Judge all the Heathen round about None so blind as those that will not see 10. The glorious City from Gods Throne doth glide EXcept by clear Scripture it be disproved I must believe therefore affirm Rev. 21.2 Ioh. 14.1 2 that the City described by Saint John is a material City that the Carpenters Son hath been these 1600 years preparing it for his Saints and that the cleaving of the Mount of Olives producing that wonderful spacious plain already proved is to receive this glorious City of twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.16 or one thousand five hundred miles compass wherein his Saints shall raign in glory with this Jehovah our Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon indureth If it be said by a mistake of Rev. 21.9 10. That the holy City is call'd the Bride I must answer plainly it is not so but on the contrary if the 9. and 10. Verses be compared with the 24. we shall find them manifestly distinguished and it appears plainly that the design of the Spirit is to shew the Apostle the City where the Bride dwelleth Psal 45.14 Isa 65 18. Ezech. 14.11 and if we shall further consult these Scriptures it will be yet more clear that the City is one thing and the Bride the Saints the glorious Inhabitants in that City another thing But if it should be granted that the City is call'd the Bride there would be little gained by it as to the opposite of this Point because it is ordinary in the Scriptures to term the Inhabitants of the City the City it self as Matt. 11.20 21 22 23. sure it will not be affirmed that the buildings of Capernaum c. are threatned to be thrown into Hell Let the Prophet Ezechiel decide this Controversie from the mouth of the Lord Ezech. 37.27 saying My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea and I will be their God and they shall be my people this is that royal Palace into which the Bride with her Virgins shall enter to solace themselves with our King in unconceivable spiritual delights for ever 11. The Nuptial ditty Vshers in the Bride THe Ancient people of the Lord the natural seed of faithful Abraham after their tedious time of divorcement Isai 62 2 3 4 5. Hos 2.19 20. shall not only be espoused as formerly but now in view of all the world marryed with transcendent joy in highest Glory to the King of glory This is the Royal Bride the Gentiles Saints or Churches are the Virgins her Companions All the Angels in Heaven joyn in Consort to celebrate the Nuptials in that triumphant ditty Alleluja Rev. 19.6 7. for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready so shall she be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work Psal 45.14 15. the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings Palace There is a great question but of no great importance whether the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in before Israels conversion for my own part I am satisfied in this that in respect of a full conversion the work among the Gentiles shall precede but after the Jews effectual Call so glorious will that dispensation be Isai 60 3. That the Gentiles shall come to their light and Kings to the brightness of their rising Yet when all is known and understood which the word discovers of this wonderful Mystery what a small spark is it to the exceeding unconceivable glory of that day of wonders and who would hazard his interest in the glory thereof for all the bewitching painted seeming glories of this luxurious Age 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state HOw miserably are they handled by men of corrupt minds that stand for the honour of Christs Kingdom as though it were carnal delights and earthly pleasures they lookt after if any such there be they will see their vanity and folly perhaps when 't is too late The Saints are of another stamp and are hereby chiefly discerned from hypocrites by seeking holiness rather then happiness it is the pure spiritual immortal glorious state of Christs Kingdom that they believe and profess and expect and that which makes their spirits dance and their souls to leap for joy is the consideration of being fashioned like his glorious body when being free from corruption Phil. 3.21 they shall never sin against God any more not any kinde of pleasure can stand in competition in their pure affections with desire of freedom from sin their King hath taught them and they have learned to know Luk. 20.35 That they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels This is that blessed state of immortality that Saints believe Phil. 3.11 1 Cor. 15.54 and with the blessed Apostle press hard after When this corruption shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up of victory Rom. 8.23 This adoption is that redemption of our bodies that now we wait for Luk. 22.30 Isai 62.9 and shall then enjoy when we shall eat and drink at Christs table in this glorious Kingdom There will be eating and drinking but not as now for in this state of mortality other creatures lose their lives to support ours for so is the word * Acts 10.13 Isai 65.21 in the state of immortality the fruit of the Vine the food appointed Adam in Paradise And only the state of Eternity is supported by God himself 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date THe Lord Jesus Christ is not now in his own proper and peculiar Throne Rev. 3.21 his present station is at the right hand of the Majesty on High even in his Fathers Throne but the glorious Throne that he hath purchased with his precious bloud he will shortly erect upon this Earth for himself and his beloved Saints then shall he have and enjoy the actual return of that request of his Joh. 17.24 That where I am they may be also and this the Saints in Heaven are wondrously affected with and do therefore exceedingly rejoyce in the consideration of this glory which they with their fellow brethren shall enjoy as an addition to their present glory with Christ in his Throne upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. for then and not till then will the glory of our King be compleat when the great voyces of all the heavenly Host shall be heard in the words of the Scripture I am now opening the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 And
shall not be able to stop their mouthes till toward the end of their Testimony they shall prophesie all along though it be not in that external pomp and glory wherewith Popes Cardinals and the rest of the Antichristian rable rout now flourished but all forlorn retired obscured in mournful Sackcloth yet they shall Prophesie the Temple even in the midst of the outward Court that is the Apostatized Church of Rome is given to them and even there do they worship the Lord in purity but so covertly and obscurely that they are not easily discerned especially by the Pope and his scarlet Conclave whose eyes are dazled with external pomp and glory Thus is the Virgin Spouse of Christ and her heavenly Witnesses which in the midst of Heathen Persecutions was clothed in the Royal Robes of her everlasting Husband now become an object of scorn and contempt to those wicked watch-men who what in them lay spoyled and depraved her of that heavenly simplicity and Gospel-purity she lately shined in Rev. 2.13 Now is she become the true Antitype of the Church of Pergamos dwelling in obscurity where Antichrists throne is and there she holdeth fast the Faith and denyeth not the name of her crucified Lord which ever and anon doth cost some faithful Antipas his life And here the blessed Witnesses nourish her and Prophesie against her Adversary that proud Scarlet Strumpet did so defile darken wrack wrest and pervert the holy Scriptures to uphold their abominable Idolatry and Superstition that no other vesture appear'd upon them but sable weeds of sorrowful Sackcloth and when in despight of their fond Allegories and sensual conceits these two Witnesses spake to their faces against the dreadful abominations creeping in so fast this Harlot not able to bear their reproof hating to be reformed Psal 51.17 and rejecting instruction did at length cast behinde them into secret holes and corners these blessed Scriptures of truth so that in the midst of all this Papal Tyranny which daily increased they remaind secretly nourishing the true Church even where the Beast reigned yea in the heart of his dominions the whole term of their testimony in Sackcloth viz. 1260 years during which time this is the Character which is given of the Romish Harlot Mich. Cec. contr Tyrannid Papae Mornaus Myst Iniq. Bez. quaest There were within the Papal Territories two Churches the one of the wicked sort flourishing wherein the Pope reigned the other of godly and good men and this he persecuted so that the Church was under or within the Papacy but the Papacy was not the Church Now this being clear in the word of truth that the true Church remains alive in the midst of this dead sea and is preserved like Jonah in the belly of this monstrous Leviathan What will become of that empty flourish of a vaunting Jesuite Where was your Church before Luther We see to the high prayses of our eterternal King that it was in the Ark in the midst of the great Deluge in Goshen in the midst of the Egyptian darkness in the den amidst those roaring Lyons in the furnace safe and secure in the extremest heat of Popish persecution And is now come forth of that great Tribulation as pure gold out of that fiery Tryal as a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord Isai 62.3 and a Royal Diadem in the hand of our God But who can marvel at this foolish question of blinde Papists when the poverty obscurity and simplicity of the True Church and her abstruse Witnesses is considered how could their eyes so grosly blinded with the black scales of ambition pomp luxury behold or discern such contemptible objects as the Church in her exile and her Witnesses in their Sackcloth Did not their Fathers the Scribes and Pharises grope in the same Egyptian darkness when they could not discern a Messias though working wonders even in the very midst of them their Holinesses lookt too high to behold Christ in a Carpenters coat even like His prophane wickedness who sitting in that Chayr of pestilence at Rome could not perceive the holy City under his feet nor the heavenly Witnesses in their mournful habit of both which their Predecessors and themselves are alike wilfully ignorant to this day O the distinguishing love of a gracious Father Why should not we be thus blind and ignorant shall we see the cause Luke 10.21 I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight The fourth Verse These are the two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth Mr. Mede saith Clav. Apoc. pag. 11. 12. there lieth hidden in these words an Hebraism having this signification viz. The two Olive-trees at or besides the two Candlesticks Annotat. Zech. 4.3 they are said to stand by the sides of the Candlestick or as the London Ministers have it With the two Candlesticks or Churches so that the Churches are one thing and the Witnesses feeding them another thing These two Olive-trees are plainly called the word of the Lord Zech. 4.6 not Zerubbabel and Joshua as some imagine nor Enoch and Elias as others conjecture nor Christ and his Saints as a third conceive nor Burton and Prynne as hath been confidently affirmed but all with as much show of truth as that the two Houses of this present Parliament should be them but all these conceits and all other fancies of like nature are not worth the Answer as having not the least ground or warrant in that blessed Rule that is able to make the man of God wise unto salvation others have supposed that they are the Word and Spirit And our English Prophet Mr. Brightman thinks they are the holy Scriptures and the Churches of the Saints But this may not be granted for these reasons 1. The Scriptures and the Saints cannot die one kinde of death and there is not the least appearance in the Word of any difference or distinction in their sufferings and we must be sure to keep close to the Reed that was given John to measure all true Believers by 2. The Saints cannot be said in any cleer sence to rise again three years and a half after their sufferings at the time mentioned by Mr. Brightman 3. It is evident that the Saints suffered as great misery and were as vehemently persecuted after his supposed resurrection as at any time before which were absurd and without any Scripture ground to conceive of the Witnesses after their reviving 4. Rev. 12.6 The Saints are the woman or Church and the Witnesses distinctly added for her aid succour and support in her exile 1260 dayes or years Therefore the Saints and the Scriptures both cannot be the Witnesses But some who have thought that these two Witnesses are the Word and Spirit do come nearest the truth and
in some sence this is truth of which more anon The two Olive-trees which we are enquiring of are called the Witnesses distinct from the Candlesticks for though our Translators have coupled them together by the conjunction and yet we have been enformed that at or besides is more proper and significant according to Zech. 4.3 But I have determined never to receive any testimony of man how excellent soever unless it be strongly backt and substantially supported by that cleer fountain of life the testimony of Truth Isai 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them And this testimony even this very word discovers more heavenly light then I was aware of for in this Text the Scirptures are plainly cald a Testimony or Witness Let the answer to Zechary's question cleer the truth hereof more fully the Prophet having a Vision of these two Olive-trees which are plainly said to stand by the Candlestick Zech. 4.3 asketh the Angel what they were to which he answered This is the word of the Lord that is to say the Scriptures which before are called the Law and the Testimony and this word of the Lord held forth by two Olive-trees is purposely produced for the cherishing and establishing of that Temple-work that Zerubbabel had in hand as if the Lord should say Let this enform and assure you that though mountains of difficulties appear Neh. 6.1 though Tobiah and Sanballat the exact type of Pope and Cardinals and many false brethren use all means to hinder and destroy my Temple-work though my Candlestick be now in a low mean obscure condition yet my work shall go on and prosper the Word is gone out of my mouth it is upon record in the writings of my Prophets and therefore cannot fail but these Scriptures of truth shall continually stand by my Candlesticks like two Olive-trees conveying by my seven sorts of Instruments as by so many Pipes such plentiful nourishment as shall be able to support my Churches in the most forlorn exiled wilderness estate this was the condition of the distressed Church opposed by Potent Enemies aswell in the time of the great builder Zerubbabel as in the time of the great builder Constantine and this also is worth our consideration that neither the Enemies of the Jews then nor the Enemies of the true Saints now were such professedly but made a great show of friendship Come say they we will build with you Ezra 4.2 for we seek your God as ye do But they secretly conspired against the Jews endevouring by all possible means to hinder the work And this was the speech and thus was the practice of that Iobiah of Rome and those other secret Enemies in the time of Constantine And now the word of the Lord is the only visible support and supply of the poor distressed woman and this word of the Lord stands like two Olive Trees on each side the Candlesticks Zech. 4.11.12 Rev. 11.6 or true Churches yielding constant nourishment to the Saints in their 1260. years misery all which being diligently compared and seriously considered raiseth my apprehensions to these conclusions 1. The two Olive trees are the holy Scriptures or Two Testaments 2. The Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. The two Branches of the Two Olive Trees are Doctrine and Discipline 4. The Golden Pipes of the Candlesticks are the Ministers of the Churches For the clearing of these I shall make my address to that Chrystal fountain from whence one cleer testimony is to me of more validity then all the Arguments in the world This light the Spirit of truth is pleased to Communicate in this 4. Vers of the 11. Chapter of the Revelation that these witnesses are two Olive Trees which must be so understood as Christ is a Vine a Door a Stone a Nail c. That is not really Though I depend not upon mans testimony yet you may note that Austin the flower of Antiquity was fully of this judgment but figuratively so these blessed witnesses have the same use and therefore are fitly compared unto Olive Trees First That these two Olive Trees are expresly called the word of the Lord hath been already proved from Zech. 4.6 and though this might abundantly satisfie being joyned with that of Isa 8.20 yet for the further Evidence of this truth let us consider the nature of the Olive tree Rom. 11. Rom. 11.17 from which the Jews were broken off and I believe it will cleerly appear that the Olive Tree there mentioned is none other but the word of God growing up and drawing sap from the eternall word the Lord Jesus Christ the root of this tree whereof faithful Abraham was only a Type And that the breaking off the unbelieving Jews was their separation from procured by their contempt of the doctrine of salvation contained in the Scripture these Rom. 3.2 Mat. 10.5.6 Acts. 11.19.13.46 and only these were the children of the Kingdome to whom only the pure Oracles of God were committed to whom only the Gospel was Commanded to be preached and to whom only for a long time it was Preached till they rejecting this heavenly juyce putting away the sap and fatness of this Olive Tree thereby judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life So that this Act of theirs in putting from them the word of God causing those words of Paul and Barnabas Lo we turn to the Gentiles was the breaking of them off from the Olive Tree the eternal word it is worth our consideration that the Apostle cals it their own Olive Tree Rom 11.24 Mat. 15.26 as the Lord Jesus also cals the word of Salvation their bread They are here said to be cut off from the Olive Tree upon which they did grow and we are graffed upon that stock or tree from which they were cut now it is plain that we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles Ephes 2.02 and Prophets which I am sure are the two Testaments that make out the Lord Jesus Christ who is the root of this Olive Tree For the further Illustration of this truth that it was the doctrine of salvation conteined in the Scriptures from which these Jews were broken off and consequently that this Olive tree is none other then the word of God let us examine what those two staves in Zachary are with which the Lord himself fed this stiff-necked obstinate People and this will plainly appear to be the holy Scriptures or word of God and least it should be deemed the humane fancy of a conceited Brain take the naked words as they lie in the Scripture I took unto me two staves the one I called beauty and the other I called bands and I fed the flock Zech. 11.7 And I took my staff even beauty and cut it asunder and it was broken in that day and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew
certain rule for his Subjects to walk by till his second Personal appearance denouncing Anathema to all such as shall presume to prescribe any other rule or pretend any voyce or vision revelation or inspiration beside or against this sure word of Prophesie Here we see the transcendent excellency and unparallel'd Dignity of these glorious Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ upon this sure foundation we are built to this sure Word we do well if we take heed it being the Character of a truly blessed man to make these testimonies his delight Psal 1.2 and to meditate herein continually abominating the Witchcrafts Sorceries and cunningly devised Fables of such as come with all plausible sweet affable carriage and mild pleasant behaviour lieing in wait all the while to deceive with inticing words smooth as oyl saluting the Lord Jesus Christ with a Hail King of the Jews thou art most excellent the chief of ten thousand full of grace are thy lips pleasant yea most lovely is thy voyce all thy odours are fragrant therefore the Virgins love thee and the like expressions Here 's a beautiful cup indeed who would dream there should be any Poyson in it But amongst all these heavenly truths comes up secretly one little horn or a beast having two horns like the Lamb but he speaks like the Dragon bringing in such an expression as this as he finds a fit opportunity when he hath pretty well wrought upon his Auditory Oh saith he of Christ thou art the most glorious Creature in heaven or earth who would not run after thee who would not be ravisht with thine excellency thou chief among all the Gods c. And now hath many a filly fish swallowed this pleasant bait hook and all and little dreams of a foundation here laid to destroy the divinity and eternal diety of Christ and to make him a Creature-God These Jesuitical Principles are plainly detected in some that would go for Gospel preachers in these daies whom the Lord Jesus whom they thus dishonour will shortly consume with the breath of his Nostrils and utterly destroy with the brightness of his comming except they repent But to return having cleerly as I conceive proved the holy Scriptures or two Testaments to be the two Witnesses of Christ or the two Olive-trees spoken of by Zachary and John I descend to the other conclusions mentioned as Secondly That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints which in Zechary's time was but one National Church of the Jews and therefore by him said to be but one Candlestick but in Saint Johns time they are sometimes called two Zech. 4.2 Rev. 11.4.1.20 1 Cor. 14.33 sometimes seven that is many several Congregations of Saints springing from the Lord Jesus Christ the Root of the Olive tree or the bowle of the Candlestick being daughters of that heavenly mother Jerusalem that is above 〈…〉 .26 Ephes 3.15 Hebr. 12.22 or the whole family in heaven and earth the general assembly and Church of the first born the several congregated Churches in Gospel order as so many Branches of this great Candlestick which also are themselves called Candlesticks growing and increasing by the heavenly Artifice of those Instruments that Christ hath designed for this building till we all come in the unity of the faith Ephes 4.13 and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and this is the Catholique or universal Church and not any other Churches neither National Provincial or any other devise of Antichrist have the least appearance in the Gospel save only I say those particular congregated Churches which are planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6 5. being as so many similar parts of this universal Church of Christ his compleat glorious body Thirdly The two Branches of the two Olive-trees are the Doctrine and Discipline of the Churches these two are the Rod Psal 23 4. and the staffe with which the Lord did lead and feed his servant David and when the abominable wickedness of those Idol Shepheards which he placed over his ancient People was ripe for destruction Zech. 11.7 the Lord himself pittying the Flock that had escaped the slaughter of those wicked Shepheards takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and his ruling Rod of Discipline and with these he feeds the poor of the Flock till by their ingratitude and high provocations Acts 13.46 rebelliously rejecting the tenders of Grace and the word of Salvation they so exceedingly incensed the Lord against them that he takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and cuts it asunder and it was broken in that day when the dreadful word was uttered Lo we turn to the Gentiles Now was the Doctrine of salvation which they had so long slighted and abused hid from their eyes Luk. 19.42 of which the Lord Jesus had warned them with strong cryes and tears as pittying the obstinacy of this his People Indeed there remained yet among them some external forms and shadows a body without a soul a Lanthern without a Candle The rod of Discipline or staff of Bands was not yet broken and this they rested on crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord but as they regarded not so the knowledge of the most High was departed from them and at last a total rejection and absolute exclusion of this rebellious people by the Lords breaking his other staff of bands and this was done by the destruction of that Temple they so much trusted in and so grosly abused by Prophaness and Idolatry Thus was the prediction of our blessed Lord fulfilled by Vespatian and Titus fourty yeers after his Ascention when the Temple being fired could not possibly be quenched by any industry of man yea so eminently and remarkably did the hand of God appear against this Place and People that the heathen Titus confessed That he had only lent his hands and help to God in this work Now did the Lord give them a bill of divorce upon which they were exposed to such direful plagues and woful miseries as never befel to any People as Histories do abundantly testifie Mat. 24.21 according to the Scriptures And thus I have delivered what I apprehend to be the sence and meaning of the two Branches of the two Olive-trees namely the Doctrine and Discipline of the Scriptures which pour out of themselves that golden oyl continually Zech 4.12 Rev. 12.6 by which the Churches of Christ are fed in all Ages Fourthly The last general conclusion from this fourth of Zechary is that the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches through which the golden Oyl is conveighed from the two Olive-trees the two Testaments by the branches of Doctrine and Discipline into the Candlestick the Church to feed and nourish her Rev. 12.6 These Pipes in the second Verse of this fourth of Zechary Zech. 4.2 are said to be seven which in the
twelfth Verse are called The eyes of the Lord which run too and fro through the whole Earth Now what these seven eyes are may be found out by that means which the Lord Jesus hath appointed viz. searching the Scriptures S. John will tell us that these seven eyes sent forth into all the Earth Rev. 5.6 Rev. 1.4 Rev. 8.2 are the seven Spirits of God which are before his Throne that these thus standing before him are the seven Angels with Trumpets which are none other then the Ministers of the Churches as they are plainly called Rev. 1.20 They are called the seven Spirits because as they are abundantly filled so they are imployed by the Spirit which so mightily over-powers them that they seem many times to be nothing but Spirit taking their denomination from the most noble part in them which is the Spirit as Paul speaks Not 1 1 Cor. 15.10 Act. 15.28 Mat. 5 14. but the grace of God which was with me These seven eyes are the light of the world appointed by the Lord Jesus that corner stone upon which they stand Zechary 3.9 for the building of his Church Eph. 4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 c. for the perfecting of his Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ And these seven are thus distinguished in the holy Scriptures those faithful Witnesses of truth 1. Prophets 2. Apostles 3. Evangelists 4. Pastours 5. Teachers 6. Ruling Elders 7. Deacons These are the seven sorts of Officers or seven Pillars that the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdom of the Father Prov. 9.1 Gal. 2 9. hath hewn out for the building of his great house the Church These are his golden Pipes so called by the Spirit of the Lord as conveighing this precious liquor this divine Treasure of the heavenly word for nourishment to the poor Church as well in her Wilderness condition as in all Ages though these blessed instruments of Christ term themselves but earthen Vessels that so the excellency of this heavenly Treasure which is conveighed through them 2 Cor. 4.7 may the more redound to the glory of God yet the Spirit cals them golden Pipes These seven mentioned in the second Verse are more comprehensively reduced unto two golden Pipes vers 12. answerable whereunto those seven sorts of Officers mentioned are comprehended under the two chief Eph. 2.20 that is Apostles and Prophets upon whose foundation we are built Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone And thus I suppose it is evident that I have not presumed without clear warrant from the Law and the Testimony to affirm 1. That the two Olive-trees are the two Testaments or those Witnesses of Christ appointed to feed the Church as in all Ages so through the whole course of Papal Persecution viz. one thousand two hundred and threescore years 2. That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. That the two Olive-branches are Doctrine and Discipline 4. That the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches The fifth Verse And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their Enemies and if any man will hurt them he must on this manner be killed The Pope and his Parasites had power enough and did exercise that power to the utmost in killing and spoyling tormenting and harrasing the poor Saints in this time of their exile and therefore the Saints cannot possibly be the Witnesses as some have conceived many a precious servant of Jesus lost his life for the Witnesses sake that is for holding close to the Law to the Testimony those Witnesses of Christ against the Antichristian Tyranny of their bloody persecutors but to the wonder and amazement of the World to the high praises of our God be it for ever acknowledged they had no power to overcome or suppress the Scriptures till toward the end of their prophesie or finishing their testimony in Sackcloth I know many had an earnest desire to destroy them they wanted no will to the work but maugre all their rage and malice though they dig'd as deep as Hell leaving no stone unturnd that might seem to conduce to the support of their Tyrannical Antichristian State yet whether they judged the Scriptures of no weight or slighting them as below the glory of their Babel or whether the terror of the Curse Rev. 22.18 like fire in their bones deterred them or what other secret operation it was I know not but by the mighty power of God these heavenly Witnesses have been wonderfully preserved in this Babylonish Captivity through the whole course of their Prophesie in Sackcloth 1260 years The sixth Verse These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophesie and have power over waters to turn them into bloud and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will While the Saints are in Goshen the Kingdom of Antichrist is smitten with sundry plagues the effects of the Saints prayers but none so dreadful as that universal thick darkness that soon over-spred the whole Land of the Beast Rev. 16.10 while the holy Spouse of Christ troden under-foot enjoys the light of her Beloveds shining face to whom it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God but the scarlet Strumpet in the midst of all her brags that she is no widdow but the wife of Christ that her eldest son is his Vicar that she is Infallible and cannot be deceived is given up to a spirit of slumber and strong delusions to believe lyes Mark 4.11 that seeing they might see and not perceive and hearing they might hear and not understand lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them No dew of Grace descends upon those cursed Families the waters of the Sanctuary are now by little and little stopt from them at first the great burning Mountain the Beneficence of the great Constantine being cast into the Sea of Rome Rev 8.8 9. a third part presently became blood and the third part of the Ministers in that Church with their adherents departed from the Faith a while after the whole Sea was generally poysoned and became as the bloud of a dead man Rev. 16 3. and so there was an universal revolt from the doctrine of salvation to lying Fables vain Superstitions Miracles Signs and Wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and every living foul that drank this poyson in the Cup of her abominations presently dyed How the fire that proceeded out of the mouthes of the Witnesses hath devoured their Enemies and how they have smote their Enemies with all manner of plagues is very remarkable Multitudes of Examples might be produced of which take a taste Surely the fiery indignation of the Lord hath been wonderfully manifested against these desperate Antichristian Enemies in their cursed Attempts to race deface corrupt or any way to hurt these Divine
Witnesses the holy Scriptures in their 1260 years Sackcloth The Emperour Valence infected with the Arrian Heresie opposing the Scriptures and the Divinity of Christ Ruff. lib. 2. cap. 13. after a shamefull flight before the Enemy got into a little house which being suddenly set on fire consumed this cursed miscreant Dioclesian for burning the holy Scriptures Ruff. having been tormented with sundry diseases in his body and his house burned with fire from Heaven at last being terrified with Thunder fell mad and killed himself Olimpus Bishop of Carthage an Arrian Heretick blaspheming the holy Trinity Paul Diacon Ann. 510. was immediately struck dead with a three-forked thunder-bolt Anastatius Dicorus a grievous Enemy to the Lord and his blessed Witnesses Zenoras lib. 3. the holy Scriptures was distroyed with Thunder and Lightning For this same detestable wickedness the City of Antioch was consumed with fire from Heaven in the seventh yeer of Justinus the Emperour Other Hereticks in the time of Pope Innocent the Third denying the Resurrection and defiling the holy Scriptures with Urine c. were destroyed at once by War and Fire to the number of 100000. A Treasurer of Julian the Apostate Chrysost lib. 1. cap. 34. as he was mocking and deriding at the holy Word of God fell a vomiting up his own blood his privie parts rotting putrifying and consuming with lice he died therewith most miserably Arrius that arch-Heretick having blasphemed the Lord Jesus and his blessed Word Theodor. and after pretending a recantation of his Errors and subscribing his name to the truth from whence having quickly revolted again he was smitten suddenly with such horrible pangs in his guts that seeking to ease himself his breath was stopt and his guts ran out of his fundament and so he dyed upon his own excrements Pope Leo the Tenth a prophane scoffer at the holy Scriptures Theatr. Judg. pag. 144. calling the Gospel a Fable was in the midst of his horrible blasphemies surprized by death from the immediate hand of God Nestorius the Heretick Nâ—ceph lib. 3 cap. 36. opposing the Divinity of Christ and blaspheming the Scriptures in his banishment was tormented with such a fearful disease that his blasphemous tongue was gnawed in pieces by worms and the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed him up Pope Julius a notable despiser of Gods Word Pale was another like object of his fierce wrath So Julian Apostata Theodor. lib. 3 c. 11 jeering and scoffing at Maries Son and his blessed Word and Ordinances had his entrals secretly rotted and vomiting up his excrements he died Denterius an Arrian Bishop baptizing in a blasphemous manner contrary to the Scripture viz. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father through the Son in the holy Ghost the water suddenly vanished the like also befel to Paulus a Novation Bishop Cerinthus the Heretick obscuring the everlasting Gospel Euscb was overwhelmed with the sudden fall of an hot-House In the year of our Lord 420. many thousands were distroyed for the like indignities offered to the holy Scriptures as an evident testimony of the great power of these blessed Witnesses Doctor Whittington in the raign of Henry the Seventh having miserably afflicted a Christian woman in Chipping-Sadbury for her use of the Scriptures Theatr. Judg. pag. 60 61. and having past the sentence of death upon her as an Heretick a Bull breaking loose from a place far distant ran violently through the throng of people without hurting any till he came to the Doctor thrusting him at the first blow through the paunch and after often goring him trailed his guts upon his horns about the Street while the people stood astonished with admiration Thus by a few Examples of many that might be produced is the wrathfull indignation of a mighty offended Majesty evidently demonstrated against such as durst presumptuously attempt to hurt the blessed Witnesses the holy Scriptures during the time of their 1260 years Prophesie in Sackcloth The seventh Verse And when they shall he about for so the word is to be translated to finish their testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them Let us now look back again and before we speak of the finishing let us consider diligently when they began their testimony in Sackcloth That they began to put on Sackcloth at that time exactly and precisely when the Church fled into the Wilderness is cleer Apoc. 12.6 and that they should continue with her prophesying in Sackcloth in her exile Ibid. and affliction the whole term of 1260 yeers is cleer also And I believe there is none but Papists and their Fellows but will readily grant that the Woman is the Primitive Churches Isa 51.16.61.10.60.19 covered with Christ her Husband the true Son of Righteousness and trampling upon all inferiour sublunary things Acts 2.45.4.34 c. Phil. 3.7 8. crowned with her twelve bright infallible Stars whose heavenly Doctrine and Discipline made her eminently glorious in those Primitive times before the forth of mens invention had soyled her pure garments those precious Robes of Righteousness wherewith she was most richly adorned by her Royal Husband looking upon all earthly glory with an eye of scorn and contempt And now her pregnant womb being become fruitful Isai 54.1.61.10 and her former barrenness taken away according to those precious Promises made unto her The ten Primitive Persecutions she travels and labors through many a bitter pang of heathen persecution crying in pain to be delivered which that ancient Enemy of mankind perceiving he stands ready before the distressed afflicted persecuted Church to devour her child as soon as it was born At the end of three hundred years her long looked for hour came when to the exceeding great joy of all true Saints she was delivered of a Man-child Ann. 304. viz. the first Christian Emperour Constantine who breaking forth like the Sun-beams in glorious raies for the dispelling of those dismal clouds of bloudy persecution which had so miserably harrased the Churches he openly taking upon him the patronage of the Gospel performed most glorious exploits for the honour of the Lord Jesus and by the martial prowis of a victorious Arm blessed by many wonderful Atchievements he ruled all the Nations with a Rod of Iron the weight whereof Maxentius and Licinius among many others did feel to purpose But all this while the Dragon roars wonderfully having drawn to his Party the third part of the Stars endeavouring by all possible means to devour this manly Son of the Church first by his instruments Dioclesian and Galerius who exposing him to the rage and fury of the Samaritans and failing herein of their design by his unexpected victorious return they contrived a way to devour him by engaging him with a Lyon under a pretence of trying his valor many other snares were laid to take away
his life but none so dangerous as that Arrian gulf wherein the Dragon with the third part of those fallen Stars endeavoured to swallow him From all which cursed designs he was wonderfully and even miraculously preserved by that gratious hand who took him up to his Throne viz. the Royal Thorne of the Empire the highest honor and dignity in the world and to make his glory compleat indeed he was from his former Idolatry caught up to the chast imbraces of the Spouse of the Lord Jesus that blessed holy Throne where the great Jehovah delighted to sit while it continued pure To this and all other Churches of Saints Rev 8.8 Now was that voyce from heaven heard viz. this day is poyson powred forth into the Church for now Christs is death slighted and errors c. prevail abundantly he presently became not only a famous Protector but a most bountifull benefactor heaping mountains of Royal favours upon them in so much as he is supposed through his fervent zeal manifested in wonderfull beneficence to be that burning Mountain cast into the sea upon which the third part of the sea of Rome suddainly became blood that is the third part of her doctrine and discipline was corrupted by the third part of the Stars that the Dragon drew down after him which fallen stars being now at rest and peace this peace producing plenty and that luxury all which beget ambitious designs which having the bounty of a Royal Emperor as a fit object before them they not knowing how to manage such a prosperous estate having been so long pressed down with cruel persecutions and deep afflictions do suck in this liberality with so much greediness that they cease not swelling till they burst with it into such excessive pride pomp state cruelty luxury and all kind of wickedness that they force the poor woman even as soon as she hath but newly brought forth her man-child to flie into the Wilderness Rev. 12.5 6. that is into holes and corners anywhere to enjoy her Beloved in the purity of his Ordinances with which she is fed and nourished by her two Witnesses the holy Scriptures prophesying in Sackcloth with her 1260 yeers And now that an open gap might be made for the man of Sin to be set up in his Chayr of Pestilence the Royal man-child translateth his Imperial Throne from Rome to Constantinople 2 Thes 2.7 Comment of the London Ministers and so the let spoken of by S. Paul being by the judgement of most of the ancient Doctors of the Church the Romane Empire by this removal of Constantine taken out of the way Pope Sylvester taking hold of this opportunity of the Emperours absence laden too heavily with many royal favors layes the foundation of Babel but yet so secretly privily covertly and obscurely that a very curious diligent eye could hardly discern it in these beginnings and indeed had it not wrought so obscurely and almost indiscernably it could not have been the Mystery of Iniquity and therefore the Prophet Daniel though throughly acquainted with this working of the man of Sin is brought in diligently observing and prying very narrowly before he could discern him so secret and obscure were his beginnings Dan. 11.21 Dan. 7.8 hardly suspected of any as being a horn too little at first to be feared but as little as it is it loseth no time to make it self great but partly by flatteries subtile insinuations highly raising the same merit of such as were bountiful and liberal to the Churches vehemently exciting others to the like beneficence till at last he is heightned by obtaining of Kingdoms and Provinces to an open discovery of himself to be that great Antichrist Thus in his Infancy he begins to erect the Chayr of Pestilence for no man denyeth saith Guicciardin that the Translation of the Empire was the first cause of the Popes Authority Hist Trent pag. 833. Hakewil Apol. pag. 473. For now the people of Rome withdrew their obedience from the Emperors by occasion of their absence and it is the confession of the Jesuits themselves that the Empire was not only then translated but even long since dissolved and so the great Let removed and an open door set for the Papal Kingdom to be elevated by degrees to its heigth of impiety which must likewise by degrees come to utter ruine and destruction as the foundation of Babel is now laid upon the translation of the Empire from Rome so the poor woman the true Church of Christ perceiving the Mystery of Iniquity beginning to work not able to side with the pomp pride ambition superstition and all kinde of wickedness that the most are drownd in she flies into the Wilderness which is no other then the few faithful Saints that kept close to the Rule associating together in some private corners even in the midst of Rome the outward Court as also many precious societies of Saints did in London and other places in England and Wales in the late dayes of bloody Antichristian Prelates giving up themselves to the Lord and one to another Even so did this virgin Spouse of Christ keep close to the Faith holding fast to her first love being fed and nourished with the pure lively Oracles these heavenly Witnesses of Christ in these secret corners and retired covert places in the midst of Pergamos where Satans seat was And this is that Wilderness condition and obscure hiding place that God prepared for her and her Witnesses that there she might be securely preserved from the unfaithful Watch men who having learned to lord it over Gods Heritage and to smite their fellow servants and to eat and to drink with the drunken and to abuse this simple Spouse of Christ and take away her vail these and such like actions as these is the treading underfoot the holy City by these degenerate Romish Gen. tiles the outward Court which are now generally infected with the Arrian Heresie and other dreadful abominations Taylor Libert pag. 141. 143. This is the Revelation of our English Prophet Brightman Rev. Apoc. p. 79. who saith that no sooner did some peaceable conditions begin to appear and Heathenish Tyranny cease but straightway did the Bishops begin to be set on fire with spiteful dissentions c. the Bishops of Rome even so early boasting with brags of pride in Peters Chayr and succession from him upon whom they affirm the foundations of the Church is laid and this foolish conceit produced that presumptious Edict that Tertullian who lived in the third Century condemned I hear saith he that there is a peremptory Edict set forth of late Trap. Comment pag. 291. Thus saith the chief Priest the Bishop of Bishops c. I hate saith Basil the pride of that Western Church And thus by this excessive pride of these Romish Gentiles boasting of their external glory and lustre they do plainly declare to the world that they are none of the true Church hid
will plead with them there Thither cause thy mighty ones to come O Lord. 11.12 Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about the Heathens must come up to the Valley the Saints must come down And it will be worth our labours to consider the rest of this third Chapter of Joel which will give much light to this truth for after the Lords Throne is thus erected in the Valley of Jehosaphat it is said that the Lord will dwell in Zion and that there shall be abundance of rich blessings there 17 18. And that for ever as long as the Moon endureth But because the Valley of Jehosaphat Psal 72. Dan 7.14 as it now is hath not capacity or extent to receive the New Jerusalem therefore the Prophet Zachary tells us that it shall be wonderfully enlarged by the dividing of the Mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great Valley For the valley of the Mountains shall reach unto Azal Vers 5 All the land shall be turned as a Plain from Geba to Rimmon 10. and it shal be inhabited in her place 11. And men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited and how should it be otherwise when the Prince of Peace shal reign in Glory in the midst of it This then is the place of which the Lord speaketh Isa 65 10. Rev. 24.4 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying here Lord let my soul flourish with thee and thy Saints according to thy Word Rev. 3.21 Fourthly the fourth thing to be discovered is when this Lord of Glory and King of Saints will come to reign in this his Kingdom on Earth and first it is plain that it was not in the dayes of his humiliation for as he is answering his Disciples question about his coming to Judgement Mat. 24.25.6 he tells them the time of it is then when all the Virgins seeing the signs and hearing the voyce or cry Go forth to meet him coming as a Bridegroom to marry his Church that is the whole body of his Saints which will be then compleated and brought together into one place Mat. 24.28 Joh 10.16 where in the view of all the world the Marriage will be gloriously solemnized And secondly it is as plain that this Glorious Reign cannot be after the day of Judgement for then there would be a change in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.24 since it is clear that after Christs Reign and subduing of all his enemies he must give up the Kingdome to his Father Then thirdly it cannot be the spirituall Reign of Christ in that way as most dream which they conceive is now in being and that Christ will never come to Reign any other way save onely in greater purity then he doth now by his Spirit Which fond imaginations as they have not the least substantial Pillar from the word of Truth to support them so the contrary is plain and evident from the clear current of that pure fountain namely that the Lord Jesus Christ will come then and not till then to take to himself his great Power and Reign when all the signs that are to precede his coming are visibly discovered which I am sure are not yet as shall be shewed in its place Again the Spirit was given in a most glorious eminent manner far exceeding present dispensations when the Apostles Generally and Saint John more particularly waited for Act. 3.20 21. Rom. 8.23 1 Thes 4.17 Rev. 1 7. and yet expected this Glorious Personal Reign of Christ as abundance of unerring Witnesses do testifie but in special the present Scripture that I am now opening namely Rev. 11.15 which plainly declareth that the Personal * See Rev. 1.7 Reign of Christ is to begin when the seventh Trumpet is sounding at that time and not before when the seventh Trumpet begins to sound Rev. 10.7 shall this great Mystery be accomplished And certain I am that the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ was gloriously eminent before any of the seven Angels began to sound and therefore it cannot be only the spiritual Kingdom of Christ that is here spoken of and so the time is not yet in being of this Reign of Christ As therefore we must not cast off our expectation of nor our diligent constant watching waiting for this Personal Glorious manifestation on the one hand saying with that evil servant My Lord delayeth his coming and so split our selves upon the desperate rock of carnal security Neither must we run upon that other shelf of a vain ungrounded conceit that he is already come Mat. 24.23 24 25 26 27. whereof our Lord himself hath given us fair warning the Lord give us hearts to receive and embrace it It is not then the spiritual Reign which we now enjoy but the personal glorious truly spiritual Reign which we shall shortly enjoy that is the Life and Crown and Hope and Comfort of many precious enlightned Saints who have found such sweet support succour and solace from this sure Pillar of divine truth that all the delusions of Sathan in this luxurious giddy Age hath not been able to shake The ignorance of this soul-ravishing Gospel-truth is that horrible Gulph that hath swallowed up thousands who finding in the words of truth such glorious things spoken of this day of the Lord but through ignorance in this Mystery and the cunning slights of Sathan who transforms himself to an Angel of Light are deluded in their sence and all their intellectuals beleeving that Christ is come already and doth Reign already whereupon they conclude to throw away all Ordinances for say they Christ hath commanded us to use them till his coming and no longer Do this till I come hold fast till I come Occupy till I come Nay so far hath this restless spirit of error prevailed with some as to beleeve that Christ hath already Reigned that he hath already given up the Kingdom to his Father and that now God is all in all that they live in God that they are God c. And now this Prince of darkness hath plaid his part to purpose now he hath possessed them not only with a distast of Ordinances and slighting of them but now away go Scriptures Christ and all they are a lye an Allegory he a shadow a Type c. and now Sathan hath his will having deceived them so far as to deny the Lord that bought them for he well knows that there is no other name given under heaven to bring salvation but this Christ whom they thus reject and now he is cock sure of them and now they are ripe
their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away And thus will he perform the second more glorious work upon their souls for a through conversion And now I do heartily desire for the confirmation of Saints and for the confutation of such as deny the glorious personal Reign of Christ that they will seriously consider and weigh those cleer proofs of Scripture that do so fully establish this truth viz. That when the Jews shall be thus wonderfully converted Jer. 33.14 15 16. Joel 3.1 2. even then and not before shall this King of glory take to himself his great power and Reign what can be more plain and clear then this In those days and at that time see those other Scriptures now will this glorious Mystery be fulfilled which hath been so largely held forth by all the Prophets Rev. 10.6 7. the seventh Angel is now sounding who swears that time shall no longer be delayed but the Lord Jesus that high and mighty one shall gird his sword upon his thigh and wonderfully bring in this his ancient people to whom shall all Saints be joyned with transcendent glory Wilt thou admit such a one as I into this glory Lord 4. To Babel burning an eternal fall SIons restauration must be Babels confusion the same blessed day that brings forth Jerusalems safety and felicity will also produce Romes ruine and everlasting misery I do not undertake which of these shall precede whether the Jews Call or Romes Fall I believe they will neither of them be long a doing it may be as sudden as our change shall be Zeph. 1.18 Joel 3.4 he will certainly make a speedy riddance swiftly and speedily will he return Romes recompence upon the accursed heads of all her children But that which the word of truth is full and clear in is that Rome Antichrist and all their adherents Rev. 14.8.16.17 c. 17 1â—.18.2 c. Jer. 51.8 c. shall certainly be destroyed and that I may prosecute my design or rather the design of the Spirit of God it is plain that Antichrist and Rome shall be destroyed even then and not before the Lord Jesus shall come in Person 2 Thes 2.8 he is now consuming him with the Spirit of his mouth but he shall give up the ghost at the brightness of his coming But since this is the day of Antichrist's consumption in which we live it behoves all true hearted Saints diligently to consider what the will and minde of the Lord is concerning us how he would have us be acted in order to the accomplishment of this great design First we must joyn in prayer with our fellow brethren under the Altar Rev. 6.9 10. and give the holy One of Israel no rest till Babylon be consumed and Jerusalem be made a praise in the Earth And secondly we must set hand and heart purse and person to the work even the great work the strange Act that he is doing for and by his Saints yea let every one that is the redeemed of the Lord say I will have a hand in her destruction Jer. 51.1.2 c. Psal 137. â— 9 yea blessed yea happy shall he be that hath his hands deepest dyed in the blood of her children 5. The world combined hath a fatal blow THis is the fifth remarkable change that will help to celebrate the triumphs of the glorious day for as the long enthralled Jews and Israelites are entred into their ancient Land and have newly got Possession of the present Jerusalem their potent Enemies Turk Pope c who have long detained them in a miserable slavery shal raise huge Armies to pursue them Dan. 11.45 and shal plant their Tabernacles in the glorious holy mountain see this fully Ezek. 38.4 5 6 9.15 16. and Chap. 39.6 And shall begirt their new-obtained City Zâ—ch 14.2 which they shall speedily storm and take and reduce these most miserable distressed people into such dreadful calamities Dan. 12.1 Zâ—ch 12.10 11. as the like was never heard of since there was a Nation even to that same time but in the midst of these sad straights fearful horror and dismal darkness when nothing but black despair or a second more miserable slavery then ever is before them the great Prince of the Kings of the Earth shall appear in some wonderful manner to them Dan. 12.1 and shal go forth and fight against those Nations and put such terror into their hearts and such courage into the hearts of his unarmed people Isa 14.2 that they shall take them captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their oppressors 6. Satan confined to his den below HIs present condition is a Princely Rule in the ayr and in the hearts of the children of disobedience but in these Halcyon days will that blessed voyce be heard amongst the Saints Now is come salvation and strength Rev. 12.10 20.1 and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down For the Angel shall binde and shut him up in the bottomless Pit to which he shall be confined for a thousand years during which restraint he shall not be able no not to tempt his own vassals but they shall willingly serve the Saints for the preservation of their lives till the thousand years be fulfilled Vers 3. And after that he must he loosed a little season Of which I shall speak in its place Some have fancyed that Satan hath been already bound and the thousand years are already expired but without any shadow of truth since there hath not been the least intermission of Satans rage and fury since the Book of the Revelation was written For what with the gross Idolatry of Pagans obstinate blindness of the Jews wonderful defection of Turks strange Errors Sects and Heresies of Christians abominable Superstition Idolatry Ignorance and all kinde of wickedness with bloudy persecution of Saints by Antichrist Alstedius Dr. Hakewill Apol. pag. 476. which things cannot possibly stand with the confinement of Satan and consequently this Prophesie is yet unfulfilled and the time of the binding up of this Bandog will be the glorious triumphant state of Saints when they shall be marryed to Christ the universal Monarch of this great Universe 7. The whole Creation finds a full Release FOr now this second Adam shall compleat his work Rom. 8.19 and reduce the whole frame of Nature to its primitive purity and perfection which by the sin of the first Adam hath been so long subjected to vanity and corruption this is that great Deliverer and this time of his personal Reign wil be the blessed state as of the redemption of our bodies from sin Acts 3.21 sorrow corruption so of the restitution of all things the Elements and all that are produced by them to that goodness wherein they were first created how often have we like Parrots prated