sort what they did I need not mention But when their hearts were merry Then Sampson is cal'd for And what is now the Subject of all their scurrilous Talk and Jests but the short liv'd Parliament Oh this cruell Sampson that had it in his heart not onely to have brought their Craft in danger to be set at nought but the Temple of the great Goddesse Diana And to say the truth the Priests were not much mistaken in it For probable it is had not that glorious Testimony of Jesus been kild They would have seâ—t the Tayle of the Beast after the Head Swept away that other part of Popish dung and trash which the former Parliament had left in the Nation Now if the Holy Ghost meant not these men and their making merry yet I am sure it was fulfilled in them according to the letter of the Text. One part of the Prophesie yet remaines and it is the better part Namely The rising of the Witnesses And here we have the Time the Means and the Manner with the Enemies amazement at it and the like And after three dayes and an halfe the spirit of life from God â—ntred into them and they stâ—od upon their feet and great fear sell upon them that saw them And they heard a great voyce from Heaves saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud And their Enemies bsheld them First Of the Time I have spoken Assoon as the Beast ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit he kills the Witnesses Three years and an halfe they lie unburied The which time being expir'd they immediately Rise and then begins the ruine and fall of the Beast So that I conceive it is not the Lords meaning that any should go forth to take his Dominion from him untill it evidently appear that the Witnesses are Risen the Spirit poured forth the Beast certainly known and the Lord appearing in some visible providence making the way plaine for the Angel of the first â—iâ—ll Secondly By the Spirit of life from God c. I understand and the sending of the Comforter that great promise of the Father to be endued with power from on high Lak 24. 49. As herbes flowers and grasse seem dead and hang the head by reason of drought but rise againe flourish and grow green when raine falls thereon So the Testimony of Jesus which seemed withered and scorch't hath now from the Lord life and Spirit put into it and so that Death is taken off which lay formerly on it And this I take to be the Time in which Saints may expect the returne of their prayers concerning the pouring out of the Spirit and the fullfilling of such Promises In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert Isa 35. 6. I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty and â—louds upon the dry ground I will poure my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine Of-spring And they shall spring up as among the grosse as willows by the water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. I will put my Spirit in you and ye shall live Eze. 37. 14. After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hosea 6. 2. And it shall come to passe afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall Prophesie your old men shall dream dreames your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit Joel 2. 28 29. Howsoever before the rising of the witnesses there will be some sprinkling of the Spirit here and there For the understanding of the Time As a man knows by the dawning that the night is past yet I think till the witnesses are risen the Saints shall not be endued with power from on high neither Generally nor largely For now is The Tabernacle of the Testimony of heaven opened and not till now Rev. 15. 6. I mean in respect of a beginning Thirdly No sooner doth a Spirit of life from God enter into them But they stand upon their feet By which manner of speaking according to the Scripture is signified 1. An open confession and publishing of the Lords wonderfull mercy remembring his truth and Testimony in its low estate 1 Chron. 28. 1. Acts 3. 7 8. and 14 14. As the Sons of Zion are to have a two-edged-sword in their hands so the high praises of God in their mouth It is true they are to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron But what goes before Allelujah sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the Congregation of Saints Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Zion be glad in their King c. Psal 14. 9. So then by this standing upon their feet is meant that New sâ—â—â—Rev 14 3. An high exalting and â—â—ung up the holy Name of God every where among the faithfull Remnant For that life and Spirit which is now given them The Testimony of Jesus it was before flame and born down by the Enemy But now it goes forth conquering and to conquer prevailes and gets victory in every place over them And the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall be no more Isa 35. 10. compare Rev. 15. 3 4. 2. The standing upon their feet signifies not only The Testimony raised up to greater boldnesse against the Beast speaking more freely and plainly against his hypocrisie Apostacie Blasphemy Tiranny c. then before Ezek. 2. 1 2 and 3 24. But likewise the hundred forty and four thousand are preparing to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion Rev 14. 1. Now I think open war begins to be proclaim'd against the Beast and Babilon according to the Prophets Isa 13. 2. Jeâ— 50. 2. Againe It shews with what assurance of victory the warr is undertaken For by faith they see all ready their feet upon the necks of their Enemies and that they shall take the Beasts dominion from him and give his body to the burning flame Josh 10. 24. Zech. 14. 4. Some understand this and their ascending up to heaven of the witnesses not only restored to their places but promoted to more eminent preferment howsoever I take the witnesses as hath been said for the Truth witnessed by them yet no doubt such as suffer under the Beast for their Testimony continuing faithfull the Lord will greatly honour For out of Prison he cometh to Reign Eccles 4. 14. Fourthly For the persons upon whom this great feare fell I take to be they that dwell upon the earth the Apostates and followers of the Beast It seemes to allude to the State and time of Gods people coming out of Egypt when the
The TIME of the END SHEWING First until the three years and an half are come which are the last of the 1260 dayes the prophecies of the Scripture will not be understood concerning the Duration and Period of the FOURTH MONARCHY and Kingdom of the Beast THEN Secondly When that TIME shall come before the expiration the Knowledge of the End or that there shall be Time no longer will be revealed By the Rise of a little Horn The last Apostacy and the Beast slaying the Witnesses contemporizing The Characters Of which little Horn the last Apostacy and Beast as the Scriptures shew them are here faithfully opened And the Application left to the Wise By John Canne Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3. 7. Think not that I come to send peace on earth I come not to send peace but a sword Mat. 10. 34. London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1657. To the Reader THat enmity which from the beginning Jehovah Elohim the Lord God did put between the Serpent and the Woman and between their seed as always so now doth work with marveilous earnestness in all those who in every age from their proper spirit are engaged by their principals to maintain the combate to the time of the end The Righteous is an abomination to the wicked and the wicked is an abomination to the Righteous from the beginning to the end of this present evil world For as then even in Abrahams time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the spirit even so it is now in these last days and will be so till the old serpent the Divel and Sathan be cast into the bottomless pit and then according to the scope of the Scriptures of Truth the bond-woman and her son will be cast out and the children of the free-woman shall be the heirs And when I say So it is now in these last dayes I desire it may be well weighed for assuredly the Serpent and his brood will muster all their forces will improve all their policies will come forth with utmost inraged malice to do the most mischief they can against the true spiritnal â—eed The fresh Auxiliaries which are used in this service of the Dragon that old Serpent are the Apostates of the last times who are such Christians in a form of Godliness as the Devil is an Angel of Light when he is so transformed retaining his cursed properties and designs under the pretence of such a glorious transformation Therefore saith the Apostle it is no great thing if also his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness Which words are or may be to the more cautelous Christians a great preservative against the poysonous infection of the present Apostacy for multitudes of careless ones have been beguiled by these deceitful or cheating workers into a compliance with the interest of the Kingdom of the Beast But Blessed be the name of our Lord Protector the Patron of Innocency Truth and Righteousness that these deceitful workers resisters of the Truth Patrons of the carnal worldly Church shall not proceed much farther for their folly in its appointed season shall be made manifest to all men as the folly and madness of other of their brethren before them have been made manifest in like manner And which is matter of great rejoycing to the Lords suffering servants the Prince of the Apostates himself hath bin compel'd by the over-ruling Power of our Lord Jesus to defile his own nest to throw dirt in the face of his own Brat to trample upon his own Government with notable contempt in the presence of his cowardly men of war Oh! what joy of heart is it to us to live to see how in that very thing wherein they dealt so proudly so imperiously the Lord is above them and leaves them to such a degree of folly as to set at nought in such notable language in set Speeches the works of their own heads and hands and that in so short a space of time verily it cannot be treason any longer no not in the sence of the Court it self to imagine speak or write against the Instrument or instruments which brought forth that monstrous Government Ye may all speak treason by authority 〈◊〉 ye Inhabitants of these three Isles of the Sea for your Lord Protector himself hath lately set you a Pattern to pour contempt upon the whole Fabrick both Foundation and Superstruction It is to be ascribed to the preventing Grace of God himself and to no other cause that some few of us have been preserved from that dangerous communion and conformity wherewith many professors well meaning souls like the followers of Absalom of old have been unawares surprised and intangled That Scripture in 2 Tim. 3. the first five verses which by the servant of Christ the Author of the insuing Treatise is opened and compared with two other famous Prophesies concerning the little Horn and the Bottomless-pit-Beast was made effectual to my spirit and conscience to deliver me from those snares wherein the feet of others not a few have been taken faith the Apostle in the forementioned place after he had made a catalogue of Characters whereby to describe the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last time from such turn away And the first and last of those Characters lay with most weight upon my spirit Men shall be lovers of themselves covetous proud lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away And what I spake publikely in a great Assembly concerning the little Horn in two general Observations and nine special Characters whereby to discern it from the other Horns amongst whom it came up is remembred by many then present since which others have likewise given their judgements But this Author by what conduct of providence time will shew hath found cause to make those two Prophesies concerning Daniels little Horn and Johns Bottomless-pit-Beast to synchronise and to bring in the Apostacy of these last times to accompany them in their accomplishments It is remarkable what is told Daniel Chap. 12. v. 10. Mary shall be purified and made white and â—â—yed but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Surely the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last times are some of these wicked ones these will do wickedly but they cannot understand Understanding dwelleth not taketh not up her rest in the Assemblies in the Counsels of the last and worst sort of wicked ones The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him the wise shall understand who is a wise man he that fears the Lord for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom He that is become a fool for Christs sake that he may be wise He who from a principle of saith and love which is in Christ
continue by the Lords sufferance to exercise the cruelty and wickednesse mentioned in the Vision That the meaning is so appears by the Question and Answer Dan. 12. 6 7. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders for a time times and an half As if hee should say For the vision of the little Horn it shall bee for a time times and an half so long hee is to continue to scatter the power of the Holy People and when that time shall bee expired the words of the Prophesy are fulfilled concerning him For soon after the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion c. Qu. But by a time and times and dividing of time what time is there meant or how much is this time The common received opinion is three years and an half These persecutions saith Diodate shall last one year two years and halfe one year that is to say three years and half I confesse in the application I finde few to agree with me yet for the time tobee three years and an half neither more nor lesse few writers which I have seen but take it so as I do And for these few which understand it otherwise as making first a time times and dividing of time to bee three years and an half and then out of the three years and half to reckon each day for a year this I conceive neither agrees with Daniels manner of reckoning the time nor with other Prophets That three daies and an half should be taken for three years and an half So forty two months for so many years as there are dayes in the months Again One thousand two hundred and threescore dayes for so many years this is right and according to the Scriptures Numb 14. 34. Ezek. 4. 5. But by a time to understand a year by times two years and dividing of time an half year and afterward from these three years and an half to number years by daies There is not for this I think any ground in the word of God Besides why should not Daniel when hee useth words and terms alike be alike understood in chap. 4 25. it is said seven times shall passe over â—hee here it is not questioned but by seven times seven years are meant no raising of another number from daies to years Now I see no reason why the Prophet in one place should bee understood by Time strictly a year and in another as many years as a year hath daves especially seeing it is familiar with Daniel to set down his account in this manner as ch 11. 13. in the end Haghiâ—tim shanâ—m of the times of years see chap. 7. 12. and 8. 17. and 11. 14 35 40. and 12. 4 9. I might add how three years and half was the term of Christs persecution in the flesh the which being expired immediately begunne upon his resurrection the setting up of his spiritual kingdome all the world over So three years and an half is the time of the sufferings of his witnesses under the little Horn the which being ended they shall rise and stand upon their feet again and then beginnes that which you have Rev. 11. 13 14. the great earth-quake and the sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the kingdomes of this world becomming the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Quest But how doth it appear if by time and times and dividing of time three years and half are meant that these are the three years and half which period the number of one thousand two hundred and threescore years and contemporises with the latter Apostacy and slaying of the witnesses Answ 1 Graserns against Junius gives many reasons that the Vision shewed Daniel concerning the Little Horn is to have its accomplishment in Novissim diebus in the very last times toward the end of the world and judgement shall not passe upon him usque ad consummationem irae untill the indignation bee accomplished Dan. 11. 36. that is unt ill the forty two months are expired Histor Antichrist pag. 115. 119. c. If this bee so as I see nothing against it then must this little Horn be before the rise of the witnesses and the forty two months are expired for hee shall have no Dominion or Power after that time 2 Upon the destruction of the Little Horn the Saints possesse the kingdome but this they do not neither is the Kingdome theirs till the witnesses rise and the time of the Beasts Tyranny is expired Hence I gather that the three years and an half allowed the Little Horn and the three years and an half in which the witnesses lye slain must needs contemporise I would have the reader observe this for I think there is some weight in it If the taking of the kingdom by the Saints bee upon the ruine of the Little Horn and the rising of the witnesses as clearly it is so to me then it must follow necessarily that the three years and half given to the Little Horn and the three years and half spoken of the slain witnesses are all one see Dan. 7. 25 26 27. compare Rev. 11. 8. 11 12 13 15 c. 3 Another Argument I lay down thus the book is not to bee opened untill the time of the end which is in the three years and half and the understanding of it will bee partly by the Characters of a little Horn. Now it is the Lords usual manner not to lead his people back to things past but to teach them the understanding of Prophesies by what is present and doing in their own time when yee shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place c. Again when yee shall see all these things c. Mat. 24. 15. 33. So the little Horn must be seen before the wise will understand the end and this is proper to the three years and half 4 It seems by Daniel that the cause and ground of the Little Horns making warre against the Saints wearying them out and scattering their power will bee for bearing witnesse to Christs visible and glorious kingdome so that the controversy now will not bee as formerly it was about the Church Ministery worship and discipline but about the whole Rule Dominion and government under the Sunne that is whether the kingdoms of the world shall continue as they are in the hands of Tyrants and oppressors or they shall bee Christs and the Saints of the most high according to that promise And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdom that which shall not bee destroyed Again And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and all power shall serve and obey it Dan.
when they have finished their Testimony Hence I think this may be asserred for a Truth Whosoever this Beast is it cannot be the Dominion of the Papal Beast nor can the German Empire be meant nor any of the ten Hornes or Kings for these were risen long before the Witnesses had finished their Testimony The matter here is of weight and being well considered will give us some light to know who this Beast is and where the Witnesses shall be slaine The Popes Jurisdiction it cannot be nor the Emperours Spaniard French c. these rose before the three years and an halfe and have stood many hundred years It is a common received opinion In the Lords bringing Israel out of Egypt was shadowed out the deliverance of his Church and people from all Tiranny and oppression in the last dayes Now of Pharoah a Tipe of this Beast and commanding all the male to be cast into the River a figure of killing the witnesses it is said And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up for to shew in thee my power and that my name may be declared through out all the earth Exod. 9. 16. As Pharoah at that time was raised up that is ascended out of the bottomlesse pit that in him the Lord might fulfill his Councel and purpose concerning the inlargement of his people and thereby glorifie himselfe in shewing his great Power wisedome faithfulnesse So this Beast as another Pharoah is brought up out of the depth for the three years and an half that in him and by him the Lord might accomplish what in his eternall councell he had determined conteyned in this Prophesie Secondly There may be something in the phrase ascendeth To signifie 1. How suddenly and unexpectedly this Beast will appeare altogether unlookt for yea and to strang the thing will be especially among Saints as they would never have believ'd it though thousands had told them so much before had they not seen it with their own eyes 2. Whereas it is said the Beast ascendeth it is to shew that he comes up of himself not sent for nor desired by the people but it is his own plotting and designings that he takes power and Rule to himselfe And this I take to be an essentiall character of this Beast Ascendeth he will be a meat Intruder and will slay the witnesses by a power which he hath assumed and usurped and not otherwise Compare with this Dun. 7. 8. The little Horn comes up that is of it self he arose not by Election nor by Inheritance Right or such kind of Succession but by his own craft and strength So the later Apostacie is said to rise or ascend 2 Tim. 3. 1. Not raised up by the Lord. 3. By the word may be signified the horrible pride of the Beast for though his descent be from the Depth that is a most base beginning yet ascendeth viz. In Titles Pomp State Court c. As if he had not been illegitimate but lawfully begotten That which the Lord by the Prophet speaks against the King of Babylon I think is in part meant of this Beast For thou hast said in thy heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my throne above the starrs of God I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the north I will ascend above the height of the Clouds I will be like the most high Isa 14. 13 14. Is not this the boastine of a mighty man Not only will he be above the Starrs and â—it upon the Mount of the Congregation scatter the holy people weary out the Saints and kill the witnesses But like the most high take to himself the Attributes of God Isa 13. 3. That this Beast ascendeth out of the depth inmay be for these Reasons 1. Because of the great secrecie and closenesse which is used in the forming of him All things here must be done in the deep and under ground None except a few six or eight persons perhaps which model the Beast must know any thing of it untill he come forth to the publique view of the world Doing herein like those against whom the woe is pronounced in the Prophet That seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the darke and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us Isa 29. 18. 2. Of the deep pollicie used in the framing of him All Civil Beasts before him rose either out of the Earth or Sea but this out of the depth signifying that there was not halfe that craft and subtletie about them as about this Beast For there shall be so much art and workmanship bestowed about him that when he comes forth To warr against the witnesses and to overcome them and slay them very few will perceive any such thing Not one I say of many will take him for all this to be the Beast And why so He ascendeth out of the depth from the depths of Satan as being transformed and no marveil for at this time he will be Satans chiefe Minister into an Angel of light So that by the place may be signified He will not be taken for the Beast but a great Saint 3. Wheras the last Apostacy is here called the depth it shews that there is no way to carry on a bad designe for closenesse and craft like to Apostacy and Hypocrifie in Religion And by how much men rise high in a shew and form of Godlinesse though hypocrites the more they shall advantage themselves by it It is true other Beasts before him carryed on their own Interest partly by Religion but they were ignorant and unskild of the great mystery which this Beast hath learnt For before him note it Reader no Civill State ascended out of this depth of Satan that is from Apostacy in Religion And therefore before him there was never a Government in the world raised up by hypocrisie in Religion in that manner as this will be Hence Justin Martyr calls the little Horne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Man of Apostacy In Dial. cum Trypl pag. 336. 4. Whereas the word signifieth without light it may be to denote what shal be the practice and doing of this Beast notwithstanding his secresie policy hypocrisie when he is ascended It is said of the first Beast His kingdome was full of darknesses Rev. 16. 10. So the kingdome of this Beast the head of the latter Apostacy as the other was of the first his kingdome will be full of darknesse For he will destroy and put out the light of the Law and leave nothing to the people but Abissus his Own blind will for them to walk by From what hath been said we may gather in short A true description of the Beast according to the Scripture for I desire to follow that perfect word without adding auy thing of mine own to it Thus then by the Scripture I take the Beast to be A State or Government set up by a few Apostates