in some sence this is truth of which more anon The two Olive-trees which we are enquiring of are called the Witnesses distinct from the Candlesticks for though our Translators have coupled them together by the conjunction and yet we have been enformed that at or besides is more proper and significant according to Zech. 4.3 But I have determined never to receive any testimony of man how excellent soever unless it be strongly backt and substantially supported by that cleer fountain of life the testimony of Truth Isai 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them And this testimony even this very word discovers more heavenly light then I was aware of for in this Text the Scirptures are plainly cald a Testimony or Witness Let the answer to Zechary's question cleer the truth hereof more fully the Prophet having a Vision of these two Olive-trees which are plainly said to stand by the Candlestick Zech. 4.3 asketh the Angel what they were to which he answered This is the word of the Lord that is to say the Scriptures which before are called the Law and the Testimony and this word of the Lord held forth by two Olive-trees is purposely produced for the cherishing and establishing of that temple-Temple-work that Zerubbabel had in hand as if the Lord should say Let this enform and assure you that though mountains of difficulties appear Neh. 6.1 though Tobiah and Sanballat the exact type of Pope and Cardinals and many false brethren use all means to hinder and destroy my temple-Temple-work though my Candlestick be now in a low mean obscure condition yet my work shall go on and prosper the Word is gone out of my mouth it is upon record in the writings of my Prophets and therefore cannot fail but these Scriptures of truth shall continually stand by my Candlesticks like two Olive-trees conveying by my seven sorts of Instruments as by so many Pipes such plentiful nourishment as shall be able to support my Churches in the most forlorn exiled wilderness estate this was the condition of the distressed Church opposed by Potent Enemies aswell in the time of the great builder Zerubbabel as in the time of the great builder Constantine and this also is worth our consideration that neither the Enemies of the Jews then nor the Enemies of the true Saints now were such professedly but made a great show of friendship Come say they we will build with you Ezra 4.2 for we seek your God as ye do But they secretly conspired against the Jews endevouring by all possible means to hinder the work And this was the speech and thus was the practice of that Iobiah of Rome and those other secret Enemies in the time of Constantine And now the word of the Lord is the only visible support and supply of the poor distressed woman and this word of the Lord stands like two Olive Trees on each side the Candlesticks Zech. 4.11.12 Rev. 11.6 or true Churches yielding constant nourishment to the Saints in their 1260. years misery all which being diligently compared and seriously considered raiseth my apprehensions to these conclusions 1. The two Olive trees are the holy Scriptures or Two Testaments 2. The Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. The two Branches of the Two Olive Trees are Doctrine and Discipline 4. The Golden Pipes of the Candlesticks are the Ministers of the Churches For the clearing of these I shall make my address to that Chrystal fountain from whence one cleer testimony is to me of more validity then all the Arguments in the world This light the Spirit of truth is pleased to Communicate in this 4. Vers of the 11. Chapter of the Revelation that these witnesses are two Olive Trees which must be so understood as Christ is a Vine a Door a Stone a Nail c. That is not really Though I depend not upon mans testimony yet you may note that Austin the flower of Antiquity was fully of this judgment but figuratively so these blessed witnesses have the same use and therefore are fitly compared unto Olive Trees First That these two Olive Trees are expresly called the word of the Lord hath been already proved from Zech. 4.6 and though this might abundantly satisfie being joyned with that of Isa 8.20 yet for the further Evidence of this truth let us consider the nature of the Olive tree Rom. 11. Rom. 11.17 from which the Jews were broken off and I believe it will cleerly appear that the Olive Tree there mentioned is none other but the word of God growing up and drawing sap from the eternall word the Lord Jesus Christ the root of this tree whereof faithful Abraham was only a Type And that the breaking off the unbelieving Jews was their separation from procured by their contempt of the doctrine of salvation contained in the Scripture these Rom. 3.2 Mat. 10.5.6 Acts. 11.19.13.46 and only these were the children of the Kingdome to whom only the pure Oracles of God were committed to whom only the Gospel was Commanded to be preached and to whom only for a long time it was Preached till they rejecting this heavenly juyce putting away the sap and fatness of this Olive Tree thereby judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life So that this Act of theirs in putting from them the word of God causing those words of Paul and Barnabas Lo we turn to the Gentiles was the breaking of them off from the Olive Tree the eternal word it is worth our consideration that the Apostle cals it their own Olive Tree Rom 11.24 Mat. 15.26 as the Lord Jesus also cals the word of Salvation their bread They are here said to be cut off from the Olive Tree upon which they did grow and we are graffed upon that stock or tree from which they were cut now it is plain that we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles Ephes 2.02 and Prophets which I am sure are the two Testaments that make out the Lord Jesus Christ who is the root of this Olive Tree For the further Illustration of this truth that it was the doctrine of salvation conteined in the Scriptures from which these Jews were broken off and consequently that this Olive tree is none other then the word of God let us examine what those two staves in Zachary are with which the Lord himself fed this stiff-necked obstinate People and this will plainly appear to be the holy Scriptures or word of God and least it should be deemed the humane fancy of a conceited Brain take the naked words as they lie in the Scripture I took unto me two staves the one I called beauty and the other I called bands and I fed the flock Zech. 11.7 And I took my staff even beauty and cut it asunder and it was broken in that day and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew
shall not be able to stop their mouthes till toward the end of their Testimony they shall prophesie all along though it be not in that external pomp and glory wherewith Popes Cardinals and the rest of the Antichristian rable rout now flourished but all forlorn retired obscured in mournful Sackcloth yet they shall Prophesie the Temple even in the midst of the outward Court that is the Apostatized Church of Rome is given to them and even there do they worship the Lord in purity but so covertly and obscurely that they are not easily discerned especially by the Pope and his scarlet Conclave whose eyes are dazled with external pomp and glory Thus is the Virgin Spouse of Christ and her heavenly Witnesses which in the midst of Heathen Persecutions was clothed in the Royal Robes of her everlasting Husband now become an object of scorn and contempt to those wicked watch-men who what in them lay spoyled and depraved her of that heavenly simplicity and Gospel-purity she lately shined in Rev. 2.13 Now is she become the true Antitype of the Church of Pergamos dwelling in obscurity where Antichrists throne is and there she holdeth fast the Faith and denyeth not the name of her crucified Lord which ever and anon doth cost some faithful Antipas his life And here the blessed Witnesses nourish her and Prophesie against her Adversary that proud Scarlet Strumpet did so defile darken wrack wrest and pervert the holy Scriptures to uphold their abominable Idolatry and Superstition that no other vesture appear'd upon them but sable weeds of sorrowful Sackcloth and when in despight of their fond Allegories and sensual conceits these two Witnesses spake to their faces against the dreadful abominations creeping in so fast this Harlot not able to bear their reproof hating to be reformed Psal 51.17 and rejecting instruction did at length cast behinde them into secret holes and corners these blessed Scriptures of truth so that in the midst of all this Papal Tyranny which daily increased they remaind secretly nourishing the true Church even where the Beast reigned yea in the heart of his dominions the whole term of their testimony in Sackcloth viz. 1260 years during which time this is the Character which is given of the Romish Harlot Mich. Cec. contr Tyrannid Papae Mornaus Myst Iniq. Bez. quaest There were within the Papal Territories two Churches the one of the wicked sort flourishing wherein the Pope reigned the other of godly and good men and this he persecuted so that the Church was under or within the Papacy but the Papacy was not the Church Now this being clear in the word of truth that the true Church remains alive in the midst of this dead sea and is preserved like Jonah in the belly of this monstrous Leviathan What will become of that empty flourish of a vaunting Jesuite Where was your Church before Luther We see to the high prayses of our eterternal King that it was in the Ark in the midst of the great Deluge in Goshen in the midst of the Egyptian darkness in the den amidst those roaring Lyons in the furnace safe and secure in the extremest heat of Popish persecution And is now come forth of that great Tribulation as pure gold out of that fiery Tryal as a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord Isai 62.3 and a Royal Diadem in the hand of our God But who can marvel at this foolish question of blinde Papists when the poverty obscurity and simplicity of the True Church and her abstruse Witnesses is considered how could their eyes so grosly blinded with the black scales of ambition pomp luxury behold or discern such contemptible objects as the Church in her exile and her Witnesses in their Sackcloth Did not their Fathers the Scribes and Pharises grope in the same Egyptian darkness when they could not discern a Messias though working wonders even in the very midst of them their Holinesses lookt too high to behold Christ in a Carpenters coat even like His prophane wickedness who sitting in that Chayr of pestilence at Rome could not perceive the holy City under his feet nor the heavenly Witnesses in their mournful habit of both which their Predecessors and themselves are alike wilfully ignorant to this day O the distinguishing love of a gracious Father Why should not we be thus blind and ignorant shall we see the cause Luke 10.21 I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight The fourth Verse These are the two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth Mr. Mede saith Clav. Apoc. pag. 11. 12. there lieth hidden in these words an Hebraism having this signification viz. The two Olive-trees at or besides the two Candlesticks Annotat. Zech. 4.3 they are said to stand by the sides of the Candlestick or as the London Ministers have it With the two Candlesticks or Churches so that the Churches are one thing and the Witnesses feeding them another thing These two Olive-trees are plainly called the word of the Lord Zech. 4.6 not Zerubbabel and Joshua as some imagine nor Enoch and Elias as others conjecture nor Christ and his Saints as a third conceive nor Burton and Prynne as hath been confidently affirmed but all with as much show of truth as that the two Houses of this present Parliament should be them but all these conceits and all other fancies of like nature are not worth the Answer as having not the least ground or warrant in that blessed Rule that is able to make the man of God wise unto salvation others have supposed that they are the Word and Spirit And our English Prophet Mr. Brightman thinks they are the holy Scriptures and the Churches of the Saints But this may not be granted for these reasons 1. The Scriptures and the Saints cannot die one kinde of death and there is not the least appearance in the Word of any difference or distinction in their sufferings and we must be sure to keep close to the Reed that was given John to measure all true Believers by 2. The Saints cannot be said in any cleer sence to rise again three years and a half after their sufferings at the time mentioned by Mr. Brightman 3. It is evident that the Saints suffered as great misery and were as vehemently persecuted after his supposed resurrection as at any time before which were absurd and without any Scripture ground to conceive of the Witnesses after their reviving 4. Rev. 12.6 The Saints are the woman or Church and the Witnesses distinctly added for her aid succour and support in her exile 1260 dayes or years Therefore the Saints and the Scriptures both cannot be the Witnesses But some who have thought that these two Witnesses are the Word and Spirit do come nearest the truth and
that it was the word of the Lord. That then from which these stubborn Jews were broken off is the word of the Lord or the holy Scriptures but the Jews were broken off the true Olive Tree therefore the true Olive Tree is the word of the Lord or the holy Scriptures All which being compared it will evidently appear that the two Olive Trees in this of the Revelation and that of Zacariah are none other then the holy Scriptures or word of God Secondly It is as plain that the blessed Scriptures are the proper Food and Noufishment of Saints spoken of Rev. 12.6 Isa 25.6 Psal 36. what else is that feast of fat things that Wine on the Lees well refined that fatness of the Lords house wherewith he satisfieth the souls of his Saints those Rivers of pleasures he makes them drink of and to which the Lord Jesus so freely invites them Eat O friends Drink Cant. 5.1 yea Drink abundantly O beloved But I pass this briefly as not to be denied that the holy Scriptures are the proper Food and Nourishment of the Saints For which employment these holy witnesses are designed Rev. 12.6 namely to feed the Church in her exiled Wilderness estate 1260 years But if any shall cavill that I attribute that to the Scriptures which is peculiar to the Spirit of God I have this to say that I have no thought of the Scriptures without or beside the Spirit of God I receive all Scriptures as the Lord Jesus delivered them The words that I speak unto you Joh. 6.63 2 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 4.12 they are Spirit and they are life able to make wise unto salvation And therefore the blessed Scriptures are the proper fit sutable nourishment for the Saints and particularly for the Church in her afflicted despised wilderness estate Thirdly That the holy Scriptures are called witnesses and which is yet more plain these very witnesses of Christ will appear in the perusal of several Scriptures And first that the Law is called so Deut. 31.26 Take this book of the Law and put it in the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God that it may be there for a Witness against thee And it appears as cleerly to me that the Gospel is so called also 1 Joh. 5.9 This is the Witness of God which he hath testified of his son If it be objected that it is the Spirit c. that is here called the Witness t is readily granted neither dare I call the Spirit one thing and the word another thing except it be said that the Scriptures are the minde of the Spirit it is above noted that the Lord Jesus saith they are both one thing The words that I speak they are Spirit therefore the Scriptures have ordinarily the same Appellations and operations ascribed to them as are to the Spirit it self the Spirit is called Truth so also the word is called Truth 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh 17.17 the Spirit is said to sanctify so the word is likewise said to sanctify and the like and certain I am that the properties ascribed to the word Heb. 4.12.13 are not Communicable to any essence below the Spirit of God For the word of God is quick and Powerful and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart c. Therefore have I hewed them by the Prophets Hos 6.5 Isa 11.4 compared with Rev. 11.5.10 I have slain them by the words of my mouth When I compare these Scriptures with the fifth and tenth verses of this eleventh of the Revelation it doth so wonderfully cleer this truth to me that the Scriptures of the two Testaments and only these are the two Witnesses that if there were no other ground but this it would abundantly satisfie and confirm me in the discovery of this abstruse and wonderfull mystery To conclude this truth so manifest already is yet further cleered by those blessed Lips where never guile was found the Lord Jesus Christ himself affirms it in these words Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they that testifie of me John 5.39 Where it is plain that they are not only called Witnesses but these very Witnesses here spoken of for the words carry with them this cleer sound Search the Scriptures for they are my Witnesses Thus as these blessed Witnesses testify of Christ so Christ also giveth testimony to them Fulk Contr. Mart. Pres Pag 5. as to his Witnesses and so puts the point in hand beyond all dispute That the holy Scriptures of the Two Testaments and only these are the two Witnesses here spoken of And yet one word more for the more ample discovery of the transcendent excellency of these heavenly Witnesses the Scriptures of truth from the cleer evidence the Apostle Peter gives who having declared the excellent glory of Christ in the mount which he saw and the audible voice 2 Pet. 1.17 from the highest Majesty giving Invincible testimony of his son We have also saith he a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed c. What the Scriptures more sure then the voice of God himself from heaven yes a more certain Infallible voice now in these Gospel daies then any miraculous extraordinary voice whatsoever and here we may admire the wisdome care and faithfulness of our Royal Lawgiver who knowing that many false Prophets would arise and deceive many and considering how Satan usually transformeth himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11.13 2 Cor. 11.14 2 Thes 29. and that his eldest Son Antichrist would come after the working of this Prince of darkness with all Power and signs and lying wonders But especially foreseeing that monstrous impiety which so many of his Servants have warned us of as that ordinances would be slighted vilified rejected that many foul beasts would defile pollute and at length totally depart from those pure Chrystal streams that make glad the City of God even the blessed Scriptures of truth 2 Pet. 1.21 2.1 immediately flowing from that infinite Ocean of all fulness That many of them would deny in part as the divinity others absolutely the Lord that bought them And that the Divel would so far prevail with some whom he would mount to such a height of blasphemy as to affirm that they are Christ the Spirit the Eternal Father that their words are the words of God and when you hear them speak it is God that speaks for they are God and God is them c. To detest this detestable wickedness and most dreadful blasphemous abomination so frequently belched forth in these dayes of Satans power Gal. 6.16 Luk. 29.13 1 Cor. 11.26 Rev. 2.25 Gal. 1.8 hath our eternal King left his Royal will and pleasure upon Record as a
certain rule for his Subjects to walk by till his second Personal appearance denouncing Anathema to all such as shall presume to prescribe any other rule or pretend any voyce or vision revelation or inspiration beside or against this sure word of Prophesie Here we see the transcendent excellency and unparallel'd Dignity of these glorious Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ upon this sure foundation we are built to this sure Word we do well if we take heed it being the Character of a truly blessed man to make these testimonies his delight Psal 1.2 and to meditate herein continually abominating the Witchcrafts Sorceries and cunningly devised Fables of such as come with all plausible sweet affable carriage and mild pleasant behaviour lieing in wait all the while to deceive with inticing words smooth as oyl saluting the Lord Jesus Christ with a Hail King of the Jews thou art most excellent the chief of ten thousand full of grace are thy lips pleasant yea most lovely is thy voyce all thy odours are fragrant therefore the Virgins love thee and the like expressions Here 's a beautiful cup indeed who would dream there should be any Poyson in it But amongst all these heavenly truths comes up secretly one little horn or a beast having two horns like the Lamb but he speaks like the Dragon bringing in such an expression as this as he finds a fit opportunity when he hath pretty well wrought upon his Auditory Oh saith he of Christ thou art the most glorious Creature in heaven or earth who would not run after thee who would not be ravisht with thine excellency thou chief among all the Gods c. And now hath many a filly fish swallowed this pleasant bait hook and all and little dreams of a foundation here laid to destroy the divinity and eternal diety of Christ and to make him a Creature-God These Jesuitical Principles are plainly detected in some that would go for Gospel preachers in these daies whom the Lord Jesus whom they thus dishonour will shortly consume with the breath of his Nostrils and utterly destroy with the brightness of his comming except they repent But to return having cleerly as I conceive proved the holy Scriptures or two Testaments to be the two Witnesses of Christ or the two Olive-trees spoken of by Zachary and John I descend to the other conclusions mentioned as Secondly That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints which in Zechary's time was but one National Church of the Jews and therefore by him said to be but one Candlestick but in Saint Johns time they are sometimes called two Zech. 4.2 Rev. 11.4.1.20 1 Cor. 14.33 sometimes seven that is many several Congregations of Saints springing from the Lord Jesus Christ the Root of the Olive tree or the bowle of the Candlestick being daughters of that heavenly mother Jerusalem that is above 〈…〉 .26 Ephes 3.15 Hebr. 12.22 or the whole family in heaven and earth the general assembly and Church of the first born the several congregated Churches in Gospel order as so many Branches of this great Candlestick which also are themselves called Candlesticks growing and increasing by the heavenly Artifice of those Instruments that Christ hath designed for this building till we all come in the unity of the faith Ephes 4.13 and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and this is the Catholique or universal Church and not any other Churches neither National Provincial or any other devise of Antichrist have the least appearance in the Gospel save only I say those particular congregated Churches which are planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6 5. being as so many similar parts of this universal Church of Christ his compleat glorious body Thirdly The two Branches of the two Olive-trees are the Doctrine and Discipline of the Churches these two are the Rod Psal 23 4. and the staffe with which the Lord did lead and feed his servant David and when the abominable wickedness of those Idol Shepheards which he placed over his ancient People was ripe for destruction Zech. 11.7 the Lord himself pittying the Flock that had escaped the slaughter of those wicked Shepheards takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and his ruling Rod of Discipline and with these he feeds the poor of the Flock till by their ingratitude and high provocations Acts 13.46 rebelliously rejecting the tenders of Grace and the word of Salvation they so exceedingly incensed the Lord against them that he takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and cuts it asunder and it was broken in that day when the dreadful word was uttered Lo we turn to the Gentiles Now was the Doctrine of salvation which they had so long slighted and abused hid from their eyes Luk. 19.42 of which the Lord Jesus had warned them with strong cryes and tears as pittying the obstinacy of this his People Indeed there remained yet among them some external forms and shadows a body without a soul a Lanthern without a Candle The rod of Discipline or staff of Bands was not yet broken and this they rested on crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord but as they regarded not so the knowledge of the most High was departed from them and at last a total rejection and absolute exclusion of this rebellious people by the Lords breaking his other staff of bands and this was done by the destruction of that Temple they so much trusted in and so grosly abused by Prophaness and Idolatry Thus was the prediction of our blessed Lord fulfilled by Vespatian and Titus fourty yeers after his Ascention when the Temple being fired could not possibly be quenched by any industry of man yea so eminently and remarkably did the hand of God appear against this Place and People that the heathen Titus confessed That he had only lent his hands and help to God in this work Now did the Lord give them a bill of divorce upon which they were exposed to such direful plagues and woful miseries as never befel to any People as Histories do abundantly testifie Mat. 24.21 according to the Scriptures And thus I have delivered what I apprehend to be the sence and meaning of the two Branches of the two Olive-trees namely the Doctrine and Discipline of the Scriptures which pour out of themselves that golden oyl continually Zech 4.12 Rev. 12.6 by which the Churches of Christ are fed in all Ages Fourthly The last general conclusion from this fourth of Zechary is that the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches through which the golden Oyl is conveighed from the two Olive-trees the two Testaments by the branches of Doctrine and Discipline into the Candlestick the Church to feed and nourish her Rev. 12.6 These Pipes in the second Verse of this fourth of Zechary Zech. 4.2 are said to be seven which in the
Witnesses the holy Scriptures in their 1260 years Sackcloth The Emperour Valence infected with the Arrian Heresie opposing the Scriptures and the Divinity of Christ Ruff. lib. 2. cap. 13. after a shamefull flight before the Enemy got into a little house which being suddenly set on fire consumed this cursed miscreant Dioclesian for burning the holy Scriptures Ruff. having been tormented with sundry diseases in his body and his house burned with fire from Heaven at last being terrified with Thunder fell mad and killed himself Olimpus Bishop of Carthage an Arrian Heretick blaspheming the holy Trinity Paul Diacon Ann. 510. was immediately struck dead with a three-forked thunder-bolt Anastatius Dicorus a grievous Enemy to the Lord and his blessed Witnesses Zenoras lib. 3. the holy Scriptures was distroyed with Thunder and Lightning For this same detestable wickedness the City of Antioch was consumed with fire from Heaven in the seventh yeer of Justinus the Emperour Other Hereticks in the time of Pope Innocent the Third denying the Resurrection and defiling the holy Scriptures with Urine c. were destroyed at once by War and Fire to the number of 100000. A Treasurer of Julian the Apostate Chrysost lib. 1. cap. 34. as he was mocking and deriding at the holy Word of God fell a vomiting up his own blood his privie parts rotting putrifying and consuming with lice he died therewith most miserably Arrius that arch-Heretick having blasphemed the Lord Jesus and his blessed Word Theodor. and after pretending a recantation of his Errors and subscribing his name to the truth from whence having quickly revolted again he was smitten suddenly with such horrible pangs in his guts that seeking to ease himself his breath was stopt and his guts ran out of his fundament and so he dyed upon his own excrements Pope Leo the Tenth a prophane scoffer at the holy Scriptures Theatr. Judg. pag. 144. calling the Gospel a Fable was in the midst of his horrible blasphemies surprized by death from the immediate hand of God Nestorius the Heretick Nâ—ceph lib. 3 cap. 36. opposing the Divinity of Christ and blaspheming the Scriptures in his banishment was tormented with such a fearful disease that his blasphemous tongue was gnawed in pieces by worms and the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed him up Pope Julius a notable despiser of Gods Word Pale was another like object of his fierce wrath So Julian Apostata Theodor. lib. 3 c. 11 jeering and scoffing at Maries Son and his blessed Word and Ordinances had his entrals secretly rotted and vomiting up his excrements he died Denterius an Arrian Bishop baptizing in a blasphemous manner contrary to the Scripture viz. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father through the Son in the holy Ghost the water suddenly vanished the like also befel to Paulus a Novation Bishop Cerinthus the Heretick obscuring the everlasting Gospel Euscb was overwhelmed with the sudden fall of an hot-House In the year of our Lord 420. many thousands were distroyed for the like indignities offered to the holy Scriptures as an evident testimony of the great power of these blessed Witnesses Doctor Whittington in the raign of Henry the Seventh having miserably afflicted a Christian woman in Chipping-Sadbury for her use of the Scriptures Theatr. Judg. pag. 60 61. and having past the sentence of death upon her as an Heretick a Bull breaking loose from a place far distant ran violently through the throng of people without hurting any till he came to the Doctor thrusting him at the first blow through the paunch and after often goring him trailed his guts upon his horns about the Street while the people stood astonished with admiration Thus by a few Examples of many that might be produced is the wrathfull indignation of a mighty offended Majesty evidently demonstrated against such as durst presumptuously attempt to hurt the blessed Witnesses the holy Scriptures during the time of their 1260 years Prophesie in Sackcloth The seventh Verse And when they shall he about for so the word is to be translated to finish their testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them Let us now look back again and before we speak of the finishing let us consider diligently when they began their testimony in Sackcloth That they began to put on Sackcloth at that time exactly and precisely when the Church fled into the Wilderness is cleer Apoc. 12.6 and that they should continue with her prophesying in Sackcloth in her exile Ibid. and affliction the whole term of 1260 yeers is cleer also And I believe there is none but Papists and their Fellows but will readily grant that the Woman is the Primitive Churches Isa 51.16.61.10.60.19 covered with Christ her Husband the true Son of Righteousness and trampling upon all inferiour sublunary things Acts 2.45.4.34 c. Phil. 3.7 8. crowned with her twelve bright infallible Stars whose heavenly Doctrine and Discipline made her eminently glorious in those Primitive times before the forth of mens invention had soyled her pure garments those precious Robes of Righteousness wherewith she was most richly adorned by her Royal Husband looking upon all earthly glory with an eye of scorn and contempt And now her pregnant womb being become fruitful Isai 54.1.61.10 and her former barrenness taken away according to those precious Promises made unto her The ten Primitive Persecutions she travels and labors through many a bitter pang of heathen persecution crying in pain to be delivered which that ancient Enemy of mankind perceiving he stands ready before the distressed afflicted persecuted Church to devour her child as soon as it was born At the end of three hundred years her long looked for hour came when to the exceeding great joy of all true Saints she was delivered of a Man-child Ann. 304. viz. the first Christian Emperour Constantine who breaking forth like the Sun-beams in glorious raies for the dispelling of those dismal clouds of bloudy persecution which had so miserably harrased the Churches he openly taking upon him the patronage of the Gospel performed most glorious exploits for the honour of the Lord Jesus and by the martial prowis of a victorious Arm blessed by many wonderful Atchievements he ruled all the Nations with a Rod of Iron the weight whereof Maxentius and Licinius among many others did feel to purpose But all this while the Dragon roars wonderfully having drawn to his Party the third part of the Stars endeavouring by all possible means to devour this manly Son of the Church first by his instruments Dioclesian and Galerius who exposing him to the rage and fury of the Samaritans and failing herein of their design by his unexpected victorious return they contrived a way to devour him by engaging him with a Lyon under a pretence of trying his valor many other snares were laid to take away
after they have dealt with these blessed Witnesses as their Predecessors did with the Lord Jesus Mat. 26. with most bitter reproaches calling them a dead and dumb thing Jewel Def. Apol. p. 552. Act. Mon. p. 1133. a black Gospel inken Divinity dumb Judges c. they bring them to the stake and this was done by the Popes Inquisitors in Paris and in England where by Proclamation they were burned And yet these Monsters while they burn the Scriptures are more wicked in abusing them to warrant their detestable practice producing that blessed word Mat. 7. Give not holy things to dogs to justifie the with-holding the Scriptures from the common People Fourthly The exact time when these sacred Witnesses were overcome and killed was in the year of our Lord 1564. when after the Conventicle of Trent who as Judges in the Popes Assizes had blasphemed arrained and condemned this Word of truth Bulla Pii 4. 1564. Pope Pius the Fourth acted the part of the Executioner by his Antichristian Decree absolutely suppressing them and denouncing Excommunications against any that should dare to use them and now these blessed Witnesses having prophesied so many years in Sackcloth as their Lord and ours had been preaching dayes in the time of his flesh The power of Rome they are overcome and killed by the same power that killed him and are to lie unburied about so many years as our Lord lay in grave and some certain space of time after to ascend into Heaven in imitation of his Ascension as shall with the gracious Assistance of this Lord of life be shewed in its place By this time I hope it appears with some clearness 1. Apoc. 12.6 That the woman was no sooner delivered of the manchild Constantine but immediately through the violence of Arrian Persecution c. she flies into the wilderness in the time of Pope Sylvester Anno 308. 2. That at the same instant the sacred Witnesses began to Prophesie in Sackcloth and to feed the woman in her exile as being her only support succour and sustenance the whole course of her wilderness condition viz. 1260. years 3. That the holy City began even then to be trodden underfoot by the Romish Gentiles the mystery of Iniquity being now acting in the Chayr of Pestilence but so obscurely and secretly that it was hardly discernable at first 4. We have also seen a glimps of the excessive Pomp Pride Luxury and Cruelty of the man of sin all this dismall time of black obscurity 5. The nature of the War raised and prosecuted to the overcoming of the Witnesses as they were about to finish their testimony 6. How and when they were overcome and killed by those soul-murdering Butchers in the Slaughter-house of Trent and the bellowing Bull of Pope Pius the 4. Ann. 1564. And if we add hereunto the three years and half of their lieing dead in the streets of the great City which will be terminated in the year 1568. we shall fit from the time of Sylvester when they put on their sackcloth Anno 308. to this time of Pius when they put it off Ann. 1568 the Account exactly perfected viz. 1260 years of the womans exile and the Witnesses Prophesie in Sackcloth For it cannot be imagined I suppose that their Prophesie should cease in Sackcloth till they had ended their sufferings at their Resurrection The eighth Verse And their dead bodies shall lie in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified That is the City of Rome by whose power our Lord also was crucified under Pilate the Roman Governor through the streets or Provinces of this spiritual Sodom and Egypt are the mangled A fit Character for that Scarlet Strumpet except it fall too short in regard of her more dreadfull abominations then either Sodoms filthiness or Egypts gross Idolatry or inhuman cruelty massacred bodies of these Witnesses hurried and tumbled in a dead letter which the people understand not The ninth Verse And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves The kindreds and tongues assembled in the Conventicle of Trent having overcome and killed them Brightman saith that unless the Angel had named the Councel of Trent in express words he could not have spoken more plainly pag. 119. as hath been declared they now as assured they have taken their life and power away cast them out thus mangled in a dead Character to the people and Nations devoted to the Whore and all agree to keep them out of Graves that they may exult and rejoyce in the triumph of their victory over them Will you have a brief Character of this accursed Crew in their Slaughter-house of Trent where the Witnesses were slain Conc. Tridâ—nt pag. 840. The Councel of Trent was a meer painted Sepulchre with a beautiful outside of specious pretences Bp. 5 Churches pag. 849. nothing within but rottenness and putrefaction or as one of their own Bishops said the Councel seemed to consist not of Bishops but of disguised Masquers Images rather then men all striving to maintain the Popes inordinate and shameful domination here poyson was caroused in a golden Cup. Or to use the words of the French Queen Mother nothing but a fair appearance of Flowers without any fruit at all their proceedings being quite contrary to their expressions two thirds of the Bishops conspiring and subscribing to hinder Reformation c. In this filthy heap of mud and dirt whited over are these blessed Witnesses strangled and then not suffered to remain in this painted Sepulchre nor by the people to be finally buried they are exposed to the scorn derision and reproach of their enemies with their tongues cut out their breath stopt overcome and killed The tenth Verse And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth If you have taken notice of the dealings of the Philistines with Samson you have a picture drawn to the life of these Antichristian miscreants in their abominable practices against the Scriptures in the Councel of Trent whereat they smile to this day in their triumph of their own wits as at a Master-stratagem let us compare them together Judg. 16.19 Delilah betrays him into the hands of the Philistines They cut off his seven locks wherein his great strength lay whereby he had done such high exploits They put out his eyes and brought him down to their Great City They bind him with fetters of Brass and he did grinde in the prison house The Philistines feast and rejoyce over Samson who had vexed and tormented them After a certain time Samsons locks did grow again and his strength returned to him And he overthrew the house of Dagon And
in the three Nations who had so long oppressed the Reformed Churches And I do also conceive that the third wo yet to come doth properly belong to and shall miserably torment the Antichristian Train and all prophane wicked men and false Professors who will slight and reject and contemn the voyces of the feventh Angel For the seventh Viall Rev. 16.17 which will produce this wo is to be poured forth into the common Ayr in which all the cursed brood do breath So that those who will not receive embrace the voyces of the seventh Trumpet proclaiming the Lord Christs personal Reign now at hand must shortly quickly whether they will or no receive the voice of the seventh Vial and that wil be a dreadful direful voyce saying It is Done That is all power of the Enemy is destroyed Babylon is ruined and all the Prophesies and Promises made to Saints are accomplished in this glorious coming of our King and the utter ruine of the king of pride And that which makes this voyce woful and dreadful to purpose is Math. 25.10 Rev. 18.19 with Rev. 11.19 that it is attended with that soul-confounding voyce that will reach the hearts of those fools that now slight the Gospel of Grace viz. The door is shut Mercies door is shut never to be opened any more nothing remains now but Thunders Lightnings terrible Earthquakes such as never was fierceness of wrath blackness of darkness Jude 13. wo and alas for evermore Wherefore my humble advise and earnest request is that you will diligently hearken to receive embrace and walk up to the ensuing voyce of the seventh Trumpet Ah dear friends The door will be shut THus have I endeavoured to hold forth the Light I have received by those soft sweet soul refreshing gales of the blessed Spirit concerning this deep Mystery of the Prophesy Slaughter Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses With the rise raign and ruine of Antichrist which will be fully compleated in the days of the Voyce of the seventh Angel Whereof I shall now speak as of the second part of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation The Fifteenth Verse And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever TO give an account of my judgement concerning the Seals Trumpets and Vials it appears cleer to my understanding that the opening of each Seal is the Discovery of some Gospel-light one glorious Truth after another as the day approacheth and no sooner is one Gospel-Truth made known by the secret breathings of the Spirit according to his word but presently the Trumpet sounds that is The Ministers of the Gospel publish it abroad as the Prophet speaketh The Lord gave the word Psal 68.11 great was the company of those that published it Thus did Luther upon the discovery of new Light sound such an alarum as made the Throne of the Beast to stagger like a drunken man I will not say the first Seal was opened to Luther nor that he was the first Trumpet but this I can speak that a further degree of Gospel-glory new light though the word be odious amongst some was discovered to Calvin and after him to others who as they received it presently became the Lords Trumpets to declare it to the world upon whose refusal of it the Vials are successively poured forth so that first a Seal is opened secondly a Trumpet sounds declaring the truth discovered within that opened Roll thirdly a Vial of wrath is poured forth upon those that hear and reject it but because the Seals Trumpets Vials are not contained in this Chapter I shall forbear to enlarge upon them at this time and prosecute the work of this present Chapter If we look back to the former Discourse of the Witnesses and consider the seven thousand names of men there discovered to be slain or supprest by this present Parliament and observe the sweet consent of things attending it will be no harsh or improbable Conclusion that the seventh and last Trumpet is at this instant sounding yea sounding at present such an Alarum that there are scarce any other voyces heard among watchful Saints but the Lords at hand the Bridegroom is coming The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord c. Which as it is the earnest expectation of all waking Virgins and the unspeakable support of many a poor dejected disconsolate drooping soul to think in the midst of afflictions temptations and fiery tryals My Lord is a coming to put an end to all my sorrows to wipe all tears from mine eyes to tread Satan under his feet to set me free from sin and sorrow and so I shall by way of improvement of my small Talent least it be found hid in a Napkin for the augumentation of the joy of every waiting longing breathing panting spirit and for the information of such poor souls belonging to Christ who are yet in the Dark as touching this great Mystery hold forth what the Lord hath entrusted in this earthen vessel of the unconceivable Glory of this his universal soveraignty In which glorious discovery I shall shew 1. That he will come to reign upon earth 2. How and in what manner he will come 3. Where he will establish his Throne at his coming 4. When he wil take his great power reign 5. The signes of his coming 6. His ends in thus coming 7. Events succeeding 8. The uses we are to make of all And if these and each of these shall be fully cleared by the pure Word of the Lord without wresting or any other subtile invention of mans brain then let all the sons and daughters of Sion with joy embrace them as intelligence and sweet tokens of love from their King and Husband whose bowels yearn whose high endeared affections are upon the wing unsatisfied with his present glory in Heaven till the fulness of time come that he may be inebriated and overcome with the soul ravishing embraces of his purchased Spouse on Earth But if any circumstance belonging to this glorious Subject shall be found wanting of cleer testimony from the fountain of truth Let it be detested abhorred and rejected as the froath and vanity of a deceived and deluded creature but to the particulars First That the Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth is clear from divers Scriptures Jer. 23.6.33.16 Isai 4.2 first that of Jeremiah Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute Judgement and Justice in the Earth and he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Secondly That in Rev. 5.10 where the glorified Saints in Heaven do exceedingly exult and rejoyce not only that they are redeemed from amongst men and possest of heavenly
will plead with them there Thither cause thy mighty ones to come O Lord. 11.12 Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about the Heathens must come up to the Valley the Saints must come down And it will be worth our labours to consider the rest of this third Chapter of Joel which will give much light to this truth for after the Lords Throne is thus erected in the Valley of Jehosaphat it is said that the Lord will dwell in Zion and that there shall be abundance of rich blessings there 17 18. And that for ever as long as the Moon endureth But because the Valley of Jehosaphat Psal 72. Dan 7.14 as it now is hath not capacity or extent to receive the New Jerusalem therefore the Prophet Zachary tells us that it shall be wonderfully enlarged by the dividing of the Mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great Valley For the valley of the Mountains shall reach unto Azal Vers 5 All the land shall be turned as a Plain from Geba to Rimmon 10. and it shal be inhabited in her place 11. And men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited and how should it be otherwise when the Prince of Peace shal reign in Glory in the midst of it This then is the place of which the Lord speaketh Isa 65 10. Rev. 24.4 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying here Lord let my soul flourish with thee and thy Saints according to thy Word Rev. 3.21 Fourthly the fourth thing to be discovered is when this Lord of Glory and King of Saints will come to reign in this his Kingdom on Earth and first it is plain that it was not in the dayes of his humiliation for as he is answering his Disciples question about his coming to Judgement Mat. 24.25.6 he tells them the time of it is then when all the Virgins seeing the signs and hearing the voyce or cry Go forth to meet him coming as a Bridegroom to marry his Church that is the whole body of his Saints which will be then compleated and brought together into one place Mat. 24.28 Joh 10.16 where in the view of all the world the Marriage will be gloriously solemnized And secondly it is as plain that this Glorious Reign cannot be after the day of Judgement for then there would be a change in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.24 since it is clear that after Christs Reign and subduing of all his enemies he must give up the Kingdome to his Father Then thirdly it cannot be the spirituall Reign of Christ in that way as most dream which they conceive is now in being and that Christ will never come to Reign any other way save onely in greater purity then he doth now by his Spirit Which fond imaginations as they have not the least substantial Pillar from the word of Truth to support them so the contrary is plain and evident from the clear current of that pure fountain namely that the Lord Jesus Christ will come then and not till then to take to himself his great Power and Reign when all the signs that are to precede his coming are visibly discovered which I am sure are not yet as shall be shewed in its place Again the Spirit was given in a most glorious eminent manner far exceeding present dispensations when the Apostles Generally and Saint John more particularly waited for Act. 3.20 21. Rom. 8.23 1 Thes 4.17 Rev. 1 7. and yet expected this Glorious Personal Reign of Christ as abundance of unerring Witnesses do testifie but in special the present Scripture that I am now opening namely Rev. 11.15 which plainly declareth that the Personal * See Rev. 1.7 Reign of Christ is to begin when the seventh Trumpet is sounding at that time and not before when the seventh Trumpet begins to sound Rev. 10.7 shall this great Mystery be accomplished And certain I am that the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ was gloriously eminent before any of the seven Angels began to sound and therefore it cannot be only the spiritual Kingdom of Christ that is here spoken of and so the time is not yet in being of this Reign of Christ As therefore we must not cast off our expectation of nor our diligent constant watching waiting for this Personal Glorious manifestation on the one hand saying with that evil servant My Lord delayeth his coming and so split our selves upon the desperate rock of carnal security Neither must we run upon that other shelf of a vain ungrounded conceit that he is already come Mat. 24.23 24 25 26 27. whereof our Lord himself hath given us fair warning the Lord give us hearts to receive and embrace it It is not then the spiritual Reign which we now enjoy but the personal glorious truly spiritual Reign which we shall shortly enjoy that is the Life and Crown and Hope and Comfort of many precious enlightned Saints who have found such sweet support succour and solace from this sure Pillar of divine truth that all the delusions of Sathan in this luxurious giddy Age hath not been able to shake The ignorance of this soul-ravishing Gospel-truth is that horrible Gulph that hath swallowed up thousands who finding in the words of truth such glorious things spoken of this day of the Lord but through ignorance in this Mystery and the cunning slights of Sathan who transforms himself to an Angel of Light are deluded in their sence and all their intellectuals beleeving that Christ is come already and doth Reign already whereupon they conclude to throw away all Ordinances for say they Christ hath commanded us to use them till his coming and no longer Do this till I come hold fast till I come Occupy till I come Nay so far hath this restless spirit of error prevailed with some as to beleeve that Christ hath already Reigned that he hath already given up the Kingdom to his Father and that now God is all in all that they live in God that they are God c. And now this Prince of darkness hath plaid his part to purpose now he hath possessed them not only with a distast of Ordinances and slighting of them but now away go Scriptures Christ and all they are a lye an Allegory he a shadow a Type c. and now Sathan hath his will having deceived them so far as to deny the Lord that bought them for he well knows that there is no other name given under heaven to bring salvation but this Christ whom they thus reject and now he is cock sure of them and now they are ripe
revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire 2 Thes 1.7.8 For further illustration and confirmation of this glorious truth I shall now particularly cleer by Scriptures those fifteen remarkable Changes which as so many Trophees of Victory shall attend this Prince of prayses at his taking to himself this his great power and Soveraignty 1. The Saints Deceased Royal Jesus brings THis will be the first Act of this King of glory according to the express Testimony of the Spirit 1 Thes 4.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him And this will be a total not a partial Resurrection of all departed Saints not the Martyrs only as some conceive not only those that have lost their lives for Jesus but the Scripture is plain and full that whoever they be that sleep in Jesus Apoc. 20.4 God will bring with him not only those that were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus but all those also which had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years These are they * Rev. 5.9 10. Pro. 8.31 Heb. 12.2 that are so exceedingly transported with that more glorious condition of reigning with Christ upon the Earth for as the joy and delight of Christ from Eternity was placed with his Saints on Earth so the Saints filled with the same spirit place their joy and delight with this glorious King in his high exalted state on that Earth and in that part of the Earth where he was so shamefully abused and so cruelly crucified When therefore I shall see with these eyes my blessed Redeemer in the clouds attended with all his holy Angels and departed Saints then and not till then shall I see the end of Ordinances and all those glorious Prophesies and blessed promises fulfilled and accomplished which concern this high point of my belief in the personal reign of my Redeemer I would not for ten thousand worlds be deprived of this Light which leads to the glory of this blessed day 2. The Rest Released mount on Angels wings OUr blessed Jesus O most wonderful loving Jesus counts not his joy entire nor his glory compleat while any one of his beloved Lambs is absent and therefore he makes it his great request to his Father and our Father Joh. 17.24 O saith he that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me 'T is granted saith the Father our most gracious infinitely loving Father and accordingly Paul is informed That we which are alive 1 Thes 4.17 and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the Ayr and so shall we be ever with the Lord. 'T is true the raising thus the dead Saints 1 Cor. 15.51 and changing the living Saints is such a Mystery as most wil give no credit to for who indeed can take delight in this doctrine but those that shall share in the glory of it it hath no rellish upon other mens palats they cannot digest it though never so cleer in Scripture but God hath revealed it to many of his dear ones by his Spirit in his word which plainly tels them Mat. 24.31 That he will send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds Zech. 14.5 from one end of Heaven to the other And can I believe my Lord is yet come to reign while I see poor Saints scattered here and there in various straights and fiery tryals Away with thy conceits deluded Notionist and shallow prophane man my Lord comes not in the Desart nor in the secret chamber but when he comes to take the Kingdoms of the world to his own Government thou shalt see it may be to thy terror that word of Zechariah fulfilled Zech. 14.5 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee 3. To Israel mourning sounds a glorious call WHen all eyes shall see him Rev. 1.7 Zech. 12.10 Ezech. 37.21 poor Israel must not be excluded they also shall to their unspeakable joy and comfort behold him whom they have pierced Zech. 14.2 even then when they have greatest need of him when their new possessed City shall be taken their houses rifled their women ravished and all miserably enslaved in this time of so great trouble Dan. 12.1 Rom. 11.26 Isai 4.3.43.5 6. such as never was since there was a Nation shall they behold Michael the great Prince that blessed deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob and now all Israel shall be saved Jer. 30.10 Joel 3.1 even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem for now the singing of Birds is come and that blessed voyce is heard in their ears Awake Isai 26.19.60.1 and sing ye that dwell in the dust Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Zeph. 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing Multitudes of Scriptures might be produced for the confirmation of this truth but these may suffice or nothing will especially considering that not one Scripture nor indeed any Author of credit that I know of doth seem to deny it This then in brief is my judgement with many deer Saints grounded upon the word of truth concerning this wonderful work of the Jews conversion First That they shall have an outward Call Secondly That they shall be inwardly converted The former is thought to be at hand if not already in being since it is well observed by Merchants of credit and others that they have these two or three years been gathering wonderfully from places more remote towards Palestina the Lord seeming now to make good his word first Isa 5.26 Zech. 10.8 in moving them to come in person to the Land of their Inheritance according to these Promises Vers 6. I will hiss for them and gather them for I have redeemed them and I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph and I will bring them again to place them And I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountains of Israel Ezâ—ch 27.22 and one King shall be King to them all for When the Lord shall build up Zion Vers 24. Ps 102.16 he shall appear in his Glory Therefore thus saith the Lord Ezeck 39.25 26. now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel And the ransomed of the Lord shall return Isa 35.10 and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon
over in our Popish Liturgy this heavenly Doctrine which to this day we understand not Psal 67 4. O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth Selah Mark that but now Saints have experience of this blessed Mystery Jer. 35.5 that at the same time when this King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Ezech. 34.23.24 then shall the earth bring forth her encrease when David the great Prince shall reign here in highest glory then and not till then shall the whole Creation brought into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God fill the Universe with abundance of all rich blessings I have little to say to those who knowing nothing of this wonderful Mystery of the glorious Reign of our King and know as little of the meaning of Rom. 8.19 c. Yet because they must say something are pleased in their grave wisdoms to affirm that this glorious liberty with the children of God which the whole Creation shall enjoy is nothing but the annihilation of the creature as if all Creatures which in their kinde do wonderfully endeavor the preservation of themselves should yet groan and earnestly long to be made nothing what is this but to speak daggers and introduce a secret Atheism 8. And every Nation flourishes with Peace HOw can it be otherwise when the Kingdoms of the world are ruled and governed by the Prince of Peace what the glorious Peace of the Saints shall be hath been in part and shall be more fully declared But there will be universal peace over all the earth for all the wicked of the world shall as earnestly seek peace as ever the Gibeonites sought it of the Israelites when the great seducer of mankind is shut up in prison his Vassals will neither have skil nor courage to stand in opposition against the Saints for he that hath the disposing of all hearts will so mould their spirits that they shall be glad to crouch for safety at the Saints feet and blessed be the Name of our exalted King he hath already given his people in this Land a taste hereof when in many places the proudest enemie thinks himself in a safe condition that can obtain the favor of a child of God to serve himself and his forfeited estate But in this glorious Reign of Christ it will be universally so Psal 72.8 for when his Domiminion shall reach from sea to sea even to the ends of the earth then they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Iles shall bring Presents 10. the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts 11. yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him This is that blessed time when the Righteous shall flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth Mic. 4.3 Isai 11.6 7 8 9. then and not till then shall they beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks no more contention no more war for ever 9. The Mount asunder cleaves t' enlarge the Plain IF all the Prophesies that are fulfilled already concerning Christ were performed in the very Letter Psal 8.2 Ps 22.18 Isai 7.14 Zech. 9.9 I desire any man to show a substantial Reason why those that are yet unacccomplisht should belookt upon in a mysterious obscure way till such a reason be given I must look upon this as upon all other Prophesies to be fulfilled in the same way as others have been and therefore must expect according to the Word that this day of Wonders will produce this Wonder amongst the rest that the Mount of Olives that stands over the Valley of Jehosaphat shall cleave indeed Zech 14.4 to enlarge that Vale to a sufficient capacity for the reception of the New Jerusalem it is clear Ver. 10. that it shall reach from Geba to Rimmon but of what extent that will be is I think unknown only this it seems to extend over the whole Land of Palestina Psal 60.6 what else means the Royal Psalmist I will divide Shechem Vers 8. and mete out the Valley of Succoth Moab is my washpot Psal 87.3 4. and 108 7 8 9. over Edom will I cast out my shooe Philistia triumph thou because of me and that of the Prophet In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is faln Amos 9.11 12. that they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the Heathen they shall possess the Mount of Esau Obad. 19.20 21. and they of the Plain Philistia c. And Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau Isai 10.29 c. and the Kingdom shall be the Lords All which compared makes good the word of Zechariah That the dividing of this Mount of Olives shall produce a very great Valley Zech. 14.4 till which Valley appear in its lustre and beauty not any of the notions of Giddy brains shall stagger my faith to conceit That my Lord is already come to Reign That Vale of Wonder where the Lord must Reign AS once the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened to see the Mountains full of Horses and Chariots of fire 2 Kings 6.17 so certainly were the eyes of this Prophet in a wonderful manner enlightened to see the glory of the Lords Day Joel 3.14 the Day of his great Power in this mighty Valley of Jehosaphat at which glorious apparition he raiseth up his voyce as one transported with this heavenly rapture Multitudes multitudes in the Valley of Decision for the Day of the Lord is neer in the Valley of Decision but what will the transcendent joy of this Prophet be with all the blessed Prophets and Saints of Christ when this Day of the Lord is come in the Valley of Dicision when we shal see all the heavenly Host gathered together in this spacious Mount-dividing Valley Psal 45. Matth 25.31 Jude 14. 2 Thes 4.14 Joel 3 2. the Lord of Glory riding in his Glory and Majesty attended with all the holy Angels in heaven and all those Myriades of Saints that sleep in Jesus this mighty Potentate How unconceiveably glorious how wonderfully spacious will this Valley of Jehosaphat then be which must contain all the Saints and Angels in heaven with all both good and bad that are found living upon the earth this is no private fancy but the express words of the Spirit of God I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat Verse 11. and will plead with them there Assemble your selves and come all ye Heathen and gather your selves together round about thither cause thy mighty Ones to come down O Lord Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat 12. for there will I sit to
Judge all the Heathen round about None so blind as those that will not see 10. The glorious City from Gods Throne doth glide EXcept by clear Scripture it be disproved I must believe therefore affirm Rev. 21.2 Ioh. 14.1 2 that the City described by Saint John is a material City that the Carpenters Son hath been these 1600 years preparing it for his Saints and that the cleaving of the Mount of Olives producing that wonderful spacious plain already proved is to receive this glorious City of twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.16 or one thousand five hundred miles compass wherein his Saints shall raign in glory with this Jehovah our Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon indureth If it be said by a mistake of Rev. 21.9 10. That the holy City is call'd the Bride I must answer plainly it is not so but on the contrary if the 9. and 10. Verses be compared with the 24. we shall find them manifestly distinguished and it appears plainly that the design of the Spirit is to shew the Apostle the City where the Bride dwelleth Psal 45.14 Isa 65 18. Ezech. 14.11 and if we shall further consult these Scriptures it will be yet more clear that the City is one thing and the Bride the Saints the glorious Inhabitants in that City another thing But if it should be granted that the City is call'd the Bride there would be little gained by it as to the opposite of this Point because it is ordinary in the Scriptures to term the Inhabitants of the City the City it self as Matt. 11.20 21 22 23. sure it will not be affirmed that the buildings of Capernaum c. are threatned to be thrown into Hell Let the Prophet Ezechiel decide this Controversie from the mouth of the Lord Ezech. 37.27 saying My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea and I will be their God and they shall be my people this is that royal Palace into which the Bride with her Virgins shall enter to solace themselves with our King in unconceivable spiritual delights for ever 11. The Nuptial ditty Vshers in the Bride THe Ancient people of the Lord the natural seed of faithful Abraham after their tedious time of divorcement Isai 62 2 3 4 5. Hos 2.19 20. shall not only be espoused as formerly but now in view of all the world marryed with transcendent joy in highest Glory to the King of glory This is the Royal Bride the Gentiles Saints or Churches are the Virgins her Companions All the Angels in Heaven joyn in Consort to celebrate the Nuptials in that triumphant ditty Alleluja Rev. 19.6 7. for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready so shall she be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work Psal 45.14 15. the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings Palace There is a great question but of no great importance whether the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in before Israels conversion for my own part I am satisfied in this that in respect of a full conversion the work among the Gentiles shall precede but after the Jews effectual Call so glorious will that dispensation be Isai 60 3. That the Gentiles shall come to their light and Kings to the brightness of their rising Yet when all is known and understood which the word discovers of this wonderful Mystery what a small spark is it to the exceeding unconceivable glory of that day of wonders and who would hazard his interest in the glory thereof for all the bewitching painted seeming glories of this luxurious Age 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state HOw miserably are they handled by men of corrupt minds that stand for the honour of Christs Kingdom as though it were carnal delights and earthly pleasures they lookt after if any such there be they will see their vanity and folly perhaps when 't is too late The Saints are of another stamp and are hereby chiefly discerned from hypocrites by seeking holiness rather then happiness it is the pure spiritual immortal glorious state of Christs Kingdom that they believe and profess and expect and that which makes their spirits dance and their souls to leap for joy is the consideration of being fashioned like his glorious body when being free from corruption Phil. 3.21 they shall never sin against God any more not any kinde of pleasure can stand in competition in their pure affections with desire of freedom from sin their King hath taught them and they have learned to know Luk. 20.35 That they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels This is that blessed state of immortality that Saints believe Phil. 3.11 1 Cor. 15.54 and with the blessed Apostle press hard after When this corruption shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up of victory Rom. 8.23 This adoption is that redemption of our bodies that now we wait for Luk. 22.30 Isai 62.9 and shall then enjoy when we shall eat and drink at Christs table in this glorious Kingdom There will be eating and drinking but not as now for in this state of mortality other creatures lose their lives to support ours for so is the word * Acts 10.13 Isai 65.21 in the state of immortality the fruit of the Vine the food appointed Adam in Paradise And only the state of Eternity is supported by God himself 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date THe Lord Jesus Christ is not now in his own proper and peculiar Throne Rev. 3.21 his present station is at the right hand of the Majesty on High even in his Fathers Throne but the glorious Throne that he hath purchased with his precious bloud he will shortly erect upon this Earth for himself and his beloved Saints then shall he have and enjoy the actual return of that request of his Joh. 17.24 That where I am they may be also and this the Saints in Heaven are wondrously affected with and do therefore exceedingly rejoyce in the consideration of this glory which they with their fellow brethren shall enjoy as an addition to their present glory with Christ in his Throne upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. for then and not till then will the glory of our King be compleat when the great voyces of all the heavenly Host shall be heard in the words of the Scripture I am now opening the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 And
this Kingdom thus establisht by and for Jehovah our Righteousness shall be also given to the people of the Saints of the most High Dan. 7.27 whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him And thus the Saints being gathered into one fold even into that holy City the new Jerusalem seated in the Valley of Jehosaphat and there marryed to Christ our everlasting Husband do also like the marryed condition here obtain the glorious name of our Royal Husband for even then Jor. 33.16 She shall be called the Lord our Righteousness 14. The Nations bending Virgins voyces raise THis posture they shall most gladly observe Zech. 14 3. Vers 12. Vers 16. who are escaped the slaughter of the great day and the plagues thereof For every one that is left of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from yeer to yeer to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles What manner of worship the Lord will have from these Nations I know not Ps 72.11 but this I know that all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him some kinde of homage and worship they must perform without the holy City for there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth Rev. â—â— â—7 Math. 25.4 But they which are written in the Lambs Book of Life These are those blessed Virgins who have their Lamps of a holy conversation gloriously burning and a ready supply of grace in their souls Cant. 5.2 Math. 25. Vers 6. Vers 10. whereof their pure vessels are full though these sometimes slumber and sleep yet their hearts are awake every noyse they hear they expect to be the midnight cry for the Kings coming and are instantly up and ready and so in they go with this glorious Bridegroom into the marriage-Chamber where they meet with such a Feast such soul-ravishing delights that are not possible to be conceived much less possible to be uttered And now their hearts and voyces being tuned to one celestial Key Rev. 14.3 they begin that new Song which will never wax old but with renewed sweetness in all heavenly delights joy shall arise from praise and praise from joy to all Eternity Rous Psal And no man could learn that Song but they that were redeemed from the earth Mark that Redeemed from the earth these are they which were not defiled with women for they are Virgins 15. All Duties ending with Joy Love and Praise THe same blessed hand that first instituted Gospel Ordinances Isai 60.1 will now himself put an end to them Cant. 4.6 for now the Sun of Righteousness is risen and dispels all clouds dissipates all mists now breaks the gladsome Day and shadows fly away Presumptiously Arrogant is that hand that shall dare to anticipate this work in casting off those Ordinances which is the proper and peculiar work of him that appointed them Luke 19.13 1 Cor. 11.26 Rev. 2.25 and commanded the use of them till his coming then and not till then all these shall see their period except those that shall abide to all Eternity for some Gospel Ordinances must never cease but shall then be establisht in their perfection when all other Ordinances shall cease Joy cannot cease Ps 16.11 In thy Presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Christ hath promised that when he sees his Saints again their hearts shal rejoyce then Joy shal be compleat Joh. 16 22 and this Joy shall no man take away from the Saints So for that Gospel-Ordinance of Love that shall be permanent Charity never faileth all other Ordinances shall cease but Love shall then shine in its true lustre 1 Cor. 13.8.10 Isai 61.3.62.7.9 and full perfection and then for Praise it shall then be the garment of the Saints Jerusalem shall be made a praise in the earth the Saints shall eat and praise the Lord and drink in the Courts of his holiness Jer. 33.11 The voyce of Joy and the voyce of Gladness the voyce of the Bridegroom and the voyce of the Bride the voyce of them that shall say Praise the Lord of Hosts for the Lord is good for his mercy indureth for ever and of them that shall bring the Sacrifice of Praise into the House of the Lord. Ioh. 1.3.2 Isai 52.8 Ah what a little glympse of that excellent glory are these narrow-mouth bottles now capable to apprehend but then we shall see him as he is and that is the fulness of glory And thus I suppose these 15. wounderful Changes are clearly proved by the Word of God as Concomitants or close Attendants to the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ as also for the silencing of idle Notionists that the Lord cannot take to himself his great Power and Raign till all these Changes appear then and not before will the voyces be heard and the words of the Text be accomplished The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever The sixth thing proposed is the ends of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to reign upon the Earth amongst many glorious ends that we may believe I shall briefly mention a few 1. The end that the Lord Jesus proposeth to himself is to be gloriously exalted in his Royal Throne of highest Majesty even in that place where he was so shamefully and ignominiously abased abused and cruelly crucified He suffered over or neer the Valley of Jehosaphat and there as hath been proved he will exalt his Throne Zech. 12.10 and there they that pierced him shall behold him and be in bitterness of soul because of him 2. Ioel. 3. Ioh. 17.24 Ioh. 10.16 Isa 53.10.11 Another end is to gather all his Saints together into that place which shall be the great Sheepfold that there they may behold his transcendent Glory and that there he may see his seed and the travel of his soul and be satisfied 3. A third end is to take an account of his servants how they have imployed and improved his talents for this is that day of judgement 2 Pet. 3.8 Rev. 20.4 wherein the Lord Christ will reward his servants and enslave his enemies the extent whereof will be a thousand years the longest day that ever any man lived one Earth for within this day Adam Ezech. 34.17 c. Mat. 25. Methusalem yea all men have died and only Christ with his Saints shall live the whole day in this day he will judge between cattel and cattel admitting wise rejecting foolish Virgins For the accomplishment of these and such like ends Heb. 9.28 unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation The seventh thing to be considered is the events succeeding the second appearance of our Lord in this his day of
glory but as an addition to their felicity that they are made Kings and Priests unto God that they may reign with Christ upon the Earth For where they reign Christ shall reign Apoc. 5.10 20.4 where his Throne is erected there they are enthroned To him that overcometh Apoc. 3.21 will I grant to sit with me in my Throne c. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Sion Zech. 2.10 for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee the Lord. And the Lord shall inherit Judah Vers 12. his portion in the holy Land And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zeeh. 14.4 Vers 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that day shall there be one Lord Jer. 30.9.33.15 Ezech. 34.33 34.37.22 24. Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 Zeph. 3 17. Zech. 2.20.6.13 and his name one Many more Scriptures might be produced to confirm this Gospel-truth that the same Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth Luk. 19.12 But if these do not satisfie neither will credit be given if an Angel speak from Heaven or one should rise from the dead to affirm it For my own part I do not know any point of Faith throughout the whole Book of God more clearly proved then this in hand as certain as he ascended and is now receiving his Kingdom Luk. 19.11 12. so sure will he return again to reign in his Kingdom Read Psalm 72. And these and many more Scriptures do superabundantly ratifie this assertion Vse 1. What then remains on our part but first to believe this truth of his coming here to reign we can do him no greater honour then to believe his Word nor no greater disgrace then to reject and refuse so great a cloud of Witnesses of himself his Prophets and Apostles Vse 2. To pray fervently as himself hath taught us Mat. Thy kingdom come for though it is true that neither this nor any other mercy shall be detained from us one minute longer then the appointed season Yet know O house of Israel Ezech. saith the Lord I will for this be enquired of Vse 3. And thrice blessed those that are counted worthy to be the Lords Remembrancers to watch wait for and constantly expect the coming of this King of Glory Blessed is that servant Mat. whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Isai 30.18 Yea blessed are all they that wait for him Secondly how and in what manner shall this King our Christ come to reign upon the Earth First he shall come in Majesty Power Mat. 24.30 2 Thes 1.9 and great Glory not in the form of a servant not riding upon a Colt the foal of an Ass not to be laid in a Manger abused condemned and crucified but now the voyce is Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh Psal 45.3 4 8. O most mighty with thy glory and thy Majesty and in thy Majesty ride prosperously All Garments smell of Myrrh his Aloes and Cassia out of the Ivory Palaces He shall also have dominion from sea to sea Psal 72.8 and from the River to the ends of the Earth yea all Kings shall fall down before him 11. all Nations shall serve him Secondly 2 Thes 1.7 Mat. 24.31 25 31. Zech. 14.5 Jude 14. He shall come attended with all the Angels in Heaven and all his Saints that ever were now are or ever shall be never such a King never such a train Thirdly Mat. 24.27 1 Cor. 15.52 He shall come swift as the Lightning in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at unawares O dear Christians watch for your lives Fourthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 2 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.13 He shall come in Clouds and flaming fire look carefully to your works actions and conversation for this fire will try every mans work of what sort it is Fifthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 He will come in view of all the world and every eye shall behold him And what wilt thou do or how wilt thou be able to look on his glorious face that canst not now endure the sight of his Saints Sixthly and lastly He will come in person with the same body that was born of the Virgin crucified upon the Cross raised from the dead and ascended into Glory only here 's all the difference it will be a Spirituall Immortal Glorious Body but the same Body If we believe that he was a perfect man and had a real Substantial Body here on earth and that he hath exalted the same Body to the right hand of the Majesty on high then certainly he shall come in person here to reign in the same Body with his Saints for proof hereof many Scriptures might be alledged I shall only produce two and they are very full and clear the first is in the first of the Acts Acts 1.11 vers 11. and it is the Doctrine of Angels which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven I am even amazed that men professing godliness should have a vayl so thick upon their hearts and their understanding so wonderfully obscured as to reject the serene brightness of this impregnable Testimony The second Scripture is the first to the Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout c. 1 Thes 4.16 there needs no further proof if these two convince not what will If any shall yet continue in darkness and unbelief of this so necessary glorious truth thus measured by the line of the Word and weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary it is because there is no light in them The use that I would have my fellowbrethren to make of the personal Reign of Christ is this if ever we expect to see his face with joy if ever we hope to be sharers in his Glory at his personal coming in his Kingdom let us get a large proportion of his spirit in our hearts his personal presence will be no comfort to us then unless we are filled with his spirituall presence now Gen. 43.5 Ye shall not see my face saith Joseph except your Brother be with you Can we think of entertainment in his Royal Palace without the wedding garment the Lord make us wise betimes Thirdly the next thing to be enquired into is where this King of Glory will establish his Throne at his coming and this hath been proved already in general to be upon the earth but more particularly I affirm because the Word of truth affirms it will be in the Valley of Jehosaphat for so the Prophet Joel speaks in plain words Joel 3.2 I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat and