sort what they did I need not mention But when their hearts were merry Then Sampson is cal'd for And what is now the Subject of all their scurrilous Talk and Jests but the short liv'd Parliament Oh this cruell Sampson that had it in his heart not onely to have brought their Craft in danger to be set at nought but the Temple of the great Goddesse Diana And to say the truth the Priests were not much mistaken in it For probable it is had not that glorious Testimony of Jesus been kild They would have seâ—t the Tayle of the Beast after the Head Swept away that other part of Popish dung and trash which the former Parliament had left in the Nation Now if the Holy Ghost meant not these men and their making merry yet I am sure it was fulfilled in them according to the letter of the Text. One part of the Prophesie yet remaines and it is the better part Namely The rising of the Witnesses And here we have the Time the Means and the Manner with the Enemies amazement at it and the like And after three dayes and an halfe the spirit of life from God â—ntred into them and they stâ—od upon their feet and great fear sell upon them that saw them And they heard a great voyce from Heaves saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud And their Enemies bsheld them First Of the Time I have spoken Assoon as the Beast ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit he kills the Witnesses Three years and an halfe they lie unburied The which time being expir'd they immediately Rise and then begins the ruine and fall of the Beast So that I conceive it is not the Lords meaning that any should go forth to take his Dominion from him untill it evidently appear that the Witnesses are Risen the Spirit poured forth the Beast certainly known and the Lord appearing in some visible providence making the way plaine for the Angel of the first â—iâ—ll Secondly By the Spirit of life from God c. I understand and the sending of the Comforter that great promise of the Father to be endued with power from on high Lak 24. 49. As herbes flowers and grasse seem dead and hang the head by reason of drought but rise againe flourish and grow green when raine falls thereon So the Testimony of Jesus which seemed withered and scorch't hath now from the Lord life and Spirit put into it and so that Death is taken off which lay formerly on it And this I take to be the Time in which Saints may expect the returne of their prayers concerning the pouring out of the Spirit and the fullfilling of such Promises In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert Isa 35. 6. I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty and â—louds upon the dry ground I will poure my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine Of-spring And they shall spring up as among the grosse as willows by the water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. I will put my Spirit in you and ye shall live Eze. 37. 14. After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hosea 6. 2. And it shall come to passe afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall Prophesie your old men shall dream dreames your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit Joel 2. 28 29. Howsoever before the rising of the witnesses there will be some sprinkling of the Spirit here and there For the understanding of the Time As a man knows by the dawning that the night is past yet I think till the witnesses are risen the Saints shall not be endued with power from on high neither Generally nor largely For now is The Tabernacle of the Testimony of heaven opened and not till now Rev. 15. 6. I mean in respect of a beginning Thirdly No sooner doth a Spirit of life from God enter into them But they stand upon their feet By which manner of speaking according to the Scripture is signified 1. An open confession and publishing of the Lords wonderfull mercy remembring his truth and Testimony in its low estate 1 Chron. 28. 1. Acts 3. 7 8. and 14 14. As the Sons of Zion are to have a two-edged-sword in their hands so the high praises of God in their mouth It is true they are to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron But what goes before Allelujah sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the Congregation of Saints Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Zion be glad in their King c. Psal 14. 9. So then by this standing upon their feet is meant that New sâ—â—â—Rev 14 3. An high exalting and â—â—ung up the holy Name of God every where among the faithfull Remnant For that life and Spirit which is now given them The Testimony of Jesus it was before flame and born down by the Enemy But now it goes forth conquering and to conquer prevailes and gets victory in every place over them And the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall be no more Isa 35. 10. compare Rev. 15. 3 4. 2. The standing upon their feet signifies not only The Testimony raised up to greater boldnesse against the Beast speaking more freely and plainly against his hypocrisie Apostacie Blasphemy Tiranny c. then before Ezek. 2. 1 2 and 3 24. But likewise the hundred forty and four thousand are preparing to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion Rev 14. 1. Now I think open war begins to be proclaim'd against the Beast and Babilon according to the Prophets Isa 13. 2. Jeâ— 50. 2. Againe It shews with what assurance of victory the warr is undertaken For by faith they see all ready their feet upon the necks of their Enemies and that they shall take the Beasts dominion from him and give his body to the burning flame Josh 10. 24. Zech. 14. 4. Some understand this and their ascending up to heaven of the witnesses not only restored to their places but promoted to more eminent preferment howsoever I take the witnesses as hath been said for the Truth witnessed by them yet no doubt such as suffer under the Beast for their Testimony continuing faithfull the Lord will greatly honour For out of Prison he cometh to Reign Eccles 4. 14. Fourthly For the persons upon whom this great feare fell I take to be they that dwell upon the earth the Apostates and followers of the Beast It seemes to allude to the State and time of Gods people coming out of Egypt when the
So in this Controversie about the dead Witnesses the Woman and her seed will certainly overcome which is comfort and encouragement enough 2. They will not suffer it because of their zeal and affection to the Testimony of Jesus Though David a long time was numbred among the Dead by reason of Sauls bloody persecution yet alwaye he had some friend which stuâ—k fast to his Intâ—rest It is true there may seem to be a death upon the Cause of Christ during the Beasts reigne but it shall not want friends to keep it from the Grave The love of God will constraine them 3. The Beast in slaying the Witnesses will shew so much hypocrisie falshood lying Tyranny c. As will occasion People and Tongues and Nations c. continually sometimes in one place otherwhile in another to appear against him and plead the Cause of the poor and needy In so much as he will not know what to doe Nor how to proceed any further to wit having slaine them to put them in Graves 4. The Testimony of Jesus being slaine that is comparatively now dead to what spirit and life it had For it stood upon its feet before and had Power and Authority with it till the Beast came up Notwithstanding all this I say though Dead in respect of Spirit Life Power Authority yet shall not the Beast be suffered to extinguish it altogether in the Nation where he hath slaine it 1. Because if he should so far prevaile it would not onely strengthen the present Atheists but open a gap of Athiesm to many others For as the Beast in slaying the last Witnesse makes many Hypocrites so should he bury it he would make as many Atheists 2. Should he be suffered he would doe more wickedly then he doth For in that he cannot bury Christs Testimony he is restrained from acting the mischiefes which otherwise he would 3. He is not suffered Because this Witnesse though comparatively dead to what life it had shall be his ruine when the three years and halfe are expir'd Fourthly For the last point How they keep them out To open this it must be remembred It is the Witnesse of Christ I take to be slaine Not suffered to be put in Graves because some shall plead for it defend it and hold it forth all the time of the Beasts rage and Tyranny So that in one respect it is kild in another alive For some shall still appear for that Testimony which in others the Beast hath slaine In the days of Elias when they had thrown down the Lords Altars and slaine his Prophets with the sword yea and the Prophet himselfe forc't to fly for his life here it might well be said that the Lords witnesse was slaine yet not put in grave For at the same time The Lord had 7000 which had not bowed the knee unto Baal And this I take to be the meaning here The prevailing power of the Beast shall be such as he will slay the visible Testimony of Jesus held forth in some publick manner before his rising yet he shall not be suffered to put it in grave For God will have some thousands still which shall not bowe the knee to the Beast but own and honour the truth n urdered by him all his Reigne And thus much for the first Party The other sort followes And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send guists one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth To these is given a speciall Character Dwell on the Earth The subject of the first Vial is Earth Rev. 16. 2. and the same mentioned here the latter Apostacy whose description we had before from 2 Tim. 3. The Cause of their joy is the great advantage which they have by the death of the Testimony For no sort of men shall outwardly thrive and prosper under the Beast like Apostates It being a Government or State erected by them and for their owne Interest alone Another good Note to know the reigne of the Beast by viz. WHEN APOSTATES FLOURISH It cannot be his time if it be not Apostates time if carnall Professors doe not hold up their heads look big and domineere and he that will like Judas get the bag must get himselfe into some Church For as in Christs time buying and selling was in the Temple and there were the Money changers So under this Beast places offices and preferment will be crept into the Church In so much as no considerable preferment will be gotten unlesse the person be a Church-member or can procure some Church-mans hand for it Thus we see who they are that will rejoyce at this time and make merry and send guifts one to another None like Apostates who are fallen from Heaven to dwell upon the Earth As for others who are faithfull and constant to the Interest and Cause of Christ they sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done under the Beast It is said Because the two Prophets tormented them But wherein Because they spake against all unrighteousnesse of men Pressed men to keep their Promises and Engagements Declared openly against dissembling lying and hypocrisie would have Babylon down with all her will-worship and inventions People to have their power freedome and liberty according to Reason and Conscience and none to have any Arbitrary Government fore't upon them But such a Testimony as this could not be borne it was worse then an Egyptian boile Insomuch as they had no peace or rest till they had slaine that which so tormented them This place puts me in mind of what hapned upon the Dissolution of the little Parliament The Joy then among the Priests and formall Professours was much like that of the Philistines when they had Sampson in their hands Then the Lords of the Philistims gathered them together for to Offer a great Sacrifice unto Dagon their God and to rejoyce for they said Our God hath delivered Sampson our Enemy into our hand And when the People saw him they praised their God for they said Our God hath delivered into our hands our Enemy and the destroyer of our Country which slew many of us And it came to passe when their hearts were merry that they said call for Sampson that he may make us sport Judg. 16. 23 24 25. Some of them more Religious seemingly at least were for Sacrifice Hence Dayes were kept of Thanksgiving as they call it And now the Trumpets sound aloud Oh what the Lord hath done for the Sons of Levi the holy Ministery and Maintenance The Enemy and Destroyer of their Country had likely to have put out all the lights of the Tabernacle One of them I remember told the people The National Clergy was like good Isaac bound and ready to have been Sacrificed And that God by a wonderfull deliverance had preserv'd them when the Parliament-Knife was at the throat of their sacred Calling Tythes and the like For the other
and Hearkning What the Lord would speak I had the Former Things for the Substance of them given in unto me And I can speak it in Truth I understood them not till now But thought The Time of the End was to be found out and known some other way Now howsoever I could not but think there was Something of God in This As to an Answer of Prayer Especially having these Things upon my heart as I was pouring out my soule at the Throne of grace Neverthelesse Considering the weightinesse and difficulty of the Matter How differing it was to what Others Held And how deeply Some and my selfe also have suffered for our Mistakes in medling with such High Things But chiefly what a poor worth-lesse and empty Thing I was More brutish then any man and had not the Vnderstand of a man And how subtilly Satan worketh at this Time in Some by a spirit of delusion in pretending to high things and that it is God that speaketh in them Upon these and such like Considerations my Soule was sore distressed and I besought the Lord with Tears Day and Night that he would take Pitty on Me and not leave me to a Deceived Heart But as often as I set my face unto the Lord by prayer and supplication I found my selfe more Encouraged and had more of the Prophesies opened unto me Yea and the Lord knows I lie not whensoever my heart hath been most melted and broken before him and my soule swallowed up with the greatest Love and Longing after his Glory AT SUCH TIMES I have been most confirmed and strengthned to believe that it was the Spirit of truth which revealed these things to me a Worm Neverthelesse being yet unsatisfied in my selfe as Fearfull least I should go aside from the Teachings of God I acquainted some of some of my Christian Friends with the Thing and how the Case stood with me and desired that the same might be Spread before the Lord The which was done severall Times And very earnestly was the Lord sought unto for Counsell and Direction that there might be no miscarriage on either Hand Much I could say concerning this Particular But I shall say no more then this I found the Fruit of their Prayers A Greater Confirmation After all this for I was not quiet yet having put things into some Order I communicated my Thoughts unto other Friends Some of these whose Works praise them in the Gate I found to be of my Opinion For which I thanked God and took courage As did Paul when the Brethren met him Acts 28. 15. But Others and Pretious Ones too were as I apprehended otherwise minded And here began as the last so my sorest and sharpest Conflict For so much was I discouraged now as I had Jeremiahs Complaint often up O Lord thou hast deceived me and I was deceived Thou art stronger then I and hast prevailed Jer. 20. 7. I must confesse the Considerations before named especially being conscious to my own Emptinesse and Poverty hath so much affected me That I have been more ready except in Prayer to fall in with any outward Discouragements and to improve them whensoever they came Then to close with inward Ecouragements even the Stirring and Motions I think I may say the Visions of God which I have powerfully felt upon my soule when I have been nearest the Mercy Seat But Hallelujah praised be the Lord who hath taken from Me a worm still these Discouragements and Fears by working up my heart into joy of Believing It may be in Reading of this you would willingly know my Intention It is Thus I have not Published this Treatise as I have done things heretofore For in Humility an awful fear of my God Here I can say and that truly THIS IS A WORK OF FAITH AND PRAYER Not of my own Labor and study comparitively as former Things have been For here I have been more out of the Body and with the Lord on the Mount But oh I would be humble in such Exprestions that THE LORD ALONE MIGHT BE EXALTED And I a remaine still a Worme in my hole and numbred among the dead Neither have I rested in the Experiences of Gods inward Workings upon my soule that is To his giving forth of the Spirit alone But the Holy Scriptures have been The Men of my Counsell Psal 119. 24. Insomuch as I have not hearkned any further to the Perswasions and Operations of the Holy Spirit Though received as the Finger of God Then what I might doe yea and ought by the Covenant-Promise I say by Faith Grounded upon the blessed Word Such Scriptures through the Free Grace of a divine Blessing by a humble Application in the Interest of them have sweetly supported me Jer. 31. 9. 33. 3. Hos 12. 4. Dan. 9. 20 21. 2. 18 19 23. Luke 11. 12 13. Jam. 1. 5. Isa 66. 2. Psal 10. 17. 25 9. 2 Chron. 20. 13 14. Acts 13. 2. Rev. 5. 4 5. Psal 32. 8 9. 1 John 5. 14 15. Hence I saw clearly that with Supplications the Lord hath led his people And whilst they have been Mourning and by the Spirit making Intercession for them with Groanings which cannot be uttered For the Vnction from the holy One and to be guided into all Truth The Lord hath mercifully appeared to them Neither have such humble and broken hearted Babes met with the Portion of Proud Pharises viz. Disappointment All flesh is grasse c. But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 24 25. It is a sure word 2 Pet. 1. 19. Believe in the Lord so shall ye be established Believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. But howsoever in the Publishing of these things I seem to declare a Humble Boldnesse in my God as to the truth of them Yet this I desire the Kingdome-Saints every where to mind That as the three yeares and a halfe of which we have spoken are to have their Period So must all things following in order to the destruction of the little Horn be likewise accomplished It is true the latter Apostacy the little Horn and the Beast that slayes the Witnesses have but three years and an half Yet it must not be understood as if at the End of that time they should presently be destroyed But when that Time is expired then the Judgement shall sit The Witnesse rise And so all the rest of the Prophesies concerning them be fulfild in due Order and Time This I thought good to mention againe to prevent mistakes For suppose the aforesaid Time should End about June 57. That which next followes will be no more as I take it But the pouring out of the Spirit in the rising of the Witnesses Whereby the Saints of the most High shall be raised up in Faith Light Love Zeal One-ness c. and so made meet for the Masters use But among the Apostates Dread Fear Darknesse Divisions Disappointment c. Onely the Lords Work the