of the gracious promises then to be fulfilled which to this day have not been fulfilled v 9 10. There shall be no killing nor destroying in all Gods holy mountain or in the mountain of holinesse i. e. all wars shall cease amongst Christians The mountain of the Lord shall be on the top of all the mountains that is the Church shall prevail as Christianity did in Constantines dayes and much more abundant and the Gentiles shall flock in unto it hereby their union shall be wrought which shall produce a generall peace in the Church Now to this day this hath not been accompilshed therefore it is to be say many learned men yea the Rabbins themselves in a manner affirm as much that it is to be when the Lord shall come to destroy Antichrist for they say it shall be accomplished when their Messias comes which they say will be in the end of the Roman Monarchy which they call their last redemption being exceeding angry at the Christians would they had not just cause for extending many of their most ample and glorious prophecies no further then the second Temple Vide Rab. Solomon on Ier. 31. 40. and then the promise is that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea i. e. there shall be an universal knowledge of Christ in the world which never yet hath been and then in v. 10. it shall be in that day that Christs rest shall be glory or exceeding glorious by rest is here meant either the peace and tranquillity of the Church which he calls his rest or the place of Christs residence which signifies his Church So that either way the Text hath not been yet fulfilled for the Church hath had little rest since Christs time for the generall Apostasie hindered its glory but when the Apostasie shall be taken away then the rest of the Church shall be glorious therefore this smiting the wicked one in the Text is most probably the smiting of Antichrist 3 From v. 11 12 13 14. we argue for this smiting of the wicked one shall be in that day when God will recover the remnant of his people the second time from Assyria and Egypt and Pathros and Cush this must be meant of some recovery of them after their carrying Captive into Babylon by the Assyrians for they were never set down in Scripture to be delivered above once from Assyria and that was when they were restored by Cyrus But now here is a second restoring again of the Jews which must be understood of their restoring under the Gospel which yet hath not been for their recovery v. 12. shall be from the four corners of the earth from whence they were never yet redeemed but are to be Matthew 24. 30 31. compared with Ezechiel 37. 9 to 28. And Revel 1. 7. when Christ comes in the clouds that is sits on the white cloud Revel 14. with a Sickle in his hand to cut down the vine of the earth i e. the beast of the earth the Antichrist In Isaiah Christ sets up an Ensigne and in Matth. 24. there is the signe of the Son of man by that in both the dispersed Jews are gathered from the four corners of the earth And that which most of all confirmes it that this conversion and redemption of them is to be in these latter dayes is v. 13. for Ephraims and Iudahs enemies shall be cut off and both Ephraim and Iudah i. e. the ten Tribes and the two Tribes never since Solomons time united shall be now at peace and firmly united but this hath never yet been therefore say very many this promise is to be fulfilled From all this I argue If the great Gospel-effect in uniting Jew and Gentile together of universall peace in the Churches of Christ of universall knowledge of Christ in the earth of the recovering of the Hebrews from the four corners of the earth and uniting them being recovered be to be in that day when Christ shall smite the earth with the rod of his power with the breath of his mouth slay the wicked one then this day is yet to come and in all probability this smiting is the smiting of the Antichrist after whose ruine these glorious things are to be effected as very many of the Ancients and of the pious learned Recents affirm besides many clear Texts which make it apparent The destruction of the Antichrist is onely ascribed to the Lord Jesus and to none else hence it is that in Deut. 32. 39 40 41 42. we finde Christ in fighting against him speaking of himselfe at least eleven times in the singular number I even I am he I kill I make alive I wound I heal I lift up my hand I live for ever if I whet my sword I will render vengeance I will make mine arrowes drunk with blood Christ in the first person singular he alone will have the honour of Antichrists destruction and hence it is that thrice in Daniel 7. we have the little horn the last upstart under the Roman Monarchy his ruine set out like the day of Judgement though the horn be little yet his ruine is great in v. 9. he is ruined by the Ancient of dayes who did sit this is the Lord Jesus who is Alpha and Omega who in the ruine of this little horne sets up v. 14. his own Kingdome which is an universall Kingdome and a perpetuall Kingdome that is untill the end of the World In v. 21 22. there you have the Antichrist and the quality of those over whom he tyrannizeth they are Saints which gives us by the way to know that Antichrist must tyrannize within the purest Church in that Church where are visible Saints And you have the Ancient of dayes again appearing many take this to be the day of Judgement because here is mention made of the Ancient of dayes comming which is onely to be understood of the comming of Christ to ruine Antichrist and to call the elect of Jews and Gentiles unto the profession of the Gospel the same you have again in v. 25 26. and in Dan. 11. 45. and 12. 1. when the Antichrist shall come to his end after he hath prevailed so far against the Saints as to pitch his tents in the mountain of holinesse at that time Michael shall stand up to bring trouble upon the enemies of the Church and deliverance to his distressed people this Michael is none other but the Lord Jesus Christ who by his immediate providence in making bare his Arm making naked his Bowe and appearing with the sickle in his hand all Scripture-expressions of his immediate power terribly and utterly confoundeth Antichrist and all Antichristian powers Hence also 't is that Ioel calls this great day of the destruction of the Antichrist the day of the Lord Ioel 3. 14. and what is this day of the Lord in the verse before 't is the time of his putting in his sickle to reap the great harvest of
Antichrists ruine as 't is expounded Revel 14. 15. the place is called the valley of decision and why of decision not that this alludes to the harvest but to the place where this harvest shall be which is Mount Olivet alluding to that great rent that the Antichrist shall make there Zach. 14. 4. the great division shall be made betwixt Antichrist and the true Church by Mount Olivet cannot be meant otherwise then some eminent National Church of Unity within it selfe out of which Church Antichrist and his apostate company arise against it and this makes Mount Olivet to cleave in sunder so that now that place is become the valley of decision and then the next verse after the Text v. 15. tells us this day of the Lord is to be when the Iews redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. and as Matth. 24. hath it when the signe of the Son of man appears in heaven for the Sun shall be darkened the Moon shall withdraw her light as 't is in all the Evangelists except Iohn and the immediate effect of it is as in the following verses a glorious day of Church-reformation likewise in Obadiah 15 16. this day of Antichrists destruction is called the day of the Lord upon the Gentiles what Gentiles 1 The Gentiles that have drank the blood of the Church they were those Gentiles that had dranke blood upon the holy Mountain therefore as these Heathens had done to the Church so the Lord would now do to them Revel 18. 16. is a parallel Comment on this Text. 2 They are those Gentiles that shall be destinated to destruction when the Gospel-Church shall have a glorious deliverance and the Iews both the ten Tribes and two Tribes for these are the sonnes of Iacob shall possesse their possessions verse 17. by which it seems most probable that this day of the Lord must be that day when God destroys Antichrist who gathers great strength Revel 19. 19. against the Lord Jesus that is against his true Church and this war is called a war with the Lambe i e. with the true Church for it is impossible they should make war with the Lord Jesus any otherwise then by ruining his Offices and his Ordinances and blaspheming his Name and denying his Godhead and which so neerly concerns his honour that he will by his immediate power and might arise and ruine the Antichrist and his Polyarchie To these we might add many more texts Zach. 14. 1 3 5. parallel with Iude 14. and Revel 14. 1. CHAP. XII ANd shall destroy with the brightnesse of his comming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is that other expression of the manner of Antichrists ruine It is a word say the Learned rarely found amongst other Authors but familiarly in Pauls writings it is a word setting out the utter ruine of the Antichrist as Antichrist by his appearing made the power of the two Witnesses and all their pious endeavours of none effect he brought it to nothing by laying their honour and majesty in the dust so Christ by his appearing shall bring down and destroy the government and strength and power of Antichrist he shall render all that he hath done as vain Christ shall overturn his Babel-strength and ambition Christ shall make all his successes to come at last to nothing and all his wealth and conceited honour to vanish away He thinks by his prosperous successes to be some body and to raise himselfe a sure pillar but Christ shall make all this uselesse to him and of none effect he 'l not leave one stone of his Government standing upon another Hence Daniel 7. 26. a Text parallel with this both in phrase and sense 't is there said The Iudgment shall fit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy him unto the end The like expression to the same end we have Revel 14. 19. of casting the vine of the earth into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God that is crushing him to nothing grinding him as small as the dust making him lighter then vanity uselesse and vanishing as the smoke Concurring in sense with these is that Text Revel 19. 20. where the Antichrist is taken cast alive into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which notes first the dreadfulnesse of the destruction He is cast alive and secondly theirr ecoverableness of his ruine He perisheth for ever for out of hell there is no redemption and thirdly it notes the Author of this ruine The Lord Jesus for none can cast into hell but he none hath the power of heaven and hell but he he hath the key of David and none but he Once again let 's view the word and it denotes the quality of the person as well as the manner of his ruine I think we may stretch the sense so far without cracking any golden string of divine Truth Observe then there are two enemies that Paul saith Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall destroy This in the Text Iohn in Revel 20. 5. compared with Revel 19. 20. tells us shall be at the first resurrection the other enemy Paul tells us 1 Cor. 15. 26. at the last and general resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be destroyed there 's the same word expressed of death which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last enemy of the general resurrection to note that the greatest and worst of enemies to be destroyed at the first resurrection of Jews and Gentiles to Christ is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the last and worst of enemies at the second is death With the brightnesse of his comming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a word in the appearing of his presence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies an appearance with glory and splendor Against my South-winde here ariseth the Euroclydon I am fallen into a place where three Seas meet Some say by this comming of Christ is meant the comming of Christ to Judgement some say no but it is meant Christs comming to reigne personally upon earth amongst his Saints Say a third neither but Christs comming is to destroy Antichrist by his glorious power in raising up the Witnesses This last opinion is the truest and like truth hath the fewest followers That opinion that this is meant of the coming of Christ to Judgment is most imbraced and followed and their reason for it is the same that the Chiliasts use to maintein their absurd and little lesse then blasphemous opinion of Christs personal reign upon the earth amongst his Saints militant before the day of Judgement They say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when used about Christ signifies his personall appearance alwayes in Scripture but say they Christ shall not personally appear untill the day of Judgment Ergo the destruction of Antichrist shall not be untill the day of Judgement Cold comfort for the Church Militant which by this opinion is like to lie under the frozen Zone of Antichristian persecution untill Doomes-day that all the world
Christ like the lightening i. e suddenly terribly when is that v. 28. when the ravenous birds of prey the Romish Eagles are feasting and rejoycing at the dead carcases of the Witnesses then followes v. 29. the vials pouring out on the apostasie and the Antichrist and then appears the signe of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the earth mourn what all the Tribes yes all for v. 31. the Angels with sound of Trumpet Isa. 27. 13. that is at Iohns seventh Trumpets sounding shall call all the Tribes from the four ends of the earth Oh blessed day the Lord hasten it but is this at the day of Judgement no but at the time of Antichrists ruine for the Generation of the Jews shall not perish untill all this be fulfilled now after this Christ treats of the day of Judgement in that Chapter CHAP. IV. And lying wonders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Syriack renders it and with false prodigies Beza reads lying prodigies I dare not alter any thing and therefore may not finde fault They say the expression is an Hebraisme equipollent to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they translate for the Text. It is observable that all the New Testament-prophecies are full of Hebraismes sure the Holy Ghost hath some holy designe in it either to informe the Hebrews that the same Spirit that inspired the Old Testament-Prophets inspired also the New and that the onely way to understand either is to believe both and compare them one with another thus I understand that of seeing eye to eye as Esay hath it Or else it is to humble us Gentiles in the remembrance of our stock We are by nature wilde Olives and all the light we have received for salvation it hath come from the Hebrews To them were committed the Oracles of the Gospel and they viz. the twelve Apostles and Paul all Hebrews did dispense those Oracles to the world which are to this day and will be the standing rule to all the Churches to the end of the world Hereby all boasting is excluded from the Gentiles Or rather to point us to the Old Testament there to search for a parallel Comment on a prophetick Text in the New Testament It may be all these designes are included in the phrase and manner of expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is a degree beyond signes that Antichrist goes for signes are but things acted within the Sphere of nature but wonders beyond and above the reach of nature Hence some conceive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be all one with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to terrifie for wonders being things done beyond the course of common causes amaze and terrifie the beholders so that they stand at a gaze filled with admiration and wonder which is nothing else but the surplus of expectation Antichrists slaying of the Witnesses changing the times and lawes of that State where he slayes them Dan. 7. 25. pitching his tents in the Holy Mountain Dan. 11. ult dividing Mount Olivet Zach. 14. stripping the Church of all her strength and power which she made against him Deut. 32. 36. setting up his new strange government in the stead of the government of the slain Witnesses Revel 13. 12 13 14. these are such great things beyond the expectation of the people that are not acquainted with the signes and marks of Antichrists appearing that they wonder at his successes and are cheated by the Antichrist by the great signes v. 13. especially that of Religion and Saintship for Antichrist shall do all these unexpected things under the cloke of Religion as Solomon appeared in the sight of all the men of Israel to be that King whom God had made choice of to build him an house and that that house God chose beyond all others to be his house by the comming down of fire from heaven in the sight of Israel at which sight they being filled with holy wonder bowed down their heads and worshipped believing even so Antichrist shall by his cunning designes which he cloaks with externall formes of high devotion make the people believe that he is the man designed to pull down Antichrist and to lay the top-stone of Church-Reformation and make the times glorious times you may know Antichrist by the Livery that he gives to his black Guard in 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 we finde 18 of his company all in one Livery v. 5. having a form of godliness self-lovers or selfish men in the cloak of the form of godliness covetous men in the form of godliness boasters in the form of godliness proud persons in the form of godliness blasphemers in the form of godliness disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors headie high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God all these the Apostle tells us in the last dayes meaning the dayes of Antichrists appearing shall be cloaked in a forme of godlinesse All these Devils in these dayes arise and walk in Samuels mantle So that I may use St. Iohns words to the dispersed despised and distressed Churches in this age 1 Iohn 2. 18. Little childeren it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time they went out from us but they were not of us These are the followers of Antichrist these are the chiefs of men to be destroyed when the Witnesses rise which day God of his abundant mercy hasten I believe 't is neer at hand Antichrist and his followers by their prodigious acts under the cloak of Religion may make the World wonder but they do no no wonders for the Holy Ghost tells us they are lying wonders wonders that onely cheat the men of the earth or earthly-minded men to a subjection to bow down to their image and receive the mark of the beast Antichrists miracles are lies respectu omnium causarum saith Cornelius à Lapide in respect of the materiall efficient formall and finall cause The end of his miracles is to cheat the people into a compliance with his false wayes whereas the end of true miracles was to confirme the truth The originall of these miracles is the Devil Antichrist is helped by Sorcerers and Witches that pretend Revelations and come with all manner of cunning to cheat and deceive soules The matter of them are meer deceits for dive into the bottome of them and you shall finde the fire he pretends came from heaven is fire of his own making to delude the people Ant. Scaynus conceives his lying wonders are such as Iannes and Iambres wrought before Pharaoh which were meer delusions and no true miracles yet served the turn to harden Pharaohs heart against the true Church and to divert the people from believing and obeying the truth to their
the Sickle and the same reason of the words for the Harvest is ripe observe how materially they agree in Ioel 3. 2. 14. the multitude of Gentiles comming together against the converted Jewes and Gentiles is called the gathering of the nations to bring them into the valley of Iehosephat ver 2. and ver 14. that gathering together is called the day of the Lord and in Revel 16. 12. when preparation was made for the Kings of the East to passe the enemies were gathered together ver 16. to Armagedon ver 14. their gathering together is called the battell of the great day of God Almighty Look we farther into Ioel 3. 15. The Sun and the Moon shall be darkned and the Starrs shall withdraw their shining i. e. the Roman and Turkish policy shall be thrown down This is an effect of that day of the Lord and the same effect we shall finde from the battell of the great day of God Rev. 16. for ver 19. the great City was divided into three their usurped Supremacy fell the Sun in that Horizon was darkned and the Cities of the nations fell and great Babilon came to the block and every Island fled away and the Mountaines were not found though the expressions in this and that differ yet they materially agree in this to set forth the incredible and terrible prodigious things which shall befall the enemies of the Church at the seventh Trumpet as in Rev. 14. 18 19 20. that Vine of the Earth may be meant the Turkish Monarchy in Rev. 19. 18. the flesh of Kings and Captains and mighty Men shall in that day be Doggs meat and Crows meat for if it be done thus to the green tree what shall be done to the dry if Judgement begin at the house of God and the righteous can scarcely escape where shall the ungodly and sinners appeare what great things may we look for to be effected in these latter times from these prophetique Texts Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the Earth Seek the Lord with feare and rejoice with trembling kisse the Son lest he be angry One thing more we have in Ioel to prove that this prophecy of his is to be fulfilled under the seventh Trumpet Ioel 3. 7. it is to be fulfilled after the time that the Jewes are sold to the Graecians to the Sonnes of the Graecians i. e. into Europe their seventy years captivity was fulfilled in Asia under the African Monarchy but this captivity of the Jews is to be under the Roman Monarchy in the Europian part of the world we know Titus Vespatian sold them for slaves into Greece and other parts of the world and they after that suffered grievous and bloudy conflicts under the Roman Emperours now their redemption from under their last and longest captivity under the Romans and the Turks is not to be untill the sound of the seventh Trumpet Mat. 24. 31. And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other Mathew calls it the great sound of a Trumpet and Isaiah calls it the great Trumpet Isa. 27. 12 13. when God shall gather his Elect one by one it shall come to passe in that day that the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Assyria and the out-casts in the Land of Egypt at the seventh Trumpet the twelve Tribes shall be redeemed from all the quarters of the world This alludes to the sounding of the Trumpet which proclaimed the yeare of Jubilee which was to sound aloud throughout the whole Land that all the poore captives might heare and rejoice thereat for then they were to be set free and restored to their own possessions Levit. 25. even so at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet shall the Jews be restored to their ancient possessions from which they have so long time been driven out as those many clear texts which we have quoted do evince Thus have I humbly presented my opinion of the two battels and how they are to be distinguished and not confounded they being as distinct as the first and second wo. I have also given my reason why I think we are not undr the 6. viall the reason why I have said so little of the vialls is because time to come will be their best Expositer as men have made time past their worst I will not fly reproachfully upon any that have writ upon the vialls for their fancy once had drawn me fully to their opinion but since I searched more into it I cannot finde it is either obvious to sense I do not say fancie or apparent to reason or agreeable at all with Scripture to say that any of the vialls are as yet poured out upon Rome it is absolutely as farre as I see contrary to Scripture for Revel 17. at that time when she is come to judgement ver 1. ver 15. the Whore i. e. the last policy or government in Rome rules over peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues the Prophecy mentions not onely the extent but the efficacy of his power in blasphemy and murder and seducements The policy of Rome prevailes so much Revelat. 18. 7 8. in those Kingdomes and States formerly under or now subject unto its spirituall whoredomes that in its pride it saith like an audacious proud and secure Whore I sit a Queene and am no Widdow and shall see no sorrow therefore shall her plagues come in one day that day that shee thus vaunts it and boasts of prosperity and successe seeing I suppose the Witnesses lye dead that day shall death and mourning and famine and consuming fire fall upon her and what 's all this but the effects of the vialls which in one day come upon her I cannot tell whether this one day be put for one year or one age but 't is put I presume to signifie the speedy end that God will make with Rome when he begins to pour out the vialls so speedy as that the Kings of the Earth her confederates beholding with astonishment fear and wonder such suddain and unexpected judgements on Rome call this day one hour 't is I suppose an hyperbolicall speech comming from the mouthes of men amazed and terrified with such dreadfull judgements comming so suddainly and unexpectedly upon that mighty City all is to tell us that when the vialls are poured out they are poured out orderly but not leisurely there will not be hundreds of yeeres nor months betwixt Viall and Viall I scarce beleeve dayes For God when he begins to judge the Whore he will make a speedy end with her At the seventh Trumpet this mysterie of God shall be finished I le conclude my Discourse of the seventh Trumpet with setting downe in figures not in words that part of Iohns Prophesie which properly falls under the seventh Trumpet viz. Rev. 11. 15. to
blesse not their mother to a generation that are pure in their own eyes yet not washed from their filthinesse a generation ô how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up a generation whose teeth are swords and their jaw-teeth knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from amongst men a generation of Lâ—…custs the wonder of Solomon who having no King go forth all of them by bands Would we but incline our cares to Gods counsels and turne our feet into his paths he would soon subdue our enemies and turnâ—… his hand against our adversaries the haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves but that we were disobedient to the Commanaments of the Lord. Why is the Diadem fallen from our head but because wo unto us we have sinned Why do flattering lippes proud tongues and double hearts prevail against us to the oppression of the poor and the making of the needy sigh Why do the wicked walke on every side when the vilest of the sonnes of men are exalted but because weare sinfull our Cities and our Countreys and our families of all rankes and degrees have sinned Go forth therefore ye sons and daughters of the Church weeping gird your selves in sack cloth and put ashes on your head take to you words of lamentation and bewail the sins of your Kings of your Princes of your Nobles of your Ministers before the Lord. Let the Trumpet be blown in Zion let a Fast be sanctified and a solemn Assembly called gather the people assemble the Elders let the Bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the Bride out of her closet let the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the altar and let them say Spare thy people ô Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach that Heathens should thus rule over us So soon as the people of God are thus framed God will be jealous for the land and pity his people The Churches teares usually go before the black Funerall of their enemies their tears ascend like exhalations insensibly but return in thundering and lightning stormes upon their enemies We shall finde the Churches mourning and the enemies ruine to be Zach. 12. 3 4 10. a Gospel-connexion and what himself hath joyned we cannot pull asunder Since therefore preces lachrymae are our best weapons against our enemies let us take to our selves this spirituall armour and let us thus go forth for the cause of God with much affection rejoycing as a Bridegroom commeth forth of his chamber and as a strong man rejoyceth to run a race let us rejoyce that we are counted worthy to be in arms for so great a King let us with a holy scorn disdain the enemies of our Lord the King let us defie that power and strength they bring against him Let the Counter-motions of crosse providences which make it evening by the Apostates clock put forward the hand of your faith to make it the morning of deliverance doth the Antichrist tread down all before him and oppresse the Church of God exceedingly be of good cheer for thus it is written that Antichrist must do and the Witnesses must suffer and also 't is written that then he is neer to his ruine and the Church neer to a glorious and exceeding great deliverance which is the subject of one main part of the ensuing Discourse Be not then ô ye Saints of the most High either afraid or ashamed of your afflictions Can you chuse a better Master Can you fight under a more royall Standard then Christs or can you finde a baser enemy or more accursed then the Antichrist gird on then your spirituall armour with the girdle of sincerity be stedfast in your resolutions why do the latchets of the shoes of patience hang so loose Why do you fâ—…et and startle at the news of suffering as if the fiery triall which is to try you were the fire of hell to damn you sincerity rejoyceth in the triall how will you be known from loose professeurs if your sincerity be not tried by afflictions afflictions indured with patience for Christ are the seales of sincerity this was one of Pauls seals which passed him for current among the Saints Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Sufferings for Christ are an evident tâ—…ken of perdition to your enemies but to you of salvation and that of God Faith is the evidence of our salvation and sufferings are the evidence of our faith Rejoyce therefore inasmuch as yeare made partakers of the sufferings of Christ for when his glory shall be revealed ye shall be glad also with exceeding joy your reproaches for Christ render you happy inasmuch as thereby the Spirit of glory resteth on you though on your enemies part Christ is blasphemed yet on your part he is glorified We have indeavoured to clear the Church of England and to clear the reformation begâ—…n and at last fiâ—…ished by the King Lords and Commons as Christs Church and Christs cause notwithstanding all those reproaches cast upon it let us then all of us that own the Church of England for a true Church and the reformation of that Church for a good cause prepare for sufferings and let us count them as so many scars of honour got in the field where the Royall Standard of our Lord the King is pitched which we shall wear forever our bodies shall lie down in the grave in the honour of them and at the Resurrection rise in the mâ—…jesty of them Let love to Christ and love to the Church of Christ constrain us to constancy let 's stop our eares against all the charmes of the Devill the world or the flesh let 's look to our Redeemer who when he was tempted upon the salvation of the chief Priests and Elders and upon the vindication of the Godhead to come down from the Crosse this seems to me to be the deepest temptation of hels forging for to destroy the work of Redemption for had Christ come down before he had died our Redemption had not been finished and we must all have been damned yet he continued in his shameful and grievous torments under all these blasphemons roproaches until the work of our Redemption was finished look up then to this great Captain of our salvation and as you have seen him do so do ye you must if you be Christs be made conformable to Christ your head by sufferings The faithful Christians of the three Kingdoms have suffered much ô let them not come down from the cross until the work be finished 't is supposed that there are sharper sufferings yet to come yet let us not â—…aint for there are more with us then are against us we have as that great person said A good Cause and a gracious God and so we have all the Angels and Saints on our sine we have the Trinity to trust to who is a strong hâ—…ld in time of trouble and knoweth every soul that trusteth in him Let love to the
whereon the learned Christians of the Europan Churches have met and fiercely incountred each other Paul was not more tossed in his Voyage from Ierusalem to Rome then Pauls Text hath been tossed amongst Christians since the name of Protestant and Papist hath been heard of in the world They both throw dirt in each others faces and then set this Prophecy of Paul's before each other as a glass of Infamy My care shall be to avoid those that cause Division my Design being to follow truth and peace and thereby if possibly I can to unite those that love it The very Title of this Subject may justly cause me to relinquish it for as the Sun is too glorious an object for a sore eye to look on and the Rocks too hard for foundered feet to go upon so is this Prophetick Subject too high and mysterious for such a weak head as mine to comprehend especially since the Ancients conclude this prophesie is not to be fulfilled until towards the end of the world so that we in this Age must look for the fulfilling of it And in good manners I might take that Greek Fathers grave Counsel rather patiently to wait on God for the fulfilling of Prophesies then rashly to determine of future events But if I may I shall plead my excuse for this my boldness to the Reader in the Preface I am now though long first come to the Text. This Chapter is divided as many several wayes as the Levites wife was sent I shal divide only so much as I intend to handle avoiding all affectation of Noveltie or Singularitie These twelve first Verses divide themselves into two General parts 1. A Doctrinal Part 2. A Prophetical part Which distinction Criticks will go neer to say is without a difference for what is Prophetical but Doctrinal only it is in a cloud more mysterious But by the Doctrinal part here we mean that Thesis which lieth implicitely in the two first Verses and part of the third That the day of Iudgement is not at hand This I call the Doctrinal part and then from ver 3. to ver 1â—… you have the Reason confirming this Doctrine and that I call the Prophetick part First then of the Doctrinal part in the two first Verses Ver. 1. Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together to him 2. That yee be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by Spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand We must first see to the true reading of these words before we can come to divide them aright Though there be a harmony in the Original Greek Copies yet there is jarâ—…ing in the translating of them The greatest difference which is material in the first verse is about the translating of the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most translate it Peâ—… others with the Preposition Dâ—… which changeth the sense of the words now the question is Who are in the right That is now our part to enquire Learned men are on either side some take in both as probable but incline more to one then another The words in the Greek are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the old Latine Version â—… Beza Tremelius and several other learned Expositors both Protestant and Popish translate thus per adventuâ—… by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ conceiving the words to carry in them the force of an oath or vehement obtestation The Authority that they bring for the translating it so is from an humane Author and that but a single proof out of Homers â—…aà s and that scarce a proof where Mercury pleading or inteâ—…ding in the behalf of Achillis expresseth himself thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .i. by his father and by his mother If this be all that can be said why 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be translated per by I believe more will be said why it should be translated De of or concerning First from the Authors themselves who translate it per adventum Zanchie saith it may signifie the matter or the thing it self about which the Controversie was and so it may be expounded We beseech you concerning the coming of Christ as if he should say but as to the controversal point among you viz. concerning the coming of Christ â—…dmonish you not to think that it is at hand This seems to be the true sense and scope of the Text for the tumult that was raised in the minds of the Thessalonians was about the day of Judgment being neer which opinion the Learned conceive was raised by false brethren who abused and mis-interpreted these words of Paul 1 Thess. 4. 15 17. thence perswâ—…ding them that they should all be caught up into the clouds this was a startling Doctrine to new planted Christians which caused such a Church-quake amongst them and therefore Pâ—… comes in seasonably I beseech you brethren concerning the coming of Christ and your being gathered together that ye be not troubled Estius confesseth that it may be so translated De adventu The Syâ—…ck reads it Ob adventum which directly falls in to the foregoing sense It is not fit so material a difference in the reading should be passed over lightly especially since the most as I conceive translate it to the most improper sense which as Estius observes is repugnant to the Greek Copie also for according to the reading per adventum the Genitive Cases are all governed of adventum and then it yeilds us this sense or rather nonsense By the coming of our Lord Iesus and by the coming of our gathering together to him For saith Estius it is requisite according to the Vulgar Translation to repeat adventum which is most improper as himself confesseth though against the received and adored Roman Translation Now for the avoiding this discommodious sense Learned men such as Hierom and Beza that they might make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 govern both adventus and congregatio they read congregatio in the Accusative Case clipping the Greek Copy to make currant their own But leaving both these and reading 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Genitive Case as it is in the Greek our English Translation will afford us this sense But we beseeâ—… you brâ—…thren of the coming of our Lord Iesus and of our gathering to him you shall see a parallel Text for this not out of Homer's Plate's or Theophrastus's Greek phrases but out of Pauls own Copy in Phil. 3. 13. For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure I presume hereupon that it will be granted that so reading the Text in English is neerer to Pauls phrase in other Texts and the nearest to his own Greek Copy here and therefore I shall take the boldness so to read it There being no material difference that I find in the reading of the rest of the two verses we
cause of the Apostasie when God shall ruine all those irregular Orders as I may justly call them in the European Churches and aâ—…l those tyrannicall and false Governments which are got into those States which professe Christianity and shall raise up his Witnesses which shall promote the truth of the Gospel both for doctrine and worship about this time shall the Antichrist appear i. e. immediately before this time But we leave this sense We come neerer to the literal and general sense and as 't is conceived to that which the Holy Ghost alludes unto The Antichrist is called the son of perdition by way of allusion to Iudas who is called the son of perdition Iohn 17. 12. which gives us this notion that as there arose a son of perdition to betray Christ the lawful Monarch of the Iews and hereby brought a dreadful curse upon the Church and State of the Iews so as that the Gospel departed from them and went to the Geneiles so there shall about that time when God will cause the Gospel to go forth to the Iews another son of perdition arise which shall betray to death the only true Christian Monarch in the World that so the Romish Gentiles Epha may be full and God may bring upon them the judgements written and restore again in their ruine the twelve Tribes to their ancient possessions This son of the perdition is he that slayes the Witnesses Therefore saith Ambrose Catharinus he is like Iudas Eximio námque moâ—…o talis erit qui tantum audebit he is exactly like Iudas in his sin in his eminent profession of religion and his prodigious ends malicious covetous sacrilegious treacherous attempts and hypocritical politick practises in the accomplishing of those ends To conclude let the words explain themselves The man of the sin is the son of the perdition i. e. he that commits the sin of sins in the Gentile Church is the son of the perdition that is actively of the slaying of the Witnesses So that the person gives us the knowledge of the sin the sin gives us eminently to know the person and this shall be the making naked manifesting or laying open to all the world the man of the sinne the son of the perdition CHAP. III. WHo opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sus in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God This verse gives us a description of those actions which give the esse formale to the Antichrist for 't is not the person but the sinne makes the Antichrist formally so to be This text is Antichrist's looking-glasse wherein he may see himself face to face His prodigious sin is the slaying of the Witnesses and this is the sin which the text sets forth In the words there are three generall parts 1 Antichrist's acts 2 The object of these actions 3 The end of his acts 1 His acts are set forth under two names or titles given to him 1 He opposeth 2 He exalteth himself 2 The objects of these actions are 1 All that is called god 2 Or that is worshipped 3 In the end of his actions we have 1 The ambitious aimes of the Antichrist laid open 't is to make himself supream So that he as God there 's his Supremacy 2 We have the place where Antichrist makes himselfe King and Supream and that is in the Temple of God in the true Church of God Sits in the Temple of God 3 We have also his kinde of title to all this greatness described shewing himself that he is God 't is a self-created title that he hath to his Supremacy he shewes himselfe he displayes his own colours the meaning is he is an Usurper he hath no title but what he gives himself Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe so our Translation renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza translates it sese opponens the Vulgar qui adversatur the Syriack qui adversarius the particle â—… is restrictive in this place and therefore the expression is to be considered absolutely that person opposing or the adverse person The word comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is contra jaceo it alludes to souldiers lying in siege against a Castle who lie close in their trenches against it so doth the Antichrist lay a siege against the Witnesses watching for an opportunity to surprize them and bereave them of their power and glory The word answers saith Grotius Zanchie and Beza to the word Satan in Hebrew which signifies an adversary as they prove This turns us to a text which gives us a view of the Antichrist Zach. 3 3 4 and the Witnesses in filthy garments and the Lord rebuking Antichrist who is there twice called the adversary in the rebuking of whom there is a fair Miter put upon Ioshua the high Priests head that is the Witnesses are called up to the Throne but this text will require much time to clear and therefore at this time I passe it by We will take it as 't is byassed the other way by Commentators and so the expression as that next before it alludes to Iudas saith Chist Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a Devil and why a Devil but because he proved a traitor to his own Master and an hypocriticall cunning traitor against him so doth Antichrist against his Liege Sovereign To conclude he is most probably called the adversary because he is the opposer of the Lords anointed ones hence the learned call him the Antichrist because Christo ex diametro oppositus And exalteth himselfe these two expressions turn us to two texts which two texts describe the Antichrist say the most of the most learned Commentators in Dan. 11. 35. Revel 11. 7. In Revel 11. 7. he makes war with the Witnesses overcomes them here in opposing them he makes war with them in overcoming them he exalts himself above them and in Dan. 11 35. you have Pauls words He shall exalt himself above every god i e saith Brightman above every Magistrate in Rom. 13. 2. he resisteth God that rebels against Magistracie Oh this is Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 19. 22. Thus you have the Antichrist's actions described he opposeth and exalteth that is he maketh war and overcometh Now you have in the next place the objects of his actions or the parties whom he doth oppose and exalt himself above Above every one that is called God Some Greek copies have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omnem above every man that is called god other copies read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omne above every thing that is called god the Syriack Interpreter reads supra omnem Beza saith utrovis modo legas you may read it either way Grotius reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here the Papists and the Protestants fall foul upon each other the Protestants say this is meant of the Popes usurpation in his
The same word saith Master Leigh in his Criticks signifies Nahum 3. 2. the noise of the Chariots which Commotion in the war is full of terrour but more pat to our text is that other in Ezekiel 38. 19. Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel I do not parallel the prophecie of Ezekiels with that of Iohns I now am upon though the fulfilling of it be to be in the time of the seventh trumpet when it shall sound but I produce it as a phrase of the same importance with this in the text It signifying saith the same Author a great commotion of minde by reason of terrour So that I think we may read the text and in the great Commotion were slain of men In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza renders it capita hominum the Chiefs of men the Chieftains 7000. I think a man can hardly finde a better Interpreter For certain these names of men do signifie the followers of the Antichrist his complices and so names of men here may have respect to names of blasphemy Revel 17. 3. for there the Antichrist which bears up the Romish Spanish faction against the true Church is called the Scarlet beast full of names of blasphemy Sometimes the word is used for fame or renowne amongst Greek Authours In holy writ we finde those rebels against the Lords anointed Moses to be called men of renowne in the Congregation Numb 16. 2 3. the ring leaders of the wrong-lead people against Moses there were but two hundred and fifty but here 's seven thousand of them bandied together against the two Witnesses but here 's the comfort if they were 77000 they mnst suddenly be slain by this great Commotion But what 's this to the question How doth this shew the difference betwixt the two great Earthquakes For answer therefore it is manifest that there are three wo-trumpets spoken of in the Revelation the first brings in the Roman Bishops apostasie and the sad effects thereof Revel 9. The second wo began verse 13 14. when the Turks arose and punished the apostate Christians and this continues until the Antichrist appear and slay the Witnesses Revel 11. and until these Witnesses arise and that houre the great Commotion or Shaking verse 13. throw down the tenth part of the City that is that part of dominion where the Witnesses were slain for there they are said to arise there their enemies see them and there the 7000 Chieftains of men are slain By the fall of the City is meant the fall of it from the Antichrist it becomes no more a den for such thieves and murtherers but the Witnesses arise and possess the throne And this is the finishing of the second wo v. 14. 15. immeately follows the seventh trumpet which is the third wo here then is the difference as in time the one Earthquake or Commotion being at the finishing of the second wo the other at the beginning of the third so in place and measure they differ for here no more then the tenth part of the City falls and the 7000 heads of men but at the third wo verse 15. all the Kingdomes in the World fall that is from the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet to become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christs that he may reign for ever and ever This last Revel 16. 18. compared with Dan. 12. 1. tell us 't is such an Earthquake or Commotion as never was before on earth Again at the Earth-quake which accomplisheth the second wo though we finde the followers of the Antichrist to be destroyed and those Kingdomes where he slew the Witnesses fallen from him and restored again to the Witnesses yet we finde not a word of the slaying of the Antichrist for certain he escapes to plot further mischief that he may come to greater ruine at the third wo for in Revel 16 13. we finde him with the dragon and the beast plotting to draw forces against the Church to bring them to the great battel of God Almighty he is called the false prophet because Revel 13. 13 14. he doth wonders like a true Prophet but his tricks are false signes and false miracles on purpose to deceive the people therefore he is a false prophet now that beast of the earth is the Antichrist therefore the false prophet is the Antichrist who 2 Thess. 2. 9 10. is said to come after the working of Satan with lying wonders and all deceivablenesse To conclude this last Commotion or Earth-quake which is at the third wo is super-abundantly surpassing that Earth-quake at the finishing of the second wo for as we said Revel 11. 15. The Kingdomes of this world become his so in like manner in Revel 16. 16 17 18 19 20 21. compared with Revel 19. 19. we finde Gods judgments in a far larger measure to be poured out upon the three generall enemies of the Church of Christ for that Earth-quake at the rising of the Witnesses onely throwes down one tenth of the City but this divides the City into three parts and causeth the Cities of the Nations to fall and gives Babylon the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of Gods wrath this makes the Islands flie and the mountains to obscure themselves this Commotion brings hail-stones from heaven each stone a talent-weight and makes the enemies blaspheme That Earth-quake Revel 11. 13. destroyes not one of the three generall heads of Gods implacable enemies but this in Revel 16. destroyes them all three for in vers 14. those three go forth to the Kings of the earth to gather them to the battel of the great day of God Almighty and in v. 16. they are gathered together and now at what time Iohn Revel 19. 19. sees them gathered together to make war against Christ in the next verse at the same time he sees the beast taken and with him the false prophet which wrought miracles before him as in Revel 13. 12 13 14. and deceived them that worship his image and two verses after though unhappily divided by those that made it a Chapter you have the dragon bound a thousand years and cast into hell with the beast and the false prophet and this is the meaning of It is done Revel 16. 17. and in Revel 10. 6. Time shall be no longer i. e. either for the Dragon the beast or the false prophet to infest or trouble the Church for then is the day of vengeance in Gods heart and the year of his redeemed is come Isa. 63. 4. if we would know that day compare we the three foregoing verses with Revel 19. 1â—… to v. 21. and it will appear that the great year of Gods redeemed ones is come when Christ treads the enemies of his Church alone in his anger and makes his garments red in their blood that is in the blood of the armies of the beast and the false prophet CHAP. VII FOr the mystery of iniquity doth already work
by which Antichrist shall be by little and little consumed and brought to nothing if this be a true interpretation of these words then the Lords destruction of Antichrist is not nor cannot be at the day of Judgement for then the Ministerie of the Word shall cease But Cornelius à Lapide confutes this opinion by one good argument It cannot saith he be meant the preaching of the Word for Antichrist shall remove that by slaying the two Witnesses ô Cornelius I fear thou wilt prove a true Prophet Antichrist will forbid all Preachers upon the greatest penalties to let alone his usurped tyrannical bloudie government Neither saith he is the preaching of the Word able to kill Antichrist Alas Antichrist is Sermon-proof All the reason and Religion in the World shall not take him off from his purposes all the thundering Cannons of the Church affright him no more then a paper-pellet from a pot-gun he is shot-free in this holy War he is that Leviathan which counts these darts as stubble and laugheth at the shaking of these spiritual spears Therefore saith my Author Christ when he comes to destroy him shall not come ad praeliandum but ad judicandum Hence he and with him Aquinas Oecumenius Andreas Scaynus Fab. Paulutius Goranus conclude that by the spirit of his mouth is meant his Imperiall command his Majestick sentence Aquinas hath another tolerable exposition of these words he parallels these words with that in Isaiah 11. where it is said The zeal of the Lord of boasts shall do this that is the zeal of his justice wherewith he is zealous out of love for the good of his Church Indeed zeal it is flamma amoris and as the Noble Husband otherwise milde and gentle cannot but furiously arise against those that offer injurie to his beloved wife which flame of fury ariseth from the fire of love even such is Christs against the enemies of his Spouse the Church especially against the Antichrist the greatest and worst of enemies to the Spouse of Christ. Grotius by these expressions of the Apostle understands the facility of the work in Christs hands He can as easily confound Antichrist as the winde before the smoak away as the Sun causeth the dew to vanish 't is but speaking the word and it is done as Antiochus Dan 8. 25. a type of the Antichrist was destroyed without hands so shall the Antichrist without hands by the breath of Christs mouth be destroyed In Psal. 10. 5. there we finde the wicked succesful Tyrant puffing at his enemies he overthrows them by his might as easily as a man blows out a Candle 't is an expression full of disdain to his enemies even so here Christ in disdein to the Antichrists might and power shall with the breath of his mouth confound him As Antichrist puffed at the Saints of God disdeining all their force and power and easily vanquished and overthrew them so the Lord Jesus when he comes he will puff at Antichrist and easily vanquish him and therefore Christ in disdein to him all his power that he brings against him Rev. 19. 17 18. sends his messenger to invite the fowls of the air to a supper that he would give them made of the carcases of those Kings and Captains and mighty men so much doth he disdein the armies of his enemies and so little doth he doubt of the success of the day that before he fights he promiseth the fowles a supper at night of these mighty men that set themselves in array against him that day the breath of Christs mouth against his enemies is that that shall overthrow them in the height of their strength Therefore Isaiah 59 19. When the enemy shall come in like a floud the Spirit of the Lord shall by blowing against sin make him to flie the Spirit of Christs mouth shall vanquish the adversary the Antichrist The Scope of this Text being to set forth the destruction of the Antichrist by the Lord Jesus his immediate power and command I conceive the expressions in the Text are such as run parallel with the Old and New Testament-texts that prophesie also of this great day of Antichrists destruction For the finding out of those parallel Texts we must take in both expressions whom the Lord shall destroy with the breath of his mouth and consume with the brightnesse of his comming 't is but a doubling of the same expression as Grotius observes after the manner of the Hebrews when they intend either to expresse a thing elegantly or vehemently or certainly both these expressions tends saith Grotius to one thing For the first expression we shall finde some Texts onely parallel with the matter some both with the marter and the phrase whom the Lord shal destroy with the breath of his mouth Parallel both with the phrase and matter are those two Texts Isa. 11. 4. and Revel 19. 15. Isa. 11. 4. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked one This Text saith Cornelius à Lapide Paul alludes unto vel potiùs citat or rather cites it It is manifest both from the Hebrew Translators and also from the Greek Translatours that the Texts in the phrase are alike one thing more is observable in the reading of the Text that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scebet which we translate rod signifies Scepter so that He shall smite the earth with the Scepter of his mouth this Scepter of his mouth Revel 19. 15. is called the sword of his mouth wherewith he smites the Gentiles here he smites the Gentiles there the earth both which Lukes copie of the same prophecie from Christs mouth expresseth Luke 21. 25. there the earth shall be distressed and in great anxiety and the Gentiles at their wits end CHAP. XI IN the prophecies there are two great dayes spoken of wherein Christ comes with sore punishments upon the Roman Gentiles before both which times he is seen upon his white horse In Revel 6. he goes forth conquering on his white horse but the Roman Gentiles yield not whereupon the great day of the Lambes wrath fell upon the Roman Emperours that they were not able to stand against Constantine but were utterly overthrown and cast from heaven the Imperiall Throne Revel 12. The next great day of battel against the Roman Gentiles is against the apostate Antichristian Gentiles Revel 19. where we finde Christ again appearing on his white horse utterly to ruine the heads of the Romish Apostasie and the Antichrist which are both set forth under these two titles the beast and the false Prophet Now as at the first great overthrow of the Romish Pagan Gentiles the Jewes were driven out of their own Countrey and scattered throughout the World so at or about this great day of Christs comming to plague the Antichristian Gentiles the Jews shall be both converted to the Gospel and called again to
be a Nation and therefore we have both in the Old Testament and the New these prophecies joyned together for the great signe of the Jews conversion to the Gospel shall be the ruine of Antichrists followers by a great Commotion Revel 11. 13. and the calling up of the Witnesses to heaven i. e. to their imperiall Seat and Throne This we shall finde to be the scope of severall prophecies both in the Old and New Testament and this is the scope of this fore-cited Text in Isa. which when we look neerer to it we finde both the manner of expression and the matter contained in it exactly matching Pauls expression and prophecie for in it as in Pauls we finde an ingemination of the thing and the denomination of the person for Paul calls him the wicked one and Isaiah calls him the wicked one Paul saith he will destroy him with the spirit of his mouth and Isaiah saith he will destroy him with the Scepter of his mouth and Iohn in Revel 19. with the sword of his mouth which sword is called Isa. 27. 1. the Lords great and strong sword Now in that he saith he will smite the earth I humbly conceive in this place he means the Antichristian earth and by the wicked one is meant the Antichrist which Paul in the Text we are upon calls the wicked one therefore now in that he saith He will smite the Antichrist with the Scepter of his mouth it gives us to understand that Antichrist shall not be destroyed by humane power but by the immediate power of the Lord Jesus Christ who shall gloriously manifest his justice therein therefore in that Type of the Witnesses in sack-cloth Zach. 3. under the representation of Iehoshua the Priest in filthy garments and of their state of rising again under the type of Crowns being put on their heads and their garments changed and Ioshuah and Zerubbabel standing like golden Candlesticks of the Temple and Olive-trees supplying them The Prophet wondering how this should be brought about in such an afflicted state as the Church was then in the answer is Not by humane help or power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts Zach 4. 6. the mighty power of the Spirit shall make that mountain a plain before his Zerubbabel Out of Christs mouth goeth a sharp sword wherewith he smites the Gentiles The sword in his mouth is his imperiall command the word of an absolute Monarch is a sword against whom none can stand there lies the majesty of a Monarch in his absolute commands which commands are the spirit of his mouth or the Scepter of his mouth or the sword of his mouth how much more is it so in the King of kings and Lord of lords If the Word of Christ from the mouths of weak Ambassadours be sharper then a two-edged sword vvhat is it immediately from heaven the voice of the Lord breaks the Cedars in Lebanon it bringeth mighty things to passe the voice is the spirit of the mouth this voice is that vvhich calls the Witnesses from death to life from their low and sad state up to heaven Revel 11. 12. and the same hour causeth an Earth-quake or Commotion to overthrow the Chieftains of men who were by their sword-power the upholders of the Antichrist v. 13. and this voice causeth all the Kingdoms in the world to flock in unto the Gospel and Scepter of Christ and what power in heaven or earth can effect such glorious things but onely the spirit of his mouth who breaths the life of all souls into them Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword whereby he smites the Nations Revel 19. 15. That which from all this we may gather is that neither the rising of the Witnesses nor the ruine of Antichrist shall be by meer humane help or power but by the mighty imperiall power of Christ. Hence it is that when Christ commeth to accomplish this great work Luke 18. 8. he shall scarce finde faith on the earth and why but onely because he 'l come to raise the Witnesses when there is no visible power in the world to own them Deut. 32. 36. Isa. 59. 16 17 18 19. and when the enemies are in their might and strength irresistible When the adversary shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall blow him to flight and this shall be v 16. when there is no man to help or save his Church as in that of Moses before cited when there is none shut up nor left and all their power is gone then God ariseth to judge for his people against their proud insulting enemies These three verses comprehend the fore-cited Texts which run parallel with Pauls In v. 16. you have Christ clothing himself in armour to come against this enemy as in Revel 19. and v. 19. he destroys the adversary by blowing upon him 't is as much as to say the Lord shall destroy him with the spirit of his mouth But when shall this Text of Isaiahs be fulfilled compare v. 20 with Rom. 11. 25 26. it tells you when it shall be fulfilled when the fulnesse of the Gentiles is come in i. e. when the Gentile Apostasie is come to the full i e. when the Antichrist appeares with his great successes against the true Church which Isaiah in v. 18. seems to tell us shall be situated in the Islands towards the Evening-Sun v. 19. for as the Gospel in its first glorious day came from the East and shone into the West so in the second glorious day of the Gospel this day Isaiah tells us it shall go from the West to the East for then all Israel the Easterne people shall be saved i e. converted to the faith and restored to their own land as it is written There shall come out of Sion a deliverer and turn ungodliness from Iacob I 'le appeal to all sober men in this world whether ever this Text that Paul quotes since Pauls time hath been fulfilled if not then probably it is to be fulfilled when the apostasie of the Gentiles is fulfilled when the Antichrist the Popedome and the Dragon are cast into utter darknesse and by Christ destroyed As for that Text Isa. 11. 4. we take the boldnesse to affirm that it is literally meant of the destruction of the Antichrist as Pauls Text is Paul taking this prophecie from Isaiah that so the Jews in time to come might believe Paul as well as their own Prophets to be sent of God My reasons why I take this Text to be prophesied of the Antichrist are 1 Because of the stupendious change which shall then be wrought v. 6 7 8. there shall be a blessed cordial and charitable union wrought betwixt Jew and Gentile this say the learned was partly begun by the twelve Apostles but it shall be compleated after Antichrists ruine by the prosperous successe of the two Witnesses so that the glorious effect of Christs appearing to ruine Antichrist is to be accomplished 2 Because