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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09926	An epistle written (dated the 30th of the 11th month 1659,) and sent from London into the countrey. By a friend to the glorious (though at this day despised) cause of Christ, in answer to a letter sent up to him (dated the 16th of the same month) wherein the following things are treated of, (viz.) 1. The fifth kingdom it self, which the God of Heaven sets up in the latter dayes. 2. The kingdom of the beast which is to be destroyed. 3. The instruments that are to be used in destroying the one and erecting the other; with the way or manner how they are to be used. 4. The time of the beginning of this work. [bracket] First, before Christs personal comming. Secondly, before the call of the Jewes. Thirdly, that it is already begun, and hath taken place in this nation and that Cromwel with the army, hath apostatized from it, and that all the powers, or governments that have been set up since that time, have been, and still are upon the foundation of the apostacy. As also, severall of the particular evills which the army, and others abetting the apostacy are guilty of. Together with, some considerations tendered to the favourers of Christ's righteous cause, wherein is laid down, their duty of separation from Babylon, and from all the parts and branches (both in church and state) of the forementioned apostacy.	N. S.	1660 (1660)	Wing S119B; ESTC R183121	59,145	52

and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem went off and that the Ten Tribes might not magnify themselves against the Two Tribes who Hosea 11.12 Ruled with God and was faithful with the Saints long after the revolt of the Ten the Lord will in the Latter day save the two Tribes first which is all that can be gathered in this matter from this Scripture and it will not prove that the Kingdom shall first take place or begin amongst the naturall Seed of Abraham but I shall add no more to this but come to speak to the third particular relating to the Time of this Work taking place and to that I shall lay down this Position Position That the Work of destroying the Fourth and setting up the Fifth Kingdom is begun and hath taken place amongst us in this Isle of great Brittain And in entering upon the proof of this I shall for the making way present some particular Considerations As first That the Beast with the Seven Heads and Ten Hornes mentioned Rev. 17. and also the Whore mentioned in the same Chapter have their Rise Seat Dominion and Reign in this part of the World called Europe where the Roman or Fourth Kingdom had its place before at and since the coming of Christ in the flesh and though the Rise and Nature of the Power is changed from the meerly Civil to the grosse Antichristian or Mixed State yet those that will search the Histories may find that Antichrist hath taken and doth keep the same Territories that were belonging to the Civil State The Second Consideration is That this Nation or the Power of this Isle of Great Brittain hath been accounted and really is one of the Ten Hornes of the Beast or Toes of the Image and was joyned with the Antichristian Beast very soon receiving Power as a King one hour with him according to Rev. 17.12 and the Whore or false Church hath been long mounted upon the Civil or Beastly Power in this Nation It is now above one thousand years as history relates since Augustine the Monck was sent over by the Pope into this Nation where he found great incouragement from the Civil Powers which Satan had fitted for his own design of carrying the Whore Proud Augustine for so he is called doth forthwith settle the National Church and mounts it upon the Civil Power to bear up maintain it and many abominable wicked Lawes were made to Answer the Devils design in the upholding and maintaining this Whorish Nationall Church at the setting up whereof there are found some Faithful Christians in the Nation which so far as we may credit History were some remainders of the fruits of the Ministry of Joseph of Arimatheah who is said was the first Preacher of the joyful sound of the Gospel in this Island and these Christians not falling down to but witnessing against the Antichristian Abominations which were brought in from Rome and readily received in this Nation Augustine becomes their great enemy and being of that Popish stamp that Thirsts after and must be drunk with the blood of the Saints thirsts after the blood of those poor Christians who for their safety fled to the Mountains in Wales but Augustine tho ough the help of the Civil or Beastly Power as the beginning of the wickedness which God will reward obtains his end and drinks the Blood or takes away the lives of those Faithfull Martyrs of Jesus and so in shedding the blood of the Saints the Beast and the Whore were united together in this Nation and therefore no wonder if they cleave so close together as at this day till the vengeance be accomplished upon them This proud Augustine being Ordained and sent by the Pope whose power is derived from Hell Ordains and Settles Bishops and Archbishops who Ordaine the National Ministry and settle them in their respective Parishes and this by succession hath continued to this day and is the Ordination so much pleaded for in this Nation The Third Consideration is That the Toe or Horne or that part of the Beastly Power in Brittain which carrieth the Whore according to the National Constitution was made up with and did consist of King Lords and Commons The Fourth Consideration is That it is the proper Work of the Stone or Kingdom mentioned Dan. 2. to Smite and Break these Toes or Hornes and so by its Government to fill up the room thereof Having layd down these things I shall proceed to the proof of the Assertion to wit That the Work is begun First The VVork that is only proper for the Stone to do to wit the breaking of the Toes or Hornes hath taken place in this Nation The Horn or Toe of this Nation to wit King Lords and Commons is broken though not yet according to Dan. 2.35 made as the Chaffe of the Summer threshing Flower Not only the King but Kingship and Peeridge is broken and not only the Commons but the very Foundation of their Constitution from the Nation is broken and God hath for several years been witnessing against it I need not speak further to the proof of this if we forget not the things which our Eyes have seen Deut. 49. It is Matter of Mourning that this Generation like Israel of old either understood not or else have forgotten the workes of God and it is no wonder if God destroy them and not build them up Psal 28.5 Psal 106.7.13 Though the Stone must break the Horne or Toe it is not said that it should be done at one blow or two and therefore if God should suffer King Lords and Commons to rally again in this Nation it may not be said that the Work hath not been among us for seeing the Stone may not do it at one or two blows the Lord may gather and prepare them for the Second or rather the Third stroke till he make them as the Chaffe and they be carryed away with the wind The Work in this Nation did not end in smiting the Horn for the Kingdom and Goverment of Christ did take place in its roome When the remainder of the Long Parliament was by the answer of the Faith and Prayers of the Lords People with an eminent hand of God broken the undoubted right to the Throne being Christs who had obtained it by his Sword and Bow as the fulfilling of many promises Prophesies of Scripture the Saints whose Right under Christ it is upon the Account and on the behalf of Jesus Christ did not onely take but come into the possession of the Kingdom for by a speciall hand of God many of the Saints upon the breach of the Parliament before mentioned were sent for from several parts of this Island who found the Lord stirring up their hearts to come to Receive and Possesse the Government for Christ their King and accordingly when they were come together at Whitehall the Government was delivered to them and they or at least many of them received it upon the avowed account of the Son of God

not from Heaven as doth the true Church but from Earth or Hell and in his first appearance his Horns or Power are like a Lamb verse 11. or like Christ for so this false Church would be accounted but his words are like the devil he spake as a Dragon verse 11 and this false Church joyning her self to and riding upon the Beast comes to sway or exercise the Civil Power and so is said vers 12. to exercise all the Power of the first Beast not that the first Beast is destroyed for this Whore causeth him to be worshipped and doth great things before him v. 12. 14. Since the false Church hath been mixed with and mounted upon the civil Power for her own ends she cryes up this wicked Beast as the Ordinance of God though in truth it comes from the Devil yea and she can bring Scripture though abused and wrested as the Devil did to Christ and cryes up obedience to it condemning all that will not fall down to the Beast as being those that disobey Magistrates despise Dominion and speak evil of dignities which Scriptures indeed were spoken of and much fulfilled by this false Church till this Beast on which she rides came up Fourthly The mixture of this Antichristian State may further appear by the Beast and the VVhore mentioned Rev. 17. The Beast that was and is not and yet is verse 8. holds forth the Civil Power in its two fold State First In its Pagan State before the visible rise of Antichrist Secondly In its Antichristian State when it carries the VVhore The Beast that was which word was respects him in the glory of the Pagan State in which he was a Beast and like a Beast rather then like a Man he carried it in the ten first Persecutions and this word Is not respects him in his Antichristian State as carrying the VVhore which was not in being in Johns daies who was the Penman of this word And this word and yet is respects the Pagan State which was in being in Johns day And this word shall ascend out of the bottomless pit respects his Antichristian State which comes from Hell and in this State I understand he is called the eighth Head ver 11 The other Seven Heads being brought down for and their Power divolved upon this Beast he is called the eighth and yet is said to be of the Seventh and the ten Horns ver 12. receive Power as Kings one hour with him being all thereby fitted for and engaged to Mount the VVhore The VVhore ver 1. holds forth the false Church that would be counted the spouse of Christ but commits whoredom with Idolls and fornication with the Kings of the earth and is not built upon Christ as the foundation But verse 15. sitteth upon peoples and multitudes and Nations and Tongues that being the strength of the false Church who by her sorceries and VVhoredoms as the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth obtains the Power and Reigneth over the Kings of the earth ver 18. Fithly This mixt State of the Antichrist in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power is further held forth by the Beast and false Prophet Rev. 19.20 21. which place speaks of them in the last and finall stroke that comes upon them for though the fifth Viall Rev. 16.10 is poured out upon the Seat of the Beast and the Judgment and fall of the Whore is set forth in Chap. ●8 and begining of the 19th yet some Reliques of both the Beast and Whore remaining till very near or unto the personal Coming of Christ the Devil having but a short time to reign gathers up all his forces and engageth the Kings of the Earth to come up with him against Christ and his Saints and then the last Viall comes upon them at Christs personal appearing and compleats their ruin and so both these parts of Antichrist by this stroke are destroyed together compare Rev. 19.20 21. with Chap. 16. Ver. 13 14 16 17. Having spoken of this Beast and false Prophet held forth by the two Beasts in Chap. 13. I shall speak no more of them in this place Lastly If we consult the Histories and also what we have seen of the Antichrian State in our day it hath been made up of these two parts viz. Civil and Ecclesiastical which like Twins have gone together in all their wickedness one crying up the other and calling for obedience The false Church and her Ministery being propped up by the false Magistracy calls for and preaches up obedience to it as Gods ordinance and they must be killed that will not worship the Beast Rev. 13.15 The false Magistracy doth the like for the false Church and her Ministery crying them up as the true Church and Ministry of Christ and all that will not fall down to this VVhore in paying of Tythes Church-Rates following her Assemblies and such like abominations must be imprisoned banished or killed and thus the Beast bears yea is said to carry the VVhore Rev. 17.7 and is the Whores drudge or slave to do her wicked service these two have been in conjunction in and are guilty of the blood of the Saints and the several persecutions since Antichrist came to the Throne have been on this wise carryed on the Ecclesiastical Power have adjudged and condemned and so delivered over to the Civil Power who have executed and killed them with much rage and greediness and after a most cruel manner and although the Civil Power would at this day when the Lord is comming to make inquisition for blood slip out their Necks and excuse themselves as if they were free and had done no wrong to nor shed the blood of the Saints and may have many Advocates pleading at a high rate on their behalf and saying that Judgment shall not fall upon them and further to evince this do give them the title of Christian Magistrates and that many of them are good men yet all this will not excuse them from the stroke when the Lord according to Rev. 16.5 6. comes to avenge the blood of his Saints and Prophets and Psal 9.16 shall be known by the judgment which he executeth for no doubt the guilt of much blood will be found in the skirts of the Civil Power and their sin will find them out and though good men be in the place of Power it will not save from the Judgement for Gods controversie is not so much with the Persons as with the Beastly Powers and the title of Christian Magistrates will not excuse but rather condemne them as the Antichristian Power and the Fountaines and Rivers of waters upon which the third Viall comes Rev. 16.4 doth not exclude but include this Civil Power Having thus laid down my understanding of the fifth Kingdom or Kingdom of Christ which should be erected or set up in the latter day of the Kingdom of the Beast which is to be destroyed I shall now come to speak to the third thing which is the

AN EPISTLE Written dated the 30th of the 11th Month 1659 and sent from LONDON INTO THE COUNTREY By a Friend to the Glorious though at this Day despised CAUSE OF CHRIST in Answer to a Letter sent up to him Dated the 16th of the same Month Wherein the following Things are Treated of viz. 1. The FIFTH KINGDOM it self which the God of Heaven sets up in the latter Dayes 2. The KINGDOM of the BEAST which is to be destroyed 3. The Instruments that are to be used in destroying the one and erecting the other with the way or manner how they are to be used 4. The Time of the beginning of this Work First Before Christs Personal comming Secondly Before the Call of the Jewes Thirdly That it is already begun and hath taken place in this Nation and that Cromwel with the Army hath Apostatized from it and that all the Powers or Governments that have been set up since that time have been and still are upon the Foundation of the Apostacy AS ALSO Severall of the Particular Evills which the Army and others abetting the Apostacy are guilty of Together with Some CONSIDERATIONS tendered to the Favourers of CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUS CAUSE wherein is laid down their duty of Seperation from BABYLON and from all the Parts and Branches both in Church and State of the forementioned Apostacy Psal 145.11 They shall speak of the Glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power Hos 6.3 Then shall ye know if you follow on to know the Lord. Rev. 18.14 Come out of her my People that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues LONDON Printed for the Author 1660. An Epistle written dated the 30th of the 11th Month 1659. and sent from London into the Countrey by a Friend to the Glorious though at this day despised Cause of Christ in Answer to a Letter sent up to him dated the 16th of the same Moneth c. My Dear Brother THine of the 16th instant I have received with thy earnest desires of my giving thee some account of my judgment about the matters of the Fifth Kingdom I am glad that any of the Saints are enquiring after those glorious Truths that appertain to the exaltation of Zions King in the latter days It is no small matter of grief that those things which are so high in the Fathers esteem and purchased by Christ his precious blood should be so much despised and trampled under Foot by the Professors of this Generation and that those which own and witness for it should be so much reproached yea dealt with as transgressors as it is at this day But for my self I have been through grace made to rejoyce and to count it no small honour to have my name and reputation offered up yea buryed with the precious Cause of Christ and am contented in the hopes of a share in the Resurrection of that Cause But that I may come to answer thy desires I shall lay down two things by way of entrance First That the Matters of this Fifth Kingdom are very Deep and Mysterious Mark 4.11 and the coming of it not with observation but as a Thief Luke 17.20 1 Thes 5. 2. Luke 18.8 And the Antichristian State which is to be destroyed by and so way made for this Fifth Kingdom to take place is very Deep and Mysterious also It is called the Mystery of iniquity 2 Thess 2.7 Rev. 17.5.7 Secondly The understanding of these Mysteries are not attained by the humane Arts Parts or Witt of Men no nor by any holiness or vertue of ours but is a free gift of God effected by the Leadings and Teachings of his holy Spirit in whomsoever he pleaseth Mark 4.11 Joh. 16.13 Math. 11 25 26. Rev. 17.3 Chap. 21.10 Joh. 3.8 And as to my self I have been brought under so much sense of my ignorance and darkness in those deep Mysteries that I have been sometimes ashamed to appear in publick to speak of them fearing that I might rather Eclipse then open those blessed truths yet I dare not say that I have been left without a measure of the leadings of the Spirit in these things but it hath been in such untrodden paths and attended with such great difficulties both from within and from not only the World but many of my dear friends whom for holiness and understanding I have preferred above many that I have been ready to say with Joshua Chap. 7.7 Would to God I had been content and dwelt on the other side And with Jeremiah Chap. 15.10 Wo is me my Mother that thou hast borne me a Man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth But I dare not allow my self in such Complaints least I should offend the Lord. Though my darkness and weakness would discourage me in this undertaking yet the consideration of the many false reports and mistakes that have been and still are among the Churches about those Principles which both my self and divers others have been helped to own in this evil day and the consideration of the many stumbling-blocks that hath been by those reports cast in the way of several of the Lords Children and the endeavours to possess them with prejudice against the Righteous Cause of Jesus Christ doth help me over all the discouragements to present unto thee not only for thy self but the rest of my dear friends with thee in all plainness what my understanding is First Of the Fifth Kingdom it self Secondly of the Kingdom of the Beast which is to be destroyed Thirdly Of the Instruments with the Way or Manner of the destroying the one and setting up of the other Fourthly Of the Time that it is to be begun viz. First Before Christs Personal comming Secondly That it must be before the Call of the Jewes Thirdly That it is already begun and hath taken place in this Nation and that Cromwell with the Army have Apostatized from that Work and all the Powers that have been up in this Nation since that time have been and still are upon the foundation of the Apostacy To the first to wit of the fifth Kingdom it self I shall lay down this general Assertion That there is an outward visible Kingdom of the Father which is given to Christ the Son and is to take place over the whole world Some of the Scriptures upon which my satisfaction is grounded in this truth are Mat. 6.10 Thy Kingdom come which word must needs be understood of this visible Kingdom First from the words that are joyned to it viz. That the Will of God might be done in Earth as it is in Heaven which cannot so be till that Fifth Kingdom be set up over the Kingdoms of this World Secondly This word Thy Kingdom come c. cannot be meant of Gods providential Kingdom mentioned Dan. 4.25 that having been in the world from the beginning Neither can it be understood of the Kingdom of the Gospel of Grace because it is a Prayer to be made even

whilest that Kingdom is in being Neither can it be restrained to the Spirituall Kingdom that is within the Saints because those that truly pray this Prayer being Children do already injoy that Kingdom Neither can it be restrained to the Kingdom of Heaven in the ultimat Glory because that is not to come to the Saints but they are to go or be taken up to it therefore seeing it cannot be taken in either of these four sences and there being no other Kingdom of God that I read of but the forementioned visible Kingdom this word must be referred to it The second Scripture is Luke 21.31 When you see these things come to passe Know ye that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand By these things is meant the Signs of the latter day or of Christs second comming and this Kingdom being nigh at hand when the latter day signes are upon us must needs be understood of this fifth Kingdom which they have special relation to and is known to be nigh at hand by them The third Scripture is Dan. 2.44 And in the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom c. This compared with Chap. 7.14 must be understood of this visible Kingdom The fourth Scripture is Dan. 7.27 And the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the Most High c. and all Dominions shall serve and obey him This compared with Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord c. must needs refer to this visible Kingdom which hath the Authority Power and Rule in and over the whole World First It is called the Fathers Kingdom as it is Originally from him who is the Creator Former and Disposer of all things 2ly As he doth in a special Manner erect or set up this Kingdom The God of Heaven shall set it up Dan. 2.44 3ly As he is the Donor or Giver of it to the Son Luke 1.32 The Lord God shall give him the Throne c. This Kingdom also belongs to Christ the Son First As he is the Son of God and so the true Heir Heb. 1.2 Psal 2.7 8. Secondly As he is the Son of Man the true Son of David the seed of Abraham 1. As he is the Son of Man John 5.27 He hath Authority to execute Judgment because he is the Son of Man 2. As he is the true Son of David Luke 1.32.69 The Lord God shall give him the Throne of his Father David so Acts 2.30 Of the Fruit of his Loynes according to the Flesh God hath sworn with an Oath that he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne 3. As he is the Seed of Abraham Gen. 22.17 18. Thy Seed shall possess the Gate of his Enemies By Seed is meant Christ Gal. 3.16 and by possessing the Gate is to be understood of possessing the Government and execution of Judgment Amos 5.10.12.15 Zech. 8.16 Thirdly It is Christs Right by Promise Isa 9.7 and by Covenant and Oath Psa 89.28 29.34 35 36. Acts 2.30 and by the Anointing Isa 11.2 Psa 89.27.20 And by peculiar choyse Psa 89.19 Isa 42.1 compared with Matth. 12.18 And by Decree Psa 2.7 Fourthly It is Christs by the free gift of the Father Psal 2.8 I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession Luke 1.32 The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne c. Dan. 7.14 There was given him Dominion c. Matth. 28.18 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth c. Fifthly It is Christs by desert and purchase upon the account of his suffering Rev. 5.12.13 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power c. Isa 53.12 Because he hath poured out his soul unto death c. The Lord will divide him a portion with the Great and he shall divide the spoyl with the strong Sixthly It is Christs in answer to the Great end of Creation Col. 1.16 All things were created for him so Psal 8.6 Compare Heb. 2.5 6 7 8 The World to come is put in subjection to Christ as may appear from Verse the 5th This World to come must needs be understood of the Fifth Kingdom which belongs unto and is put under Christ the Son Eph. 1.21 22. This world to come cannot be understood of the Ultimate Glory in Heaven because that State is not to be put under Christ as the Son but as Son he himself must become subject in it 1 Cor. 15.28 But this World to come is noted in an especiall manner to be under Christs Feet and this is that State or World to come in which there shall be forgiveness or blotting out of sin as is clearly implyed from Matth. 12.32 which compared with Acts 3.19 That your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus c. doth clearly demonstrate the World to come to be this fifth Kingdom Lastly It is and shall be Christs by Conquest Rev. 17.14 The Lamb shall overcome them c. Comp. Chap. 6.2 and upon these grounds this fifth Kingdom being Christs he is called King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 And the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 And King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 17.14 Chap. 19.16 The blessed and only Potentate 1 Tim. 6.15 with divers such like Titles which in the Scriptures of truth are given to him The next thing that I would speak to is That this fifth Kingdom is outward and visible as well as glorious and spiritual First From the time and manner of its rising mentioned Dan. 2.34 Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out c. If it were only spiritual it might have been seen as well before the Image was as after but the Stone or Kingdom doth not appear till after the Image is seen and then appears as visible as the Image which Image holdeth forth the four great Kingdoms or Monarchies of the World which have been and are visible in their times Now the Stone being as visible as the Image and not seen till some time after the Image was seen it must needs be a visible Kingdom and not the spiritual and invisible Kingdom which was in being long before the Image appeared Secondly It must be outward and visible if we consider the work that this Kingdom is to do it smites and breaks the Image Dan. 2.34.44 which compared with other Scriptures will appear to be an outward visible breaking as Dan. 7.18.26 Rev. 17.14 The ten Hornes or ten Toes makes war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them Now if the Work be an outward and visible smiting the Stone or Kingdom must needs be visible also Thirdly The Rule or Dominion of this Kingdom is taken from filleth up the room of the fourth Kingdom Dan. 2.35 The Stone became

great question at this day How shall these things be brought forth by what Instruments and in what way In Answer to this Question First this VVork belongs to God who hath promised to accomplish it As first the destroying the Kingdom of the Beast the beating down of Christs foes before him making them his footstool clothing them with shame and avenging the blood of the Saints upon Antichrist Psal 89.23 Psa 110.1 132.18 Rev. 6.10 Chap. 19.2 Secondly the setting up of the fifth Kingdom also belongs to God Dan. 2.44 Psal 89 27. Secondly Though God be the main Agent in this VVork yet he doth it by Instruments and the Instruments are his Saints whom he will call to and anoint for this VVork and so God is said to do it because it is done by his Spirit in the Saints whom he shall choose That the Saints shall be the Instruments in destroying the Kingdom of the Beast and so in setting up the fifth Kingdom which doth immediatly Succeed Take the place and Fill up the room of the fourth consider the following Scriptures Dan. 2.34 the Stone which is the Saints anointed for and called to the Work as I have before shewed smites the Image on his feet which hath also been shewed to be the Antichristian State and breaks them in pieces So Dan. 7.18 The Saints shall take the Kingdom Now though the Kingdom is given to them by promise and obtained for them by the Power of God yet they are said to take it which must be understood of their being used as Instruments in taking the Power Rule and Government from the Image or that part of it which stands next before Christs Kingdom which must be done by destroying or breaking in pieces that part of the Image which is in being when this Fifth Kingdom comes to take place Dan. 7.26 They that is the Saints whom he wears out verse 25. shall take away his that is the Little Horn vers 8. and 24. which have been already shewed to be the Antichristian State Dominion that is his Power Rule or Government to consume and to destroy it unto the end In Dan. 11.31 The Angel is speaking of the Roman or Fourth Kingdom which took away the dayly sacrifice and vers 32. saith But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits The people that do know their God are the Saints and by their being strong and doing exploits I understand to be the service that the Saints shall do in the destroying this Fourth Kingdom also Num. 24.14 I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter dayes and Isai 14.2 They shall take them captives c. So Isai 41.14.15 Fear not thou worm Jacob to wit the Saints in a low condition I will make thee a new sharp threshing Instrument c. thou shalt thresh that is break in pieces or destroy the mountains to wit the great worldly Powers Isai 2.2 and beat them small and shall make the Hills which also intends the worldly Powers as Chaff c. Isai 52.2 Shake thy self from the dust loose thy self from the bonds of thy neck O captive Daughter of Zion by the bonds of thy neck and the dust I understand the Government and wicked Tyranny that Babylon hath had and exercised over Zion and by shaking and loosing her self must needs be understood to be the breaking off or destroying that Power and Government of Antichrist and this must be done by Zion her self to wit the People of God Cha. 51.16 Jeremiah Cha. 50.45 Speaking of Babylon saith surely the least of the flock shall draw them out by the Flock is meant the People of God Acts 20.28 and by draw them out I understand the rewarding and destroying of Babylon and this Scripture must be applyed to spiritual Babylon because it was not the Saints but the Medes that drew out litteral Babylon as the same Chapter compared with Dan. 5. doth manifest In Micha 4.13 Zion to wit the Lords People is fitted for and called to arise and thresh the Nations Isa 13.3 Mal. 4.2.3 Job 17.8 Zech. 2.7 So Zech. 9.13 Zion must deliver her self and her sons must be raised up against the sons of Greece Rev. 18.4.6 the peculiar People of God are commanded to reward Babylon Rev. 15.6 and 16.1 the Angels with the Viols comes out of the Temple the Vials do contain the seven last plagues or the judgements of God that are to accomplish the destruction of Antichrist and avenging the blood of the Saints the Temple is the Church or the Saints of God 2 Cor. 6.16 and by the Angels I understand those Saints that are chosen and called of God as Ministers or servants employed in that honourable work to execute his judgements these with many other Scriptures do make it very evident that the Saints or people of God must be used by him in this great and glorious work and the Fifth Kingdom taking place and filling up the roome of the Fourth Dan. 2.35 The Stone or Kingdom became a great mountain and filled the whole Earth the like in Dan. 7.27 it will appear from the Scriptures before mentioned that the Saints must be used both in the destroying and building work But I know it is further queried How shall the Saints be used in this work and by what meanes shall they accomplish it In answer to which I shall lay down these particulars First That they which shall be used in the work must be such whom the Lord shall choose and call in to it The Lambs Army are call'd and chosen Rev. 17.14 It is not whom Man will choose but whom the Lord shall choose Samuel would have chosen Eliab but he must not stand because God had refused him and it was David that was Gods chosen 1 Sam. 16.7 This hath been the evil of many in our dayes to presume to put themselves and others upon the Lords VVork Some because they are men of great wit and parts Others because they are men of great estates and high in the World Others because they are tryed Souldiers Men of valour and courage yea and many like Samuel have been crying such up as the Lords annointed and have not first made diligent search whether the Lord had chosen them and this hath proved like Uzzahs touching the Ark they have stumbled fallen and come to nothing Secondly That the Instruments must not only be such as are called and chosen but such as have received the annointing for the work by which annointing they are not only made faithful but do obtain light in and love unto it with wisdom faith and courage for the managing of it This work though done by the Saints must not be by their or the might or power of men but by this annointing Zech. 4.6 Isa 10.27 and Chap. 59.19 Haggai 2.5 Isa 28.6 Being thus called chosen and annointed they shall be used First by faith and prayer with praises as Joshua Gideon and

Election c. those that own Election according to Scripture will grant that it takes place before Calling and yet Calling is here placed before it So Acts 3.19 where the Apostle applies the blotting out of sin to the time of Christs Personal coming when according to other Scriptures the blotting out or forgiveness of sin takes place long before as Ephes 1.7 Col. 2.13 so that this word must respect the perfecting of it In Luke 21.28 you have the like word applied to Redemptions taking place at the coming of Christ the like in Ephes 4.13 though by other Scriptures Redemption hath its beginning long before as Ephes 1.7 Gal. 3.13 and if these things be considered it may appear that either the Kingdom in this place of 2 Tim. 4.1 must respect the perfection of its Glory which shall not be till Christs Personal coming though as hath been shewed it must have its beginning before or if it should respect its first taking place we may not build so much upon the order of the words as to make them clash against yea to exclude the scope of many Scriptures which do clearly hold forth the Kingdoms taking place before the Personal appearing of Christ The Second thing that I shall lay down with respect to the Time of this Kingdoms taking place is That it must begin or take place amongst the Gentile Saints before the Call of the Nation of the Jewes to wit the Natural Seed of Abraham The First Ground of this I gather from the Work Time and Order of the Vials Rev. 16. Six of them are to be poured forth before the Kings of the East which I understand to be the Natural Seed of Abraham have their way prepared The Sixth Vial Rev. 16.12 must be poured out upon the great River Euphrates that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared By the River Euphrates I understand not the Material River for the ships of Tarshish must bring them over greater Rivers then that and that River cannot block up their way but it is the Power of that people to wit the Turks that have their Scituation about that River By Rivers and waters is elsewhere to be understood of Earthly Powers as in Revel 16.4 compare with vers 6. and Revel 17.15 and also at this day the Turks do possesse the Land of Judea and it must be the breaking of their Power that prepares the way for the Kings of the East Now the Vials doing the same work with the Stone or Kingdom to wit the destroying of Antichrist and they doing the work or most of it before the Call of the Jews the Kingdom must needs take place also before their Call I have not heard of any that denyes that the Kings of the East are to be understood of Abrahams Natural Seed and therefore shall speak no further to this Ground The Second Ground from whence I gather that the Kingdom must take place before the Jews Call is this The Stone or Kingdom smites the Image upon the Feet to wit the Babylonish State and this smiting must be done by those of the People of God that were under Babylons yoke Rev. 18.4.6 Zech. 2.7 They that are under Babylons yoke in this New Testament day are not the Jews but the Gentile Saints therefore the work must first take place amongst them The Kingdom strikes the first stroke upon the Antichristian State Dan. 2.44 The Third Ground of this Assertion is That the Kingdom or Stone must break and make way for the Jewes before their coming in therefore it must take place or be in being before it breaks the way The Gentile Saints must be used as the Instruments in breaking the way for and bringing in the Jewes Isa 49.22 and Chap. 66.20 Object That many of the Scriptures which referr to the Work of the Kingdom do speak to the People of God who are to be used in it under those Names and Titles that properly relate to the natural Seed of Abraham as Jacob Zion Jerusalem Judah and Israel c. Answ That although in the Old Covenant day in which the being one of Abrahams natural Seed did intitle to Church-Membership the visible Church was distinguished by those Names and Titles yet it may not be alwaies restrained or applyed to them in Gospel dayes when their Typical Church State comes to cease and as their Church State was Typical so was the Titles that God gave to them and the names of Jacob Zion and Jerusalem c. do truly and spiritually relate to the Gospel or New Covenant Church in which neither Jew nor Gentile have any right by natural Generation but by Faith in Christ who is all and in all Col. 3.11 and so in him 2 Cor. 1.20 we come to have a right to all the Promises that are held forth to Jacob or Zion c. So Psal 102.13.16 in which Scripture Zion must respect the Gospel Church which the Lord shall build when he appears in his glory It is the Gospel Church that Zech. 2.7 dwells with the Daughter of Babylon Gal. 4.26 Chap. 3.29 Eph. 2.14 which with many other Scriptures doth clearly demonstrate these Titles are most truly to be applyed to the Gospel Church and those that deny this must exclude the Gospel Church from the benefit of the greatest part of the Promises in Scripture and though this may seem to cut off the Jewes from their Priviledges yet it will rather and more truly invest them therein upon a more Noble account when they shall come to embrace the Messias and thus much to this Objection I shall now come to speak of Two Scriptures that are specially insisted upon by those who expect the Work to begin among the Jewes the one in Micha 4.8 Unto thee O Tower of the Flock shall come the first Dominion c. If this should be referred to the Naturall Seed of Abraham it can only respect the two Tribes to wit Judah and Benjamin and all that may be gathered in this matter from it is that the Kingdom shall come to the two Tribes before the Ten which will much agree with other Scriptures but it will not follow from the Scope of the Spirit in the words that the Kingdom shall not take place and be in being among the Gentile Saints before its Dominion comes to the two Tribes because they must have the first Dominion before the other ten Tribes The other Scripture is Zech. 12.7 The Lord shall save the Tents of Judah first that the glory of the House of David and the glory of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah By Judah or the Tents of Judah I understand the two Tribes and by the glory of the House of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Ten Tribes For the Glory was to have the Ten Tribes in conjunction with the Two abiding with the House of David but when the Ten Tribes revolted the Kingdom was rent and the Glory of the House of David

and by force of Arms turned them out and Cromwel being set up by the Priests Lawyers and his trecherous Army Assumes and exalts himself in the Throne which before he had declared did belong to Christ And thus the Lord did permit a Stop to be put unto and a Death to come upon the Glorious Work Cause of Christ and the Apostacy visibly to break forth and take place in the midst of us and so a turning back to Babylon building again the things which the Lord had destroyed wherein he had used some of the Apostates as instruments Also the many Flattering Titles and wicked Addresses that were afterwards given and made first to Cromwel the great Apostate and then to his Son by the Officers and Souldiers of the formerly Famous and Victorious but now Revolting and Time-serving Army and by many of the Churches and eminent Church-Officers and Members yea by the generality of all Sorts and Rankes of Men except a poor despised Remnant that were mourning over and witnessing for the precious Cause of Christ the many printed Books and Papers that are still extant do abundantly shew I shall forbear to add but come to the Second Ground to shew That the Work of the Fifth Kingdom is begun and as these Workes that have been done So in the Second place the extraordinary way by which it hath been effected may discover it to be the very Work of the Fifth Kingdom This VVork according to Scripture being to be known by the extraordinary appearances of God in it It is called The Kingdom which the God of Heaven shall set up Dan. 2.44 and those that speak of the Glory must also talk of the Power of this Kingdom Psa 145.11 by which Power I understand the extraordinary appearance of God in accomplishing the Work of setting up the Kingdom as in the coming up out of Egypt so in this VVork God will shew and do great and marvelous things Micha 7.18 Joel 2.21 and very many Scriptures speak after this manner Now that the Work in this Island hath been so done even by an extraordinary Hand or Power look back as far as the old Puritant day in which the Power of God was eminently seen in preserving them and owning their Faith and Prayer to the overthrowing that great Mountaine of the Bishops and the rest of that Antichristian ●piscopal Traine that were imbodyed with them and the Calling of the Parliament upon the coming in of the Scots and then come down to the War betwixt the King and Parliament The King having the greatest part of the Nobility Gentry VVisdom Riches old Souldiery and Commonalty of the Nation with him and how inconsiderable the Parliament and their Forces were to him But though the Work of the Kingdom lay as it were under ground or like a Wheele within the Wheele hard to be discerned or like David whilst in Sauls Army yet it being the Work that God was about to do in this latter day did carry the day in Great Power and though men had their various designs yet God had his design also and both in the same act Several such instances there are in the Scripture as the Selling of Joseph into Egypt Gen. 45.5 with Chap. 56. 20. So in the Crucifying of Christ and divers of the like passages that might be named And then come to the New Moddel of the Army in the year 1645. First by what an eminent hand was that matter carryed in the House against the very Spirit of both Parliament and Nation Secondly how was it carried also against the very Spirit of the Army severall hundreds of the Officers were turned out and some that were very eminent and in their Roomes were put poor Inferiour inconsiderable persons who were prefer'd upon the account of their being such as Feared the Lord that being then the received principle to imploy men in places of trust that feared the Lord from which day there was a very eminent and powerfull presence of God in and with the Army Time would faile me to insist upon the particulars to shew how God appeared in an extraordinary way at Naseby Fight and the eminent Victories obteined in the VVest and in the North parts of the Nation after the new Modell Then come to the Second Warr when Hambleton came into England with the Scottish Army Consisting of near 27000 men also how God apapeared in an extraordinary way in the Victories obteined in Kent and in VVales and at Preston and Colchester at most or all which places the Enemy in number was three to one against us Also the Eminent Hand of God in the Service in Ireland when that Nation was almost swallowed up by the Enemy God appeared with an out-stretched arme and wrought for his holy name In the next place come to the Warr with Scotland which was Stated and undertaken upon Christ's Account in which Warr God made his power to be known when our Army was brought very low in a strange Nation and Compassed in by the Eenemy with an Army of about 27000 besides the whole Nation on their side and we haveing a poor weak sickly Army scarce Nine Thousand that were in a Capacity of fighting then did God appear in the Mount and in a short time after the Army Nation and Garrisons of the Scots by an out-stretched Arme of the Lord were brought under I forbear to mention how God broke the designe of the Scots King and his Army when they were forced to quit Scotland and with high expectations of great things from this Nation who like Israel of old Sam. 8.6.19 are generally very eager for a King came to VVorcester and there were overthrown Then come to the Eminent Hand of God that was seen as formerly in the Garbleing so now in the Breaking and Rooting up the Old Parliament with the very Foundation of their Constitution which was the last part of the Image Government And though the VVork of the Lord was carried on before under that Parliament yet it must also break them as they were a part of the Horne David after he was first Anointed did fight the Battels in Sauls Army and as the designe so the power of God was Eminently with him in the work but afterwards Davids Kingdome was exalted over Sauls Kingdome and brake down his House for so had God spoken 2 Sam. 15.28 that the Kingdome should be taken from Saul And Saul knew that so long as the Son of Jesse was upon the ground his Kingdome could not be established 1 Sam. 20.31 This is to be noted that David 1 Sam. 18.7 had the preheminence of Saul in the Battells even whilst he fought in Sauls Army Now that Old Parliament being broken upon the Account of Christ that his Government might take place by this breach an end was put to the Nationall Constitution or to any Power or Authority that might arise from the Nation as a Nation but the right is brought to Christ whose indeed it is for he is