When they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Rev. 1.12 14. In the midst of the seven golden candlesticks was one like unto the Son of man cloathed with a Garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle i. e. Jesus Christ who in respect of his Priestly Office had a tender Heart and was both willing and ready to do them good His head and his hair were white like wool as white as snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire i. e. In respect of his Prophetical Office he did shew himself in all their Church-Administrations to be full of Wisdom Gravity Prudence and Understanding And his feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace and his voice was as the voice of many waters i e. He did triumphantly conquer many stout-hearted and rebellious Sinners by virtue of his Kingly Power and Regal Authority in his Ordinances Ps 110.3 4. and 45. 2dly God was good in respect of that good Order Discipline and Government that was amongst them Christ himself was their Soveraign and Supreme Law-giver in all Church-matters according to what was Prophesied Is. 9.6 7. The government shall be upon his shoulders Zech. 6.13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory and he shall sit and rule upon his throne The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were put in the hands of those that were faithful Of Peter Matth. 16.19 Of all the Apostles Joh. 20. Of the whole Church Matth. 18.17 18. Herein was their Order and Polity that Church-Officers medled only with what was proper for them to wit the Authoritative exercise of Church Power and the Church medled with nothing but what was proper for them In the Primitive Church during the first Century nothing was done sine consensu plebis without the consent of the People as Mr. Jacob proves by an hundred Testimonies out of the purest Antiquity they had the power of choosing their own Officers Act. 1. end and 6. begin Of admitting Members as in the case of Saul's seeking to adjoin himself who was hindred by the Brethren of the Church till they received satisfaction from Barnabas's Act. Of casting out offending Members 1 Cor. 5. Of re-admitting Excommunicate Penitents 2 Cor. 2. Their order was that no particular Church did arrogate Power or Jurisdiction over other particular Churches the Church of Antioch's sending to Jerusalem Act. 15. to consult with them concerning some Doctrinal Differences does argue That they had full power to determine the matter among themselves without making any appeal their order was that they did not press things indifferent upon scrupling Consciences as if they had been necessary Rom. 14. 1 Cor. 8. and 9. Chapters They well knew that to have done otherwise would have been Tyranny and destructive to Christian Liberty and so for many other things 3. The Primitive Church in respect of purity of Doctrine was called Rev. 12. 1 A Woman that had on her Head a Crown of twelve Stars however they were branded by their Enemies as Heretical yet the Doctrine they profess'd was purely Apostolical It 's true false Teachers did creep in now and then amongst them and corrupted several Truths but through the vigilance and faithfulness of the Servants of God they were quickly and convincingly confuted They did teach that we must seek Righteousness for Justification partly by Christ and partly by the Ceremonies of Moses's Law but the Epistles to Coloss Galat. and Hebrews were written against this Heresie Cerinthus denyed the Divinity of Christ for which the Gospel of John was written 2 Cor. 11 2 3. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast virgin to Christ for I fear left as by any means the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 4. Herein was the Glory of the Primitive Church That not only the Officers but also many of their Members were Men singularly qualified with gifts 1 Cor. 1.5 7. By him ye are enriched in every thing in all utterance and in all knowledge So that ye come behind in no Gift See 1 Cor. 14. Act. 8. Mark 16.17 These signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out Devils they shall speak with new tongues they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover 5. God was good to them in respect of Grace Rom. 15.14 And I my self am perswaded of you brethren that ye are full of goodness 1 Cor. 1.2 Eph. 1.3 4 5. Philip. 1.3 4 5 6 7. being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel ye are all partakers of my grace and this I pray that your love may yet more and more abound in all knowledge and in all judgment Col. 1.3 4. We give thanks unto God since we heard of your Faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the Saints 1 Thes 1.3 Remembering without ceasing your work of Faith your labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and of our Father knowing brethren beloved your election of God It was no small part of their Glory that they did so abound in Love which did evidence it self in two notable Acts 1. They kept the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace though some were for Circumcision others against it some for observation of Days Ceremonies eating Meats and others not yet they did in a great measure live in Love and Unity Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and of one Soul 2. There was none of them wanted necessaries so long as others had wherewithall to supply them 2 Cor. 9.12 13 14. The administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the Saints but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God whiles by the experiment of this Ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all Men And by their prayer for you which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift Rom. 15.25 26 27. I go to Jerusalem to minister to the Saints for it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor Saints which are at Jerusalem it hath pleased them verily and their
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these lost Days spoke unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things 3. The dispensation they were under was full of Dread Horrour and Terror Gal. 4. end Heb. 12. When the Law was given forth from Sinai the Mount was all in a Fire to point at the hot burning Wrath they might look for in case they were found transgressors â—ur's from Mount Sion is full of Meekness Gentleness Mercy and Love St. John If ye love me keep my Commandments 4. The promises of our Covenant are better than theirs if they did observe the Statutes and Ordinances of God they might warrantably expect to be blest in their Basket and Store and such other temporal things according to Deut. 28. But now though we cannot by vertue of a promise expect blessings of this kind upon our observation of Divine Precepts but rather the contrary Matth. 10. Whoever will be my Disciple must deny himself take up his Cross and follow me And Acts 4. Through manifold Temptations or Tribulations we must all enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And 1 Tim. 2.12 All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persection yet we may expect Spiritual Blessings and that in a greater measure than they 1. We are promised greater plenty of Spiritual Knowledge than they That of Isa 11.9 relates to gospel-Times The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea And 35.5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf be unstopped And 32.3 4. And 42.16 I will bring the blind by a way they know not I will lead them in paths they have not known I will make darkness light before them and crooked things strait These things will I do unto them and not forsake them 2 Cor. 3.15 16 18. And 4.3 The Preaching of the Gospel is not Darkned with Types Figures and Ceremonies as in the Days of old 2. Spiritual Fruitfulness is promised to us Matth 21.41 The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you Jews and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Isa 35.7 8. In the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land Springs of water in the habitation of dragons where each lay shall be reeds and rushes 3. Spiritual peace joy and comfort is promised to our Days Isa 32.17 The Work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Rom. 5. Begin Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God and not only so but we Glory in Tribulation also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad into our Hearts by the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1. In whom believing ye rejoyce with a joy unspeakable and full of Glory 4. We have the promise of the Spirit more than they Joel 2.28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh Acts 2.17 Isa 44.3 O how good is the Lord to us in this respect if we are not wanting to our selves through unbelief the dispensation under which we are promises the pourings forth of the Spirit to us O! who are we that we should be thus dealt by Let 's make some use of what has been said as to this head and so I go on 1. Let Men and Angels be summoned in to admire and adore let our Souls and all that 's within us Extoll and Magnifie the rich Grace and Goodness of this God that has cast off his Ancient People and has taken us gentile sinners who were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and Strangers to the Covenant and made us heirs of the promises Rom. 11.17 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out O what are we poor wild Olives that we should be grafted in amongst the Natural Branches and partake of the fatness of the Olives O blessed are your Eyes and Ears which see and hear such things as were denyed many of the Fathers See Rom. 11. Ephes 3.8 9 10. Acts 28. end O how good is this God that has invested every particular Church of gentile Believers with greater privileges than their National Church had and private Christians are in some respects privileged beyond their Church Officers Rev. 1.4 He hath made us Kings and Priests to God to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving to him through Christ 2. Study to walk worthy of this goodness of the Lord unto all well-pleasing Col. 1. Let every Soul say O what shall I render to the Lord. 1. Take heed thou dost not live in any the least Sin beware of Ignorance if any thing prove the Condemnation of the World it will be this That light is come and they de light in darkness more than in light John 3.19 We may now say 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it 's hid to them that Perish beware of unbelief John 3.18 He that believeth not on him is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God O beware of ingratitude and turning Grace into Wantonness Jude 4. There are certain Men who were before of old ordained to Condemnation ungodly Men turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness Say rather Rom. 6.1 Shall I Sin because I am under Grace God forbid 2. Think it not enough to abstain from Sin and to have true Grace but that your Graces may in some measure be answerable to the Covenant you are under has God been pleased to make great promises and wilt not thou labour for such a Faith as may apply these promises according to their full Latitude and extent Has God now manifested the Riches of his Grace in reconciling the World to himself through his Son declaring also that whosoever will believe on him shall be saved And why art thou still in a doubting and questioning Condition 3. Lay out your selves in glorifying this good God especially in these two 1. In a Gospel-Frame of Spirit Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the Elect of God dearly and beloved bowels of Mercies kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness long-Suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another If any Man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all these things put on Charity which is the Bond of perfection and let the Peace of God Rule in your Hearts to the which also ye were called in one Body and be ye thankful 2. In a Gospel-Conversation Phil. 1.27 Rom. 13.12 13 14. The
not too mean an Employment for them to bring this Message to the Shepherds Luk. 2.8 9 10. Fear not for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord verse 13.14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men And that good old Man Simeon verse 28 29. When he had seen the Child Jesus he took him up in is Arms and blessed God saying Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of they people Israel Christ himself being come they might now know that God was a great Lover of Mankind now they had an ample proof of his faithfulness in making good what he had long before promised Now they might be sure that Shadows would flee away the Substance being come Now they might be assured of the downfal of the Devil's Kingdom witness the silencing the Oracles of Jupiter Apollo and Hecate as also the locking up the Temple of Janus 3. God's goodness to the primitive Church was in furnishing them with Pastors according to his own Heart the greatness of which Mercy may appear from the Consideration of these Circumstances 1. The number of primitive Church-Officers was perfect and compleat for species and kind there was none wanting which her Condition did then call for Of extraordinary Officers there were Twelve Apostles Acts 1.1 Seventy Evangelists particular Churches had their ordinary Officers to wit Bishops i. e. Pastors and Teachers to whom the Administration of Ordinances and Oversight of the Flock was committed Presbyters or Elders who were to look to the Peoples Manners and Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5. And Deacons who were to take care of the Poor Acts 6. begin 2. There was then a parity and equality of all Officers in their kinds Amongst the Apostles none claimed a Superiority over the rest Peter's Supremacy was then unknown as the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to him Matth. 16.19 so also to the rest Joh. 20.23 The very affectation of pre-eminence was in those days distastful to Christ Matth. 18.1 2 3 4. and 20.25 26 Jesus called them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be you Servant even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister And as it was distastful to Christ so also to themselves Matth. 20.21 22 23 24. When the ten heard what the Mother of Zebedee's Children had asked for her two Sons they were moved with indignation against them And as one Apostle was not over the rest of the Apostles so there was a parity between Bishops and Presbyters i. e. ordinary Preaching and Ruling Officers or Elders they were not two distinct Offices nor Officers as may appear from Act. 20.17 with 28. whom he had called Presbyters v. 17. he calls Bishops v. 28. 2. From Philip. 1.1 he directs the Epistle to the Bishops and Deacons Philippi being but a City it cannot be imagin'd that there were Metropolitan of Diocesan Bishops in the plural number in it therefore the Bishops there spoken of were only ordinary Church Officers This is the observation of Chrysostome on the Text. 3. From Tit. 1.5 with 7. For this cause left I thee in Crete to ordain Presbyters for a Bishop must be blameless This for must either be a reason of what is in the preceding verse or it signifies nothing the qualifications required in both are the same therefore they are not distinct Officers 4. From 1 Pet. 5.1 2. The Apostle exhorts the Presbyters to watch over their Flocks v. 5. taking the oversight of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishoping it over them The Work of both is the same and therefore the Office is the same 5. From Ephes 4.11 12. where all sorts of Officers both extraordinary and ordinary are reckon'd and if Lord Prelates be neither Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors nor Techers They are none of Christ's Creatures but of Humane Institution 6. From 1 Tim. 3.1 to v. 8 begin where the Apostle gives Rules for the Examination and Ordination of a Bishop and then immediately he passes to the Office of a Deacon without so much as mentioning any thing of a Presbyter as taking it for granted that Bishop and Presbyter were one and the same the Rules for Examination and Ordination of both are the same And thus you see God was good to the Primitive Church in giving her such Officers as did neither Lord it over one another nor over the Lord's Heritage A Third circumstance of this Mercy was the extent of the Apostolical Commission Matth. 28. Go Preach the Gospel to all the World whereas formerly it was confin'd within the compass of the Land of Judea such is the goodness of God to the Sons of Men now that he is not willing any should perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth See Act. 10.28 34 35. Mark 16.15 Luke 24.47 Act. 1.8 and 20.21 Rom. 1.4 5. 4. He did furnish the Apostles with variety of eminent Gifts and Graces suitable to their Work they had such a Gift of Preaching that they needed not Read or Study but they spake by immediate Inspiration from the Holy Ghost Gal. 1.11 12. Eph. 3.3 At one of their Sermons three Thousand were Converted Act. 2.41 At another five Thousand Act. 4.4 They had a Spirit of Prayer they needed not a Book to read a Prayer by a set form They had the Gist of working Miracles Matth. 10.8 By laying on of hands they could confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon others Act. 8.17 and 10.44 and 19.6 In matters of Faith that concerned the Salvation of Sinners and the Church's Edification they were acted by a Spirit of infallibility Joh. 16.13 They could inflict corporal Punishments upon notorious Hypocrites and Blasphemers Act. 5.9 10. and 13.11 2 Cor. 10.6 They were endued with a prophetical Spirit whereby they could foretel things to come Rom. 11.5 26. 2 Thess 2.2 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 Joh. 16.13 The whole Book of the Revelation is prophetical 4. Consider the Church it self and God's goodness was great to them in these respects 1. Of Ordinances 2. Order and Government 3. Of the Purity and Simplicity of the Truth in those days 4. Of their Gifts 5. Their Graces 6. Perseverance 7. Sufferings 1st They had no Ordinances but what were of Divine Institution these also were divinely Administred and a glorious Presence of God was that that did highly beautifie all their Administrations Act. 4.31
God in transmitting this prophetical Piece of holy Writ to us that it might be a Lanthorn to our Feet to direct our steps in a dark Place Let 's not slight this good providence so as not at all to peruse it only for the Lord's sake study Sobriety Self-denial Humility and Spirituality in your perusal and then there will be no great danger otherwise there may and will Rev. 3.1 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things 2. God's good Providence so ordered it that their sufferings were for Righteousness sake Rev. 6.9 They were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held Their Testimony was this The Devil is not to be Worshipped nor any other Creature whatsoever This enraged the Dragon who was then Worshipped to raise a persecution against them Rev. 12.7 Their Testimony was that their present way of Worship though practised by the Emperors and established by the publick Laws of the Empire yet it was idolatrous sinful and detestable to God this enraged the Emperors against them they testified that Jesus Christ was the only Son of God and Saviour of the World The Senate of Rome refused to acknowledge his Divinity till first by some Act or Law of theirs it should be so approved of and ratified Rom. 1.21 22. Herein the Romans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 became vain in their imaginations and their foolish Heart was full of darkness when they professed themselves to be wise they became fools From all this it is evident that they suffered in a very righteous Cause 2. From this also that they refused conformity to their way of Worship and would not do any the least thing that might but seem to honour their Idols tho' much sollicited thereunto both by promises of great rewards on the one hand and threatnings of sore punishments on the other Eustachius a Christian Souldier with his whole Family was put to Death though otherwise he had done great service meerly because he would not on the day of Triumph Sacrifice with the Emperor Dioclesian's own Wife being a Christian suffered on the same account Marcus Arethusius not only refused to build the Idols Temple which himself had pulled down but also chused Death rather than to contribute one Farthing towards it They would not deliver up their Bibles they would not give so much as a Clout or Rag they would not so much as throw a little incense on their Altars A certain Christian Souldier would needs carry his Garland in his Hand when his fellows did wear it on their Heads in Testimony of Honour to their Idols 3. They suffered because they would not persecute their fellow Christians A memorable instance is of that Christian Legion of Souldiers who after an excellent Oration made by Mauritius their Commander to the Emperor Maximinianus after they had been twice decimated were afterwards all of them Slain upon no other account but because they would not fall upon their fellows 4. That they suffered for Righteousness sake may appear from the many false calumnies and accusations that were brought against them Rev. 12.10 When the Dragon in the persecuting Emperors had his deadly Wound it 's thus exprest The accuser of our brethren is cast down 1. They were accused for being Enemies to civil Government upon a twofold account 1. Because of their non-conformity to such edicts of the Empire as were contrary to the Law of God 2 Because they talked so much of the Kingdom of Christ that in matters of Conference and Worship they acknowledged no Soveraignty nor Laws but his Trajan's Persecution did arise upon Euaristus's exercising of Discipline in the Churches without dependance upon the civil Power The Emperor Domitian did diligently search for all that were any kin to Christ according to the Flesh least happily some of them might lay claim to his Crown that the primitive Christians were Enemies to Magistrates and civil Government was a notorious falseshood both their Principles and Practices do abundantly testifie for sometimes when there were many hundreds of them Burnt in Churches and thousands of them that were Soldiers in Arms able enough to defend themselves destroyed they chused to suffer rather than sinfully to make resistance 2. They were most abominably slandered by Magicians Idolatrous Priests Jews and other Apostate Christians as guilty of the most horrid sins that could be named at their Meetings to wit Incest Adultrey Drunkenness Inhumanity 3. Whatever Plagues were inflicted upon Persecutors the blame of all was cast upon the Christians as if they had been the only cause thereof whereas indeed it was their own Sin of Persecuting God's People and contempt of the Gospel that occasioned all their judgments 4. That they suffered for Righteousness may appear from the Laws which were made against them to wit these 1. That all their Bibles should be delivered up and destroyed 2. That they should not meet together for Religious exercises unless it were Men apart and Women apart and so Women were to teach Women contrary to Christs Law 3. That no Ministers should meet together in any Synod or otherwise and that wherever they were apprehended they should be carried away to Prison The Laws made by Julian for the extirpation of Christianity were these 1. That no Children of Christians should be trained up in Schools that so being ignorant they might be incapacitated to plead for the Christian Religion 2. That none should be beneficed with any place civil or military but they that would Sacrifice to Idols 3. That no Ministers should have any maintenance 4. Meerly in spite to the Christians he enacted a toleration to all sorts of Religion whence the Jews were encouraged to lay the Foundation of the Temple that abomination of desolation against which God did so miraculously appear from Heaven above and Earthquakes beneath that there was not one Stone left upon another according to what was prophesied by Christ Matth. 24.2 3. God was good to them in this respect That during their Persecuted Estate he furnished them with Ministers and others singularly qualified for the Service and Sufferings of that Day as may appear 1. By comparing Rev. 6.1 3 5 7. with 4.7 By the Beasts which cried Come and see at the opening of the Seals the Ministers of Christ are signified the first was like a Lion i. e. they did deliver their Masters Message and do his Work with an undaunted Lion like Courage and Boldness The second was like a Calf i. e. they were fitted with a Spirit of Patience and Meekness contentedly to undergo the Yoak of hard Labour and sore Pressures The Third had the Face of a Man i. e. they were furnished with a great measure of Heavenly Wisdom and Prudence in all their administrations The fourth like a flying Eagle i. e. some of them did soare aloft in searching into and discovering of the great Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven they were very
fourth Trumpet only a Third part of the Sun was Darkned Now there is a total Eclipse and a thick Mist upon the Face of the whole Earth the petty Antichrists that preceded did only Corrupt and Adulterate some Truths and Ordinances Thus all His Smoak is as the Smoak of a great Furnace a complex Body a Flood and Inundation of all manner of Errors and Heresies He calls all that endeavour a Reformation in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Hereticks and Schismaticks but indeed he is the great Heretick 2. Out of this Smoak came out Locusts Verse 3. i. e. the Romish and Antichristian Clergy called Locusts 1. Because there are such numerous swarms of them that were never of Divine Institution Popes Cardinals Patriarchs Metropolitans Arch-Bishops Lord-Prelates c. some do reckon 35 orders of that Hierarchy to which Alsted says do belong 225044 Monastaries 2. Because of their hurtfulness to Souls as Locusts to Trees and Grass They are further described from verse 4. to the end of this Trumpet the Spirit of God hereby pointing to us That this Romish Hierarchy is one of the greatest Pillars of Antichrists Kingdom where you may mark these properties in them 1. They have power to String i. e. to torment the Souls and Consciences of Men and Women Verse 3 5 6. They shall so put them on the Rack That in those days Men shall seek Death and shall not find it they shall desire Death and it shall flee away They Preach that they must believe as the Church believeth that they must perfectly keep the Law of God otherwise they are Damned and having thus wounded the Remedy is worse than the Disease they put Men upon satisfying God's Justice at least for some sins and procuring Peace of Conscience by their own good Works and Merits that no Man can be assured of his Salvation in this Life that after Death their Souls go into Purgatory out of which they are to be redeemed by saying so many Soul-Masses for them for which they must endow the Church with a good part of their Estates This their Stinging was like unto a Scorpion a dangerous kind of Serpent that goes waywardly and Stings when it seems not to do so Their Power thus to torment was but for five Months this is in allusion to the Locusts who continue from April to September to destroy Trees and Grass Verse 5.2 As to their shape they were like unto Horses prepared unto Battle i. e. they are swift nimble and active strong and well fed meer belly-Gods 3. On their Heads they have Crowns as it were like unto Gold i. e. they live in such State Pomp and Grandure that they are more like Monarchs than Gospel-Ministers though indeed they are neither for their Crowns are not Gold but like unto it they plead that their Church Government is of Divine Right their Authority is from Jesus Christ but all is not Gold that glisters pretend what they will they came out of the bottomless Pit 4. Their faces were as the faces of Men. Verse 7. i. e. They shew themselves very sociable and affable meerly to insinuate into the Affections of others or they plead its reason by which they are regulated in all their Administrations is it not reason that all things should be done decently and in order that the Church should have a Power in Ceremonies and Matters indifferent to determine the Practices of People how can their be any peace without Uniformity Non conformists can be no other but a company of proud Persons that affect Novelty and Singularity 5. Their hair is like the hair of Women Verse 8. i. e. They are Spiritually Effeminate and with their whorish Deckings and Attire they allure others to commit Spiritual Fornication 6. Their teeth are as the teeth of Lions Verse 8 i. e. They are very cruel but cunning the teeth lie hid in this they are distinguished from the Turks in the following Trumpet Whose heads are as lions i. e. They openly profess their Cruelty 7. They had breast-plates as it were of iron i. e. They arm themselves so that none can do them hurt either they get Magstirates to be on their side or to be privileged with immunities from the jurisdiction of Magistrates 8. The sound of their wings is as the sound of Chariets of many horses running to battle i. e. Their Church Censures Bulls and Excommunications is with great noise horror and dread by which Emperors and Kings themselves have been greatly awed 9. They have stings in their tails Verse 10. i. e. With their flattering Speeches and plausible Pretences they captivate poor simple ones Lastly They have a King over them which is the Angel of the bottomless Pit whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon destroyer i. e. Though they have many several orders and degrees amongst themselves yet they are all of them subordinate to one supream Head the Pope though some may pretend very fair yet their Offices Orders and Degrees came Originally from him that is the Angel of the bottomless Pit The goodness of God under this trumpet is in the 9th Verse Though their Commission was very extensive in having power to hurt all yet it did not reach the Sealed Ones and to say no more but this the greater the judgment was the more did the goodness of God appear in securing his hidden Ones from it And thus of the 5th Trumpet The Scope of the sixth Trumpet is to show that Idolatry and Superstition being now so rife amongst those that were called Christians the Righteous God was resolved to raise up the Sarazens and Turks as a scourge for the same the judgment of this Trumpet not being a Spiritual but a Temporal one Most Expressions may be understood literally I will cursorily run over the whole Upon the sounding of the sixth Angel a voice was heard from the 4 Horns of the Golden Altar which is before God saying Loose the four Angels which are bound in the great River Euphrates which was accordingly done Verse 14.15 i. e. Whereas the forementioned barbarous People were hereto by God's Providence restrained from breaking in upon the Western part of the World and kept on the other side of Euphrates now they are commissioned from Jesus Christ to come against the Christians for their Idolatry The number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand i. e. Of all People in the World none comparable to the Turks for Horses they are infinitely numerous v. 16. And the riders that sat on them have breast-plates of fire of jacinct and of brimstone and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions i. e. they are terrible and cruel and profess themselves to be so and out of their mouths issued fire and smoak and brimstone Some understand hereby their great Guns and Cannons which Instruments of War were first invented by them v. 17. And by the fire smoak and brimstone which issued out of their mouths the third part
great Inhumanity of Adversaries they would not suffer their Dead Bodies to be put in Graves for three Days and a half vers 9. For some short time they do pour forth all manner of opprobrious contempt upon them The literal sense is not altogether to be rejected the Papists would not suffer Zwinglius's Body to be Buried So they served the Admiral of France with many others in the Parisian Massacre and in Queen Mary's Days Bucer's Bones were raised and burnt 2. They that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry because they are rid of their Tormenters vers 10. This must be at such a time when the Popish party are insufferably proud insulting over the slain Servants of God that had tormented them with a plain Testimony against all their Abominations Mali cum injuriam facere non sinuntur injuriam se accipere existimant From this Narrative of the slaying of the Witnesses learn these few Instructions 1. Providence sometimes so orders it that God's Servants shall well near have finished their Work before their Enemies can hurt them that so their Testimony for Christ may Live when they are dead and gone 2. Reformation has been always attended with great Persecution 3. A begun-work of Reformation may have such a sentence of Death pass upon it for a season that to all probability it shall never have a revival 4. Christ's Witnesses must expect nothing but Barbarity from Men of Popish Principles and Spirits 5. It 's no new thing to see wicked Men triumphantly insult over God's persecuted People The 1. thing in the Narrative of the Resurrection of the Witnesses is the time thereof after three Days and a half vers 11. Some short time some apply this to John Husse and Jerom who were condemned by the Council of Constance that began Anno 1414 December the 8th and ended 1418. May 22. Three Years and a half 2. The means by which this was brought about the Spirit of Life from God entred into them they were stirred up by a Spirit of Zeal from God to be lively and active in carrying on the work again 3. Their posture they stood upon their feet vers 11. Either the former slain Witnesses I mean Civilly an Spiritually slain or others of the same Principles and Spirit did openly appear in and for it again 4. The effect great fear fell upon all that saw them 5. The heard a voice from Heaven saying Come up hither and accordingly they did ascend up to Heaven in a Cloud and their Enemies beheld them vers 12. The work of Reformation and Separation became now more glorious than ever before 6. About the same time there was a great Earthquake and a tenth part of the City fell vers 13. i. e. When ever the Resurrection of the Witnesses is the Lord shall wonderfully go forth in some remarkable Providences and Tremendous Judgments against the Roman Empire to the great weakening thereof Some apply it to the Bohemian War after the sufferings of Husse and Jerom where Sigismundus had great successes against the Antichristian Army From all this learn these few instructions 1. Commonly the sufferings of Reformers are short 2. God's Spirit is the great Engine for carrying on God's Work 3. Boldness in witness-bearing is from God's Spirit standing on their Feet an open and a vowed Profession is from the Spirit of Life from God 4. Commonly wicked Men begin to be afraid when they perceive that Persecution does but make God's People more bold and God's Work to prosper the more 5. Reformation and Separation from Antichristian Pollutions has a great brightness of illustrious Divine Glory upon it Quest Is this Prophecy of the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witness yet fulfilled And whereabouts are we of this Age under the Sixth or Seventh Trumpet Are the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days and forty two Month at an end or not For Answ Let me premise a few things before I come to the thing it self 1. This cannot be resolved unless we are at some certainty where to fix the beginning of the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days or the Churches wilderness-State and of the forty two Months or Antichrist's first Rise whether from Constantine immediately after the third Century or from Boniface's time Anno 606. I shall endeavour by and by to prove that both did commence from the time that did immediately follow after the first 300 Years 2. It is more than probable that the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days and forty two Months are not to be understood literally for just so many Natural Days and Astronomical Months because matter of fact proves that Antichrist's Reign and the Churches wilderness-State has been already of a longer continuance but figuratively and Mystically for Days of Years and Months of Years according to Ezek. 4.6 Being an usual thing for Prophets thus to express themselves These things premised I answer in the affirmative That this prophecy has had its accomplishment already and the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days and forty two Months are expired and that for these reasons 1. If these Days and Months did commence from the time immediately after the first three hundred Years not from six hundred six then this Prophecy is fulfilled and the time past but this is so as may appear 1. from Rev. 12.5 6. As soon as the Woman brought forth a Man Child which was caught up to God she fled into the Wilderness i. e. Immediately after the Church was delivered from Heathenish Persecutions her wilderness-Estate the same with the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days in this 11th Chap. does begin This is also hinted again to us from Rev. 12.13 14. The Church is nourished in the Wilderness for a time times and half a time i. e. Three Years and a half the same with one thousand two hundred and threescore Days and forty two Months 2. from 2 Thess 2.7 8. The mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will let untill he be taken out of the way and then shall that wicked one be revealed i. e. As soon as ever the Heathen persecuting Emperors were removed and not till then should it appear what design the Devil had to advance the Mystery of Iniquity 3. Though it 's true the Church did not suffer from the great Antichrist till six hundred and six yet all that went before him after Constantine were petty Antichrists only at first it was but young Days with Antichrist in six hundred and six he was of riper Years the Churches suffering were all that while of the same kind Majus minus non variant speciem all that went before did but make way for him and his predecessors Persecutions are all of them charged upon him because he did practically approve of them And this is the first thing that proves the foresaid Days and Months to be expired and this Prophecy to be already fulfilled 2. The inconsequences