was crucified Answ There is great Reason for it 1. To discover the grosse hypocrisie of the Beast pretending to be against Babilon in all her lies and beastly vanities 2. To aggravate his wickednesse the more There is little said of the Beast as to the Characterizing of Him besides slaying the Witnesses The Reason may be because this was done before in the little Horne and last Apostacy That which the Holy Ghost seems here chiefly to intend is to unmask HIM and to set HIM forth to the life For Example Should he be askt being ascended out of the bottomlesse Pit What he comes for What he means to doe having taken so arbitrary a power to himselfe His answer will be He is for Christ I really against Antichrist For Zion against Babylon as one of the seven Angel I am com out saith he of the Temple note it not the Bottomless Pit to poure out a Viall full of wrath upon the great Whore and as one called chosen and faithfull to be with the Lamb against the ten Kings to overcome them And ask saith he my Chaplaines and new made Doctors if this be not so But what saith the Spirit of God O thou dissembling Hâ— pocrite Does thou War against my Witnesses overcome them and slay them and yet pretend Ex parte altissimi letzad On the part of the Almighty For me and against the great Whore What an impudent face hast thou what a Whores forehead Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee Thy falshood shall not serve the turn For I have a way to make thee known what an hypocrite thou art in spight of all thy inchantments and the wise shall understand though the Prophets will not viz. In slaying so glorious a Testimony to rouse up thy self out of the bottomles pit In this the Saints of the most high shall clearly see that thou art of the great City not in words but actions a main supporter and prop of it Nay more thou hast kept her up as she is Sodom and Egypt in the vilest of her filthinesses and abominations and the greatest of her cruelties and oppressions yea and more as she hath murdered me I say my self in my truth and servants thus thou hast wrapt thy self in all the guilt and blood that hath been shed there and which shall be found in her the blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth Thus the place gives us more light to know the Beast by The Government and state by which the witnesses shall be slaine is without the great City not under the authority of the Church of Rome in profession and words an enemy to Babylon But in practice and works not only a bare defender but a supporter of her in the worst and greatest of her sins as in her whoredomes oppressions blood of martyrs c. Namely by slaying the highest Testimony that ever was upon earth against the whole dominion of the Beast I have done with the Beast and Winesses as to the killing-part It remains that something be spoken of the effects of it And they of the people and kindreds and Tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Here we will consider 1. Who these People are 2. What is meant by putting in graves 3. Why they will not suffer the dead bodies to be put in graves 4. How they keep them out First It is said that Satan shewd Christ being upon an exceeding high mountaine all the Kingdomes of the World Mat. 4. 8. I doe not take it imaginary as deceiving the sence but a reall sight Not that he saw all Kingdomes absolutely but whatsoever were discernable in respect of the place where he stood that is all the adjacent Countryes So here by people Kindreds tongues and Nations all are not meant under the whole Heaven but such as are within the sight of the dead bodyes and have knowledge of their slaying Againe Neither doe all the people and kindreds c. which see the dead bodies oppose their buriall but a part of them They of the people and kindreds c. That is among the people and kindreds c. there are some will not suffer c. Now howsoever we are to understand the place no further then of such as know what the Beast hath done for so much is clearly in the Text They shall see their dead bodies yet the Holy Ghost mentions Peoples kindreds tongues and nations Because this party which will not suffer the dead bodies to be put in graves are not all one People As for Example Some may be English others Welch some Scots others French or Dutch c. So likewise of divers Provinces Countries Shires c. As for this Party I take it not to be cruelty done in despight and disgrace by Enemies to deny them Buriall But courtesie of Friends and Favorers to provide for their rising againe And my opinion is here are meant 1. The Woman who was occasioned by the war of this Beast to fly into the Wildernesse 2. The Remnant of her seed 3. Those whom we named before Common-wealths men For howsoever these doe not fully close with the Witnesses in the Principles of the fift Kingdom yet they are clearly convinc'd that the Power and Goverment of this Beast is unlawfull and that they suffer unjustly under him And this Party I take to be The earth which helped the Woman by opening her mouth and swallowing up the flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth Rev. 12. 16. For howsoever that thing they contend for be but an earthly Intererest as Lawes Liberties Power of the People Priviledges of Parliament c. yet in standing for such things they give the Beast such a Check as Mauger all his venome and wrath he cannot devour the woman standing for the dead witnesses Secondly For the second Point By putting in graves I understand an extirpation of the Testimony of Jesus That is Christs visible Kingdome to be no more asserted the corrupt powers of the world left alone so the Apostates and hypocrites in the last dayes not so much as nam'd briefly for the little Horn and Beast no more to be spoken against But all for conscience sake be subject to his Lust and Will Thus indeed the Beast would have the Witnesses buried but he is not suffered They remaine above ground in spight of him that is kept up for a glorious resurrection Thirdly Knowing the Parties we may the more easily guesse at the Causes 1. As the Woman and her seed are deeply concern'd in the Testimony so they endeavour what they can to maintaine it And the rather because they know whatsoever designe the Enemie hath against it to bury it he shall not let him doe his worst As when Michael the Arch-Angel contending with the Devil about the body of Moses the Angel prevailed
So in this Controversie about the dead Witnesses the Woman and her seed will certainly overcome which is comfort and encouragement enough 2. They will not suffer it because of their zeal and affection to the Testimony of Jesus Though David a long time was numbred among the Dead by reason of Sauls bloody persecution yet alwaye he had some friend which stuâ—k fast to his Intâ—rest It is true there may seem to be a death upon the Cause of Christ during the Beasts reigne but it shall not want friends to keep it from the Grave The love of God will constraine them 3. The Beast in slaying the Witnesses will shew so much hypocrisie falshood lying Tyranny c. As will occasion People and Tongues and Nations c. continually sometimes in one place otherwhile in another to appear against him and plead the Cause of the poor and needy In so much as he will not know what to doe Nor how to proceed any further to wit having slaine them to put them in Graves 4. The Testimony of Jesus being slaine that is comparatively now dead to what spirit and life it had For it stood upon its feet before and had Power and Authority with it till the Beast came up Notwithstanding all this I say though Dead in respect of Spirit Life Power Authority yet shall not the Beast be suffered to extinguish it altogether in the Nation where he hath slaine it 1. Because if he should so far prevaile it would not onely strengthen the present Atheists but open a gap of Athiesm to many others For as the Beast in slaying the last Witnesse makes many Hypocrites so should he bury it he would make as many Atheists 2. Should he be suffered he would doe more wickedly then he doth For in that he cannot bury Christs Testimony he is restrained from acting the mischiefes which otherwise he would 3. He is not suffered Because this Witnesse though comparatively dead to what life it had shall be his ruine when the three years and halfe are expir'd Fourthly For the last point How they keep them out To open this it must be remembred It is the Witnesse of Christ I take to be slaine Not suffered to be put in Graves because some shall plead for it defend it and hold it forth all the time of the Beasts rage and Tyranny So that in one respect it is kild in another alive For some shall still appear for that Testimony which in others the Beast hath slaine In the days of Elias when they had thrown down the Lords Altars and slaine his Prophets with the sword yea and the Prophet himselfe forc't to fly for his life here it might well be said that the Lords witnesse was slaine yet not put in grave For at the same time The Lord had 7000 which had not bowed the knee unto Baal And this I take to be the meaning here The prevailing power of the Beast shall be such as he will slay the visible Testimony of Jesus held forth in some publick manner before his rising yet he shall not be suffered to put it in grave For God will have some thousands still which shall not bowe the knee to the Beast but own and honour the truth n urdered by him all his Reigne And thus much for the first Party The other sort followes And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send guists one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth To these is given a speciall Character Dwell on the Earth The subject of the first Vial is Earth Rev. 16. 2. and the same mentioned here the latter Apostacy whose description we had before from 2 Tim. 3. The Cause of their joy is the great advantage which they have by the death of the Testimony For no sort of men shall outwardly thrive and prosper under the Beast like Apostates It being a Government or State erected by them and for their owne Interest alone Another good Note to know the reigne of the Beast by viz. WHEN APOSTATES FLOURISH It cannot be his time if it be not Apostates time if carnall Professors doe not hold up their heads look big and domineere and he that will like Judas get the bag must get himselfe into some Church For as in Christs time buying and selling was in the Temple and there were the Money changers So under this Beast places offices and preferment will be crept into the Church In so much as no considerable preferment will be gotten unlesse the person be a Church-member or can procure some Church-mans hand for it Thus we see who they are that will rejoyce at this time and make merry and send guifts one to another None like Apostates who are fallen from Heaven to dwell upon the Earth As for others who are faithfull and constant to the Interest and Cause of Christ they sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done under the Beast It is said Because the two Prophets tormented them But wherein Because they spake against all unrighteousnesse of men Pressed men to keep their Promises and Engagements Declared openly against dissembling lying and hypocrisie would have Babylon down with all her will-worship and inventions People to have their power freedome and liberty according to Reason and Conscience and none to have any Arbitrary Government fore't upon them But such a Testimony as this could not be borne it was worse then an Egyptian boile Insomuch as they had no peace or rest till they had slaine that which so tormented them This place puts me in mind of what hapned upon the Dissolution of the little Parliament The Joy then among the Priests and formall Professours was much like that of the Philistines when they had Sampson in their hands Then the Lords of the Philistims gathered them together for to Offer a great Sacrifice unto Dagon their God and to rejoyce for they said Our God hath delivered Sampson our Enemy into our hand And when the People saw him they praised their God for they said Our God hath delivered into our hands our Enemy and the destroyer of our Country which slew many of us And it came to passe when their hearts were merry that they said call for Sampson that he may make us sport Judg. 16. 23 24 25. Some of them more Religious seemingly at least were for Sacrifice Hence Dayes were kept of Thanksgiving as they call it And now the Trumpets sound aloud Oh what the Lord hath done for the Sons of Levi the holy Ministery and Maintenance The Enemy and Destroyer of their Country had likely to have put out all the lights of the Tabernacle One of them I remember told the people The National Clergy was like good Isaac bound and ready to have been Sacrificed And that God by a wonderfull deliverance had preserv'd them when the Parliament-Knife was at the throat of their sacred Calling Tythes and the like For the other
upon you and promised Mountains But for the Body of the Commonwealth it is much worse then it was before worse Magistrates Ministers Army Navy Councils In a word worse with us in all publick concernments both at home and abroad If this be not the mournful complaint of all people except Revolters and most true I shall not fasten the Later Apostacy upon them But because the Tryers are the great Crackers and think they deserve this Name viz. Mend-all as having done a great peice of service about Church-Reformation This I think I may safely say and that truly by experience That the present National Clergy is more corrupt and far worse then it was in the Bishops time For 1. No Professors but could have found then within few miles of their dwellings some honest Puritan or Non-Conformist to go to whereby to be refresht and built up in Faith Knowledge Holiness whereas now men may travel twenty thirty fourty miles and not finde a Parish-Priest that hath any Gospel savor in his Ministery no power swetness or life but old formal fruitless stuff said over and a hundred times 2. Though it be true the Bishops took little care to reform the Clergy but rather how to suspend and silence as some do now such as witnessed against their unsanctified Callings and Places Nevertheless if the Times be compared the Enormities of the National Clergy are less look'd into and reformed I say less now then in the Prelates Times I remember the old Non-Conformists were wont to call the Bishops making of Preists their Licenses and Visitations the picking of poor mens pockets I wish it do not appear so in the day of Christ that some of these men have done little better This I know go to and fro thorow the Nation the iniquity of the Priests encreaseth every where and what is done amounts to little more then this if a scandalous or ignorant Friest be cast out from one place he goes to another and doth there more hurt and lives worse then he did before fitly therefore is the name Crackers by the Holy Ghost given them Proud or arrogan Lastly Qui super collem apparuerunt men that will be under no yoke but domineer and all must be subject to them Grammarians take the word for men that will be masters and will have no Superiour but all rule and authority must be in their hands I know not a better way to finde out the Last Apostacy then to follow the Light of the Scripture in paralelling the two Apostacies and in nothing more then to observe the pride loftiness and arrogancy alike in in BOTH HEADS I cannot but speak the more of this because it cannot be the later Apostacy unless we see the HEAD of it to be as PROUD and arrogant as the former was would the former HEAD acknowledge no Superior the later must do so did they say of the former Quaecunque potestâ—â— est sub Coelo est in summo pontifice that he is Lex animata in terris a living Law in the Earth That all Cases of other men God hath appointed to be judged by men onely he hath reserved the first Head to his own Judgement-seat as not to be questioned for his doings by any Creature And therefore though all other men be under mens judgement yet is he to be judged of none neither of Kings Councils or any other Judicatory Besides Whatsoever he pleaseth he may do whether with a Counsel or without and if the whole world should judge against him â—et his Opinion were to be received For a general Councel is of no authority except this Head do confirm and allow the same Such must be the Head of the Later Apostacy his HAUGHTINESS will be under us Law all power he shall assume to himself not to be tried or judged by any man but to be left to Christs Judgement-seat alone And the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies so much Though I shall leave as I said the Application of things to the Reader yet I would willingly give him what light I can Note therefore how the word proud lofty arrogant comes home to the Triers who have assumed a Superiority and Headship over all the National Priests as if they were as in part I think they are that image made to the Beast who will not suffer any to buy or sell save he that hath the Mark or the Name of the Beast or the Number of his Name Much I could say as to their Pope like pride and power but it needs not seeing their folly is already manifest to all men Blasphemers or cursed speakers so our old Translation hath it Blasphemy is two fold First Against God and thus men blaspheme when they reproach his Name Spirit Power Word Works Kingdom Judgement c. Mar. 3. 30. Lev. 24. 11. Rev. 13. 16. 16. 9 11 12. Secondly There is Blasphemy against men 1. By rayling and evil speeches T it 3. 2. 2. By reproaching the Godly for the Name of Christ 1 Pet. 4 14. 3. By despising Lawful Government and Authority Jude 8. 4. By raising false accusations against Gods people Rom. 3. 8. 5. By causing men through Persecution to deny Christ Act. 26. 11. Lastly By censuring and condemning things which men know not Jude 10. 1 Tim. 10 13 20. Howsoever The men of the Later Apostacy will be Blasphemers all these ways and so much the Reader is to look after yet because by Blasphemers here I think they are meant whom Peter calls Scoffers the Holy Ghost specially intends Blasphemy against the Spirit and the visible Kingdome of Jesus Christ Truely I would think Some would tremble if their Consciences were not seard did they but read what Christ said of the Pharisees and consider well what themselves despitefully have spoken against the Holy Ghost because they said He hath an unclean Spirit Mar. 3. 30. How neer to such Blasâ— hemy are these men who say That the Prayers and other holy Exercises of Saints are done by the Spirit of Satan who say It is by the power of the Devil that the faithful Witnesses of this age hold forth a Testimony against Apostacy Hypocrisie Covenant-breaking c. who scoff at the Lords great Work moving by his Spirit in the hearts of his people calling it the delusion of Satan hellish devillish damnable and what not who scornfully upbraid the Saints with their Christ as to be a pitiful Christ So their blasphemous scoffing God's people Will ye not suffer for your God Where is now your God we will answer YOUR GOD well enough Mark Reader as disowning our God and our Christ to be theirs and a God and a Christ easily to be answered Disobedient to Parents The old English Bible hath disobedient to Elders Junius reads Qui praesunt sibi non obtemperant est Synecdochè generis pro specie Baldvin hath this note on the place Superiores non curant nulliusque monita
son Others leaving out Demetrius chuse Antiochus the great father to this Antiochus the vile And a third sort leave it indifferent which bee nam'd So for others applying the little Horn to the Pope One takes it for the excommunication of this King and that Emperour another for the deposing of such and such Now that which I shall say to all is this whether wee consider Kings or Kingdomes named by them they were not any of the ten Horns neither were they broken by a little Horn which grew upon the fourth Beast nor in three years and half neither together and at one time Nor doth it appear by any History that so many Horns more nor lesse were pluckt up by the persons named by them nor that it was the last Horn which grew upon the fourth Beast and another from the ten Horns Therefore I shall propound this to the Reader to bee considered and weighed by him whether England Scotland and Ireland are not three kingdomes and these three at one time as to their Priviledges Laws Rights Freedomes c. broken And whether this bee not done by men who have the Characters of the last Apostacy upon them and such as call themselves a State and Government but never could formally put themselves either into a Kingdom or Commonwealth And whither the time in which all this was done were not as probably it may be thought neer or about the period of the forty-two months But it is likely some will question whether England Scotland and Ireland are three of the ten Horns in the division of the Roman Empire To this I Answer 1 All know that are acquainted with Histories and Interpreters such difference there is among them in the enumeration of the ten Horns whether understood of persons or States that nothing from them can be certainly concluded And therefore I may say and as groundedly granting there were ten disstinct divisions that England was one Scotland another and Ireland a third as others who name either this or that Countrey But 2. My opinion is and so is the judgement of most by ten no precise and certain number is meant but an uncertain and indefinite that is the Roman Empire dissolved into several States and Kingdomes And thus was England one Scotland another Ireland another Neither doth the Holy Ghost I think intend any thing further But many Nations and Countries should withdraw from the Power of Rome and become Independents free and absolute in and among themselves So that by ten many are understood as it is often so in scripture Numb 14. 22. Job 19. 2. Pluckt up by the rootes The Angel opening these words vers 24. saith hee shall subdue three Kings Humiliabit saith Rob. Steven and Pagnim bring them low or humble them as if hee should say three Kingdomes which shall arise after the division of the Roman Empire I would have the reader to consider whether these may not bee England Scotland and Ireland being by the mighty hand of God brought off and raised up from a great deal of Tyranny and arbitrary Poner under which they were enslaved and having obtained much of their ancient freedome rights and Priviledges and in a hopeful way to a thorow Reformation at home and to have been instruments abroad of much good us other Nations in suppressing Tyranny and Idolatry Behold on a sudden out of the last Apostacy as the bottomlesse pit up starts the last Little Horn who humbles them and brings them down under the oppression and bondage wherein they were before or rather more hinders them in going on in the work of Reformation and instead of doing good to other Nations makes these three Countries a reproach and scorn every where Now howsoever this Humbling bringing down may largely bee taken Yet I think the holy Ghost chiefly intends religious things that is this last Horn shall be an occasion of rendring the blessed name of God and the cause of his dear Sonne contemptible to the World The which before was not onely mightily cried up and pretended to but gloriously held forth as a burning light before all people and kindreds and Tongues and Nations In this Horn were eyes like the eyes of a man This may bee taken two wayes 1 Of his Carnal Wisdome worldly prudence subtlety policy making an outward shew to bee a great lover of Laws of justice and Equity and the interest of the People hereby the easier and sooner to effect his own design That he is said to have Eyes and no such thing mentioned of the Ten This I understand comparatively For they did see that is they were crafty and politick yet so as blind to what sight this Horn shall have in all cunning devices Hee will exceed all that were before him both for matter and manner of deceits their craft was shewed but now and then and onely in some of their publick affairs and transactions they studied other things besides carnal policy and carried on some of their Actions without deceit simply and honestly In a word their Policies were but rough draughts at the belt Whereas this Horn whosoever hee be will mannage none of his actions without deceit his head and heart will never bee off from studying craft and for all his projects and contrivements they will be most artificial works But 2. And this I rather take to bee the meaning The Little Horn hath Eyes the other none Here is signified that hee will by a subtle Practice cal'd Religion Liberty of Conscience Gods glory the advancement of Christs kingdom c. set up himself and his own Interest A thing which the ten Horns never saw such eyes will bee proper to this Horn for hee shall joyn himself to the people of God and take part with them against Tyranny and Idolatry as seeing it to bee the way for his own advantage As the Pope Mahomet and others brought their designs to pass by such Eyes to wit religious pretences In the same way will this Horn exalt himself It will not bee so much by carnal Policy and the Wisdome of this World for in this respect the other Horns were not blinde but hee gets power place and authority another way into his hands namely by standing up for And with a good Interest and so gains the hearts and prayers of Gods people and afterwards having what hee desired turns his HORN that is his Power Army and Councel against the holy People and the good old Cause by which he was first raised Eyes of a man Not of an Angel this is added to shew that all the time of his Saint-like carriage and when hee appeared most earnestly zealous for the interest of Christ and his people like another John his heart is not upright before the Lord but is a very Hypocrite even that Fool who saith in his heart there is no God For under all his Protestations Oaths Covenants great undertakings c. The Plot and Design which hee will carry on is how to make
himself and his Family great by the ruine of that CAUSE so much before pretended to In a word that hee is said to have Mans Eyes I take the meaning thus This Horn shall bee a notorious Hypocrite a very Atheist a Monster a monstrous Monster one that shall discover more Hypocrisy and Atheisme if his former and latter actions be compared together then ever was done before him by any person upon the face of the earth And a mouth speaking great things This is often mentioned I behâ—ld then because of the voice of the great words which the Horn spake vers 11. Again A mouth that spake very great things vers 20. the which is afterward explained by the Angel He shall speak great words against the most high vers 25. So indeed many Interpreters read But others Translate it otherwise as Vatabluâ— Pagnim Montanus Ro. Steven c. Men known to bee skilful in the Tongues Not against the most high but ex parte altissimi Letzad On the part of the Almighty for the Most High or in his behalf Symmachus renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee shall speak as the high God That is his words shall be of Holiness Righteousnesse Goodness and Truth Though in his Actions and Practice there be no such thing And if the matter be considered there is good ground for this reading That which doth most astonish Daniel are the words of the Little Horn. Now there is little cause of Admiration to hear a man speak wickedly that doth wickedly But to see a man make warre against the Saints weary them out by Bonds and Imprisonment destroy the Laws Liberties and Rights of the People and commit all kinde of Tyranny and yet in words to Professe hee is for God and for the interest of Christ and his people and for the Priviledges safety and publick good of the Nation this indeed is enough to amaze a Prophet Therefore as Graserus rightly observes this Horn is one qui impietati suâ—e Dei nomen pretendit which shall pretend the name of God in all his Impieties Hee shall not cast a Saint into Prison but will pretend Gods glory for it Hee shall not pluck up three Kingdomes by the roots but will say it is for the honour of God If hee break his Vows Promises Oaths c. Really saith hee it is for the sake of the most high Thus every thing hee doth though it bee for Babylon and the great Whore and to keep up any base corrupt interest in the Nation it is for Christs sake as he saith Again the reason why the word Letzad hath been rendred against the most high I conceive it to bee thus the little Horn hath been taken by Interpreters for the open professed enemie of the Truth as Antiochus Ephiphanes Mahomet the Pope c. where as hee is a subtle Hypocrite alwaies speaking for God and good things though in his Actions if you observe him there he shall plainly demonstrate that hee regards neither God nor goodness I would not have men to bee rash and heady Censurers specially in the Application of this little Horn. For truely I think one of the clearest Characters of him is set forth in this place Whensoever this Dominion of his shall bee erected if any complaint bee made against it for unrighteous doings and for doing worse than any men did before what will they say for excuse ex parte altissimi it is in the behalf of Christ for the sake of the godly party to prevent new warres and effusion of bloud Briefly all the impleties and wickednesses committed against God and man shall bee defended this way And to say the truth except it bee this shift they will not find a fig-leaf to cover their Nakednesse And here it will not be a misse to give the Reader notice that this little Horn shall bee so famous and notorious in his day concerning the matter here mentioned that the same in scripture is often foretold Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my name sake said let the Lord bee glorified c. Isa â—6 5. Observe here four things 1 This casting out must bee by a Government men who have gotten Power into their hands and so are stronger than their brethren 2 They were Brethren either in some Church Army Councel Parliament Equals and Companions 3 How unjust and sinful soever their proceedings are against their brethren by banishing some or imprisoning others c. Gods Glory is pretended as if all were done of Conscience and to do God good service 4 Though this Apostate-State thinks to cover their Malice and Cruelty by mocking God yet God will not bee mocked but as hee sees their Hypocrisy and Deceit so hee will discover it to their everlasting shame and the honour and comfort of the other This little Horn or Apostate-State is likewise as I take it foretold by our Saviour But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord delayeth his comming and shall begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken c. Mat. 24 48 49. First this smiting must bee understood as I said before of persons that have gotten power into their hands and so exercise tyranny by authority 2 They are fellow-servants All professors of the Gospel the persecutors have a form of Godlinesse as the sufferers have both form and Power 3 That the wicked servant smites his fellows he pretends Justice Conscience and necessity for it For so I take the sence as if hee should say I acknowledge Jesus Christ to bee your Lord and mine and do expect his comming as well as you and that hee shall bee the onely Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords have all power and Dominion given him notwithstanding seeing it will bee a long while before that time comes and you would perswade the people that day is at hand whereby occasion is given of warres and Commotions and to have my Dominion as the LITTLE HORN taken away and consumed these things I cannot suffer as being against the honour of God and the good of his people and therefore must correct such persons as disturbers of our present Government 4 Notwithstanding the specious pretences of this wicked servant as if hee did not smite his fellow-servants but out of tenderness and Conscience to the glory of God yet this all the while apparently shall bee seen in him that hee eats and drinks with the drunken all the vices and sinnes which Paul reckons up of the Last-Apostates are as visibly to bee seen in him as was the Leprosy in Gehezies forehead For the close of this Character it seems to mee that Isa 66. 5. and Mat. 24. 48. with the little Horn Dan. 7. and the last Apostacy 2 Tim. 3. are parallel Texts of Scripture-prophesies His looks were more stout then his felows If this Character had been well minded William the Conqueror Charls Stuart and the like had never been pitch upon