where it is said That upon the raising of the Witnesses and their having a Spirit of life from God put into them and their standing upon their feet A tenth part of the City fell And it also appears That England being that tenth part of the City is fallen from mysticall Babylon and is no longer a part of it but is overcome by the Lord Jesus hee is now King of it who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will keep it for himselfe and will not suffer it to be subjected to the Beast any more The Saints in England are brought out of the bondage of mysticall Babylon and shall return no more to it and therefore they may be confident That none of the Romish power of any of the other nine Kingdomes neither those that are more remote or those that are nearer neighbours to it shall ever be able to prevail over England Thirdly The third ground of my affirming that the Parliament Armie and Witnesses in England shall hence-forth overcome all the enemies that shall rise up against them is evident also in Scripture for it appears also in the Explicatory part of this Discourse That the one thousand two hundred and threescore daies in which it is said in this Scripture That the holy Citie should be troden under foot and that the Witnesses should be in sack-cloth by reason of the Gentiles the spirituall Babylonians tyrannizing over them is one thousand two hundred and threescore yeares and did expire Anno Domini 1645. as appeares by computing the time of the Beast's continuance as it ought to bee computed by the Scripture account And also this one thousand two hundred and threescore yeares of the Beast's continuance appeares to be then expired because it is said That when the Witnesses had finished their prophesie in sack-cloth that then the Beast should make warre with them and overcome them Now the Beast having made warre against them and overcome them and they being raised again and set upon their feet to the feare of their enehemies in the yeare one thousand six hundred fourty and five It is by this evident that that year the one thousand two hundred and threescore yeares wherein the holy City the Saints should be troden under feet by the Beast did expire And now you Witnesses in the Parliament and Parliamentary Armie and Kingdome of England may be confident that all the combined power both of men and devils which shall conspire against you shall never be able to prevail against you for you shall be troden under foot no more the Beast shall prevail over you no more for the time of his prevailing over you is expired and he must hence-forth be troden under foot himselfe and you must henceforth prevail over him and you must reward great Babylon as she hath rewarded you the Cup which shee hath filled you must goe on to fill to her double Now in these considerations and from these grounds held forth in the Word of Truth the Scripture and that part of it in this booke of the Revelation which Revelation God gave unto his Sonne Jesus Christ to shew unto his servants Let all the Saints in England be strong and of a good courage and feare not what man can doe unto them Let not the heart of any one Saint be troubled fearing that either Poperie Prelacie or Presbytery shall recover any power in England to Lord it over Gods heritage to tyrannize over the Witnesses of Jesus Christ or to restrain them from walking in that way which appears to them to be according to the minde of God But Saints be you assured it shall never be since you have a Spirit of life from God put upon you and since England is fallen from Babylon and since the time of the Beast's tyrannical power over you is expired therefore cast off all unbeleeving thoughts and all distrustfull feares of these things and be confident That Jesus Christ will by you goe on conquering and to conquer And what though a great Armie should be a preparing to overcome you as there was in July one thousand six hundred and fourty seven Yet as then they were soon blasted so they shall be for the future For you have a Spirit of life and courage from God put into you therefore men shall not prevaile over you And you are no more a part of Babylon therefore you cannot be kept in bondage and the time of your being troden under foot is expired and therefore though all the Malignants in this Kingdome and in Scotland and all those forraign Forces that those factours of Rome that are gone from England into France or else-where can possibly procure were conjoyned together in one body and marching against you yet should not your hearts be troubled nor be affraid but be assured they should be overcome by you And what though you seem to be small in number You know that God hath formerly commanded others to stand for you and can doe so still if it be consonant to his wisdome now also but if it were not so it were an evil in you to distrust his power to whom it is all one to save by few or by many For victory commeth not from the strength of horses or the legs of men but from the Lord of hosts And therefore upon these grounds let all the Witnesses of England be confident of overcomming all that shall rise up against them by the strength of the Lord of hoasts their God And having experience that God hath done thus for them ever hitherto since one thousand six hundred and fourty five let them not be of such unworthy spirits as to be distrustfull for the future Deduction 18. The last particular that I shall hence observe is To stirre up the hearts of Saints to joyfulnesse and praises O Saints considering what God hath done for you seeing hee hath put a Spirit of life upon you and hath made you that lay dead to stand upon your feet And seeing that England is fallen from mysticall Babylon and that now your enemy the Beast shall have no more power over you he that hath troden you under feet a thousand two hundred and threescore yeares shall tread you under foot no more and that now your time of prophesying in sack-cloth is expired Put you now on in stead of your sack-cloth the garments of joy and praise and walk no longer sadly being delivered out of the bondage of spiritual Aegypt and from the oppression of your enemies let your hearts be affected herewith and your souls rejoyce in the apprehension of it For suppose that when you were under that bondage so that you were driven into corners and your enemies hunted after you to make a prey of you and having taken some of you did imprison some and fine others and banish others and pillory others if one should then have come into your meetings and told you as an infallible truth That within one moneth your enemies should be brought down
earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven 14. The second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly The Preamble FRom these verses I desire as the Lord shall enable me to declare that which God hath discovered to me For I hope that it may be as advantagious to others as it hath been to my own soul But though the publication of what appears to me in these verses be that which I chiefly aim at yet being prest in spirit to give forth some meditations from the Preamble of this Book which Preamble is contained in the three first verses of the first Chapter of this book of the Revelation I cannot but here insert it as a Preamble to the following discourse also though it may be it may not seem in the eyes of some so pertinent The three verses are as follows 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe and he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John 2. Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand In these verses is contained these five particulars First The subject matter of this book Secondly The reason of the divulgation of this book Thirdly The instruments of the divulgation of this book Fourthly The fruitfulnesse of those instruments in the divulging this book Fifthly The pronunciation of a blessing upon the persons that reade or hear the words of this book The first particular contained in these verses is the subject matter of this book and that it exprest in these words The Revelation of things that must shortly come to passe The word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ From whence this is the Observation Observ 1. That the whole book of the Revelation is a Revelation declaration or manifestation of the minde of God about the things which were to come to passe shortly after the revealing of it which Revelation is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ This point being so evident and clear in the Text I shall not produce any further proofs of it because I intend brevity but immediately proceed to the Deductions which flow from it which are these If this book be a Revelation or Declaration of the minde of God about the things which were shortly to come to passe then it is our duty to observe how God hath brought to passe the things which he did pre-declare he would bring to passe that so we may glorifie God in his omnisciency in fore-seeing and fore-knowledge of all things and in his omnipotency in bringing the things to passe which he did fore-appoint to bring to passe that he can doe all things and nothing can hinder him from bringing all things to passe according to the counsel of his own will When Saints doe most diligently observe the works which God brings to passe according to what he hath pre-declared in his word then do they most answer the end for which God did before reveal these things which was that he might be admired and magnified by his people in bringing all things to passe according to his word shewing that he is God alone for none else can declare things to come as the eternal God doth But how can Saints have experience of this but by comparing his Word and works together Therefore it is the duty of Saints frequently so to do So much of the first Secondly Is this book of the Revelation the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ then we are hereby informed That it is warrantable for us to call that which is a Revelation of the minde of God the word of God We see John cals it so and why may not we I the rather speak of this because some have affirmed That nothing may be called the Word of God but Jesus Christ because it is a title the Scripture gives to him as John 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God And vers 14. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten Son of God full of grace and truth And 1 Joh. 5. 7. For there are three that bare record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one And Revel 19. 13. And he was cloathed with a vesture dipt in bloud and his name is called The word of God and the armies that were in heaven followed him upon white horses c. But let these know that though in these places that title The word of God is given to Jesus Christ he being the essential word of God which is the reason why this title is given to him Yet that the Spirit of God gives this title also to the Scripture to the written word the word which is the Revelation of the minde of God as appears here and in other places as Jer. 2. 1. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying Go and cry in the ears c. And vers 4. Hear ye the word of the Lord O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel And Jer. 7. 2. Stand in the gates of the Lords house and proclaim there this word saying Hear the word of the Lord all ye of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of host the God of Israel amend your waies c. And Jer. 14. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth c. And Jer. 30. 1 2. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel saying Write all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book And severall like passages to these we have as in Ezekiel 6. 1. and 7. 1. and 12. 1. and 16. 1. and Hos 1. 1. and 4. 1. And the like we have also in Joel Jonah Micah Zechary and the rest of the Prophets where it is clear That that which was the Revelation or manifestation of the minde of God concerning the waies in which he would have his people to walk or the things which he was about to doe whether of bringing a dearth upon a people or any other judgement or the doing of them good This title is given to it The word of God So that it is clear that this title may be given to the written Word the Scripture both by all the fore-cited places besides many others that might have been cited to the same effect and also in the text where this book of
in the following discourse Therefore so much shall suffice to be here spoken of it and of this fourth particular the faithfulnesse of the instruments of divulging this Book The fifth particular Is the pronounciation of a blessing upon the persons that read or hear the words of this Book And that we have in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand From whence arises this Observation Observ 5. That it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word of God and particularly that which is contained in the book of the Revelation so as to keep it This clearly appears in these words and the Apostle James likewise witnesseth the same Jam. 1. 25. Be ye doers of the word saith he at the 22. vers and not hearers only deceiving your own selves Whereas it appears he speakes of the written Word which men may â—â—ar with the ear and doe not And now at the 15. vers he saies Who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed What is the man that James saith shall be blessed It is the man that looketh into the perfect law of liberty that is heareth or readeth the word of God in the Scripture which is a perfect law of liberty Spiritual liberty and heareth or readeth it not forgetfully but is a doer of it This is the blessed man Thus it is a clear That it is a blessed thing to hear and reade the Word of God and particularly that which is contained in the Book of the Revelation so as to keep it Then first This condemns those that neglect the reading and the hearing of the word since it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word of God so as to do it Now they that doe not reade it nor hear it cannot doe it for saies the Apostle Rom. 10. 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard Implying That without hearing the Word of God they cannot believe in God but if the Apostle had not so said yet we see it to be true In that the nations and people to whom the Gospel is not preached and that doe not reade it doe altogether continue in unbelief And so those that are under the darknesse of Popery to whom the word in the purity of it is not preached and have not liberty to reade it they continue also in a dark and a miserable condition but among those people where the Word is embraced and read and heard there are many brought into the obedience of faith Nay in some places of this Kingdome where they seldom enâ—oy a publick Preacher yet by reading the Word they are made partakers of the sweet blessing of it They ought therefore to be sharply reproved for their folly who neglect the hearing and reading the Word and consequently the doing of it in which they might be blessed In the second place Hence all sorts of people are exhorted to be frequent in reading the Word for all desire to be blessed and those that have in any measure been made partakers of the blessing of the Gospel they cannot but desire more of it therfore it would be wisdome for all to improve the means of being made blessed which is hearing and reading the Word If a man that desires a great outward estate should be perswaded that if there were any way at all for him to attain that estate it must be such or such a way that man would be sure to take that way Why this is the case in respect of attaining Spiritual blessings the readiest way that any Soul can take to attain them is a frequent reading and hearing of the Word of God waiting for the comming in of the Spirit in it O therefore let not men discover that they have a sleight esteem of Spirituall blessings and heavenly treasures by neglecting the means by which they are attained for if men have a high esteem of Gold and Pearls if they know the means by which they may be attained they will make use of those means so according to the esteem we have of Spirituall blessings will be our diligence in improving the means of attaining them Object But it may be some one will say I have been frequent in hearing and reading the Word and finde it but an empty thing I hear and am as carnal as before I read and am as dark and low as before and therefore how can it be said that hearing and reading the Word is a means of attaining Spirituall blessings I Answer Answ First If thou findest to thy apprehension but little benefit from hearing or reading the Word yet thou canst not conclude it would be better with thee if thou didst not reade or hear the Word for there is no ground of hope for thee when thou neglectest all means of enlivening comforting or of heightning the Spirit But secondly Though to thy apprehension thou hast no benefit from reading or hearing the Word yet remember that the Word is compared to seed Mat. 13. 19. and 1 Pet. 1. 23. Now you know that seed useth to lie hid under the clods for a time and afterward groweth up so may the seed of the Word seem to be hid in thee for a time and yet afterward it may grow up and bring forth fruit The Disciples while the Lord Jesus was with them often heard his word and he plainly fore-told them of his Resurrection but when their Lord was crucified though they had so often heard it yet they seemed to be altogether ignorant of the doctrine of the Resurrection but afterward it was sweet unto them when the Spirit brought it with other things to their remembrance In the 4. of Iohns Gospel at the 36 37 38. verses our Saviour tels his Disciples That both he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together but saies he herein is that saying true one soweth and another reapeth I have sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entred into their labours Others had sowed the seed of eternal life in the hearts of the people and therefore he said in the 35 vers That the fields were already white unto the harvest but the Disciples were sent to reap the fruit of that seed that others had laboured in the sowing of So that one Minister may sow the seed of life and joy in the hearts of some people and another may reap it But the time shall come that both he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together When the seed â—â— sowne the fruit doth not by and by appear and of this Saints have had experience that have laine long under the hearing of the Word frequently attending upon it and been diligent in reading and yet have attained to their own
apprehensions neither to faith nor peace nor joy nor strength but have seemed to be as unbelieving as carnal and as fleshly as ever walking heavily for a long time And that Word which hath been sweet to others that at the same time heard it hath been as nothing to them That word which hath raised the heart and strengthened the faith and inflamed the love of others hath seemed to have no effect upon them and thus some have continued weeks months nay years together and if they have had any reviving it hath been but as a morning dew and yet at last when the Fathers appointed time was come wherein he hath raised them up to joy and peace in believing and given them life vigour and strength then hath the Spirit brought to their remembrance the things which they heard many years before and then have they been wonderfully overcome and taken with it and it hath brought forth fruit abundantly in them Therefore Saints you that say you finde little or no effect the word hath upon you for the present be not thereby discouraged but goe on to reade and to hear the word still for it is a means which is often blessed to many But thirdly Is it so that it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word so as to keep it Then it serves to exhort all as to hear and reade the Word so to look beyond it in the frequent hearing and reading of it waiting for the coming in of the Spirit for the blessing is not pronounced upon the hearers of the Word only but such as hear it and keep it and hear it and doe it and then shalt thou hear the Word so as to keep it when the Spirit comes along with it Therefore when thou comest to hear the Word doe not rest upon the bare hearing of the Word but expect the coming of the Spirit and that thou maiest thus doe consider that there are frequent presidents in Scripture That in the hearing of the Word the Spirit hath been given as you have it Act. 10. 44. While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word And in the second of the Acts at the 41. verse we finde that there were three thousand souls converted at the preaching of Peter And when Philip went down to Samaria and preached the Word there were by his preaching many converted both men and women as appears Acts 8. 12. There are severall other passages in the Acts to this purpose And Gal. 3. 2. saith the Apostle Received you the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Whereby it appears That the Spirit was received by the hearing of the word of faith and therfore it is that the Apostle cals the Ministery of the Gospel The ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Therefore let all be encouraged in the hearing of the Word to wait for the Spirit whereby they may not be forgetfull hearers but doers of the Word and be blessed in so doing Vse 4. And in the last place it serves to encourage all Saints to be frequent in reading of and meditating upon the book of the Revelation for there is a blessing particularly pronounced upon them that read or hear and keep the things that are written therein therefore let none be discouraged from reading those things that are written in this book because they are so hard to be understood and are more darke and mysterious than most places of Scripture It is true they are so but to encourage us to be frequent in reading of it notwithstanding the mysteriousnesse of it the holy Ghost hear pronounces a particular blessing to it which is a speciall encouragement to incite us to the reading of it And there is also another encouragement in these words For the time is at hand And now if we be desirous to be informed of the things that concern the present time then let us look diligently into the book of the Revelation for this word The time is at hand hath held true and doth and shall hold true in all ages and times even until the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ to judge the quick and the dead when all shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ for there hath been no age since the delivery of it in which it might not be said The time is at hand that is The time is come in which some part or other of it hath been fulfilling for at the time when this Revelation was given to John then was fulfilling that which is spoken concerning the seven Churches and soon after that which was to be done in the opening of the seals began to be fulfilled which is not yet fully accomplished and about four hundred year after Johns time began that to be fulfilled which is spoken of concerning the rising of the beast and what is revealed concerning the actions of the beast and the pouring out of the viols upon the beast hath been since that and now is a fulfilling and what is spoken concerning the totall ruine of the beast and the happy deliverance of the Saints and the glorious state of the Church after deliverance shall be hereafter fulfilled So that still it might and now and hereafter it may be said of the prophecy of this book The time is at hand therefore it concernes us to be frequently looking into it and diligently to observe the things that are written therein And now since the following Discourse is on a part of the book of the Revelation let these two motives which here you have to stirre you up to the reading of the whole book as that it is a blessed thing and it concerns the present time incite you to the reading and the serious consideration of what is herein delivered concerning the exact accomplishment of some of the things contained in this book which comes now to be spoken of AN EXPOSITION VPON Part of the eleventh Chapter OF THE REVELATION The Exposition of the first Verse And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod IN the 21. Chapter of this book at the 15. verse when the holy City was put into a delivered enlarged raised condition there is mention made of a golden reed wherewith it was to be measured But here is not a golden reed but a reed like unto a rod importing that it is a chastized and afflicted depressed low condition into which it was at this time to be put and that it was indeed so appears in what follows And the Angel stood saying This Angel chap. 10. 1. is thus described And I saw a mighty Angel come down from heaven cloathed with a cloud and a rain-bow was upon his head and his face was as it were the Sunne and his feet as pillars of fire This description resembles that which is given of Jesus Christ Chap. 1. 15 16. by which it appears That this Angel here spoken of is Jesus Christ It is
indeed the Lord Jesus Christ that doth order and dispose all things in and concerning his Church and all things in the world and therefore it is that all power is given unto him in heaven and earth Mat. 28. He is the King of the holy hill of Sion Psalm 2. And he must rule the Nations with a rod of iron and break them in peeces like a Potters vessel and he must raign untill he have put all his enemies under his feet Rise and measure The Lord Jesus doth not leave his people in the hand of enemies nor under the rod of the wicked in a carelesse manner as if he did not care how much they were given up to the hand of the enemies no but they are measured out to affliction and so far as they are measured out unto it so far shall they be under affliction and no farther So God measured Job to affliction All that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thine hand Job 1. 12. and again Behold he is in thine hand but save his life The wicked shall not goe a hairs-breadth beyond the measure Jesus Christ hath such a tender respect unto all his people in their sufferings that they shall have no more then need 1 Pet. 1. 6. Measure the Temple The word Temple in the old Testament is used only for that House that Solomon built in Jerusalem unto the Lord which was called the Temple of the Lord it being the place wherein God was in a speciall manner present and wherein he would in a speciall manner be worshipped But in the new Testament it is used first for the Church the Saints of God of which that Temple was a figure for as God was in a speciall manner present in that Temple so he is in a speciall manner present in his people And so we have it 2 Cor. 6. 16. For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your bodies are the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you c. and thus the word Temple in the new Testament is used for the Saints as the Temple was a figure of them as they have a speciall presence of God in them Which is likewise spoken of Isay 66. 1 2. Thus faith the Lord the Heaven is my Thron and the Earth is my foot-stool where is the house that ye build unto me and were is the place of my rest for all these things hath my hand made and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even unto him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word So that he that is of a poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at the word of God shall be the house the Temple of God As we have it also Isay 57. 15. But secondly The word Temple in the new Testament as it is used for those in whom there is a speciall presence of God so it is used to signify that means by which knowledge and instrustion is given out as the Temple of old was the place where people were to receive instruction and knowledge And in this sense it is used Rev. 21. 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it This is spoken of the new Jerusalem of that glorious state the Church shall be in when they shall be all taught of God from the greatest to the least Now the word Temple heer in the Text doth signify these Eirst It signifies the Saints of God as they are they in whom God in a speciall manner dwels And Secondly It signifies the Ordinances and means whereby knowledge is dispensed and instruction is received for it is the Saints that are as lights in the World and they both instuct the ignorant and edify one another especially when they are congregated assembled together to worship God according to his own will and to prophesy to edify one another The Temple of God and the Alter and them that worship therein It clearly appears in these words that the word Temple heer includes the Saints both as they are an habitation of God through the spirit and so are his Temple and as they are being assembled together the means of instruction and increasing knowledge and doe worship God aright For least the word Temple should not be full enough to expresse this it is added And the Altar which in the Temple was the place where they worshipped God and them that worship therein Not only the place of worship but the worshippers So that this takes in all Saints as they are a Temple as their assemblies are the place wherein God is worshipped and instruction is given and received and as they are worshippers as Saints worshipping God and possessing God Verse 2. But the Court that is without the Temple The Court is said to be without the Temple as of old the Court was without the Temple and was a more common place not so holy as any part of the Temple was so that the Court heer being without the Temple it is some outside thing it is no part of the Temple Now it being apparent that Saints onely are the Temple of God this Court heer mentioned though it seem to be neer the Temple yet is not the Temple is none of the Saints but some outside professors that seem to the outward eye to be near to Saints as the Court was near to the Temple yet they are not of that holy place they are but an outside they are without the Temple But the Court that is without the Temple leave out or cast out and measure it not Though Jesus Christ have a tender care of his Saints under affliction and they are measured out to the chastisement appointed to them yet hath he no such respect unto such as are not his Though they are professors Though they seem to be near the Temple yet if they be not the Temple though they do professe him yet if they do not possesse him as the Temple doth they must be left out cast out of the care of Jesus Christ But the Court that is without the Temple cast out and measure it not Jesus Christ will not own that as his and therefore it must not be measured For it It was the Temple and the Altar and them that worshipped therin that was measured out to chastisement So then it was it that was to be given unto the Gentiles by measure so that this word for it may be read thus for the Temple Is given unto the Gentiles The word Gentiles in the old Testament when the Temple was in its glory was used to expresse such as were not of the Church of God for the Israelites only were accounted the Church all others were looked upon as
the praiers of all Saints were offered upon the golden Altar that then the Angel took the Censor and filled it with fire of the Altar and cast it into the earth and there were voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earth-quake So that this is the power that Saints have to devour their enemies and though their enemies be never so high and potent yet they are not so high nor so potent but they can reach them either to kill or destroy them or to binde and imprison them And this is further witnessed unto by the Psalmist Psalme 149. 6 7 8 9. where speaking of the Saints saies he Let the high praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance upon the Gentiles and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Here the Psalmist speaks of executing vengeance upon the Gentiles and punishments upon the people of binding Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron Why Who must doe thus Must it not be some great and mighty Potentate No but this is to be done by Saints and that not only by some Saints but as well by the weakest of Saints as by the strongest For this honour have all his Saints All Saints doe execute vengeance upon their enemies If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth from their praiers proceedeth a fire of wrath and devoureth their enemies And if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed As a fire proceedeth out of their mouth that devoured their enemies in general so if any man will hurt them he must in the same manner be killed that is by the fire that proceedeth out of their mouth Verse 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the daies of their prophesie As the fire mentioned in the former verse was not material fire but it was mystically spoken so the rain here mentioned is to be mystically understood as it is in severall places of Scripture I will cite but only two places for they will be sufficient and in both of them what is to be understood by water or rain is declared As Isa 44. 3. I will pour water upon him that is thirstly and flouds upon the dry ground Now would we know what is here meant by water and flouds it follows in the next words I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring So that here the Spirit and the blessings of heaven are expressed by water and by flouds The other place is Joh. 3. 38 39. He that beleeveth on me as the Scripture hath saâ—d out of his belly shal flow rivers of living water The next verse explains this This he spake of the Spirit which they that beleeve on him should receive So that we see what the Scripture means by water when it speaks mystically of it so that it is in this sence that the Saints are said here during the prevalency of the Beast to shut heaven that it rain not for it cannot be understood of materiall rain for that hath been extended to the unjust as to the just and if materiall rain should be with-held the Saints and Witnesses might have as well suffered by the with-holding of it as others no it is not the with-holding of materiall rain but a greater judgement then that for as the Saints had power to bring a fire of wrath upon their enemies so to shut up the rain of spirituall blessings that the flouds of the spirit do not descend upon them But whereas the Saints are like the tree that is planted by the rivers of water that is alwaies green and flourishing their enemies are for want of these waters as a dry tree that brings forth no fruit and must be hewen down and cast into the fire That it rain not in the daies of their prophesie We see what the daies of their prophesie is at the third verse where they are said to prophesie cloathed in sackcloth a thousand two hundred and threescore daies which hath been shewed to be so many years which is the tearm of time which the Gentiles the Beast is to prevail and the holy City the Saints are to be troden under foot these we see are said to be the daies of their prophesying cloathed in sackcloth not but that they might prophesie after that time is expired but those were the daies of their prophesying in sackcloth because they are troden under foot and they are given to the Beast the Babylonians and during these daies of their prophesying in sackcloth they have power to shut heaven that it rain not spirituall blessings upon their enemies And hath it not been even thus Hath not the Beast and all his adherents been as dry trees and have they not continued to be so without ever obtaining a drop of spirituall grace Have they not been as the dry ground obdurate and hardened in their hellish waies insomuch as it is to be admired that they should so continue without any relenting or returning for so many hundred years although they have had the Scriptures and many of them great outward parts and abilities and the writings of many precious Saints which are means by which God uses to worke but none of these means could work any thing because they had the Heaven so shut that none of the waters of the Spirit did descend upon them Therefore it was that the letter of the Word and all other advantages could doe nothing for they are all nothing without the Spirit And have power over waters to turn them to bloud This is another plague distinct from the former but it is also mystically expressed therfore these waters are not those that are said to be shut up from them for it is not possible for them to be turned into bloud that is to be made uselesse as waters are when they are turned into bloud but they are those waters which their enemies the Babylonians made use of in stead of the waters of the Spirit And what were they It were their Canons and Decrees and Constitutions which they gave forth as equivalent unto the very dictates of the Spirit it self and they declared them to be of as great authority and of these waters they made all that did adhere to them to drinke and with these waters they contented themselves never caring for the waters of the Spirit Now the Saints had power over these waters to turn them to bloud which they did by the Spirit of prophesie which they had whereby they did so hold forth the Testimony of Jesus Christ in the purity of it as all the Romish Doctrines and Popish Canons were turned to bloud rendered uselesse unto others and discovered to be corrupt And this is that which was done by those Angels or Saints that poured out the second and third viols
you to consider how evident it is that Jesus Christ hath had some true Prophets during all this twelve hundred years that the Beast hath troden the Saints under foot For Jesus Christ saith expresly I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and sixty daies cloathed in sackcloth And this hath been made good for it appears thaâ— in all times since Christ hath had some that have prophesied that is have held forth the Testimony of Jesus Christ For the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie And indeed every true Saint is a Prophet because the Lord revealing his secrets to a soul as it maketh it a Saint so it maketh it a Prophet and so the Lord looks upon his Saints as his Witnesses and Prophets Now this being evident That Christ hath had true Prophets this maketh it clear that as it is said Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. That Jesus Christ when he ascended up farre above all heavens gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. So this word hath been fulfilled Jesus Christ hath alwaies continued these For First Apostles have been continued for the edifying of the body of Christ as it is here said for the Apostles being the eie-witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ in all that he did and suffered and of his Resurrection as it is evident in that expression of Peter when another Apostle was to be chosen in the place of Judas Acts 1. 21 22. Wherefore of these men which have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us Beginning from the baptisme of John unto that same day he was taken from us must one be ordained to be a Witnesse with us of his Resurrection I say they being eie-witnesses of the Lord Jesus their witnesse which they gave of him is left still upon record in which Apostles still continue usefull to the Church for perfecting of Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come c. and in this sense Apostles have continued but Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers have actually continued in the Church and that doth appear by this because we here see it is evident that Prophets have been continued Now a man that is a true Prophet of Jesus Christ may be and in some degree truly is an Evangelist and Pastour and a Teacher also For First To be an Evangelist is to be able to hold forth the Gospel in the grace and sweetnesse of it and he that is so is an Evangelist And Secondly To be a Pastour is to be able to feed the flock of Christ both the sheep and tender lambs with the wholsome saving truths of Christ to the nourishing and strengthning of their Souls And Thirdly To be a Teacher is to be able to unfold the mysteries of the Gospel and clearly to hold forth the truths of Christ to the instruction of the ignorant and encreasing of knowledge and he that is so is a Teacher Now he that is a Prophet may be all these First He may be a man that publisheth the glad tydings of the Grace of the Gospel And secondly A man that teacheth and instructeth people with knowledge and understanding And thirdly A man that feeds the flock of Christ with wholsome saving truths I say a Prophet may be an Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher and so was Paul that he was a Prophet appears Acts 13. 1. and that he was a Pastour appears in that he was so frequent in feeding the Church of God and that he was a Teacher appears Acts 13. 1. and 2 Tim. 1. 11. and Acts 20. 27. and that he was an Evangelist appears in all his Epistles by his full and sweet holding forth the Grace of the Gospel in them and as Paul was so so it might be also said of Apollo and Peter and Barnabas and Timothy and others But here it may be objected If one man may be both a Prophet and Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher Why doth the Apostle speak of them particularly as given to particular persons For saith he Jesus Christ when he ascended gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And again 1 Cor. 12. 29. he saith Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Are all Teachers Implying that the Spirit had dispenced out the gift of prophesying to one of teaching to another of Apostleship to a third and not all these gifts to one Answ Though it be true That a Prophet may be also an Apostle an Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher as Paul was yet the Scripture speaks particularly of them because they are severall gifts and sometimes they are severally dispensed so that one man may be more properly said to be an Evangelist because he may be more able to hold forth the sweet word of the Gospel and to be a son of consolation and to be more Evangelical then other and so may be more properly said to be an Evangelist And so of the rest one man may be more eminent in one of these gifts then in the rest and so may be more properly said to be either a Pastour or a Teacher and yet notwithstanding he that is an Evangelist may in some sort be able to act as a Pastour or a Teacher so he that is a Pastour may in some sort be able to act as an Evangelist or a Teacher though in an especiall manner he may be fitted to doe the work of a Pastour and so of the rest So that the reason why they are particularly spoken of is because that some Saints may be more eminently fitted for one of them then for the rest and not that they that have one of these gifts have only one of those gifts and is utterly void of the rest and this will be the more confirmed and cleared by comparing this with that passage 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome to another tbe word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to another the working of miracles to another prophesie to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kindes of toungues to another the interpretation of tongues Here the Apostle speaks of severall gifts and saith that one is given to one and another to another and a third to a third c. And his meaning is That one Saint is more eminent for one gift and another for another and not that he that had the word of wisdome had no knowledge nor no faith
c. Nor that he that had faith had not wisdome nor knowledge c. Nor that he that had knowledge had no faith nor wisdome nor prophesie c. Nor that he that had discerning of Spirits had no knowledge nor prophesie nor wisdome nor faith c. But this is the Apostles meaning That he that had the word of knowledge might not have so much faith nor wisdome nor discerning of spirits c. as he that had lesse knowledge so he that was full of faith might have lesse wisdome and discerning of spirits and knowledge c. then those that were more weak in faith But now as some might be eminent in one of these gifts only so some might be eminent for two or three and others might be eminent for them all And those that were eminent for one only could not be said to have none of the rest Now by this time the reason is evident why the Apostle speaks of Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers distinctly and withall it is evident that he that is a Prophet is an Evangelist a Pastour and a Teacher For as it cannot be said of him that hath faith that he hath no knowledge nor wisdome nor discerning of spirits c. So it cannot be said of a Prophet that he is no Evangelist nor Pastour nor Teacher And now it is evident That Prophets have been continued all the while the Saints have been in Babylon and in the continuance of Prophets there hath been a continuance of Evangelists and Pastours and Teachers whereby that Scripture hath been made good Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. which saies they must all continue Till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God c. And this being so evident it appears to be from weaknesse and darknesse that any have questioned whether any of these have been during the time that the Saints have been captivated to Babylon But here this query may be made May there be Prophets Evangelists Apostles and Teachers that were never ordained by the laying on of hands Answ Yes they may for the Scripture speaks not of laying on of hands upon any but only of Bishops and Deacons and they only had the laying on of hands because they were ordained to doe some particular things which were to be done by them and was proper to them only and none in the Church else were to act in them but only they But Prophesying and Evangelizing and feeding and teaching and building up one another was common to all in the Church as every one had received the gift so to minister as good stewards of the Grace they had received For their gifts are not given to be laid up in a napkin But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall So that these I say were not restrained only to be done by Bishops and Deacons who only were persons ordained by the laying on of hands but were common to be done by all Now a Bishop which the Scripture indifferently cals either a Bishop or an Elder or a Presbyter is ordained by the laying on of hands because he is appointed to the work which is proper to that Office and not to any other in the Church Now the works that are proper to a Bishop Elder or Presbyter Are First To rule and guide and govern the Church and this is clear by that of the Apostle 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Bishops that rule well be counted worthy of double honour And 1 Tim. 3. 4. the Apostle saies That a Bishop must be one that rules well his own house implying that he is not fit to rule the Church of God if he doe not rule his own house well And of those it is that the Apostle speaks Hebrew 13. 7. Remember them which rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God And vers 17. Obey them which have the rule over you and submit for they watch for your Souls And of these he also speaks 1 Thes 5. 12. Know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you Moreover secondly It is the work of a Bishop or Presbyter to ordain Elders or Bishops in the Churches where they are wanting as appears Titus 1. 5. The Apostle there speaking to Titus who was a Bishop or Presbyter saith For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City And so Timothy being a Bishop it was his work as appears by that rule given him 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hand suddenly on no man Again it likewise is made evident to be the work of Presbyters 1 Timothy 4. 14. and 2 Tim. 1. 6. Now these things were proper to the Office of a Bishop and others that are not ordained to be Bishops have no warrant to take upon them to act in these things But there are other things that Bishops are also enjoined to doe that may be and ought to be done by other brethren but Bishops are enjoined to doe them in an especiall manner and they are these First To feed the flock over which they are made over-seers and this is that Paul enjoins the Elders of the Church of Ephesus to doe Acts 20. 29. Take heed unto your selves and unto all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you over-seers and feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud And this is that which Timothy who was an Elder or Bishop was enjoined to in these passages 1 Tim. 4. 3. Preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine And vers 5. Doe the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministery And 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed rightly deviding the word of truth Thus ought Bishops in a more especiall manner to feed the flock of God and to instruct and admonish them But this is not their duties only but the duty of all the brethren according to their severall abilities But Secondly It is the duty of Bishops or Presbyters to be good examples to believers this also Timothy was enjoined unto 1 Tim. 4. 12. Be thou an example to believers in word in conversation in love in spirit in faith and purity And this Titus who was a Bishop was also enjoined unto Tit. 2. 7. In all things shew thy self a pattern of good works in Doctrine shewing uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity And 2 Tim. 2. 2. The things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Thus it is the duty of Elders or Presbyters to be a good example to believers but it is not their duty only but the duty of all other Saints also Thirdly It is the duty of
holy one into others the Spirit as it floweth from them sometimes penitrates into those that are strangers aliens to Jesus Christ whereby they are brought home to the imbraces of Jesus Christ and then Saints are excellent in their eyes also And so David cals them Psal 16. 2 3. My goodnesse extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight And excellent they are Secondly Because they are not only as Olive-trees but as Candle-sticks For as it is said of Jesus Christ so it is said of them They are the light of the world Mat. 5. 14. They are as light shining in a dark place Now how precious is light to them that are continually in a sensible darknesse Light is one of the most precious things in the world it puts a beauty upon other things it chears and comforts the heart it causes men to see the dangers that are in their way that so they may avoid them and many others are the excellent properties of this naturall light but many more are the precious effects of spirituall light And this is that that Saints have though others are in the darknesse of hell yet they enjoy the light of heaven The Lord God almighty and the Lamb are a light unto them Rev. 21. 23. And in this respect also Saints are excellent and precious ones But I would be brief in this particular and therefore shall not further enlarge it Deduction 8. Eighthly The next Deduction in which I shall be brief also is to discover from the fifth verse the dangerous condition of those wicked men that are enemies to Saints Though Saints seem to be poor weak despicable creatures and their enemies in outward appearance seem to be strong and potent and to be overcomers of them yet these seeming weak Saints are strong and mighty for they can but send up a message to heaven and bring secret and invisible arrows from thence which shall destroy their enemies The breath of their mouth kindles coals of fire that destroies their enemies And if any man will hurt them he must with this fire be killed Little doe wicked men think that when they deal cruelly with Saints they bring coals of fire upon their owne heads yet so they doe if they continue irreconcilable enemies unto them There is a notable place to shew the danger men run upon when they offer to wrong the Saints of God it is Zech 12. 3. In that day saith the Lord will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth shall be gathered together against it Though the spirituall Jerusalem the Saints of God had all the people of the earth gathered together against them yet so potent and strong are they through the Lord of host their God as they should overcome them all they should be as a burdensome stone and should crush in pieces all that burden themselves with them Therefore it would be wisdome in men to beware how they offer any violence to any one of the Saints of God either to their lives or liberties how colourable so ever the pretences be upon which they doe it seeing it is such a dangerous thing to abuse Saints as that in wronging them men be devoured or destroied by them And so I have done with this particular also Deduction 9. Ninthly In the next place from the sixth verse might be discovered the reason why there hath been such a hardnesse of heart and impenitency upon the Beast and the Babylonish crew namely because that as a judgement upon them for persecuting the Saints of God the heavens have been so shut up against them as that none of the waters of the spirit have descended upon them But I passe this by with some other particulars that might be observed in that verse Deduction 10. The tenth Deduction is from the seventh verse where it is said The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre c. It doth enform us that this title The Beast is the most proper title of the Pope as is evident in the comparing of the several passages in this prophesie where the Beast is mentioned together which is done in the explicatory part of this Discourse where it appears evidently that by the Beast is meant the Pope Now in all the other passages of the prophesie of this book where the Pope is mentioned and in this seventh verse he being called the Beast it is evident that this is his most proper title Though it is true the Pope is Antichristian yet we doe no where in the prophesie of this book nor in any other Scripture where he is expressely spoken of finde the title of Antichrist given to him But generally in the prophesie of this book and in the prophesie of Daniel where there are some things spoken of him he is called the Beast And for the 2 Thess 2. where he is also expresly spoken of and plainly described he is not called there Antichrist neither but is there called That man of sin the son of perdition and that wicked Now it is said there are many Antichrists 1 John 2. 19. But it is no where said There are many Beasts and therefore he is called The Beast and that man of sinne the sonne of perdition and that wicked As we use to say The King of such a Kingdome and The Governour of such a place and The Maior of such a City or Town importing there is but one So the Pope is called The Beast For though there be many Antichrists yet there is but one Beast but one Pope who is The Beast I doe the rather observe this first to discover the exceeding greatnesse of the wickednesse and the abominablenesse of the Pope who for his opposition to God and his enmity to the Saints is exprest by a peculiar title that is proper only to that wicked one to shew that he is above al others hateful and cursed And secondly I doe the rather speak of this because some doe confusedly speak of the Beast and Antichrist confounding the Beast with Antichrist whereas there be many that are and may be called Antichrists especially some that are risen up lately That deny that Jesus is the Christ making themselves equal with the Lord Jesus Christ and who do also deny That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh or at least have a light esteem of Christs coming in the flesh by looking upon that flesh which was so united unto the God-head as when the life of it was laid down it was said to be the life of God 1 John 3. 16. as no more to be esteemed then the flesh of a common man I say these and such as these are Antichrists as is clear 1 John 2. 22. and 1 Joh. 4. 3. But though there be many Antichrists yet there is but one that may be called the
that had a spirit of life from God put upon you in the year 1645. whereby life was put into all the Witnesses and whereby you were inabled to act like living men men that had a life from God in the overcoming the Beast and his adherents in this Kingdom and seeing you have been instruments of defending that cause ever since I say seeing God hath honoured you so as to make you such eminent instruments of this great worke and the hearts of all the Saints in England are generally knit unto you and the eyes of all the Saints in England are upon you most Noble General and Worthy Commanders here is I say special encouragement for you to goe on still to improve the power that God hath given you for the same end for which it was given you viz. The suppressing of the Beast and defending all the Saints and servants of Jesus Christ in this Kingdome and to goe on having the honour of Jesus Christ and not your own and publike good more then private ends in your eye and in your heart to endeavour to cause justice and righteousnesse to abound in this Kingdome and this is your encouragement that in so doing as you have alwaies been since 1645. So you shall ever be conquerours in all the battles you fight and overcomers of all the enemies with whom you encounter no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper nor no enemy shall be able to stand before you yea though all the people of the Earth should be gathered together against you yet you should be but as a burthensome stone unto them and all that burden themselves with you should be broken in pieces And thirdly Here is speciall encouragement for all the Saints in England in generall to be of good courage not to fear the menaces or threatnings of any enemy for no enemy shall ever any more prevail over them Now what I say for the encouragement of the Parliament and of the Generall and chief Commanders of the Army in particular and of all the Saints in England in generall is clearly grounded in the Scripture and therefore is it unquestionable and to be received and observed of the Parliament Army and Saints in England Indeed if I should declare any thing to you and tell you that I had it by vision or revelation and it were not apparent in Scripture I know no warrant you had to receive it or to have any confidence of it For as Paul speaking of the day of Christ saith to the Thessalonians Now we beseech you by the comming of the Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering unto him that you be not soon shaken in minde nor be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first c. So may I say you have reason to beware that you be not soon shaken in minde or troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter from any concerning any thing for which they doe not bring a word from the Scripture and let no man deceive you for you may be deluded and deceived if you receive any thing from any which is not according to what is revealed in the Scripture as the young Prophet was deluded by the old Prophet when he received that Doctrine which was contrary to the Word of the Lord which before he had received So may you if you should so doe Therefore if a Prophet or an Apostle or an Angel from heaven should bring any message which is not consonant unto the Word which you have already received in the Scripture you are not to be shaken in minde nor to be troubled by it nor to imbrace it But now the Scripture grounds upon which I doe for their encouragement declare and affirme That the Parliament and the Army in prosecuting the righteous cause of the Saints and that all the Saints of England in generall shall all overcome their enemies and go on victoriously hence forward are these First Because the Witnesses are raised from the dead The Spirit of life from God is entered into them and they do stand upon their feet Secondly Because England is fallen from Rome and is no more a tenth part of that great mystical Babylon Thirdly Because the one thousand two hundred and threescore years in which the Beast was to tread the holy City under foot did expire in 1645. Now the first of these grounds is evidently drawn from Scripture as appears in the explicatory part of this Discourse where it is evident That that great and considerable number of Saints in England and all reall Saints of Jesus Christ of whom it is said That the Beast should make warre against them and overcome them and that they should lie dead three years and an half the Spirit of life from God should enter into them and they should stand upon their feet to the fear of their enemies and to the glory of their God And it is evident that this which this Scriptrre hath said of them is punctually come to passe The Beast did make warre against all Saints in making warre against that great number of the Saints in England in the late warre the Beast did overcome them and kill them and they were mystically dead for three years and an halfe and as soon as the three yeares and an halfe were compleatly expired the Spirit of life from God entered into them a Spirit of life vigour and courage was put upon them and they did no longer lie as dead men but like living men they stood upon their feet to the fear and amazement of their enemies and to the glory of their God who had put such a Spirit of vigour and courage upon them And now upon this ground may all the Saints in England and those Worthies in the Parliament of England and their Army who have been instruments of bringing down the power of the Beast in England be encouraged to continue opposing the Beast and acting justly and righteously toward all and be assured God having put a Spirit of life upon them and made them to stand upon their feet they shall overcome every enemy that shall rise up against them and the enemie in no battle shall be able to stand before them nor give them one defeat but shall fall before them and bee cut downe as mowne grasse and the men of warre shall not finde their hands but turne their backs and flee before them for they shall now finde them living men such as have a Spirit of life from God put upon them The second ground upon which I affirme That no enemy shall be ever able to prevail over them is clear in Scripture For it is also evident in the Explicatory part of this Discourse That England is that tenth part of the Citie which the holy Ghost in this Scripture speaks of
and tyrannize no longer over you but you should be set at liberty to worship the Lord Jesus in that way which he should discover to you to be most agreeable to his owne minde How would your spirits at the apprehension hereof have been filled with joy Your joy would have been such as would have been beyond expression O let your joy be now no lesse since this is actually done and especially having assurance that you shall be brought under bondage no more but let your hearts leap and sing for joy And in your joy let the high praises of God be in your mouths and let him be exalted in your spirits O be frequent in offering up the Sacrifices of praises in the secrets of your spirits unto your God that hath done such things for you I will extoll thee O Lord saith David for thou hast lifted me up and hast not made my foes to rejoyce over me This is now the case of all the Saints in England The Lord hath lifted them up and doth not suffer their foes to rejoyce over them O that with that sweet singer of Israel they might extoll the Lord their God in it and for it for Praise is comely saith that holy man For the upright Psal 33. 1. And it is a good thing saith he to give thankes unto the Lord and to sing praises unto the name of the most High and to shew forth his loving kindenesse in the morning and his faithfulnesse in the nights Psal 92. 1 2. Let Saints therefore be much in this comely good and pleasant worke of praise and improve all opportunities to exercise themselves in this worke Let them sing praises unto the most High in the morning and shew forth his loving kindenesse and faithfulnesse in the nights Though others forget God and he is not in all their thoughts and they doe not remember the great things he doth for his people yet let him be much in the thoughts of his Saints yea much in their thoughts to praise him for his benefits And let them say within themselves Blesse the LORD ô my soul and forget not all his benefits O let them not forget to praise him for what he did for them in the year 1645. but let them register in their hearts the particular acts of the great things he then did for them and let them not forget what hee did doe for them in July 1647. Let them not suffer these things to slip out of their minde but let them call to minde how frequent and importunate they were with God in praier for to obtain these mercies for themselves and for the Kingdom and having now attained them let them be as frequent and as ready to praise him Call upon me saith God in the day of trouble and I will hear thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50. 15. O now you that called upon God in the day of trouble and were heard be you much in that heavenly and angelical work of glorifying God! Let all that love the Lord in England remember that it is the duty as well as the priviledge of those that have got the victory over the Beast to sing a song of praises unto him that fits upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Revel 15. 3. And since they are the persons that have now got the victory over the Beast Let them with enlarged hearts sing that new song of praise and let not doubtfull nor distrustfull thoughts of the power and faithfulnes of God for the future in the least measure sad their spirits or keep back their praises but let the voice of joy and praise be heard in the tabernacles of the righteous in England for the right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly for them and they shall not die but live and declare the works of the LORD Psal 118. 15 16 17. The Postscript IT being so that since my finishing of this Discourse there are some further mutations in these Kingdomes which may seem to give to some some ground to question that which I have here asserted viz. That the Witnesses are slain by the Beast and that according to this Prophesie after they had lain dead three years and an half they are risen and doe stand upon their feet If this be so may some one say then how cometh it to passe that there is such a probability that the enemies of the Saints shall again get ground of them and bring them again into a low condition For Inchiquin in Ireland and Poyer in Wales and a great party in Scotland doe seem to act afresh for the Beast and doe expresly declare against the Witnesses under the titles of Independents and Sectaries c. but if the Witnesses were indeed slain and raised then undoubtedly they should indeed go on conquering and overcoming the Beast and the Beast should no more recover power over them to put them into a distressed condition for then the daies of their prophesying in sack-cloth in sad and sable garments is expired But how can it be said to be so since the Beast seems in a probable way of recovering power over them again Now that this seeming ground of fear may be removed I shall lay down these three considerations First That though the Beast shall no more prevail over the Witnesses to bring them down yet he may and must endeavour to oppose the Witnesses and again to make war against them that they may bring him downe for now that the time of his prevalencie over the Saints is expired he must not long continue in his present station but as he shall not goe higher so he shall go lower yea he shall come down wonderfully and how shall that be but by his opposing the Saints who shall be as a burden some stone and all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in peeces And therefore the more we see that that the accomplices of the Beast do endeavour to oppose the Saints the nearer we may conclude that hee and they are to their ruine and therefore their risings and stirrings should be rather encouragements then discouragements unto the Saints But Secondly That the Witnesses are indeed slain and risen and do stand upon their feet is altogether unquestionable because as appeares by the fore-going Discourse this prophesie of the slaying of the Witnesses and of their rising c. is in every particular iota and tittle of it most exactly accomplished I will not here recapitulate any of the particulars but refer the Reader to the fore-going Discourse but shall here only desire the Reader to consider of this one in a more especiall manner viz. That the holy Ghost expresly declares that the falling of a tenth part of the City should immediately follow the Witnesses standing upon their feet and be in the same hour with it as an effect of it Now that a tenth part of the City particularly the Kingdom of England is fallen