psal 105. 14 15. There might none hurt or injure they might not harm nor persecute the anointed ones of God for the Lord had sharpely rebuked Kings for their sakes All the woes and calamities all the judgments and confusions that ever came upon Kings Kingdomes States or powers have been for the hurting and opposing of his people In like manner all the plagues that are this day upon the world all the War Famine Death and all plaguâ—â— are for the persecuting reviling and misusing of the Witnesses And this shall be the portion of all men of what rank quality or degree soever be they never so wise or learned be they never so great or powerful that shall oppose and hinder these witnesses in the course of their Prophesie must in this manner be killed Fire shall proceed out of their mouths and destroy them they shall be tormented burnt and consumed by the word of their testimony Thirdly observe That the Witnesses Obser 3. shall prevaile against their Enemies by the word of their testimonie The testimonie that the Witnesses give forth is as fire in the bosome of al their adversaries and shall eate them out and consume them Hence it is said the Lord will slay the wicked by the breath of his lips Isa 11. 4. By the breath of Christ uttered by the lips of his people and by the brightnesse of his coming in the light and knowledg of his Saints he wil destroy Antichrist God will judge the world and burne up the earth by fire This fire of the Lord conveyed into the world by the mouths of the Witnesses shall destroy all that is before it all greatnesse and dominion all power Ecclesiastical and Civill all the forms and superstitions of Antichrist are consumed brought to nothing by this fire that proceedeth out of the mouths of the Witnesses Our late experience hath taught us that whensoever the Saints and faithfull of God have given out the word of their testimonie against whatsoever superstitious inventions whatsoever
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
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
hope it trembles and quakes the root of all humane life strength wisdome policy is cut in sunder at once The foundation of all power ecclesiasticall and civill is shaken the very stability of Church State Religion order government shakes and falls downe unto the earth And needs must it be so for the witnesses are the very basis and pillars of the earth they were the strength and stability of the world like unto the two pillars in Solomons Temple the one called Jachin the other Boaze 1 King 7. 21. that is as much as to say stability and strength which indeed did prefigure the stedfastnesse and strength of the Saints These two Witnesses while they lived below in the earth they were the strength and succour of the world but when they arise out of the earth and ascend to heaven then the strength and stability of the earth ascends with them The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved I beare up the pillars of it saith the Lord Psal 75. 3. The Lord holds up the earth by these pillars namely his witnesses and when he calls them to heaven to his kingdome to live in the liberty and glory thereof then the very pillars of the earth are removed therefore the earth must needs quake and tremble This sore judgement is so terrible and amazing that there is no shelter or succour nothing that man hath or doth enjoy can be secure it is the most sweeping and affrighting evill it pitties nor spares none but carries all before it As Sampson carried away the gates of the Citie upon his shoulders so these two witnesses when they arise from the earth and leave the world they carry away with them the strength the peace the comfort the order the power of the earth and so leave the world and Antichrist in confusion and distraction The whole interest that the world hath in all it's enjoyments is but borrowed from the witnesses and when these are taken away and raised up above their former station the world falls into ruine and confusion Secondly from the time of this earthquake The same houre c. observe That 2 Observ all the time of this great earthquake the witnesses are rising ascending The same houre and time yea and all the time of these great commotions and stirres upon the world the witnesses get ground and ascend higher and higher though the world neither know it nor perceive it This great earthquake that this very day doth shake Kings kingdomes States Churches rules and dominions doth plainly demonstrate that the witnesses are now in rising that they begin to shake off their sackcloth and mourning they stand upon their owne feet and doe not any longer depend upon other mens shoulders they ascend above the oppression and powers of their adversaries into the glorious priviledges and liberty of Christs kingdome Know that thorow this thicke and darke cloud that God hath drawne over the earth and in the midst of these nationall stormes and earthquakes the Lord will shine forth more and more and the Sunshine of his favour and love shall display it's beams upon his Saints in working out their salvation and liberty God by the plentifull showers of divine grace and by his distillings of his spirit upon his people will burne up that drosse and fleshlinesse in them which God doth manifest in some already And by this great earthquake will so shake the powers of the world that they shall not be able to oppresse the Saints any longer O that we could with faith and patience waite a while and we shall behold within a few yeares yea in a very short space what desolations and devastations God will make in the earth and what unexpected salvations and deliverances he will worke for his people farre above what his enemies feare or his people hope for Therefore I say wait but a while stand still and see the salvation of the Lord the Lord will come and will not tarry for in this very day of the great earthquake in the very time now of these nationall stormes and commotions are the witnesses rising above their adversaries and ascending up into the heavenly enjoyments immunities of the kingdome of Christ Thirdly from the first consequent of this great earthquake and the tenth part of the Citie fell observe That nation 3 Observ 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 There is a tenth part of the nations that have formerly given up their power and authority to the beast that shall fall off and disown that man of sin that shall withdraw themselves from the yoke and bondage of Antichrists service and that in this earthquake under the sixt Trumpet and that before the ten hornes shall hate the whore and burne her flesh with fire Now I say that nation or nations that shall first shake off the yoke of the oppressor and the burden from off their shoulder are the tenth part of the Citie that here is sayd to fall in the earthquake The power and dominion of Antichrist that this nation or tenth part of the Citie did once yeild and submit unto now that authority and rule is wholly dissolved and abolished Now I verily believe that England is this tenth part of the Citie or take England Scotland and Ireland as being united together into one as being subjected under one dominion and government to be the tenth part of the nations that shall first withdraw from under the raigne of Antichrist for the tenth part is not tied to one nation but to the tenth part of the nations that were brought under the power of Antichrist And if the tenth part should be meant of one nation onely yet this tenth part is but that nation that the Lord doth begin his worke in he will carry his designe from nation to nation untill the ten hornes are all brought to hate the whore and to burne her flesh with fire This indeed is the full accomplishment when the forty and two moneths shall be ended and the word of God fulfilled the whole ten kingdomes shall joyne together to make war with the beast to give up their power to the service of Christs kingdome But the Lord doth first begin with a tenth part that shall first withdraw it selfe from under the dominion and power of the beast And I believe that this Island with the nations adjoyning to it will be the first fruits of the world that here shall appeare the new Jerusalem and the nations of them that be saved shall walke in the light thereof for many nations shall be joyned to the Lord upon the coming downe of the new Jerusalem and finall downfall of Antichrist Now if it be demanded why Germany or some of the reformed churches abroad may not be meant the tenth part of the Citie to which I answer thus That though those called the reformed churches have
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
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