our lawful Calling which is our white â—â—ors and with an holie blameless personal â—onversation towards all men which is our â—ne linnen white and clean for herein doth â—â—ie our whole strength and what application soëver wee make to other weapons which the powers of darkness can make â—se of aswel as wee they will but weaken â—s and in the encountring with the Inâ—abitants of the earth wee shall finde â—â—em stronger at those weapons then wee â—n bee so that by such means I exspect â—ot that they shall fall before us although â—â—r victories bee never so great therefore 〈…〉 for mine own part till I can perceiv â—â—at wee who pretend to bee in the first â—â—nk of the Lamb's followers can make â—â—tter use of these spiritual weapons then therto wee have don and can in the â—ommunion of Saints join our forces â—â—gether otherwise then now wee do 〈…〉 imitate the Captain of our Salvation I shall bee a man of no great exspectation yet becaus I believ that these things shall com to pass and that by the armor of light the Children of light will at last prevail therefore I do speak and because I both believ and speak therefore I am noâ— inclined to make haste as som who take the shadows of their own conceits for the substance of Christ's Kingdom aâ—â— inclined to do for this caus although 〈…〉 will not contradict the appearances oâ— Hopes which the autor of this Treatiâ—â— doth give unto the Protestant Caus to rise within a few years in a considerable Posture against Poperie yet I must take lâ—â—â— to confess that although the splendor oâ— the Whore and her influence upon thâ— Kings of the Earth and the power of the Papal Sea as it is Hierarchical were utterâ—â— consumed and abolished by the brightnesâ— of Christ's appearing in the Spirit on thâ— one hand and by the hatred of the whore Lovers and the turning of their hearts â— gainst her on the other hand yet that tâ—â— war with the beast aud with the fals Prophet and with the Kings of the Eartâ— shall continue and that the beast and thâ— â—als Prophet with the Kings of the earth will bee found to have their friends not onely amongst those who are called Papists but even amongst those that are most â—erce enemies to Poperie and count themselvs the best of Christians and reformed Protestants It is one thing to bee no friend â—â— the State and predominant power and â—â—aftiness of the Whore as shee appear's â—â—om without and in another place at a 〈…〉 istance from us and another thing it is 〈…〉 renounce the beastlie nature and the deâ—eitfulness by which wee are led to embrace the Image the mark the name and 〈…〉 e number of the name of the Beast within â—ur selvs that is for our own interest and â—e concernments of flesh and blood I â—o not finde in the last battel the Whore â—amed at all I finde onely as leaders of â—he partie opposite to Christ the Beast and â—he Kings of the earth which I take to bee â—he Beast with his horns for the Horns which are in the heads of the Beast are the Kings of the Earth which â—ake use of the Bodie of the â—east and of her strength and â—re made use of by the heads of the Beast to war against the Lamb and I finde that these horns although they fight against the Lamb yet that they are not alwayes friends with the Whore and for their own interest 's sake not onely rob her of her ornaments but feed upon her flesh although for a season whiles it was their supposed advantage they suffered her to ride upon them aud govern them with the bridle of her autoritie but when shee is cast off from the beast's back the Beast and his horns are as strong as ever and more fit to fight in their brutal waie against the Lamb then before I believ therefore that the Whore as shee is alreadie little considerable in comparison of what shee hath been may vanish and bee made desolate by her own beastlie complices before the last battel but I believ not that wee shall have anie great earthlie Potentates at all ever to appear for the Lamb in this battel but that they shall all join alwayes with the beastlie nature of men against the Lamb-like holie nature of the Saints to discountenance to oppose and to destroie it but wee have a promise that although the two Witnesses of the Lamb shall bee killed by the Beast when they have finished their prophesying in Sackcloth yet that the Lamb when hee shall com in his own appearance with more witnesses then two or three even with a whole armie of witnesses not in Sackcloth upon earth but in their fine linnen white and clean and upon their white horses in their spiritual emploiments as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven following their leader against the powers of the earth when I saie the Lamb shall â—om thus attended the promise is that the Beast and all his horns shall bee overâ—om by him for there is no power in the world able to resist the united strength of the holie ones and the dints of the sword which hath two edges which â—eeing able to divide between the soul and the Spirit and to discern the â—ubtilest thoughts and the deceitfullest â—ntents of the beastlie heart of man it shall â—ndoubted slaie them therefore although â— finde not the fals Prophet here mentiâ—ned as active in leading on the war whereunto certainly for the contrivance of it on the Beast's part hee cannot bee wanting yet hee is found to bee taken prisoner with the Beast and with him cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and Brimstone The Whore and the fals Prophet are cleerly distinct Mysteries and have their several waies of Acting though with a concurrence for so long as the Mysterie of the Whore doth last which the fals Prophet who is the intellectual subtiltie of the Serpent's nature in man as the Beast is his brutish sensualitie and strength fed with prosperitie and delicacies did beget and set upon the beast's back the said fals Prophet doth make use of her that by her baits and allurements hee may draw the Inhabitants of the earth to drink out of the cup of her fornications but when prosperitie and delicacies ceas by reason of the Phials of God's wrath upon the Beast and the distress of Nations then shee is not of use any more but the fals Prophet which begat her will to serv the Beast's interest destroie her also and will bee active in another waie against the Lamb without her And thus I conceiv the battel will bee or is alreadie formed on the side of the beastlie partie which fight 's onely to maintein the interest of flesh and blood which is self-greatness and the conveniences of pleasure with all outward force and deceit against the interest of the Spirit which is self-denial and the conveniences of serving others in the Kingdom of Christ
living in flocks strengthen each other represent the equaliâ—â— of a Common-wealth and the waie of it's â—ength Leopards Bears and Lions need protection nor can they bee ruled but by a â—son becaus they make themselvs formidaâ—â— unto all other Creatures but sheep and Lambs are a prey to all other Creatures except they bee protected by a Shepherd and kept in folds which doth represent that Christian Common-wealths except they bee protected by an higher power then their own which is as far above the nature of man as man's nature is above sheep and Lambs they cannâ— bee in safetie The dependencie then of sheeâ— upon their Shepherd is an embleme of the 〈◊〉 of Faith but the absoluteness of power 〈◊〉 wilde Beasts to trust to their own strength the embleme of the greatness of Potentates and such as betake themselvs to stand by theâ— own sufficiencie in reference to Man theâ— wilde beasts can never bee brought to do hiâ— anie service but prey upon him and devoâ— his substance but sheep and Lambs are tâ— support of his life and are without resistanâ— slaughtered and sacrificed for his good which is the embleme of self-denial wherein Jesâ— Christ the chief Shepherd of the flock is goâ— before all the Governors of the Commâ— wealth of Israël to shew them that thâ— ought to give up themselvs as a sacrifice for 〈◊〉 publick good of their Flocks Lastly it is 〈◊〉 beast's waie of Government to enforce obedience by violence but it is said of the Laâ— upon Mount Sion that his Flock of 14400â— Lambs did follow him whether soëver 〈◊〉 went to shew that the Vice-gerents of Christ which are appointed to rule his people in 〈◊〉 name go before their brethren in the waie of â—ighteousness and such as are true Christians indeed follow them out of a loving inclination and this is the best waie of Government â—at can bee settled amongst men namely to â—ing all to imitate Christ Jesus on all sides â—th they that bear rule and they that are â—led Now how far our Rulers are bent this â—aie I shall refer it to their own conscience consider and how far their Subjects set themselvs through love to follow that where 〈◊〉 they go before them in righteousness I all not need to mention but I may take a woful lamentation that som who â—ght most to encourage their fellow-Subjects this dutie are most avers from it themselvs â—d disaffect others from it But I shall not â—sist further upon this mysterie of Iniquitie is shall briefly suffice for the opening thereof this time The second thing which I proposed to touch as the mysterie of the fals Prophet and of â—e two Witnesses and hereof briefly thus The fals Prophet his work is uphold and to advance the inâ—rest of the power and the abâ—luteness of the beastlie Government and to bring all men to bee in objection thereunto the means which hee â—eth to effect this is two-fold the one is a â—ceitfulness of persuasion and bewitching of the Imaginations of ignorant men by lyinâ— miracles to make them believ that in thâ— beast there is a Divinitie and that his image ought to bee worshipped the other is a coëâ—cive power of punishment to bee inflicted 〈◊〉 the fals Prophet's procurement upon all thâ— who do not subject themselvs unto the beast either by waie of Adoration to fall down before this Image or by waie of receiving as â— token of subjection the mark the name or the number of the name of the beast namely that such as should not worship 〈◊〉 Image should bee killed and such as should neither take his marke nor his name nor 〈◊〉 number of his name upon them should haâ— no libertie of commerce and to prosecâ— these designs is the whole emploiment of thâ— fals Prophet which that wee may the beâ—ter understand let us consider the particulars The Image of the Beast which is to bâ— worshipped I take it to bee that absolute greatness which the second Beast doth attribuâ— unto himself and doth exercise over the Subjects of the first Beast in his presence for the text saith that hee exerciseth all the power the first beast before him chapter 13. vers â— that is hee doth set up a waie of Government as absolute as that of the first Beasts is â— conformitie thereunto to establish it and hâ— had power to give life unto the Image of the Beaâ— â—s the text saith vers 15. which I understand thus that the second Beast had power given him by the first Beast's permission to give â—fe to the Image of his absoluteness and to the â—xercising of his power in the hand of the second Beast and to make it both speak and â—us all to bee killed that should not worship his image to make the Image speak is to make is power give sentence of death and to cauâ—ll to bee killed is to see that sentence exeâ—uted against all such as should not acknowledg the Autoritie form of Government and â—aws and Canons of his making to bee diâ—ne sanctions For the Canon-Laws are made â— imitation of the civil Jurisdiction and in their kinde of a like power or the same with â—at of the first Beast the one relating to the Civil the other to the Ecclesiastical State By the mark of the Beast I understand the â—â—rationalitie of obedience and brutalitie of those that subject themselvs blindfold in all things without respect to Conscience or the knowledg of anie rule in order to God's will â—uch then who by a blinde submission through â—orldlie and sensual motives subject themselvs as Beasts use to do to those that ride upon them and are led wheresoëver their riders will drive them have the mark of the Beast upon their spirits and if they make open profession of this kinde of blinde obedience to bee their dutie they take the mark of the Beast in their forehead but if they practise it as hirelings for a reward they take the mark of the beast in their hand By the name of the Beast I understand the names which for distinction's sake the fals Prophets everie where take unto themselvs that they may thereby set up themselvs to bee followed and owned by their Diseiples which how this is practised no man can bee ignorant of And by the number of the beast's name I understand the partialitie of reckoning and inequalitie of account which the fals Prophets oblige their followers to make of men in orto their parties for according to the relation which men are thought to have to this or that faction and pattie so they are esteemed of more or less for that name's sake whereby they are characterized and under which they are numbered nay in these our unchristian fractions by the zelots of parties it is reckoned upon as a Dutie not to account of anie man let his worth bee otherwise what it will further then as hee doth own them and the name of their partie and this I suppose amongst manie other things included in
sixtie years Manie are of this opinion that here are meant natural daies and consequently but 3½ years But experience doth contradict the same in regard the Holie Citie hath been trodden under foot the two witnesses clothed with sackcloth the woman continued in the wilderness and the Beast with ten horns spoken blasphemies and great things long ago Besides it is impossible to accomplish in so short a time what els is said that it shall com to pass in these 3½ years So that hereby Prophetical daies or so manie years are meant Wee finde examples in the holie Scriptures that by the daies expressed years are to bee understood as Daniel 9. vers 24. in the seventie weeks everie daie signifieth a year and the seventie weeks make up four hundred ninetie years according to the Chronologer's Computation Numbers 14. vers 33. 34. Your Children shall wander in the wilderness fortie years after the number of the daies in which yee searched the Land even fortie daies each daie for an year Ezekiel 4. vers 6. Thou shalt bear their iniquitie fortie daies and I have appointed thee each daie for an year Read upon this subject the first and sixteenth Proposition of Iohn Napier upon the Revelation Nature furnisheth such like example As in the Astrological direction by a degree which the Sun by his cours doth finish in one daie is meant a year in operation and a whole circle which consisteth of three hundred sixtie degrees and is run over by the Sun in one year signifieth three hundred sixtie years or a full time as is sufficiently known to the Astrologers 4. These 3½ times fortie two Moneths one thousand two hundred sixtie daies as they do comprehend times and years of one sort so they begin together and end together 1. These 3½ times of the Beast and of the woman in the wilderness do begin together For when the red Dragon Revel 12. vers 9. 13. was cast down to the earth by the ruine of the Heathenish Idolatrie hee persecuted the Woman by the Beast having ten horns to which hee gave his power and his seat and great Autoritie Revel 13. vers 2. The Woman fled into the wilderness that shee might bee nourished there for one thousand two hundred sixtie daies Revel 12. vers 14. And to the Beast it was given to remain with him fortie two moneths 2. The time of the Beast and of the two witnesses doth exspire with the sixth Trumpet wherefore of necessitie they began together For when the spirit of life from God entred into the two witnesses and beeing no more clothed with sackcloth ascended up to heaven in a cloud in the same hour was there a great earthquake and fierce war wherein the tenth part of the Citie fell and also the second wo passed Revel 11. vers 11 12 13 14. 3. That the time of the Gentiles which tread under foot the holie Citie and the time of the witnesses clothed with Sackcloth do begin together it appeareth by the 11. Chapter of the Revelations vers 2 3. as a thing undoubted 5. To the Prophet Daniel the Angel spoke of 3½ times Chap. 7. vers 25. and Chapter 12. vers 6. but afterwards hee spoke also of one thousand two hundred sixtie daies Wherefore it is called into Question whether 3½ times and one thousand two hundred sixtie daies are one and the same times Answ The Teachers do expound it generally to that effect as if by the 3 ½ times and one thousand two hundred sixtie daies one and the same time is understood But the Text doth make no mention of it For the words are these Chapter 7. vers 25. The Saints shall bee given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time which is one thousand two hundred sixtie years Chap. 12. v. 6. 7. That it shall bee for a time times and an half which is one thousand two hundred sixtie years So that these two places speak of the duration how long the Beast with ten horns shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the Saints But in the Chap. 12. vers 11. is given a terminus à quo a certain character and token from which begin the Computation until one thousand two hundred nintie years with which the 3 ½ times or one thousand two hundred sixtie years do exspire together 6. The one thousand two hundred ninetie daies Dan. 12. vers 11. do begin with the year of our Lord three hundred ninetie three or three hundred ninetie five when the terrible devastation and destruction of the Temple of Ierusalem under the Roman Emperour Julian the Apostate happened The words of the the text chapter 12. vers 11. are these from the time that the dailie sacrifice shall bee taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall bee a thousand two hundred and ninetie daies By the dailie Sacrifice is understood the Jewish worship which although by the destruction of the Citie of Jerusalem and of the Temple was taken away yet it was not quite abolished seeing the Jews under the Emperor Constantine the Great did yet celebrate their Passover as you may read in the tenth book twelf and twentie fourth chapter of Nicephorus and were still in a continued hope to build up the Temple again By the abomination of desolation or by the abominable desolation is understood the final and last destruction of the Temple whereof Christ Math. 24. vers 2. said that there shall not bee left one stone upon another that shall not bee thrown down The Abomination of desolation doth point out Caussam efficientem the efficient caus which in Dan. 9. vers 27. out of the Hebrew Schikkuzim Meschomem is there well rendred by the wings shall stand abominations of desolation namely such abominations whereby the holie place shall bee destroied But in the chap. 12. vers 11. wee read Schikkuz Schomem which doth intimate a fulness and perfection and must bee rendered the abominable desolation Vide Conradum Graserum in cap. 9. Dan. Exerc. 5. pag. 405. Ubi ità disserit Schomem rationem nominis videtur habere ut magis rem operatam quà m ipsam operationem id est magis effectum quà m effectûs caussam significet Cùm contrà per alterum meschomem causa efficiens profanandi sanctuarii indicetur Wherefore the true meaning and sens of these words is this From the time that the dailie Sacrifice at Jerusalem is taken away and the abominable desolation of the Temple wherein the worship and service of God onely could bee performed shall bee fully and thorowly accomplished there bee one thousand two hundred ninetie years This total desolation and destruction of the Temple happened under the Emperor Julian the Apostate in the year of our Lord three hundred sixtie three or three hundred sixtie five according to som Chronologer's computation For when Julian in despight of the Christians had recalled the Jews that were dispersed to and fro to
Witnesses are understood faithful Teachers and Governors of â—â—e Church both Ecclesiastical and Political To such hee will give that they may edifie and propagate the Church of God and preserv the same against all Heresies and hostilâ— attempts The number of the witnesses 〈…〉 small beeing but two of them which iâ— the least number yet sufficient for thâ— testimonie of the truth For at thâ— mouth of two or three witnesses shall thâ— matter bee established Deuter. 19. verâ— 15. Matth. 18. vers 16. John 8. verâ— 17. 2 Cor. 13. vers 15. The Angel saith Unto my two Witnesses whereby it doth appear that hee that speaketh here unto Iohn is thâ— Son of God himself They shall prophesie clothed with sacâ—cloth The whore of Babylon is araied â—â— purple and scarlet color and decked wiâ—â— gold and precious stones and pearls Revelations 17. vers 4. But the witnesses of Christ are clothed with sacâ—cloth that is their cloths are bâ— poor and despicable as those were 〈…〉 the Prophets of God in times of olâ— who wore also sackcloth Isaiah 20. v. 2. a rough garment Zechar. 13 vers 4. Elijah was girt with a girdle of leather 2 Kings 1. vers 8. preaching repentance and the suffering of the Cross and persecutions and were exposed to all manner of tribulations and persecutions A thousand two hundred and threescore daies that is as manie years from the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year as it doth appear in Clavi Apocalypt Vers 4. These are the two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth Thus are the High-Priest Ioshua and â—â—e Prince Zerubbabel described Zach. â— vers 14. Vers 5. And if anie man will hurt â—â—em fire proceedeth out of their mouth â—nd devoureth their enemies and if anie â—an will hurt them hee must in this manâ—er bee killed This is taken out of the historie of the Prophet Elijah when at his request fire came down from Heaven and consumed the Captain with his fiftie men 2 King 1. vers 10. 12. Which likewise the Disciples of Christ would have don when the Samaritans would not receive Christ and them Luke 9. vers 54. Vers 6. These have power to shut Heaven that it rain not in the daies of their Prophesie which is also taken out of the historie of Elijah 1 Kings 1â— V. 1. And have power over the waters to turn them to blood and to smitâ— the earth with all plagues as often as they will which is out of Moses's and Aaron's expedition in Egypt applied and referred hereto whereof wee read iâ— Exodus 7. vers 20. and in the 8 9 10 11 12. chapters By this description of the two Witnesses God doth declare that what mercies in times of old hee hath shewed unto his people the Children oâ— Israël the same hee will also shew in the New Testament unto them that believ Hee will give them Ioshuas and Zerubbabels faithful Teachers and religious Rulers and Governors who shall fit and edifie them unto the Temple of God and as Candlesticks give â—ight unto them with their pure doctrine and as Olive-trees assist them with powerful consolation Hee will give them zealous Elijahs and Elishahs who shall fight against â—hewhore Jezabel the Priests of Baal and other persecutors Hee will also at length send them his Moses's and Aarons who shall deliver them and bring them forth â—ut of the Antichristian bondage Vers 7. And when they have or shall have finished their Testimonie cùm â—â—nierint vel peregerint Thus the versions do render it either â—n the perfect or future perfect tens whereby the Teachers and Expositors have been mistaken to think that this last war should not begin till then when the determined one thousand two hundred sixtie years of the two Witnesses should bee exspired But becaus by this means the two Witnesses should remain in sackcloth and the Woman in the wilderness beyond the time appointed and also the fourth beast should continue to blaspheme longer then 3½ times or fortie two moneths To all which not onely the plain text but also the swearing of the Angel Daniel 12. vers 7. and the great Oath of the Son of God Revelations 10. vers 6. are contradictorie therefore wee must look upon the propertie of the text in the original tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the indefinitum primum which indeed may bee rendred in the perfect tens when they have finished or in the future perfect tens when they shall have finished But this exposition beeing also repugnant and contrarie to this and other texts in the Revelation wee must reject it and render the words in 〈…〉 turo simplici cùm finituri sunt When 〈…〉 ey shall finish namely when the one 〈…〉 ousaud two hundred sixtie years 〈…〉 all draw to an end as Ioannes Clove 〈…〉 s in primo diluculo Apocalyptico 〈…〉 op 14. p. 124. and in Comment post 〈…〉 mo Tom. 3. page 28. doth observ â—ikewise Iosephus Medeus in Comment 〈…〉 Apocalypsin In the one thousand two hundred â—â—xtie years first the one thousand â—ears do expire in the year one thouâ—â—nd three hundred ninetie five Then 〈…〉 e two hundred years expire in the â—ear one thousand five hundred nineâ—â—e five whereupon do follow the sixâ—â—e years as the end So that these words when they shall finish their te 〈…〉 monie are to have this sens when in 〈…〉 e one thousand five hundred ninetie 〈…〉 th year of our Lord the sixtie years â—â—all begin Then the Beaest that ascendeth out of 〈…〉 e bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall over com them and kill them By the Beast here is meant the Beast with ten horns which Chapter 13. vers 1. riseth up out of the Sea whereof the Angel in the 17. Chapter vers 8. saith to Iohn The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit And vers 11. The Beast that was and is not even hee is the eighth and is of the seven c. That is the Empire or Government hath been under the Heathenish Romane Emperors where the Dragon did reign and was openly worshipped in Paganism And is not The Dragon was thrown from his seat and is not any more worshipped openly becaus Christian Emperors and Governors are com to the Imperial dignitie who have destroied heathenism And ascendeth again out of the bottomless pit When the Dragon's government was destroied and the Heathenish Idolatrie abolished the Dragon creep's in again by the means of the Beast with ten horns when the Romane Empire is divided into manie Kingdoms give 's him his power and his seat and great autoritie and bring 's it to this that a new and more holie form of Idolatrie is established and that hee the Dragon together with the Beast is worshipped again Revelations 13. vers 2 3 4. This Beast is the eighth and is of the seven that is the
his Vial upon the rivers and fountainâ— of water and they became blood Frequens est sacris Literis per fluminâ— significare Imperia quod Graeci Latinique faciunt Hugo Grotius in Annotatis ad V. Testam Esaiae c. 11. v. 15. The Romane Empire is elswhere compared to a Beast with ten horns to a Citie with its streets So likewise here to a Sea with it's rivers The rivers are the Kingdoms which although they are not at this present members of the Political State in the Romane Empire yet they have their tie and dependance upon the Popish Romane Empire as Spain France England Poland Hungarie c. For the greatest Where sit's upon manie waters Revel chap. 17. vers 1. aud reigneth over the Kings of the earth vers 18. The fountains of water are the Kings their Roial Council is Parlaments and other great and prime Lords in those Kingdoms who are interessed in the Government How this Vial of the wrath of God hath been poured out over great Brittanie and the well thereof and how the river and the head-Spring there became blood and doth yet sprout out is alas evident to all the world And although those who are the Fax and Clamor sive Tuba in these proceedings wee know not how to excuse yet wee must by virtue of this cleer text saie with the Angel Lord thou art righteous becaus thou hast judged thus How France doth feel the pouring out of the wrath of God out of this third Vial and how much more it will bee sensible of it in time to com time will discover The caus which the Angel maketh mention of here in the sixth vers saying For they have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthie concerneth France more particularly becaus there was so much innocent Christian blood shed therein in these hundred years last past How the other Kingdoms in this Classis shall fare time will shew chiefly that whose head-spring did flow out the eighth of April Anno one thousand six hundred five The Ecclips of the Sun which on the seventh of April one thousand six hundred fiftie two will darken the locum Hylegialem thereof whereupon within a short time it may stop happily the flowing out of the same and change it's river into blood Vers 7. And I heard another Angel out of the altar saie c. A voice is heard out of the Thysiasterion or place of Sacrifices where the souls of them that were slain did lie whereof wee may read in the sixth chapter vers 9 10. that they crie to the Lord for vengeance The sens and meaning of which words is this that the Martyrs prais God for the hearing of their praiers and the execution of vengeance applauding the Angel saying Even so Lord God Almightie true and righteous are thy Judgments Hence also may bee concluded that this vengeance shall then begin when the last war against the two Witnesses shall bee finished whereof hath been spoken in the 11. chap. Vers 8. And the fourth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sun c. By the Sun all the Expositors commonly understand the Sun of righteousness Mal. 4. vers 2. Jesus Christ wherewith the Woman is clothed Revel chap. 12. vers 1. But this is repugnant to the scope and intention of these plagues which are poured all over the earth that is upon the Systema mundi Papistici over the Popish world which is opposed to the Church-Heaven of the faithful Children of God wherein the Lord Jesus is the Head Therefore wee must seek this Sun in the popish Heaven and search what in the Revelation of John is represented by the Sun in other places The Sun became black as a sackcloth of hair Revelations 6. vers 12. whereby the ruine of the Imperial dignitie in the Heathenish Church-heaven which happened in the time of Constantine the great is intimated The third part of the Sun was smitten according to the prophesie of the fourth Trumpet Chapter 8. vers 12. That is The smal remainder of the greatness and brightness of the old Romane Empire shall wholly bee abolished and pass away An Angel did stand in the Sun Revelations 19. vers 17. That is a great Potentate an Evangelical valiant Prince gathered together a great Armie against the Papists The Citie hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it chap. 21. vers 23. That is hath no need of anie Temporal Potentate to govern it If wee compare these texts with the Sun upon which the Angel poureth out the fourth Vial wee finde that thereby a great and high head of the State is signified who in Systemate Mundi Papistici doth uphold all and by his splendor and government giveth strength unto all like as the Sun Systemate Mundi Physico by it's light and motion doth guide and move the forces of nature And power was given unto him to scorch men with fire And men were scorched with great heat c. When the Head which hath been a mightie support hitherto to the Papal State shall lie down and rest then the fire of God's wrath will extremely scorch the Papists The Lord will make them like a fierie oven Psal 21. vers 9. But for all this they will not amend nor repent and give God the glorie but rather continue in blaspheming the name of God and grow more and more obstinate Vers 10. And the fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the seat of the Beast and his Kingdom was full of darkness Assoon as the Beast with ten horns was risen up out of the Sea Revelations 13. vers 1. the Dragon immediately gave him his power and his seat and Citie of residence the Citie of Rome Which the Beast hath possessed hitherto without beeing disturbed from thence and reigned over the Kings of the earth chapter 17. vers 18. Now the Angel poureth out the fifth Vial of the wrath of God upon this seat the Citie of Rome as mention hath been made hereof above in the 11th chap. vers 13. that after the two Witnesses were ascended up there was a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the Ciâ—e fell and was destroied And the Kingdom was full of darkness c. By the distruction of the Citie of â—ome shall the Government and power of the Pope which hitherto hee â—ath used bee made extremely void â—nd all his dispatches or commissions spended But the Papacie shall not it by this means bee utterly dissolved â—â—d taken away For this doth follow afterwards at the pouring out of the â—â—venth Vial in the last war in a â—ace called in the Hebrew tongue Arâ—â—geddon vers 16. Whereof is spoken â—â—ore at large in the 19. chapter vers â—â— until the 21. by this plague the Papists are yet more embittered and more and more hardned Vers 12. And the sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof was
Interpretation are generally known to bee these The first that wee must prophesie according to the Analogie of Faith Rom. 12. v. 6. The second that wee must keep the form of sound words delivered in the Scriptures 2. Tim. â— 13. The third that wee must analyse that is resolv and divide the text aright 2 Tim. 2. 15 anâ— to the effect that wee may bee able to do this according to the minde of the Holie Ghost the Apostle Peter tel's us 2 Petr. 1. 20. that we 〈…〉 must not make the Scriptures speak in a privat◠〈…〉 sens that is wee must not analyse and interpret them so as if the Prophesies thereof did relate onely to the particular occasions and circumstances of times of places and of persons in by and to whom they were at first uttered and the ground why they may not bee so taken but must bee understood in a more publick common and general sens is given by the Apostle vers 21. becaus saith hee the Prophesie came 〈…〉 by the will of man that is it was not anie particular chois or inclination of humane reasoning which brought forth the prophetical that the scriptural word but they were moved by tâ—â— Holie Ghost that is the universal Spirit who wisdom is above all private concernments anâ— doth penetrate through all beeing from the center to the circumference did put words in the mouth which they did utter and therefore the words must bee understood as universally anâ— abstractedly from particular concernments â— they were meant by the Spirit who delivereâ— them unto the Prophets as for instance wheâ— a Law was given for oxen that did tread out thâ— Corn that they should not bee muzzeled t 〈…〉 Apostle tel's us 1 Cor. 9. 9 10. that the meaning of the Law-giver was not to take care foâ— Oxen but that this was said for man's sake Sâ— the Apostle Gal. 4. vers 21. till the end doth according to this Rule interpret the Historie of the Son of the bondwoman who was to bee cast out with her Son who could not bee heir with the son of the free woman and by this Rule the dark speeches I have called my son out of Egypt and hee shall bee called a Nazareth c. will becom plain These Rules in their use are complicated and becom one prospective of the sens although their Notions bee thus distinguished therefore in their applications to the Scriptures if they do not go hand in hand together wee shall never reach â—he sens thereof nor bee able to divide the word according to the spiritual rationalitie thereof â—or to shew the division thereof demonstrably either to our own or other's just satisfaction and truly the want of humilitie and ingenuitie â—o seek after the full knowledg of these Rules and the neglect of the right use of them in the knowledg which wee have thereof together with the presumptuous rashness and confidence by which wee are hurried to determin all things according to our own self-conceited notions and knowledg which wee ambitiously strive with tooth and nail to maintein is the caus of all our darkness and confusion in matters of Divinitie Here again if I should enter upon this Subject to shew how a demonstrative scriptural Anaysis by the spiritual use of right reason i 〈…〉 atteinable and will bee the onely waie nex 〈…〉 to the gracious and immediate illumination 〈…〉 the spirit writing the Law in the hearts t 〈…〉 compose our controversies to end our needlesâ— and sinful waies of disputing and to banish o 〈…〉 of Christ's Church the high conceit of our Dâ— ctoral school-Divinitie if I saie I shoulâ— enter upon these thoughts you see that not 〈…〉 Treatise onely but a volume should bee written thereof to do it satisfactorily but I am resolveâ— not to ingulf my self beyond the scope of this present discours which tend's onely to point 〈…〉 matters that you may bee stirred up to thinâ— upon them by your self therefore thus muâ—â— shall suffice for the finding of the universal keâ— of all prophetical Mysteries as they are rationally discoverable in the Scriptures yet abovâ— this though not without it there is a neerer prospect to bee had of the Mysterâ— in the Spirit which without such a disquirie doth lead us there into This neerer prospect is thâ— inward Testimonie of Jesus iâ— whom as in the fountain are hidden all the treasures of wisdom anâ— of knowledg and who is to alâ— that believ in him the immediate wisdom and the power of God Therefore the Angel who brought the great vision of the Marriage of the Lamb unto John who thereat was sâ— ravished that hee intended to have worshipped the Angel put 's him in minde to take him off from giving him anie divine worship that hee was no more but one of his equals who had the Testimonie of Jesus for saith hee the Testimonie of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesie Such then as have this Testimonie dwelling in them have this Spirit and by this Spirit they may bee 〈…〉 ed if God bee pleased so to carrie them a 〈…〉 erer waie then this is to see in Jesus himself the whole Mysterie and to partake of it as from him in the wisdom and power of God yet this must bee noted that although they should bee admitted to this neerer waie for som special â—its nevertheless they shall stâ—ll bee led so as that their Testimonie must bee liable in case of doubt proposed by others or incident to themselvs to bee examined by the Testimonie of the Apostles and â—heir Spirit must bee subject to â—ee tried not onely by the Spirit which was in the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists 1 John 1. 3. and chap. 4. 6. and John 17. 20 but by the spirit which is in their brethren the Prophets of these times who have the testimonie of Jesus no less then they â— Cor. 14. 29 30 31 32. Here then to com neerer by the address of these Rules to the prospect of the Mysterie of the Kingdom as it is represented in the Revelation let us make use of the keie which the Angel hath given us which is that wee should observ in the peculiar circumstances of the matter and scope thereof and in all the characters of each manifestation the special relation which they have to Jesus to bear witness of him for so much as each dispensation by it's peculiar Characters shall bee found to speak of this testimonie so much it doth reveal unto us of the Mysterie of godliness If then wee ought not to proceed without an eie to our fore-mentioned Rules for although as I have already hinted the testimonie of Jesus in our Spirit is the Spirit of Prophesie which may somtime in the enlightned frame of a believing soul swallow up all the rational Acts of contemplation by a direct intuitive representation of the light of lifâ— in Christ yet that Testimonie is neither in it self inconsistent with nor in the ordeâ—lie waie 〈…〉 declaring it unto others to bee
are transacted hee is an inquisitive observer of the passages thereof And in the third hee is effectually emploied as a coagent to help to fulfil the Mysterie of God by the spirit of Prophesie and in each of these Manifestations Christ is represented to him sutably to the administration which is revealed In the first as a Man in dealing with men in the second as a Lamb offered up to God in dealing with God and in the third as a mightie Angel in dealing with Satan and his Angels and with the powers of darkness in the world Secondly for the opening of the matter of this vision I observ that the summe of all is to shew when and how the Mysterie of God which hee bath spoken by the Prophets should bee finished and to shew this First two means are used to lead John to the knowledg thereof then secondly the thing it self is summarily related by word of mouth unto him and afterward thirdly it is represented in several visions The means leading to the knowledg of the finishing of the Mysterie are two First an open little Book inable's him to prophesie Chap. 10. Secondly a Reed given him like unto a Rod to measure the Temple the Altar and those that worship therein The summarie relation of the whole business by word of mouth doth concern the time of the treading of the utter court under foot the power of prophesing given to the two Witnesses during that time the war which the Beast shall make with them while 's they prophesie and the issue of that war set forth in the circumstances of their death and resurrection and that which immediately doth follow thereupon both in earth and in Heaven In earth there was an earthquake which made the tenth part of the Citie to fall and killed seven thousand men and frighted the rest The second wo doth pass and the seventh Angel doth sound his Trumpet In Heaven there is great joie and and thanksgiving offered unto God becaus hee hath taken the Kingdom to himself and doth reign over the Kingdoms of the world to give rewards unto his servants chap. 11. Hitherto the whole Series of matters concerning the Mysterie of God hath been related in plain terms to shew the things by which it should bee accomplished now followeth the description of the visions by which the particulars of the things summarily mentioned in this Narrative are more at large reveled whereby the Prophet is made to understand concerning the Mysterie of God which is Christ in the church Ephes 5. 32. or which is all one Christ â—â— us the hope of glorie Colos 1. 27. what the state of the Church was in Heaâ—en at that time and what it should afterward bee on earth during the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness during the time of her comming out of the wilderness and during the â—me of her Reign over the earth as the Spous of the Lamb with her bridegroom At that time the temple of God in Heaven beeing opened and the Ark of the Testament therein beeing seen the Church as thee was constituted by the Apostles appeared and brought forth a Man-child against whom the Dragon did set himself to devour it but the child was to bee caught up to Heaven and the Dragon to bee cast out of Heaven upon the earth where hee set's himself to persecute the woman which fled into the Wilderness and to make war with the remnant of her seed chap. 12. During the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness the mysterie of iniquitie is set up and come's to it's perfection in the earth God send 's his judgments upon it when it is com to it's height c. 13 till 19 This Mysterie of Iniquitie had two parts the Mysterie of the Beast and the Mysterie of the Woman riding upon the Beast The Mysterie of the Beast ruling over the earth is seen in onâ— Beast coming out of the Sea wiâ—â— ten horns and another coming out of the earth with two horns Chap. 13. during the time of the rising and reigning of these Beasts over the earth the state â—â— the Church upon Mount Sion and God's administrations for the knowledâ—â— of his will thereby unto the world concerning the everlasting Gospel concerning the future fall of Babylon and concerning the punishment of those that adhere unto the Beast and for the waie of gathering up the harveâ— and vintage of the earth are revealed chap. 14. God's Judgments upon the Beast are poured out in the Phiaâ— of his last wrath whereunto seven Angels are appointed and prepared Chap. 15. and commanded to put the Judgments in execution The Mysterie of the Whore of Babylon riding upon the Beast is shewed to the Prophet chap. 17. and the Judgment which befalâ—eth unto her for her destruction is described chap. 18. The state of the Church in her comming out of the Wilderness is described in the congratulatorie acclamations given to God in Heaven at the destruction of Babylon and at the preparations of the wife of the Lamb for the Marriage-Supper and in the war which the Armies of Heaven under Christ's conduct do make against the Beast the fals Prophet and the Kings of the Earth For by this means the power of all her adversaries beeing destroied shee is fitted to appear visibly upon the stage of the world Chap. 19. The state of the Church during her Reign with Christ on earth is before the last Judgment a thousand years and after the universal Resurrection both in Heaven and earth for ever and ever Chap. 20. 21. and 22. till vers 6. Thus wee see the contexture and coherence of the matter and parts of the whole Book if â—hen wee should consider how these particulars relate unto the main scope of the Prophesie which is to reveal Jesus Christ unto us in the Mysterie of his Kingdom wee see that everiething is most directly subordinate thereunto and that the whole doth most completely reach a full discoverie of the accomplishment of the Mysterie whereof the brief summe is this That the professors of the name of Jesus Christ by their sufferings for his sake by their testimonie of him in opposition to the Dragon to the Beasts and to the Whore by the Judgmentâ— of God against all these to destroie their power by the waâ— of the Saints against them by the setling of the Kingdom of Christ in the hands of his Saints and by the Manifestation of the Glorie of the heavenlie Jerusalem comming unto them from Heaven to earth whereinto the Kings of the earth shall bring their glorie shall get the full victorie over the world and with the purchase of the Inheritance of all things in the New Heavens and the New earth they shall have the enjoiment of the presence of God for ever In all which at this time as to our present condition the opposition which the Beast hath to the Lamb the fals Prophet to the two Witnesses and the Whore to the Bride and the
manner of their warfare is most considerable for in the opposite properties of their Natures and waies the Mysteries of Iniquitie and of Godliness are most completely revealed and by the manner of the war which is between them and the issue thereof the state and relation wherein our inward man doth stand as to either of the Mysteries will bee seen that wee may not onely know what partly to chuse in this quarrel but also what to judg of the advancement of the partie wherein wee are found towards the atteinment of the Hope which is set before us in the Kingdom of Christ These things are worth a larger discours and discoverie then my design is at this time to bestow upon them but in reference to what hath been said already and to that which is the scope of the following Treatise somthing is fit â—o bee added though but very briefly to give â—ou matter of further thoughts If it bee expedient then for us to take notice of the Mysterie of Iniquitie and of Godliness as they are now working and have been long â—go wresling against one another in the publick transactions of this present world wee must â—ook out for the Beast to finde him by the Properties of his Nature and by the effects of the Government which hee hath exercised and â—oth exercise upon the Earth and for the Lamb â—o finde him by the same Characters The Beastlie nature of the life â—f man is that which the Draâ—on doth exalt and impower with all his might as his vice-gerent to have Dominion over the Inhabitants of the Earth for by this nature hee can onely have access now to us and power over us seeing hee is cast out of our heavenlie places and overcom there in our nature by the blood of the Lamb. The general properties of this brutish nature are these First to bee led without reason by meeâ—â—ens Secondly to satisfie the sensual imaginations and lusts of the flesh and thirdly to do all things by a Brutish and bodilie violence and force rather then in a friendlie and amiable waie And fourthly in case of opposition to destroie without mercie all that stand's in the waie of his will Hence it is that in the 13 th of the Revelation this beastlie nature is said to bee like a Leopard full of spots swift and cruel to have the feet of a Bear which grasp's both with the hindermost and formost legs and claws and to have the mouth of a Lion to teaâ— and devour The Government which this nature doth affect is absolute to have all in subjection to it's will without anie other Rule oâ— Law So that it ruleth over others as men uâ— to rule over beasts guiding them by meer sensual and imaginarie inducements which relate nothing to the will of God at all If then the Governors of a people make usâ— of their power to satisfie the inclinations â—â— flesh and blood in fulfilling their lusts and sensual affections without anie due respect unto the end of their place but seek by meer force to make their will a Law to their Subjects by bringing them to an absolute Subjection thaâ— they may suffer themselvs to bee ruled as beasts â—se to bee ruled by men who beeing ignorant â—f the designs of men are led onely by sensuâ— objects of pleasure and of terror if I saie â—â—ie Governors have this aim and follow the â—aies by which this kinde of greatness over others may bee established they ought to take â—otice of themselvs and others may observ it so of them that they are none other but the â—ragon's Vice-gerents on earth and that they â—â—le in his name and in his waie over the â—â—ns of men Now how manie Potentates have â—therto in all the Nations of the Earth inâ—nded to rule over their Subjects in another â—aie I confess I am not able to relate But â—ow manie have apparently studied to bee absolute over their Subjects as over beasts and cases of opposition have shewed themselvs Leopards Bears and Lions against â—â—em and have made these properties of their â—aie their glorie is so apparent that I shall â—ed to saie no more of it but shall leav it unâ—â— your thoughts But the Lamb-like nature of â—â—e life of man and the waie of â—â—e Government which is suâ—ble thereunto is that which Christ as a spiritual man doth exalt in the soâ—eties of mankinde The properties of a Lamb â—ay bee seen in the relation which it hath to â—her beasts to the creatures of it's own kinde and chiefly to mankinde In respect of other Creatures it is most meek and most harmless the horns which they have are not for offenâ—â— but for defence in respect of their own kinde they are most fit to live in a societie For if theâ— bee alone they are lost and becom a prey â—â— other beasts In respect of man the Lamâ— or sheep is the most useful and most serviceable creature of anie other for they both feâ—â— him and cloth him and that without mucâ— trouble unto him As for the waie of Government which is sutable to the nature of the Lamb wee see that it is none other whâ—â— they are without a Shepherd but the Imitation of example that when one goeth before then all the rest do follow and if they have â— Shepherd they follow him and take notice â—â— his voice to distinguish it from the voice of â— stranger If then the Governors who are oveâ— the Flock of Christ have not these properties in the waie of ruling the Common-wealth oâ— Israël that is if they are not eminent for meekness and harmlesness towards all men making use of their horns and power onely for defence and not for offence if they are noâ— sociable and by condescension of spirit humbly equal to those that belong to their societieâ— but seek to keep themselvs high and at a distance and solitarie from others and if they are not willing to give themselvs up both their wool and their substance for the service â—â— mankinde they are not Christian Magistrates nor they rule over their Subjects as Christ's Vice-gerents or in his name and waie â—â—r hee as the first Lamb of the Flock in his â—ecedencie did never carrie himself otherwise then thus before the Flock to oblige all follow him but chiefly they who professing â—â—s name are in the formost rank before oâ—â—ers to lead them ought to follow him â—osest If now wee should compare these two Myâ—â—ries together in their opposition to each oâ—â—er wee may observ that as Leopards Bears â—â—d Lions live not in Flocks and societies as â—â—mbs do but alone by themselvs so it is â—â—th Potentates and Monarchs Imperium non â—â—itur duos Caesárve priorem â—mpeiúsve parem ferre nequit Leopards Bears and Lions live preying and devouring other â—eaker Creatures wherein they â—â—e the embleme of the Tyrannie Monarchs and wee see that most of them â—ere these Creatures as the glorie of their scutchâ—â—s but Lambs and sheep
the number 666. may bee represented therein in respect that this number is nothing els but a threefold repetition of it self in units in tenths and in hundreds and cannot bee multiplied by anie square root without a fraction and in it self six is but the half of twelv which is the number of the Tribes of Israël but upon these numerical Mysteries I love not to stand I shall therefore conclude with this one word that all who pretend to have a mission from the Lamb and think themselvs his true Prophets should do well to examine by these characters the ground whereupon they stand and the waies wherein they walk lest they mistake themselvs in their account of themselvs and bee found in the end the Prophets of the Beast and not of Christ As for the two Witnesses they are set forth as opposites unto the Beast for it is said that the Beast doth make war with them Chap. II. 7. their Character is that they prophesie in Sackcloth as mourners that their design is nothing els but to bear witness unto Christ by the manifestation of the Truth without humane Interests and consequently that they studie not by outward means to set up themselvs or gain followers who should bee in subjection to them and under their spiritual jurisdiction nor do they applie themselvs to the fancies of their hearers to work som strange impressions upon them by raising them to the admiration of their Notions of their Eloquence or parts but speaking the plain truth in love a word of fire to melt the Conscience of sinners doth go out of their mouth which doth slaie the wicked spirits who set themselvs against them and according to their word the Heavens are shut up in the daies of their Prophesie from sending anie shewers of blessings upon men's souls and the earthlie and outward estate of men is smitten with all manner of plagues for not receiving the word of their testimonie as Egypt was by Moses and Aaron These two Witnesses are said to bee the two Olive trees and anointed ones who stand before the God of all the Earth Chapter II. vers 4. which beeing compared with Zach. chap. 3. and 4. tel's us who are meant by these two Witnesses for there Jehoshua and Zerubbabel are anointed and established to bring back the captivitie of Judah and Jerusalem out of Babylon which they were to do not by the might and power of men but by the Spirit of the Lord and the efficacie of his grace The difference then of these two Witnesses from the fals Prophet is in this First that hee is but one who doth exercise a twofold power that of the Beast and that of his own devising which is a pretended one of Miracles these are two whose testimonie is one and the same and the effect thereof towards men but one from them both Secondly that hee taketh upon him a Coërcive power and to bring people under his yoke hee set's up differential tokens viz. the Beast's Image his mark and name but these make use of none other power but of that which is properly prophetical nor do they press anie distinct and particular notes of subjection to themselvs upon anie coërcively but have power onely to plague such as receiv not the Testimonie of Jesus Thirdly hee doth work upon the ignorant imaginations of sillie people strange impressions of admiration concerning the Divinitie of his own waie by deceitful persuasions which are a kinde of witch-craft whereby people are made to cleav unto his worldlie interest as a slave unto the same but these labor not to gain to themselvs the affections and fancies of people but to gain their understandings to the knowledg of the Truth and their consciences to the Subjection which is due to Christ Jesus without partialitie So then fourthly the fals Prophet in a word exalt's and seek's to set up himself in the spirits of men but the two Witnesses humble and denie themselvs that the Cross of Christ may bee exalted over their spirits and hee onelie set up in the hearts of men Fifthly and lastly the fals Prophet medling with State-matters take's both the Ministerie and Magistracie upon him making the one subordinately to serv the other's turns in reference to men but the two Witnesses who are faithful Magistrates and Ministers join their Testimonies in their places coordinately to make out one waie of righteousness and truth to the consciences of men in reference to God in Christ And this much concerning these The third thing to bee spoken of is the Mysterie of the Whore and of the Bride The Angel telleth John plainly chap. 17. vers 18. that the woman which hee had seen rideing upon the scarlet-colored Beast with a name written on her forehead Mysterte Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth was that great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Now it is evident that Rome alone as Papal hath reigned in a Mysterie over the Kings of the Earth ever since heathenish Rome determined which reigned not in a Mysterie but with outward force over these Kings and in that respect was the fourth Beast seen by Daniel therefore if wee can observ what the Properties of her whorish nature and practice hath been and how shee hath brought forth Harlots and all abominations in the earth wee shall discern this Mysterie and discover those that partake therein with her The text saith Chapter 17. vers 4. that shee was arraied in purple and Scarlet and decked with Gold with precious stones and pearls and that shee had in her hand a Cup full of abominations and filthiness of her forninications and chapter 14. vers 8. It is said shee made the Nations drink of the wine of these fornications and Chapter 18. vers 3. that the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her By the woman is understood the Romane Hierarchie which hath born Rule over all the world and rid in triumph upon the mindes of all men as upon Beasts Her decking and raiment of purple of Scarlet of Gold of precious stones and of Pearls is the outward visible magnificence of that worship which shee set's up which hath none other beautie but such ornaments to amuse the Imaginations of foolish people and bewitch them with the formalities of Ceremonies Her Fornications are the love of this present world whereunto shee doth allure men to commit Whoredom with her by the enjoiment of power of profit and of pleasures which shee studieth to furnish her lovers withal and to deprive other men off Her abominations are all manner of sinful and unconscionable practices which shee doth allow of in all who serv her ends thereby whereof shee make's a trade although they bee never so abhorrent from the light of Christianitie and of Nature these abominations are the Idolatries which shee hath set up and the dispensations which shee hath given to all unnatural sins and unjust practices as Sodomie Incest Murther Breach of
through love and by the other side the battel is formed in the spirits of the Saints to maintein the interest of the Lamb of God who having taken away the sins of the world will now appear to destroie the works of the Devil by setting up the power of his life amongst men till therefore I shall see either the Characters of this life apparent in the beautie of Love and Holiness amongst us or the waies fully opened and prepared by which the power of the life of Christ by his word will becom prevalent to lead all men's thoughts and affections captive to the obedience of his will I shall not much rejoice nor greatly triumph at anie of our outward Conquests I remember that the Whore was long ago cast out from amongst us for our Hierarchie by the King and Queen's consent was abolished before the Beast begun to rage and fight so then as amongst us so also in all Europe the Papal Hierarchie may bee cast off and yet the Beast's rage bee greater then ever for the interest of a tyrannical power aswel over the Consciences as over the bodies and estates of men and that two manner of waies either by the absoluteness of a governing power through the necessities of war enforcing all men to concur with the interests which it settles for common safetie to preserv us in freedom from a forreign power or by a total dissolution of all government wherein everie man who hath more might then his neighbor may take a libertie to tyrannize over him and oppress him without controul by both these waies the Beast may rage over all Europe against the Lamb-like state of Christianitie a long while after the destruction of the Pope and Protestants may by the means of the fals Prophet bee intangled amongst themselvs and embroiled into quarrels and beastlie animosities for the designs of flesh and blood as much as ever for if God send not forth another Spirit then as yet is apparent in the greatest part of our Professors to unite us in his waie and to guid us in this warfare wee shall bee found as much as anie to favor the Beast Till therefore I can perceiv that the banner of this Spirit is lifted up amongst us and that those who are upright in heart rank themselvs under it and make use of the weapons of Righteousness and the armor of Salvation for the end for which Christ hath put them in their hands I shall not conceiv much of anie sudden enjoiment of the glorious libertie of the Sons of God nor of anie full deliverance from the bondage whereinto Satan by the power of darkness and the spiritualitie of maâ—ce hath brought our beastlie nature I watch therefore and look out more after the appearances and discoveries of these things â—hen after other outward events and changes I know that the shakings and Changes of States tend to make waie for this object of my Hope but I know also that before I can â—artake of it there shall bee a greater change brought upon the Spirits of men then now is upon their outward Estates God hath hitherâ—o been shaking the earth to some purpose but hee hath said that hee will also shake Heaven this hee hath begun to do and will do more fully becaus his aim is as the Apostle faith not onely to shake these things but also to remove the things which are shaken that the things which cannot bee shaken may remain I therefore look out to see the foot-steps of his proceedings towards the accomplishment of this promise for till the things which are â—haken in the Spirits of Professors bee removed out of them I cannot exspect a cleer manifestation in and settlement of their spirit about the things which must remain and till this appear and break forth amongst us I cannot also saie that the Bride is com out of the Wilderness or that wee have gotten the conquest over the Beast and over the fals Prophet When therefore the banner of the Spirit of love without partialitie shall bee lifted up in the beautie of Holiness as the Ensign of the unitie of Faith and the badg of the common profession of Christianitie amongst Professors and when the Magistrates and Ministers shall understand their true conjunction in the waie of their Testimonie when by this means the Lord shall have washed the visible filth of the daughters of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof and shall also creâte upon everie dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the assemblies and glorie thereof a defence also the Prophets shall not studie to make themselvs anie more considerable by a peculiar interest upon believers but shall know how to propose in common the waies of edification so demonstrably that everie one who shall sincerely affect the knowledg of Truth shall finde no difficultie to com by it when the names of the Idols which everie partie for distinction's sake have made unto themselvs shall bee cut off when the mercinarie waie of serving the Common-wealth of Israël chiefly in things belonging unto God shall ceas when the just measures and dimensions of the Citie of God shall bee known to the Master-builders and the waie discerned how to open the dores thereof unto those that have a right unto the tree of life when the Temple in Heaven shall bee opened and the ark of the Covenant seen therein when the Children of Israël shall com they and the children of Judah together going and weeping and seeking the Lord their God and asking the waie to Zion with their faces thitherward then and not till then shall I exspect that the Bride will bee suddenly prepared and com out of the Wilderness to celebrate the marriage with the Lamb. And when together with these preparations of her comming and of the Supper of the Lamb the sword of the Spirit the word of God according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testimonie shall bee drawn out of the sheath thereof by that evidence of the Rules of Interpretation which none shall bee able to contradict and by that exactness of order of the waie of Prophetical exercitation so that none shall bee able to complain of the want of just freedom to propose Truths or Scruples and yet bee restrained from the licentiousness of passionate railing proud disputing and vain jangling and by that meekness of love power of zeal and prudence with discretion in the application to correct the particular errors of men's waies so that there shall bee no caus of offence offered to the single-hearted although the wicked one shall bee discovered and slain in them when I saie the sword of the Spirit shall bee thus unsheathed then I shall exspect that Judgment shall bee laid to the line and Righteousnes to the plummet against the unrighteous self-seekings of the Beast and that the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters overflow the hiding places which the fals Prophets have made unto
EXPOSITION of the XI and XVI Chapters is shewed What in these our present times 1. Hitherto hath been fulfilled 2. At this present is effectually brought to pass 3. And henceforth is to bee exspected in the years neer at hand REVEL Chap. 22. v. 12. Behold I com quickly and my reward is with mee to give everie man according as his work shall bee LONDON Printed in the year 1650. THE REVELATION OF S t JOHN DEscribeth the State of the Christian Church in the New Testament and also the things which shall com to pass in the Romane Empire or in the fourth Monarchie under which the Church of God doth subsist This description comprehendeth three periods or three sorts of times The first Period containeth Regnum Draconis Ethnicum the time of the Dragon until the three hundred nintie fifth year of our Lord. This is the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Revelations 12. vers 3. and the Dragon himself under the Heathenish Emperors was publickly adored and worshipped but the Christians persecuted banished and put to death till at last Constantine the Great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the Church prevailed and triumphed until the death of the Emperor Theodosius at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great autoritie unto the Beast with ten horns when it rose up out of the sea Revel 13. vers 2. The second Period comprehendeth vicariatum Draconis Antichristianum or the time from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord in which the Pope at Rome as the Antichrist and installed Lievtenant of the Dragon blasphemeth God and his name and persecuteth his Saints for the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years Revel 13. vers 2. when the Dragon was overcom and cast out of the Church-Heaven hee did cast out of his mouth water as a stood after the woman Revel 12. vers 15. that is hee stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Romane Empire intending thereby to root ouâ— and destroie the Church But the Earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations imbraced the Christian Faith remained in the Romane Empire and erected several Kingdoms in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that hee could not maintain the Heathenism wherein hee openly was worshipped and served hee resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the sea Revelations 13. vers 1. and is ridden and governed by the great Whore of Babylon 17. vers 3. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Romane Empire his power and his seat and great autoritie chapter 13. vers 2. and so make's him his Vicar and Lievtenant by giving over to him his seat and residence the Citie of Rome and the whole Romane Empire Whence â—â— came to pass that about this time the Bishops of Rome begun to oppose the marriage of Priests and to seek to have the Primacie and preeminencie both in Church and State The Dragon doth resigne to his Lievtenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his whole Host for in this sens the LXX Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exodus 14. vers 14. and 15. vers 4. and in other places as Matthew 24. vers 29 30. c. The host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the Heathen These viz. Idols the Antichristian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name and shape of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the text in the words following vers 3. and 4. doth speak The whole Earth did wonder at the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast c. The Dragon doth give also unto him great Autoritie and make's him a Headover great Countries whereof David did prophesie in the Psal 110. vers 6. The time of this Lievtenantship shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years since then it did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord therefore it doth end in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shortly to com Upon this followeth the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum the true peace and quiet condition of the Church here on earth Seeing at the sound of the trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh â—lague or the third woe doth com upon the Romane Empire and at the same time the seventh Vial of God's wrath is poured out wherewith the Enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroied yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Revel 20. vers 1 2 3. therefore now nothing but a true and constant peace can ensue Whence it is that the Church of God â—ejoiceth with a great voice Revel 11. vers 15. saying The Kingdoms of this world are becom the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Church and hee shall reign for ever and ever And in the v. 17. Shee giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almightie becaus hee hath taken to himself his great power and reigneth Unto these three times all the three parts of the Revelation of S t Iohn are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the state of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Romane Empire in a threefold manner as 1. By seven Epistles chap. 2. and 3. 2. By a book sealed chap. 4 5 6 7. 3. By a little book open chap. 10. And following Hee doth appear also to John everie time in an other shape As 1. In the likeness of a son of man chapter 1. who suffereth in the first period 2. As a Beast in the shape of a Lamb having seven horns and seven eies ch 5. which doth fight in the second period 3. As a mightie strong Angel clothed with a cloud chapter 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth 1. In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven Candlesticks c. chapter 1. vers 12 13 14 15 16. Hee declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period the third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second and the promises chap. 2. and 3. to the third 2. As a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eies â—ee openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden Decree of God and intiâ—ateth thereby the things befalling to the Romane Empire under which the Church is built up and preserved chap. â— 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall bee carried In the Political State In the
Rider the woman sitting upon the Beast which John seeth in a vision Chapter 13. vers 3. doth govern the civil State in the divided Romane Empire as the Beast with ten horns and this is the seventh sort of Government and withal the Ecclesiastical Popish Government also which is the eighth sort But becaus the Woman sit's up on the Beast and both doth make one Complexum or a Rider And the Woman doth after her pleasure ride and govern the Beast therefore both the last forms of the Romane Common-wealth the Ecclesiastical and Political Government in Poperie are counted for One wherefore the Angel saith The eighth is of the seven Whence wee conclude that by the Beast which ascended out of the bottomless pit is understood the Popish Ecclesiastical Government which useth the Temporal sword and the power of worldlie Potentates as a Rider maketh use of the power and and strength of his hors Of this Beast is said here that it shall make war against the two witnesses and shall overcom them and kill them That is there shall bee in the Romane Empire a persecution set a foot against the Evangelical Protestants by the instigation of the Pope and the Prelats towards the end of the appointed time in the last sixtie years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year The two Witnesses shall bee overcom and killed That is they shall bee removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and imploiments Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Here is the place described where the persecution shall happen It is not an universal persecution which goe's throughout the whole Romane Empire but a particular Act becaus the dead bodies of the two Witnesses do not lie in all the streets but onely in One in the street of the great Citie By the great Citie is understood the Citie of Rome of which the Angel saith in the 17. chapter vers 18. The Woman which thou sawest is that great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Which is called in the 14. chapter vers 8. Babylon the great Citie And that by Babylon is meant the Citie of Rome is granted by the Jesuits themselvs as Blasius Viegas in cap. 17. Apoc. sect 3. Remacius de Vaulx in Harpocrate divino part 1. fol. 235. Bellarm. lib. 2. Pontif. Rom. c. 2. lib. 3. c. 5. But by the Citie with the streets is the whole Romane Popish Empire set forth as it is elswhere compared unto a Beast with ten horns chap. 13. and 17. and unto the Sea with rivers and fountains Chapter 16. Compare also Luc. 14. vers 21. 23. The Citie of Rome is called spiritually that is the Citie of Rome or the Romane Papacie Is among the Hebrews especially the Prophets to bee called signifieth as much as to bee and that in a singular high manner and waie as appeareth by Isaiah chapter 1. vers 26. chapter 7. vers 14 chapter 9. vers 6. chapter 56. vers 7. chapter 60. vers 14. chap. 26. vers 4. Ierem. 3. vers 17. chap. 23. vers 6. Ezech. 48. vers 35. Zach. 6. vers 12. chap. 8. vers 3. Finkius Can. 49. Cent. 11. Spiritually that is Mystically in a mysterious sens and resemblance Another Sodom becaus of their Paederastia and other horrible Sodomitical Abominations and sins which not onely are committed but commended there As Sleidan lib. and Balaeus in Catalogo do write concerning Ioannes de la Cata Archbishop of Benevent that hee published in print a Treatise to commend Sodomie so that this is fully agreeable to that which the Prophet Isaiah saith chap. 3. vers 9. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not Shee is another Egypt becaus of the great blindness and hardness of heart as also becaus of the Tyrannie and grievous bondage wherewith shee doth afflict the people of God driving and compelling them to a slavish servitude of Poperie Shee is also a true likeness of Ierusalem becaus shee like the Iews doth despise God and his word killeth the Prophets nay refuseth to hear and to receiv the Son of God himself blaspheming calumniating persecuting and crucifying him in his members as by experience is cleerly seen And their dead bodies shall lie in the street These words are spoken as it were with som amazement abruptly and without the concluding word to make up the sens The dead bodies of the Witnesses in this street But which street A Citie hath manie streets and so hath the papal State which is here called the great Citie having under it manie streets and Kingdoms in subjection those wee must reflect upon to discover where such wars and persecutions in these years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth of our Lord are hapned Three principal streets or Kingdoms hath the Oriental Antichrist the Truth in his subjection hee hath not used anie such persecution against the Christians in his Dominions Seven are under the Occidental Antichrist In Italie France Spain and the British Kingdoms no such remarkable persecution did happen within this time nor also in Poland The attempt which was made in Prussia in the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord was of no long continuance What came to pass in Hungarie and Transylvania in the year one thousand six hundred two and som following was quieted by the Putshkeyish insurrection and cannot bee referred to this The tenth Horn yet remain's Germanie or the Germane Empire which in the whole Beast or Empire cannot bee counted otherwise but one horn and a Kingdom by it self in the whole bodie of the fourth Monarchie This is the principal street in the great Citie the principal horn of the Beast the principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchie whose head is represented by the Citie of Rome This Germane Empire is here called the street per excellentiam becaus it is the principal street in the Empire which doth appear hence 1. By reason it is called the Romane Empire 2. By reason it is as it were a figure and Image of the old Romane Empire having seven heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3. By reason that the head of the Germane Empire hath still the name of a Romane Emperor and hath the the preeminencie above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State Now in this street wee must seek the warr and wee shall also finde it if wee consider what is passed from the one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fifth year until this present hour against the true Professors of the Gospel The Pope indeed hath from the beginning of the Reformation which hapned by Doctor Luther alwaies aimed at this how hee might wholly
The Lord reigneth leâ— the earth rejoice And in the 99. Psal The Lord reigneth â—â—e the people never so impatient 2. The wrath of the Heathen That is the furie and rage of the Papists against these the Lord riseth becaus â—he daie of his wrath is com utterly cuting them off and destroying them vers 18. This Act is with a double sign confirmed 1. The Temple of God is opened and â—here was seen in his Temple the ark of his Testament 2. There were lightnings and voices â—nd thunderings and an Earth-quake and great hail vers 19. The contents of these words are described more at large in the ninteenth â—nd twentieth chapters where the Son of God and with him the whole Arâ—ies which were in heaven do appear siting upon white horses chap. 19 V. 11. 14. Where also the Beast and the Kings of â—he earth and their Armies are gathered together to make war vers 19. And are overcom and utterly destroied vers 20 21. 3. The time of the dead to bee judged and to give reward unto the Prophets and Saints c. This also is rehersed in the twentieth chapter vers 4 5 6. But becaus it is there according to the common opinion as darkly set down as here and the Son of God himself speaking of this time in the tenth chapter doth call it vers 7. the Mysterie of God And also what the seven thunders have spoken of this Kingdom cannot bee written wee will herein acquiesce and proceed herein to the sixteenth chapter CHAP. XVI LIke as in the second part of the Revelation of S t John by the seven Trumpeting Angels seven Judgments are described which should com upon the Romane Empire in the second period So also here in the third part are set down seven plagues which by the seven vials should bee poured â—ut over the same Where the seventh Judgment and the seventh Vial at the end of the one thousand two hundred sixtie years do â—oncur in the one thousand six hundred â—â—ftie fifth year of our Lord and fill up â—e wrath of God Revelations chap. 11. vers 18. and chap. 15. vers 1. The seven judgments com upon the political State and shew forth the fall thereof but the seven Vials are poured â—ut over both the Political and Ecclesiastical State and describe their punishments Those begin in the year three hundred ninetie five But these begin under the sixth Judgment a little before the total ruine But the seven plagues proceed from the Lord who hath a cup in his hand full â—â—ixt with red wine who hitherto hath poured out of the same upon his little flock But now the ungodlie shall drink the dregs there â— and suck them out Psal 75. vers 9 1â— The seven Angels having the seven plagues com ouâ— of the Temple of the Taâ—ernacle of the Testimonie of Heaven Revelations chap. 15. vers 5 6. that is from the seat and habitation of God And one of the four Beasts that is the first Beast the Lion of the tribe of Judah gave unto the seven Angels seven golden Vials full of the wrath of God vers 7. The Angels receiv commandement from God to pour out the seven Vials of the wrath of God chapter 16. vers 1. Upon the Earth that is upon the inhabitants of the earth who rejoice over the victorie of the Beast chapter 11. vers 10. To whom the Devil is com down Chapter 12. vers 12. Nay upon the whole world which wandred after the Beast and worshipped the Dragon with the Beast chapter 13. v. 4. So that by the word Earth is understood the whole extent and latitude of the Romane Popish Empire The Angels obeie God's Commandement and pour out their Vials First Upon the Earth Secondly upon the Sea Thirdly upon the rivers and fountains Fourthly upon the Sun Fifthly upon the seat of the Beast Sixthly upon Euphrates Seventhly upon the Aër Vers 1. The first Angel went and poured out his Vial upon the Earth and there fell a noisom and grievous sore upon the men which had the Mark of the Beast â—nd upon them which worshipped his Image By the Earth here is understood the whole extent and latitude of the Romane Empire as in the first vers But â—here is reflexion made upon Statum tranquillum the peaceable condition â—n the Romane Empire and upon the Beast coming up out of the Earth Revel 13. vers 11. This Beast is the Pope and his Clergie the Ecclesiastical State and Government in the Papacie which did not break out by wars or outward power and might like unto the Beast with ten horns but crept in by little and little softly and quietly even as the grass and the trees use to grow up of the ground Upon this earthlie Beast was the first Vial of the wrath of God in a time of Peace poured out by the Reformation of Poperie Now since those who are true Professors of the Gospel do vehemently oppose and contradict the Papists and reprove them for their shameful conversation fals doctrine and abominable Idolatrie thence doth arise in those that adhere and stand firm to Poperie A noisom and grievous sore that is a fierce anger hatred wrath and enmitie against the Evangelical Professors especially seeing they are not able to overcom and destroie them by force and might nor to perswade and seduce them to Poperie again by fair and sweet words Vers 3. The second Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and everie living soul died in the Sea By the Sea the Beast with ten horns â—s here pointed at which riseth up out of the Sea chapter 13. vers 1. And upon Statum in Imperio Romano turbaâ—um Whereby is signified that the second Vial shall beee poured out over the Political State in the Romane Empire and the Government and formae â—erum publicarum tam in universali â—uà m particulari shall bee disturbed â—nd overthrown How by these wars in Germanie the wrath of God hath been poured out and that this hath been accomplished is sufficiently known to the world and everie rational man can make the application The Statûs Raâ—io or reason of State which hath been set up and the shameful abuse of â—t hath no small share therein whereof State 's man writeth thus Justitia â—ùm esse desiit in mundo successit Statûs ratio calamitatum mare The blood of a dead man intimateth the horrible effusions of blood and how everie living soul died in the Sea is evident in the eies of all men Everie living soul that is all sorts of Nations people and tongues that in this raging Sea and floods of water during this war were ingaged as also all sorts of people in all the Provinces of the Romane Empire which are emptied of men and cattel In this signification the word all is used Exodus 9. vers 6. where it is rendred alâ— the Cattel of the Egyptians Vers 4. And the third Angel poured out
dried up c. By Euphrates are understood the Nations which border thereupon that is the Turks But by the drying up of the water is meant the ruine and overthrow of those Nations as it is evident out of the Prophets as Isaiah chapter 19. vers 5. chap. 44. vers 27. Jeremiah chap. 48. vers 34. chap. 50. vers 38. chap. 51. vers 36 Ezekiel chap. 30. vers 12. chap. 31. vers 4. The Application of this text to the ruine of the Turkish Empire doth agree with the eleventh chap. of Isa vers 13. 14. whereupon soon followeth the destruction of the Citie of Rome The second Wo that is the Turkish Empire is past Moreover the drying up of Euphrates is a preparation for the great work which shall bee performed at the pouring out of the seventh Vial. For as in times of old the red Sea was divided to make a drie waie for the Children of Israël when at their going out of Egypt they were pursued by Pharaoh to the end that they might pass thorough safe and Pharaoh should bee drowned Exodus 14. vers 12. until the twentie ninth And as God did drie up the river of Jordan and made a waie thorough it so that Israël could go through it on drie Land and enter into the promised Land so is here Euphrates spiritually dried up and the Turkish Empire ruined That the waie of the Kings of the East might bee prepared By this the conversion of the Jews is intimated which immediately after the destruction of the Citie of Rome shall bee advanced as also may â—ee seen by the 19. chapter vers 6 7. whereunto may bee referred what Isaiah writeth chapter 14. vers 10. until the sixteenth Zach. chap. 10. vers 11. 4. Esr chap. 13. vers 47. Hereupon followeth the pouring out of the seventh and last Vial of the wrath of God wherewith also the seventh Angel soundeth and the seventh plague and the third and last Wo over the Papacie of Rome and the fourth Monarchie doth take effect bringing with it the total ruine and destruction thereof The preparations of this are described before hand thus Vers 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs com out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the fals Prophet The Dragon the Beast and the fals Prophet are three companions and fellow-Commoners who from the beginning of the demutation as it appeareth by the thirteenth chapter have stuck close one to another and have been equally honored and worshipped by those that were under their power Now at the end of their reign they also agree and need requiring it they send their Ambassadors and Agents abroad unclean talkative Spirits Spirits of Devils working Miracles c. That is when the Citie of Rome shall bee destroied and the Papal seat overthrown the Turkish Empire ruined and the Jews converted unto Christ The Devil the Romane Papacie and the whole Clergie shall not bee able to conclude anie thing els but that their end is now at hand and that they will bee utterly destroied Therefore they trie their utmost endevors and call together the best men of their orders and such as are most fit for this work chiefly those that have made profession in the eleventh Classis these they send to the Courts of all Catholick Potentates throughout the whole Romane Popish Empire persuading them and the Professors of their Religion to stir up the utmost of their power and to join and offer themselvs together with others to the war against the Professors of the Gospel In that great daie of God Almightie at the pouring out of the seventh Vial. The time when Constantine the great destroied the Empire of the Dragon and overthrew the Dragon with the heathenish worship of the same is called the great daie of his wrath Rev. c. 6. V. 17. But the time here when the Beast and the fals Prophet shall bee cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and the Dragon shall bee shut up in the bottomless pit is called That great daie of God Almightie Above in the 11. ch V. 18. at the sound of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel it is called the time of the dead that they should bee judged and to give a reward c. By the Prophets in the Old Testament and by Christ and the Apostles in the New Testament it is frequently called that daie But to shew what properly is meant and understood by this great daie of God would require a large and particuliar exposition And becaus the Holie Scripture especially the Revelation of St John and the Prophets do not agree with the common opinion usual to prove and to make out at large at this time is contrarie to the scope and intention of this present Treatise Therefore it is is thought expedient to defer it till another time Vers 15. Behold I com as a thief Blessed is hee that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest hee walk naked and see his shame Here is declared the sudden and unexspected pouring out of the seventh Vial and plague which unawares and suddenly shall light upon the Papal State Therefore the Son of God himself doth exhort all men to watch and to stand continually in readiness by serious repentance and a godlie conversation And hee gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon In these words is described the place in which the Papists shall have the Rendez-vous of their Armies which they shall have gathered against the Professors of the Gospel The place is called Harmageddon Mountain of Lamentations whereby is intimated the place where King Josiah fought a battel unhappily where hee was slain 2 Chron. chapter 35. vers 24 25. For which the Jews made manie and great lamentations and at last it became a custom that when they would mourn for som extraordinarie sad accident they used to make mention of this defeat given at Megiddo Upon this lamentation of the Jews and Custom doth St John here point shewing thereby that the Papists will lament and mourn over the issue of this war as the Jews did mourn for the death of King Josiah and the great overthrow they received at Megiddo Vers 17. And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Aër The aforegoing Vials have been poured out upon particular places The first upon the Ecclesiastical State and Popish Religion in common The second upon the Political State by the means of this Germane war The third upon the particular Popish Kingdoms and their Heads The fourth upon an High-head a strong pillar of the Papacie The fifth upon the Citie of Rome The sixth upon the Turkish Empire which keep 's a great part of the old Romane Empire in subjection and as an open Antichrist sit's in the seat of the Dragon Now followeth the seventh Vial which is poured out upon the Aër And as the Aër doth contein all things so likewise this pouring out
is universal and doth reach the whole Papacie nay it doth take hold also of the Dragon and his Spirits becaus the said Dragon as heretofore hath been said hath given up to the Beast his seat his Armie and great power and hath cooperated in this second Period and together with the Beast caused himself to bee worshipped The Dragon is the Devil and the Prince of the power of the Aër Ephesians 2. vers 2. with the wicked spirits under the heaven Ephes chapter 6. vers 12. In the eighth chapter of Matthew vers 29. these spirits do expostulate with the Lord Jesus saying What have wee to do with thee art thou com hither to torment us before the time At the pouring out of this Vial upon the Aër no expostulation will serv turn for the time is at hand and shall bee accomplished what the Son of God saith Matthew 24. vers 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The mightie Host of Devils which dwell under the Heaven in the Aër shall bee moved with a terrible nois and tumult Then their torments shall begin when they shall bee cast down from the aër and their Head the Dragon shall bee shut up in the bottomless pit as beneath in Revelations chapter 20. vers 1 2 3. at the issue of this war may bee seen And there came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the throne saying It is don Here sit's the Ancient of daies upon the sierie flaming seat Daniel chap. 7. V. 9. and pronounceth the sentence against the fourth Beast and becaus the measure is full and the determined time over him is run to an end hee break 's the rod and denounceth the irrevocable judgment saying It is don The Beast shall bee slain and bee cast into the burning flame as in the said place followeth Dan. 7. ver 11. Vers 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings and there was a great Earth-quake such as was not since men were upon the earth so mightie an Earth quake and so great Now beginneth the Execution Upon the Devil and his whole Armie Upon his Vicar and what dependeth on him Upon the whole Romane Papacie and it's Kingdoms Now Heaven and earth are shaken for the second time and the mightie Kingdoms of the Heathen are destroied Hagg. chapter 2. vers 22 23. In the Aër are heard dreadful thunders and lightnings terrible voices lamenting and crying of the Devils Upon the earth will bee nothing but war and rumor of wars In all parts shall bee heard tumults seditions insurrections terrible distractions and grievous bloodsheds such as never were since the beginning of the world to this time nor ever were heard of Daniel chapter 12. vers 1. Matthew 24. V. 21. Vers 19. And the great Citie was divided into three parts By the great Citie is understood either the Citie of Rome as the seat and Citie of residence for the Beast and his rider Or the whole Papal State the Citie together with the streets The Citie of Rome was already by the fifth Vial darkned and ruined Wherefore it is spoken here of the whole Papacie which is divided into three parts By the accomplishment of these words it will appear that the Pope doth not wear his triple Crown in vain for under the same do sit and reign 1. The Dragon 2. The Beast 3. The fals Prophet Under the Command of these three Generals shall on the Popish side the battel bee set in arraie and led forth For these three each of them have raised their men severally ver 13 14. They stand all three in battel-arraie and are readie to fall on But what success have they The Beast is taken and with him the fals Prophet and both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Revelations chapter 19. vers 20 21. But the Generalissimus the Dragon is laid hold on and cast into the bottomless pit and shut up Chap. vers 1 2 3. And the Cities of the Nations fell The Heathenish life and conversation the Heathenish Idolatrie Sodomie and other Heathenish sins and abominations which hitherto have been practised in the Popish State are at once altogether abolished and utterly removed as that nothing more is heard thereof And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath God sate still hitherto and seemed as if hee knew nothing of the Beast's blaspheming and persecution But when the determined time of the fortie two moneths were exspired hee remember's Babylon fill's unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath and punishing her hee doth reward her according to her deserving Vers 20. And everie Island fled away and the Mountains were not found All whatsoëver had anie relation or dependance on the Papacie even the remotest pleces and all whatsoëver was highly exalted therein is not seen any more whereby the total ruine and destruction of the Papacie is signified Vers 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven everie stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God becaus of the plague of the hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great By the great hail-stones are understood the great punishments of God's wrath and by the words about the weight of a talent are meant the heaviest and most dreadful Judgments the weight of a talent beeing the heaviest and greatest weight yet all this notwithstanding men will not know the righteous judgment of God but by their blasphemies of the name of God are cast into everlasting perdition Hitherto the sixteenth Chapter AGainst this plain and cleer exposition manie will have different apprehensions and esteem these things impertinent and incredible Paradoxes To these is opposed 1. That the cleer text not beeing forced but as it is literally or figuratively referred to the times so it hath been explained 2. That the figures and Images which make this work difficult and dark are cleered out of other places of the Revelation or out of the Old Testament especially the Prophets from whom the whole Revelation of St John is taken and are applyed to the civil and Ecclesiastical State as the text and the time doth require 3. That what is past or is now in full action cannot bee overthrown by a bare contradiction or doubt but search should bee made in the Acts of the Romane Empire to see what things may bee more sutably applyed another waie Yet so that the Method and Harmonie may not bee disturbed or rather that a better waie may bee shewed and offered 4. That the Text and Method doth shew what is shortly to bee exspected especially the end of the determined time by God over the fourth Monarchie wherein the Romane Papacie shall blaspheme God and make war against the Saints for the space of fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years Hereupon ariseth the greatest and principal scruple or doubt Whether the Epocha
and come to an end with the comming of Christ to the last Judgment Answer The Revelation of S t John doth intimate no such thing but contradicteth it plainly For after the destruction of the Citie of Rome chapter 18. There was heard a great joie in heaven chapter 19. vers first till the ninth The heaven is opened and the Son of God who chapter 6. vers 2. at the opening of the first seal went forth conquering and to conquer upon a white hors presenteth himself here again upon a white hors as a Conqueror c. vers 11 12 15 16. Whom the Armies which are in heaven follow upon white-horses cloathed in fine linnen white and clean vers 14. These are the Martyrs to everie one of whom are given white robes chapter 6. vers 11. Nay These are they which came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes chap. 7. vers 14. These are they that are called and chosen and faithful Chap. 17. vers 14. Against these are gathered the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies to make war against them The end and issue of this war is that the Beast and with him the fals Prophet that is the Romane Empire and Popedom shall bee taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone chapter 19. vers 19 20. But the Dragon as their General hath quarters given him in this war hee is laid hold on and cast into the bottomless pit and shut up wherein hee remain's bound a thousand years that hee should deceiv the Nations no more nor bee able to stir them up against the Church Chapter 20. vers 1 2 3. In the mean while the faithful Children of God have their rest Hebr. 4. vers 1. like as God did rest the seventh daie from all his works vers 4. But the last Judgment and the end of the world is afterwards described chap. 20. vers 11. till the 15th Hereunto agreeeth the Prophesie of Daniel chap. 2. vers 34 35. where the Image which representeth the four Monarchies is seen so long till the stone smite's the Image upon his feet not at the beginning of the fourth Monarchie for then the feet and toes were not as yet but at the end thereof and break 's it to pieces But the stone that smite's the Image becom's a great mountain after the breaking and grinding of the four Monarchies to dust that is a Kingdom that shall break to pieces and grinde to dust all these Kingdoms which are represented by the great Image vers 44 45. And in the 7th chapter vers 1. till the 8th by the four Beasts are described the four Monarchies which Daniel beheld vers 9. till the thrones were cast down as the words are in the Original For the ancient of daies did sit vers 9. not for the universal and last judgment which hath been committed unto the Son Iohn chap. 5. v. 22. but for the particular judgment over the enemies of the Church in the fourth Monarchie over the fourth Beast of the Romane Popedome which Daniel beheld even till the Beast was slain and his bodie destroied and given to the burning flame and the power of the other beasts came to an end vers 11 12. For a set time was determined over them how long each of them should last The Saints shall bee given into the hands of the fourth Beast so long as the Woman rideth on the Beast until a time and times and the dividing of time vers 25. And when these 3½ times Anno 1655. shall com to an end the Judgment of the judgment of the Ancient shall sit and then his power is taken away so that it wholly is abolished and come's to an end Vers 26. But the world therewith is not destroied but the Kingdom and dominion and the greatness under the whole Heaven shall bee given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serv and obeie him Vers 27. compare vers 13 14. The words of S t Paul 2 Thes chap. 2. vers 8. where hee writeth And the Lord shall destroie him with the brightness of his coming are expounded in the Revelations chap. 19. vers 11. till 21. But what may bee the true meaning and sens of these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I leav to the consideration of judicious Divines It seem's they do not speak of the universal and last Judgment which S t John describeth in his Revelation chap. 20. vers 11 12 13 14. Nay the text doth not bear that the two Acts in the said 19. chapter vers 11. till 21. and chapter 20. vers 11. till 15. shall bee counted for one or reduced together to one and the same time Becaus it appeareth that one thousand years are interposed For the two great Guests the Beast and the fals Prophet are one thousand years before lodged in the Inn in the Lake of fire burning with brimstone then the Hoast the Devil come's who after the one thousand years is associated to them at the end of the world chapter 20. vers 4. Whereupon immediately vers 11. the last Judgment is held Wee are here led into the Mysteries of God into which wee will not too much presume to penetrate nor search too far into them but wee turn and address our selvs both with ears and hearts to the Son of God who standeth at the door knocketh and calleth If anie man hear my voice and open the door I will com into him and will sup with him and hee with mee To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with mee in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Revelations c. 3. vers 20 21. Blessed is now hee that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand chap. 1. vers 3. Elessed is hee that keepeth the sayings of of the Poophesie of this book c. 22. v. 7. Nay blessed are they that do his Commandements that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the Citie v. 14. To him which is and which was and which is to com the Almightie bee glorie and dominion for ever and ever Amen Revel chap. 1. v. 6. 8. A List of the things which are shortly to com to pass collected out of the XI and XVI Chapters of the REVELATION 1. THe last Actus reformationis sive evacuationis of the Evangelical Protestant Churches which will appear in Silesia chap. 11. v. 7. 2. The 3½ years following thereon when the dead bodies of the two Witnesses lie in the street v. 9. till 11. 3. The continuance of wars in those Kingdoms wherein the innocent blood of the Martyrsis is avenged chap. 16. v. 4. 4. The sudden fall of the strong pillar of the Papacie vers 8. 5. The exaltation of an