upon you and promised Mountains But for the Body of the Commonwealth it is much worse then it was before worse Magistrates Ministers Army Navy Councils In a word worse with us in all publick concernments both at home and abroad If this be not the mournful complaint of all people except Revolters and most true I shall not fasten the Later Apostacy upon them But because the Tryers are the great Crackers and think they deserve this Name viz. Mend-all as having done a great peice of service about Church-Reformation This I think I may safely say and that truly by experience That the present National Clergy is more corrupt and far worse then it was in the Bishops time For 1. No Professors but could have found then within few miles of their dwellings some honest Puritan or Non-Conformist to go to whereby to be refresht and built up in Faith Knowledge Holiness whereas now men may travel twenty thirty fourty miles and not finde a Parish-Priest that hath any Gospel savor in his Ministery no power swetness or life but old formal fruitless stuff said over and a hundred times 2. Though it be true the Bishops took little care to reform the Clergy but rather how to suspend and silence as some do now such as witnessed against their unsanctified Callings and Places Nevertheless if the Times be compared the Enormities of the National Clergy are less look'd into and reformed I say less now then in the Prelates Times I remember the old Non-Conformists were wont to call the Bishops making of Preists their Licenses and Visitations the picking of poor mens pockets I wish it do not appear so in the day of Christ that some of these men have done little better This I know go to and fro thorow the Nation the iniquity of the Priests encreaseth every where and what is done amounts to little more then this if a scandalous or ignorant Friest be cast out from one place he goes to another and doth there more hurt and lives worse then he did before fitly therefore is the name Crackers by the Holy Ghost given them Proud or arrogan Lastly Qui super collem apparuerunt men that will be under no yoke but domineer and all must be subject to them Grammarians take the word for men that will be masters and will have no Superiour but all rule and authority must be in their hands I know not a better way to finde out the Last Apostacy then to follow the Light of the Scripture in paralelling the two Apostacies and in nothing more then to observe the pride loftiness and arrogancy alike in in BOTH HEADS I cannot but speak the more of this because it cannot be the later Apostacy unless we see the HEAD of it to be as PROUD and arrogant as the former was would the former HEAD acknowledge no Superior the later must do so did they say of the former Quaecunque potestâ—â— est sub Coelo est in summo pontifice that he is Lex animata in terris a living Law in the Earth That all Cases of other men God hath appointed to be judged by men onely he hath reserved the first Head to his own Judgement-seat as not to be questioned for his doings by any Creature And therefore though all other men be under mens judgement yet is he to be judged of none neither of Kings Councils or any other Judicatory Besides Whatsoever he pleaseth he may do whether with a Counsel or without and if the whole world should judge against him â—et his Opinion were to be received For a general Councel is of no authority except this Head do confirm and allow the same Such must be the Head of the Later Apostacy his HAUGHTINESS will be under us Law all power he shall assume to himself not to be tried or judged by any man but to be left to Christs Judgement-seat alone And the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies so much Though I shall leave as I said the Application of things to the Reader yet I would willingly give him what light I can Note therefore how the word proud lofty arrogant comes home to the Triers who have assumed a Superiority and Headship over all the National Priests as if they were as in part I think they are that image made to the Beast who will not suffer any to buy or sell save he that hath the Mark or the Name of the Beast or the Number of his Name Much I could say as to their Pope like pride and power but it needs not seeing their folly is already manifest to all men Blasphemers or cursed speakers so our old Translation hath it Blasphemy is two fold First Against God and thus men blaspheme when they reproach his Name Spirit Power Word Works Kingdom Judgement c. Mar. 3. 30. Lev. 24. 11. Rev. 13. 16. 16. 9 11 12. Secondly There is Blasphemy against men 1. By rayling and evil speeches T it 3. 2. 2. By reproaching the Godly for the Name of Christ 1 Pet. 4 14. 3. By despising Lawful Government and Authority Jude 8. 4. By raising false accusations against Gods people Rom. 3. 8. 5. By causing men through Persecution to deny Christ Act. 26. 11. Lastly By censuring and condemning things which men know not Jude 10. 1 Tim. 10 13 20. Howsoever The men of the Later Apostacy will be Blasphemers all these ways and so much the Reader is to look after yet because by Blasphemers here I think they are meant whom Peter calls Scoffers the Holy Ghost specially intends Blasphemy against the Spirit and the visible Kingdome of Jesus Christ Truely I would think Some would tremble if their Consciences were not seard did they but read what Christ said of the Pharisees and consider well what themselves despitefully have spoken against the Holy Ghost because they said He hath an unclean Spirit Mar. 3. 30. How neer to such Blasâ— hemy are these men who say That the Prayers and other holy Exercises of Saints are done by the Spirit of Satan who say It is by the power of the Devil that the faithful Witnesses of this age hold forth a Testimony against Apostacy Hypocrisie Covenant-breaking c. who scoff at the Lords great Work moving by his Spirit in the hearts of his people calling it the delusion of Satan hellish devillish damnable and what not who scornfully upbraid the Saints with their Christ as to be a pitiful Christ So their blasphemous scoffing God's people Will ye not suffer for your God Where is now your God we will answer YOUR GOD well enough Mark Reader as disowning our God and our Christ to be theirs and a God and a Christ easily to be answered Disobedient to Parents The old English Bible hath disobedient to Elders Junius reads Qui praesunt sibi non obtemperant est Synecdochè generis pro specie Baldvin hath this note on the place Superiores non curant nulliusque monita
but City which I take to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place without the walls of the great City where the slaine Witnesses lie that is the power and Government of the Beast by which they were kild But to open the matter more fully The place where the Witnesses lie dead is not any Kingdome Common-wealth Province or Country under the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Pope Neither are they slaine in their Testimony by any State or Government that holds the Great Antichrist of Rome head of the Church For all this is within the wall and part of the great City So that the Witnesses are not to be slain under the power of the Germane Emperour nor the Kings of France Spaine Poland or any Catholick King Prince Duke c. so called But by a power and State that is off from subjection and Obedience to the Romish Beast There are two things one I hinted before which will give us much light to understand where the Witnesses lie and by whom they are slaine 1. By a Beast that shall not ascend out of the Bottomlesse Pit till the 1260 yeares are neer expir'd Neither shall his power and dominion being risen continue above three yeares and an halfe Hence then none of the present States and Governments of the world which have stood many three yeares shall kill them 2. Their dead bodies lie not in any Popish Country Nor are they slaine in their Witnesse by any State subject to the Sea of Rome So that whosoever the Beast is it cannot be the Emperour nor the Duke of Savoy or such like nor in any such Countries For it is but one State or Goverment that slayes them neither shall they ly dead under more States then one And this one not under the obedience of the Church of Rome Reader Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Object Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be without the walls yet it is of the great City Answ It is so indeed and the thing is very much to be heeded For howsoever the State and Government by which the witnesses are slaine is not under the Jurisdiction of the Romane Beast yet it is FOR IT That is it doth more strengthen and support Babylon at this time then any State or Government properly the Beasts For observe who are slaine the last Witnesses that is the Testimony of Jesus never till now so high eminent and full of light and life against the Antichristian Kingdome The Witnesses before pluckt off but leaves and branches these laid the ax to the Root and would have the very Foundation of Babylon razed down And now ascendeth the Beast out of the bottomlesse pit and slayes such A WITNES as the like was never before held forth against the Great Whore So that in doing such a thing he hath done more in the behalfe of the Great City then any State under the Beasts dominion ever did before For in this regard he would not suffer her abominations to be ript up her basterdly Brats to be dash't against the stones nor the blood of the martyrs found in her to be reveng'd But sought to cure her deadly wound And therefore not without cause doth the holy Ghost tell us though the place be without the great City yet FOR IT a friend and brother to it and one that doth her more service then any formall member and part of it One thing further may be meant here Whereas the Spirit of God tells us that the place where the Witnesses lie slaine is without the great City yet of it The hypocrisie of the Beast the GREAT CHARACTER of him is here againe notably laid open As if he should make war with one part of Babylon For Example The Spaniard pretending therein to be without the great City and against the Whore and yet at the at the same time to be of it and for it in making Leagues and Covenants Offensive and Defensive with others of the same Antichristian kingdome suppose Portugall and France and as Idolatrous and as great Enemies to Jesus Christ as that part of Babylon against whom he Wars Secondly That the slaine Testimony of Christ is set forth under dead bodies This may be to signifie 1. As a thing dead is soon forgotten yea men will endeavour to put away the remembrance and thoughts of it So Apostates having forsaken the Truth It is no other now then Dead and that their consciences may not smite them for it They fall upon new matters not intending to bear witnesse any more to the good old cause IT 'S DEAD 2. Persons dead loose their beauty No fairnesse or comelinesse appeares in them Though living sweet and lovely to behold So the Principles of Justice honesty Conscience c. When once slaine what excellency can the Beast see in them Hypocrisie deceit pride oppression look better in his eye a thousand fold 3. To shew the cruell design of the Beast that nothing would satisfie his turn but the HEART BLOOD OF GODS CAUSE the utter extirpation of it that the name of Israel might be no more 4. Dead men are not fear'd Neither doth the Beast now fear the Testimony of these men for he hath by craft and cruelty taken such a course As he thinks himself very secure and the dead Interest of the holy Child Jesus will never rise to trouble him more 5. When they put Christ to death some mockt at him Let him come down from the Crosse and we will believe him As if he could not be the Son of God because they slew him So here is meant How the Enemies of our Lord passing by the dead bodies will scoff wagging their heads Had it been say they the Testimony of Jesus it would have sav'd it self and not been kild but it appears now it was onely their own Testimony when they were so hot against Tythes Tryers Priests Lawyers Ha ha And this is one Reason why the wrath of God will be so terrible upon the Beast and the Apostates of his Time because none before them caused the holy name of God and his Truth to be so much blasphemed For in the whole Time of his Reigne men will not cease to curse and revile the Testimony of Jesus yea the very Apostates themselves will turne Scoffers Specially near the Time of the Witnesses Rising Then Apostate-Professours will begin to jeere and taunt indeed when they see Christ in his Testimony not onely naild on the Crosse but to their thinking gives up the Ghost Now hearken Where is your fist Kingdome say they The little Horne Your three years and a half Neither will they spare the slaine Testimonie in their Pulpits But there they will break their Jests against it to have the people laugh But Thirdly It is worth enquiring Why not onely the great City is nam'd which should be preserved and defended by the Beast slaying the Witnesses But added which spiritually is called Sodome and Aegypt where also our Lord
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