Characters without life a shell without a kernel a leaden rule Sphinx his Riddles a wood of Thieves a shop of Hereticks imperfect obscure full of perplexities with these weapons the man of Sin fighteth against the holy Scriptures speaking great words against the most High one of the Scarlet crew cryes out before the Pope Fie upon Peter fie upon Paul with a great deal more of such blaspemous stuff Dan. 7.25 Erasm de Lat. Conc. lib. 3. And that he may throughly declare himself to be that great Antichrist he daringly meets the Lord Jesus at his own weapons I will make war and fight with mine enemies Gog and Magog Apoc. 2.16.19.15 with the sword of my mouth saith Christ I will make war against mine enemies the Scriptures with the Sword of my mouth saith Antichrist And he is as big as his word Hist Coun. Trent 155. witness their accursed dealing with the Scriptures in their Conventicle of Trent where though clear proof was made of the excellency of the Hebrew and Greek Originals to the full sence whereof they confess the Latin cannot attain yet lest the cause should be yielded to the Protestants Rhem. pref sect 57. Counc Tre. pag. 156. the vulgar Latin is preferred and they pronounced Hereticks that refuse it And it is there blasphemously asserted that the Holy Ghost who did dictate the Scriptures to Prophets and Apostles in Hebrew and Greek Pag. 156. doth as truly dictate to the Church of Rome the vulgar Latin as more beloved then the rest 158. That there can be no hope of ending controversies if popular Licence be granted to read the Scriptures That the Doctrines of Faith were so well cleared by the Pope and Schoolmen that we ought no more to learn them out of Scripture That it was indeed formerly read in the Church for instruction of the people but now it was needless to study it any more 159. That Scriptures must be interpreted C. Cusanus according to what articles of faith are established by the Church That the Church may vary in Exposition of Scripture according to the times That it was fit to bridle the sawciness of such as should attempt to add any good thing to former Expositions of Scripture 160. That if any thing were discovered to any singular spirit C. Facceco he should be enforced to conceal it And after all these and such like desperate blasphemies against the Scriptures their Latin Translation is approved and none other to be received And upon pain of Heresie it is forbid to say there are Errors in it 161. and that none shall dare to refuse it though it be plainly proved that they have blasphemously corrupted the Text in many things in that corrupt translation as changing Ipse into Ipsa thereby to make way for their Idolizing the blessed Virgin Fulk Cont. Mart. p. 19 Their desperate wounding the 4. Commandment reading it in this Diabolical Dialect Remember to sanctifie the holy dayes In the Latin Bible upon Deut. 4. Via tuta pag. 280. where it is observed that God forbids the making of Graven Images their Jesuitical Index Expurgatorius hath cast it out as all see they have most shamelesly dealt with all the writings of the Fathers Rhem. Test pag. 328. which hath provoked Doctor Fulk to exclaim against them Out upon you Antichristian Hereticks void of all truth and honesty But their shameful and blasphemous reproaches of these heavenly Witnesses exceed all bounds of civility and humanity charging them with inextricable obscurity insufficient imperfect and what not Paul must be censured for a hot-headed person Europ speculum pag. 164 165. of whose assertions there is no great reckoning to be made that 't is dangerous to read him Fulk Rhem. Test Epist to the Qu. as savouring of Heresie upon these and such like pious conclusions the Sacred Bible hath the honour of the first place in their Catalogue of Books prohibited Via Tuta these Monsters endeavouring to their utmost power to hinder that any sound of Scripture should possess the people This is the nature of that cursed war raised by the Beast against the Scriptures as they are about to finish their Testimony What shall be given unto thee Psal 120.3 4. or what shall be done unto thee for this thy Blasphemy thou false tongue What reward shalt thou have for the marvelous things thou hast done against the most High Sharp Arrows of the mighty with coals of Juniper Thirdly the manner how these heavenly Witnesses were overcome and killed must not be imagined to be a shedding of blood forasmuch as these two Olive trees are uncapable of such suffering But as the working of their enemy is the mystery of iniquity so are the weapons of this warfare such as may carry a resemblance of the weapons that the Lord Jesus useth in his Kingdom 2 Cor. 10.4 whose Vicar the Beast pretends to be So that the Victory obtained by Antichrist over the sacred Scriptures is by the exercise of his power in suspending suppressing prohibiting the Translation of them into the vulgar Languages not permitting them to live or breath in the streets of his great City Indeed they are not buried that is beyond the power of Antichrist they are still above ground but 't is in a dead letter They take out the Candle and give the Lanthorn to guide ignorant people in a dark night Deut. 4.2 28.14 the life and strength of them is taken away nay the very heart of them is pulled out for they have to their everlasting shame excluded the second Commandment from the Decalogue Thus void of fear of that dreadful curse which the Lord hath denounced against such desperate wickedness and without the least apprehension of the terrors of the Almighty his fierce wrath against that abhorred sin of Idolatry which did so often provoke the eyes of his jealousie to punish his ancient people hath this infernal beast not only presumed to blaspheme Fulk Rhem. Test Epist mangle suppress and prohibit the eternall Word but hath also most desperately corrupted the sence of it least the deep silence of these blessed Witnesses thus cloistered within the walls of an unknown Language should break forth into loud clamors against his detestable wickedness you have beheld him tearing out their very heart as it were in discarding the second Precept from their Adulterate Decalogue and this by their detestable Councel of Trent is declared good Catholique Doctrine Europ spec p. 185. Taylor Libert pag. 115. Much like that Antichristian expression of Pope Clement Perswas from Pop. p. 15. who shameth not to vaunt of that detestable Decree of his bloody Inquisition That no Lay man must be permitted to have the Bible or any part thereof in the vulgar Tongue and this he prescribeth to be inviolably kept But from Decrees they at length come down to downright blows c. for
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
that it was the word of the Lord. That then from which these stubborn Jews were broken off is the word of the Lord or the holy Scriptures but the Jews were broken off the true Olive Tree therefore the true Olive Tree is the word of the Lord or the holy Scriptures All which being compared it will evidently appear that the two Olive Trees in this of the Revelation and that of Zacariah are none other then the holy Scriptures or word of God Secondly It is as plain that the blessed Scriptures are the proper Food and Noufishment of Saints spoken of Rev. 12.6 Isa 25.6 Psal 36. what else is that feast of fat things that Wine on the Lees well refined that fatness of the Lords house wherewith he satisfieth the souls of his Saints those Rivers of pleasures he makes them drink of and to which the Lord Jesus so freely invites them Eat O friends Drink Cant. 5.1 yea Drink abundantly O beloved But I pass this briefly as not to be denied that the holy Scriptures are the proper Food and Nourishment of the Saints For which employment these holy witnesses are designed Rev. 12.6 namely to feed the Church in her exiled Wilderness estate 1260 years But if any shall cavill that I attribute that to the Scriptures which is peculiar to the Spirit of God I have this to say that I have no thought of the Scriptures without or beside the Spirit of God I receive all Scriptures as the Lord Jesus delivered them The words that I speak unto you Joh. 6.63 2 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 4.12 they are Spirit and they are life able to make wise unto salvation And therefore the blessed Scriptures are the proper fit sutable nourishment for the Saints and particularly for the Church in her afflicted despised wilderness estate Thirdly That the holy Scriptures are called witnesses and which is yet more plain these very witnesses of Christ will appear in the perusal of several Scriptures And first that the Law is called so Deut. 31.26 Take this book of the Law and put it in the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God that it may be there for a Witness against thee And it appears as cleerly to me that the Gospel is so called also 1 Joh. 5.9 This is the Witness of God which he hath testified of his son If it be objected that it is the Spirit c. that is here called the Witness t is readily granted neither dare I call the Spirit one thing and the word another thing except it be said that the Scriptures are the minde of the Spirit it is above noted that the Lord Jesus saith they are both one thing The words that I speak they are Spirit therefore the Scriptures have ordinarily the same Appellations and operations ascribed to them as are to the Spirit it self the Spirit is called Truth so also the word is called Truth 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh 17.17 the Spirit is said to sanctify so the word is likewise said to sanctify and the like and certain I am that the properties ascribed to the word Heb. 4.12.13 are not Communicable to any essence below the Spirit of God For the word of God is quick and Powerful and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart c. Therefore have I hewed them by the Prophets Hos 6.5 Isa 11.4 compared with Rev. 11.5.10 I have slain them by the words of my mouth When I compare these Scriptures with the fifth and tenth verses of this eleventh of the Revelation it doth so wonderfully cleer this truth to me that the Scriptures of the two Testaments and only these are the two Witnesses that if there were no other ground but this it would abundantly satisfie and confirm me in the discovery of this abstruse and wonderfull mystery To conclude this truth so manifest already is yet further cleered by those blessed Lips where never guile was found the Lord Jesus Christ himself affirms it in these words Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they that testifie of me John 5.39 Where it is plain that they are not only called Witnesses but these very Witnesses here spoken of for the words carry with them this cleer sound Search the Scriptures for they are my Witnesses Thus as these blessed Witnesses testify of Christ so Christ also giveth testimony to them Fulk Contr. Mart. Pres Pag 5. as to his Witnesses and so puts the point in hand beyond all dispute That the holy Scriptures of the Two Testaments and only these are the two Witnesses here spoken of And yet one word more for the more ample discovery of the transcendent excellency of these heavenly Witnesses the Scriptures of truth from the cleer evidence the Apostle Peter gives who having declared the excellent glory of Christ in the mount which he saw and the audible voice 2 Pet. 1.17 from the highest Majesty giving Invincible testimony of his son We have also saith he a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed c. What the Scriptures more sure then the voice of God himself from heaven yes a more certain Infallible voice now in these Gospel daies then any miraculous extraordinary voice whatsoever and here we may admire the wisdome care and faithfulness of our Royal Lawgiver who knowing that many false Prophets would arise and deceive many and considering how Satan usually transformeth himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11.13 2 Cor. 11.14 2 Thes 29. and that his eldest Son Antichrist would come after the working of this Prince of darkness with all Power and signs and lying wonders But especially foreseeing that monstrous impiety which so many of his Servants have warned us of as that ordinances would be slighted vilified rejected that many foul beasts would defile pollute and at length totally depart from those pure Chrystal streams that make glad the City of God even the blessed Scriptures of truth 2 Pet. 1.21 2.1 immediately flowing from that infinite Ocean of all fulness That many of them would deny in part as the divinity others absolutely the Lord that bought them And that the Divel would so far prevail with some whom he would mount to such a height of blasphemy as to affirm that they are Christ the Spirit the Eternal Father that their words are the words of God and when you hear them speak it is God that speaks for they are God and God is them c. To detest this detestable wickedness and most dreadful blasphemous abomination so frequently belched forth in these dayes of Satans power Gal. 6.16 Luk. 29.13 1 Cor. 11.26 Rev. 2.25 Gal. 1.8 hath our eternal King left his Royal will and pleasure upon Record as a
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
from the Roman Empire and yet Antichrist is not Come Before the comming of Antichrist the Nations were to fall away Thomas Lyra. as we see it already done saith another but as their Fore-fathers the Scribes and Pharises seeing the Scepter departed from Judah wondred that the Messias came not when he was working wonders amongst them all the while and they could not discern him Even so these blind Popish Guides were gaping after the Revelation of the son of Perdition when he was all the time of their seeking for him and long before sitting in his Pontificalibus exalting himself above all that is called God being mounted by almost insensible degrees from a little horn Fulk Rhem. Test pag. 329. a vile contemptible condition to command as he pretends all the Kings and Kingdoms in the World as to instance a little in some particulars Zacharias Pope of Rome having deposed Childerick King of France and absolved his Subjects from their Oath of Fealty he gave the Kingdom to Pipin who afterward he made to kiss his feet Gregory the Second excommunicated the Emperor Leo the Third because he was an enemy to Images and while the good Emperor was casting down these Idols Field of the Church pag. 623. this son of Perdition made Decrees for the people to revolt from their obedience to him Pope Gregory the Seventh deposed Henry the Fourth and made him his wife and child wait three dayes bare-foot at his Palace Gate What shall be said to that excessive pride of Pope Alexander the Third treading upon the neck of Fredrick the Emperor spurning from the head of another the Imperial Crown making others hold his bridle his stirrop kiss his feet the Emperors being water to wash his hands carry the first Dish to his Table bear his Cup his Train carry him upon their shoulders c. call him our lord god the Pope yea to this day the Elect Emperors by order are to worship the Pope at his Coronation Paul the Third said that he was above all Princes in the World that he could change Kingdoms at his pleasure that no Prince should be his Companion but all Subjects under his feet as it was fit they should by the will and appointment of him who had built his Church upon Peter his Predecessor that he would die overthrow all and set the World on fire rather then be base and yet as much as he scornd baseness he was not asham'd nor afraid of that desperate sin of Perjury c. Boniface went in Procession attired with the Crown Imperial Pope Alexander the Sixth was so enraged with burning lust to his own Daughter that he could not endure any man to enjoy her but himself and therefore he dissolved her Marriage from two Husbands that so he might wholly engross her to his Incestuous lust which yet he fell short of for his own two Sons the Duke of Candia and Cardinal of Valentia did also share with their Father in the Incestuous enjoyment of their Sister for whose sake Valentia murthered his Brother Yea In Vita Pauli 5. so generally wicked and abominable were the Popes of Rome that Papirius Massonius a Popish Writer saith no man expects any sanctity in Popes now adayes they are thought to be excellent Popes if they have never so little honesty or be not so wicked as other men use to be Is it not miraculous that the great and holy God the fountain of Justice hath so long endured such dreadful and abominable wickedness If it be said that some Bishops of Rome were accounted holy men in the fourth and fifth Century and some Councels of those times were well approved of and therefore Antichrists rising could not be so early as the yeer 304. I answer Antichrist and his kingdom is the Mystery of Iniquity as hath been shewed and therefore the Prophet Daniel considereth diligently and searcheth curiously before he could espie him so dark obscure were his beginnings in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7 15. Rev. 13.11 Mat. 24.24 with horns like a Lamb yet spake like a Dragon and raven'd like a Wolfe Neither do I believe that all the Bishops of Rome immediately after Constantine had knowledge of what they did as to the furtherance of this work of darkness or that their seat was the Chayr of Pestilence Nay I do think that some of them did with great confidence abominate and would with abundance of zeal and resolution have detested the thought of being instrumental in the setting up of Antichrist The Jews and Gentiles that put the Lord of glory to a shameful death 1 Cor. 2.8 little knew what they did 2 King 8.12.13 when the Prophet Elisha fore-told Hazael of that horrible wickedness that he should do to the children of Israel he was amazed at the thought of such abominations replyed with great resolution in detestation of it But what is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing Acts 22.4 Little did Paul think what he was about when he was going to Damascus against the Saints I dare not think that all the Bishops of Rome did promote this work knowingly and resolvedly it is cleer that Gregory opposed John of Constantinople in his attempt to be made universal Bishop and I believe he little dreamd how irrecoverably the Chayr he sate in was poysoned with the infection Trap. Comment pag. 292. And yet t is well known that himself did most basely insinuate and earnestly desire the same title from the bloody Emperour Phocas Brightman considering the monstrous pride and worldly pomp that followed upon the Enjoyments of that glorious peace that was now established thinks it no great wonder that this defection should so slily creep in even whilst they were fervent in promoting and advancing Christianity because that at the same instant many were swoln big with contentions others gaped after honors some were delivered of desperate heresies Rev. Apoc. pag. 112. and the Generality heaped up superstitions without measure And all this while the obscurity of the true Churches encreased every day more and more the simple plainess and sincere purity of the Scriptures were more and more slighted defiled obscured wrested and perverted by idle and fond Allegories and absurd Expositions Reliques were adored and Religion placed in toys and trifles while all kind of iniquity got ground And therefore we may not conceive that the man of sin was at first to be openly manifested for how then should it be a Mystery of Iniquity Rome was not built in a day the Mystery was working in the Apostles days but never got a feat in the Church till the Arrians bore sway when the Christian world seemd to turn heretique and though the Chayr of Pestilence was now erected and the true Church with her true witnesses now exiled yet it was long before the man of sin was openly discovered for as the true Church of Christ after she had conceived travailed with child 300.
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
in this secret covert By all which it is evident that immediatly after the birth of the man-child Rev. 12.5.6 the woman fled into the Wilderness or secret corners with her heavenly Witnesses the sweet Scriptures of truth and this is that Inner Temple that was exactly measured and prepared by God for her Rev. 11.1 where she is fed nourished and supported by them through her saddest darkest Wilderness course of 1260 prophetical dayes which in Scripture language is so many years as is cleer by Ezeck 34.6 and other Scriptures In all which term of time the holy City lies troden underfoot by the Gentiles in the outward Court even those who were but yesterday as it were come out of trouble and misery themselves having been the objects of Heathens scorn and derision and subject to their rage malice cruelty having obtaind a little rest and the sweet gales of peace now breathing upon them they turn this grace into wantonness and cruelty smiting their fellow servants and lording it over their brethren even as others do to this day who think themselves the true Churches of Christ robbing them of all external comforts while they cleave to and dare not relinquish the Gospels simplicity and soo Rome lately a true Church of Christ is the first that preacheth and practiseth cruelty force violence and persecution And did Rome do so Taylor Libert pag. 26. and is Rome singular in these ungospel-like dealings have not Englands Watch-men learned the same lesson and pretty well con'd it by heart Look upon the late Prelats see what their practice was soon after the bloody Marian dayes Many living testimonies can yet bear witness against the monstrous cruelties of them and their Successors but they are gone out like the snuff of a tallow candle and no doubt but their name will soon perish though the stinke remain How happy had it been if Diotrephes had perished with them but alas our misery our brethren who suffered with us under the late Antichristian persecution of the Prelates have now laid and do already act upon as violent principles of Tyranny and cruelty as either of the former and had not the Lord wonderfully raised up a faithful Magistracy for the support of his Saints banishment had been their gentlest punishment Had it been an open Enemy that had done this Psa 55.13 I could have born it but it was thou a man mine equal my guide and mine acquaintance with whom I took sweet counsel and walked unto the house of God in company this cuts to the quick All these Pope Prelates Presbyters and some mounted a little higher while they were under the ferula accounted persecution unlawful but being out of the danger of a Pile and a Faggot themselves they quickly change their opinion and become as bloody persecutors as their Predecessors But to return to consider the exact time when the Witnesses began to prophesie in Sackcloth it is cleer I hope proved by full evidence from Scripture c. that no sooner did the Churches begin to take breath from Heathenish Persecution by the birth of the man-child Constantine but the Dragon cast out of his mouth such a horrible flood of Arrian cruelty Clav. Apoc. pag 47. that as one saith it did seem to equal that of the Heathens if not far exceed it while the poor Saints with a wonderful constant resolution sadly sigh forth this Swan-like Song Moulin Theoph. pag. 278. We are burned for reading the Scriptures while we burn the more in love to read them These blessed Witnesses the Scriptures were at first collected by the Emperial Edicts of the Royal man-child Constantine immediately upon his birth I mean his spiritual birth all along and though many other Writers came in under the names of the Apostles yet only those were received for Authentick of which evident proof was made to be truly theirs And these being compleated in one Volumn together were called the New Testament and joyned to the other Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets which were called the Old Testament So that now and not till now were the Two Testaments apparantly visible For what by reason of those ten bloody Persecutions their extream poverty their continual labouring for life c. the poor Christians had neither leisure nor liberty to collect the Scriptures into one Volumn they being also deprived of that benefit of Printing which we now enjoy withal considering the far distant places each from other to which the Gospels and Epistles were written it cannot well be imagined how the poor distressed Churches should accomplish so great a work as this of compiling this holy Book this was a design reserved and a work only fit for the royal man-child to accomplish So that at this instant the two Witnesses received the power promised to them Rev. 11.3 and no sooner did they receive this Authority but presently they began to prophesie in Sackcloth Anno Dom. 304. for now the Church of Rome that was lately so famous in their sufferings raised with the prosperous gales of the Emperors breath do sail with such a full clew of peace tranquillity honor wealth c. that being hereby lul'd fast asleep the grand Enemy who is ever waking and watching for such an opportunity now sows his cursed tares of Superstition Idolatry and Heresie amongst them Tulk. Rhem. Test p. 657. Dr. Homes new world pag. 14. but so secretly and cunningly as is declared that this Cockatrice did not suddenly appear to open view But presently these tares grew apace as ill weeds will do so that with ease and prosperity they soone degenerate into Error and all kinde of vanity and as vice encreaseth Hosea 4.7 Brightman Rev. apoc pag. 112. so the foster mother the false Church encreaseth and quickly grows very ample and spacious while the true Church lies hidden obscure in corners with her sorrowful Witnesses in sable Sackcloth so that the major part laying aside the simplicity of the Gospel betake themselves wholly to advance their outward state and the blessed Word of Truth that prohibites affectation of greatness lordliness and outward pomp is slighted and contemned by this Apostatized Chuch of Rome who being now full and compleat in their own conceits lacking nothing tread underfoot the holy City and by degrees mounting from poverty to all outward felicity and her Pastor from being an honest poor Minister riseth to the state of a Lordly Diocesan Prelate from thence to be Primate and Metropolitan of Italy and at length by fawning and flatteries he obtaineth the Kingdom even the Province and City denominating the Emperor 2 Thes 2.7 Dan. 11.12 and now this Let being taken out of the way that only obstructed the Revelation of Antichrist the Popish Authors little suspecting their lord god the Pope to be the man begin to wonder where this king of pride is what shall we say saith one to this that long since the Nations fell away