God and ruine his people Hence it is that mystery is written upon the head of the whorish woman Chap. 17. 15. when in her ornaments of purple and decking of silver gold and precious stones she is full of abominations and filthinesse of fornication being but the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth Here is the fountaine of all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse that the world seeth not the depth of neither can it fathome the bottome of this wickednesse of this mystery it ascendeth from the pit as deep as hell it selfe Fourthly doth this beast ascend upward Then Observe There is a time 4 Observâ— when Antichrist doth ascend high in greatnesse and power All that wickednesse and abomination all that blacknesse and darknesse all that deceivablenesse and iniquity suggested by Satan into mans heart that we spake of before it is gathered up and acted in greatnesse power and dominion The spirit of selfe-righteousnesse pride malice and envie now comes forth in the forme and power of a beast There is a time when this wickedness shall raigne and beare sway this is the houre and the day of the powerfull raigne of the beast according to that saying in Revel 13. 5. Power was given unto the beast to continue forty and two msneths And therefore it is permitted that he should for a time act according to his will because he is great as it is spoken by Daniel of the king of a fierce countenance Dan. 8. 4. Thus we have it in Revel 17. 13. The ten hornes doe with one minde give their power and strength unto the beast They do with one consent use all their personall and royall authority to uphold the power and dominion of the beast By this meanes the beast doth ascend becomes great and mighty in power But as there is a time of the beasts ascension so also there is a time of his descension and declining when the ten Kings shall withdraw their power againe and hate the whore and burne her flesh with fire Revel 17. 16. There will be times when these shall no longer submit to the tyranny of the beast but shall conspire against him and strip him of his ornaments and prey upon his spoyles and ruines Then shall the beast descend into the pit of perdition and destruction from whence he did ascend and as Solomon saith The righteous shall be delivered the wicked shal come in their steed Thus Antichrist hath his timeâ— of rising into power and greatnesse and shall also have his declinings time of falling when he shall grow weak and feeble and shall not be able to stand Fiftly and lastly doth the beast make war against overcome and kill these witnesses then observe That the witnesses 5 Observâ— are continually overcome and slaying all the time of the powerfull raigne of the beast The slaying of the witnesses cannot be confined to one age or time towards the latter end of their prophesie and that onely some particular persons should be slainâ— and that by martyrdome onely but the beast doth alwayes make war with the Saints and by civill power and ecclesiasticall law doth alwayes overcome them and by the execution of that law doth kill them by hindering them in the course of their prophesie and rejecting their testimony turning the truth into a lie thus I say the witnesses are alwayes slaying the whole time of Antichrists raigne Hence it is sayd that the little horne should weary out thg Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 25. by continuall vexing and tormenting of them It is sayd of the Locusts that ascended out of the smoke of the bottomlesse pit That they had faces like men having a shew of humanity and their haire was as the haire of women by reason of their perswasive flatteries and faire shewes of gentlenesse and meeknesse but they had the teeth of Lyons rending and devouring the Saints by their cruell exactions and tyrannicall governments whereby they have alwayes suppressed the Saints And thus have the faithful witnesses of Christ been continually in slaying under the powerfull raigne of the beast VERS 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified IN the former verse we had the death and slaying of the witnesses Now here we are to enquire what becomes of their bodies of which we have an account in this and the two following verses First their bodies lie in the great Citie Secondly they are kept from buriall vers 9. Thirdly their enemies rejoyce over them vers 10. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street c. Here take notice First what is meant by their dead bodies Secondly the place where they lie and that is in the street of the great Citie Thirdly we have a description of this great Citie First by it's resemblance first to Sodome secondly to Egypt Secondly by it's action Where our Lord was crucified First to enquire what is meant by the dead bodies of the witnesses We must beare in minde how and in what manner they were slaine and that was mystically and metaphorically and therefore their bodies must be so understood also Then if it were meant of the Witdesses being slaine in their testimony then it must here be meant of the outward forme and body of their testimony therefore by these bodies are meant all the externall figures and formes of worship in which the witnesses were exercised and through which they did sometimes give forth their testimony When the Church was driven into the Wildernesse to worship God in the secret Temple the outward Court the whole body of their externall formes of worship they left behinde them and the Gentiles made use of them so that this body or whole forme of worship did remaine in the street of the great Citie The outward and externall part of worship when the spirit life waâ— departed from it and the witnesses had left it becâ—me as a dead body or carkase as having no breath or true life in it for as the body becomes as a carkase when the soule and life is departed so is the externall forme of worship when the spirit of the Lord is departed from it Now that the externall part of worship in the formes and figures of it when 't is spirit-lesse and without life is as a dead body or carkase We have a full place of Scripture to prove this interpretation if we rightly observe that Text in Matth. 24. 28. where Christ saith Wheresoever the carkase is there will the Eagles be gathered together The common interpretation of this Text is that here by the carkase should be meant of Christ and that Saints are compared to Eagles as resorting to Christ But consider how far remotâ— this opinion is from the adequate sence of the place For first it would be a most iâ—ksome and naâ—seous comparison to liken Christ to a dead stinking carkase The like comparison of
cannot properly be taken for one street for thero is no great Citie made of one street but indeed the word as rendred by the Septuagint signifies a whole Countrey the whole confines or bounds of a place So that this street cannot be meant of one street or distinct place but of the whole territory and largenesse of Dominion the whole compasse and extent of all the Nations and Churches that are under the authority and command of Antichrist the utmost limits and extreme bounds of largenesse and greatnesse is here intimated by the street In the third place we come to a description of this Citie and that is First by resemblance first to Sodome secondly to Egypt Secondly by some carriage or action of this Citie towards Christ it 's the place where our Lord was crucified The Citie is described by a resemblance to Sodome and Egypt in a metaphoricall way for here we have the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually which means something that 's spirituall and mysticall not that it 's spirituall as opposed to carnall or earthly but as opposed to Sodome and Aegypt literally and properly so called Then it 's meant of Metaphoricall Sodome and of Mysticall Aegypt by way of an allusion or resemblance First Sodome was a place full of filthiness and uncleanness as we have the relation in Gen. 19. And the iniquity of Sodome was sayd to be pride and fulnesse of bread and abundance of idleness and lasciviousness Ezek. 16. 49 50. It was with this abominable wickedness that righteous Lot was so much vexed and perplexed in spirit at the sight and beholding thereof Suitable unto this is the spirituall uncleanness and filthiness gf Antichrist called the mother of Harlots full of abominations corrupting the earth by her uncleanness and intoxicating the whole world with the wine of her fornications In a word all the whoredome fornication and abomination of Sodome are spiritually hatched and acted by this whorish woman this great City Babylon the great this Antichristian Church this abominable Strumpet the great Harlot of the world Secondly we have a resemblance to Aegypt First in respect of Idolatry and and Superstition as appears Exod. 12. 12. They were full of Idols and false gods they did worship their Kine and other Cattell for it was the custome of the Heathen to worship their Kine and other Cattell for it was the custome of the Heathen to worship that for Gods that the Israelites were to offer in sacrifice unto God Hence it was that Moses would not that the children should offer Sacrisice untill they were come forth of Aegypt lest they should follow the example of the Aegyptians Secondly Aegypt was full of tyranny and oppression towards the children of Israel their Task-masters laid on heavy burthens on their shoulders and that with much vigour and cruelty as 't is related in Exod. 1. 13. The taske-masters of Aegypt and the oppression of Pharaoh made it to be the very house of bondage The same things are found in mysticall Aegypt as Idolatry and superstition all the whole bundle of Antichrists worship is but of carnall invention and humane institution yea it is spirituall whoredome and Idolatry So also may we finde in her all the cruelty and oppression of Aegypt here are those Task-masters that by their civill power and Ecclesiasticall Laws doe continually vex and torment the Saints As once Pharaoh destroyed the male children of the Israelites so the Dragon standing before the woman ready to devoure her children and when the woman flyeth into the wildernesse for shelter and relief he casts a flood of persecution after her and continually maketh warre with the remnant of her seede which keepe the commandement of God have the testimonie of Jesus Christ Rev. 12. 4. 16 17. Thus you see how the great Citie is resembled 1. To Sodome for pride and filthiness 2. To Aegypt for idolatry and oppression The second description of the Citie by its carriage and action it 's where our Lord was crucified This cannot be meant literally or according to the letterâ— for so Christ was crucisied at Jerusalem but it is meant spiritually and mystically that Christ is crucified in his truth and members in Sodome and Aegypt it 's the pride and filthinesse of Sodome and the cursed idolatry and cruelty of Aegypt that doth alwayes crucifie Christ in his lawes and servants but consider First though Christ in his person was put to death at Jerusalem yet hee was crucified by a Roman power condemned by Pilate a Roman Judge and was adjudged by a Roman kinde of Ioh. 18. 31. Mat. 20. 19. death and was executed by the Romane Souldiers and all was done under the Roman jurisdiction territorie government and dominion which here for filthinesse and abomination is called Sodom and for idolatry and oppression is called Aegypt So in this respect Christ himselfe may be said to be crucied in Sodome and in Aegypt But Secondly Christ is crucified mystically and that is in his truth and laws in his members and people Acts 9. 5. Saul why persecutest thou mee which words do import that Christ is crucified in his people So that as Christ was brought in adjoyned in testimony and witnesse with his Saints in like manner he comes in as suffering with them also So that here is some resemblance between the suffering of Christ and his witnesses For as Christ was put to death by a heathening Roman power so by the raign and dominion of Antichrist the Witnesses are put to death also and Christ is crucified in them It was the wickednesse of the Scribeâ— and Pharisees that accused Christ of Judas that betrayed him of Pilate and the high Priest that condemned him of the Gentile souldiers that crucified him all this wickednesse heightned in Antichrist grows into the uncleannesse and filthinesse of Sodome and into the eâ—â—ity and cruely of Aegypt doth make Warre against he Witnesses and kill them So that it is not so much meant of the place where Christ or his Saints are oppressed â—â— to shew that the wickedness and impiety that put Christ to death is the very same wickednesse that Antichrist doth exeroise in killing of the faiâ—hâ—ul seâ—vants and Witnesses of Christ The words being unfolded we now come to give some observations from them First observe That the external forms 1 Observ of worship that Antichrist useth are but as a dead body or carkass Such was the Temple Priest-hood and worship of the Jewes when God had departed from them such also is all the worship service of Antichrist it 's not so much the superficies or external form that he doth oppose but the spirit of life that breathed forth in them by the Prophesie of the Witnesses As the bodie becoms a Karcase when the spirit life is departed so is the external and formall part of worship when the spirit of God hath departed from it The Apostle tells of a forme of godliness without the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.
5. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not put for the true forme or essence of godliness but for an externall profession and conformity thereunto by a meer resemblance vizard or shew of holinesse So all the formality of Antichrist doth consist in externall gestures behaviours rites and ceremonies without the pure efficacious powerfull inward worship of God in spirit and truth so all their formal profession is but as a dead body a Carkase without the life or spirit of Christ Secondly observe That it is not so 2 Observ much the outward forme or figures of worship that Antichrist seeks to suppresse as it is the spirit and testimonies of the Witnesses The world doth patch up their whole Religion from the externall formes or bodies of the witnesses these lye in every street of the great Citie in all the Territories and Dominions of the Antichristian Church There is not one street or part of the worldly church but hath store of these Monuments and Images of the worship and service of God that they have taken up from the Witnesses laying of them down when the Saints worship God in the inward Temple in the Wilderness then these Gentiles possesse themselves of the outward Court take it as their portion and use it at their pleasures As Mahomet tooke part of the Jewish customes and part of the Christians practice and so patch'd up his forme of worship So Antichrist hath taken the externall formes that the Witnesses had before exercised in and adding his own inventions makes up a formall R ligion that he sets up in all the streeâ—s and territories of the great Citie viz. the whole Antichristian Church So that there is no Church no State part or Dominion where Antichrist hath to do but there we may see the bodies of the Witnesses the forms and images of the worship that they have been exercised in and have layd aside Thirdly from the resemblance observ 3 Obser That Antichrist is full of spirituall uncleannesse and cursed cruelty All the pride gluttony fulnesse of bread and abundance of idlenesse and filthinesse of Sodome all the wick dnesse idolatry rage envie and malice of Aegypt doth but set forth the sinfulnesse of the man of sin the sonne of perdition yea all that abominable wickedness heightned spi itualized and grown more vile and mysterious as it is acted by Antichrist Here is the silthiness of Sodome the idolatry of Aegypt the oppression of Babylon in a mysterie all under the preteâ—ce of piety and godliness This Citie is called the greatwhore Rev. 17. 1. because of the multitudes of her spirituall fornications And the mother of harlots vers 5. being a teacher and nourisher of others in her silthy whoredoms bringing up children of whoredoms Also she hath in her hands the cup ful of abominations a glorious cup to allure others to drink the wine of her fornicatior and to partake with her in cursed idolatrous practices Besides the enmity rage and cruelty of the Beast is alwayes vexing and tormenting the Israel of God Here is the filthinesse of Sodome and the enmity of Aegypt practiced by Antichrist in the mystery of iniquity drawn up to the greatest pitch heightâ—ed to the utmost extreamity deposing Christ and his truths advancing flesh and sinne into Christs throne and so becomes beastly and most abominable Fourthly and lastly observe It is 4 Obser the very life spirit and image of Christ that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose in slaying the Witnesses It is not so much the persons or bodies of these Witnesses they of the world do so much oppose but the appearance and life of Christ in them it 's the same wickedness that put Christ to death in his person and it 's still the same wickedness that slayeth Christ in his Saints and truth The very name of Antichrist signifies one that opposes Christ if this were not his worke and aime he could not be Antichrist who indeed is one that fights against Christ under the very forme of Christ And as it 's Christ he aimes at so it 's Christ that is slain and crucified it 's our Lord his truth his image that 's slain in spiritual Sodome Aegypt And in as much as ' its Christ he crucifieth killeth great shall be the judgment of Babylon as wee may see in Chap. 17. when God shall recompence upon the man of fin the blood of the Prophets and the blood of the Saints and of all that were slame upon the earth vers 24. And last of all the Lord will reckon with Antichrist for the blood of Christ for crucifying the Lord af glorie Christ tels the Jewes that upon that generation should be brought all the blood of the Prophets and righteous men slain in former times because they succeded the former Persecutors finished their work and so became guilty of all the blood shed before so here Antichrist doth contract all the guilt of Sodome Aegypt and Babylon and of those that crucified Christ therefore upon him shall be recompenced the blood of all that were slain upon the earth So great shall be the fall and ruine of Antichrist that a mighty Angell of great force and power shall take a great milstone and cast iâ— into the sea and it shall be found no more Rev. 18. 21. A great milstone is very ponderous and weighty of it selfe and falleth with great force but much more if it be cast down with a strong hand and being in the bottom of the Sea it cannot be found any more neither will it rise again All which sheweth the exceeding violent and perpetuall destruction of Antichrist being guilty of the blood of all Saints yea and of crucifying the Lord himself VERS 9. And they of the people kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves IN the former verse we heard of the place where the dead bodies lay now here we come to see what is the carriage of their Adversaries towards their dead bodies wherein we may consider these particulars First the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are the people and Kindred and Tongues and Nations Secondly their carriages or actions towards these dead bodies and they are two First they shall see them Secondly they shall not suffer them to be put in graves Thirdly the time how long they shall thus behold these dead bodies and hinder their buriall and that is for three dayes and a halfe First concerning the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are People Kindreds Tongues and Nations We may read the words partively thus Some of all people and kindreds c. which implies some principall ones viz. those of power strength wisdome authority rule These principall men of all Nations Kindreds and Tongues the most learned and wise the most eminent and honourable of all Nations the most choisest of men of the greatest of gifts and
abilities such as these shall be exercised about the dead bodies of the Witnesses There is not a man that hath a language gift tongue or dominion and rule but he is taken up and employed about these dead bodies These are the persons thus exercised Secondly how are they exercised about these dead bodies First They shall see them Secondly They shall not suffer them to be buried First they shall looke upon the dead bodies of the Witnesses not as the high Prie and the Jewes did upon Christ with disdaine and scorne Lu. 23. 25. The people with the Priests beholding of him derided him but rather these looke upon them with delight and affectation and as it 's expressed in the next verse they rejoyce over them they make these dead bodies or outward Carkase of heavenly things to be the very object of their joy and delight they live upon these Carkasses they uphold them as their very life and comfort Secondly they shall not suffer these dead bodies to be put in graves this commonly is done in dis-favour and scorn it was spoken it was spoken to the indignity of the Babylonian Monarchs that they should be cast out of their graves as on abominable branch Issa 14. 19. But I take the meaning here in the contrary sense that they kept these dead bodies above ground out of favour and liking that they might see them and satisfie themselves with such a pleasing object These are they that possess the outward Court and will not suffer the dead bodies to be buried the outward fleshly form of the Witnesses they will not let pass out of their sight it is their life and Religion the life and spirit of these things that were wont to torment them is departed and therefore they will not part with the externall forme that the Witnesses did once administer in These outward forms and figures of worship they will keep above ground and will not suffer them to be put in graves Abraham desired that when Sarah was dead shee might be buried out of his sight Gen. 23. 4. because the sight of his Wife was a griefe unto him but it is not so here with those that manage the cause of the Beast they preserve the dead bodies of the Witnesses that they may from the Carkass or formes of the Saints frame out and set up a Religion unto themselves and therefore though they slay the testimonie of the Witnesses that did vex and trouble them yet they keepe their bodies above ground that they might live and be comforted by them Thirdly how long these shall see their dead bodies and hinder their buriall that is three dayes and a halfe which is spoken indefinitely and undeterminate and as in Prophesie days are taken for years so here it is meant of three yeares and a halfe and so holdâ— proportion with the thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and 42. moneths and a time times and halfe a time For it cannot be meant that the Witnesses should prophesie three yeares and a half and at the end of their prophesie should be slain and lie dead three dayes and a halfe afterward But this three dayes and halfe in which the dead bodies of the Witnesses lie slaine and their dead bodies continue unburied is the same terme of time with that of the Witnesses prophesie even all the space that Antichrist doth possess the ouâ—ward Court and trample under foote the holy Citie The words being thus explained we proceed to the Observations which are these First That the power and greatness the 1 Observ wisdome and abilities of men are exercised about the dead bodies of the Witnesses What is all the studie and care that men take what do they spend their time and parts about but concerning these dead bodies yea the most excellent of men Nations Kindreds and Tongues these with all their dominion and greatness with all their learning and wisdome they are all employd about the Carkass or externall forme of things All the syllogisticall reasonings and disputes all the maximes and rules that worldly men are exercised in what are they but the very forme and figure the superficiall and externall part of those things that the Saints have in their time administred in now the Gentiles come to possess the outward Court and all their paines and endeavours they use about it to advance it and make it glorious in the earth Secondly observe That the great care that those of the Nations and Tongues c. take about the dead bodies of the Witnesses is to keepe them above ground The remembrance and sight of these are very deare and precious to the world these are their very life peace and joy they cannot live or enjoy themselves without them The externall formes of Religion that the Witnesses have sometimes given forth their testimonie by and having laid them aside the world doth with much greedinesse take up to use them and to make them their very stay comfort I have observed that the Saints did never cast aside any externall form of Religion that sometimes they have been exercised in but worldly Christians did readily embrace them they use them they keep them above ground and will not suffer them to be put in graves because they cannot subsist without these their very life and being is upheld by these dead bodies by these Carkasses or outward things Hence it is that when the Witnesses have cast aside some formall wayes of worship what is the question of worldly professors what Religion shall we be of now say they when shall we be setled Alas their Religion and life is gon if the external from be taken away They will not suffer these to be put in graves if they can with all their endeavonrs keep these bodies above ground and why the life and spirit of these things is departed with the Witnesses laying of them down so the world is willing to embrace them So long as the Witnesses used them and there was some spirit and life in them it tormented and vexed the worldly people they continually opposed the Witnesses in those very wayes and formes that now they take up themselves they only persecuted the spirit and testimony of the Saints but their Carkases they keep above ground for alas take away these you take away their Religion their life and all they have they have but the outward Court to possess and if you deprive them of that they have nothing left No wonder then if worldly Christians will not suffer the dead bodies of the Witnesses to be put in graves Now what is all the work and labour of those that manage the cause of the beast but this that after they have-slain the testimony of the Saints to advance the fleshly part and outward Carkass of heavenly things in relation to their owne advantage It 's said in vers 18. The nations were angry for his wrath is come and the time of the dead that they shouid be judged All the Ordinances and
Worships all the rules and authorities all the orders and services of Antichrist are but dead things and shall be judged as dead having nothing of the light of life of God in them Well may the nations be angry fret and vex and why the Lords wrath is come upon all Religion and glorious formes of worship they are judged but as dead bodies as empty Caâ—kâ—ses without any spirit or life at all and the glory of the worldly and carnall Church is now overturning and all is because it is but a dead Carkass and shall be consumed Thirdly In that these bodies lie unburied three dayes and a halfe observe That the dead bodies of the Witnesses are 3 Observ kept above ground all the time of Antichrists reigne As before their dead bodies viz. their outward formes of worship did lie in all the streets and dominions of Antichrist so also are they kept above ground in every age and period of time in which the beast doth reigne For these bodies have an agreement with the outward Court which is given to the Gentiles for forty two moneths This also is the time of the womans being driven into the wilderness a thousand two hundred and threesore dayes Chap. 12. 6. where she was nourished for a time times and halfe a time Ver. 14. So that these three dayes holds proportion with the forty two moneths the same time that Antichrist doth posses the outward Court so long doth he make make use of the bodies of the Witnesses Then it is not in some particular time or in some short period that the Beast shall rise up against the Witnesses but namely all time of his Raigne he shall make warre with the Saints slay their testimonie and make use of their dead bodies And though he could not endure the spirit truth that the Saints held forth yet hee knows how to make use of their externall forme and image which hee will not part withal so long as he is able to keepe it above ground untill the wrath of the Lamb come and that the dead shall be judged VERS 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth HEre wee have a farther carriage of the Adversaries towards the dead bodies of the Witnesses while they lye in the street of the great Citie and are kept from being interred or put in graves the men of the earth they rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets are tormented c. In the opening of these words observe 1. The persons brought in here acting And they are they that dwell upon the earth 2. Their actions They rejoyce make merry and send gifts one to another 3. The reason of this their acting Because these two Prophets tormented them c. The first of these to be considered is who are meant by the persons that are here stiled the inhabitants of the earth These are meant of worldly Christans such as serve Antichrist they are onely earthly and carnall they are without the Temple of God they live in the synagoguâ— of Satan These are said to dwell upon the earth Rev. 12. 12. And Chap. 13. 8. The Antichristian Church and faction are said to dwell upon the earth because they are earthly and carnall in opposition to the Saints who are said to dwell in heaven The Witnesses are stiled such as dwell in heaven Chap. 18. 20. And those that worship the Beast being their opposites are stiled those that dwell upon the earth The Saints under heavenly enjoyments heavenly discoveries of truth and light these dwell in Heaven in the glorious Temple in the holy tabernacle of God But the Antichristian Church and all the members thereof are cast out of heaven unto the earth there they inhabite and dwell they favour of the earth having earthly enjoyments carnall delights their condition state worship and contentment consisting all of earthly things The earth is their portion and they make their habitation in it Secondly the carriage of these earthly men towards the Witnesses dead bodies they rejoyce over them make merry and send gifts one to another This is an allusion to the practice of the Jewes when they had procured deliverance from the contrivances of Haman they solemnly feasted rejoyced and made merry sending portions one to another Hest 18. 19. So when the Lord had restored unto the Jewes their land their Citie the Temple and worship The people went their way to eate and to drinke and to send portions and to make great mirth Neh. 8. 12. Suitable hereunto is that of the Prodigall who when he came home the Father for joy kils the fatted Calfe and they rejoyce and make merry together Luk. 15. 24. So here the inhabitauts of the earth doe so well resent their killing and overcoming the Witnesses as that they solemnly rejoyce and make merry even as those that have obtained someeminent deliverance or that have received some excellent good thing or as if they had obtained some great and notable victory they set up some Trophies or Ensignes of Conquest And this they expresse in a feastival manner They eate and drinke and are merry and send portions one to another The summe of all is this that when the Adversaries shall think upon the dead bodies of the Witnesses that they maintain and keep them above ground without the true life and spirit they shall excceedingly triumph and make feasts in token of joy as in the old time and if they doe not this literally yet they shall as much and as really rejoyce as they that did such things and not only so but do what they can to make others rejoyce with them 3. Consider the reason why they do thus rejoyce and that is Because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth Wee may read tormented or had tormented not that they rejoyced because they were tormented by these Prophets but because they had overcome and killed these Witnesses of God that had alwayes tormented them now they thought they were rid of them and should not be troubled with them any more therefore it is that they of the earth do so greatly rejoyce The Witnesses torment the earth by inflicting just punishment and reward upon those that worship the Beast Their very witnesse and testimony is a great torment to the world The wine of Gods wrath and the cup of his indignation shall torment the earth and what is all this but the powring forth of the Vials occasioned by the prophesie of the Witnesses As they turned waters into blood and plagued the Earth with all plagues as we heard before so they torment the earth by their witnesse and prophesie Good reason hath the world to rejoyce when they can hinder the course of their testimomonie and keepe their bodies out of graves to their owne advantage and
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirit of life or as the Hebrews call it the breath of life as it 's sayd God breathed into man the breath of life Gen. 2. 7. when he made man a living soule So when the Lord doth raise up his witnesses from their state of sadnesse and sackcloth he breathes into them the breath of life The breath of God is the spirit of God and the breath of life is the power and operation of that spirit Life is nothing but the soules communion with God The body is dead without the spirit so is the soule without Ghd. The conjunction of soule and body is life so the union of the soule with God is divine life The Psalmist saith In thy presence there is life And marke it he doth not say the spirit of prophesie such whereby they did only see things remotely foretelling what should come to passe in after times but the spirit of life from God entred into them The mighty and powerfull spirit of life causeth these witnesses to live it is not that spirit whereby they should say we shall live hereafter or whereby they should wish O that we might live but the spirit of life whereby they doe live and they know they live I say this mighty powerfull and glorious spirit of life shining forth upon their hearts living and operating in them this shall cause them to arise from shame and sorrow even from that meane low and poore condition they were in prophecying in sackcloth It is then the divine presence the spirit and life of God the glorious shining forth of this face and love that occasions the resurrection of the witnesses Thirdly we come to the resurrection it selfe and that is expressed in these words And they stood upon their feet We cannot understand this of a resurrection properly so called but as the slaying and death of the witnesses was mysticall such also must their resurrection be Then it cannot be meant of a bodily or fleshly resurrection but of that which is mysticall and spirituall namely a resurrection from shame and misery from bondage and weaknesse from their meane low weake and fackcloth condition unto a state of more perfection and liberty of more glory light their condition should be much more glorious and excellent then it was before From this expression And they stood upon their feet note two things First it notes a rising from a poore low meane captivated condition as plainly appeares from that place from whence these words are borrowed Ezek 37. 10. when the Prophet was commanded to prophesie unto the foure winds to breath upon the slaine and upon the dry bones that they might live The dry bones and the slaine are the house of Israel under the Babylonish captivity they were as slaine and as a dead body even as the witnesses are under the tyranny of Mysticall Babylon now it is by the breath of God entering into these dry bones that they are made to live the breath of life being in them they stand upon their feet That notes their resurrection from the meane and lost condition under the oppression of their enemies Hence they are sayd to arise out of their graves vers 12. So the witnesses being but as dead bodies and as dry bones under the tyranny and oppression of Antichrist but when the spirit of life enters into them they stand upon their feet and arise out of bondage shame into a state of liberty and glory Secondly to stand upon their feet notes that they should stand by themselves they should stand by that wisdome that knowledge light and power they should enjoy in themselves they should stand upon their owne leggs and not depend upon others they should not live upon the wisdome opinion and knowledge of other men but upon their owne light and experience in the things of God The time was that the Arke was carried upon mens shoulders from place to place untill at last it was brought â—nto the Temple and then it rested So the Saints while prophecying in sackcloth under weake and faint discoveries of truth did much depend upon the judgements and opinions of other men but now the spirit of God shall dwell so plentifully in them that they shall live upon their owne experience of the light and life of God in themselves The spirit of life breathing in them with much life with much power and evidence that they shall no longer be carried away with the conceits of other men but shall stand upon their owne feet Thus we see that the resurrection of these witnesses is first from bondage and misery unto liberty and freedome Secondly from darknesse and meanesse unto light and glory The fourth and last thing here to be considered is the consequent or sequell hereof And great feare fell upon them that saw them When the witnesses were slaine and their dead bodies lying in the street of the great Citie The men of the earth could rejoyce make merry and triumph but now at the witnesses rising the case shall be otherwise with them now they shall feare and tremble now amazement and astonishment shall take hold of them When the witnesses were slaine they thought never to heare of them more they hoped they should never arise but behold now they rise againe and how greatly doth this affright the men of the world here is terrour and amazement to all that dwell in the earth Suitable unto this is that passage in Act. 5. 5. when that judgement was manifested upon Ananiaâ— the Text saith Great feare fell upon all that heard those things Those persecutours that did vex and trouble the witnesses they thought they had made sure worke of them that they had been wholly destroyed and that they should never more have been troubled with these Prophets but now to their great griefe and amazement they rise againe and stand upon their feet this doth more affright trouble the men of the earth then ever their prophefie did Having thus unfolded the words we passe on to the Observations they offer to our Consideration First Observe That when the time of 1 Obser the witnesses suffering and sadnesse drawes to an end there is an earnest expectation in them of their resurrection The text doth relate to the time of their resurrection when their suffering condition shall draw to an end After three dayes and a halfe c. There is a day and after that two dayes in which the witnesses are in the middest of their sufferings and persecutions their evills are multiplyed and they cannot say when they shall be delivered and therefore resolve to wait with patience and submit to the will of the Lord. But when the halfe day shall come which shall be but short then these witnesses are brought into a comfortable expectation of a seasonable and speedy deliverance when they shall plainly see that the witnesses have been long time in slaying and have been dead and now speedily shall revive and rise againe These shall
be able to say the Lord will cut his worke in righteousnesse It is sayd that all Babylons plagues shall come in one day Chap. 18 8. that is all in some short time suddenly and beyond expectation So sudden shall be the rising of the witnesses when they come to the halfe day or last period of time Now I am most confident that it is the time of the sixt Trumpet in which time the witnesses are not to be slaine but to arise and ascend to God in the cloud and therefore the great expectation in the spirits of many Saints this day of some notable change and of some great manifestation of the kingdome of God doth predict to me the sudden rising of the witnesses The three whole dayes of the beasts raigne are past it 's the halfe day the dividing of time the time of the image of the beast and therefore the Saints shall shortly sing by experience that song Babylon is fallen is fallen Revel 18. 2. The Saints may sing and rejoyce their time of deliverance draweth neer the spirit of life appeares in some of them already and shall shortly shine forth in others by a discovery of that glory of the Lord that 's risen upon them these shall shine forth in the brightnesse thereof Many things in the consequent words of the Text will farther manifest that the witnesses are in rising Secondly Observe That the witnesses 2 Observ are enabled to arise by the mighty powerfull spirit of life from God Nothing but the mighty strong prevailing spirit of life can cause the witnesses to arise There 's no motion but it flows from life and there 's no true life but it flows from Christ and his spirit The first Adam was made a living soule the second was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. Christ is alive-making spirit it is the spirit that makes man to live a spirituall life This is the true life the spirit of life all spirituall actions flow from this life it is Christ living and acting in the soule Now it is the abundant flowing forth of this spirit of life that must cause the witnesses to arise It was the great and powerfull voyce of Christ that caused the dead to rise Joh. 5. So it must be the powerfull quickning inlivening filling reviving spirit of life from Christ that brings forth a resurrection to these two witnesses It is not a small measure of the spirit neither is it a spirit of prophesie as to foretel things to come or to see things at a great distance that will make the witnesses revive and stand upon their feet but the spirit of life when they shall know they live when all they act speake flows from that life their works and speeches are all living when they are able to say we live when they can declare the spirit of life from God lives in them then I say it is that causeth the witnesses to arise when this spirit lives in them whose property is to quicken and cause all things to live Thirdly Observe As there is a time 3 Observ when the witnesses lie slaine and dead so also there is a time when they shall revive and live againe They shall not alwayes be troden underfoot by the men of the earth and prophesie in sackcloth and be slaine by the beast that ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit and their bodies to lie in the streets of the great Citie that they should alwayes be made a scorne to their adversaries but they shall have a rising time when they shall cast off their sack cloth and mourning they shall stand upon their feet and rejoyce and then their enemies that rejoyced over them shall weep and lament If their enemies did know this they could not so much triumph over them For as the Prophet speakes Though they fall yet they shall rise againe Mich. 7. 8. These Prophets of the Lord may be eclipsed for a season and they may give forth their testimony faintly and weakly and in much weaknesse and darknesse but afterward they breake forth in greater lustre brightnesse then ever they did before Though they for a space lie dead their bones are dried as the Prophet speakes of Israel yet the Lord will by the operation of his divine power and by the spirit of â—ife enter into them he will cause their dead bodies to arise So that now they shall not act so much in the strength and power of the creature they shall not be upheld by the authority reason judgement and opinion of other men but they shall stand upon their owne feet they shall not live upon the strengâ—h of mans parts wisdome or argument but upon their own knowledgâ— experience and assurance of the spirit of life from God dwelling in them Now they shall not prophesie or foretell of good things to come or of deliverance at a great distance but they shall act and speake in the name of the Lord from the anoynting that dwells in them they shall onely move speake and act by that spirit of life that hath raised them from the dead Fourthly and lastly observe That 4 Observ the rising of the witnesses is a most dreadfull sight to the men of the earth The witnesses now arise from shame oppression and tyranny and how can it be otherwise but that their enemies that oppressed and tormented them should be much amazed and affrighted When Herod heard of the works of Christ he was much afraid saying It is John whom I have beheaded Mark 6. 16. So when the Lord shall raise up his servants from bondage and slavery from darknesse and weaknesse and shall lift them up into a higher condition what will the world say are not these they that we have persecuted and slaine risen up in the rule dominion and power of the kingdome of Christ The sight and beholding of this strikes the world dead at one blow This sight is terrible to all earthly men When the Souldiers came to apprehend Christ in the garden and did but heare Christ say I am he they fell downe backward So when the men of the earth shall heare and see the poore despised Saints to stand upon their own feet they shall fall backward they shall as Saul fall flat upon the earth they shall become heartlesse spiritlesse feare and trembling shall take hold on them The prophesie of the witnesses though but in sackcloth was a great trouble to the men of the earth they were disquieted and troubled at that therefore they were much comforted and refreshed in â—laying of them by hindering them in the course of their prophesie But now when they shall see them arise higher then ever O! this strikes the world to the very heart this is an exceeding terror amazement to them There is just cause for the earth to mourne at the rising of the witnesses because the liberty and glory of these shall be their bondage and shame as one of the scales of
Antichrist doth exclude them from the heavenly influences and sweet showers of divine grace p. 170 180 2. Ob all the sweet and refreshing streames of comfort and supply that Antichrist livâ—s upon are turned into bitternesse and contention at prophesie of the witnesses p. 172 3. Ob That the prophesie of the witnesses though in a meane low and sackcloth condition iâ— of mightie force and power unto their adversaries p. 173 In vers 7. we have three particular things p. 17â— First the time when the witnesses are to be slaine and when they have finished their testimony p. 176 177 Secondly by whom the witnesses shall be slaine wherein we have opened 1. What is meant by the Beast that slayes them p. 79 2. What is meant by the bottomles pit from whence he comes p. 180 181 182 183 3. The manner of his ascension p. 184 Thirdly the manner how the witnesses are slaine by the Beast 1. He makes war against them p. 185 2. Doth overcome them p. 186 187 3. Doth kill them and how p. 188 189 190 Observations from the verse 1. Ob That the Saints of Christ in every age and time are enabled to finish their testimony mauger all the opposition that is made against them p. 191 2. Ob That the rage and cruelty of the adversary is great against the faithfull servants of Christ p. 192 193 3. Ob That the workings and deceits of Antichrist are very deep and mystâ—rious p. 194 4. Ob That there is a time when Antichrist christ doth ascend high in greatnesse and power p. 195 196 5. Ob That the witnesses are continually overcome and slaying all the time of the powerfull reigne of the Beast p. 197 198 In verse 8. we have an account of the bodies of the witnesses where three speciall things are noted p. 199 First what is meant by the bodies of the witnesses p. 200 201 202 203 204 205 Secondly the place where their bodies lie where we have explained 1. What is meant by the great Citie p. 206 2. What is meant by the streeâ—e of that Citie p. 207 Thirdly a description of the Citie 1. By it's resemblance 1. To Sodome p. 208 209 2. To Aegypt p. 210 2. By it's carriage and action p. 211 How Christ is sayd to be crucified in Aegypt and Sodome p. 212 Observations drawne from the words opened 1. Ob That the externall formes of worship that Antichrist useth are but as a dead body or carkasâ— p. 213 2. Ob That it 's not so much the outward forme or figure of worship that Antichrist seeks to suppresse as it 's the spirit and testimony of the witnesses p. 214 215 3. Ob That Antichrist is full of spirituall uncleannesse and cursed cruelty p. 216 4. Ob It 's the very life spirit and image of Christ that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose in slaying the witnesses p. 217 218 In verse 9. we have three things noted concerning the carriage of the enemies towards the dead bodies of the witnesses 1. Who are meant by people kindreds tongues and nations p. 220 2. Their exercise about the dead bodies 1. What it is to see the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 221 2. What it is not to suffer them to be put in graves p. 222 3. The time that these dead bodies shall lie unburied and what is meant by three dayes and a halfe p. 223 Observations from the Text. 1. Ob That the power and greatnesse the wisdome and abilities of men are exercised about the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 224 2. Ob That the great care that those of the nations and tongues c. take about the dead bodies of the witnesses is to keep them above ground p. 225 226 3. Ob That the dead bodies of the witnesses are kept above ground all the time of Antichrists reigne p. 227 228 In verse 10. we have a farther carriage of the Adversary towards the carkases of the witnesses p. 229 1 The persons acting those that dwell upon the earth of whom it 's meant p. 230 2. Their actions they rejoyce and make merry c. and what it meaneth p 231 3. The ground of their joy because these two Prophets tormented them and how p. 232 233 Observations from the words 1. Ob That the people that serve Antichrist are earthly carnall p. 234 2. Ob That the greatest joy of Antichrist is over the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 235 3. Ob That the witnesses by their prophesie doe most of all torment the men of the earth p 236 237 In vers 11. we have the witnesses resurrection p. 238 1. The time of their resurrection After three dayes and a halfe explained p. 239 2. The cause viz. the spirit of life from God and what it is p. 240 241 3. The resurrection it selfe and they stood upon their feet explained in 3 particulars p. 242 243 4. The consequent that follows their resurrection by the great feare that falls upon their enemies p. 244 245 Observations from hence 1. Ob That when the time of the witnesses suffering and sadnesse drawes to an end there is an earnest expectation in them of their resurrection p. 246 247 2. Ob That the witnesses are enabled to arise by the mighty powerfull spirit of God p. 248 3. Ob As there is a time when the witnesses lie slaine and dead so also there is a time when they shall revive and live againe 249 250 4. Ob That the rising of the witnesses is a most dreadfull sight to the men of the earth p. 251 252 In verse 12. we have the witnesses ascention from whence is noted First the cause they heard a voyce from heaven p. 254 From whence is noted 1. The voyce it selfe p. 255 2. From whence it came ibid 3. Vnto whom it 's spoken p. 256 4. What it speakes p 257 Secondly the ascention it selfe p. 258 From whence is observed 1. Their action p. 259 2. Their place p. 260 3. The manner and what is meant by the cloud in which they ascend p. 261 Thirdly the Adjunct annexed to their ascention and in what manner their enemies should behold them p. 262 Observations drawne from hence 1. Ob That the witnesses are enabled to ascend by the powerfull voyce of the Spirit of God p. 263 264 2. Ob That the witnesses have their time of triumph and rejoycing as well as they have a time of sackcloth and mourning p. 265 3. Ob That the state that the witnesses shall ascend unto is most heavenly and glorious p. 266 The externall libertie and peace that the witnesses shall enjoy by their ascention consisteth 1. In deliverance from oppression p. 267 2. Their enemies shall serve them p 268 3. They shall enjoy peace and quietnesse p. 269 270 4. Deliverance from shame p. 271 The internall glory and excellency that the Saints shall be advanced unto 1. They shall abound in knowledg p. 272 2. They shall exceed in joy and comfort p. 273 3. They shaall live
The outward word is but the clothing of the spirit neither hath it life and power but as the spirit doth goe forth in it Then the spirit is the true measure whereby we may take an equall scantlet or true dimention of heavenly things This is that the Apostle doth plainly tell us in 1 Cor. 2. 10. That the Spirit doth reveale the deep things of God So that the deep and hidden things the most secret mysteries of Gospel-truth are revealed unto us by the Spirit Now what man is it that doth not imagine he hath the true measure and rule of the things of God Every man pretends it and lays claime unto it Therefore before I passe this poynt I shall shew upon what grounds many men are mistaken and also make knowne what are the true foundations and principles of the true knowledge and discernnance of the things of God Concerning the false rules whereby men mistake take notice of these which follow First Fleshly wisdome and carnall reason are the principles that many men thinke to finde out truth by and by these principles of nature they would professe to attaine unto the knowledge of divine things but there is an utter inability in man by all his corrupted principles of nature rightly to judge or discerne of spirituall things Christ tells Nicodemus That which is borne of flesh is flesh Joâ— 3. 6. Now what doth he meane by flesh he doth not meane materiall flesh and bloud but he meaneth the corrupted principles of mans nature the wisdome will and affections of the nâ—turall man which cannot enter into the kingdome of God Againe the Apostle tells us of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an animate sensuall or naturall man and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a spirituall man or one enlightned by the spirit of God Now the naturall man is not able to judge of things above the principles of nature for every truth is discerned by principles of light suitable to it selfe Hence it is that the Apostle saith in 1 Cor. 2. 11. No man knoweth the things of man but the spirit of man that is in him Now what are the things of man but all created things of whom man is the epitome or compendium of them all they being all comprehended within him as in a Mapp or short abridgement so as for the secret and hidden things of nature or of the creature there is none can fadome or comprehend them but the spirit of man or the reason wisdome or understanding of man So it falls out in the things of God for saith the Apostle Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God Heavenly things are onely judged and discerned by him that is spirituall who judgeth all things by a true light Then it is in vaine for man to grope in the darknesse of his own wisdome and reason after the knowledge of heavenly truth Mans knowledge is a weak and dimme light as the light of a Candle to the light of the day or like the shine of the Moon unto the glory of the Sun it is a low fleshly and most unperfect light and altogether insufficient to measure divine things by Secondly Many there be that ground their knowledge of divine things upon some barren notion or fruitlesse opinion or meer speculation and when they have got some jejune and dry Maximes of Divinity or some poor lean and saplesse syllogisticall reasonings that then thinke they have attained to a most compleat knowledge of the things of God and that they are well seen in the mystery of truth when alas all these things are not sufficient to present unto the soul the least glimpse of true and saving light Thirdly Others thinke that the whole mystery of truth is bound up or comprehened within some circle or forme of Religion Such as these are apt to say Lo here and lo there as Christ speaks in Luke 17. 21. that is Lo here is Christ in this way of worship in this form of Religion in this opinion and doctrine but saith Christ The kingdome of God is within you That is The kingdome of God is not so much of forme but of power of righteousnesse and peace of light and joy of love and life and all these are best manifested within us for Christ is best knowne where he lives It hath been the practice of Antichrist to cry up the Temple of the Lord while they cry downe the Lord of the Temple and to take up the forme of Religion as a meanes to persecute the power thereof Then t is not an empty and barren forme of Religion that can furnish us with the true light of the kingdome of Christ or the knowledge of his will Fourthly and lastly the most of men thinke that if they have some historicall knowledge of Christ and some literall knowledge of the Scriptures and are trained up as Parrets to speake over such things as they read in books and Treatises and are well versed in the Systems and body of Divinity that then they are sufficiently instructed in the mysteries of the Gospel when alas the truths of God are hidden from their eyes and every word and letter they read are written with an unknowne character which cannot be deciphered without the Spirit of God The most learned Scribe the greatest Rabbie that shall understand the Originall language in which the Text of Scripture was first written as the Hebrew and the Greeke but yet shall want the language of the Spirit cannot give a true interpretation of the hidden and secret truths contained in the Scripture There is not onely a history but also a mystery of Christ there is not onely letter but also Spirit in the Scriptures which the most learned in the world cannot finde out without the Spirit of Christ The Apostle gives in a full testimony unto this in citing of that place which saith I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made foolishnesse the wisdome of this world 1 Cor. 1. 19 20. Then t is not carnall reason or fleshly wisdome t is not a barren notion or meer speculation t is not a round circle or empty forme t is not a literall knowledge or historicall relation of Christ and the Scriptures that are sound principles of saving light or the true measures or rules by which we may discerne spirituall things Thus having shewen rules and principles whereby men are mistaken in their judgement of divine things Now it followeth in the second place that wee make a discovery of those principles of light and truth whereby we may come to a true sight and knowledge of the things of God First Divine truths are knowne by the Spirit The Apostle tells us in 1 Joh. 5. 6. The spirit is truth The spirit is the fullest the highest the most absolute and the most comprehensive truth it 's
of the Spirit that the Apostle doth intimate saying The spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirits c. Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit doth seale adoption upon our hearts by witnessing to our spirits or with our spirits our spirits being renewed and witnessing to the truth of God his spirit doth concur and agree with our spirits in the same testimony Now the Father Word and Spirit that beare this heavenly record are not said to agree in one but they are one they are one in essence and nature but distinct in operation and discovery The father is the originall and fountaine of blessednesse and therefore called the father of lights Jam. 1. 17. As being the root of all wisdome and knowledge and every other good thing The Son is the very forme and appearance of divine excellency and therefore called the image of the invisible God Col. 1. 15. for in him we behold the glory of God as in a glasse or image which in it selfe is invisible and undiscernable The Spirit is that which doth make an irradiation or discovery of the Father and Son The spirit of truth saith Christ shall testifie of me Joh. 15. 26. Now these three are one in essence and being they goe forth together in one they give a single and pure testimony immediatly and without any medium coming between To this purpose observe a passage spoken by Christ when he saith If any man love me he will keepe my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Joh. 14. 23. But how is it that both the Father and the Son will come to abide and lodge in the cottage of the beleevers heart that is onely by the sending forth the spirit that Christ had promised as a Comsorter which was to be the Chariot of the Son and of the Father in one Here is the Trinity in unity viz. the Father and Son both coming forth in the Spirit and dwelling in the hearts of his people Now this testimony of the Father and the Son and Spirit in One is that divine and heavenly record that gives a sure evidence or evident assurance unto the heart of the riches and glory of God the love and goodnesse of Christ the light and truth of the Spirit whereby the soule of a beleever is made to sit downe in heavenly places with Christ and rejoyce in a pleorophery or full assurance of faith to triumph in the evidence of divine love to be satisfied in the true image of righteousnesse and heavenly life engraven in the heart Now accordingly as the Saints receive in this testimony so they demonstrate the same before the world as being alwayes ready to give forth what ever they receive from the Lord. Such as have received this heavenly witnesse are able to give out a far more glorious testimony of the truth and glory of God then those that have received the former earthly testimony even as the Disciples were more enlarged by the testimony of the Spirit then they wereby their being present with Christ in the flesh Thus we perceive the ground why the Saints are called two Candlesticks First because they consisted of Jewes and Gentiles Secondly because they receive and consequently give forth a twofold testimony the first earthly the second heavenly Now lastly we are to enquire how Christ intimated here by the two olive trees should be joyned with the two Candlesticks and brought in as a witnesse in sackcloth in the severall ages and times of the raigne of Antichrist and seeing that all this hath been done since Christ left the earth Unto which I answer First Christ and his Saints make but one compleat body are joyned as head and members being knit together by one Spirit This the Apostle doth affirme in 1 Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so is Christ for by one spirit we are baptized into one body As it is in the naturall body so it is in the spirituall which consisteth of diverse members and they of different offices and operations yet they make but one body The Church is called the fulnesse of his body that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 23. as Christ is the fulnesse of all spirituall supply unto his Saints so his Saints are the fulness of his body both would be defective and as it were maiâ—â—d if they were seperated or disunited one from the other Now in as much as Christ and his Sâ—iâ—ts make but one and both make up but one body Hence it is that the testimony of the Saints is attributed to Christ he being joyned with them in prophesie even in the dayes of Antichrists â—â—igne Secondly though Christ be absâ—nt in body yet is present in spirit and by his spirit doth abide with his people continually and â—â—â—ble them to prophesie Christ himselfe gave forth nâ— other testimony then that he received from the Father for 〈…〉 â— of my selfe doe 〈…〉 as I 〈…〉 John 5. 30. Even so the Sâ—iâ—ts 〈◊〉 cannot beare witnesse unto the truth bat as they are enabled thereunto by the spirit of truth That which we have seen and heard saith the Apostle declare we unto you c. And this is 〈…〉 which we have heard of him 1 Joh. 1. 3. 5. So that the Saints receive their message and testimony from the spirit of Christ and accordingly they prophesse And in this respect Christ may also be sayd to prophesie in these latter times Thirdly the testimony of Christ and his Saints is one and the same The Saints of old gave forth their testimony in their appointed times and seasons they did beare witnesse to the truth of God against the same spirit of wickednesse that was acted in their dayes even as the witnesses in sackcloth have done under the powerfull raigne of the beast Thus did Mordicay and the Jewes testifie against the pride cruelty of Hammon Thus did Christ himselfe when he was present upon earth testifie against the hypocrisie and wickednesse of the Scribes and Pharisees And thus hath the Saints in all the dayes and ages of the man of sin given forth a faithful testimony for the truth of Christ opposing the falshood and deceit of all the wayes of the man of sin Thus we see that the very testimony of the Saints is the testimony of Christ it 's Christs cause and quarrell they are engaged in well therefore may Christ be brought in and joyned with the witnesses here Fourthly and lastly Christ doth not performe this here spoken of him in his person but in his members 't is not Christ immediatly and by himselfe but mediatly and by his Saints It 's Christ mystically that is alwayes opposing of Antichrist Suitable unto this is that passage in 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. speaking of Christ saith That he went by the spirit and preached unto those spirits now in prison having been disobedient unto the
the world doth enjoy and exceedingly desire Secondly To turn these waters into blood is no other then to imbitter all that sweet peace and rest the world would enjoy all those pleasant streams of union peace and delight are turned into contention and bitternesse so that the world cannot drinke them downe at pleasure they are disturbed and troubled their sweet streames are turnâ—d into blood and contention their quiet waters are disturbed by the prophesie of the Witnesses Thus we see what is meant by waters and how they are turned into blood It followeth Thirdly and lastly They smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will Here is one word to comprehend all evills that should befall Antichrist by the prophesie of the Witnesses There needeth no more particulars be named to expresse those calamities that should befal the world This doth relate to the powring forth of the vials mentioned in Revel 16. where it is said that the seven Angels should powre out the vials of of the wrath of God upon the earth vers 1. So here these shall smite the earth with all plagues that is these by their Prophesie and testimony of the truth shal pour out the vials of Gods wrath and indignation upon Antichrist and his adherents Here then take notice of the plagues that light upon the world by the powring forth of the Vials and of them consider First that there is a full agreement between the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials each one dotâ— correspond and answr to the other The opening of the first Seale the sounding of the first Trumpet the pouring forth of the first Viall are at one and the same time and so of them all they have neer affinity and relation each unto the other the opening of the Seals do occasion the sounding of the Trumpets and the sounding of the Trumpets doe cause the Vialls to be poured forth The opening of the Seals by degrees and in a graduall way are those several degrees of light knowledg that the Lord doth discover to his Saints in their severall ages of the secret and hidden mysteries of truth which contains in it selfe a perfection of mysterie as being sealed up with seven seals now gradually in every age the Lord comes forth in the discoveries and revelations of these mysteries unto his Saints The sounding of the Trumpets follow hereupon which is the outward declaration and profession of truth by the witnesses whereby they give forth a visible testimony of the truths of GOD thus revealed to them by preaching praying professing they do as it were sound forth the Trumpet of divine truth The pouring forth of the Vials are those judgments and evils that fall upon the man of sin by reason of the trumpets sounding But know that every Seal every Trumpet and every Viall wil agree together in their opening sounding and pouring forth every Seal hath its Trumpet and every Trumpet hath its Vial that doth follow So that we may not conceive that the opening of the Seals presents us with one age the sounding of the Trumpet with another and the pouring forth of the Vials with a third but that the first Seal first Trumpet and first Viall are opened sounded and poured forth in one age and the second Seal second Trumpet and second Vial in another and so they agree and goe together untill they are finished Secondly consider that the plagues that are the effects that follow upon these Seals opened Trumpets sounded and Vials poured forth are not only or so much meant of outward or temporall plagues but rather of mysticall of such spiritual judgements that should be poured out upon the head of the man of sin to destroy him not only in body but in spirit and worship whereby the very interest and cause of Antichrist shall be overthrown And now I say that these plagues and evill effects that follow the first seal are the same that doth follow the first Trumpet and first Viall so of the second and in like manner to the end Wee shall only speak of those plagues that follow the powring out of the Vials and so consequently wee include those also that follow the Seales and the Trumpets The first Viall was poured upon the 1 Viall earth that is upon the Antichristian Church and State which consisteth of of earthly worship and is made up of worldly Christians and the effects of this Vial poured out was that there fell a grievous sore upon the men that had the marke of the Beast upon them and worshipped his Image This soare is like to be incurable agreeing with that which followed the sound of the first Trumpet Chap. 8. 7. And there followed hail mingled with hlood and they were cast upon the earth and the third part of the trees were burnt up and all greene grasse was burnt up This haile and fire agrees with the Thunder which hapned at the opening of the first Seale Chap. 6. 1. All which shewes that by this Thunder this Fire and Haile together with this great sore that the life and peace the worship and forme of the third part of those that served the Beast were burnt up and sâ—â—rched they that were like green trees in shew of holinesse and zeale became as dry and withered without blossome without any fruit at all The second Viall was poured out upon 2 Viall the Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and every living soul dyed in the Sea Ch. 16. 3. This is the same with the effect of the Witnesses prophesie when they turn waters into blood Sutably at the opening of the second Seal Ch. 6. 3 4. there appeared a red horse signifying blood preparing for War and death The same effect follows the second Trumper Chap. 8 9. A great mountaine buring with fire was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood c. This effect presents us with the death of all the sweet comforts sweet enjoyments that the Antichristian Church did feed on all those formes of worship and service they took much delight in and were refreshed by now they are turned into blood yea like the blood of a dead man which was most deadly and corrupt in its own nature that none may drink of it but the shall dye every soule that was at rest and peace before and thought it selfe most safe and in a good condition now it languisheth gives up the ghost and dieth The third Viall was poured upon the rivers 3 Viall and fountaines of waters and they became blood c. This differs from the former where the sea or water of comfort was turned into blood those comforts they enjoyed were taken away but this third Viall is poured out upon the very spring and fountaine of all their supplies as they lost what they enjoyed so they cannot receive any more their spring and fountaine is stopped up The same judgment will be seen if we looke back to the
Christ we finde not in Scripture Secondly it would also be as much unsavoury and harsh a similitude to assiâ—â—late the Saints to the Eagle which is a bird of prey mentioned Job 39. 27 28. c. But if we would enquire for the minde of Christ in this Text wee are to consider the whole drift and scope of the Chapter which is no other then a full and ample declaration or rather a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem the Temple the Nation and Church of the Jewes as appeares plainly by the beginning of the Chapter Now in the middest of those tribulations desolations that should befall the State Church of the Jewes Many should say lo here or lo there is Christ vers 23. But Christ exhorts them not to beleeve those false Prophets that should say he was in the desert or in the secret Chamber and why For as the lightening cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the Son of man be Now as it is the native property of lightning to make a full discovery of it selfe by it's lightsomenesse and brightnesse so Christ shall be eminently manifested and declared to be the Messiah by the destruction of Jerusalem of the Temple and worship of the Jewes So that Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem was like lightning for what could more evince and testifie that Christ was the true Messiah then the destruction of the Temple worship of the Jewes which they upheld after the coming of Christ when it should all have been abolished Christ foretelling of this destruction by which himselfe should be manifested coming as lightning shining from the East to the West saith For wheresoever the carkase is there will the Eagles be gathered together Now by the carkase he meaneth Jerusalem the Temple and the worship of the Jewes which they kept up in use after the coming of Christ when the Jewish formes were to be abolished when the spirit life presence of God was departed from these things then the State Church their Temple and worship became as a dead carkase without any life or spirit in it they onely upheld the superficiall part of their forme and service when there was no breath of life nothing of the Spirit of God left in it And as for the Eagles being birds of prey they are meant of those people and Nations that besieged and at last sacked Jerusalem pulled downe the Temple scattered the people and destroyed their worship Thus it was with the Temple and worship with the people and Cities of the Jewes being left of God without his presence and spirit became as a dead carkase and the enemies like birds of prey came and devour's them So here when the Hab. 1. 8. The enemy is compared to an Eagle Church was driven into the Wilderness to worship God in his secret Temple then the Gentiles possessed themselves of the outward Court of the externall formes and figures of worship but without the presence or spirit of Christ These are the bodies of the witnesses that lie in the street of the Citie and that Antichrist will not suffer to be buried or put in graves For what is all the forme of worship and service of the carnall Church and of worldly Christians but as a dead carkase lifelesse and spirit-lesse The Jewes kept up all their formes of worship after the Messiah was come and had abolished them all and therefore it was that when the Apostle was asked why he would revile Gods high Priest he answereth he did not know him to be Gods high Priest for saith he it is written Thou shalt not speake evill of a Ruler c. Act. 23. 5. Now I verily beleeve that the Apostle knew well enough who it was that he was brought before and that he was the titular High-Priest â—ut when he saith I wist not that it was Gods high Priest he spake ironically or by way of deriâ—ion because he sate as high Priest when he was not at that time a lawfull high Priest the office of Priesthood being expired by the coming of the Messiah Now the Jewes were very willing to have kept up their rites and formes their worship and Priesthood when they should have been layd aside the Lord being departed from them they were but as dead carkases In like manner doth Antichrist by the outward Court or externall formes of worship that the witnesses have exercised in these they uphold and preserve these are the bodies of the witnesses they keep in the street of their Citie these they keep above ground and will noâ— suffer them to be buried they onely slay the testimony spirit of the witnesses but they preserve their bodies for their own use and to serve their own ends Secondly Consider the place where these bodies lie and that is in the street of the great Citie Here we have two things to enquire after viz. what is meant First by this great Citie Secondly by the street thereof First This great Citie is meant of great Babylon mentioned in Chap. 17. 5. called the mother of harlots and abominations It is an allusion to old Babylon called great Dan. 4. 30. which was eminent for tyranny and oppression Antichrist is called the mother of harlots and the great whore because as a strumpet shee doth not onely commit spirituall whoredomes but doth also teach and nourish her children in the same way and so â—ill the earth with her abominations This whorish woman is described to be this great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the earth vers 18. I confesse that Rome hath mystically ruled the Nations and hath been as the well-bead of the filthinesse and abomination of the world But more especially this woman here called the great Citie is the carnall worldly Antichristian Church which hath as a whore departed from God and hath been led by a lying spirit and hath followed after whorish inventions of her owne braine hath gathered the nations of the world into a Church and called them by the name of Christians and all this hath been by a mystery of iniquity a very babell and confusion This woman called the great Citie is no other then the whole Church of Antichrist that rides upon the beast or earthly power and is clothed in gay cloathing of humane ordinances and formall professions pretending to be the Spouse of Christ when she is a very harlot going after other lovers and whiles she pretends Christianity shee is drunke with the bloud of the Saints This whorish woman is the great Citie where lieth the dead bodies of the witnesses Secondly by the street of this great Citie is meant the whole Territory and space the confines and large extent of the Dominion and rule of the Antichristian church and government The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being of the singular number is put for the plurall and signifies all the streets territories and places of Antichrist's rule and domination It
use From the words thus opened take these few Observations First observe That the people that 1 Observ serve Antichrist are earthly and carnall They are a generation that doe arise from the earth and they are earthly they neither know nor favour the things of God Their Church is carnall their Ordinances are but inventions their Government is but a worldly power all the whole forme of service and worship is but of an earthly and humane institution Their wisdome and knowledge is but of the flesh the wisdome of this world and of the first Adam they are not endued with wisdome from on high All their parts and gifts are but acquired and made up by art and science they are not the pure gifts of the spirit but of a false annoynting of a common spirit Indeed these may cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men as it 's said Chap. 13 13. pretending they have the spirit of God when they have but a false and seducing spirit to draw Proselites to themselves So that all the things these enjoy are but carnall Churches invented Ordinances humane gifts worldly governments all proceeding from the earth are earthly and shall be cast forth into the Earth againe Secondly observe That the greatest 2 Observe joy that Antichrist hath is over the dead bodies of the Witnesses The greatest expression of the joy and rejoycing of earthly people is in slaying of the Witnesses when they can overcome and trample upon their Testimonie when they can suppresse the spirit of God in them and stop them in the course of their prophesie then they will rejoyce over their dead bodies and make their Carkasses their very life and glory These of the Earth have no quiet or peace in themselves untill by their power and wickednesse they have crucified the very apperance of God in these two Prophets and when having slaine their testimonie and set up their Carkass as their form of Religion then they rejoyce they stir up one another to triumph and exult they comfort one another in this great victory Oh what great rejoycing hath there been in all ages when the world and men of the earth could at any time suppresse these Witnesses it hath been their greatest aime and ambition and when they have accomplished it it hath been their greatest joy and rejoycing Thirdly observe That the Witnesses 3 Obser by their prophesie doe most of all torment the men of the earth The Earth and the Inhabitants thereof could rejoyce in their earthly enjoyments in all their carnall actings and humane inventions were it not for the testimony of the Witnesses these continually vexe and trouble earthly Christians and worldly Professors The men of the Earth would take much comfort and contentment in all their fleshly worship and formality but that these Witnesses are always giving in their testimonie against their falsenesse and emptinesse of all their performances But when these come and say this is Antichristian to tell the world their Church is carnall their Ordinances invented their gifts and abilities are but humane and their government but worldly this doth exceedingly enrage and torment the men of the earth Thus they turn their sweete waters into blood and contention as we heard before and plague the earth with all plagues they pour out whole vials of wrath upon all the worships and ways of Antichrist Thus we see as the men of the earth doth overcome and slay the Witnesses so these Witnesses make their part good against their Adversaries They reward Babylon as she hath rewarded them and in the cup wherein she hath filled they fill to her double Revel 18. 6. And as she hath glorified her selfe and triumphed over the Witnesses so great shall be her torment her punishments shall be answerable to her pride and tyranny Therefore when the Witnesses shall by the word of their testimonie cause vials of wrath to fall upon Antichrist then shall the men of the earth be scorched with great beate and shall gnaw their tongues for paine and blaspheame Grd because of their soares and their paines Rev. 16. 9 10 11. Their hearts shal be enraged with rancour and malice as burning with fire they shall speak evil of God and gave their tongues for anguish and vexation of spirit Thus do the witnesses by their prophesie vexe and torment the Inhabitants of the earth VERS 11. And after three dayes and a halfe the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great feare fell upon them that saw them VVE have spoken of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth of their death slaying which was a time of mourning sadnesse to them but of joy and triumph to their adversaries who sport and rejoyce over their dead bodies Now cometh a season wherein these poore despised witnesses shall exult and be glad when their enemies shall be vexed tormented for when they had slaine the faithfull witnesses of Christ they thought never to heare of them more but that which will damp all their mirth jollitie is this these witnesses shall stand upon their feet and rise againe Now of their resurrection we are to consider First the time when they shall rise and that 's After three dayes and a halfe Secondly the cause or meanes by which they shall rise and that is The spirit of life from God entred into them Thirdly we have their resurrection it selfe expressed in these words And they stood upon their feet Fourthly and lastly we have the consequent or sequell thereof And great feare fell upon them that saw them Concerning the time or season of the rising of these witnesses it 's expressed by three dayes and a halfe which terme of time hath been opened already and as you heard holds proportion with forty two moneths And with 1260 dayes and with a time times and halfe a time All the time of the powerfull raigne of the beast the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth they are alwaies killing and slaying they lie dead in the great Citie and their bodies are kept above ground for the space of three dayes and a halfe which holds a just proportion with the time of the womans being in the wildernesse in Chap. 12. 14. expressed by a time times and halfe a time After which time of sorrow and sadnesse that shall befall these witnesses they shall rejoyce for they shall rise againe Now in that it 's sayd After three dayes and a halfe it doth seem to imply an earnest expectation in the witnesses of their resurrection when the time shall draw neer when the last period of time shall come of their sadnesse and mourning then suddenly they shall expect a time of rising and rejoycing Before the time they cannot expect deliverance but when it draweth neer then they are exceedingly taken up in the expectation of it Secondly the cause or meanes of their resurrection The spirit of life from God entred into them After this 〈◊〉
the ballance goes downe when the other goes up so the honour prosperity dignity of these witnesses and of carnall men are inconsistent one with the other Then this amazement falls irrisistibly upon worldly men fearfullnesse and astonishment doth surprize them all palenesse of face and sadnesse of heart strikes the men of the earth when they thought they had slaine these Saints so that they should never rise more they thought they had made an utter riddance never to heare of them never to see them more unlesse their dead bodies and carkases to make merry withall but now that these should revive and live againe the sight of this nay the very thought hereof is like a milstone that breaks them in pieces and doth make their hearts to melt and their spirits to faile within them VERS 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld IN the former verse we heard of the witnesses resurrection here in this verse we come to treat of their ascention wherein we have an evident allusion to the resurrection and ascention of Christ And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying Come up hither c. In which words consider First the cause of the witnesses ascention They heard a voyce from heaven c. Secondly the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud Thirdly we have a speciall Adjunct of their ascention And their enemies beheld them We are no more to understand this ascention of theirs in the letter then we did of their resurrection but as we understood before a mysticall resurrection so now understand a mysticall ascention also Their killing was mysticall as being slaine in their testimony so of necessity we must understand their resurrection and ascention to be mysticall This having been formerly inculcated and now also premised that we are to enquire after a mysticall ascention We proceed to speak of the first thing viz. the cause or meanes of their ascention And they heard a voyce from heaven saying to them come up hither In these words observe First a voyce Secondly from whence it comes Thirdly to whom it speakes Fourthly what it speaks The first thing to be taken notice off is the voyce This voyce is no other then the very call of God the appointment of the Lord. The great voyce of his spirit 'T is not like the still voyce in which God did impart his minde to Eliah or the voyce speaking behinde his people but a great and mighty voyce like the sound of a Trumpet as it 's expressed in Revel 4. 1 2. This is a translating voyce changing the Saints into the voyce it selfe they are such as the voyce is as John confesses immediatly saith he I was in the spirit This voyce is the breathing forth of the spirit of God the spirit of the Lord appointing calling enabling directing the witnesses to ascend up to heaven and accordingly they doe ascend Secondly the place from whence this voyce cometh that 's from heaven that shews it is a most eminent powerfull and certaine voyce It 's the voyce of righteousnesse revealed from heaven it 's full of certainty the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it 's full of excellency coming from the excellent glory it 's powerfull and full of majesty it comes from heaven and brings the power of heaven along with it it prevailes in the thing unto which it was sent it commands all it carries all before it All the power of the earth is not able to withstand this great voyce Thirdly take notice unto whom this voyce is sent it speaks unto them namely the witnesses and faithfull servants of the Lord. This voyce speaks onely to the holy ones of God none else can understand it's language Those that accompanied Paul in his way to Damascus in Act. 9. heard a voyce but saw no man neither did they understand the meaning of the voyce that was spoken to Paul So the men of the earth may heare the outward sound of this voyce but they understand it not neither is it spoken to them it 's onely spoken to the witnesses and they heare it it 's directed to them and they onely understand it Fourthly what direction doth this voyce give forth it calls the witnesses to ascend saying Come up hither As if the Lord had said Come my people you have been clothed in sackcloth and ashes you have been made the reproach of the world and the Gentiles have trampled you under their feet you have lived upon the authority and opinion of men you have lived much below in the earth you have lived too far and remote from my selfe you have mourned as in the absence of the bridegroome but now you shall live so no longer Come up hither live in me in my glory in my spirit in my strength in my kingdome you shall have liberty peace and joy in me come up to me from under the captivity of Babylon from under the oppression of Egypt from amidst the filthinesse of Sodome come now enjoy my selfe my wisdome my strength my kingdome you shall now live upon my holy mountaine and there shall be no destroying beast you shall not be destroyed by your adversaries neither shall the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomles pit be able to make war w th you to overcome and kill you any more Here is the voyce of the Lord powerfully calling the bosome of the Lord opened in goodnesse and love the face of God shining forth in beautie and sweetnesse the hand of the Lord effectually reached out here are the gates of the new Jerusalem and of the kingdome of Christ set wide open and all comprehended in this most excellent and precious in this most transcendent and glorious voyce of the Lord expressed in these words come up hither Thus we see by what means the witnesses are made to ascend The mighty voyce of the spirit of the Lord enabling calling and directing them It comes from heaven having the majesty power certainty of heaven with it It speaks to the witnesses only because they onely understand it therefore directed to them And the glorious direction it gives forth it calls up the poore despised servants of the Lord to live in the power and kingdome of Christ saying Come up hither We now goe on to that which follows The second thing to be considered is the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud In the consideration hereof wee may consider three things First their action they ascend Secondly the place whether that 's up to heaven Thirdly the manner of their ascention It 's in a cloud Their action is to ascend which signifies some greater accession of honor dignity greatnesse and prosperity When Nebuchadnezzar once said I will ascend up to heaven I will exalt my selfe above the clouds Isa 14. 14. it's meant that he would in his heart be greater in