A VOICE From the Temple TO THE Higher Povvers Wherein is shewed that it is the work and duty of Saints to search the Prophesies and Visions of holy Scripture which concern the Later Times And that Jesus Christ will reveal the understanding of them neer the end of their accomplishment And so much is here clearly proved and the Objections to the contrary answered ALSO Severall Prophesies are here opened concerning the Time of the End As what is the present work of the Lord in the world And wherein the Saints whether the Higher Powers or others are now to move and follow him Likewise what will be the work of the Lord forward and all along from year to year till the Mysterie of God be finished both among the Christian Gentiles and Jewes By John Canne 2 Pet. 3.3 4. There shall come in the last dayes mockers saying where is the promise of his coming Job 21.3 Suffer me that I may speake and after that I have spoken mocke on Dan. 22.10 But the wicked shall doe wickedly none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons next door to the gilded Lyon in Aldersgate street 1653. TO His Excellency the Lord General CROMWEL My Lord IT was most unhappily done of Caesar to put the letter into his bosome which he should have read before he went unto the Consull I shall humbly desire your Excellency in the midst of your great Affaires to read over this short Treatise which was intended in publishing specially for you as being thereunto encouraged by your Honour Had those whose Crownes are now fallen and their places have cast them out not laid aside Daniel and other Prophesies of the later Times but day and night meditated therein and so known the signes of the Son of man their glory would not so soone have departed from them But trusting to lying vanities they forsooke their owne mercies As for other Bookes of humane wisdome and State-policies they are almost now like an old Almanack out of date most improper and uselesse to the great worke of this age And therefore such as desire to stand and not to be lost in the night of Errour and shame must search the great Booke of Gods Counsell for there they shall know and no where else what the worke is of their owne generation It is not enough that a man meanes well and resolves to doe honest and just things but he is to consider whether the thing which he proposeth next to do be his worke and proper to the time in which he lives It was in Davids heart to build God an house and the worke seem'd to Nathan to be so pious and good as he gave him encouragement to goe forward with it Neverthelesse David here was mistaken and the Prophet too For David was not the man but Solomon appointed for that businesse As Gods thoughts are not our thoughts nor his wayes our ways so it oft-times falls out what our thoughts are busied most about and sticke fastest too that is not the thing which the Lord intends we shall do but he hath some other employment and service for us My Lord it is for this end I write thus to you howsoever I hope you intend a great deale of good to the Nation and thinke of nothing but what is honest just pure and of good report yet one thing is needfull namely that you search the Prophesies of the later times to finde out what is your worke as now proper to you That so you may doe that good that acceptable and perfect wil of God in your generation Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find SO DOING Not only doing but doing so and so That it was your worke and appointed to you of God to be a happy instrument for the dissolving the last Parliament It is not only cleare to me but something is here said in the justification of it But now my Lord the great Question is what is next I have purposely published this Booke to answer this great Question to wit that your Excellency and others in place may see what my opinion is and how grounded upon the word concerning the Lords works and working at this time and wherein you and others are to move and follow the Lamb. I shall not speake any thing concerning the chose of the new Governours which lies before you Only this by knowing what is the Lords worke which he is now doing amongst us and carrying forth in the world it may be somewhat usefull to your Excellency in your choise as to call out such men as are best principled and qualified for THAT My Lord Those great Statesmen who are laid aside lie in dust under the guilt and shame of their actions wanted not deep policie strong reason worldly wisdome politicke Councellours and large advantages of the time but this they wanted which was their ruine they were not like the children of Issachar men that had the understanding of the Times to know what Israel ought to doe Hence it is that not only my self but many more who love you truly and dearely earnestly desire and begg it daily of God for you that those Prophesies which speak out the work of God to be done now in the world may be searcht by you and clearly opened to you Methinks I should finde you in that voyce from heaven saying Come out of her my people and to be one of the Angels pouring out the fifth Viall About the time of Christs Incarnation there was a great expectation amongst the Jewes of the coming of the Messiah For they knew by former Prophesies that he was then to come This voyce from Heaven and the fifth Angel is already come but there is now an expectation to have that Prophesie perfected And if the Lord shall be pleased to perfect by you the good worke which he hath made you instrumentall in that is to be his and our Generall still for the execution of the last vengeance upon the two persecuting powers of the world viz. Kingly and Antichristian it will be such an honour as few of the sonnes of men ever had My Lord I shall close with this there is no work for you in the grave it must be done on this side It might have been a Motto set upon Davids Sepulchre After hee had served his owne Generation by the will of God he fell asleep he fell not asleep till he had served his Generation This shall be my prayer that in life and death it may be so with you Even doe the worke of him that sent you whilst it is today and when you are gathered to your Fathers that the memorie of your name may be precious among the Saints as Davids was in Israel And thus prays he who is Your Excellencies most humble Servant John Canne TO The Right Honourable Colonell Robert Overton Governour of Hull and his Religious Lady with all my other dear Christian
the slaying of the Witnesses Christ taking the possession of the kingdome and reigning c. or not If there be no time set and appointed time for what use then are these Texts Dan. 7.25 and 9.25 26 27. and 12.11 12. Hab. 2.3 Revel 11.2 3. and 12.6.14 If there be a time certain and fixt then I would know if nothing of the time is to be known till after the accomplishment how these and such other scriptures can be said to be written for our learning and comfort or what benefit the Church and People of God have by having them written Caesars letter though he carried it with him in his bosome into the Councel yet not knowing the contents it profited him nothing In the knowledge of the times there lyes our comfort and safety to have the words in our book and no more that helps not though we have them with us still in our bosome 6. Daniel being commanded to (m) Dan. 12.4 shut up the words and seale the Book even to the time of the end afterwards sees (n) v. 5 two the one standing on this side of the banck and the other on that side of the banck of the river These two I take to be Types the one a Type of the Christian Gentiles the other of the Iewes unto whom Iesus Christ the man clothed in linnen will open the mysteries of the times a little before the end Three reasons I have for this 1. They both make enquiry How o long shall it be to the end of these wonders Our Bibles reade and one said to the man clothed But the word one is not in the text nor is there to be understood for they spake both 2. The man clothed in linnen which was Christ (p) v. 7. holds up his right hand and his left hand to heaven wherefore both and not one hand alone (q) 10.5 Because here are two one on his right hand another on his left and both to be informed 3. They are both answered as to their question concerning the times The Gentile type hath his answer v. 7. It shall be for a time times and an half And the Jew type hath his answer v. 11. From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes From this I gather some litle time before the end the Lord will unseale the prophesies of Daniel and reveal the times included to some both Iews and Gentiles Those great mysteries of the times which have been hid and lookt up from former ages shall be clearly opened to them and they shall know how long it will be before the Fourth Monarch be destroyed the witnesses slain Euphrates dryed up and Michael stand up for his people And this they shall speak out to the world and not one jot of their words shall fail You will ask it may be what will men say to this It will be with these men as it was with Hezekiah's messengers some laughed them to scorn 2 Chron. 30.11 and mocked them Neverthelesse divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem 7. As the time of the end is neerer at hand so the Prophesies and consequently the times included are to be unsealed Dan. 12.9 Rev. 22.10 and 1.3 opened revealed In Daniel 12.7 when a time times and an half was proposed and the Prophet professing he understood it not v. 8. an answer was given v. 9. that the words were sealed up till the end that is untill the last time immediately before the end as the phrase is used Revelat. 11.7 Therefore in the time immediately before the accomplishment these words are to be unsealed that is the meaning of them shall be known to Saints Again this is further manifested by v. 10. Many shall be purified and made white and tryed and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand So ver 11. what they should understand at the time of the end in particular is there more fully expressed And from the time saith the Angel that the daily sacrifices shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be 1290. dayes Quest But wherefore hath the Lord denyed the knowledge of the times to his people in former ages and will reveal it to Saints neer unto the end I might here say Mat. 11.26 in the words of our Lord Even so father for so it seemeth good in thy sight But I Answer 1. Gods administrations in the later Times concerning a nation and Kingdom Note to pluck up and pull down and to destroy it will be such as the instruments of the work probably shall want former examples and ordinary rules to walk by Men at Sea having not the marks and directions which travellers have on Land need some other help to steer and order their course by Gods way neer the end will be in the Sea Psal 77.19 and his path in the great waters So that as the actions of some men shall be rare unexemplary without president so God will give them clear light in away suteable that is make them understand the times and that it is now their proper work to act so and so in order to the fulfilling of the will and commandement of God though the same as the world judgeth seem irrational illegal absurd destructive to Religion Law Liberty c. 2. These latter times will be accompanied with such great destractions confusions divisions as people will be at a losse and so in darknesse that they will not know what to doe which way to take nor how to dispose of themselves Reader note it Gods marvelous work now in the world will move so contrary to mens expectations and self interest as multitudes shall fall off daily Isa 60.2 yea some good men shall be offended and left behinde Darknesse shall cover the earth and grosse darknesse the people Neverthelesse for the comfort and encouragement of the wise the Lord shall arise upon them and his glory shall be seen upon them and by the understanding of the times which they shall have God will make them instrumentall for the perfecting of the good work which he hath begun Thus not by might Zech. 4.6 nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts 3. As the knowledge of the end hath been concealed from former Ages to prevent security and to stir men up unto watchfulnesse Mat. 24.42 Mar. 13.35 Luk. 12.40 as our Saviour expresly shews so it is to be revealed to this last Age to move men to repentance and amendment of life that they should forsake all unrighteousness guile dissimulation self-seeking Doe justice love mercy lose the bonds of wickednesse undoe the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and break every yoke If a man fall into a pit or snare whereof he was before told and warned he
vexeth and grieves the more When corrupt and deceitfull men shall see the very thing come to passe upon them which before in the word of the Lord was told them namely within such a time if they turn not from their evill wayes and make their wayes and their doings good the Lord will pluck them out of their dwelling places lay them aside break their power to pieces Lord what a torment and vexation this will be to them that notwithstanding warned and admonished as from God they should yet harden and hearten themselves to their own destruction Prov. 5.12 How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof and have not obeyd the voice of my teachers nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me 4 For this cause likewise will the Lord have the book now opened viz. to advance the honour and holinesse of his blessed word we are in an age wherein most things are questioned not only water-Baptisme and whether there be a true Church but whether there be a true God a true Christ a true Word c. Now as this is atime wherein Satan appears against the holy Scriptures and the truths therein contained more violently and blasphemously then ever heretofore so I confidently affirm and will abide by it that the Lord will now arise and appear for the vindication of the holy Scriptures more gloriously and eminently then ever And wherein can the excellency of them be more advanced the truths in them more manifested the contemners of them more ashamed and silenced then that the wise should understand For what Athiest will not blush and be confounded when he shall most evidently see such things come to passe this year and the next and so forward till the year 1770. as was foretold And that in order to the fulfilling of prophesies and visions recorded some fifteen hundred years others two thousand years before and more Having proved by severall Arguments that the knowledge of the times is possible and ought to be searched and wherefore the same though concealed from former ages is to be revealed to the last age I come now to the Prophesies themselves In Daniel I find five speciall prophesies in reference to the time of the end Chap. 7.25 Chap. 9.24 25 26 27. Chap. 12.7 11 12. The three first concern the Christian Gentiles the two latter the Jews and in them are comprehended all the works of both that is when those years are expired then their whole warfare shall be accomplished and they shall be no more two but one and one shepherd shall be set over them Howsoever I intend to set forth these things more at large in another Treatise yet something I will speak now as to the times both of the Gentiles and of the Jews And first to that place in Daniel Dan. 7.25 Vntill a time and times and dividing of times In Scripture we find time to be taken for dayes as Dan 4. comparing v. 16. with 34. By dayes years are to be understood Your children shall wander in the wildernesse forty dayes Numb 14.33 34. Ezek. 4.6 each day for a year Again Thou shalt bear their iniquity forty dayes and I have appointed thee each day for a year In propheticall use a day that is a year containeth 360 dayes or years This Daniel calls a time The word times signifies so much more that is 720 years The dividing of time is 180 dayes or years the whole put together makes 1260 years and so much the spirit of God expresly declares in Rev 12. where a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes v. 6. is said to be a time and times and half a time v. 14. Before we come to the accommodation of these years we are to speak of the ten horns and the little horn first of their rise then their fall that is their beginning and ending For their rise or beginning it is to be understood either as hid and secret or more plain and open These ten horns I understand to be the Romane Empire dissolved into ten parts or Kingdoms In the enumeration of them some produce them thus Brittany France Germany Spain Italy Africa Asia Graecia Syria and Egypt I shall set down what to me is most probable 1. The kingdom of the Brittains 2 of the Saxons both in Brittany 3 of the kingdom of the Franks 4 of the Burgundians both in France 5 The kingdome of the West Gothes in the Southern part of France and part of Spain 6. the Sueves and Alanes in part of Spain 7 the Kingdome of the Vandals in Africa a little before in Spain 8. The Alemanes in Rhaetia and Noricum Provinces of Germany 9 the Kingdome of the East Goths in Ponnonia a little before in Italy Lastly the Kingdome of the Greeks in the remnant of the Empire Though this Decharchicall division doth not continue yet that it was so at first is apparent by History For their Rise which was obscure and dark Dan. 7.8 which gave Daniel occasion to consider the hornes as being so low and short that he could scarce perceive them this was about the year of our Lord 388. It is true the fall of the Empire was by degrees and it was 40 years after or more before the same was effectually dissolved Neverthelesse about this time to wit the year 388. those horns did appear though obscure and little as I said before in Rev. 17.12 The horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power at Kings one hour with the Beast that is they had not at first a Soveraignty Majesty Power Priviledges which afterwards they possest and were confirmed in Now adde unto 388. which was the time of the rise of the ten horns and the Romane Empire its beginning to dissolve Daniels number namely 1260. and it extendeth to the year of Christ 1648. This year to wit the year 1648. do I affirm with much assurance was the time when the Thrones were set and the ancient of dayes did sit as is expressed in Dan. 7.9 10. Here began the Lord God Almighty to call Kings and Kingdomes to an account to cast down the mighty from their seats to cut off the spirit of Princes and to be terrible unto the Kings of the earth And this work goes forward still and shall prevail and prosper to the utter breaking and destroying of the fourth Monarch or Romane Empire dissolved into ten Kingdomes And the little horn that is the Antichristian State and Kingdom likewise I know it will be expected that I give some reasons for what is here asserted especially it being delivered with so much confidence This I shall willingly do 1 Howsoever our Chronicles give the Romane Empire some kind of interest and title to the Brittains till the year 440. yet it was rather in name then in thing For after the year 388. the Romanes never exercised that power here which they did before onely now and then and that upon
Lord and of his temple upon the Antichristian Kingdome Here still I speak of things and not of persons To the other Objection I answer thus 1. The glory of God in fulfilling his word is to be prefer'd before all outward prosperity A Heathen could say Let Justice be done and the world perish Shall Saints then hold back their hands from executing the righteous Judgments of the Lord only through a base fear of worldly inconveniences 2. Prov. 21.30 There is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsell against the Lord. If he be breaking now as certainly he is the fourth Monarch we and they may take counsel together but it shall come to nought What man seeing his neighbours house on fire would willingly set his own by it for so they would both burn and fall together The Lords fire is already kindled in Thrones and Kingdomes And therefore the further off we keep from associating our selves with them from coming near them in Leagues and Covenants the more likely it is that our Common-wealth wil be happy and flourish But 3. I would not have the people of this Nation to imagine that these Changings and Turnings in the world are in order to their better trading God intends it otherwise It 's for trading indeed but for his owne To breake the Kings Merchants and great men of the Earth that the Kingdomes of this world may be his and his Christs Worldly men have had their time for Trade and they have had a long time of it The Lord now is putting an end to that and setting up a better I write this for my Countrey-mens sake to let them know howsoever I hope Those which shall be next in place will doe just and good things take off what burthens they can and make the Nation as happy and prosperous as they are able Yet I have no hope that the Times will be any better for civill Trade but more troublesome and warrs daily increase And therefore they should now begin to look up to God and after his work and the Great Trade which he is carrying on and with-draw their minds from this old world which is perishing and going out and prepare for the world to come whereof we speake wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Heb. 2.5 and which will be much better for them if they be of that number who looke for the blessed hope Tit. 2.13 and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ For Conclusion there is one word more from the Temple to the higher Powers and so I have done And it concerns a main thing in order to our late great victory at Sea which the Lord gave us over the Dutch It was some trouble unto many when they heard that the Holland Merchant Ships were returned safely home and not met with by our Fleet It is true the Lord could have given them into our hands but he would not And why not the one as well as the other The reason is as the Lord hath put it strongly on my heart to have it known In this he tels us what our proper worke is namely not to look after Merchants as to grow great and rich by the wealth of other Nations but to break their power strength in pieces The Lord gave their men of Warr into our hands not their Merchant Ships Speaking here I say as it were from heaven that it is not prizes or the Enemies goods our hearts or hands should desirously be upon But to destroy Babylon stain the glory of Kings and Kingdoms and lay low the high and great mountains of the earth Rev. 22.10 Seale not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Book for the time is at hand Hos 14.9 Who is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and hee shall know them For the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein FINIS
Altar under the Oak Mamre where the Angels appeared to Abraham and forced the Merchants which came to the Faires to sacrifice thereon otherwise they should not traffique Constantine the Great demolished the Altar and built there a Church for the Christians 3. In the dayes of Julian the Apostate and professed Enemie of Christians in despight of the Christian faith he recalled the Jewes which were dispersed to and fro to return into their own land gave them license to build the Temple and to re-establish the Leviticall service and furnished them with work-men money materialls and other necessaries out of the publique stock The Jewes embracing so large a grant attempted the building of the Temple laid the foundation not wholly razed down before wherein they were met by a speciall hand of God For a fearfull Earth-quake with thunder lightning and fire-balls from Heaven in one night destroyed all their worke and tools and totally overthrew the foundation of the Temple so that they were constrained to forbeare their work and all further proceeding and after that time the Jewish sacrifices did for ever cease It is also memorable how Cyril then Bishop of Jerusalem told the Jewes of this Prophesie and seeing no admonition or perswasion would prevaile he openly professed that now the time was come of which Christ spake unto his Disciples Mat. 24.2 concerning the Temple There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down This total desolation of the Temple under the reign of Julian in which the Iewish sacrifices were wholly taken away fell out in the year 365. to which 1290. being added doe make up 1655. The time designed for the rising and beginning of the Jewes after their long dispersion And here for the Readers better understanding three things I shall propound to him 1. I do not understand though many doe any generall conversion of the Iewes at this time unto the faith by the preaching of the Gospell but only arising amongst them upon a civill account to recover their own Countrey About this time namely the yeare 1655. if not before my opinion is and grounded I conceive on the holy word that the Turk with great Forces will come into Italy Dan. 11.40 At the time of the end shall the King of the South push at him that is come out against the Pope yet so as he shall effect little or nothing but suddenly depart For tidings out of the East Dan 11.44 and out of the North shall trouble him that is news shall be brought unto him of an insurrection of the Iewes through all parts of his Empire making head forming themselves into a Body and entring into the land of Iudea The first-shall say to Sion behold Isa 41.27 behold them and I will give to Ierusalem one that bringeth good tidings It seems to hold forth the Messengers of the Jews which shall passe from place to place with tidings of their designe and to bring others in for the sooner and better effecting of it Hereupon the Grand Signeor is said to be troubled and no marvail For 1. He knows well that the Iewes are a great people and for wealth and warlike abilities able to cope with the greatest Monarch in the world 2. They are domestick Enemies besetting him before and behind eating out the bowels and revenues of his State 3. Their rising is sudden from all parts of Arabia and Syria and their faction grows exceeding strong before he hears of it So that the suddenness of it did presage some evil event as is ever observed amongst Politicians 2 Sam. 20.2.6 4. He is the more troubled as being with his Forces at such a distance from them And lastly who knows but he shall be troubled now in remembring an old tradition which the Turks have that at last they shall be subdued and destroyed by the children of Isaak Here by the way take notice that the Turk having brought his Forces out of Asia Affrica into Italy against the Christians Revel 15.12 Isa 11.25 51.10 11. or rather Antichristians This I take to be the drying up of the river Eupbrates the waters thereof that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared The meaning seems to be thus the power and strength of the Turkes being in Christendom the Jewes improving the advantage and opportunity of the time wil rise and repair to their own land and by a strong hand re-enter and take the possession of it And this they shall do as I said before only upon a * Hence it is said they shall take the Kingdom Dan. 7.18 and after the Kingdom shall be given them vers 27. Dan. 11.44 Dan. 12.1 Dan. 11.45 Ezek 38.8 9 10 11. Civill account taking example from other Nations to shake off the yoke of Tyrants and to be a free people 2. The Jewes being entred into their own Countrey The Turke shall goe forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many And here begins the time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation even to that same time Most cruell and bloody warres between the Jewes and Turkes This conflict shall be for the most part in Judea And he shall plant the tabernacles of his Palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain that is the borders or continent betwixt Euphrates and the Mediterranean Of this warre and place speaketh Ezekiel In the later dayes thou shalt come into the land that is brought backe from the sword and is gathered out of many people against the mountaines of Israel which have been alwayes wast But it is brought forth of the Nations and they shall dwell safely all of them Thou shalt ascend and come like a storme thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land Zech. 14.2 3. thou and all thy hands with thee c. So Zechariah I will gather all Nations against Jerusalem and the Citie shall be taken and the houses rifled and the women ravished and half of the Citie shall goe forth into captivity and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the Citie Then shall the Lord goe forth and fight against those Nations c. Moreover as this War is expressed in holy Scripture and the place so the continuance of it how long it shall be Blessed is he that waiteth Dan. 12.12 and cometh to the thousand three hundred five and thirty dayes This later number is more then the former by 45. years And so long shall this war continue between the Jews and the Turks namely from the year 1655. to 1700. Sometimes the one getting the better sometimes the other 3. These years being expired about the year 1700. Dan. 12.7 Rev. 1.7 Michael the great Prince will stand up for his people Behold hee cometh with the clouds and every eye shall see him c. This is the SET TIME in which the Lord will arise and have mercy upon
Sion Psal 102.13 His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the East 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 and halfe of the mountaine shall remove toward the North and halfe of it toward the south Ioel 3.2 And he will plead with them there for his people and for his heritage Israel The Turk now totally and finally shall be destroyed His army probably beside the Sea of Gennezaret Ezek. 39.11 Joel 3.2 Isa 60.8 Am. 9.14 15. Ezek. 37.21 22. Isa 60.18 Ezek. 34.31 Isa 49.19 20. Ezek. 37.22.24 Hos 1.11 Rev. 21.24 Isa 49.23 Zeph. 3.19 20. otherwise called the lake of Tiberias and the Turk himselfe at or neer Jerusalem Upon this shall follow a speedy and sudden conversion of the Jewes In one day and at once as the Prophet speaks And after this they shall dwell in their owne Land in safety inhabite all the parts of it as before their Countrey shall be more fertile and populous then ever it was a most flourishing State of Church and Common-wealth There shall be after this victory once obtained no separation any more of the tenne Tribes from the other two but both shall make one entire Kingdom All Nations shall come in to them and honour them and willingly or perforce submit unto the Government of Jesus Christ But to return to the year 1655. It is the opinion of many and I am of the same mind that sixe thousand yeares from the Creation doe meet with the ending of this year 1655. which is neer at hand and great Revolutions are look't for at that time For the particulars I find them not exprest but to me these fearefull and terrible changes seeme to be these five 1. The Turke his coming against Italy with such multitudes will fill all Europe with terrour and amazement and howsoever his stay here shall be short as was said before yet it will be the occasion and rise of marvellous changes to follow afterwards 2. In this year will the Lord most eminently appear shaking the Earth Hag 2.22 and overthrowing the Thrones of Kingdomes every where in Europe By this time I verily think the Thrones will be set Isa 26.11 and the Ancient of dayes sitting thereon The Prophet saith Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed Hitherto what God hath done in overturning overturning overturning the Bishops first the King next the Parliament last it is not observed as the righteous hand of God 2 Pet. 3.4 All things continue saith the Scoffer as they were from the beginning of the Creation But know this in the year 1655. the Viall shall be so full poured out so fast and lye so close hot upon the persecuting powers of the world as they shall then see and be ashamed begin to take notice that it is the wrath of the Lamb which followes after them It is reported of Moles that a short time before they die they see a little but never before So the blind Pope and his creatures and the Kings of the earth as blind as he a little before the finall extirpation of their State something they will see as of God fighting from Heaven against them though they repent not to give him glory 3. At this time great changes and revolutions will be in respect both of persons and things For howsoeve I am assured that every change amongst us shall be for good unto the Nation as this present Government and what followes a great deale better then the former yet I question whether the Lord will throughly purge his floore in sweeping out all corrupt and selfish men untill that time But some wil stil creep in unawares not serving the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellie Neverthelesse this I would have the Reader observe that about the yeare 1655. Psal 149.8.7 the righteous alone shall flourish and be exalted A two-edged sword is in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishment upon the people to bind their Kings with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of iron To execute upon them the judgement written And this Supream Power shall abide with them four or five yeares without interruption untill they have broken in pieces the fourth Monarch 4. Another terrible and fearfull change in likelihood will fall out in the year 1655. or the year after that is the * There are some Prophesies which mention the burning of Rome in the yeare 6000. from the Creation sacking and burning of the Citie of Rome After which it shall never be inhabited neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation but wilde Beasts of the Desart shall lie there and their houses shall be full of dolefull Creatures And Owles shall dwell there and Satyrs shall dance there Isa 13.2.21 22. And the wild beasts of the Islands shall cry in their desolate houses and Dragons in their pleasant palaces and her time is neer come and her dayes shall not be prolonged And this instrumentally shall be done by the Saints of the most high whose hearts and hands the Lord will raise up for that work It is possible that the Pope Cardinals Arch-bishops Bishops c. may escape as being reserved to perish afterward with the worshippers of the Beast Num. 31.8 as Balaam perished amongst the Midianites 5. The last is the rising of the Jewes of which I have spoken and shall make no repetition Having opened some Prophesies and applyed them according to the grace received I come now to the other particular which is to shew the time in which wee are and our present work And this is a special Voyce from the Temple unto the higher Powers In the generall I have expressed my opinion already Christ hath his right foot on the Sea and his left foot on the Earth So then to follow the Lamb it is to break in pieces those two Powers Kingly and Antichristian Who is on my side saith the Lord Who Throw her downe Come against her from the utmost border Ier. 50.26 open her store-houses cast her up as heapes and destroy her utterly let nothing of her be left There is now a price put into your hands a faire opportunity and a door opened before you He that letted is taken out of the way If a Marriner should be asked in winter why he is at home and not at Sea to speake of the unseasonablenesse of the time might be a reason sufficient but if the Winter be past and the season good here he hath not the like excuse to make for himselfe When Kingly power stood and the Lords Spirituall and Temporall which was worse and the last Parliament little better that some in Authority did little good much might be said for their excuse But now seeing all these things are