as the light of the sun and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold c. Though a man where he stands may see very much yet being set up higher as on a hill or mountain suppose as high as the sun he sees a great deal more then he did before True it is no sooner are the Witnesses risen but the earth is enlightned Rev. 18.1 by the Ark of the Testament Rev. 11.19 and the Tabernacle of the Testimony opened in heaven Chap. 11.5 But when the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 Saints then shall be higher then Temple or Tabernacle Rev. 21.22 for their light shall be seven times more then before as being rais'd to a higher pitch and degree of light and knowledge then either the Prophets or Apostles had Answ 2. He saith No man shall be able to enter in but he doth not say No man shall be able to go out And in this he alludeth to Solomons Temple wherein the Priests could not enter 2 Chron. 7.2 they could not go in but those who were in could go out 1 King 7.10 11. being so filled with the presence and glory of the Lord that they went out So here the Angels of the Vials shall go out being so filled with the presence spirit and glory of the Lord that they will not be able to abide in Though none go in yet he saith not None go out So that I cannot see how this hinders but the Vials may be begun Repl. I think you have laid down a very good Ground by your distinction to prove that the Vials are not begun For 1. If those in the Temple must be filled with such a presence spirit and glory of the Lord before they go out I am strongly perswaded that neither Waldo Wickliff Armachan c. were any of the Angels nor the Swedish or Britain Souldiers nor yet is the Temple filled with such a presence It is one thing to be in the Temple and another thing to have it filled with this glory you speak of For such a time will not be neither is it to be expected till the Antichristian darkness be more expell'd Should a man now make enquiry amongst the choicest Saints concerning Temple-presence I know what they would say and not without cause we have not the understanding of men clouds and darkness are about us we want the presence and spirit of God there is a death darkness and deadness spread over all things as worship ordinances Scriptures c. Nevertheless sure I am there is as much now of the presence and spirit of God with his people as any of those ever had who are said to be the Angels of the first Vials So then if there be no coming out until the Temple is filled with the presence spirit and glory of the Lord we may conclude Either none are come out or if any are they had not the presence and Spirit of God which the holy Ghost expresseth Rev. 15.8 2. As none are to come out of the Temple until filled with the Spirit so not until they are call'd Rev. 16.1 The which Call I do not take to be in following Providence but more then ordinary as the Prophets and Apostles were by some immediate impulse of spirit the Lord making them now clearly to see that their work and time is come As I have said before A particular and special call peculiar to this time of the Vials as Mr. Tilling saith which hitherto no man had Answ 3. Whereas he saith No man we must observe the subject he doth not say No Angel but No man which is a different dialect of the holy Ghost and doubtless means some other and not them that execute the Vials for they are called Angels and indeed I think it refers to a more inferiour subject and therefore cannot hinder but that the Vials which are poured out by Angels are more glorious instruments then common men may begin Repl. 1. You have given me occasion to declare my thoughts of the place It is true as you say he saith not No Angel but No man signifying thereby when the Vial-time begins what a most glorious Reformation there will be both of persons and things For such shall be the light judgement zeal and conscience of Saints as no man shall be admitted into the Temple no carnal and formal Professors no corrupt Hypocrites no such Apostates as 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4. Now that shall be verified Holiness becometh thy house Jehovah to length of days Psal 93.5 Hitherto especially since the great Apostacie the vile with the precious have been in the Temple Whilst men slept the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat Matth. 13.25 What through ignorance partiality covetousness self-love MAN hath entred into the Temple most unworthy persons have been taken into Church-fellowship but now no man is able c. it is so filled with smoak from the glory of the Lord and from his power So then the meaning is upon the rising of the Witnesses the Church draws to primitive perfection both for light and life As the Tabernacle of the testimony shall be opened that is large discoveries of Gospel-mysteries so the Temple shall be shut as no entrance for man none but Angels shall go in and out And though I am not of your opinion that this refers to the blessed Jerusalem-estate of the thousand years yet it is a fore-runner and carries the character and likeness of that glorious time Hence in part will be fulfilled Isa 35.8 48.2 Joel 3.17 Isai 26.2 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Psal 15.1 2. 24.3 4. Isai 60.21 Rev. 21.27 22.15 Compare 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not carnal and walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to man Now whereas Mr. Tilling opinion is That Saints before the Vials begin shall not attain to that purity the Church of Christ enjoyed before the corruptions of Antichrist crept into it I think otherwise and the Scripture which he quotes viz. Rev. 4.6 in my opinion is against him For then saith he speaking of the Primitive time there was a sea of glass clear as crystal here is a sea of glass but not yet so clear as crystal There is more in Rev. 15.2 then a sea of glass for it is added mingled with fire Now the reason why these words mingled with fire are left out in Chap. 4.6 it is because of the purity which the Church then was in as to Doctrine and Discipline before the Apostacie of Antichrist and so the sea of glass needed no mingling with fire But the impure and filthy dross of Antichrist being crept into the Church then indeed there was cause to have the sea of glass mingled with fire whereby to consume and burn up not onely the grosser part of Popery or the lees and dregs of that Religion but the whole great and small as the fire leaves no dross or impurity in silver refin'd So then whereas the sea of glass is said to
how pretending to Perfection and to have the highest Light and Discoveries of Truth there is nothing to be found in their Writings Speeches Lives but what is very lowe and signifies NOTHING as to be a People raised up for the work of the last days They tell us of Christ and Antichrist of Babylon and the New Jerusalem of the Seals Trumpets Vials the Beast false Prophet and the Great Whore c. But alas poor hearts nothing do they make of it either as to the truth of the matter in it self or in their own way as they apply it and would be understood And therefore well may their Way be call'd NOTHING for nothing is held forth by them concerning the great things of Christ which Saints now wait for according to the promise of the Father But to return to you who are hastening the day of the coming of Christ Give me leave in the Close to speak one word more As the expectation of Saints everywhere is exceeding high after strange and wonderful things so the Prophecies of the Scriptures such I mean as respect the last days are the more diligently to be search'd as the Grounds of our Faith and Hope And howsoever all of them are of excellent use whereby to know what must shortly come to pass and how to be in readiness Nevertheless the matter of the Vials in my opinion is a thing wherein Christians should labour to have special light and knowledge as containing the whole Work of God till the sinners be consumed out of the earth and the wicked be no more Neither will there lie such Darkness on the Vials if we once through Christ have found the beginning For as in reading Books the last word of the Page gives direction to what follows and how to finde it so I conceive in every Vial there is a light of some direction whereby to carry us over to the knowledge of the next and from it to what follows and so of the rest which will occasion the humble searcher to say O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! But here no common or ordinary frame is sufficient but we must labour for high and choice spirits to be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man and filled with all the fulness of God Now that such a measure of the Spirit may be poured out upon all the Lords Servants and Handmaids waiting everywhere for the same is the daily prayer of him who is Yours In the love and service of the Truth JOHN CANNE From Hull the beginning of this HOPEFUL YEAR 1656. Time with Truth tryed OR Certain Reasons to prove that none of the seven last Plagues or Vials are yet poured out neither will the time of their pouring out begin till after the rising of the Witnesses and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days or fourty and two months of the Beast's Reign be expired I Am not ignorant how much it doth savour of affecting Singularity to publish a new Doctrine as the Athenians said of Paul Acts 18.19 especially being a thing contrary to the common received opinion of good men But here I have not onely my own Conscience to witness otherwise for me but I hope amongst all such as are wise and truly godly I shall finde better and more charitable thoughts when they have duly weighed the Grounds of this supposed New Doctrine That none of the seven last Plagues are yet poured out c it seems to be a Truth for these Reasons Reas 1 First If that be granted which Mr Tillinghast and others affirm that by the hundred fourty and four thousand But that I think Mr Till opinion here is not questioned by waiting Saints otherwise I could give many Reasons that the rising of the Witnesses and the 144000 do contemporize Rev. 14.1 the Gentile-Saints are signified and their standing on mount Sion with the Lamb is to be after the rising of the Witnesses then I think there will be very little reason to carry the beginning of the seven last Vials any higher For though it be the opinion of learned and godly men that some of the Vials are poured out yet so as they hold likewise that the hundred fourty and four thousand have already stood with the Lamb on mount Sion And indeed this hath Reason and weight in it That where we begin the time of the one hundred fourty and four thousand there we should also take the beginning of the Vials And the order of the matter seems to make this clear The holy Ghost having chap. 14. spoken of the Harvest and Vintage that is what sore plagues the Lord will bring upon Babylon and the followers of the Beast comes presently in chap. 15 16 to shew how and by what means the earth shall be reaped the clusters gathered and cast into the great wine-press of Gods wrath namely seven Angels shall come out of the Temple having the seven last plagues c. So then to take the one hundred fourty and four thousand to be after the Witnesses are risen and to begin the pouring out of the Vials before the Witnesses are risen in my understanding it is very improper to the scope and drift of the Prophecie and crosseth that excellent order which the Spirit seems to observe Reas 2 Secondly I do not conceive under favour how the pouring out of Plagues and Vials full of divine wrath in any good sence and according to Scripture-use may be applied to and understood of the preaching of the glad tidings of the Gospel Truly I think that the publishing of the sweet and most precious soul-saving Truths of Jesus all the time of the the Beasts reign even the fourty and two months or one thousand two hundred and sixty days is in another way and by other words expressed and not by Vials full of wrath See Rev. 10.9 10 11. And therefore by the seven last plagues filled up with the wrath of God Rev. 15.1 I understand real and proper plagues and not the preaching of the Gospel either by Grosthead Wickliff Luther Calvin c. but rather such temporal plagues as shall be in the last days poured out upon wicked men for despising and persecuting the Truth No doubt the Alleluiahs Revel 19.1 2 3 c. are for what was done under the first second third Vials as for the effects of the rest Now how in the preaching of the Gospel by Wickliff Luther c. God avenged the blood of his servants on the great Whore I do not yet see In her was found the blood of the Prophets and Saints Rev. 18.24 It is true Luther and others in discovering the corruptions of persons and things and lifting up their voices like Trumpets against the abominations of their Masses Crosses Indulgences Purgatory Penance Pilgrimage c. did therein take the little book and prophesied before many people nations and tongues That they did this we have the Word to
Beasts reigned Neither lastly can it be shewed in my opinion that ever the Churches of the Saints since the rise of Antichrist to this day have had occasion through any deliverance or Victory to song the Song of Moses and of the Lamb. Quest. 4 Fourthly That some of these Vials should be poured out in the preaching of the Gospel by Wickliff Husse Luther c. Others by Parliaments Armies Navies c. Though it be so taken yet I do not see any Reason for it for their opinion to me seems better grounded I mean as to order who apply all the seuen last Plagues either to the (a) I would have this thing wel consider'd why we should understand in preaching of the gospel Vials plagues to be poured out preaching of the Gospel onely or onely to temporal Judgments executed by Civil Powers But to understand one Viall poured out in a Spiritual way another in a Civil way here I desire proof as being unsatisfied Quest. 5 Fifthly That the effect of the first Viall whether by Grostead Armachan Wickliff Luther c. poured out should no further extend then to the discovering of some particulars of the grosser sort of Idolatry as Purgatory Mass Penance Corporal Presence Praying to Saints Pilgrimages Indulgences c. with a Reformation of some people from the practice of such Corruptions Many gross Lyes and Errors of the Beast neither discovered nor reproved at the same time by the persons before named This I question because when any Viall is poured out wheresoever it falls it shall (b) That any of the vials should be like a net which holds some of the greater fish lets the lesser goe through the holes I am not of that opinion Isa 13.9 16 Ps 137.9 neither do I think that any reformation which hath been formerly in Church or State is to be brought under any of the Vials break the Kingdome of Antichrist fully and wholly I say not some part of it but extirpate all his Idolatries and Blasphemies root and branch The like may be said concerning applying other Vialls whether to the Wars of Germany or since here in England The truth is so much Idolatry and Superstition is unshaken even to this day where the Vials are said to fall as the subjects of them as I have ground to think that nothing yet hath been done sutable to the nature and effect of any Viall Quest. 6 Sixthly whereas it is said Rev. 15.8 And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the seven plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled First If by smoke we understand the wrath of God inflicted upon the Antichristians for their wicked Idolatry as some do The question then is How it can be said that since the Vials began to be poured out their darkness and blindeness hath been more and greater then before But secondly If by the Temple filled with smoke from the glory of God c. the Spirit alludes to the history of the Tabernacle which in the dedication thereof was wholly filled with a Cloud of the glory of the Lord so as Moses could not enter into it Exo. 40.33 34. And to the history of the Temple which likewise at the dedication was filled with the Cloud of the glory of God so as the Priests could not stand to minister so long as the glory of Jehovah filled the house I say if the place be thus applied as most do and that filling to be a testimony and signe of Gods glorious presence and approbation Then here is signified a pouring out of the Spirit upon the Angels before they go forth as tarrying in the Temple as the Disciples did at Jerusalem untill they should be endued with power from on high Luke 24.59 Indeed this great promise of the Father concerning the sending of the Comforter to teach us all things and to bring all things to our remembrance Joh. 14.26 is by Saints now prayed for and waited for even day and night but as yet that Spirit is not (c) It is my opinion that no Vial shall be poured out until the saints have the spirit poured out upon them which was promised to be given in the last days now if we have not that spirit yet I may well conclude Grostead Armachan Wickliff Luther c. had it not in their dayes given forth from the glory of God and from his power Neither probably shall we receive it until the woman be out of the wilderness Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrhe and frankincense with all powders of the Merchant Behold his bed which is Solomons threescore valiant men are about it of the valiant of Israel c. Go forth O ye daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart Song 3.6 7 11. Quest. 7 Seventhly Whereas upon the opening of the seventh Seal the first Angel of the seven which had the seven Trumpets sounded Rev. 8.1 7. The question is Whether observing order the first Viall of the seventh is to be poured out till after the sounding of the first Trumpet If so then we are not to begin the Vials until after the rising of the Witnesses as is manifest Rev. 11.12 15. Such as think some Vials are poured out do likewise hold that the (d) Brightman holds that the seventh trumpet sounded in the year 1558. seventh Trumpet hath already sounded But to grant that some Vials are past and the seventh Trumpet not yet sounded here ought to be first good consideration if we will not be children in understanding That the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded I think it must be granted by all who hold the Witnesses not risen But that any of the Vials are to be poured out till after the sounding of the seventh Trumpet truly in my opinion whosoever shall humbly and soberly observe the Prophesie shall finde little ground to think otherwise In the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets Rev. 13.7 Now unless by finishing the mystery here is meant the pouring out the seven last Plagues I know not what is to be understood It is said before That there should be time no longer ver 6. that is upon the sounding of the last Trumpet the seven Angels which had the seven last Plagues should obeying the heavenly voyce go their wayes and pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth and so no more time viz. for the Beast and the false Prophet or any other wicked ones to oppress the Lords people whether Jews or Gentiles Quest 8 Eighthly I desire to know Whether the seven last Plagues do not
had done unto the two Kings of the Amorites that were on the other side Jordan Sihon and Og whom they utterly destroyed assoon as they had heard these things their hearts did melt neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of Israel Josh 2.10 11. Such will be the effect of the first Vial when Babylon shall hear by those postes Jer. 51.31 what the Lord by his risen VVitnesses hath done upon THAT EARTH the other side Jordan O what a noisome and grievous sore will be upon the Canaanites their hearts will die within them as fore-seeing their destruction in seeing the drawn Sword of Jehovah in the hands of his Mighty Ones Thus I have given a short Paraphrase of the first Vial it is indeed but short to what might be said onely I have done it to shew that taking the Vials not yet begun but to begin at the rising of the Witnesses there is in my Opion more Scripture-Ground for it than to begin at Waldo Wickliff Armachan c. or by Earth to understand the grosser part of Popery But this I leave to the judicious and godly Reader Answ 5. Lastly Should I grant which I do not what you say yet out of one and the same Temple all the Angels go 3 although not so opened to the first as to the last Now whereas you apprehend not a sufficient ground to say the last Vials are more perfect high or accomplishing than the first I suppose there is seeing the holy Ghost hath given such a Character of perfection to the last Rev. 16.17 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he hath not given to the first And besides it must needs be that as the spirit of life comes down from on high more and more the instruments will be purer and purer And besides he is not always the best that engageth the first for the engagement may be greatest and the work hardest at last and then the Lord reserves instruments of more excellent principles and proportionable Faith and courage as I believe he hath for the Armageddon-battle and to bring up the rear under the seventh Vial. So far for your sixth Reason which I have been the larger in because I did take it for one of the Weightiest Repl. 1. As the difference lies betwixt us the matter is not much whether the Tabernacle of the Testimony be not opened to the first as to the last seeing till after the rising of the Witnesses it is not opened at all and so no Vial poured out by any of the Angels This was the thing which I asserted and finde nothing in the whole Answer to the contrary 2. For the Characters of perfection c. if there be any thing meant by the holy Ghost in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prove it You see more than I for to me it is no more than if seven men having done seven several things one after another the last knowing they have all done saith They have done How this can prove the last to be a better instrument then the first I know not I confess some take the last Angel to be Christ now in this sense it is true he is more perfect and high c. than the first yea than all the other six put them all together 3. Although as I said before we are here off from the matter viz. that the Instruments of the last Vials shall have more excellent principles and proportionable Faith and courage c. yet for the thing it self I question It is easier to overcome a dismaid Enemy and broken in his Forces than when he is in heart and whole The first Vial I conceive shall be poured out upon the Earth when Babylon shall say in her heart I fit a Queen and am no Widow and shall see no sorrow Rev. 18.7 the following Vials upon her as being full of fear terror and amazement so that the work seeme to be hardest at first Answer to the seventh Reason I shall not need to say much to this for not only we have it out of Cardinals and Papists mouths as to the first Vial and so as to the Swedes under the second but now as to the third Vial in the ende wars in Britain to which indeed it properly appertains the very Enemies as well as Friends have said True and righteous are thy judgements O God against the King Prelates yea the very Cavaliers and Malignants acknowledging That the hand of God was against them and that it could be no other than the finger of the Lord and in time as the plagues go out it will appear without dispute on whose side the truth is to such as will see Repl. 1. That the three first Vials are thus placed I never yet saw ground for it To forbear the first having already spoken of it why should the second Vial be applied to the Swedes and not rather to the Civil Wars in France or Bohemia or to the long Wars of the Albigenses against the Papists Sure I am there was as much of God if not more seen in these wars and his judgements aâ— manifest as in the Swedes So for the third Vial which properly appertains you say to Britain and why not to Scotland in their Maries Reign or to the Netherlands seeing as much was done there in point of Reformation as here in England Methinks to take in the Swedes and leave out others more considerable significant and Vial-like in your own way is not well But some may say There are not Vials enough to give such allowance 2. For Cardinals Prelates Cavilliers c. we have had little yet out of their mouthes It may be some few now and then as it hath been so since there were such men have acknowledged Gods appearing against them in some remarkable providence But how as a Vial of wrath No but as the Corrections of a Father making use of bad men as Roundheads Brownists Anabaptists Sectaries c. as his Rod or Instruments hoping for all this to recover their losses and to have their former Places and Superstition restored So that Gods judgements have not been manifest as to the conviction of enemies nâ—â— was there more acknowledged amongst them of God finger under the two supposed Vials then what hath been often at other times And therefore from such a Principle I do not see but every Fight or Battel must be one of the seven last Plagues I mean when a few amongst the Captives and Prisoners shall acknowledge that the hand of the Lord was out against them 3. And lastly For the place Rev. 15.4 For thy judgements are manifest It doth not concern so much the Enemies of the Truth what they confess as how manifest Gods judgements are in themselves Howsoever therefore something was manifested in the Swedes and in Britain against the Beast as at other times as much yet this doth not prove that the second and third Vials were then poured out I deny that for when such