Antichrist doth exclude them from the heavenly influences and sweet showers of divine grace p. 170 180 2. Ob all the sweet and refreshing streames of comfort and supply that Antichrist livâ—s upon are turned into bitternesse and contention at prophesie of the witnesses p. 172 3. Ob That the prophesie of the witnesses though in a meane low and sackcloth condition iâ— of mightie force and power unto their adversaries p. 173 In vers 7. we have three particular things p. 17â— First the time when the witnesses are to be slaine and when they have finished their testimony p. 176 177 Secondly by whom the witnesses shall be slaine wherein we have opened 1. What is meant by the Beast that slayes them p. 79 2. What is meant by the bottomles pit from whence he comes p. 180 181 182 183 3. The manner of his ascension p. 184 Thirdly the manner how the witnesses are slaine by the Beast 1. He makes war against them p. 185 2. Doth overcome them p. 186 187 3. Doth kill them and how p. 188 189 190 Observations from the verse 1. Ob That the Saints of Christ in every age and time are enabled to finish their testimony mauger all the opposition that is made against them p. 191 2. Ob That the rage and cruelty of the adversary is great against the faithfull servants of Christ p. 192 193 3. Ob That the workings and deceits of Antichrist are very deep and mystâ—rious p. 194 4. Ob That there is a time when Antichrist christ doth ascend high in greatnesse and power p. 195 196 5. Ob That the witnesses are continually overcome and slaying all the time of the powerfull reigne of the Beast p. 197 198 In verse 8. we have an account of the bodies of the witnesses where three speciall things are noted p. 199 First what is meant by the bodies of the witnesses p. 200 201 202 203 204 205 Secondly the place where their bodies lie where we have explained 1. What is meant by the great Citie p. 206 2. What is meant by the streeâ—e of that Citie p. 207 Thirdly a description of the Citie 1. By it's resemblance 1. To Sodome p. 208 209 2. To Aegypt p. 210 2. By it's carriage and action p. 211 How Christ is sayd to be crucified in Aegypt and Sodome p. 212 Observations drawne from the words opened 1. Ob That the externall formes of worship that Antichrist useth are but as a dead body or carkasâ— p. 213 2. Ob That it 's not so much the outward forme or figure of worship that Antichrist seeks to suppresse as it 's the spirit and testimony of the witnesses p. 214 215 3. Ob That Antichrist is full of spirituall uncleannesse and cursed cruelty p. 216 4. Ob It 's the very life spirit and image of Christ that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose in slaying the witnesses p. 217 218 In verse 9. we have three things noted concerning the carriage of the enemies towards the dead bodies of the witnesses 1. Who are meant by people kindreds tongues and nations p. 220 2. Their exercise about the dead bodies 1. What it is to see the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 221 2. What it is not to suffer them to be put in graves p. 222 3. The time that these dead bodies shall lie unburied and what is meant by three dayes and a halfe p. 223 Observations from the Text. 1. Ob That the power and greatnesse the wisdome and abilities of men are exercised about the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 224 2. Ob That the great care that those of the nations and tongues c. take about the dead bodies of the witnesses is to keep them above ground p. 225 226 3. Ob That the dead bodies of the witnesses are kept above ground all the time of Antichrists reigne p. 227 228 In verse 10. we have a farther carriage of the Adversary towards the carkases of the witnesses p. 229 1 The persons acting those that dwell upon the earth of whom it 's meant p. 230 2. Their actions they rejoyce and make merry c. and what it meaneth p 231 3. The ground of their joy because these two Prophets tormented them and how p. 232 233 Observations from the words 1. Ob That the people that serve Antichrist are earthly carnall p. 234 2. Ob That the greatest joy of Antichrist is over the dead bodies of the witnesses p. 235 3. Ob That the witnesses by their prophesie doe most of all torment the men of the earth p 236 237 In vers 11. we have the witnesses resurrection p. 238 1. The time of their resurrection After three dayes and a halfe explained p. 239 2. The cause viz. the spirit of life from God and what it is p. 240 241 3. The resurrection it selfe and they stood upon their feet explained in 3 particulars p. 242 243 4. The consequent that follows their resurrection by the great feare that falls upon their enemies p. 244 245 Observations from hence 1. Ob That when the time of the witnesses suffering and sadnesse drawes to an end there is an earnest expectation in them of their resurrection p. 246 247 2. Ob That the witnesses are enabled to arise by the mighty powerfull spirit of God p. 248 3. Ob As there is a time when the witnesses lie slaine and dead so also there is a time when they shall revive and live againe 249 250 4. Ob That the rising of the witnesses is a most dreadfull sight to the men of the earth p. 251 252 In verse 12. we have the witnesses ascention from whence is noted First the cause they heard a voyce from heaven p. 254 From whence is noted 1. The voyce it selfe p. 255 2. From whence it came ibid 3. Vnto whom it 's spoken p. 256 4. What it speakes p 257 Secondly the ascention it selfe p. 258 From whence is observed 1. Their action p. 259 2. Their place p. 260 3. The manner and what is meant by the cloud in which they ascend p. 261 Thirdly the Adjunct annexed to their ascention and in what manner their enemies should behold them p. 262 Observations drawne from hence 1. Ob That the witnesses are enabled to ascend by the powerfull voyce of the Spirit of God p. 263 264 2. Ob That the witnesses have their time of triumph and rejoycing as well as they have a time of sackcloth and mourning p. 265 3. Ob That the state that the witnesses shall ascend unto is most heavenly and glorious p. 266 The externall libertie and peace that the witnesses shall enjoy by their ascention consisteth 1. In deliverance from oppression p. 267 2. Their enemies shall serve them p 268 3. They shall enjoy peace and quietnesse p. 269 270 4. Deliverance from shame p. 271 The internall glory and excellency that the Saints shall be advanced unto 1. They shall abound in knowledg p. 272 2. They shall exceed in joy and comfort p. 273 3. They shaall live
5. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not put for the true forme or essence of godliness but for an externall profession and conformity thereunto by a meer resemblance vizard or shew of holinesse So all the formality of Antichrist doth consist in externall gestures behaviours rites and ceremonies without the pure efficacious powerfull inward worship of God in spirit and truth so all their formal profession is but as a dead body a Carkase without the life or spirit of Christ Secondly observe That it is not so 2 Observ much the outward forme or figures of worship that Antichrist seeks to suppresse as it is the spirit and testimonies of the Witnesses The world doth patch up their whole Religion from the externall formes or bodies of the witnesses these lye in every street of the great Citie in all the Territories and Dominions of the Antichristian Church There is not one street or part of the worldly church but hath store of these Monuments and Images of the worship and service of God that they have taken up from the Witnesses laying of them down when the Saints worship God in the inward Temple in the Wilderness then these Gentiles possesse themselves of the outward Court take it as their portion and use it at their pleasures As Mahomet tooke part of the Jewish customes and part of the Christians practice and so patch'd up his forme of worship So Antichrist hath taken the externall formes that the Witnesses had before exercised in and adding his own inventions makes up a formall R ligion that he sets up in all the streeâ—s and territories of the great Citie viz. the whole Antichristian Church So that there is no Church no State part or Dominion where Antichrist hath to do but there we may see the bodies of the Witnesses the forms and images of the worship that they have been exercised in and have layd aside Thirdly from the resemblance observ 3 Obser That Antichrist is full of spirituall uncleannesse and cursed cruelty All the pride gluttony fulnesse of bread and abundance of idlenesse and filthinesse of Sodome all the wick dnesse idolatry rage envie and malice of Aegypt doth but set forth the sinfulnesse of the man of sin the sonne of perdition yea all that abominable wickedness heightned spi itualized and grown more vile and mysterious as it is acted by Antichrist Here is the silthiness of Sodome the idolatry of Aegypt the oppression of Babylon in a mysterie all under the preteâ—ce of piety and godliness This Citie is called the greatwhore Rev. 17. 1. because of the multitudes of her spirituall fornications And the mother of harlots vers 5. being a teacher and nourisher of others in her silthy whoredoms bringing up children of whoredoms Also she hath in her hands the cup ful of abominations a glorious cup to allure others to drink the wine of her fornicatior and to partake with her in cursed idolatrous practices Besides the enmity rage and cruelty of the Beast is alwayes vexing and tormenting the Israel of God Here is the filthinesse of Sodome and the enmity of Aegypt practiced by Antichrist in the mystery of iniquity drawn up to the greatest pitch heightâ—ed to the utmost extreamity deposing Christ and his truths advancing flesh and sinne into Christs throne and so becomes beastly and most abominable Fourthly and lastly observe It is 4 Obser the very life spirit and image of Christ that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose in slaying the Witnesses It is not so much the persons or bodies of these Witnesses they of the world do so much oppose but the appearance and life of Christ in them it 's the same wickedness that put Christ to death in his person and it 's still the same wickedness that slayeth Christ in his Saints and truth The very name of Antichrist signifies one that opposes Christ if this were not his worke and aime he could not be Antichrist who indeed is one that fights against Christ under the very forme of Christ And as it 's Christ he aimes at so it 's Christ that is slain and crucified it 's our Lord his truth his image that 's slain in spiritual Sodome Aegypt And in as much as ' its Christ he crucifieth killeth great shall be the judgment of Babylon as wee may see in Chap. 17. when God shall recompence upon the man of fin the blood of the Prophets and the blood of the Saints and of all that were slame upon the earth vers 24. And last of all the Lord will reckon with Antichrist for the blood of Christ for crucifying the Lord af glorie Christ tels the Jewes that upon that generation should be brought all the blood of the Prophets and righteous men slain in former times because they succeded the former Persecutors finished their work and so became guilty of all the blood shed before so here Antichrist doth contract all the guilt of Sodome Aegypt and Babylon and of those that crucified Christ therefore upon him shall be recompenced the blood of all that were slain upon the earth So great shall be the fall and ruine of Antichrist that a mighty Angell of great force and power shall take a great milstone and cast iâ— into the sea and it shall be found no more Rev. 18. 21. A great milstone is very ponderous and weighty of it selfe and falleth with great force but much more if it be cast down with a strong hand and being in the bottom of the Sea it cannot be found any more neither will it rise again All which sheweth the exceeding violent and perpetuall destruction of Antichrist being guilty of the blood of all Saints yea and of crucifying the Lord himself VERS 9. And they of the people kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves IN the former verse we heard of the place where the dead bodies lay now here we come to see what is the carriage of their Adversaries towards their dead bodies wherein we may consider these particulars First the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are the people and Kindred and Tongues and Nations Secondly their carriages or actions towards these dead bodies and they are two First they shall see them Secondly they shall not suffer them to be put in graves Thirdly the time how long they shall thus behold these dead bodies and hinder their buriall and that is for three dayes and a halfe First concerning the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are People Kindreds Tongues and Nations We may read the words partively thus Some of all people and kindreds c. which implies some principall ones viz. those of power strength wisdome authority rule These principall men of all Nations Kindreds and Tongues the most learned and wise the most eminent and honourable of all Nations the most choisest of men of the greatest of gifts and
That the spirit of the Lord is the onely Standard and rule of divine thingâ— p. 15 16. Foure false rules of knowledge discovered 1. Flâ—shly wisdome p. 17. 2. Meer speculation p. 18. 3. Externall forme p. 19. 4. Historicall knowledge p. 20 21. Foure true principles of divine knowledg whereby we come to know the truth 1. By the Spirit p. 22. 2. By divine impressions p. 23. 3. In Jesus p. 24. 4. By trâ—â— Conformity p 25. 3 Ob That the Lord hath alwayes afforded his presence with his people even in the darkest saddest times of Antichrist's reigne p. 26. 4. Ob That the Lord had alwayes a people that did truly worship him p. 27. 5. Ob That the Lord doth accept of none to worship him but such as serve in his Temple and offer upon his Altar p. 28. 6. Ob That the true Saints of God have alwayes been measuring of divine things p. 29. From verse 2. we have 1. The outward Court explained p. 31 2. The outward Court rejected p. 32 3. The outward Court given to the Gentiles as their portion p. 34 4. The holy City is trodden under-foot by the Gentiles p. 35 5. The time of forty-two monâ—ths explained and compared p. 36 37 38 Observations from the wordâ— opened 1. Ob That all externall formes and professions of Christ without life and power are but shaddows p. 39 40 41 2. Ob That the true Temple Altar and worshippers of God are not to be measured by outward things p. 42 3. Ob That the outward forme of divine things is given for a time into the hands of Antichrist p. 43 44. 45 4. Ob The best use that Antichrist doth make of the holy Citie is to trample upon it p. 46 47 5. Ob Antichrist hath his prefixâ—d and limitted time in which he shall reigne p. 48 6. Ob That the shapes and formes in which Antichrist comes forth in to act his part are various and changeable p. 49 50 The spirit of Antichrist discovered in four particulars 51 52 53 54 The forme of Antichrist opened in severall shapes p. 55 56 1. In the forme of a Dragon p. 56 57 2. In the shape of a Leopard p. 58 59 3. In the appearance of a Beast with two hornes p. 60 4. In the shaddow of an Image which the Beast causeth to be set up p. 61 Those that up the Image of the Beast discovered by six Characters p. 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 Antichrist flies out of one forme into another p. 69 70 In verse 3. we have the mysterie of the wiâ—nesses in six things opened p. 70 1. The witnesses are enabled to prâ—phesie 1. From God originally p. 73 2. From Christ immediatly p. 74 The meanes by which the witnesses are impowered to prophesie 1. By the word p. 75 2. By the Spirit p. 76 2. The title of witnesses here given and why p. 77 3. The number of the witnesses and why they are called two p. 78 4. The office of the witnesses is to prophesie wherein we have two things 1. What it is to prophesie explained in three things p. 79 80 81 2. What testimony the witnesses give forth 1. Against the seed of the Serpent p. 82 2. Against the power of the Beast p 83 The Saints testifie against the power of the beast by holding forth 1. The prophesie of Christ p. 83 84 2. The Priesthood of Christ p. 85 3. The kingdome of Christ p. 86 87 5. The forme and state of the witnesses in sackcloth explained in three things p. 88 89 6 The duration of the witnesses prophesie a thousand two hundred and sixtie dayes opened p. 90 91 Observations from the words 1. Ob That none can give forth a testimony of Christ but such as are impowered thereto by Christ p. 92 2. Ob That all those that hold forth the truth of Christ opposing Antichrist are Christ's faithfull witnesses p 93 3. Ob That the witnesse of the Saints is a sufficient testimony p. 94 4. Ob That the whole bent of the witnesses prophesie hath alwayes been to uphold the truth of Christ against the falshood of Antichrist p. 95 5 Ob Those that have been most faithfull unto Christ and his truth have been most rejected of the world p. 96 6. Ob That Christ hath alwayes had a people to beare witnesse of his truth even in the saddest and darkest time of Antichrist's reigne p. 97 From verse 4. we have 1. Various opinions concerning the two witnesses p. 98 99 100 2. A full and positive description of the witnesses p. 101. The two olive trees as representing Christ explained in 4 particulars from p. 102. unto p. 109. The two Candlesticks as representing the Saints illustrated under 4 heads p. 111 112 113 The ground why Christ was represented by two olive trees 1. From his two-fold nature p. 115 116 117 2. From his two fold dispensation p. 118 119 120 121 The reason why the Saints are called two Candlesticks 1. They give forth an earthly testimony p. 123 124 2. They give out a heavenly testimony p. 125 126 127 Christ and his Saints are joyned in one and give forth one and the same testimony as is shewen in foure particulars p. 128 129 130 131 Observation from the whole That all the Saints and faithfull servants of God are his witnesses p. 132 133 134 135 In verse 5. we have a relation First the harmfull carriage of the enemy towards the witnesses p. 136 1. By restraining their persons p. 137 2. By rejecting their testimony p. 138 Secondly the witnesses defence by the fire issuing out of their moâ—ths 1. What is meant by fire p. 139 2. How it destroys the Adversary p. 140 Observations from hence 1. Ob That the Adversaries of Christ are alwayes ready to hurt his witnesses p. 141 2. Ob They that goe about to hurt the witnesses or hinder them in the course of their prophesie shall not goe unpunished p. 142 3. Ob That the witnesses shall prevaile against their enemies by the word of their testimony p. 143 144 4. Ob That the testimony of witnesses is of great force even while they prophesie in sackcloth p. 145 In verse 6. we have a threefold power given to the witnesses p. 146 First to shut heaven that it raine not where we have explained 1. What is meant by raine p. 147 2. What it is to shut heaven that it raine not p. 148 149 Secondly to turne waters into bloud where we have opened 1. What is meant by waters p. 150 2. What it is to turne waters into bloud p. 151 Thirdly to smite the earth with all plagues wherein we have 1. The agreement between the seals opening and the Trumpets sounding and the vialls powering forth p. 152 153 2. The seven vialls opened together with the seven seals and the seven Trumpets from p. 155. unto p. 169. Observations from the Text. 1. Ob That the testimony of the witnesses against the wayes and practises of
and spirituall presence by the coming downe of the new Jerusalem out of heaven which is nothing else but the light of the Gospel the glory of God the Spirit of Christ shining forth and dwelling in the hearts of Saints making them his Temple and Tabernacle Indeed Christ was the true Temple of God who was prefigured by the former Temple of the Jewes but the Saints being gathered up into Christ united to him in spirit joyned to him as members making up the fulnesse of his body they also together with Christ become the Temple of the living God Secondly the Altar doth represent unto us the true service and worship of the Lord. The Altar was that whereon the Priest was to offer sacrifice in the Temple or in the inner Court that joyned to the Temple which was the Priests Court and accounted part of the Temple it selfe both the Temple inner Court were holy appropriated unto the Priests onely but for the outward Court it was common for all people to come into it Now I say the Altar that was in the Court of the Temple doth signifie the true and reall service of the Lord the worship that beleevers tender unto him viz. all the prayers thankesgivings and praises they offer up all their parts gifts and graces that they imploy all their pains costs and endeavours all these I say are the sacrifices that the Saints do continually offer up to God by Jesus Christ the true Altar upon which they offer So that we have not onely Gods presence with his people making of them his Temple but here is also an Altar or the divine and spirituall worship of all beleevers in the Temple who are made an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ I Pet. 2. 5. Thirdly They that worship therein We are not onely to take notice of the worship but also of the worshippers not onely of the Temple but of those that serve in the Temple not onely of the Altar but also of those that offer thereon The true worshippers are those that worship God in spirit that draw nigh to him in faith and assurance that know whom they worship and worship him whom they know these know him that is true and they truly serve him Here is a distinction made between the false worshippers and the true between those that onely worship in the outward Court mentioned in the next verse that onely worship in the externall forme or superficiall part of things and those that are the true spirituall Priests of the Lord who enter into the inner Court and into the Temple of God and worship there These are they that the Lord doth take notice and accept of that he will owne for his true worshippers and servants namely those that worship in his Temple and offer upon his Altar The words being thus opened we come to take notice of some Observations that doe necessarily arise from them The first observation is this That I Observe the Lord doth suitably prepare his people to receive such things as himselfe doth impart unto them This is taken from Johns qualification when the Angel bids him arise to raise up his minde and affections from low meane and carnall apprehensions and objects and to fix them on those things that were divine and heavenly even to the understanding and knowledge of these heavenly mysteries that the Lord revealed unto him by the mouth of a mighty and strong Angel Suitable unto this is that in Revel 4. 1 2. When the Angel sounded his Trumpet the voice sayd Come up hither and I will shew thee things to come Now what did this voyce signifie by saying ascend or come up c. it is not meant of his bodily motion or change of his stâ—tion but a translation or change of his minde For saith John Immediatly I was in the Spirit That is he was in a heavenly rapture or heavenly extasie he was spiritually carried up into heaven The like expression we have in 2 Cor. 12. 2. where the Apostle sayth he was caught up into the third heaven Meaning thereby that he was in an exceeding high and heavenly rapture or spirituall transfiguration of minde and spirit that so he might heare those unutterable revelations of divine mysterie from the Lord. Thus Moses is taken up into the Mount with God when he receives the Law at his mouth Exod. 24. 12. So were the Apostles taken up with Christ upon the holy Mount to behold his glorious transfiguration as the Apostle relateth 2 Pet. 1. 18. Now by the Mount is resembled that high and heavenly pitch of a minde enlightned of affections raised of a heart spirituallized whereby the Lord doth suitably prepare his people to receive such things as hee doth discover unto them Now as the Lord doth suitably prepare his Saints to entertaine heavenly things by enlarging their capacities strengthening their knowledge and raising their affections so he doth also make them to be of the same nature and quality as his discovery is that he makes knowne unto them The creature is whatsoever the voice of the creator is unto him If the Lord speak to any onely by naturall things as by corne wine and oyle and the like Such unto whom the Lord comes in these and no more they are meerly carnall and naturall they heare God speaking in these and they cannot ascend higher And so if the Lord speak in the heavenly visions of divine glory through his Son unto any then these unto whom he thus speakes become gracious and heavenly suitable unto the voice that speakes unto them It is said in Heb. 1. 2. God hath spoken in these last dayes by his Son and how is it then the Apostle tells us in Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts So that when God speaks to us by his Sonne it makes us to be sonnes also and when we are sonnes then the Lord speaks to us by the spirit of his Sonne Whatsoever the voice of Christ is unto us such are our hearts such are our mindes and affections the whole frame and nature of our spirits is such as his discovery is unto us Therefore it is most unpossible the Lord should reveale heavenly mysteries and shew forth his visions of divine glory unto any but he must also raise up the minds affections of such unto some proportionable and suitablenesse of spirit to receive such revelations from his mouth Secondly Observe That the spirit 2 Observ of the Lord is the onely rule and standard of divine and heavenly things This is taken from Johns qualification enabling him to measure the Temple And there was given me a reed like unto a rod Which reed or rod doth represent unto us the Spirit of the Lord the true rule and measure of divine truth The word and spirit are all one for saith Christ in Joh. 6. 63. My words are spirit and life
The outward word is but the clothing of the spirit neither hath it life and power but as the spirit doth goe forth in it Then the spirit is the true measure whereby we may take an equall scantlet or true dimention of heavenly things This is that the Apostle doth plainly tell us in 1 Cor. 2. 10. That the Spirit doth reveale the deep things of God So that the deep and hidden things the most secret mysteries of Gospel-truth are revealed unto us by the Spirit Now what man is it that doth not imagine he hath the true measure and rule of the things of God Every man pretends it and lays claime unto it Therefore before I passe this poynt I shall shew upon what grounds many men are mistaken and also make knowne what are the true foundations and principles of the true knowledge and discernnance of the things of God Concerning the false rules whereby men mistake take notice of these which follow First Fleshly wisdome and carnall reason are the principles that many men thinke to finde out truth by and by these principles of nature they would professe to attaine unto the knowledge of divine things but there is an utter inability in man by all his corrupted principles of nature rightly to judge or discerne of spirituall things Christ tells Nicodemus That which is borne of flesh is flesh Joâ— 3. 6. Now what doth he meane by flesh he doth not meane materiall flesh and bloud but he meaneth the corrupted principles of mans nature the wisdome will and affections of the nâ—turall man which cannot enter into the kingdome of God Againe the Apostle tells us of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an animate sensuall or naturall man and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a spirituall man or one enlightned by the spirit of God Now the naturall man is not able to judge of things above the principles of nature for every truth is discerned by principles of light suitable to it selfe Hence it is that the Apostle saith in 1 Cor. 2. 11. No man knoweth the things of man but the spirit of man that is in him Now what are the things of man but all created things of whom man is the epitome or compendium of them all they being all comprehended within him as in a Mapp or short abridgement so as for the secret and hidden things of nature or of the creature there is none can fadome or comprehend them but the spirit of man or the reason wisdome or understanding of man So it falls out in the things of God for saith the Apostle Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God Heavenly things are onely judged and discerned by him that is spirituall who judgeth all things by a true light Then it is in vaine for man to grope in the darknesse of his own wisdome and reason after the knowledge of heavenly truth Mans knowledge is a weak and dimme light as the light of a Candle to the light of the day or like the shine of the Moon unto the glory of the Sun it is a low fleshly and most unperfect light and altogether insufficient to measure divine things by Secondly Many there be that ground their knowledge of divine things upon some barren notion or fruitlesse opinion or meer speculation and when they have got some jejune and dry Maximes of Divinity or some poor lean and saplesse syllogisticall reasonings that then thinke they have attained to a most compleat knowledge of the things of God and that they are well seen in the mystery of truth when alas all these things are not sufficient to present unto the soul the least glimpse of true and saving light Thirdly Others thinke that the whole mystery of truth is bound up or comprehened within some circle or forme of Religion Such as these are apt to say Lo here and lo there as Christ speaks in Luke 17. 21. that is Lo here is Christ in this way of worship in this form of Religion in this opinion and doctrine but saith Christ The kingdome of God is within you That is The kingdome of God is not so much of forme but of power of righteousnesse and peace of light and joy of love and life and all these are best manifested within us for Christ is best knowne where he lives It hath been the practice of Antichrist to cry up the Temple of the Lord while they cry downe the Lord of the Temple and to take up the forme of Religion as a meanes to persecute the power thereof Then t is not an empty and barren forme of Religion that can furnish us with the true light of the kingdome of Christ or the knowledge of his will Fourthly and lastly the most of men thinke that if they have some historicall knowledge of Christ and some literall knowledge of the Scriptures and are trained up as Parrets to speake over such things as they read in books and Treatises and are well versed in the Systems and body of Divinity that then they are sufficiently instructed in the mysteries of the Gospel when alas the truths of God are hidden from their eyes and every word and letter they read are written with an unknowne character which cannot be deciphered without the Spirit of God The most learned Scribe the greatest Rabbie that shall understand the Originall language in which the Text of Scripture was first written as the Hebrew and the Greeke but yet shall want the language of the Spirit cannot give a true interpretation of the hidden and secret truths contained in the Scripture There is not onely a history but also a mystery of Christ there is not onely letter but also Spirit in the Scriptures which the most learned in the world cannot finde out without the Spirit of Christ The Apostle gives in a full testimony unto this in citing of that place which saith I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made foolishnesse the wisdome of this world 1 Cor. 1. 19 20. Then t is not carnall reason or fleshly wisdome t is not a barren notion or meer speculation t is not a round circle or empty forme t is not a literall knowledge or historicall relation of Christ and the Scriptures that are sound principles of saving light or the true measures or rules by which we may discerne spirituall things Thus having shewen rules and principles whereby men are mistaken in their judgement of divine things Now it followeth in the second place that wee make a discovery of those principles of light and truth whereby we may come to a true sight and knowledge of the things of God First Divine truths are knowne by the Spirit The Apostle tells us in 1 Joh. 5. 6. The spirit is truth The spirit is the fullest the highest the most absolute and the most comprehensive truth it 's
the originall and ground it 's perfection and end it 's the judge and standard of all truth It is most true that God hath made sense and reason the judge and standard of such truths that are within their owne compasse and circuit and are able to perceive and discerne such objects that are suitable to themselves but they can ascend no higher Now for spirituall things saith the Apostle they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 12. They cannot be judged or rightly understood without a spirituall apprehension and enlightned judgement therefore he saith in verse 9. Eye hath not seen eare hath not heard c. That is both the sense of seeing and hearing and also the reason and understanding of the heart are poore low and darke principles too superficiall too scant and narrow to judge divine things by Therefore the Apostle concludes in vers 11. That none knows the things of God but the Spirit of God which searcheth the deep things of God it is that alone openeth the deep and hidden mysteries of truth And hence the Apostle affirmes in verse 15. The spirituall man judgeth or discerneth all things Secondly Heavenly things are best discovered by a divine impression of them on the heart This is that the Apostle testifies of the Corinthians saying Yee are our Epistle written in our hearts knowne and read of all men for as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. As if the Apostle had said yee are the seal of our Apostleship ye are our commendatory letters the truth is most of all manifested by that divine impresse it hath upon your hearts it 's written there with a more lively character and more easie to be deciphered then if it were written with inke and paper or on Tables of stone The truths of God are not so well discovered by the word and letter without us as by the word and spirit within us The mystery of the Gospel is most of all seen when it is engraven upon our hearts by the indeleble characters of the Spirit of God Thirdly To know the truth aright is to know it in Jesus according to that expression of the Apostle in Ephes 4. 21 22. If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your minde and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse The Apostle shews plainly that to know the truth in Jesus is by the putting off the old man being corrupt and by putting on the new man c. wherein he doth compare the naturall and corrupt estate of man to an old worn-out garment which is fit for nothing but to be cast off layd aside and the new man which is the impression of the image of Gods righteousnes and holines on the soul he doth compare to a new garment fit to put on be adorned withall and hereby our mindes shall be renewed changed and regenerated from the naturall depravation of the understanding will and affections and wholly be filled and acted with spirit light life of Christ And hereby are we able to discerne the truths of Jesus as they are manifested to our new man or as they are represented to our mindes as being renewed according to the image and glory of Jesus Christ Fourthly and lastly we come to know the truth by our conformity unto it When there is a sweet complyance of our spirits with the will of God then we come to know most of the mystery of his will And this Christ himselfe doth beare witnesse of when he saith If any man will doe his will he shall know of my doctrine Joh. 7. 17. Now what is it to do the will of God but to have an harmonious consent and sweet complyance of our wills with the divine will of God whereby our wills are more enlarged in the knowledge and extent of his will our wills and his will as it were meeting and concentring in one Thus the soule becomes best acquainted with the knowledge of the truth and is enabled to understand the unknowne and hidden mysteries of heavenly things whereby it is able to judge aright and give a true dimention or measure of them And thus much for the rules or principles by which we are to judge and measure divine things Thirdly Observe from the Temples 3 Observ being measured That the Lord hath alwayes afforded his divine presence with his people even in the darkest and saddest time of Antichrists raigne The measuring of the Temple here hath an allusion unto Ezek. 40. where the Temple was measured that it might appeare the whole frame and order thereof was from the Lord. So here the Lord doth preserve a holy people to himselfe and by his divine presence with them doth measure them out for his Temple So that he doth preserve a spirituall forme of a Temple by his divine presence with his people even all the times of the generall Antichristian Apostacie and defection when there was no outward forme of a Temple when Antichrist sat in the visible Temple and exalted himselfe above all grasping all power and authority all rule and dominion then I say at the very time of the powerfull raigne of the Man of sin God would have us take notice that he did preserve a people to himselfe and by his divine presence love and protection did make them his Temple Fourthly Observe from the measuring 4 Observ of the Altar That the Lord had alwayes a people that did truly worship him Christ is the true Altar of God and all the Saints are made spirituall Priests to offer up their sacrifices and services on him The Saints draw nigh to God in sincerity they serve the Lord in spirit they worship him in spirit They did alway offer up upon the true Altar sacrificing all that was deare unto them their friends their goods their preferments their parts their lives and all that was deare unto them Such hath been the love of the faithfull unto the service of Christ that not withstanding all the rage and sury of Antichrist vexing and persecuting of them by imprisoument and death and whatsoever could be inflicted on them yet they could never be made weary of the profession of Christ but their faith and graces have alwayes been so impregnable and indefatigable that they could never be worne out or made to give over the service of Christ Fifthly Observe in that the true 5 Observ worshippers must be measured That the Lord doth accept of none but his true worshippers such as worship in his Temple and offer upon his Altar Christ
shall they tread c. By an allusion to Jerusalem the Saints are called the holy Citie which was a figure of the spirituall Church and Temple of God in which respect they are called Jerusalem from above Gal. 4. 26. The new Jerusalem the holy City Revel 3. 12. Mount Sion Heb. 12. 22. So that by the holy Citie is meant the Saints called the holy people Dan. 8. 24. and 12. 7. Now the best use that these Gentiles make both of the outward Court and of the holy Citie is but to prophane and trample upon them As for all the externall formes of service government ordinances and all acts of Religion the best use they make of them is like beasts and swine to tread them under feet not knowing how to make a better use of them And for the Saints the holy City these they abuse and persecute they know not how to make a better use of these then swine doe of pearles Fifthly and lastly How long Forty and two moneths The terme of forty-two moneths allowing thirty dayes to every moneth allowing thirty dayes to every moneth make the same number of 1260 dayes mentioned in the next verse In the next Chapter and sixth verse The woman flies into the wildernesse there to be nourished a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and in verse 14. it 's expressed by a Time times and halfe a time by a time is meant a year by times two yeares by halfe a time halfe a yeare which is three yeares and a halfe being resolved into dayes make 1260 dayes if into moneths they make forty two moneths To which agrees the terme of three dayes and a halfe in vers 9. of this Chapter These dayes being put for yeares they make just three yeares and a halfe So that the Gentiles treading downe the holy City forty two moneths and the beast continuing forty two moneths Chapt. 13. 5. And the space of 1260 dayes that the Witnesses shall prophesie as also the woman being nourished in the wildernesse and the time times and halfe a time with the three dayes and a halfe that the Witnesses shall lie dead I say all these various expressions of time appeare to be all one and the same space And so it appeares that the time of the prophesie of the Witnesses and the continuance of the raigne of the beast to be one and the same Some would have this number 1260 dayes turned into yeares and so would measure the whole terme of the raigne of the beast and the prophesie of the Witnesses to continue 1260 yeares I shall not contradict this opinion but shall thus far close with it as to conclude that the terme of time signified by forty two moneths and 1260 dayes is the whole time of Antichrists raigne and of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth But I intend not to make it my businesse to calculate the years of Antichrists powerfull raigne or the time of the Witnesses prophesie but rather to search out something from the mystery of truth that is contained therein This terme of forty two moneths doth not onely hâ—ld forth the whole time and age of Antichrist in which he shall tread under the holy City and scatter the power of the holy people but doth also import the different and changeable appearances and workings of his so that various shapes and formes the severall disguises and habits that Antichrist doth cloath himselfe withall and come forth in to act his part and deceive the Nations are held forth unto us under the Terme of forty two moneths Therefore here we are to note that the time of the Witnesses prophesie is said to be 1260 dayes Now a day is measured out by the Sun as a moneth is by the Moon the course of the Sun is by dayes which is a time more constant and of more light then the night But now the time of the raigne of Antichrist is expressed by forty and two moneths now a moneth is a season measured out by the Moon and shews that in all things there is but a Moon light a weak and dim light a light borrowed from the Sun Besides the Moon is variable and changeable and is alwayes up and downe never at one stay sometimes increasing at other times decreasing now in the wane then in the full and the like Suitable hereunto is the variable state and changeable appearance of Antichrist in his stations and formes First he comes forth in the forme of a Dragon Secondly in the shape of a Leopard Thirdly in the likenesse of a beast with two hornes And lastly in the image of the beast Every one of these have their moneths and seasons measured out unto them in which they variously appeare and act their parts But more of this hereafter having explained the words let us proceed to the Observations they offer unto us First That all externall formes and professions 1 Obser of Christ without the life and spirit of Christ are but the shaddow and outward part of heavenly things All formes of worship order government with all the acts of Religion all things that lie within the compasse of man are but the outward Court the superficiall part of things which a carnall man a Gentile professor may take up and use and yet never know what it is to worship in the Temple of God or to offer upon his Altar or to be a reall and true worshipper of the Lord in spirit It was the Priest onely that might enter into the inner Court or into the Temple and holy place So the Saints alone are made Priests to God Revel 1. 6. And have accesse or liberty of speech as the phrase is to enter into the holy place by a new and living way Heb. 10. 19 20. And by Christ to offer up spirituall sacrifices to God 1 Pet. 2. 5. But now for all Gentiles Christians and worldly professors they dwell upon and live in the externall part of things in the forme and shaddow of heavenly things they never goe farther then the outward Court or circle of the things of God Thus it was with the carnall Jewes as plainly appeares in 1 Cor. 10. from vers 1. to verse 7. Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant saith the Apostle how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the Sea and were all Baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea and did all eat the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the Wildernesse c. Now mark notwithstanding the Manna came downe from heaven and the water out of the Rock being as signes and symbolâ—â— yea as most lively representations and images of Christ in which respect it was called spirituall meat and spirituall drinke but it was not so to the carnall Jewes for they saw
or disguise to act his part in and so flyes out of the appearance of this beast into another The third day of Antichrists powerfull raigne is in the forme of a beast with two hornes like a lamb mentioned in Revel 13. 11. This beast doth relate to Episcopacy and such like formes of pretended reformation so that this appearance carries with it more fair pretences and greater shewes of religion then the former and therefore more closely hypocriticall and deceitfull then the former This beast is said to arise out of the earth viz. from a Kingly or earthly power and had two hornes one was a politicall or civill the other called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall like a Lamb professing much meeknesse and gentlenesse but speak like a Dragon as being very feirce and cruell taking upon him to exercise the power of the first beast to act by humane force and governe the Church by civill authority and so did but heal up the wound of the former beast And this he doth by lying miracles as to cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men seeming to have the very spirit of Elisha counterfeiting the spirit of God in his workings by which he deceived the people of the earth But these deceits and hypocrisies of this beast being perceived by the Saints of God he is forced to flee into some other forme to hide himselfe under some other disguise being closely beset and driven up into a narrow compasse must fly farther for succour and refuge and is compelled to make some other image or pretence to shelter himselfe This being the third day Lastly We have the halfe day in which time we have the image that the last beast causeth to be set up Revel 13. 14. The beast being changed into an image comes forth more refined moreglorious in shew pretending the greatest reformation of all as being the last refuge that Antichrist hath the last terme of time he hath to raign the halfe day and therefore now he puts on his best dresse and cloths himselfe with his finest ornaments This halfe day and last appearance comes neer Rome to our owne times and therefore I shall not describe those that set up the image of the beast by any proper name but rather by these six particulars following that we shall collect from that place in Revel 13. from verse the 14. to the end of the Chapter First They that set up the image of the beast arâ— those that will make Disciples unto Christ by a humane power and by pressing some externall comformity upon men they will convert the world into a Church and make many to be Christians against their wills and hence it is that there are so many poor darke and carnall professors of Christ Now this is diametrically opposit to Christs rule who prevailes upon the heart by meeknesse and gentlenesse and doth gaine upon the soule by truth and righteousnesse and winne upon the affections with peace and love Christ doth not use any coactive or constraining power to compell men to be subject unto him but of an unwilling people he makes them willing by the swavity sweetnesse of divine grace working upon their hearts But contrarily these advance their Church by humane force and worldly power causing all that will not worship the image of the beast to be killed Thus by force and cruelty they make Disciples or rather make many hypocrites bring many under the force of Religion that know nothing of the power of godlinesse Secondly Those that cause an image to be made they prescribe rules of worship service according to their own fancy and invention Hence it is said vers 15. They cause the image to speake That is by constituting and appointing platformes of worship advancing their owne devices and directories above the lawes and institutions of Christ These onely will define what is truth and what not as comprehending the whole mystery of truth within their systems or models of divinity as if they were the onely Cisternes of living water and the very oyle that must cause the lamp to shine making themselves to be the very treasury and storehouse of all wisdome and knowledge and thus they sit down in Christs Throne and Temple officiating his office and authority robbing him of his dignity and glory by putting of his crowne upon their own heads Thirdly These cause all to worship the image which they set up and by humane force and secular power doe compell all men to follow their edicts and platformes to observe their invented ordinances and devised worship It hath been the custome that the Clergy so called must first study the faith and afterward the earthly powers would confirme it by some civill sanction and so enforce their owne devices upon the consciences of people Hence it was that the late Bishop that suffered here in England did professe at his death that he dyed in that Religion that was established by law Now Christ doth never call up the powers of the earth to rule and beare sway in his kingdome The Lawes by which Christ doth rule by are the law of the new creature and of love the law of his word and spirit by these he doth enforce a sweet compliance of the heart unto the will of God The law of Christ is most heavenly and divine and it is of the most constraining force and of the most indispensible necessity of any law This is called the law of liberty because it frees the soule from the vassallage and power of mans devises and brings the soule into a reall compliance with the divine will Thus Christ doth change the minde renew the spirit and alter the constitution of the soules of men and so make them subject unto his own kingdome while Antichrist doth enforce many to his kingdome to yeeld blind obedience unto him by vertue of some humane law or secular power Fourthly those that undertake to set up the image of the beast they enforce some marke or badge to every one as a token of subjection unto their way or invented forme of worship Revel 13. 16. These require worship and homage of all sorts both small and great and cause them to receive a mark in their right band by some externall obligation and in their forebeads as some badge to be knowne by otherwise none may buy or sell or have any communion with them or enjoy any power or priviledge that they themselves doe enjoy So that these give forth some Character or mark whereby all that come under them may both be knowne to be of them and also engaged unto them Fiftly Those that erect the Image of the beast have not the power of the beast because all they set up is but a statue image or shadow We must remember the time of the image is but the halfe day therefore short and hence it is that those that manage the worke of framing the image are hardly warme in their seats they are no sooner advanced
2. Now from this phrase of dropping we may argue that both Moses and Ezekiel had their prophesie from the Lord. For looke as the clouds from whence raine descends to mollifie the earth and to cause grasse and flowers to spring have not their water originally and natively in themselves but from the Sea and moistned places of the earth exhal'd and drawn up by the heat of the Sun so have not the Prophets a spirit of prophesie whereby they of themselves are able to discover divine mystery and revelation but it is drawne out of a full sea of that excellent knowledge and wisdome that is in God himselfe Then the Prophets must of necessity receive their message originally from God himselfe But Secondly They receive prophesie mediatly from Christ unto whom the Lord hath committed the whole administration of all things concerning his Church and kingdome And we have that passage 1 Sam. 3. 21. The Lord revealed himselfe unto Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. By the word of the Lord is here meant Christ the eternall word by whom the Lord doth reveale himselfe as in Joh. 1. 18. So that Christ is brought in by way of mediation as by whom the Lord should reveale himselfe Suitable unto this is that passage in Genes 19. 24. The Lord rained upon Sodome and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven The Lord raining brimstone by the Lord is meat that the Lord did administer judgement by Christ as Mediator Christ is here brought forth acting in the office of his mediatorship though according to his divine nature he acts immediatly from himselfe without such dependance or subordination yet I say as Mediator he receives from the father and so communicates what he receives unto his Saints Thus you see from whom these Prophets receive power to prophesie and that 's from the Lord himselfe First from God originally Secondly from Christ as Mediator Secondly by what meanes the Lord doth thus impower these Prophets and that is first by his word Secondly by his Spirit First It is by the word that these Prophets are enabled to give forth their testimony Christs Commission to his Disciples was to preach the word Matth. 28. 19 20. And Christ is sayd to ride prosperously on the word of truth Psal 45. 4. John beares record of the word of God Revel 1. 2. The Saints were slaine for the word of God Revel 12. 11. This word is the sword that proceeds out of Christs mouth Revel 1. 16. The word being called the sword of Christ imports that it is full of efficacy and power of great force and prevalency discerning the thoughts and subduing the imaginations of the heart This is that spirituall weapon whereby the Saints are able to encounter with their enemies and to overcome the evill one to testifie against Antichrist Secondly by the Spirit which gives life and power unto the word The Gospel is called the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. because the Spirit joynes it selfe with the word and makes it a quickning and powerfull word And therefore it is that Christ saith My words are spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. Christs word doth not go forth as a dead thing but as a quickning power not as a killing letter but as a powerfull spirit So that the word cannot be separated from the Spirit nor the Spirit from the word they both joyntly concur and agree in one The word is the habit or clothing of the spirit and the spirit is the life and power of the word by these meanes namely the word and spirit are the witnesses impowered to prophesie Secondly the title given unto those that testifie against Antichrist they are called witnesses This appellation is given to Christ being called the faithfull witnes Revel 1. 5. And the true witnesse Chap. 3. 14. Likewise he was promised to be given as a witnesse to the people Isa 55. 4. Therefore he tells Pilate that he came into the world to beare witnesse of the truth Joh. 18. 37. In like manner are the Saints called Witnesses as being called forth to testifie of the will minde of God before the world Thus it was sayd of John Baptist that he was sent as a witnesse of the light Joh. 1. 7. And to him meaning to Christ gave all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10. 43. The Saints that suffered for Christ suffered for the witnesse of Jesus Revel 20. 4. There is one place where by the Prophet both Christ and the Saints are brought in as joynt witnesses where the Lord speaking of his people sayth Ye are my witnesses and signifying of Christ farther saith And my servant that I have chosen Esa 43. 10. So that as Christ doth receive a message from the Father he doth truly and faithfully give forth his testimony as appeares in Joh. 3. 32. So also the Saints that receive his word and declare their testimony of his truth do set to their seal and witnesse of the truth as it is in Jesus and doe give forth testimony thereof before the world Thirdly The number of these witnesses and they are two Some say that there are onely two eminent persons here meant not exceeding the number expressed Others that thereby are meant the two Testaments so make the Scripture to be the witnesse here spoken of or else two in regard of their types which are presented to us by paires as Zerubbabel and Joshua the two anoynted ones and Moses and Elias that caused fire to come downe from heaven Also Moses and Aaron by whom the water in Aegypt was turned into bloud as we shall understand more in the sequell Or more especially they are called two witnesses in proportion to the Law that would not take an accusation unlesse asserted by two witnesses Matth. 18. 16. So here because there shall be a sufficient testimony given forth against Antichrist by the faithfull witnesses of Christ they are called two as most compleat and answerable to the Law Deut. 17. 6. Thus you have their number they are two Witnesses Fourthly Their office and employment follows They Prophesie Now in that they are stiled Witnesses and doe Prophesie wee are to consider two things First What we are to understand here by Prophesie Secondly What is the testimony they give forth By Prophesie wee may understand three things First to prophesie it is to foretell things to come to declare things that shall come to passe according to that saying in Esa 42. 9. Behold former things are come to passe and new things doe I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them Now though this be chiefly meant of Christ yet it is foretold by the Prophet as being first revealed to him So that prophesie is a dlvine prediction or a foretelling of things to come by a heavenly revelation Secondly to prophesie sometimes is meant of understanding the mystery of prophesie or of such things as are forespoken of as to open and declare the mystery
of his owne essence and glory made of a woman without the concurrence of a man that the seede of the woman might breake the Serpents head according to the promise made in Gen. 3. 15. Also he was made under the Law he observed the Law and made himselfe wholly subject thereunto He was in all things obedient that he might fulfill all righteousnesse by submitting to every ordinance of God Christ alwayes went about doing of good as preaching the kingdome of God and working of miracles both miranda and miracul◠were wrought by him to confirme his doctrine that he delivered Now in all these things he gave forth a testimony of the wisedome power and goodnesse of his father before the world This was the time of Christs prophesie in sackcloth being in much sorrow and sadnesse often tempted by Satan alwayes opposed by the Scribes and Pharisees and having finished his testimony suffered the death of the crosse And as for the time of Christs bearing witnesse was by computation from the time of his inauguration or instalment into his office mentioned Luk. 3. 23. unto the time of his death the same terme of time that here the witnesses are said to prophesie namely three yeares and a halfe This is one testimony that Christ gives forth by those transactions passed on him and by all those works wrought by him whereby he did worke salvation for all his people in his owne person The whole compendium and perfect draught of our salvation is effectually drawne forth by Christ Secondly Christ doth not onely give forth his testimony by what himselfe doth in his person for us but also by that frame that by his Spirit he worketh in us Christ no sooner lays downe his fleshly and visible appearance to the world but he appeares in a more spirituall and invisible way unto his Disciples supplying his corporall absence by his spirituall presence So that as his first dispensation was by his fleshly appearance in like manner his second dispensation is his spirituall presence according to his promise that when he should depart he would send the Comforter Joh. 16. 7. The Spirit doth testifie of the same things that Christ in his person did but in a more invisible and spirituall way for saith Christ The spirit shall take of mine and shew it unto you Joh. 16. 15. Now that visible testimony that Christ gave forth in his flesh by his preaching and miracles c. was more externall darke and in figure then his spirituall appearance and invisible operations in the soules of his people for by his casting forth Devills opening the eyes of the blinde and healing the sicke and the like he did by such outward external prefigurations shew what he would doe by his Spirit by cleansing enlightening and healing of his people by the inward working of his power spirit and righteousnesse The salvatiō that Christ hath wrought outwardly the same he works in wardly by the reall operation of his Spirit in the hearts of his people Hence the Apostle saith Christ is formed in us Gal. 4. 19. The life and death the workes and image of Christ are set up and formed in the hearts of beleevers Thus we see that Christ gives forth a testimony in spirit as well as in flesh and in his spirituall presence as well as in his fleshly appearance Thus we have the ground why Christ is called two olive trees First in respect of his two natures divine and humane Secondly in relation to his twofold dispensation the one in flesh the other in spirit Now it followeth that we shew why Saints are called two Candlesticks The grounds are two First Because they consisted both of Jewes and Gentiles whereas mention is made but of one Candlefticke in Zach. 4. because it signified the Jewes onely by whom was represented the great Congregation of Saints But here the Churches of Christ being made up of Jew and Gentile of the Circumcision and uncircumcision they are called two And thus the whole compleat number of Saints and Churches were mentioned Chap. 1. But I doe not conceive this to be the maine reason therefore consider Secondly The Saints receive and consequently give forth a double testimony the one as it were fleshly low and earthly the other more spirituall and heavenly Suitable to the state condition frame and dispensation that Saints are under accordingly they hold forth a testimony of Christ In respect of the Corinthians weaknesse the Apostle tells them they were carnall and as babes in Christ and of himselfe he saith in respect of his divine visions and revelations that he was in the third heaven or Paradise of God Now concerning this twofold witness or testimony we have it fully expressed and set forth in 1 Joh. 5. 7 8. For there that beare record in hearen the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one And there are three that beare witnesse in earth the Spirit and the Water and the Bloud and these three agree in one Now by beaven and earth we are to understand of the state of the Saints in their severall conditions and stations either carnall and fleshly or spirituall and heavenly We shall take notice thereof distinctly First the witnesse or testimony in earth presents us with the coming of Christ in flesh who came by water and bloud The water and bloud that issued out of Christs side Joh. 19. did answer to the legall washings and sacrifices of the Jewes the one by water the other by bloud Hereby is signified first Sanctification or the spirituall washing the silth and uncleannesse of sinne as with water Secondly Justification whereby the heart of a Saint comes to be freed from the guilt and charge of sin and this is as by bloud Now as Saints eyeing Christ coming by water and bloud they apprehend him to be a sufficient and comfortable Saviour justifying of their persons sanctifying of their natures and so are satisfied in cōscience in respect of Christs full expiation of and satisfaction for sin Now the Spirit comes in and gives its testimony unto these for it 's sayd these agree in one The Spirit doth give forth a testimony thorow justification and sanctification thus represented by bloud and water Now this is called the testimony in earth as being weake and low in comparison of that which is far more spirituall and heavenly The Saints under this dispensation and state give forth a suitable testimony these are able to testifie of the pardon of sin of the appeasing of the conscience and of reconciliation and also against the power of sin the accusation of Satan and the condemnation of the Law c. This here is called the testimony in earth as being weak and low in respect of the other this is the first testimony that the Saints receive and consequently that they give forth before the world Secondly we have a testimony in heaven or a more divine and heavenly witnesse and this is the immediate and single witnesse
of the Spirit that the Apostle doth intimate saying The spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirits c. Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit doth seale adoption upon our hearts by witnessing to our spirits or with our spirits our spirits being renewed and witnessing to the truth of God his spirit doth concur and agree with our spirits in the same testimony Now the Father Word and Spirit that beare this heavenly record are not said to agree in one but they are one they are one in essence and nature but distinct in operation and discovery The father is the originall and fountaine of blessednesse and therefore called the father of lights Jam. 1. 17. As being the root of all wisdome and knowledge and every other good thing The Son is the very forme and appearance of divine excellency and therefore called the image of the invisible God Col. 1. 15. for in him we behold the glory of God as in a glasse or image which in it selfe is invisible and undiscernable The Spirit is that which doth make an irradiation or discovery of the Father and Son The spirit of truth saith Christ shall testifie of me Joh. 15. 26. Now these three are one in essence and being they goe forth together in one they give a single and pure testimony immediatly and without any medium coming between To this purpose observe a passage spoken by Christ when he saith If any man love me he will keepe my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Joh. 14. 23. But how is it that both the Father and the Son will come to abide and lodge in the cottage of the beleevers heart that is onely by the sending forth the spirit that Christ had promised as a Comsorter which was to be the Chariot of the Son and of the Father in one Here is the Trinity in unity viz. the Father and Son both coming forth in the Spirit and dwelling in the hearts of his people Now this testimony of the Father and the Son and Spirit in One is that divine and heavenly record that gives a sure evidence or evident assurance unto the heart of the riches and glory of God the love and goodnesse of Christ the light and truth of the Spirit whereby the soule of a beleever is made to sit downe in heavenly places with Christ and rejoyce in a pleorophery or full assurance of faith to triumph in the evidence of divine love to be satisfied in the true image of righteousnesse and heavenly life engraven in the heart Now accordingly as the Saints receive in this testimony so they demonstrate the same before the world as being alwayes ready to give forth what ever they receive from the Lord. Such as have received this heavenly witnesse are able to give out a far more glorious testimony of the truth and glory of God then those that have received the former earthly testimony even as the Disciples were more enlarged by the testimony of the Spirit then they wereby their being present with Christ in the flesh Thus we perceive the ground why the Saints are called two Candlesticks First because they consisted of Jewes and Gentiles Secondly because they receive and consequently give forth a twofold testimony the first earthly the second heavenly Now lastly we are to enquire how Christ intimated here by the two olive trees should be joyned with the two Candlesticks and brought in as a witnesse in sackcloth in the severall ages and times of the raigne of Antichrist and seeing that all this hath been done since Christ left the earth Unto which I answer First Christ and his Saints make but one compleat body are joyned as head and members being knit together by one Spirit This the Apostle doth affirme in 1 Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so is Christ for by one spirit we are baptized into one body As it is in the naturall body so it is in the spirituall which consisteth of diverse members and they of different offices and operations yet they make but one body The Church is called the fulnesse of his body that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 23. as Christ is the fulnesse of all spirituall supply unto his Saints so his Saints are the fulness of his body both would be defective and as it were maiâ—â—d if they were seperated or disunited one from the other Now in as much as Christ and his Sâ—iâ—ts make but one and both make up but one body Hence it is that the testimony of the Saints is attributed to Christ he being joyned with them in prophesie even in the dayes of Antichrists â—â—igne Secondly though Christ be absâ—nt in body yet is present in spirit and by his spirit doth abide with his people continually and â—â—â—ble them to prophesie Christ himselfe gave forth nâ— other testimony then that he received from the Father for 〈…〉 â— of my selfe doe 〈…〉 as I 〈…〉 John 5. 30. Even so the Sâ—iâ—ts 〈◊〉 cannot beare witnesse unto the truth bat as they are enabled thereunto by the spirit of truth That which we have seen and heard saith the Apostle declare we unto you c. And this is 〈…〉 which we have heard of him 1 Joh. 1. 3. 5. So that the Saints receive their message and testimony from the spirit of Christ and accordingly they prophesse And in this respect Christ may also be sayd to prophesie in these latter times Thirdly the testimony of Christ and his Saints is one and the same The Saints of old gave forth their testimony in their appointed times and seasons they did beare witnesse to the truth of God against the same spirit of wickednesse that was acted in their dayes even as the witnesses in sackcloth have done under the powerfull raigne of the beast Thus did Mordicay and the Jewes testifie against the pride cruelty of Hammon Thus did Christ himselfe when he was present upon earth testifie against the hypocrisie and wickednesse of the Scribes and Pharisees And thus hath the Saints in all the dayes and ages of the man of sin given forth a faithful testimony for the truth of Christ opposing the falshood and deceit of all the wayes of the man of sin Thus we see that the very testimony of the Saints is the testimony of Christ it 's Christs cause and quarrell they are engaged in well therefore may Christ be brought in and joyned with the witnesses here Fourthly and lastly Christ doth not performe this here spoken of him in his person but in his members 't is not Christ immediatly and by himselfe but mediatly and by his Saints It 's Christ mystically that is alwayes opposing of Antichrist Suitable unto this is that passage in 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. speaking of Christ saith That he went by the spirit and preached unto those spirits now in prison having been disobedient unto the
word of God and despised his long-suffering in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was preparing Here that which Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse did is attributed unto Christ because Noah was but instrumentall in the businesse it was Christ in the spirit that put himselfe forth in and through Noah In like manner it was sayd that whatsoever the prisoners did in the prison Joseph was the doer of it Gen. 39. 22. because they did it by warrant leave from him or by his dictation commandement Just so Christ is sayd to prophesie all the dayes of Antichrist because his people receive their commission and power from him as managing of his cause and quarrell It is sayd in vers 8. that Christ was crucified in Egypt and in Sodome which cannot be meant of Christ's person because he was crucified at Jerusalem but it 's meant of Christ in his people his Saints being overcome and killed in spirituall Egypt and Sodome So that we sâ—e plainly that the testimony that these witnesses give forth is Christ's testimony it 's Christ in his Saints it 's the power of the most high one in his people In these respects Christ is brought in as having a share in this prophesie under the powerfull raigne of the beast From this whole verse thus opened take this one observation That all and Observ every one of the Saints are Gods witnesses The witnesses here meant cannot be onely appropriated to Magistrates and Ministers or to any two eminent persons neither are they to be restrained to those onely that suffered martyrdome in their bodies but of all Saints of evâ—ry individuall Saint of what quality or degree soever that gives forth a testimony of the truth of Christ all that doe according to their measures and abilities continually oppose the wayes and devices of Antichrist Christ the great and faithfull witnesse as the olive treâ— doth powre out his oyle of divine spirit into the Câ—ndlesticks of his people whereby they are enabled to shine as lights in the middest oâ— all the perverse generations of men and among ali the gain sayers of the truth The Propheâ— testifieth that the Lord will sinite the earth with the â—oâ— of his mouth and with the breath of his lips will destroy the wicked Esa 11. 4. The Saints of the most high have the everlasting word of God abiding and dwelling in their hears and as they hold forth the testimony thereof they are the very lips and breath of the Lord whereby â—e bruiseth his enemies and bâ—eaks â—hâ—n in pieces The Apostle doth affiâ—â—e that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christs coming 2 Thâ—s 2. 8. Now what is the brightnesse of Christâ— coming but his gloâ—â—ion rayes and bright bâ—â—mâ—s of heavenly diâ—coveries of light and truth that he shine forth withall through his people The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to consume by degrees to wast a thing by little and little untill it be consumed and come to nothing So shall the dissolution of Antichrist be by degrees by little and little even as the Lord shall be pleased to encrease and double his Spirit upon his people whereby they are enabled to testifie against the beast his image against the false Prophet and the deceiver and thus by degrees shall the man of sin be destroyed Now we perceive that it 's not onely for the wise and learned neither for the great and mighty ones to testifie of Christ or that they are those by whom Antichrist should be destroyed but it s for Saints of all degrees for every member how poore how meane soever that have received of that holy oyle from Christ the true olive tree that shines forth with the glorious testimony of Christ I say every such one is a Prophet and witnesse of the Lord. Then all those poor low and despised ones that have according to their measures and attainments given forth their testimony for Christ his truth against Antichrist and his falshood all the times of persecution as it were in the wildernesse and in sackcloth these I say are the witnesses here spoken of these are the two Candlesticks who receive a full supply from the two olive branches these stand before the Lord of the whole earth holding forth the word of truth and the testimony of Jesus in opposition to the man of sin that wicked one that son of perdition Such honour have all his Saints though in the wildernesse and clothed with sackcloth though under much persecution and trouble yet these are the Candlesticks of the Lord set by the true olive tree Jesus Christ receive of his oyle into themselves they together with Christ stand before the Lord of the whole earth and shine as lights in the world So much for the discovery of whom is meant by the two witnesses It followeth VERS 5. And if any man hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed HAving made a large description of the witnesses declaring who they are and what their businesse Now we come to shew how they are impowered to deale with their adversaries whereby we perceive the powerfull effects of their prophesie If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. In this verse consider first the haâ—mful carriage of the adversaries towards the witnesses If any man hurt them Secondly the means of defence or opposition made by the witnesses towards their adversaries fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. First the deportment of the adversary and that is expressed hypothetically or conditionally If any man c. whereby a certainty is affirmed This indefinite speech doth not imply that it should be a rare thing for men thus to doe but rather a certainty of punishment should be inflicted upon all those that should any way oppose these two faithfull witnesses If any man hurt them c. It cannot be meant as though few should hurt or injure them but rather that there should be no exception of persons amongst any that should hurt them none should goe unpunished for any exterior adjuncts or qualities whatsoever let them be of any kinde ranke or degree they should suffer for their violence offered to them The certainty of the enemies opposing the witnesses is held forth by the doubling of the phrase So Joseph tells Pharaoh that by the doubling of his dream the thing was established Gen. 41. 32. But how are these witnesses hurt by their enemies First by restraining of their persons by persecution imprisonment banishment and the like It hath been the practice of the beast continually to make war with the Saints with those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Revel 11 17. Secondly by rejecting their testimony the enemy doth not onely go about to hinder the course of their testimony but also to turne the truth they hold forth into a
Trumpets and vialls the opening of each sea'e causeth a Trumpet to sound and each Trumpet causeth a viall of wrath to fall upon the head of the beast Christ openeth the seals by discovering of light and truth to his Saints The Saints sound the Trumpets by their holding forth and professing of the truth and every Trumpet sounded bringeth a viall of indignation and destruction to be powred forth upon the earth And thus the witnesses smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will Now give me leave to give you those observations that the words afford us First Observe That the testimony of 1 Observ the witnesses against the wayes and practises of Antichrist doth exclude them from the heavenly influences and sweet showers of divine grace There are not any of the wayes and practices or of the formes of worship that Antichrist doth uphold and exercise but at the prophesie of these witnesses they wither and are dried up as a dead branch that is severed from the root These have effectuall power to exclude all carnall and fleshly formes and worships of Antichrist from all refreshing showers and dews divine grace If these say this or that way is not of God 't is not the appointment of Christ 't is of man 't is his invention 't is fleshly and carnall I say presently upon the witnesse and testimony of the faithfull witnesses the heavenly dews and sweet distilling showers of divine grace have been shut up and they have had no raine but they have been blasted scattered and broken Suitable unto this is that in Revel 7. 1. And after these things I saw foure Angels standing in the foure corners of the earth holding the foure winds of the earth that it should not blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree These winds import the sweet gentle winds of the word and Spirit of God as appeares Cant. 4. 16. The foure Angels present us with the servants of Christ who by their witnesse and discovery of truth doe hinder and restraine those refreshing and fructifying gales of winde from blowing upon the earthly carnal and invented formes of worship that the earthly church doth hold forth by the power and prevalency of truth there is a stoppage made upon the errours and false wayes of Antichrist Such was the judgement the Lord threatned to the house of Israel for their unfruitfullnesse saving I will command the clouds that they raine no raine upon it Esa 5. 6. The Lord would so shut up the clouds that they should not raine upon his Vineyard that it might wither away with drought So in Jere. 3. 3. God did withhold the showers and the raine from the house of Israel This power is given to the witnesses that they shut heaven that it raine not all the dayes of their prophesie Secondly Observ That all the sweet 2 Observ and refreshing streames of comfort and supply that Antichrist lives upon are turned bitternesse and contention at the prophesie of the Witnesses Hence it is they have alwayes been accounted the troublers of the peace and quietnesse of the world were it not for the testimony of these witnesses the world would never be disturbed nor disquieted they could be at rest and peace and all their streames would be sweet their waters would never be disturbed they could d. Inke them downe merrily but that the witnesses prophesie against them saying these ordinances these formes of worships these gifts are humane carnall and fleshly presently their waters are turned into bloâ—d and contention into strife and debate into bi ternesse and confusion Suitable unto this is the effâ—ct of the third Trumpet Chap. 8. 11. The starre called wormewood fell into the third part of the waters and they became wormewood and men dyed of the waters because they were made bitter The star was called wormewood from the effect of it because it made the waters bitter the best of Antichrists doctrines ordinances and formes of worship which are as so many fountaines and streames of water they are now become as wormwood bitter and unsavoury And thus all the wayes of Antichrist are turned into blood and contention into wormwood and bitternesse bythe prophesie of these witnesses Thirdly Observ That the prophesie 3 Observ of the witnesse though in a meane low and sackcloth condition is of mightly force and power unto their adversaries All the evill that befalls Antichrist proceeds from the prophesie of the witnesses they by their declaration and profession of truth sound sorth the Trumpets and every Trumpet sounding doth cause a viall of wrath to be powred out upon the head of Antichrist Then needs must the force and power of their prophesie be great These smite the earth with all plagues and that as often as they will as often as they prophesie as often as they give forth their testimony of the truth of Christ they smite all earthly things all things that are carnall and fleshly are killed and slaine Then all the plagues famines warres in the world are occasioned by these witnesses all spiritual sicknesses weaknesses and consumptions issue forth of the mouths of these Prophets which torment the world In a word these powre out all the vialls of Gods indignation upon the beast that man of sin by the word of their testimony Here then take notice of all plagues with which these smite the earth by powring forth all the vialls VERS 7. And when they have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against them and shall overcome them and kill them HAving spoken of the active part of these witnesses how they were impowered to prophesie and thereby enabled to resist their enemies now here we are to proceed to speake of their passive part in that they should suffer from their enemies As these witnesses did most grievously torment Antichrist by smiting the earth with all plagues so in revenge we have Antichrist about to repay these witnesses for all the wrongs he doth receive The words hold forth the slaying and death of the witnesses and that when they have finished their testimony in which thing we have a plaine allusion unto the story of Christ's death resurrection and ascension as Christ finished his testimony and was slaine after which he rose againe and ascended so it falleth out with these witnesses Now from the words here concerning the death of the witnesses by the war made against them Consider these particulars First the time when they are slaine and that is when they had finished their testimony Secondly by whom they should be slaine and that is by the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit Thirdly the manner how they are slaine and that is expressed gradually by a threefold action of the beast who is sayd First to make war against them Secondly to overcome them Thirdly to kill them First of the time when these witnesses should be slaine and that 's declared to
Worships all the rules and authorities all the orders and services of Antichrist are but dead things and shall be judged as dead having nothing of the light of life of God in them Well may the nations be angry fret and vex and why the Lords wrath is come upon all Religion and glorious formes of worship they are judged but as dead bodies as empty Caâ—kâ—ses without any spirit or life at all and the glory of the worldly and carnall Church is now overturning and all is because it is but a dead Carkass and shall be consumed Thirdly In that these bodies lie unburied three dayes and a halfe observe That the dead bodies of the Witnesses are 3 Observ kept above ground all the time of Antichrists reigne As before their dead bodies viz. their outward formes of worship did lie in all the streets and dominions of Antichrist so also are they kept above ground in every age and period of time in which the beast doth reigne For these bodies have an agreement with the outward Court which is given to the Gentiles for forty two moneths This also is the time of the womans being driven into the wilderness a thousand two hundred and threesore dayes Chap. 12. 6. where she was nourished for a time times and halfe a time Ver. 14. So that these three dayes holds proportion with the forty two moneths the same time that Antichrist doth posses the outward Court so long doth he make make use of the bodies of the Witnesses Then it is not in some particular time or in some short period that the Beast shall rise up against the Witnesses but namely all time of his Raigne he shall make warre with the Saints slay their testimonie and make use of their dead bodies And though he could not endure the spirit truth that the Saints held forth yet hee knows how to make use of their externall forme and image which hee will not part withal so long as he is able to keepe it above ground untill the wrath of the Lamb come and that the dead shall be judged VERS 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth HEre wee have a farther carriage of the Adversaries towards the dead bodies of the Witnesses while they lye in the street of the great Citie and are kept from being interred or put in graves the men of the earth they rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets are tormented c. In the opening of these words observe 1. The persons brought in here acting And they are they that dwell upon the earth 2. Their actions They rejoyce make merry and send gifts one to another 3. The reason of this their acting Because these two Prophets tormented them c. The first of these to be considered is who are meant by the persons that are here stiled the inhabitants of the earth These are meant of worldly Christans such as serve Antichrist they are onely earthly and carnall they are without the Temple of God they live in the synagoguâ— of Satan These are said to dwell upon the earth Rev. 12. 12. And Chap. 13. 8. The Antichristian Church and faction are said to dwell upon the earth because they are earthly and carnall in opposition to the Saints who are said to dwell in heaven The Witnesses are stiled such as dwell in heaven Chap. 18. 20. And those that worship the Beast being their opposites are stiled those that dwell upon the earth The Saints under heavenly enjoyments heavenly discoveries of truth and light these dwell in Heaven in the glorious Temple in the holy tabernacle of God But the Antichristian Church and all the members thereof are cast out of heaven unto the earth there they inhabite and dwell they favour of the earth having earthly enjoyments carnall delights their condition state worship and contentment consisting all of earthly things The earth is their portion and they make their habitation in it Secondly the carriage of these earthly men towards the Witnesses dead bodies they rejoyce over them make merry and send gifts one to another This is an allusion to the practice of the Jewes when they had procured deliverance from the contrivances of Haman they solemnly feasted rejoyced and made merry sending portions one to another Hest 18. 19. So when the Lord had restored unto the Jewes their land their Citie the Temple and worship The people went their way to eate and to drinke and to send portions and to make great mirth Neh. 8. 12. Suitable hereunto is that of the Prodigall who when he came home the Father for joy kils the fatted Calfe and they rejoyce and make merry together Luk. 15. 24. So here the inhabitauts of the earth doe so well resent their killing and overcoming the Witnesses as that they solemnly rejoyce and make merry even as those that have obtained someeminent deliverance or that have received some excellent good thing or as if they had obtained some great and notable victory they set up some Trophies or Ensignes of Conquest And this they expresse in a feastival manner They eate and drinke and are merry and send portions one to another The summe of all is this that when the Adversaries shall think upon the dead bodies of the Witnesses that they maintain and keep them above ground without the true life and spirit they shall excceedingly triumph and make feasts in token of joy as in the old time and if they doe not this literally yet they shall as much and as really rejoyce as they that did such things and not only so but do what they can to make others rejoyce with them 3. Consider the reason why they do thus rejoyce and that is Because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth Wee may read tormented or had tormented not that they rejoyced because they were tormented by these Prophets but because they had overcome and killed these Witnesses of God that had alwayes tormented them now they thought they were rid of them and should not be troubled with them any more therefore it is that they of the earth do so greatly rejoyce The Witnesses torment the earth by inflicting just punishment and reward upon those that worship the Beast Their very witnesse and testimony is a great torment to the world The wine of Gods wrath and the cup of his indignation shall torment the earth and what is all this but the powring forth of the Vials occasioned by the prophesie of the Witnesses As they turned waters into blood and plagued the Earth with all plagues as we heard before so they torment the earth by their witnesse and prophesie Good reason hath the world to rejoyce when they can hinder the course of their testimomonie and keepe their bodies out of graves to their owne advantage and
be able to say the Lord will cut his worke in righteousnesse It is sayd that all Babylons plagues shall come in one day Chap. 18 8. that is all in some short time suddenly and beyond expectation So sudden shall be the rising of the witnesses when they come to the halfe day or last period of time Now I am most confident that it is the time of the sixt Trumpet in which time the witnesses are not to be slaine but to arise and ascend to God in the cloud and therefore the great expectation in the spirits of many Saints this day of some notable change and of some great manifestation of the kingdome of God doth predict to me the sudden rising of the witnesses The three whole dayes of the beasts raigne are past it 's the halfe day the dividing of time the time of the image of the beast and therefore the Saints shall shortly sing by experience that song Babylon is fallen is fallen Revel 18. 2. The Saints may sing and rejoyce their time of deliverance draweth neer the spirit of life appeares in some of them already and shall shortly shine forth in others by a discovery of that glory of the Lord that 's risen upon them these shall shine forth in the brightnesse thereof Many things in the consequent words of the Text will farther manifest that the witnesses are in rising Secondly Observe That the witnesses 2 Observ are enabled to arise by the mighty powerfull spirit of life from God Nothing but the mighty strong prevailing spirit of life can cause the witnesses to arise There 's no motion but it flows from life and there 's no true life but it flows from Christ and his spirit The first Adam was made a living soule the second was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. Christ is alive-making spirit it is the spirit that makes man to live a spirituall life This is the true life the spirit of life all spirituall actions flow from this life it is Christ living and acting in the soule Now it is the abundant flowing forth of this spirit of life that must cause the witnesses to arise It was the great and powerfull voyce of Christ that caused the dead to rise Joh. 5. So it must be the powerfull quickning inlivening filling reviving spirit of life from Christ that brings forth a resurrection to these two witnesses It is not a small measure of the spirit neither is it a spirit of prophesie as to foretel things to come or to see things at a great distance that will make the witnesses revive and stand upon their feet but the spirit of life when they shall know they live when all they act speake flows from that life their works and speeches are all living when they are able to say we live when they can declare the spirit of life from God lives in them then I say it is that causeth the witnesses to arise when this spirit lives in them whose property is to quicken and cause all things to live Thirdly Observe As there is a time 3 Observ when the witnesses lie slaine and dead so also there is a time when they shall revive and live againe They shall not alwayes be troden underfoot by the men of the earth and prophesie in sackcloth and be slaine by the beast that ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit and their bodies to lie in the streets of the great Citie that they should alwayes be made a scorne to their adversaries but they shall have a rising time when they shall cast off their sack cloth and mourning they shall stand upon their feet and rejoyce and then their enemies that rejoyced over them shall weep and lament If their enemies did know this they could not so much triumph over them For as the Prophet speakes Though they fall yet they shall rise againe Mich. 7. 8. These Prophets of the Lord may be eclipsed for a season and they may give forth their testimony faintly and weakly and in much weaknesse and darknesse but afterward they breake forth in greater lustre brightnesse then ever they did before Though they for a space lie dead their bones are dried as the Prophet speakes of Israel yet the Lord will by the operation of his divine power and by the spirit of â—ife enter into them he will cause their dead bodies to arise So that now they shall not act so much in the strength and power of the creature they shall not be upheld by the authority reason judgement and opinion of other men but they shall stand upon their owne feet they shall not live upon the strengâ—h of mans parts wisdome or argument but upon their own knowledgâ— experience and assurance of the spirit of life from God dwelling in them Now they shall not prophesie or foretell of good things to come or of deliverance at a great distance but they shall act and speake in the name of the Lord from the anoynting that dwells in them they shall onely move speake and act by that spirit of life that hath raised them from the dead Fourthly and lastly observe That 4 Observ the rising of the witnesses is a most dreadfull sight to the men of the earth The witnesses now arise from shame oppression and tyranny and how can it be otherwise but that their enemies that oppressed and tormented them should be much amazed and affrighted When Herod heard of the works of Christ he was much afraid saying It is John whom I have beheaded Mark 6. 16. So when the Lord shall raise up his servants from bondage and slavery from darknesse and weaknesse and shall lift them up into a higher condition what will the world say are not these they that we have persecuted and slaine risen up in the rule dominion and power of the kingdome of Christ The sight and beholding of this strikes the world dead at one blow This sight is terrible to all earthly men When the Souldiers came to apprehend Christ in the garden and did but heare Christ say I am he they fell downe backward So when the men of the earth shall heare and see the poore despised Saints to stand upon their own feet they shall fall backward they shall as Saul fall flat upon the earth they shall become heartlesse spiritlesse feare and trembling shall take hold on them The prophesie of the witnesses though but in sackcloth was a great trouble to the men of the earth they were disquieted and troubled at that therefore they were much comforted and refreshed in â—laying of them by hindering them in the course of their prophesie But now when they shall see them arise higher then ever O! this strikes the world to the very heart this is an exceeding terror amazement to them There is just cause for the earth to mourne at the rising of the witnesses because the liberty and glory of these shall be their bondage and shame as one of the scales of
the ballance goes downe when the other goes up so the honour prosperity dignity of these witnesses and of carnall men are inconsistent one with the other Then this amazement falls irrisistibly upon worldly men fearfullnesse and astonishment doth surprize them all palenesse of face and sadnesse of heart strikes the men of the earth when they thought they had slaine these Saints so that they should never rise more they thought they had made an utter riddance never to heare of them never to see them more unlesse their dead bodies and carkases to make merry withall but now that these should revive and live againe the sight of this nay the very thought hereof is like a milstone that breaks them in pieces and doth make their hearts to melt and their spirits to faile within them VERS 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld IN the former verse we heard of the witnesses resurrection here in this verse we come to treat of their ascention wherein we have an evident allusion to the resurrection and ascention of Christ And they heard a great voyce from heaven saying Come up hither c. In which words consider First the cause of the witnesses ascention They heard a voyce from heaven c. Secondly the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud Thirdly we have a speciall Adjunct of their ascention And their enemies beheld them We are no more to understand this ascention of theirs in the letter then we did of their resurrection but as we understood before a mysticall resurrection so now understand a mysticall ascention also Their killing was mysticall as being slaine in their testimony so of necessity we must understand their resurrection and ascention to be mysticall This having been formerly inculcated and now also premised that we are to enquire after a mysticall ascention We proceed to speak of the first thing viz. the cause or meanes of their ascention And they heard a voyce from heaven saying to them come up hither In these words observe First a voyce Secondly from whence it comes Thirdly to whom it speakes Fourthly what it speaks The first thing to be taken notice off is the voyce This voyce is no other then the very call of God the appointment of the Lord. The great voyce of his spirit 'T is not like the still voyce in which God did impart his minde to Eliah or the voyce speaking behinde his people but a great and mighty voyce like the sound of a Trumpet as it 's expressed in Revel 4. 1 2. This is a translating voyce changing the Saints into the voyce it selfe they are such as the voyce is as John confesses immediatly saith he I was in the spirit This voyce is the breathing forth of the spirit of God the spirit of the Lord appointing calling enabling directing the witnesses to ascend up to heaven and accordingly they doe ascend Secondly the place from whence this voyce cometh that 's from heaven that shews it is a most eminent powerfull and certaine voyce It 's the voyce of righteousnesse revealed from heaven it 's full of certainty the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it 's full of excellency coming from the excellent glory it 's powerfull and full of majesty it comes from heaven and brings the power of heaven along with it it prevailes in the thing unto which it was sent it commands all it carries all before it All the power of the earth is not able to withstand this great voyce Thirdly take notice unto whom this voyce is sent it speaks unto them namely the witnesses and faithfull servants of the Lord. This voyce speaks onely to the holy ones of God none else can understand it's language Those that accompanied Paul in his way to Damascus in Act. 9. heard a voyce but saw no man neither did they understand the meaning of the voyce that was spoken to Paul So the men of the earth may heare the outward sound of this voyce but they understand it not neither is it spoken to them it 's onely spoken to the witnesses and they heare it it 's directed to them and they onely understand it Fourthly what direction doth this voyce give forth it calls the witnesses to ascend saying Come up hither As if the Lord had said Come my people you have been clothed in sackcloth and ashes you have been made the reproach of the world and the Gentiles have trampled you under their feet you have lived upon the authority and opinion of men you have lived much below in the earth you have lived too far and remote from my selfe you have mourned as in the absence of the bridegroome but now you shall live so no longer Come up hither live in me in my glory in my spirit in my strength in my kingdome you shall have liberty peace and joy in me come up to me from under the captivity of Babylon from under the oppression of Egypt from amidst the filthinesse of Sodome come now enjoy my selfe my wisdome my strength my kingdome you shall now live upon my holy mountaine and there shall be no destroying beast you shall not be destroyed by your adversaries neither shall the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomles pit be able to make war w th you to overcome and kill you any more Here is the voyce of the Lord powerfully calling the bosome of the Lord opened in goodnesse and love the face of God shining forth in beautie and sweetnesse the hand of the Lord effectually reached out here are the gates of the new Jerusalem and of the kingdome of Christ set wide open and all comprehended in this most excellent and precious in this most transcendent and glorious voyce of the Lord expressed in these words come up hither Thus we see by what means the witnesses are made to ascend The mighty voyce of the spirit of the Lord enabling calling and directing them It comes from heaven having the majesty power certainty of heaven with it It speaks to the witnesses only because they onely understand it therefore directed to them And the glorious direction it gives forth it calls up the poore despised servants of the Lord to live in the power and kingdome of Christ saying Come up hither We now goe on to that which follows The second thing to be considered is the ascention it selfe And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud In the consideration hereof wee may consider three things First their action they ascend Secondly the place whether that 's up to heaven Thirdly the manner of their ascention It 's in a cloud Their action is to ascend which signifies some greater accession of honor dignity greatnesse and prosperity When Nebuchadnezzar once said I will ascend up to heaven I will exalt my selfe above the clouds Isa 14. 14. it's meant that he would in his heart be greater in
name honour strength and dignity then he had been formerly So the Witnesses shall ascend into a state and condition much more excellent then they had before enjoyed This ascention is diametrically opposed to their sack cloath condition to that meane and low condition these Witnesses had lived in while they were under the power and raign of the beast This ascention is not a carnall or bodily transmutation or a motion from place to place but of a mutation of state and condition 't is an ascention unto more liberty freedome knowledg strength and glory then they had lived in before Secondly the place unto which they are to ascend and that 's to heaven the kingdome of Christ is mystically called Heaven The Saints are said to dwell in Heaven as Antichrist is said to dwell in Earth the meaning is they shall ascend into a more heavenly condition of liberty power strength wisdome knowledge light and life They shall come to possesse the Kingdome of Christ and enjoy all the immunities thereof They shall live more in heavenly discoveries of God and Christ and his will their externall peace and internal glory shall be very heavenly and glorious And in this respect the Saints that shall sound forth the everlasting Gospel are said to be in the midst of heaven Chap. 14. 6. The Saints are called Heaven it selfe Chap. 18. 20. The multitude of Saints that shall sing Allelujah's and praises unto God upon the destruction of Babylon are called a people that dwell in heaven Chap. 19. 1. because they live in heavenly enjoyments and praises So here the Witnesses are said to ascend up to heaven in respect of that heavenly and glorious condition and state that the Lord will advance his people unto when hee shal wholly break the power of the beast and advance his people to partake of the glory and dignity of his owne kingdome Thirdly wee have the manner how these Witnesses ascend that 's in a cloud This great thick Cloud that God draws over the Earth and with which he doth over-shadow the face of all things this is that darkness that confusion division contest warre envie this I say is that dark cloud that the Lord hath drawn over the face of the Earth Hath not God drawn this black cloud upon the affairs counsels wisdome and actions of men the order government peace prosperity of the world is all over-shadowed men know not where they are nor what they doe when they goe too fast nor when too slow the very hearts and affections of men are divided the world is full of contests and wars and confusions and there is such a mist upon mens spirits that they scarce know which way to turn themselves It 's in this cloud of confusion in which the Witnesses do ascended We cannot but remember that the Lord brought his people from Aegypt by dividing of the Sea by separating of the great waters so wil the Lord raise up his Saints by dividing of the men of the earth the great Sea or peoples of the earth by dividing of them by confounding of the wisdome and policie of the world by dashing one part of the earth against another I say in this manner and by this means the Lord will cause his faithfull ones to ascend Lastly we have that special Adjunct that is hereunto annexed And their enemies beheld them By their enemies we are to understand People Nations Kindreds and Tongues with all the inhabitants of the Earth All worldly carnall Antichristian men these shall behold them to their griefe and vexation This is mentioned first as to the torment and excessive grief that the Adversaries shall take when they shall see them that they have despised trampled upon and contemned to be lifted up to ascend unto honour and dignity unto life and glory And secondly it 's mentioned in the praise and happinesse of those that doe ascend in the view of their Adversaries As the Prophet makes it an augmentation of bounty that the Lord should spread his table in the midst of his foes Psal 23. So this is an addition to their honour they shall ascend in the midst of their Adversaries in their view and before their eye This is the saddest sight that earthly men can behold they shall see them ascend and shall not be able to stop their passage this shall be as worm-wood as gall and bitternesse to their spirits this shall even make them gnash their teeth but they shal not be able to help themselves The words being thus far opened we now come to raise some observations from them First observe That the Witnesses are 1 Observ enabled to ascend by the powerfull voyce of the spirit of God They can never rise nor ascend until they are called up to the Lord by this great voyce this loud heavenly voyce this voyce of Majestie and glory Antichrist was able to suppresse and keepe under these two Prophets of the Lord untill the Lord comes and raises them up by his owne voyce and command If all the world should call upon them to arise they could not untill the Lord speake the word and say Come up hither When the Lod speaks with a heavenly voyce it is so full of love and joy of light and life that every thing in the hearts of his doe heare his voyce every faculty every member all parts heare and obey The soule is never willing to ascend untill the Lord calls by his eternall voyce and that hath such force and power such excellency and and majestie that it removes every obstacle out of the way and sets aside every thing that would hinder And again this voyce is so great so powerfull carries with it so much authority that the men of the Earth cannot hinder their rising If the Lord speak with a powerful voyce to the world â—o Antichrist to the men of the Earth Let my people ascend lâ—t them come up hither all the force power policie of men shall not hinder them This voyce is dreadful to the men of the earth and doth so much affright them that they are forced at last as once Pharaoh was to let the Israel of God goe and ascend out of Aegypt to Jerusalem from bondage to liberty from weaknesse to strength from persecution to dominion from light to darknesse from Earth to Heaven Now the Saints are taken up to live in heavenly comforts and joyes in heavenly discoveries of â—ight and life in heavenly immunities and priviledges And all this is done by the great the mighty and powerful voyce of God Secondly observe from the ascention it selfe That the Witnesses have their 2 Observ time of triumph and rejoycing as well as they have a time of sack cloath and mourning When they ascend they shal shake off their sack-cloath and mourning they shal ascend farre higher unto an estate of more liberty honour peace and glory then their former estate was They shall not alwayes be made the scorne and reproach of the
indued with all power in heaven and earth Matth. 28. 18. Christ hath not onely propriety in the holy Citie but the ends of the earth are his possession Now all the Saints are the anointed of the Lord gathered up into that one anointed and therefore shall raigne with Christ as it 's sayd He hath made us Kings and Priests to our God and we shall raigne on the earth Revel 5. 10. The Lord shall raigne and his Chirst must raigne and all the Saints the anointed ones of the Lord these being all comprehended in the one anointed Christ these shall raigne with the Lord. As the Lord comes forth in Christ Christ in his Saints so the Saints shall ascend into Christ and Christ into the Father and so all in one they raign in the glory of God whereupon the speech of Christ shall be eminently fullfilled in Joh. 14. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father and you in me and I in you The power of God falls upon Christ and Christ becomes a quickning spirit in all his Saints that he might by his power put forth in them rule over the Nations So that we see the right of all Nations belongs to the Lord originally and to Christ his anointed and to all Saints as being the anointed ones of the Lord they all making up the fulness of the anointed one of God These have right to all the glory power riches excellencies of the earth it 's theirs they shall possesse the power and strength the riches and glory of the earth these shall raigne and the earth shall be filled with the glory of God Then there are none have right unto the kingdomes of the world but the Lord and his anointed all other are but pictures and images of government and rule their power and authority was lent them from the Lord and now he will take it againe to himselfe whose owne it is now he will cast forth the men of the earth and shake them from the seat of greatnesse and dominion and now the kingdomes of the world shall be given to the holy ones of God to the anointed of the Lord and they onely shall raigne First the Manner of Christ's raigne is that to be spoken off in the next place that Christ shall raigne in and by his Saints for they having overcome shall sit downe upon Christ's throne as Christ hath overcome and is set downe upon his Fathers throne Revel 3. 21. The Saints shall judge the world and Angels 1 Cor. 6. 2. That is they shall not onely judge poore low earthly things but things of an Angelicall and most excellent nature It 's the Lord through his Saints that shall judge the Nations with righteousnesse and governe the people with truth Psal 67. 4. 7. This glorious dispensation of Christ shall be administred by his Saints the Saints or the Lord in them shall judge the world that is they shall fust of all destroy and throw downe all confusion and disorder and afterwards save and governe the world they shall give settlement in the Nations by a right ordering of all things civill and spirituall Now as for the personall and fleshly reigne of Christ that is asserted by many Godly men whom I love and honour I shall not at all undertake either to affirme or deny that opinion but I shall say with them the kingdome of Christ is at hand I dare not say it is a far off though I cannot describe the manner of it but of the spirituall raigne of Christ which none deny I shall speake off from these foure reasons First The spirituall reigne seemes to me to be the most glorious appearance and manifestation of Christ unto his people and hence the Apostle did not desire to know Christ any more after the flesh 2 Cor. 5. 6. And therefore I believe that Christ by the spirituall manifesting of himselfe in and through his Saints will first break downe the powers of the world and then administer righteousnesse unto the earth Secondly the spirituall raigne of Christ doth most of all besuite the glory spirituality of his kingdome Christ tells Pilate that his kingdome was not of this world that is it was not fleshly or carnall but of a spirituall nature and quality Christ coming in the spirit to his Disciples did more enlighten comfort and spirituallize them then his fleshly presence did In Esa 11. 2 3. It 's sayd of Christ that he should not judge after the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his eares c. That is he shall not judge according to outward appearances but according to righteous judgement The glory of the Saints in the latter dayes shall be spirituall their knowledge spirituall their comforâ—s and joys shall be spirituall yea Christ shall raigne by his divine presence in his people of whom shall be made up his spirituall kingdome Thirdly It is by the spirituall appearance of the Lords brightnesse and glory that he will destroy Antichrist 2 Thes 2. 8. What is the word of Christs mouth and the brightnesse of his coming but the word of the witnesses testimony and the bright shinings forth of spirit life knowledge and righteousnesse in his people whereby the iniquity of the man of Sin is detected and laid open whereby Antichrist is destroyed as by fire wasting and consuming him to nothing Now by the same appearance as in his people will the Lord administer righteousnesse and goodnesse to the world as that whereby he doth destroy Antichrist Fourthly and lastly all the glory that is spoken of Christ and his kingdome that shall be in the latter age doth amount but to thus much that the Lord will eminently manifest his gracious and speciall presence with his people As in that 37 Ezek. latter end The Lord speaking of the glory he will bring upon his people saith I will Tabernacle with them and I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore c. The Lords presence and glory shall most of all appeare in the midst of his people he shall so manifest himselfe as to be admired in his Saints So what doth all the glory of the coming down of the new Jerusalem mentioned in Revel 21. imply but onely thus much Behold saith God I will Tabernacle with men and I will dwell with them Intimating thereby that as the Lord made the Tabernacle a signe pledge of his presence with his people so now in his last and most glorious discovery of himselfe it should be by the manifestation of his divine presence in his Saints by erecting the Tabernacle of his owne spirit life and glory in the middest of them And so much for the manner of Christs reigne It followeth Sixtly and lastly we are to consider the time and duration of Christ's reigne and that is expressed for ever and ever The raigne of Christ is an everlasting raigne he receives a kingdome that cannot be shaken there shall be no end of it his
The Mystery of the two WITNESSES UNVAILED Wherein wee have a Description of their persons time acts death and office manner of prophecie sufferings resurrection With the Consequences that follow TOGETHER With the seaventh Trumpet and the Kingdome of Christ explained by JOHN ROBOTHAM Preacher of the Gospel in Dover LONDON Printed by M. S. for G. and H. Eversden at the Greyhound in St Pauls Church-yard 1654. TO HIS EXCELLENCY the Lord Generall CROMWELL c. MY LORD IT is not for any worth performed on my part that I have taken the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or boldness here to prefix your name but rather from the subject matter of this ensuing Discourse it being an Exposition of the mystery of the two Witnesses wherein we have a description of their persons and prophesie their time and actions their death and resurrection together with the consequences that follow thereupon all which I humbly conceive may be very suitable for you As well for the greatnesse of your place and imployment as it 's necessary to be retained in your knowledge and judgment Therefore in the first place I present this to your Excellency as unto a choise faithfull witness of the Lord and after to all those that give forth their testimony for the truth and authority of Christ against the falshood and usurpation of Antichrist It 's most certain as the Apostle doth affirme that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christ's coming which is no other then his coming forth in the bright beames and glorious rayes of divine light shining forth in his people The Saints of the most High by the testimony they give forth are the rod of his mouth and the breath of his lips Whereby he will bruise his enemies and breake them in pieces Thus the true Spirit of Christ in the Saints shall darken and dry up that counterseit and corrupt Spirit of Antichrist that is abroad in the world But not withstanding the power and authority of the Beast shall be dissipated and broken as it were vi armis And hence it is that in these times the Lord hath appeared among us as a mighty man of warre clothed with his zeale as with a garment and hath indued his people with such masculine vertue strength that their hornes have been as iron and their hoofs as brasse whereby they have threshed the Mountaines and the hills as Chaffe And this they have not done by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord. It was the glorious appearance of GOD in the midst of his people that hath subdued these three Nations Now though Dutch Dane and French should combine against us yet shall the arme of the LORD awake for his people and shall as in former dayes cut Rachah and wound the Dragon he shall dry up the sea and the waters of the great deep It 's not an arme of flesh can doe this but a divine presence with an Army with whom are the hearts affections prayers and spirits of the Saints with a sweet complyance gathered up into and going along with them This causes the shout of king to be in the midst of us though the king in his person be taken away yet the everlasting King lives and shall take to himself his great power and raigne It 's a most undeniable truth that the sword hath been the originall of all kinds forms of government in the world it 's the mother of all power protection and preservation When any disturbance doth arise in a kingdome or Common-wealth whither do they run but unto a military power for succour and defence as not being able to subsist untill they do as it were resolve into their first principles And though the sword in it's selfe be a dark and sad dispensation eating flesh and drinking bloud it 's proper worke being to wast and destroy yet when t is accompanied with wisdom righteousness goodness and justice it becom good and desireable My Lord I have but three words more to speake The first is of you The second to you The third for you That of you is That the Lord hath so far honor'd you as to make you an instrument of glorious atchievements and hath made you head of your brethren and hath given you a name with the great ones of the earth but above all he hath bestowed on you the spirit of his Son which makes you most acceptable to himselfe and precious in the eyes of his people It 's a true saying Honor est in potestate hono heart and make it suitable to your worke that your will may be drawn forth to the extent of the divine will that your soule may have a true sympathy with God that your heart may be fortified against all stormes without feares within and that you may cast down your wisdome valour honour succeste at the feet of Christ so shall you take all up againe with unspeakeable advantage What ever you expend sor Christ in Christ you shall finde it againe Now that you may enjoy all in Christ spend all for him is the desire of him who shall indeavor to be in all faithfulnesse Your Excellency's humble servant JOHN ROBOTHAM To the Reader THe importunity of diverse Friends caused me to suffer these notes to passe abroad into the world they were taken by writing from my mouth my time and occasions would not permit to cast them into such a forme as would have best becomed the presse therefore thou shalt meet with truth coming forth in it's owne nakednesse without the clothing of humane Eloquence As for the matter it 's mysterious and therefore if in any thing wherein I may possibly be mistaken thy candour and ingenuity is desired to passe it by If thou art Criticall and thy aime be onely to espie out the faults either of the Writer Printer or Preacher I suppose thy time would be more advantagiously spent to search out the defects of thy own heart If thou wilt accept of it as it 's presented to thee with the right hand it 's all that 's desired by him that shall remaine thine in any office of love JOHN ROBOTHAM The Contents of the following Treatise concerning the principall things therein contained SIx things from the Book of the Revelation observed 1. The Author who indited it Pag. 2. 2. The Messenger who brought it idem 3. The Pen-man which writt it p. 3. 4. The forme into which it is cast id 5. The matter that is containes p. 4. 6. The parties unto whom it 's directed id The summe of the whole Chapter p. 5. From verse 1. we have 1. Johns call to measure p. 6 7. 2. His qualification p. 8. 3. The things to be measured 1. The Temple p. 9. 2. The Altar p. 10. 3. The worshippers p. 11. Observations from the words 1. Ob That the Lord doth suitably prepare his people to receive such things as himselfe doth impart unto them p. 12 13 14. 2. Ob