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spirit_n	apostle_n	speak_v	word_n	9,283	5	4.1967	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09926	An epistle written (dated the 30th of the 11th month 1659,) and sent from London into the countrey. By a friend to the glorious (though at this day despised) cause of Christ, in answer to a letter sent up to him (dated the 16th of the same month) wherein the following things are treated of, (viz.) 1. The fifth kingdom it self, which the God of Heaven sets up in the latter dayes. 2. The kingdom of the beast which is to be destroyed. 3. The instruments that are to be used in destroying the one and erecting the other; with the way or manner how they are to be used. 4. The time of the beginning of this work. [bracket] First, before Christs personal comming. Secondly, before the call of the Jewes. Thirdly, that it is already begun, and hath taken place in this nation and that Cromwel with the army, hath apostatized from it, and that all the powers, or governments that have been set up since that time, have been, and still are upon the foundation of the apostacy. As also, severall of the particular evills which the army, and others abetting the apostacy are guilty of. Together with, some considerations tendered to the favourers of Christ's righteous cause, wherein is laid down, their duty of separation from Babylon, and from all the parts and branches (both in church and state) of the forementioned apostacy.	N. S.	1660 (1660)	Wing S119B; ESTC R183121	59,145	52

a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth so Dan. 7.17 18. The four Beasts are four Kings which are the four great Monarchies but the Saints shall take the Kingdom See verse 26. they shall take away his Dominion in verse 27. The Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the Saints c. Now the fourth Kingdom being visible this fifth Kingdom that fills up the room of the fourth must needs be visible also Fourthly The Throne of this Kingdom is the Throne of David Luke 1.32 which is an outward visible Throne and in Rev. 3.21 there are two Thrones mentioned one is called the Fathers Throne being rhe Throne where Christ now is the other Christ calls his own Throne which is the Throne of his Father David wherefore the Throne being visible the Kingdom must likewise be visible Fifthly The Lawes Government and Governours under Christ are outward and visible and take place upon the Bodies Lives Liberties and Estates of men Ezra 7.26 the Scriptures which are outward and visible are the Lawes which God the only Law-giver Isa 33.22 James 4.12 hath left Exod. 18.16 Neh. 9.13 Esther 3.8 Psal 119.9 Deut. 4.5 6 7 8. 2. Tim. 3.16 17. Deut. 17.18.19.20 2 Kings 11.12 The visible Saints are to be the visible Governours under Christ the King Psa 45.16 1 Cor. 6.2 Isa 14.2 Chap. 32. 1. Psa 49.14 Dan. 7.18.22.27 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 2.26.27 Chap. 3.21 Chap. 5.10 Chap. 20.4.6 Jer. 30.21 These things being visible the Kingdom must needs be visible also and thus much to the first particular of the fifth Kingdom it self The Second thing which I propounded to speak to is the Kingdom of the Beast and in the entering upon that Consider in the first place the Image spoken of in Dan. 2.31 32. which Image doth comprehend and hold forth the four great Monarchies which were to take place and have their time in the world and they are described in Dan. 7.3 by four great Beasts and the three last of these four Monarchies are described in Dan. 8. the first by a Ram the Second by a Hee-Goate the last which is the fourth Monarchy by a little Horn which are also spoken of Dan. 11. The first of these four Monarchies was that of the Chaldees Dan. 2.38 He was that Head of Gold and had his beginning as a part of the Image about the year 3362 from the Creation and continued till about the year 3422 in all about 60 years The second Monarchy was that of the Medes and Persians which Dan. 2.32 is the Breast and Arms of Silver and took place of the Chaldees Dan. 5.30 31. and continued till about the year 3620 in all about 198 years The third Monarchy was that of the Graecians which Dan. 2.32 is set forth by the Belly and Thighs of Brasse and in Dan 8 21. by the rough Goate which is there called the King of Graecia and succeeds the Medes and Persians which is set forth by the Ram with two Horns verse 20. This Monarchy of the Graecians continued till about the year 3902 in all about 282 years The fourth Monarchy was that of the Romans which in Dan. 2.33 is set forth by the Leggs of Iron and Feet part of Iron and part of Clay and by the little Horn in Dan. 8.9.11.12 which takes away the daily sacrifice and casts down the truth And by the vild person in Dan. 11.21 which in verse 31. takes away the daily sacrifice and sets up the abomination that maketh desolate This Monarchy took place as part of the Image in Dan. 2. about forty two years before the Birth of Christ and was divided into two parts which I understand to be held forth by the two Leggs of the Image and continued in its Pagan or Heathenish State till about 360 years after Christ before it was interrupted by and mixed with the Man of Sin or Antichristian State To the first three Monarchies and the first part of the fourth I shall say little but specially insist upon the Latter part of the fourth or Roman Monarchy it being the last part of the Image and the onely part which doth at this day remain in the world First it is evident that the Roman Monarchy is of two sorts the first is held forth by the Leggs of Iron The second by the feet and toes of Iron and clay Daniel 2.33 and in Daniel 7. The first part of it is held forth by the fourth Beast with the ten Horns and the other by the little Horn In Revel 12 3. The first part of the Monarchy is held forth by the Red Dragon with seven heads and ten Horns and seven Crownes upon his heads The second part in Revel 13.1 is held forth by a Beast that riseth out of the Sea with seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crownes and as in verse the fifth is to continue forty and two Moneths By the ten Horns I understand the ten Kings or Kingdoms in Europe which had their dependance upon the Roman Empire and are called in Dan. 7.24 Ten Kings and so in Rev. 17.12 And by the seven Heads I understand the seven Provinces that had their dependance upon the Roman Empire and before the rise of the Antichristian state the Crowns or the Power and Glory of the Government were upon the seven Heads or Provinces And the Horns were as servants under the Emperour that had received no Kingdom till the Antichristian Beast came up Revel 17.12 but at his coming up they receive power as Kings one hour with him and then the Crowns are upon the Horns and answers to Revel 13.1 distinguished from Revel 12.3 The first part of this Romane state was a lawful Power and to be obeyed as an Ordinance of God and the Lord Christ Mat. 17.27 payes Tribute to them and Chap. 22.21 commands to render to Caesar the things that are Caesars c. And the Apostle saith Rom. 13.1 the Powers that are speaking of them that were then in being are ordained of God and giveth special charge to the Saints to obey them Titus 3.1 And the Spirit of the Lord in the Apostles foreseeing that the Man of sin would get up to the Throne by speaking evil of Dignities and despising Dominion as Pet. 2.10 Compare Jude 8. Rebelling against yea casting down the Civil Powers that so himself might obtain the Throne to Reign both over Church and State which he did at length accomplish the Spirit I say foreseeing this doth forewarn the Saints and charge them to be obedient to Magistrates with many cautions and Exhortations which stand in force to all true Magistrates to the end of the world The second part of this Roman State is from Sathan and riseth out of of the Bottomlesse Pit as Rev. 13.2 Chap. 17.8 and is Antichristian and therefore it is a great sin to own it as the Ordinance of God it being wicked and sinful not onely in its Reign or exercise of Power but in its

Navy by which they were carryed forth above and beyond their own Spirits in the Work which makes it very evident that the Work hath been done not by the Might or Power of Man but by the Spirit of the Lord though all that were employed in the Work had not the Anointing Not all that were with David in the VVork but Himself and his VVorthies with some others had the Anointing for it All the Men of Issachar had not the Anointing to understand the times but it rested with the Heads of them who had all their Brethren at their Command 1 Chro. 12.32 from these and divers other instances it may appear that the ordinary way of the Lord hath not been to Anoint all but only some of them that have been imployed in his great VVork The Fifth Ground to prove that the Work hath taken place in this Nation may be taken from the many Revolutions and Overturnings that have attended all the pretended Governments and Governours that have been in this Nation since the interruption of the exercise of the Government of Christ in the hands of his People in the Little Assembly before mentioned It is evident that they have been such Revolutions as have not been known in former days though few considers the Cause of it There have none come up upon the Stage to Usurp the Power that haue gone off without a brand upon them of Gods displeasure Now that such things must be when the Day of the Lord or Kingdom of Christ takes place in the World Consider First that word in Isa 2. speaking of the Day in which the Lord alone shall be exalted which must respect the Day of his Kingdom saith in Verse 16. The day of the Lord shall be upon every pleasant picture which I understand to be those pretended Governments which shall be Set up when the great Powers or the Image Government is broken and further in Verse 18. the Idols shall be utterly abolished which as I understand respects the same with Verse 16 It must be granted that many pleasant Pictures and Idols have been set up since the Apostacy in this Nation and it is most evident that the Day of the Lord hath been upon them and like that in Isa 8.9.10 the Apostates have Associated and Guirded themselves and taken Counsel but all hath come to nothing except shame and contempt upon themselves The Spirit speaking Isa 27.9 of the Latter day VVork when the Stones of the Altar must be broken a sunder holds forth that there must be Groves and Images and endeavours used to make them stand up there hath been among us many Groves and Images since the Apostacy but that Word hath been fulfilled that they shall not stand up and though the Apostates have been seeking deep to hide their Councels from the Lord yet the VVisdom and Understanding of their VVisemen hath been hid perished and their turning of things upside down hath been esteemed as the Potters Clay Isa 29.14 15 16. The Throne or Government being given to Christ is become too heavy for the Apostates to bear but they sinke and wither under it It is not unknown how Cromwell and his Family sunk under it they were weaker and weaker from the first day they came to the Throne till it was taken away from them the like of the Reliques of the Old Parliament who though they came in with a high hand yet soon withered and came to nothing but scorn and derision the like of the Army and their pretended Committee of Safety and for these that are now returned and in the Usurpation of the Throne and have the very spirit of the Nation with them I do not doubt however they may carry it with a high hand but they shall shortly melt like wax before the fire and shall be as smoak driven away and made as Ashes under the Soles of the feet of those that Favour and Wait in a true spirit for the Resurrection of Christs Righteous Cause though the Lord may for a time suffer them yea and make them as the Assyrian Rod to execute the Stroke that is comming upon the Professors of this Generation for their Disowning Denying yea and Crucifying the Righteous Cause of their dear King who through the shedding of his Blood for them deserved other things at their hands I shall present one Scripture more to this Fifth Ground to wit Dan. 2.44 The Kingdome shall not be left to other people The words do hold forth Two things First That other people then Saints shall make attempts upon and endeavour to take and keep this Kingdom after it hath taken place in the hands of the Saints Secondly Though other people may endeavour to take and possess it yet it shall not be left to them or they shall not enjoy or possess it as the other Foure Monarchies that went before this Kingdome which were left to other people The Monarchy of the Chaldees was left to the Medes and Persians and their Monarchy to the Graecians and the Graecians to the Romans and the Romans shall be left to the Kingdom of Christ whose Kingdome shall never be destroyed nor left to other people and it is manifest that since this Kingdom hath taken place in the hands of the Saints Other People have endeavoured and made great attempts to Take and Possess it as Cromwell the Army the Reliques of the Old Parliament which God hath at severall times Cast out and it is as cleare that the Kingdom hath not been neither is left to any of them and though the Family of the Stuarts whom God hath poured Contempt upon and Broken have also endeavoured to take the Kingdome and for ought I know may come as neere to Obtaine and Possess it as Cromwell or any of the forementioned Usurpers have done yet let them know that the VVord of the Lord shall stand and the Kingdome shall not be left to Other People then the Saints who by grace are kept for Christ the King and by Faith and Prayer with the VVord of their Testimony are helped to undermine and bring down all the Groves and Images which the Treacherous Dealers have set up The Sixth Ground to prove that the Work of the Fifth Kingdome hath taken place is from the Eminent hand of God that hath been seen in preserving the lives of those which have been kept by Grace from the Apostacy in a Testimony for Christ against those that have turned aside from and betray'd his Righteous Cause It is not unknown that ever since the First day of the Apostacy the Lord hath had a Remnant which he hath kept helped to Favour Cleave to the Pretious though despised Cause of Christ and by them a Publick Witness hath been kept up against the Apostacy and there hath been many Gins and Snares laid and Trappans imployed to take them and Old Acts revived and published by which their Testimony should be adjudged Treason Severall of the Faithfull Remnant having been Taken

and great Authority and upon this the Pagan State falls and therein him that did let 2 Thes 2.7 was removed out of the way and so the wicked comes to be revealed or made visible to be the Antichrist Secondly the Beast and the wicked or Man of sin agrees in their Reign or exercise of Power both setting themselves against God appearing with Power Signes and Lying Wonders 2 Thes 2.4.9.10 comp Rev. 13.5 6.13.14 also with Dan. 7.25 Thirdly this Man of Sin is the last Power upon Earth that precedes the coming and Kingdom of Christ whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his comming 2 Thes 2.8 By the Spirit of his Mouth I understand the Anointing which being given down thorough the word of the Lord upon the Saints is called the Spirit of his Mouth by which the Antichristian Power is to be consumed and so agrees with the breaking work of the Stone in Dan. 2. and with the Saints taking away and consuming the Power of the little Horn in Dan. 7. and that the Feet of the Image the little Horn and the Beast that comes from the Bottomless Pit are the last part of the Image Government and stands next to Christs Kingdom hath been already cleared Fourthly They agree in their ruine or destruction as to Time Instruments and the Place into which they are Cast this man of sin is called the Son of Perdition which doth not only denote his hellish Rise and Reign but also that he must go into Perdition or Hell the Beast also goeth into Perdition or Hell The man of sin or Little Horn is also given to the burning flame 2 Thes 2.3 Comp. with Rev. 17.8 and Dan. 7.11 That they agree as to time and Instruments hath been already shewed in these and several other particulars which for brevity sake I shall not insist upon Thus the feet and toes of the Image Dan. 2. The Little Horn Dan. 7. The Beast Rev. 17. The Man of sin 2 The● 2. do agree and appear to be one and the same though given under various Names and Titles and the comparing of them may through the blessing of the Lord help to a very full and clear description of the Antichrist that was to come and take place in the world in the latter day onely this is to be noted that the Spirit in describing Antichrist in the four forementioned places doth sometimes insist chiefly upon the Civil or Beastly Power and sometime doth take in and insist upon both the Civil and Ecclesiastical or false Church part as they are twisted together As in the feet of Iron and Clay and the Man of Sin revealed when he who did let should be taken out of the way but I shall speak more to that in the next particular The next thing I shall lay down and endeavour to clear is That the Antichrist or last part of the Image Government doth consist or is made up of two sorts to wit Civil and Ecclesiasticall both twisted or mixed together the Magisterial or Civil Government being united to and involved in the Ecclesiastical or false Church State This appears First From the Feet and Toes of the Image that are of Iron mixed with Clay Dan. 2.41 by the Iron I understand the Civil State as Verse 33. The Roman Power in its Civil Sate is set forth by Iron Leggs and by Clay I understand the earthy false Church which is set forth by a Beast coming up out of the Earth Rev. 13.11 The Civil Power espousing and joyning in affinity with the Whore she being not of God but brought forth by Man or rather by the Devil in man is called the seed of Men Dan. 2.43 This Espousal or joyning in affinity I understand to be the mingling with the seed of Men and by this mingling the Imperial Power was not strengthned but indeed weakened as Verse 42. The false Church may also upon several other accounts be fitly set forth by Clay as in its Rise Brittleness Foulness and its Nature of cleaving or sticking to other things that comes nigh unto it This may appear Secondly From the revealing of the wicked by removing of him that did let which was as I understand the Roman Emperour out of the way 2 Thes 2.7.8 Him that did let must either be God or the Devil or Man It could not be God because him that did let was to be removed out of the way which would be blasphemy in any to refer to God Secondly It could not be the Devil for he that did let appears to stand in the way to hinder the Devils Kingdom taking place which would be Satan against Satan or a Kingdom divided against it self Mark 3.23.24.26 and if it can be neither God nor Satan then it must be Man and can be referred to no other Man but the Roman Emperour who in the exercise of his Civil or Heathenish Power did for some hundreds of years after Pauls dayes hinder the Mystery of iniquity appearing in the false Church from coming to his desired Throne The Bishops of Rome grew very high and sought long to get the Seat of Civil Judicatory over the State as they had over the Church but they could not obtain the Throne till the Emperour was brought down to their foot and as to his Imperial Power was taken out of the way and when this was effected Antichrist assumed the Throne and so the wicked came to be revealed who though he had the Ecclesiastical Seat before yet was not so revealed to be that wicked mentioned 2 Thes 2.8 till he got the Civil Seat also and this doth further clear that the wicked Antichrist in his Throne must be made up of Civil and Ecclesiastical Power Thirdly This may further appear by the two Beasts mentioned Revel 13. the first comes out of the Sea verse 1. which I understand to be the Civil Roman Power in its last State that riseth by the Rebellions and Sea-like rageing tumults of the people being encouraged and promoted by Sathan in the false Church though not yet mounted upon the Beast By these tumults the Roman Power in its Pagan or Heathenish and first State that was very glorious before comes to be wasted and at last destroyed and so the Power brought under the Beast that comes out of the Sea and the Devil or Dragon being very willing to make a change of the Power from the Pagan State that he might Mount the Whore readily gives his Power Seat and great Authority to this Beast The Second Beast is mentioned in verse the 11. of this 13. Chapter and described as coming up out of the Earth and in verse 12. is said to exercise all the Power of the First Beast to wit the Beast that comes out of the Sea and vers 13.14 doth great Wonders and worketh Miracles before him c. and is called the false Prophet Revel 19.20 This Beast must be understood of the false Church which cometh

leave the wayes of God And neglect the Conversion of sinners and the building up such as are converted And that they are such as are against Magistracy c. But it would be too large to speak to all these things and to shew how in the building of the First and Second Temple and many other things which God did by his Spirit yet conferred that honour upon his Servants to use them as Instruments in his hand though he had no need of them but as in the Creation might do all by the word of his Power He had no need of Moses Joshua Samuel David and many others he could have done his work alone yet it was and is his pleasure to use them And as for the High Charges that are brought against this Truth and the Professors of it I shall not undertake to vindicate and plead for all that go under the name of owners of these things I know there was a Judas amongst the twelve Disciples yea and Peter who was very eminent did miscarry and the best of Saints here do stand by Faith yet this I may say that the Principles teach no such things but 2 Pet. 3. if we look for such things we are from thence instructed to be holy in all manner of conversation But I hope as I have not received these things either with respect to Persons or things but as it might appear to be the mind of the Lord so I would not reject or entertain hard thoughts of any of the Truths of Christ because many of the Professors thereof walk unsuitable to their profession And to what is falsly charged upon the Persons or Principles is no more then hath been upon other truths of Christ and upon his followers in former ages Caleb and Joshua because they were faithful and declared the truth the whole Congregation of professing Israel bade stone them with stones Num. 14. Jeremiah for declaring the truth was not onely reproached by false reports but cast into the Dungeon for his faithfulness by the very Princes of Israel and he received more favour from the Heathens then he did from the Professors as from Ebedmelech the Blackmore and from the King of Babylon Jer. 15.10 chap. 20.10 chap. 38 4.6.7-11.12 Chap. 39.11.12 and to our Lord Christ himself his friends said he was beside himself Mark 3.21 The strict sort of the Jewes did contemn him and his followers and said he was a Samaritane and had a Devil Yea that Sect was every where spoken against Acts 28.22 Paul was charged to be a pestilent fellow and that he Preached that men should do evil that good might come Considering this cloud of witnesses and how much Satan is engaged against the Righteous Cause of Christ and how truth in all ages hath been first branded for error and then opposed and persecuted and the Professors thereof Imprisoned Banished and killed I am through Grace helped with comfort and cheerfulnesse to bear these sore reproaches as a part of Christs and Truths livery and leave it till the day of Decision when the Lord will shew who was for Christ and his Truth and who were the opposers of them And as to that part of the charge that we are against Magistracy the Lord in his own time will clear his despised Remnant of that with other false charges and will make it manifest that through rich Grace we do own Reverence and witness for the true Magistracy which is according to the Word of God in opposition to the false Magistracy of Antichrist and of the Apostacy at this day and if to be for the House and Kingdom of David against wicked Saul as was the House of Judah and divers others 2 Sam. 2.10 cha 3.2 or for David against Absalom as 2 Sam. 15. or for Solomon against Adonijah as was Nathan and others see 1 King 1. or with Ehud against Eglou as Judg. 3.14 or for Joash against Athaliah as was Jehoiada and others see 2 Kin. 11. or to be for the Lord and his Truth against Amaziah when he turned from following the Lord in a word if to be for Christ and his Kingdom against the Devil Antichrist and the Apostacy be to be Vile and to be Transgressors we are such and I desire the Lord may keep us so to the end But if these things be justifiable by Scripture and owned by the Lord let those that reproach us take heed least they become fighters against God The Fourth general head that I propounded to speak to is the Time of this works taking place in the world to wit of the Setting up the fifth and the destroying of the Fourth Kingdom As for the day or year the Lord in wisdom hath reserved to himself and what is written of it in the Scriptures may through our ignorance admit of many doubts and various apprehensions I do Judge it hath been the failing of some whom I have much honoured in the Lord to fix the day and year and I have desired to be alwayes waiting for it but not so fix the time onely in general That this Kingdom of Christ shall be set up in the world before his Personal Coming though it shall not come to its perfect Glory and Beauty till he comes with his glorified Saints The First Argument to clear this is Dan. 2.44 In the dayes of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom first that this Kingdom is the Fifth Kingdom hath been already shewed Secondly by these Kings I understand the Toes of the Image which in Revel 17. are called Horns and explained to be Kings Now it must be granted by all that those Kings do either refer to those Kings mentioned Dan. 7.17 which are as hath been shewed the four Monarchies of the world and are held forth by the several parts of the Image Dan. 2. or to the ten Horns or Kings before mentioned First it cannot be the four Monarchies for then the Fifth Kingdom must take place in the world betwixt the time of Israels going into the 70. years Captivity in Babylon and their return to Jerusalem for the Chaldean Monarchy viz. the Head of Gold which was the first of the four Kings had not its beginning as part of the Image till about the time of their going into the captivity and was taken away or destroyed several years before the return of the captives as may appear Dan. 5. Therefore if it were in the dayes of those Kings it must begin while the Chaldean Monarchy was in being But it is without doubt that the Kingdom of Christ did not begin in that time but either long before or long after Secondly if it should be true as some affirm that this Fifth Kingdom began either at Christs coming in the flesh or at his Resurrection or Ascention or at the pouring out of the Spirit Acts 2. Yet it cannot be the dayes of the four Kings For three of these four were come and gone many years before Christ and it is evident

Vialls Rev. 16. The Vialls do containe and are called the seven last Plagues that must accomplish the destruction of the Anti hristian world and do much agree with the VVork of the Stone in Daniel 2. Now these Vialls or six of them must be poured out before Christs personal comming First because they do the VVork gradually and therefore are seven Vialls otherwise one Viall if it were at Christs coming would do all the Work Secondly They do the destroying Work which as hath been proved must be done before Christs Personal coming and if the Vialls do the same Work with the Stone or Kingdom and six if not all must be poured forth before Christs Personal coming then the Work must take place before that coming As against all Truths there are several Objections so against this First it is objected and alleadged That the Saints must be in a Suffering state till Christ comes Answ There is a Twofold Suffering the one by the Antichristian bondage and slavery the other by corruption and inward temptations From the first the Saints shall be delivered before Christs coming as hath been shewed the other may remain till Christ at his coming binds Satan and changeth our vile bodies Also there is a twofold coming of Christ in the latter day the one a comming by his Spirit in his Saints-to the Work of executing vengeance and so Christ is the Stone and so he overcomes the ten Hornes and so he comes at midnight when the Virgins sleep and so he comes as a Thief and this is the Coming spoken of Luke 18.7 8. And shall not God avenge his own Elect Neverthelesse when the Son of man cometh shall he find Faith on the Earth Till this coming the Saints were to be in a suffering State upon both the former the latter Accounts The second is his Personal coming with all his Saints and all the holy Angels when every eye shall see him This shall not only be a coming in Power but also with great Glory before this coming the Saints shall be in the Posession of the Government upon the account of Christ who is the rightful King and the Vialls or Six of them shall be poured forth by which much of the vengeance that is to be executed shall be accomplished upon the Earth But although the Saints shall be in the Government of the Nations under and on the behalf of Christ the King yet the Devil being not bound shall go forth full of Rage because the time of his binding is near and immediatly before the Personal coming of Christ shall stir up the Nations to rebell against Christ in his Saints and the Nations shall raise War against the Saints and shall take the City of Jerusalem and it shall be a time of great trouble and then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those Nations as when he fought in the day of Battel and then the Seventh Viall shall be poured forth into the air which holds forth the making a full and perfect end of the VVork my apprehensions in this matter are grounded upon Eze. 39. Zech. 14.1.2 3 4. Revel 16.16 chap. 19.17.18.19 and several other Scriptures which relate unto and must have their fulfilling in this time In the understanding of the weighty matters which relate to the latter day I would commend two things to consideration which may through the blessing of God be very helpful and useful to prevent mistakes First To wait upon God for his Spirit in the search of the Scriptures for a right distinction of the several Times and Seasons as First the Time of Christs suffering State the Time of Antichrists Reign the Time of Christs coming by his Spirit in the Saints to execute the vengeance the Time of his Personal coming the Time of the thousand years Reign The end of the thousand years and the last Judgement when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father And as these times should be distinctly considered without misplacing them or causing the one to clash against the other so The Second thing to be considered is through the spirit diligently to search the Promises Prophesies and Types of this Latter day work contained in the holy Scriptures and before we passe judgement upon any of them to wait upon the Lord for a right understanding of the respective Times unto which the Promise Prophesie or Type doth relate for if we go to open then and not First understand what Time they relate unto we are in danger of very great mistakes and this I judge is much of the cause of the great differences that are among even those of the People of God that Wait for the Kingdom at this day and through this mistake the poor Jews stumbled and fell misplacing those Promises Prophesies and Types that did relate to Christ in that day if these two things be diligently observed it would save much labour in answering several Objections some of which not yet spoken to are as followeth Object That Christ must be first in the possession of this Glory he being the Captain that was first made perfect through suffering and therefore the Kingdom must not be set up till his Personal coming Ans This ariseth mostly from a mistake for though the Saints shall take and possesse the Kingdom before Christs Personal appearing yet Christ shall be first in the Glory of it Dan. 7.14 It is given to Christ and the opening of it in verse the 18. saith that the Saints shall take the Kingdom though all this while Christ in his person is in heaven for first Christ must have the preheminence to be first in the Glory as the Saints by his Spirit do obtain it Secondly They do not onely obtain it by the Spirit of Christ but also upon the Ground of his Authority as he is King of Kings c. Thirdly They do it by his Command all which may appear by the foregoing discourse upon the Saints being the Instruments in the work and so the Glory of the Conquest is to the Lamb Rev. 17.14 The Lamb shall overcome them c. Revel 4.10 The Crowns are cast before him and the Saints do take and exercise the Government for and on the behalf of Christ upon whom Psal 132.18 his Crown shall flourish It is further objected Object 2 Tim. 4.1 His appearing is joyned with yea put before his Kingdom even when he shall judge both the quick and the dead therefore his Kingdom shall not take place before his appearing Answ Though his Appearing be here joyned with and placed before his Kingdom yet the Scripture doth not say neither by the order of words can it be safely gathered that his Kingdom shall not begin till his appearing and those that consider the Spirits Method in the Scripture may know that ofttimes those things that are to be performed Last are placed First and sometimes words do respect a thing in its beginning and sometimes in its perfection as 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your calling and

Election c. those that own Election according to Scripture will grant that it takes place before Calling and yet Calling is here placed before it So Acts 3.19 where the Apostle applies the blotting out of sin to the time of Christs Personal coming when according to other Scriptures the blotting out or forgiveness of sin takes place long before as Ephes 1.7 Col. 2.13 so that this word must respect the perfecting of it In Luke 21.28 you have the like word applied to Redemptions taking place at the coming of Christ the like in Ephes 4.13 though by other Scriptures Redemption hath its beginning long before as Ephes 1.7 Gal. 3.13 and if these things be considered it may appear that either the Kingdom in this place of 2 Tim. 4.1 must respect the perfection of its Glory which shall not be till Christs Personal coming though as hath been shewed it must have its beginning before or if it should respect its first taking place we may not build so much upon the order of the words as to make them clash against yea to exclude the scope of many Scriptures which do clearly hold forth the Kingdoms taking place before the Personal appearing of Christ The Second thing that I shall lay down with respect to the Time of this Kingdoms taking place is That it must begin or take place amongst the Gentile Saints before the Call of the Nation of the Jewes to wit the Natural Seed of Abraham The First Ground of this I gather from the Work Time and Order of the Vials Rev. 16. Six of them are to be poured forth before the Kings of the East which I understand to be the Natural Seed of Abraham have their way prepared The Sixth Vial Rev. 16.12 must be poured out upon the great River Euphrates that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared By the River Euphrates I understand not the Material River for the ships of Tarshish must bring them over greater Rivers then that and that River cannot block up their way but it is the Power of that people to wit the Turks that have their Scituation about that River By Rivers and waters is elsewhere to be understood of Earthly Powers as in Revel 16.4 compare with vers 6. and Revel 17.15 and also at this day the Turks do possesse the Land of Judea and it must be the breaking of their Power that prepares the way for the Kings of the East Now the Vials doing the same work with the Stone or Kingdom to wit the destroying of Antichrist and they doing the work or most of it before the Call of the Jews the Kingdom must needs take place also before their Call I have not heard of any that denyes that the Kings of the East are to be understood of Abrahams Natural Seed and therefore shall speak no further to this Ground The Second Ground from whence I gather that the Kingdom must take place before the Jews Call is this The Stone or Kingdom smites the Image upon the Feet to wit the Babylonish State and this smiting must be done by those of the People of God that were under Babylons yoke Rev. 18.4.6 Zech. 2.7 They that are under Babylons yoke in this New Testament day are not the Jews but the Gentile Saints therefore the work must first take place amongst them The Kingdom strikes the first stroke upon the Antichristian State Dan. 2.44 The Third Ground of this Assertion is That the Kingdom or Stone must break and make way for the Jewes before their coming in therefore it must take place or be in being before it breaks the way The Gentile Saints must be used as the Instruments in breaking the way for and bringing in the Jewes Isa 49.22 and Chap. 66.20 Object That many of the Scriptures which referr to the Work of the Kingdom do speak to the People of God who are to be used in it under those Names and Titles that properly relate to the natural Seed of Abraham as Jacob Zion Jerusalem Judah and Israel c. Answ That although in the Old Covenant day in which the being one of Abrahams natural Seed did intitle to Church-Membership the visible Church was distinguished by those Names and Titles yet it may not be alwaies restrained or applyed to them in Gospel dayes when their Typical Church State comes to cease and as their Church State was Typical so was the Titles that God gave to them and the names of Jacob Zion and Jerusalem c. do truly and spiritually relate to the Gospel or New Covenant Church in which neither Jew nor Gentile have any right by natural Generation but by Faith in Christ who is all and in all Col. 3.11 and so in him 2 Cor. 1.20 we come to have a right to all the Promises that are held forth to Jacob or Zion c. So Psal 102.13.16 in which Scripture Zion must respect the Gospel Church which the Lord shall build when he appears in his glory It is the Gospel Church that Zech. 2.7 dwells with the Daughter of Babylon Gal. 4.26 Chap. 3.29 Eph. 2.14 which with many other Scriptures doth clearly demonstrate these Titles are most truly to be applyed to the Gospel Church and those that deny this must exclude the Gospel Church from the benefit of the greatest part of the Promises in Scripture and though this may seem to cut off the Jewes from their Priviledges yet it will rather and more truly invest them therein upon a more Noble account when they shall come to embrace the Messias and thus much to this Objection I shall now come to speak of Two Scriptures that are specially insisted upon by those who expect the Work to begin among the Jewes the one in Micha 4.8 Unto thee O Tower of the Flock shall come the first Dominion c. If this should be referred to the Naturall Seed of Abraham it can only respect the two Tribes to wit Judah and Benjamin and all that may be gathered in this matter from it is that the Kingdom shall come to the two Tribes before the Ten which will much agree with other Scriptures but it will not follow from the Scope of the Spirit in the words that the Kingdom shall not take place and be in being among the Gentile Saints before its Dominion comes to the two Tribes because they must have the first Dominion before the other ten Tribes The other Scripture is Zech. 12.7 The Lord shall save the Tents of Judah first that the glory of the House of David and the glory of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah By Judah or the Tents of Judah I understand the two Tribes and by the glory of the House of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Ten Tribes For the Glory was to have the Ten Tribes in conjunction with the Two abiding with the House of David but when the Ten Tribes revolted the Kingdom was rent and the Glory of the House of David

King of Nations and under him it is given to the Saints who must possess the Kingdome Dan. 7.27.18 and therefore it is no wonder that all this time of the Apostacy the Apostates could make nothing Rise from the Nationall Constitution or if they did could not make it Stand up but it hath been like a man when his life is gone from him and the Day of the Lord according to Isa 2.16 hath been upon all their pleasant Pictures Then come to the VVar with Holland and call over the Records which do abundantly manifest how eminently God Wrought and made his Wonders to be known in the Deeps yea both VVind and Sea obeyed him in that Warr. As to the Eminent Hand of God in the Call of that Little Assembly I shall not speak of it in this place having spoken to it in the First Ground but upon the whole I may conclude this Second Ground with these Scriptures Num. 23.23 According to this time it shall be said of Israel and Jacob what hath God wrought compared with Psal 40.5 Psal 78.4 107.8 111.4 also Psal 75.1 that his name is neere his wonderous works declare And though this Generation as Deut. 4.9 have forgot the things that their eyes have seen yet God in much mercy makes these Wonderfull Works as pretious food to a poor Despised Remnant that are witnesing to and waiting for the Resurrection of the Glorious Cause of Christ. Psal 74.14 111.2 3 4. Compared with v. 5. Psal 46.8 Come behold the works of the Lord c Hos 14.9 who so is wise and he shall understand these things c Isay 51.9 10. Awake Awake O Arme of the Lord as in Ancient dayes art not thou it c. The Third Ground which may further manifest that the Work of this Kingdome hath taken place is from the Cause that was Stated and Layed in the Bottom as the Foundation of the Quarrell upon which the great Works have been wrought and Victories obtained and that hath been the Cause of Jesus Christ in opposition to the Kingdome of Antichrist and as the Day so the Light hath increased First against Popery and Prelacy not only against their wicked practices but against the Foundation of their standing as Antichristian and though there was then but little Light in the visible Kingdome of Christ yet there was so much as the Lord saw needfull for that day Secondly in the beginning of the Wars which outwardly to men appeared to be betwixt the King and Parliament but in the Bottom as those who had the Light of that Day may remember was betwixt Christ and Antichrist and many of the people of God took up Armes in Judgment and Conscience upon the account of Christ and went to the help of the Lord against the mighty although it was but a dark Day and a day of small things But by that time we came to the Warr with Scotland there was a good measure of Kingdome Light given down and sprung up though it was not upon all that were engaged in the War but only some few to whom the Lord was pleased to manifest it and through this Light the Cause came more clearly to be stated in publique view and then the ground upon which the late King and his Monarchy was taken off is publickly asserted by the Army who were the most eminent outward Instruments in the Work to be upon the account of Christ as may appeare by a Letter from the Officers of the Army at their march for Scotland directed to the rest of the Army that remained at their Quarters in England and also by their Declaration when they were come to Muscleborough in Scotland This Cause comes yet more clearly to be Stated and Owned in the Breach of the Old Parliament and is laid in the Bottom by those that were Anointed for and had the Light of that day as the Ground upon which they were Broken and also as a farther manifestation of this the Kingdom of Christ being to take place next to the Image Government and that being broken the Little Assembly was called and the Government delivered to them upon the Avowed Account of the Son of God Also in the Stating and Carrying on the War with Holland the Faith and Prayer for the Successe in that War was by those that had the Light upon the account of the Kingdom of Christ these things are evident and may further appear by a Letter from the Officers at Whitehall to Lt. Gen. Fleetwood and the rest of the Officers in Ireland upon the Breach of the Old Parliament and also by Cromwels Speech to the Little Assembly shewing their Call to be upon the account of Christ and also the proceedings of the Assembly and Council and the Committee of Admiralty in the managing of that War with Holland The Letter to Ireland and the Letter before mentioned to those of the Army that remained in England the Muscleborough Declaration and Cromwels Speech are all Printed together in the Book before-mentioned called The Kingdom of Christ or Fifth Kingdom in opposition to the Kingdom of the Beast and is Sold at the Crown in Popes-Head Ally The Grounds upon which the enlightned Part of the Little Assembly did Act and Own their sitting do also clear the Cause to to be stated for Christ against Antichrist The Fourth Ground to clear this Assertion is from the Anointing a Measure whereof hath been given down in for the accomplishing of the Work by which it hath been done And first that there is an Anointing reserved for and promised to this Work of the Fifth Kingdom yea that the Work is to be done by the Anointing though not without the use of Instruments consider Isa 10.27 which speaking of the Latter day Work and of Zions deliverance saith That the yoke shall be broken off because of the Anointing also Isai 28.6 speaking of this VVork saith The Lord shall be for a Spirit of Judgement to them that sit in Judgement and for strength to them that turn the Battel to the Gate Also Haggai 2.5 My Spirit remaineth among you fear ye not though this word in the Letter may relate to the Building of the Temple yet that VVork being Typical to this Glorious VVork of the Latter day this promise of the Spirit doth most properly respect this Latter day VVork So Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by Power but by my Spirit c. The word upon the forementioned ground may also be applyed to this VVork of the Fifth Kingdom Isai 59.19.21 when the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall put him to flight c. These and several other Scriptures do clear it that this VVork hath the promise of the Spirit in a special manner belonging to it and now that a measure of this Spirit hath been given down for Light wisdom strength and courage in the Work which hath been done amongst us hath been very evident to and owned by