page 64 to page 75. M Of Mans Mortality and how far page 35. to page 51. O Original Sin and what punishment it brought upon Adam and his posterity page 27. to page 34. And how all the Statutes and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus are perpetuated and to remain practicable to the Worlds end page 106. to page 118. Of Objections against the perpetuity of some of Christs Ordinances Answered page 119. to page 181. Q Of several Queries Answered page 209. to page 216. R Of the Resurrection of the Body page 51. to page 63. Of the Raign of our blessed Saviour with his Saints upon Earth page 76. to page 99. S Sprinkling proved not to be Baptism for several Reasons page 3. to page 5. W Of the Womans Travelling and bringing forth the Man-child and who it is and of her flight into the Wilderness and what Wilderness it is and how long she shall remain there and of the Persecution of the Remnant of her Seed and who they be page 181. to 200. Of the two Witnesses Prophesying and who they are page 200. to 208. ERRATA PAge 3 4 5. read Anon for Canaan p. 15 l. 27 r. fall f. full p. 36. l. 13 r. Job 14.7 c. f. John 4. p. 38 l. 11 r. God f. Christ p. 38 l. 34 r. infused f. Inferred p. 39 l. 7 r. God f. Christ Jesus p. 94. l. 9 r. John f. Jesus p. 121 l. 25 r. how f. though p. 132 l. 31 r. there f. the p. 133. l. 16 r. should p. 139 l. 7 p 141 l. 17 18. add this although the outward Court was taken and the City trod under foot yet no man could enter into the Temple to deface it p. 145 l. 17 r. not utterly destroyed although defaced and trampled upon p. 146 l. 29 r. naturally p. 148 l. 1 r. brought in p. 150 l. 28 r. false f. face p. 153 l. 21 r. marvellous p. 157 l. 25 r. order f. word p. 158 l. 13 r. Babellish f. established p. 161 l. 30 r. Iohn only excepted p. 165 l. 10 r. Mystery f. Ministry p. 174 l. 1 r. Jayl f. vail p. 175 l. 16 r. was not the Church p. 176 l. 24. 30 r. shoke f spoke p. 182 l. 27 r. Jayl f. Valey p. 197 l. 1 r. Edom p. 211 l. 13 add such p. 213 l. 26 r. dissolution f. desolation p. 215 r. came not Mend in thy reading some other places for I would have perused it more nicely and mended some other small faults and Parenthesi's but wanted time Truth and Innocency Prevailing against Error and Insolency SIR I Am come to the Examination and Tryal of that which you call Truths Conflict with Error and find it to be no other but Error and Insolency striving against Truth and Innocency as will appear to the impartial Reader when he compares your pretended Answer with my former Book but indeed as for an Answer to my Book it is none as I before have said for the greatest part of it is but a writing over again what you have formerly written and is already answered and therefore I shall be brief in the Answer because Tautolligies suit not with my spirit Answ And first I take notice that you see your self at a loss by granting that Christ's Baptism was by plunging in water because I have said That if Christ's Baptism were by Dipping or Plunging and he left us an Example that we should follow his steps then we ought also to be dipped or plunged but you say I read the Sentence in your parenthesis amiss may you not be ashamed so to say seeing it is plain to be read in your Book your words are these Christ only was plunged with the Spirit receiving it without measure so was his water Baptism these are your very words with your parenthesis pag. 3. lin 2. and so I leave him that reads to judge whether you do not confess that Christ's water Baptism was the same with the Baptism of the Spirit which you say was by plunging Object And whereas you say That Christ went up into the mountain and yet not covered in the earth and so he went into the water and yet not covered with it Answ To which I Answer and say That it is not said that Christ was Baptized in the Mountain but it is said that he was Baptized in the Water and so it was said of Philip and the Eunuch But it will he granted that Christ might go many times into the water and yet not be covered in it but it cannot be imagined that John could dip or plunge or over-whelm or sink as the word Baptizo will render it Christ into the water and yet Christ not covered in water And besides all this the proper signification of Baptism is a Burial and Resurrection as I before have shewed yet notwithstanding I shall give a few Reasons here to prove that Baptism is dipping or plunging And the first Reason is Reas 1. Because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendereth no other thing as a proper derivation but mergo or immergo which is to dip to plunge to overwhelm to thrust into the water or to sink and such like words as these which sheweth that the person Baptized is to be covered in water Reas 2. Secondly Christ was so baptized namely plunged as you have affirmed in your former Book and we are to follow his examples therefore are to be covered as Christ was in Baptism Reas 3. And Thirdly it signifieth a Burial as saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 2.4 Col. 2.12 and a man cannot be said to be buried unless he be covered with earth or the like Object And this brings me to the Answer of your Objection p. 7. where you say That Christ was buried in a rock and had no earth to cover him and therefore it cannot be proved say you that persons baptized must be covered in the water Answ To which I Answer and say That Christ was covered is clear for his body was put into a new Sepulcher and a stone rowled against the door or mouth of the Sepulcher for in that age it was usual to bury the dead in Sepulchers which are as our Graves and that his body was covered is evident because when Mary came early in the morning to the Sepulcher although the stone was rowled away from the mouth yet she was fain to stoop down to look into it to see whether she could see Jesus implying that the earth covered him out of her sight but I need not trouble my self to prove that which is so clear for the Scripture saith although I suppose you had forgot it That as Jonah was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Matth. 12.40 So then as Jonah was covered in the Whales belly so was the Son of man covered in the heart of the earth from whence
is death then shall Christ deliver up his Kingdome and authority into the hands of God the Father and then shall Christ and the Saints be in subjection to God for ever and shall remain with him in bliss in that everlasting station that heavenly Jerusalem the which the Lord grant it to be the portion of every serious Soul that seeketh after truth unto whose hands these lines may come and to all others which is the earnest desire of him that would fain have been larger in meditation writing but by reason of several occasions time suffereth him not Farewel The Good Ancient Laws and Statutes OF KING JESUS VINDICATED Wherein is proved by several Scriptures and several Grounds and Reasons drawn from Scriptures That all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of King Jesus given forth in his last Will and Testament are practicable and to be practised by the Lords People in all Ages until the Worlds end or till the second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Judgment Whereunto also is added an Answer to the most material Objections to this Point or proof for the Cessation of some of Christs Ordinances It being in Answer to a Book published by Mr. Simon Henden of Biddenden in Kent entituled A Glass of some new Discoveries Together with a brief Review of the Heads of a Conference between him and the Author before many witnesses June 3. 1658. By GEORGE HAMMON Pastor to the Church of Christ meeting in Biddenden in KENT I said dayes shall speak and multitude of years should teach wisdome But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not alwayes wise neither doth the aged understand judgment Therefore I said hearken unto me I also will shew thee mine opinion Job 32.7 8 9 10. Go ye therefore and Teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOV and loe I am with you ALWAYES EVEN to the END of the WORLD Amen Mat. 28.19 20. LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for the Author 1660. The Epistle Dedicatory TO Mr. Simon Henden and his Son John SIRS ACcording to my promise and the desire of many Friends I have taken in hand to give some further Account of the Conference that we had at your House in June the 3d. 1658. Together with an Examination and Tryal of some few Particulars published by you upon a more mature consideration But truly I must be very brief because the Press hath waited a long while for it by reason of my being so much from home and taken off upon other occasions for indeed part of my Book hath been printed long since the which part was far briefer than it was intended if time would have admitted and also if the man to whom I had Dedicated it in chief had been in England but he being far remote and also giving forth speeches that he would not meddle any more with me either in Disputation nor in the Press I did only intend to answer that which seemed most material unto me and to remove it from my door and also to shew my opinion upon some other Subjects which are material and worth examination as at this day at the end of which I did promise to speak somewhat in order to the reviving of our former Discourse upon which I did also peruse your Treatise intituled The Key of Scripture Prophesies or A Glass of some new Discoveries to the end that I might the better know your Judgment when I had seen it delivered by you upon deliberation with serious and mature thoughts and when I had read it and perused it I was very much astonished at the consideration thereof to think how much I was bereaved of my understanding if that Piece were worthy to be authorized by a man of your gravity and ingenuity but however I desire not to be too confident it may be of greater worth than it appears to me to be and therefore I shall reveiw some few particulars and in the words of Sobriety and Humility give my judgment of things as they appear to me in the plainness and simplicity thereof to the end that I may inform those who are out of the way and yet will ask and enquire for the good old way and to leave others who are wise in their own conceit to stand and fall unto their own Master without casting dirt or things of that nature upon them the which I find to be most profitable in reference to Godliness although most unpleasing unto the flesh But to wave these things and all kind of circumlocution my desire is that these Lines may not be mis-represented upon your spirits as though what I write here be the venting of any thing from a private prejudice but those things that I rather aim at is love and good will first to your selves and then to all those that possibly may be mis-led and be in that Babel that you suppose others are in therefore let the Scripture and sound Reason guide you I mean Scripture Reason and the Lord if it be his will give you a right understanding therein which is the desire of him which desires your eternal peace who is Your Servant and all mens for Christ and his Bodies sake which is the Church GEORGE HAMMON THE Epistle to the Reader Courteous Reader I Have here presented thee with as it were a Homer in a Nut shell much matter of concernment in a little compass or volumn and my desire is that as thou tendreth the good of thy eternal peace to peruse these lines with an impartial heart and an unbyassed affection that thou maist thereby find out the truth in the midst of the varieties of Opinions which are in our dayes and in order thereunto be very careful to try things well before thou receiveth it for a truth and believe not every spirit but try them whether they be of God for many false Prophets are entred into the world which endeavour privately to undermine the truth and to bring in another Gospel to oppose both the Ordinances and Kingdome of the Lord Jesus and to walk in such a way as God hath not cast up for his People to walk in therefore remember how thou hast heard and received and hold fast for the time of account draweth near and then blessed will such be who are sound doing all things that are written in the last Will and Testament of Christ Jesus and if thou find any man so insolent and bold as to say that some of the Laws Statutes or Ordinances of King Jesus be not to be observed but are ceased then examine where it is written that Christ hath said that any of his Laws is to cease or fall to the ground and not to be observed until he comes and puts an end unto them and know that in things of concernment God hath not spoken obscurely
it And thus I pass the sour Winds at present and come to speak somewhat briefly to the Angels which is saith Mr. Henden The Angels spoken of Revel 7.1 we conceive saith he to be evil Spirits working by their principal Ministers the four capital Patryarchs of the Christian World to wit the Bishop of Alexandria c. Answ Methinks it 's very strange Doctrine to be published or to be believed namely to say that evil Spirits should have power to hold the good Spirits and so the good Spirit or the Spirit of God to become as it were subordinate to the evil that God should put his Spirit into the hands of the Devil I have read in Acts 7.51 1 Thes 5.19 that wicked MEN may resist the counsel of God or Spirit of God against themselves and quench the workings of the Spirit of grace within themselves whereby they should be Sealed unto the day of Redemption But I never yet read that the Devil or wicked men could hinder the working of Gods Spirit in or amongst his Church and to think that God would give his good Spirit to be holden by and among wicked Spirits is very vain and rediculous for what concord hath Christ with Belial or what fellowship hath light with darkness or God with the Devil But peradventure some will say we cannot indeed readily believe that ever God gave his Spirit into the custody of evil Spirits to hold Therefore what Angels do you think they were and what were the Winds Answ The Angels I understand to be the Angels of the Lord who are Ministring Spirits sometimes to administer blessings but now sent forth by God to execute his Judgments upon the great Antichrist after the Man-child was caught up to God to his Throne for it followeth in the nick of time even when the Heaven is rowled together like a serouse Revel 6.14 15 16. to the great amazement that will be at the sign of the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory and at that time woe be to the inhabitants of the earth and sea Revel 12.12 because of the Devils being come down and then shall go forth the seven Angels to pour out their Vials upon the earth and at that time also shall the four Angels that held the four Winds execute their office at which time there shall fall grievous and noysome sores upon those that have received the mark of the Beast Revel 16.1 2 3. That both Sea and Land shall be infected and the Sun scorching with heat every green tree and the Sons of men also and by reason of the Winds being with-held the earth Sea and Rivers and Fountains of water together with the Sons of men shall be so scolded with the heat of the Sun that they shall be grievously perplexed and shall blaspheme the name of God because of the plagues Revel 16.9 and the execution of these things will be in the time of the Prophesie of the two witnesses Revel 11.6 compared with Zech. 5.1 2 3. with Revel 10.2 vers 10. chap. 11.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. the which if the Lord will I shall speak to more at large anon when I come to discover what the outward Court and holy City is and of its being trod under foot and who the woman is which travaileth and what the Man-child is and of his being taken up to God and to his Throne of the flight of the woman into the Wilderness and what Wilderness and the time how long these things with several other are so annexed together that they are unseperable and thus I pass saying that the Winds are to be understood according as the Scripture calls them namely the sour Winds of the EARTH and thus I come to the next thing considerable which is Of the outward Court and holy City Revel 11.1 2. in these words And there was given me a reed like unto a rod the Angel stood saying arise and measure the temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein but the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths and I will give power to my two witnesses and they shall Prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sackcloth Before I shall give you the exposition of the Text or unfold it unto you I shall shew what Mr. Henden saith is the meaning of the Text which is We maintain saith he the Temple to decypher the mystical union of the one hundred and forty four thousand Sealed or elected ones whereby they are built up a spiritual house and the Court without to be the externity of ecclesiastical order which was established by Christ in the primitive times page 38. Paragraph 1. Section 4. Answ I know not any one Text that seems to bear a face to such a thing as the Temple to decypher the mystical union of the one hundred forty and four thousand Sealed ones neither do I understand that the Sealed ones are or can be applyed to the faithful Gentiles without wresting and abusing the Text for the Text tels us plainly that they that are Sealed are the Tribes of the Children of Israel and reckoneth them according to their several Tribes as you may read Revel 7.4 5 6 7 8. in these words And I heard the number of them that were Sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the Tribes of the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL mark that of the Tribe of JVDAH were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of RVBEN were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of GAD were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of ASER were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of NEPTHALY were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of MAN ASSES were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of SIMEON were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of LEVI were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of ISSACHAR were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of ZEBVLON were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of JOSEPH were Sealed twelve thousand of the Tribe of BENJAMIN were Sealed twelve thousand the which amounts just to one hundred forty and four thousand there being twelve thousand of every Tribe Sealed for there is twelve Tribes and twelve times twelve thousand is one hundred forty and four thousand the which were all of the Tribes of the Children of Israel so that those that call them Gentiles wresteth the Scripture for the Scripture doth not only call them the Tribes of the Children of Israel vers 4. but also repeateth every Tribe severally so plain that it cannot without great abuse to the holy Spirit be evaded time would fail me to shew the particulars relating to this thing only thus it is evident by the Angel out of the East that these twelve Tribes are to be sealed in their fore-heads to that end that when the Angels go forth to execute
the 15 vers of that fore mentioned 11. Chapter of the Revelations in these words And the seventh Angel sounded and there was a great voice in Heaven saying the KINGDOMES of this WORLD is BECOME the KINGDOMES OF OVR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST AND HE SHALL RAIGN FOR EVER AND EVER and thus much briefly to the Measurement of the Temple and City and outward Court being cast out and the holy City being trod under foot and fourthly the time of the witnesses Prophesying the which will be just three years and a halfe which is proved in the precedent discourse also more of that a non And as for Mr. Hendens computation of time which is saith he A day being taken for a year the flight of the woman and the City being trod under foot and the two witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloath is to be understood one thousand two hundred and threescore years in which time the Church is only a sealed number dis-robed of the beauty of her exterior Order paragraph 4 page 65. And also he further saith that the time of the beginning of the suffering of the Church and the City being trod under foot was in the year 390. and to be fully expired in the year 1650. and applieth it to a little light broke forth in England about that time and that you may see the SVM of this spoken by him although in more words at large read in his book page 10. compared with paragraph the fourth To which I answer briefly in particulars and First if the forty and two months and the one thousand two hundred and threescore daies with the TIME and TIMES and halfe a TIME all which is acknowledged to be one and the same Time for the Latitude thereof be expired and ended in the year 1950. then upon that account the Woman is come out of the Wilderness already and hath been almost for ten years since upon Mr. Hendens computation or calculation of time and if so I hope Mr. Henden will admit that the Woman may practise all the Ordinances as they were delivered or if not when shall she if it be answered that she is not to practise them till the Winds of the Spirit breath upon them again and if this be the time then is also as clear that the spirit is entered into them again from Mr. Hendens own opinion for these two Prophets saith Mr. Henden were to Prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore years in Sackcloath which time was expired or ended as he saith in the year 1650 and we find that when they had accomplished their Prophesies which was accomplished at the time aforesaid then they were slain and lay dead but three daies and a halfe the which upon Mr. Hendens account is but three years and a halfe at the end of which time the Spirit of life was to enter into them again Rev. 11.11 which was above six years since Sir look about you its time for you to up and be doing or to cast up your account a new but more to these things anon when I come to shew my opinion upon the travelling Woman and Man-child and Witnesse as before said but I fear I shall be much straitned for time Secondly It cannot be as Mr. Henden saith that the Winds of the Spirit is to be with-holden these forty and two months or 1260. daies so as that there shall not be that visible demonstration of the spirit as in the Primitive time for it is clear that the two witnesses in the time of their Prophesie in Sackcloath shall have as great power and visible demonstration as ever was known upon earth that they have power read Rev. 11.5 6. in these words If any wan will hurt them sire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enimies and if any man will hurt them they must in this manner be killed these have power to shut Heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesie and have power over waters to turn them into blood Rev. 16.3 4. and to smite the Earth with all plagues as often as they will For the Angels that hold the four Winds the seven Angels are imployed as ministering Spirits both to desend them from the malice of the Beast so as he cannot hurt or interrupt them all the time of their Prophesie and also to pour out their Vyals and with-hold the Winds and smite the earth with curses so often as they please and that they did also exercise their power in the time of their prophesie is clear from vers 11. where it is said that They tormented the Earth so then they had power and did also exercise it which confutes what Mr. Henden saith And thirdly whereas Mr. Henden saith in his page 65. that the true Church is only a Sealed number dis-robed of the beauty of her exteriour order I answer say it seems strange to me that the sealed number which Mr. Henden before said was not hurt and yet saith now that she were dis-robed of her beauty in outward order and if this be not hurt I know not what is hurt because God did ever delight in outward Order where there was inward grace he being a God of Order in all the Churches of his Saints Fourthly It yet wants a proof that ever the Woman lost any one of her robes if she be to be understood a Gentile Church as Mr. Henden saith she is for she had them on when Saint John saw her in his vision and I do not read of any ever saw her without them after she had put them on unless Mr. Henden did but I suppose he did not and so I shall leave this particular and pass to the next particular which is from the text Mat. 24 cited by M. Henden and I shall not take notice of every circumstance of things but the ground of the matter wherein we differ which is saith he The marks of the false Churches are four as first the visibility in their stative order loe here or loe there The second the phrase here and there notes a manifest place of rest or sitting down Thirdly the variety here and there which must Scatter whereas the true is uniform Fourthly The visible loe or model is first and then Christ is brought into it loe here is Christ as if the Spirit of life and divine primitive power were in it the Wilderness is to be understood a Metaphorical Wilderness and secret Chambers which figures out our lesser stated bodies and so forth page 50 51 52. In order to the answer of these things I shall not take notice of every objection or contradiction but shall plainly and briefly cite the text and open it and then leave the reader to judge whether it speak of gathered or false constituted Churches as Mr. Henden saith when it speaks of the Wilderness or desart or secret Chamber or whether it be to be understood litterally of a Material face Christ in a desart or in a
Mountains or the like and to this agreeth the Prophets that saith The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for he shall come in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him and all the kindred shall waile because of him So in short I understand it is the personal coming of the Lord Jesus which is spoken of in that Text Mat 24. and not any spiritual coming for the same Jesus even the same blessed man which did once ascend in like manner shall again descend as I have proved in the former part of this Treatise intituled Truth and Innocency and thus much briefly of the coming of the Lord Jesus like lightening which lightening is to be seen from one end of Heaven to the other even from the East unto the West which light all men that have their natural eye-sight do see at once even so shall the personal appearance of Jesus Christ be that all men shall see his glory together when he shall appear in the Clouds of Heaven with all his holy Angels with him and this I am very confident was the mind of Christ in that place and thus I pass to speak somewhat to the Carkass and Eagles being gathered unto it which is Fourthly the fourth and last thing sheweth the taking up of the Saints to meet Jesus Christ the Carkass being understood Christ and the Eagles the Saints it s only a simily shewing that as the Eagles suddenly gather themselves tegether to the place where a Carkass is even so the Saints shall suddenly be gathered together to the place where Christ is agreeing with 1 Thes 4 14 15 16. and Mat. 24.40 the which I have before spoken of more at large therefore shall leave it at present with the Reader and pass all the other things very briefly because I find the things already spoken to is the whole grounds or master-pieces of your Book and those things that I shall now speak to I shall take them as they lie in order in your book and the first thing that I observe and shall speak to is Of the new pouring out of the Spirit and a new marriage after the former Page 5. Answ I find there was a Marriage between God and old Israel which is a Metaphor to wit the enjoyment of the inheritance and the marriage bed as I may so call it the presence of the Lord in Types dwelling amongst them in that holy Land or glorious Mountain Jerusalem which was a Type of the heavenly Jerusalem and the Tabernacle of God to be with men when they shall injoy the marriage bed to wit being present with Christ knowing him as we are known by him the which while we live in this Body we do not for we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 And that there shall be a marriage and a marriage Supper I grant but it s after Christ is come the second time read Luke 12.35 36 37. compared with Revel 19.7 8 9. with more that might be said but as to the first marriage spoken of by you which was say you in the primitime times in the first breathing of the Spirit I cannot see nor believe nor I am certain you cannot prove it for the Church of Corinth had as great breathings of the Spirit as any had coming behind in no gift and yet were in that time but in a Virgin estate and condition as you may read 2 Cor. 11.2 in these words But I am jealous over you with godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste VIRGINE to Christ From whence we may see that the primitive Church who lived under the breathings of the Spirit and had excellent gifts of working of Miracles and yet were but in a Virgine condition and so shall the Church be at the very time of the second coming of the Lord Jesus until he is come read Mat. 25.1 to the 11. And as to your cited text Mat. 22.1 2 3. it is a Parrable and it s also clear that the whole time of the preaching of the Gospel is the time of the inviting the Ghests and the Parrable holds not if all the Ghests be not invited before the day of the marriage supper and I am sure that all the Ghests are not yet invited nor born I could speak at large unto it but I study brevity and so shall pass to the next thing which is The Churches was in Babylon as appears saith Mr. Henden by her being called out Revel 18.4 it being a strange Land from the native Canon of a Gospel word where they were strangers under other Lords page 8. Answ I have read that the Israel of old was in Babel in Chaldea from whence they were to depart but I never yet read that the Elect Sealed Number were subject to other Lords in respect of order that is to say they submitted not to the Babylonish order neither was their order become Babel read Dan. 3. It 's true that the Jews had several Ordinances which were to be performed only at Jerusalem and hence it came to pass that they practised them not in Babylon and therefore they were far from being Babellish but the Gospel Ordinances are limitted to no one place more than other insomuch if there were a Church in Rome they might practise all Christs Ordinances if they could enjoy their Liberty so to do although it be the seat of the Pope and yet not be blamed but commended of by the Lord as was the Church of PARGAMVS Rev. 2.12 who lived where Satans seat was and yet did hold fast their profession even so it 's like there may be some in the City called Babylon Revel 18.4 which may own and practise the Truth although unknown to the Pope at the very time when the Lord will destroy it and so he may call them out as once he did call Lot out of Sodom but to suppose that God owns a People to be his People which are Babel in their order is but vain when we rightly understand how zealous God ever was of his order never admitting of his own people to mix it with the confused order of men or Babel for those that are partakers of her sins which they were not which were called out Revel 18.4 shall be partaker of her plagues but if Babels order were sin and the Church order which was in Babel was established then the Church must be partakers of her sins and so of her plagues which was not and so I pass this also and come to the next thing which is You may find all your new stated Churches saith Mr. Henden of a different Mettal from the true how near soever to the primitive they seem to be in the outward shell and yet in reallity do ground upon another foundation upon Believers not possessed with such a power sent down from heaven page 14. Answ They differ not in their Mettal
Babylon in Caldea trow I think not but in short take this that Israel might not neglect their building but go on with all speed that might be so soon as they were set at liberty from the hands of their enemies even so it is our duty to be imployed about the work of God in his Church so soon as we be delivered from the hands of our enemies yea while the enemy is raging against us as he was against our brethren before us who kept stedfast in the practising of all Christs Ordinances even so ought we to do finally the Lord Jesus Christ when he went away did give forth his last will and Testament in much plainness the which he commanded to be observed by every creature unto the Worlds end and did ascend up on high and gave gifts i. e. the gifts of Ministry containing Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers to that end that his Laws and Statutes might be published and Saints gathered and established until the last Saint which is to be born in the World is united into the faith of Jesus and made perfect therein to the end that God may be glorified in his Church in or thorow all ages even to the Worlds end and if the breach of Moses Law was so hainous in the sight of God much more will the breach of Christs Laws be unto him therefore take heed of breaking one of the least of Christs Commands and teaching men so to do and courteous Reader be well advised what thou dost in the neglect or breach of any of Christs commands before thou dost it and let him that perswades thee to it give thee as plain Texts of Scripture to prove the cessation of them as Christ hath given thee for the continuance of the practising of them for remember that when once the Testament is confirmed no man must add or disanul and to suppose that Christ would give forth his mind in plain words at length and forbid the continuance of them in a figure which may be changed from 1-1-0-0-0 one to ten or to a hundred or a thousand or seven thousand or what men please yea any thing that men will have it to be my meaning in plainness is this as for those figures brought by Mr. Henden to prove the cessation of some of Christ Ordinances have been spoken to or opened by many and some have applyed them one way and some another they are so dark and mysterious as beyond the reach of every godly soul to understand insomuch that if they do neglect the practising of Christs Ordinances from those dark places it must not be from their own understanding but because Mr. Henden openeth it and applyeth it so and if this be a good ground for persons to make void the statutes of Christ which he hath confirmed with his own blood together with mighty deeds of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven I shall leave the serious Reader to Judge and shall wind up all with these words of our blessed Saviour which said to his Apostles Teach them viz. every creature or all Nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the World Amen Mat. 28.20 Mark 16.15 16 And having thus done in the next place I shall speak somewhat briefly as touching the conference before mentioned but the main things have been spoken to already they being the same in substance with the things in his book the which I have already answered and therefore shall speak very little to it the first thing in order was The Ordinances saith Mr. Henden were footed or founded upon an unerring spirit shew the man that hath the same spirit to prove his succession The answer was given that the Ordinances now practised was no new Ordinances but the same which was footed upon the unerring spirit and to remain by the same old appointment of Christ until the worlds end this was the substance although I gave it in more words which time fails me to speak of in particular at present Secondly This man saith Mr. Henden would lead you all in the dark about Baptisme by what authority he takes up his Baptisme is from Mat. 28. the which being truly read according to the Original is Go teach all Nations and baptise them c. And loe I am with you to the end of the world that is to the end of that age which further appears that there was to be a sink or cessation for a time Revel 10.8 The words again denotes a new work of Prophesie so Baptisme doth denote to a particular time The time of speaking at both hands was so long that as I have said I cannot give you an account of the particulars of things because as there was speaking long even so the answer was long the answer in short is the same in substance with the former that I could not lead men in the dark in the business of Baptisme because it was the same that Christ practised and appointed and left in his last will and testament to be practised to the worlds end But the worlds end saith Mr. Henden is to be understood the end of that age Which then was opposed because upon that consequence preaching was as well to cease in the end of that age as Baptisme But however Mr. Hendens judgement was altered he contends in his Book for the continuance of Baptisme in all the times of Apostacy as to the Text Revel 10.8 from the word AGAIN thou must prophesie AGAIN the meaning of it was that although John was then banished into the vail of Patmose from the faces of men yet he was to prophesie again before Kings Rulers and so forth not alluding at all to a sink of the Ministry or Ordinances for a time as Mr. Henden said he also pleaded for Infant Baptisme urging some old thredbare Arguments which is not worth speaking to and railed at me for denying the Covenant although I spake nothing of the Covenant to move him thereunto but my answer in short was that I was so far from denying the Covenant that I did believe that there was two Covenants made with Abraham as I long before that time had published in print But said Mr. John Henden Your power is not derived from the primitive because you do not make the same manifestations Mark 16.17 These Signs shall follow them that believe It was answered that if these Signs must follow in his sense or else the thing it self false for want of that visible demonstration then Mr. Henden was a false Minister and also by the same consequence there is never a true Believer upon earth and then no salvation for the Signs were to follow such as did believe But as I have before proved Signs were for confirmation and the Gospel being once confirmed there is no such use of them as the Law of old being once confirmed with Miracles need no new Sign to
confirm it again when Israel came out of Babylon nor after the Book of the Law was lost and found again in the dayes of Josia no more need we any Sign to confirm that which is already confirmed and also we know that John did no Miracle and yet was an approved Administrator Again whereas Mr. Henden said that he was a legal Minister and a Minister of condemnation which had no visible demonstration from the spirit viz. Miracle The answer was then Mr. Henden was a legal one and a Minister of condemnation because he professeth himself to be a Minister and yet never work a Miracle that ever I heard of there was much time spent upon a kind of running discourse to little edification for that which I would have had done in order to the legal managing of the discourse was that there should have been one question stated at a time and that managed but when one began he spoke of several things and so confounded one with another and cleared it not as it should be I could repeat what was said about the four Winds and what was said by Captain Tucker as to the grounding of faith upon the obscure and dark Prophesies which was well minded although not well weighed by our Antagonist and as I think as little understood I have found it a sure maxime that the greatest confidence amongst men hath the least reason to warrant it which is sad And whereas Hebrews 12. was brought together with Galatians 4. to prove the Church to be called Mount-Zion neither of the places proveth it the Apostle to the Galatians tels us that it is the Covenant which is called Jerusalem which is from above and from the Hebrews we learn also that it is the Covenant or the thing Covenanted and whereas he saith that we are come to Mount-Zion he also saith that we are come to an innumerable company of Angels and to God the Judge of all things and the Spirits of just men made perfect so that we are come to one as well as to another and to neither of them but by faith in the Covenant for while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord for we walk by faith and not by sight And Paul doth not say to the Galatians that ye are Mount-Zion or Jerusalem but Jerusalem which is from above is the Mother of us all so then it was the Church which was called Jerusalem but Jerusalem from above was the Churches Mother mark a difference between the Children and the Mother and secondly the Author to the Hebrews doth not call the Church of the Hebrews Mount-Zion but tels them that they were come to Mount-Zion viz. the Covenant of Mount-Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem but I shall leave these things at present and pass to the Answer of some Objections usually urged against the perpetuation of Christs Ordinances or the constant practising of them and the first that I shall speak to is Object 1. There was a time when God did appear in his Ordinances which shewed there was the power of the Spirit went along with them as Peter in his Ministry in converting three thousand souls at one Sermon saith Mr. John Henden but now we see not the same effects therefore the cause ceaseth God hath left them and they are become as a dead carkass without a soul Answ It is very true there was a time when there was such need of a visible demonstration of Gods Spirit to go along with his Ordinances to bear witness to the sons of men that they were the Ordinances that were approved of by the Lord that they might be a pattern or platform for all men to walk in to the Worlds end and hence it was that when God gave to Moses and the rest of the Children of Israel the pattern of the administration of the Law he gave it with the visible demonstration of his own presence with thundrings and lightenings and the Mountain smoaking with a visible maifestation of Gods glory with and upon Moses so that his face did so shine with the Glory of God when he came from the Mount that the Children of Israel could not stedfastly behold him by reason of the brightness of the Glory of God shining upon him this was his appearance when he came down with the Tables of the Law written by God so gloriously did God appear in the giving forth of it but afterwards all that the Children of Israel were to do was to have the words of the Law read to them and they to do it or keep it and not to say who shall ascend up into Heaven for some visible demonstration but the Law is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou maist do it saith Moses Deut. 30.10 11 12. even so saith St. Paul Rom. 10.6 7. The righteousness of faith speaks on this wise say not in thy heart who shall ascend up into Heaven to fetch Christ down from above c. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart So that true faith giveth heed to Gods word and looks not for miracles for so saith Christ blessed is he that hath not seen and yet believed for a sinful and an adulterous generation seek a sign but none shall be given unto them c. Secondly If no Ordinance may be an approved Ordinance of God but such an one as hath a visible manifestation according to Mr. Hendens sense as aforesaid then he himself never met together so as God did approve of it because we find that when the Disciples met together the house spoke where they were assembled Thirdly his Ordinance of preaching hath not the Spirit with it because instead of converting three thousand at one Sermon I suppose he never converted three hundred in his life nor scarce half half so many and as for the Ordinance of Prayer I never heard any of those that usually hear Mr. Henden say that he hath prayed till the place hath spoke where he was praying as it did when the Disciples were a Praying Acts 4.31 and as for the Ordinance of Preaching and praying and the like Mr. Henden saith he owns to continue in all ages uncorrupted and they had once as great a visible manifestation as any Ordinance that I know of and yet there is no more appearance in a visible manifestation in them now than there is in any other Ordinance which Mr. Henden cryeth down and I may fitly say to Mr. Henden as Christ said to the Scribes and Pharisies which did much dote upon signs and miracles that the Kingdome of Heaven cometh not with Observations as gadding after miracles saying loe here or loe there for the Kingdome of God is within you that is as if he should have said it consists more in inward glory than outward glory or manifestation for the Kings daughter is all glorious within and the proper work of the Spirit is within as Christ
rejected a Baptisme so performed shew it if it cannot be shewn to the contrary then the practise before mentioned is warrantable and as for a succession in your sense I have formerly shewn in conference that the succession of my Baptisme as it came from beyond Sea dispensed by one Doctor Cassol even so if reports be true there hath been a succession from the primitive Church I think the Church of Smarnah if I be not mistaken it was a considerable time since I was informed of it and had no thoughts then to make use of it neither is it in my understanding material but as to that its like that the ancient Churches in the low Countries can give a better account of it but what I have before said is sufficient to set a foot Christs Ordinances if they had been totally lost namely a call from Christ in his word and from his Spirit in the heart and conscience saying Go preach and make Disciples and Baptise them that are made Disciples and loe I am with you alwayes to the end of the World so that I should conclude that if God had called me and appointed me to do the greater work namely to preach so as to convert souls he had as well approved of me to have done the lesser work namely to Baptise considering that they are knit together so that he that may do one may also do the other admit of this argument its the very same that I gave to Mr. Henden at my first time of conference with him and was never yet answered which is If Christ have joyned Preaching and Baptizing together as unseperable companions unto the Worlds end then that person is not of God that seperates it Which practiseth one and not the other But Christ hath joyned Preaching and Baptizing together as unseperable companions unto the Worlds end Ergo Those persons that seperate them be not of God And secondly I further argue thus If those whom Christ hath gifted and authorized to preach he hath also authorized to Baptise then Baptizing depends upon the gifts and authority of Christ given forth and not upon a line of succession But those that Christ haâ—â— gifted and authorized to Preach he hath also authorized to Baptise Ergo Baptizing depends upon the gifts and authority of Christ given forth and not upon a line of succession The which is undenyably true both in the Major and Minor I further argue thus If the lesser is blessed of the greater then he that is approved of to do the greater may also do the lesser But the lesser is blessed of the greater Ergo such as are approved of to do greater may also do the lesser my meaning in plainness is thus whomsoever God approves of to preach which is a far greater work than Baptizing he also approveth of to Baptise considering also that they are joyned together to be practised as unseperable companions to the Worlds end read the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ Mat. 28.18 19 20. So then here lyeth the authority for Baptizing in our age and all ages and in this runneth the line of succession namely the faithful believer gifted from God to Preach and convert souls is the true blood as by way of allusion I may call it unto whom the line of succession runs or the line of succession runs in or to that race and so I shall leave this Objection and its particular attendances and come to shew my opinion of the travailing Woman and the Man-child and of his being caught up to God and to his Throne and of the Womans flight into the Wilderness and into what Wilderness and how long she shall abide there and of the remnant of her seed persecuted and by who and of the two Witnesses prophesying who they be and the place and time how long and such like things that are its attendance I shall speak to in their particular order as God shall assist me and so come to speak to the first thing considerable which is As touching this travailing Woman many have given their opinion but the most part have built upon the Judgment of ancient Expositors I do not speak by way of comtempt of them but do conclude that they were industrious in their day in the which time the vision of the Book spake more darkly but towards the end it is to speak more plainly and that which hath begot the monster brought forth in our times is the turning those Scriptures into alligories which are none which hath been the practise of the National Minister and also others to make up their matter have confounded Law and Gospel together and prophesies which peculiarly belong unto the natural seed of Abraham as such and applyed them to the Gentiles that it is come to such a monster in birth in our dayes that persons make an alligory of God and have said that he is the fire and candle and every thing which hath any light in it because the Scripture saith God is light I speak this of those that I know my self by my own knowledg and others have affirmed that Mount-Zion and the new Jerusalem and Adam and Christ and all is within them and in a few words I say that the alligorising of the Scriptures hath been a means to make so many opinions as there is amongst us I am a thinking how strangely our generation would have alligorized the words of the Prophets concerning Christs riding to Jerusalem upon a Coult the foal of an Ass and of the smiting the Judge of Israel and of the thirty pieces of silver and giving him vinegar to drink and many such like things which the Prophets prophesied concerning Christ and his sufferings which was fulfilled according to the letter of the word the which the generation of men in our dayes would have made strange stories upon it as they do upon things which is as litteral and plain and to be fulfilled according to the letter of the word I speak these things to that end that we may believe that King Jesus shall come and raign upon the Throne of David in Zion according to the letter of the word and that the Prophets that speak concerning Judah and Jerusalem their words shall be fulfilled but I pass this interposed discourse and come to speak to the travailing Woman who she is who is the man-child c. and these things briefly First The Woman I understand to be Zion namely the two Tribes Judah and Benjamin Secondly The Man-child I understand to be the Gentile Church Thirdly I understand the remnant of her seed was a small part that were left of the other ten Tribes when Samariah was surprized and taken in the dayes of Hosea by Salmonazer Fourthly The taking up the Man-child to God and to his Throne is the taking up of the Gentile Church which shall be first taken and the other left behind Fifthly The Wilderness spoken of into which the Woman is to flie I understand to be the
come to the next particular which is the seventh and eighth thing which I shall put together and make the seventh compleat with it to shew who are the two Prophets or Witnesses and where they are to prophesie and to whom Seventhly The two Prophets I understand to be two men appointed and set apart by the Lord for that work to prophesie before Nations and Kings to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers that the Lord may be one and his Name one upon the Mountains of Israel and these two persons or men as I understand them to be the one I understand to be Elijah or Elias which is one and the other John the Apostle and that Elijah is one read Mal. 4.5 which saith Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the Great and DREADFVL DAY of the Lord and he shall turn the hearts of the Fathers unto the Children and the hearts of the Children unto their Fathers left I come and smite the earth with a Curse From this Text we find that Elijah or Elias is to come before the GREAT and DREADFVL DAY of the Lord and Christs coming in the flesh when he was born of the Virgin was not the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord for he came in such a mean way in that day that he was not dreadful to his enemies but they were bitter unto him as to whip him and smite him with their hands and crucifie him and indeed that day of his coming was so far from being the dreadful day or the notable day of the Lord that his coming in that day was prophesied on this wise Who hath believed our report or to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed for he is despised and rejected of men he was numbred with the transgressors and bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgessors Isa 53.1 3 12. even so saith the Prophet Zachariah Chap. 9.9 Rejoyce greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Jerusalem the King cometh unto thee he is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an Asse and upon a Colt the foal of an Asse All which sheweth with many more that might be added that the coming of the Lord in the day when he was born of the Virgin was not that notable or dreadful day of the Lord but a day little noted so as but few to believe his report And Secondly where it is said that the hearts of the Fathers in that day should be turned to the Children and the hearts of the Children unto the Fathers is clearly seen not to be meant the coming of the Lord in his first day of whom John the Baptist was a forerunner to prepare his way for in that day as was prophesied of him he came to set a man at variance against his Father Micah 7.6 Mat. 10.34 35 36. Luke 12.49 50 51 52. in these words Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the daughter against her Mother and the daughter in law aguinst her Mother in law and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold compared with Luke 12.53 which saith That the Father shall be divided against the Son and the Son against the Father the Mother against the Daughter and the Daughter against the Mother All which clearly sheweth that the coming of the Lord Jesus in his first day when hew was born of the Virgin was not that notable or dreadful day of the Lord of which Elias was to be a forerunner of but relates to another day in order to the reconciling of that great difference between the Parents and Children which difference and division was begat between the Parents and their Children by Christs first coming who came not as he saith himself to send peace upon the earth but a sword namely a house divided the Father against the Son the Son against the Father c. but because I shall hasten to the Conclusion I shall wave all long circumlocutions and in short say as beforesaid that Elijah or Elias is yet to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children who is to be one of the two Prophets or Witnesses to establish the remnant of the Womans seed namely the Children of Israel which remain in the City after the Womans flight into the Wilderness Object But against this is objected from the words of Christ that Elias is already come which was John the Baptist Mat. 11.14 Mark 9.11 12 13. Luke 1.16 17. Answ That John the Baptist was a fore-runner of Christ in his first day is not denied and that he came in the power and spirit of Elias is as clear for as Elias shall and did bear witness to and for the Lord even so did John the Baptist and so was a lively type of the Elias which is to come for the type or figure of the thing is often called by the name of the thing it self and so we must understand Christs words here where he saith That Elias is already come meaning John the Baptist or otherwise we set Christs words and Johns words one to contradict another for the Scripture saith That John did no Miracle and yet all that he spake of him was true John 10.41 and John himself when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him saying Who art thou art thou Elias he said I am not Elias John 1.19 20 21 22. But him of whom the Prophet Isaiah spake of saying I am the voyce of one crying in the Wilderness c. So then from hence we may see that John was a true Prophet and spake the truth and yet when it was demanded of him whether he was the Elias which was to come he said I am not Elias From whence I conclude that although John came in the spirit of Elias and was a type or figure of him and so might be called by the Lord Elias he calling the figure of the thing by the name of the thing figured yet no more the Elias which was to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord than the Bread and the Cup of the holy Supper of the Lord is the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and yet Christ himself saith Take EAT THIS IS MY BODY which is broken for you and yet it was but a figure of his Body to shew forth his death to keep us in remembrance thereof and also we see that there was pictures made with Gold out of the Mercy seat with wings to cover the Mercy seat and they were called Cherubims and yet were not real Cherubims but were a figure of the Cherubims or did only represent them So that we may see that the thing representing is called by the name of the
thing represented or the figure of the thing called by the name of the thing figured and hence we may see although I could say much more of things of this nature that both Christs words and also Johns were true Christ calling John Elias it s to be understood John was a figure of Elias or represented Elias not only coming in the power and spirit of Elias but he being a forerunner of Christ in his first day to perswade the Jews to obedience to Christ as Elias is to be a forerunner of Christ in his second day namely the Great Dreadful day of the Lord and to perswade and establish the Jews in their waiting for their King Jesus and their obedience unto him And secondly Johns words are true also where he saith I am not Elias that is he was not that Elias really or simply understood that they looked for although he was a type of him and might by Christ be called by his name as well as the bread which Christ brake might be called his body or the pictures of Cherubims called Cherubims and Christ called David and many such like things that borrow their name from the things which they represent and thus much briefly by way of Answer to the Objection and the reconciliation of the words of Christ and the words of John which seemingly contradicts each other but being understood accordingly as they were spoken they agree together so then still it remains that Elias is to come before the GREAT AND DREADFVL DAY of the Lord and that it is to be Elias really so understood I give these reasons which before have been mentioned in general in a short and brief method First John the Baptist was not the real Elias as I think all will confess for he was the Son of Zacharias and Zacharias had a commandement from the Lord to call the name of his Son not Elias but John Luke 1.13 But ELIAS is to come as hath been proved before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Secondly John the Baptist was not the forerunner simply so considered of the great and dreadful day of the Lord for that day that John was a forerunner of was the day of Christs sufferings and not the day of dread unto his enemies so as it will be in that day that the chief Captains and great and mighty men of the earth shall call to the Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the presence of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come say they and who can stand but Elias is to be the forerunner of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Thirdly The hearts of the Fathers shall be turned unto the Children and the hearts of the Children to their Fathers in that day which yet are at a distance for Christ sake so that the parents hate their Children and Children shall betray their parents to death for Christs sake although it be not denyed that John in a measure was a type of Elias in that thing according to the saying of the Angel to Zacharias Luke 1.13 18. For all men did account John a Prophet and he preparing the way of the Lord all Judah and Jerusalem came out to him to be Baptized of him in Jordan and yet notwithstanding afterwards were at great variance about Christ some saying that he was a good man and others saying nay he hath a Devil and is mad and after that laid violent hands on him and crucified him and the distance was so great that many families even Parents and their Children have been and are at a distance about him and so will be until that day of the coming of Elias and then the hearts of the Fathers shall thorowly be turned unto their Children and the hearts of the Children unto their Fathers and envy shall depart from Ephraim as before said which brings me to the fourth last reason to prove Elias one of the two Witnesses which is Fourthly Because the same judgments which was brought upon the earth by Elias when he was upon earth shall be again brought upon the earth by the two Prophets or witnesses Revel 11.6 compared with James 5.17 1 Kinge 17.1 which bespeaks such a thing as though Elijah should be one of those two Witnesses if we also consider that these Witnesses must be slain and therefore must be such as never yet have tasted of death because it cannot be rationally imagined that those Prophets which are so to die are any of the Prophets which are dead and shall be raised from the dead and then be slain again I speak this because some have supposed Moses to be one of these two Prophets which in reason cannot be so neither do I find any Scripture warranting any such thing neither do I find any where in my most serious search of the Scriptures of any extraordinary Prophets namely such Prophets as is mentioned in Revel 11. to be borne in the last dayes when this prophesie is to be accomplished but Elijah never yet was slain but was caught up to Heaven in a whirle-wind and so at present I shall leave this and pass to the next thing which is to shew my opinion who it is that is the other Prophet because the Text saith that there is to be two Prophets or two Witnesses which are to prophesie in sack-cloth and as to the other Prophet I shall be very brief because I do not find any such Objection as I meet with against the fore mentioned Prophet namely against Elias and therefore I shall briefly shew my opinion and leave it Secondly As for the other Prophet which is to be a fellow companion with Elias I understand to be John that holy Apostle the beloved Disciple of Jesus which leaned upon his breast at Supper for as Elias was a man highly in the love and favour of God although hated by men and persecuted and banished even so was John dearly beloved of God although hated and banished from men yet the Lord Jesus dealt with him by manifesting of himself to him as God did to Elijah when he fled from the face of Ahab and Jessibel 1 Kings 17. and Chap. 18. but being in hast I pass many things which otherwise were necessary to be spake by way of parallel and come to shew the reasons why I understand John to be one of the two Witnesses spoken of in Revelations the 11. which are these First because when John writ the Gospel of Christ which was supposed to be thirty years after the ascention of Christ it was then reported amongst the Disciples that John was not to die John 21.23 and yet at that time they had the spirit of the Lord to teach them But if it should be objected and said that John saith not that Christ said he should not die but what if I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee fellow thou me signifying Peters death To which I answer and say that it is true
that Christ did not say in so many words that John should not die for if he had it might have begat some dislike and murmuring amongst his Disciples but he spake so plain that his Disciples that had the holy Spirit did so understand him and John himself who writ these things doth not contradict their opinion but only saith over the words that Christ had said which is But if I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee and indeed their was great reason that John who wrote these things should be very sparing in the delivering of it seeing Christ was sparing and because the matter concerned himself that he might not gain any dislike or hatred from any of the Disciples because of that thing and as touching Johns death I say it cannot be proved that he did ever die neither do I believe that he did till I see better reason then I yet see to prove it and if it be an errour it is no other thing then what was received and believed of the Disciples of Christ in that day and they no where reproved for so believing but because I am a speaking of Johns death I shall shew you the opinion of some or what they have written as touching his death although I would not be understood to believe all what is written concerning him Jerome saith alledging it out of Tertullian that in the time of Nero though others say in the raign of Domitian he was thrown at Rome into a tun of boiling oyle and thereby he took no harm but came forth after this tryal purer than he went in and so saith Abdias Augustine calls him a Martyr by will and that which he writes of his end is strangest of all which is that John at Ephesus caused his grave to be made and in the presence of divers went in alive and being no sooner in but there seeming he was dead they covered him which kind of rest saith he was rather to be termed a sleep than death for that the earth of the grave bubleth or boileth up after the manner of a well by reason of Johns resting therein and breathing a sign of his slumbering therein as you may see August in John Tract 124. also repeated by the translator in his discourse of the Apostles and seventy Disciples in Eusebius 533 Eusebius Pamphilius himself saith that he dyed at Ephesus Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 28. and indeed there is division amongst ancient writers as touching John but I shall leave these things and come to the second Reason which is Secondly Because the Angel told John that he must Prophesie again not preach again before many people and nations and tongues and kings which relates to the time of the Nations being gathered together against Jerusalem in the time of the Antichrist and the ten Kings that shall give their power unto the Beast until the word of God be fulfilled Zech. 14.1 2. Dan. 7.24 Revel 17.12 13 14. In this time unto these people or Nations was John to Prophesie Revel 10.11 Thirdly John saith There was given to ME a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein But the Court without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given vnto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall Prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes clothed in sackcloth Revel 11.1 2 3. From whence we may see that John had not only as it were a new gift of Prophesie to be given unto him that he might Prophesie again before Nations tongues and Kings and the like but also he was the man that was to measure Jerusalem at the time of its last building when the holy City was to be taken by the Gentiles and trodden under foot as I before have proved and he is the other Prophet with Elias which the Jews look for before the great day of the Lord and demanded of John the Baptist if he was either of them and he said no and they demanded of him why he then Baptized to prepare a people for the Lord saying Why Baptiseth thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias neither that Prophet from whence we may see that the Jews look for Elias and another Prophet whose name is not mentioned and therefore he is called that Prophet or a Prophet not naming him John 1.21 25. As the Disciple who was to tarry until Christ come is not plainly mentioned but called the Disciple whom Christ loved who leaned upon his Breast at Supper and the like but we understand him to be John because the Text saith this is the Disciple that testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true so then the Jews look for Elias and his companion another Prophet even John to be forerunners of Christ and such are the two Prophets which are called the two Witnesses to be and doubtless are the same persons for they are such as shall be slain implying that they are such men as yet have not tasted of death and although some suppose that Enoch or Moses shall be Elija's companion to be one of the two Prophets yet it is not my Judgment for there is no reason for Moses to be one who hath tasted of Death already neither is there any mention made of him as to such a work and as for Enoch there is nothing spoken of him neither in reference to that work but of Elias there is and also of John for he is to measure the City and to prophesie again before Kings and there is great reason that one of these two Prophets should be of the new Testament a witness to Jesus as well as Elias of the old Testament and yet both to be of the seed of Abraham as Elias and Iohn was and finally the people that the two Witnesses were to Prophesie unto is the remnant of the Womans seed which remain in Ierusalem and the place where they prophesie is in Ierusalem in the presence or before Kings and Nations and the like gathered together into Ierusalem in which place the two Witnesses shall be slain when they have finished their Testimony by the Beast namely the Antichrist and at the end of three dayes and an half the Spirit of life shall enter into them again and they shall ascend into Heaven to meet the Lord and his glorious army just at the nick of time when he is ready to descend upon the Mount of Olives and the next thing which shall immediately fall out upon the City and the people viz. the wicked Gentiles Gogg and his company shall be the great Earth-quake which shall slay seven thousand men and the next the Kingdomes of this World shall become the Kindomes of our Lord and his Christ and he shall raign