issue as to the Dragon is Rev. 20. That he is bound 1000 Years i e. restrained from former Persecutions and at last is utterly destroyed v. 10. CHAP. II. Of the Ten Horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1. IT is impossible to regulate our Knowledge in these Prophetical Matters or our ensuing Practice without rectified Apprehensions in what state the Roman Empire must be considered when it became a Beast I cannot concur with an eminent Writer in thinking the first â—east Rev. 13. 1. to be the Roman Catholick Visible Church For I cannot find that the claim of Universal Churchship was first before the claim of Universal Supremacy or Headship to make a second Beast Nor do the other Characters v. 3. 5 7. agree to that If that were the first Beast then who is the Whore that rideth upon the Beast Rev. 17. 3 7. Surely that is the pretended Roman Catholick Church and so that cannot be the Beast that is ridden upon Nor is the Church one of the eight Kings or seven Heads v. 11. and so cannot be the first Beast Nor is this first Beast Rome as under Pagan Emperours For then it had but seven Crowns and these upon the Heads Rev. 12. 3. Whereas this first Beast hath Ten Crowns and these upon the Horns Rev. 13. â— Because the Ten Horns assumed a Supremacy and Soveraignty which Crowns are Emblems of to themselves And this Beast is the Dragons Successor v. 2. and received a deadly wound in one of his Heads v. 3. Whereas although â—aganism was wounded by Constâ—â—â—â—ne the Great yet the sixth Head of Emperours was not wounded much less unto Death during the Dragon or Pagan State it was 〈…〉 this Beast nor wounded until the 〈…〉 were upon the Horns nor did Pagan Emperours continue forty two Months as this Beast doth Rev. 13. 5. Nor is the Pope the first Beast I am perswaded that the accounting him so hath caused divers mistakes in the matters of the Revelation as seeking the Eâ—ocha of the Prophetical days in him which should be found in another as this first Beast I grant that the Pope is the second two Horned Beast Rev. 13. 11 12. and Antichristian but I humbly conceive that there was a first Antichristian persecuting Beast up above two hundred years before the second Beast arose and so before the Pope became the two horned Beast and seventh Head Take my Notion under this Rule Rule 2. That the first ten horned Crowned Beast is a Civil State of the Roman Empire as broken or divided into ten persecuting Kingdoms For 1. The first Beast is distinct from the two horned Beast or these are two distinct Beasts and not barely a double Power Temporal and Ecclesiastical of the same Beast Here are many Notes of Distinction They have a different manner of rising One out of the Sea Rev. 13. 1. the Other out of the Earth v. 11. the former is wounded in one of his Heads v. 3. the latter is another Beast v. 1. 11 14. they are differing in Shape the first hath ten Horns Crowned v. 1. the second hath two Horns v. 11. Nay the second Beast exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast and that before him i. e. before the first Beast and therefore they are distinct yet some part of the time exist together i. e. the second Beast is up before the first is down else it could not be before him And hence it cannot be the same Beast considered as wounded as the first Beast and as healed as the second Beast For how could the second Beast as healed exercise the Power of the first Beast before him as wounded Seeing the wounded State as well as that before the wound is past when the healing time cometh and so it could not be before him if after the second Beast were up the first were not up also How can one act before another if both be not up together as distinct each from other even still in some respects And hence it is evident that it cannot be limited only to a double Power of the same Beast seeing whatsoever Power the first Beast hath the same the second hath also and so the first is in some degree subjected to the second if the first Beast did exercise Temporal Power then so did the second also for the second exerciseth not only some but all the Power of the first Beast v. 12. From all which it is evident that they are two distinct Beasts and that therefore the first Beast cannot be the Pope or seventh Head For there are but seven Heads in all Rev. 13. 1. Chap 17. 3 9. And if the Pope be the first Beast and seventh Head how can another distinct Beast come after and exercise all the Power of the first without making eight Heads And who should that second Beast be after Popes or seventh Head if the Pope be the first Beast 2. He to whom the Dragon resigned or gave his Power Throne and great Authority about the time of Crowning the Horns he is the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. Vpon his Horns ten Crowns And v. 2. The Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Now the Pope had not from the Dragon i. e. from Pagan Rome his Throne Power or Military Forces nor great Authority he had the same Seat before and at Crowning the Horns and therefore the Pope is not the first Beast but the Crowned Horns who had these as Alaricus 3. That which was Head of the Roman Empire after the rising of the first Beast received a deadly wound which afterward was healed Rev. 13. 1 2 3. I saw one of his i. e. of the Beasts Heads wounded as it were unto Death It was then one of the first Beasts Heads that was wounded and so in his time after he was up And therefore the Pope cannot be the first Beast or the seventh Head then for the Head of â—opes as it was not up so early as the Crowning of the Horns so did not receive a deadly wound he was rather in a rising than a falling posture thence forward But there was a manifest wound in the sixth Head of Emperours by Alaricus about Ann. 410. and others afterwards till about Ann. 475. in Augustulus that wound was so great that there were no Emperours in the West or at Rome till Charles the Great about Ann. 800. when the wound was after a sort healed again yet it had not the extent of the former Empire The manner and occasion take thus Alaricus took Rome and set up a Mock Emperour that he might bring the Majesty of the Imperial Scepter into Contempt and Derision he proclaimed Emperour One whose Name was Attalus and the same day they carried him up and down the Streets in the habit of an Emperour and the next day they made him serve as a Slave It 's said to be occasioned thus Alaricus having over-run many places sent Messengers to Honorius declaring that if Lands were granted to him and
his to dwell in he would cease spoiling of the Country Honorius not knowing how to recover France and Spain from the Suevians Vandals c. giveth Alaricus Power to go into France confirmed this Grant with an Oath Alaricus steering his Course towards France Stiâ—ico against the Covenant followeth him and made a great slaughter Alaricus not the least suspecting it before Hereupon the Goths snatching up their Arms and Alaricus exasperated by this injury and violation of Covenant turned back into Italy wasâ—ing with Fire and Sword and at last Rome it self was taken by him Socrat. 1. 7. c. 10. Cent. 5. c. 16. Funccâ—â—â— And whereas some grant that the sixth Head of Emperours was wounded and would have the Popes obtaining Headship to be the healing I confess I understand not how a wound in one Head should be healed by the rising up of another I think the wound is never healed unless the same Head that was wounded recovereth again But this is a granting the thing for it is not a Head of the Dragon but a Head of the Beast that is wounded Rev. 13. 3. One of his Heads and therefore if it be the sixth Head of Emperours that is wounded then that first Beast is not the Roman State under the seventh Head but under the sixth Head of Emperours 4. The first Beast is the Whore-ridden Beast Rev. 17. 3. I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast v. 4. 5. Rev. 13. 1. Now the Pope is rather carried by the Whore than the Beast that carrieth her and therefore this Beast is not the Pope Nor is the Turk this first Beast for this Whore doth not ride upon the Turk nor is Constantinople the City which in the days of John reigned over the Kings of the Earth nor did the Turk arise the same hour with the Crowning of the Horns as Rev. 17. 12. but hundreds of years after yet I deny not that the Turk may belong to the Beast after he obtained some Territories belonging to the Horns of the Beast It is therefore a Civil State of the Roman Empire 5. The Beast is both an eighth King and of the seven Heads Rev. 13. 1. And Rev. 17. 3 11. The Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and 〈◊〉 the seven There were but six when the 〈◊〉 did arise and the wound was of the sixth 〈◊〉 as I have proved and so must the eiâ—â—th be some distinct new kind of Government and if the 〈◊〉 Beast Rev. 13. 1. were Popes and the sevâ—â—th Head at his first rising then the Beast could not be the eighth and of the seven For I ask what distinct kind of Government or State of the Empire came after Popes to make an eighth King If it be said the Christian Emperours before the rising of the Beast I add that it was the same State of Government under Pagan and Christian Emperours though the qualifications and Actions of Governours were different both were Emperours And seeing after the sixth Head of Emperours two Beasts so different each from other are mentioned Rev. 13. 1 11. It is to me a wonder that men should not seek a way how the other six might by these two Beasts be made up eight Kings Thus the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. hath Ten Crowns upon the Horns or Kingly Government there which made a different sort of Government from the other six and so may be deemed a seventh King or sort of Government or an eighth if we will count it after Popes who maketh another as 2 Pet. 2. 5. God saved Noah the eighth Person the meaning is that there were seven saved besides Noah he was not the last of them in order but did make up that number So Rev. 17. 11. The Beast is the eighth that is there are seven besides seven others and so with him there are eight The Beast is the eighth in number not necessarily that he is eighth or last in order Hence he aâ—deth and of the seven he doth not say he is the seventh so warily doth the Apostle speak here It is said of this Beast it was is not and yet is Rev. 17. 8 11. was in its Ten Horns crowned before the deadly Wound is not in respect of perfect Headship when wounded for the Head is said to be wounded as it were unto death Rev. 13. 3. and yet is when the Wound was healed Rev. 13. 3. 6. The Pope obtained not any Civil Supremacy over the Empire till hundreds of years after the Horns were crowned and so after the first Beast was â—â— therefore the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. is not the Pope or seventh Head For the crowning of the Horns or their receiving Power as Kings is the same hour or the first hour with the Beast Rev. 17. 12. All the former Heads were Civil Heads as Kings Consuls c. and therefore so must the seventh be also And indeed how is it possible that Popes should be reckoned a Head of the Roman State or Civil Monarchy or succeed and come in the place and stead of the sixth Head of Emperors which was a Civil Head until they obtain a Civil Supremacy as Emperors and others had â—hocas his constituting Boniface the third Universal Bishop Anno 606. is evidence enough that the Bishop of Rome had not then obtained a Civil Supremacy but was under the Head of Emperors still seeing he was beholden to them even for his Ecclesiastical Supremacy and yet the first Ten Horned Crowned Beast was up long before this Indeed there is evidence that a long time after the crowning of the Horns yet Emperors were the Supream Head and the Popes of Rome subordinate or subject to them Bonifacius writing to Honorius saith God hath given you the Regiment of worldly things and the Priesthood to me Even the Councils for spiritual matters were called by the command of Emperors many years after as Phil. Morney Knight in his Mystery of Iniquity hath largely proved And claiming Supremacy or aspiring after Civil Headship is no obtaining it any more than John Bishop of Constantinople his claiming and assuming the Title of Universal Bishop about Anno 590. did make him Ecclesiastical Head over the Bishop of Rome in that day The Temporal Supremacy of the Pope cannot be proved until a long time after and so he could not be the first Beast And to say that his Ecclesiastical Power made him the first Beast and his Temporal the second is to invert the Order of Rev. 13. 17. which ascribeth that to him as a second Beast 7. All the other Characters of the first Beast agree to the Civil State of the Empire with ten Horns crowned persecuting and so the complex body of them or as headed by Emperours make that Beast Rev. 13. v. 3 4. When the Wound was healed then all the World wondred after the Beast Charles was called the Great because then he was so much admired And they worshipped the Beast To worship him is eidem
personal appearance of Christ in the Clouds but I cannot say that it will be by the personal presence and continuance or reigning of Christ on Earth Now will Ezekiel's City and Temple be erected Ezek. 40. to the End of that Book the glory of which will be that the Name of it from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there Ezek. 48. 35. This is the time of finishing the Mystery of God in the seventh Trumpet Rev. 10. 7. and 11. 15 c. Here will begin the State of the New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven Rev. 21 1 2. and is not by our going up to Heaven Here will be such a new face of things as if there were a New Heaven and a New Earth Rev. 21. 1. and great Changes for the better in the Civil and Ecclesiastical State great Purity of Administrations and Ordinances and a glorious Divine Presence v. 3. Zeph. 3. 9. Zech. 14. 20 21. Then there shall be given to Christ as Dan 7. 14. 22 27. Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that shall not be destroyed An Appendix ALL aforegoing except in two lines I had written long since but some of late have affirmed Pagan Rome to be the first and second Beast and the Subject of the Seals Trumpets and Vials yea to be the Whore of Babylon which falling they say the 1000 Years began Also they deny the Conversion of the Jews If these things be true then much aforesaid were false so as this necessitateth a considering those Matters Q. 1. Whether Pagan Rome was the first and second Beast and the Whore or Mystical Babylon Rev. 13. and Rev. 18 A. Negatively it was not For 1. There is a dragon-Dragon-state of the Roman Empire which falleth at the rising of the first Beast for the Dragon giveth the first Beast his Power Throne and great Authority Rev. 13. 2. and so the Beast is the Dragon's Successor and doth not get up until the Dragon be cast down from his Imperial Throne and Dignity Rev. 12. 9 13. Hence it is impossible that Pagan Rome should be both Beast and Dragon Neither was there any State before Pagan Rome to make the Dragon-state seeing it was Pagan from the first 2. Rome whilst Dragon had a vastly different form and shape from what it had under the first Beast In its dragon-Dragon-state it had only seven Crowns and these not upon the Horns but upon the Heads Rev. 12. 3. but at the rising of the first Beast there were Ten Crowns and these upon the Horns Rev. 13. 1. for the Goths Vandals c. obtained a Soveraignty setting up in the Empire for themselves whereas in the days of John they had not received Power as Kings Rev. 17. 12. all then though some were named Kings Mat. 2. 1 3. Luk. 1. 5. Act. 26. 2 7 27. being under the headship of and in subjection to Emperours but were to be Crowned about the same time when the Roman Empire turned Beast were not so crowned under Pagan Rome therefore that was not the first Beast 3. After crowning the Horns one of the Heads of the first Beast was wounded as unto death and healed again Rev. 13. 3. This cannot be proved of Pagan Rome and so that is not the first Beast 4. The first Beast had Power to continue or make War 42 Months Rev. 13. 5. if they were literal Months Pagan Rome was Idolatrous and persecuting the Church much longer even Hundreds of Years If they be taken for Months of Years then Pagan Rome did not continue half so long and so cannot be that first Beast 5. It doth not appear that the ten horns after Crowning did hate Pagan Rome and burn it with fire Rev. 17. 12 16. and so that was not the first Beast Nor was it the Whore of Babylon for Rev. 18. speaketh not merely of the destruction of some Corruptions as of Paganism but of an utter desolation of a City it self Compare it with Jer. 25. 9 10 11 12. so that if it had been Rome Pagan it would not have left that as a City after Paganism for the Papacy to reign in 6 The Reasons urged for Pagan Rome being the first Beast and the Whore of Babylon are not cogent but easily answered for they are mostly built upon that common Mistake viz. That else Rome Papal must be the first Beast whereas I have proved that first Beast to be a civil persecuting state of Rome distinct from and up long even Hundreds of Years before the second Beast which is Papal did arise in his first Horn of Ecclesiastical Power about Ann. 606. and so most of the Reasons are enervated or evaded at once Hence the Pope is not the 7th 8th Head or King It is usual for King to signifie not a particular Person but a Species of Government or a Race of many Successively Dan. 7. 17. and 8. 21. and 11. 5 9 11 13 15 c. And so Rev. 17. 10. cannot intend particular persons for Five Pagan persecuting Emperours were not fallen in the days of John and there were more to come than would make up the 7 or 8 for there were Ten Persecutions therefore it must be Five Species of Government that then were fallen If the short space v. 10. be not meant of the state of the first Beast before the 7th Head of Popes did arise but of it then it may intend the Pope from the time of his becoming the 7th Head by obtaining Civil Supremacy over-topping Emperours and then his continuance may be but a short space comparatively with the whole time of Emperours Obj 1. It is Idolatrous persecuting Power that the Text describeth and none persecuted but Emperours A. Not only the Emperours but the Beast by Crowned horns also persecuted However it is not said that all the seven Heads did persecute but that state did it which hath these And often that is ascribed to many which is acted not by all but by some or a few of them as Rev. 17. 16. compared with Rev. 18. 9. Obj. 2. Evince that the six Pagan Governments were Heads of Papal Rome A. In describing one Roman Monarchy which hath various Dynasties no Necessity that all which is affirmed of it should be verified under one of them Daniel's 4th Beast comprehendeth all its various states mentioned in the Revelation under both Dragon and Beast state So the six Pagan Governments were Heads of the Empire which now is Papal but all the six not in being when Papal Obj 3. As to the seven sorts of Government Kings Conâ—â—ls Decemvirs c. Evince that six were Suprean Powers at Rome before Popes A. Trecentesimo alâ—ero quam Condita Roma er at iterum mutatâ— forma Civitatis ab Consulibus ad Decemviros quemadmodum ab Regibus ante ad Consules vener at translato imperio T.
subjici i. e. by civil subjection to him noted by worship Gen. 27. 7. and 37. 7. and 49. 8. Isa 45. 14. Saying Who is like unto the Beast who is able to make War with him So early they admired the Horns of the Beast as the Goths and Vandals and their great Power and others as Attila King of the Hunns who after the death of Ecius grew so mighty that he overthrew the Imperial General and Army took many Cities and was held for the most powerful Prince in the World and was so much feared that Martianus the Emperor sent to sue for Peace and sent him Presents See Imper. Histor and v. 5 6 7. made War with the Saints Obj. 1. It 's a mark of Perdition to worship the first Beast Rev. 13. 8. but it is not so to yield civil subjection to Civil Power A. 1. It is not made a mark of Perdition The Text doth not shew the danger of worshipping the Beast but describes him by the multitude of Reprobates that are admirers of him See Brightman Civil subjection may lawfully be yielded to the Civil Power of those who are over-much honoured by many who shall perish 2. If a corrupt Religious Worship must be intended which is not proved yet this agreeth to the first as a Civil Persecuting Beast For it is a Scarlet-coloured Beast i. e. a cruel Persecutor Rev. 17. 3. warreth with the Saints Rev. 13. 7. a blasphemer of God v. 6. And divers of the Ten Horns in their first rising were such being either Pagans or in Pagan Worship or Arrians blaspheming his Name and Tabernacle i. e. Jesus Christ and latter-ward it was a Whore-ridden Beast Rev. 17. 7. And to magnifie him in these corruptions or in that wherein he is a Beast is pernicious yea compliance with him in Persecution is an evident token of Perdition Phil. 1. v. 28 29. And thus it may be a mark of Perdition though the Pope be not the first Beast Obj. 2. There is but one Beast mentioned Rev. 17. 8. which is the interpretation of Rev. 13. A. Beast is a name common both to the first and second and so Rev. 17. may notifie the whole beast-Beast-state in distinction from Dragon-state Rev. 12. they are sufficiently diversified Rev. 13. and need not be so again in Rev. 17. When compared each with other they are two Beasts differenced from each other by many notes of distinction but when differenced from Dragon both agree in the common name of Beast As the Roman Monarchy from first to last is called a fourth Beast Dan. 7. v. 3 19 23. yet that will not deny Dragon and Beast to be distinct each from other part of its time But their being two is implied Rev. 17. v. 10 11. There is another and an eighth which agrees with the word King in gender and there cannot be an eighth King i. e. different Government if there were not two Beasts In short Beast without distinction may be taken promiscuously either for the first or second Beast as the matter enforceth but it noteth most commonly the first Beast or whole Roman State after it ceased to be under Dragon i. e. after Pagan Headship ended and may be understood either of its after Headship or the complex body of the crowned Horns comprizing the Roman Territory or Provinces in East and West the same that the Dragon had before But Beast when with distinction is usually taken for the first Beast Thus when Beast and false Prophet are distinguished the false Prophet is he that worketh Miracles Rev. 19. v. 20. which is the second Beast Rev. 13. v. 14. and therefore the Beast distinguished from him must be the first Ten-horned Beast So when Beast and Image are distinguished Rev. 14 9 11. and 15. 2. and 16. 2. and 19. 20. and 20. 4. The first with Ten Horns crowned is intended by Beast for it is an Image of him that received a Wound by a Sword and did live Rev. 13. 14. which was the first Beast v. 1 3. not the second It is the second Beast which had power to give life to the Image of the Beast and work Miracles and that in his sight v. 15 and so he cannot be the Beast it self whose Image is animated and hath life given to it and in whose sight those Miracles are wrought but the first Also when Beast and Woman are distinguished as Rev. 17. there Beast signifieth the first Beast at least till the rising of the seventh Head and this in so many of the Horns as were ridden by the Whore of Babylon after she arose v. 3. So when Beast and Dragon are distinguished Rev. 13. 1. and 16. 13. there Beast noteth the first Beast or so many of the Horns as were professedly Christian and were ridden by the Whore and Dragon noteth such as were not professedly Christian for we must note that all the Horns of the Beast were not of the same Spirit or Religion About the time of their first crowning some were Dragonish Pagans Rev. 12. v. 13 14. Others professedly Christian and corrupt some Arrians as Goths Vandals c. and towards the latter end of the Beasts Dominion some Horns or Provinces are Dragonish not professedly Christian Rev. 16. 13. The Turk has part of the Territory of the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. others are Popishly affected By all which it appeareth that there is no necessity that the Pope should be the first Beast And although herein I differ from other Interpreters yet I am more for them than against them the matter being rightly stated especially seeing hereby I extricate them out of many difficulties where they are at a loss for a ground in their fixing the Epocha of the Prophetical days on the Pope which I hereby prove should be taken from another Beast viz. The first Civil Ten-horned crowned persecuting Beast CHAP. III. Of the Two-Horned Beast the Pope Rev. 13. 11 Rule 3. THAT the Two-Horned Beast is the Horn of Ecclesiastical Power is a false Prophet by his second Horn of Temporal Supremacy became the seventh Head of the Roman Empire This appeareth for all the Characters of this second Beast agree to the Pope and to none else As 1. He arose out of the Earth Rev. 13. 11. not from Heaven but from below from Satan and carnal earthly men and means Not out of the Sea or Confluence of People and Nations as the other v. 1. but had a mean Original from a poor Bishop at last ascended to this dignity 2. He hath Two Horns like a Lamb. Horns denote Power Rev. 17. 12. Dan. 8. 5. So the Pope usurpeth a twofold Power Temporal and Spiritual The first Horn of Ecclesiastical Power arose in the time of Phocas Anno 606. who made Boniface the Third Universal Bishop This was a new Institution and not only a Declaration for Statuit he ordained Hic i. e. Phocas sedem Romanae Apostolicae Ecclesiae caput esse omnium Ecclesiarum quia Ecclesia Constantinopolitana
THE Revelation Unvailed OR An Essay towards the Discovering I. When many Scripture Prophesies had their Accomplishment and turned into History II. What are now Fulfilling III. What rest still to be Fulfilled with a guess at the time of them WITH An APPENDIX PROVING That Pagan Rome was not Babylon Rev. 17. and that the Jews shall be Converted Dan. 12. 4. Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased By SAMVEL PETTO Minister of the Gospel at Sudbury in Suffolk London Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry MDCXCIII THE PREFACE IT is a Duty of high Concernment unto Christians to be searching the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. one part as well as another all being given by Divine Inspiration and profitable to high and glorious Ends. The last Prophetical Book would never have obtained the Name and Title of Revelation if an understanding of the Mind and Will of God therein had been unattainable Nor would there ever have been such a precious Promise in the Front of it Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie if it had been un-intelligible Who should share in this Blessedness if none could arrive at the Knowledge of what they Read Neither should any take Discouragement for this search because some have been mistaken in their Computations of time for they may as well reject the Study of other Scriptures on that account seeing many Wise and Learned Men have been grosly mistaken about great Matters of Eaith or Doctrines of the Gospel Indeed the Enquiry is the more necessary that at last the Truth may be found out I am not peremptory in fixing the time but offer different Epocha's with the Grounds and let these or the Event determine which is the Truth And besides the Mystical Numbers there are other Signs of the times as the sleepiness of Virgins may speak that the coming of the Bridegroom is not far off Mat. 25. 1 c. and some Events may discover what are next to follow as some former Seals open'd tell us what were yet to come and some Trumpets sounding tell us which are next to sound Also know that there are other Matters besides the times yet to come to be enquired after even what is already past that we may discern what an answerableness there have been in Events in the several Ages to what is contained in the Prophesies which is indeed the great Scope and Design of this Discourse to give a discovery of Here we may see how Prophesies have been turned into History And there is enough in this to recompence all the labour of any serious Observer and Enquirer and to fill him abundantly with Admiration Here is Matter not only knowable but of great importance to be known for receivers of the Mark of the Beast in the forehead or hand openly or secretly are severely threatned Rev. 14. 9 10. They shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone for ever A Discovery of the Enemies of the Church I accounted necessary else what followed would not have been Established I confidently conclude the Pope to be the second Two-horned Beast Rev. 13. 11. who is the Giver of this Mark and so the least Compliance with him as such is very perilous and desperately dangerous That Mark may not only be what I have particularly mentioned but may extend to some other Act or Badge Tessera Sign of Token which he giveth of their belonging to him As to the First Beast Rev. 13. 1. I think him not to be the Pope or Seventh Head but another persecuting Beast as I have evinced Herein I confess I differ from other Interpreters yet I account it the Truth and this may be a salvo for their supposed mistakes about the Mystical Numbers some of them might be righter in their Computations as to the End than themselves were aware of two things which I have proved being considered 1. That the Epocha of the 42 Months and 1260 Days is to be fetched from a Persecution of the first Ten-horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1 5. Not from the Pope nor from any Apostacy of his or other Romish Corruptions some of which were too early to begin those Days with 2 Thess 2. 7. and others too late if they were to Commence from the very first Moment of time when Rome lost the Essentials of a true Church and turned into the Whore of Babylon 2. That the 42 Months and 1260 Days are not expressive of the whole time either of the Beasts continuance or Dominion It is a great mistake to think that immediately after the expiration of those Days the Beast must be destroyed or the Churches Trouble come to its End It 's true the Sackcloth or wilderness-Wilderness-state then ended but after that the Witnesses having finished their Testimony there a is Witness-killing War and the Death-state of the Witnesses and their Resurrection ensueth before the reign of the Beast cometh to an end Rev. 11. v. 7. to 15. As to the 2300 Days Dan. 8. 14. I think they are not Prophetical Days i. e. Years but Natural Days not only because expressed by Evenings and Mornings v. 26. but because they are limited and confined to the little Horn which groweth on the Hee-goat v. 8. which is declared to be the King of Grecia v. 21. And so that Little-horn was Antiochus Epiphanes who did grow out thence as v. 9. in the latter time not of the World but of the Four Kingdoms which sprang from the Grecians or which that was split into as v. 23. And this Antiochus did take away the daily Sacrifice and cast down the Sanctuary v. 11 12. And it being asked How long it should be till that was cleansed v. 13. The aforesaid days are given as the Answer v. 14. And sutably was the Event according to Josephus and the Maccabees which may be esteemed as other humane Histories though not as Scripture For from Antiochus first Persecution in his own person in the 143 Year of the Greeks to his Death in the 149 Tear is about that time 1 Maccab. 1. 20 21. and 1 Macc. 6. 16. Or from Menelaus who intended to Revolt to the Religion of the Greeks and had a License from Antiochus to Erect a place in Jerusalem in the 142 Year to the time of cleansing the Sanctuary in the 148 Year is about 2300 Days Joseph lib. 12. c. 6. 1 Maccab. 4. 41 43 52. In vain therefore do many perplex themselves seeking the expiration of these 2300 Days in the times of the New Testament And if they were so many Years yet they could not begin before the Vision it self which hath its first Date at the Ram Dan. 8. 3. noting the Kings of Media and Persia v. 20. and the first Year of Cyrus was about 528 Years before Christ nor indeed could they Commence before that little Horn Antiochus did take
most corrupt in those days â—b lib. 28. c. 8. Yea they over-ran those parts even to the Suburbs of Constantinople and besieged that but at last were repulsed Sccrat lib. 4. c. 31. and others 2. When the Body of the Roman Empire was changed from its Ancient form of Provinces into the form and shape of Crowned Horns then the Beast was up For it 's said in the days of John Rev. 17. 17. They have received no Kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one hour or the first hour with the Beast The rising then of the Beast and the crowning of the Horns are about the same time This Beast is differenced thus from the Dragon that he the Beast hath his Crowns Emblems of Soveraignty upon his Horns Rev. 13. 1. and from the two Horned Beast that he hath more than two even Ten and upon his Horns Ten Crowns Not that they must all be up first so as the rising of the tenth Horn should give the first date to the Beast For they are all Horns of the Beast and therefore speak a Beast up for them to grow upon and they receive Power as Kings One hour with the Beast Rev. 17. v. 12. Not the Beast one hour with them intimating the Beast to be first in order rather than otherwise But as the Dragon is said to have seven Heads Rev. 12. 3. When as the seventh Head of Popes was not up till Dragon Pagan Power was down so as well may this be called a Ten Horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1. Before all the ten were Crowned because there were to be so many principal ones and ten may not be taken precisely neither more nor fewer but indefinitely for many as Numb 14. 22. Job 19. 3. Gen. 31. 7. Now before Ann. 400. diverse Horns were Crowned see an Elaborate book Entituled Antichrists Excidium which proveth the riseing of the Kingdom of the Alemanes Ann. 356. the Ostrogoths Ann. 377. the Visogoths Ann. 378. the Hunns Ann. 378. and others even ten about Ann. 410. Therefore then the Beast was up 3. When the Dragon gave unto Crowned Horns in the Roman Empire his Power Throne and great Authority then the Beast was up For it is the Beast he gave these to Rev. 13. 2. the Dragon gave him i. e. the Beast his power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strength or force distinguished from authority and so it is outward strength or military power his Throne i. e. the City of Rome or a Government there and great Authority so as to become a lawful ruler within the Roman Empire Now all this was given before or soon after Ann. 400. For Crowned Horns had power such military power as they did wage War with the Emperours as the Goths and others and after the death of Valens they over-run Thracia and spread themselves even to the Suburbs of Constantinople and besieged that Am. Marcell l. 31. c. 14. 15 16 17. Alaricus King of the Goths occupyeth Thracia Graecia Athens Corinth and other Cities c. Returneth to Italy Calvis Ann 395. The Hunns destroyed Armenia and other Countries of the East Socrat. l. 6. c. 1. By Armenia brake into Asia and besieged Antioch Calvis Ann. 395. Gainas with an Army of Goths over-ran the Eastern Empire and Constantinople was in great danger Socrat. l. â— c. 6. Gildo usurped Africa Magd. Cent. 5. C. 16. And his Throne the City of Rome was given to crowned Horns for Alaricus King of the Goths took it about Ann. 410. It is true this was a little after Ann. 400. But it proveth the Beast to be up before having such great power as aforesaid It is true Alaricus then did not keep Rome long but then he took possession of the Throne And it is not said the Beast kept the Throne but that the Dragon gave it to him and afterward also Gensericus King of the Vandals sacked Rome And after the Goths reigned over Italy about 70 years Yea Crowned Horns obtained in the Roman Empire great Authority for before Ann. 400. Valentinian the Emperour made a league with Macrianus King of the Alemanes and ratified it by â—ath about Ann. 374. Am. Marcell lib. 30. c. 4. Afterwards Valens granted some Countries in Thracia to the King of the Goths about Ann. 376. and so he became a crowned Horn. ib. lib. 31. c. 4. Socrat. Diacon and consider whether this was not the birth-day of the Beast this being the first crowned Horn that received not only Power but Authority in the Roman Empire I might mention other Leagues as between the Emperour Honorius and the Goths and so with Theodosius and others All this argueth that the Beast was up before Ann. 400. 4. When the deadly wound was given to one of the Heads then the Beast was up For it was a Head of the Ten-Horned Beast that was wounded as it were unto death Rev. 13. v. 1 2. And so the Beast must then exist and be up to receive the wound Now this deadly wound was made when Alaricus sacked Rome and perfected at Augustulus Indeed this act was after Ann. 400. but it presupposeth the Beast to be up and so we may reckon that he did rise before Ann. 400. And here note 1. It is not the Pope but this ten Horned Beast who in respect of his first State is said to continue a short space Rev. 17. 10. For it is not said the seventh Head but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another i. e. another of the eight Kings with whom the word agreeth not another Head There were eight Kings and but seven Heads this was another King or State of Government when the Empire was so broken and changed from its antient form and shape of Provinces into crowned Horns and this was but a short time before it was wounded even unto death Whereas the seventh Head the Pope hath continued a longer time than any of the other Heads if compared with them And further to confirm this he immediately addeth the different States of the first Beast v. 11. was and is not and yet is as before v. 9. and so was is before wounding this short space is not is when wounded yet is is after healed 2. If the first Beast be the man of sin 2 Thes 2. 6 7. Then the lett which hindred not meerly his rising but his revelation must be imperial power which was removed by the aforementioned breakings and woundings of it But if it be the second Beast then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is their Imperial Authority and it was removed when Popes over-topped and assumed power over Emperours as Hildebrand and others Rule 6. That the Eastern parts belong to the first Ten-Horned Beast as well as the Western This is denyed by some but seeing it conduceth to the clearing up of truths and some material points I shall give these grounds of it 1. The same Dominion which the Dragon i. e. Pagan Emperours had the same the Beast hath Compare Rev. 12. 2. and 13. v. 2.
in sackcloth is 1260 days Rev. 11. 3. So the cause or means of it was the Gentiles treading the Holy City under foot 42 months v. 2 which being resolved into days 30 days to every month is the same time And as the Womans being in the Wilderness is said to be 1260 days Rev. 12. 6. So the same Wilderness state is expressed v. 14. by the time times and half and one being resolved into the other explaineth Dan. 7. v. 25. and 12. 7. which otherwise would have remained very dark now plainly time is a Prophetical year times two years and half half a year as Dan. 4. 16 23 25 32. which is the same with 1260 years And the Beast also having 42 months assigned to him for like work Rev. 13. 5. it strongly proveth that all these are equal numbers and of the same date 2. That they are not taken indefinitely for an uncertain or long time but definitely for a certain determined time For though round numbers as 10 100. c. may be indeterminately used yet such broken numbers cannot be so taken for an uncertain time without special reason enforcing it And seeing three several expressions are used five times Rev. 11. 2 3. and 12. 6 14. and 13. 5. to set forth the same space of time and all of them broken numbers it must be a certain definite time else why is it 1260 and not 2000 days or 42 months rather than 40 or 60. or time times and half rather than four times and what difference were there between the 1290 and the 1335 days Dan. 12. 11 12. or how could a head of account be laid down v. 11. and that purposely in answer to that question v. 6. how long shall it be to the end of these Wonders if they were an uncertain number which no account could be made up from 3. That they are not Natural or Common Days or Months but Prophetical every day noting a Year as Numb 14. 33 34. Ezek. 4. 5 6. Dan. 4. 16 23 25 32. and Dan. 9. 24 25 26 27. which last are 70 Weeks of Years reaching to the Messias when natural days are intended there is a note of distinction as of Evenings and Mornings Dan. 8. 4 14 26. which concern the Hee-Goat v. 8. the King of Graecia v. 21. but those in the Revelation cannot be natural days or only three years and half for the Beast is of long continuance and hath been hundreds of years in the work of the 42 Months treading down the Church Rev. 11. 2. and his Wounding and Healing Rev. 13. and the Earths wondring after the Beast and his being ridden by Mystical Babylon so as to have all Nations Drunk with the Wine of her Fornication Rev. 17. 2 3 4 5. hath been hundreds of years and the Churches Sack-cloth State very long these things cannot be confined to 1260 natural days but must be so many years Many have been mistaken in their Computations and therefore I would not be too positive therein but in probability those Days and Months began before Ann. 400. this appeareth diverse ways 1. The 42 Months and 1260 days must begin after the utter dethroning of the Dragon or casting down Pagans from their Imperial Seat and Worship for upon that provocation and the triumph the Beast as his Successor driveth the Church into the Wilderness for such a time Rev. 12. 6 13 14. They cannot begin upon his firsT overthrow by Constantine the Great but so as his â—lâ—ce was no more found in Heaven v. 8. and therefore not till after Julian who was the last professedly Pagan Emperor and reigned Ann. 360 or not long after and these Days must begin after this and not before for the Horns were not Crowned and in the Work of the Beast till then yet before Ann. 400. 2. The 1260 Days had their beginning soon after the first rising of the Ten-Horned Crowned Beast For the 42 Months are assigned or allotted to him Rev. 13. 1 5. power was given him to do 42 Months he being of such a Savage Nature v. 2. like a Leopard a Bear a Lion would take the first opportunity offered for being in his Work there is no evidence that he delayed till the deadly Wound was made much less to the time of Healing which was hundreds of years after His receiving his Power and Throne and great Authority v. 2. whence ensued the Worshiping him v. 4. is mentioned before the deadly Wound but that Wound being given soon after his first rising that is the reason why so little of his Work is mentioned till after that yet doubtless he was found in it soon after his first rising or before Ann 400. 3. Some say that the 1260 Days probably must so begin as Daniels 1290 days may expire or end with them and so begin in likeliness before Ann. 400. Daniel hearing of a time of unparallelled trouble and that then his People the Jews should be delivered Dan. 12. 1. enquireth v. 6. How long shall it be to the end of these Wonders the answer was in two branches the one by a Gentile number of time times and half v. 7. which is the same with 1260 days Daniel not understanding enquireth again after the end v. 8. and hath an answer again v. 11 12. in two branches the former is by 1290 days which discovereth when the time times and half were to end else it were no explication thereof seeing they are different times cannot begin and end together And whether they end with the 1260 days or not yet he giveth a direction when those 1290 days are to begin v. 11. from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up shall be 1290 days Now this must be either the Epiphanean or a Roman abomination there is no third imaginable to make the Epocha I cannot think that the Epiphanean i. e. When Antiochus Epiphanes prophaned the Jewish Temple 167. years before Christ is intended For the abomination of desolation in Daniel is mentioned as to come Mat. 24. 15. in words agreeing not only to Dan. 9. 27. but as aptly to Dan. 12. 11. where the time times and half to be explained clearly refer to the fourth Monarchy And it is as rational that he should look back to another Vision given to himself as to another third Monarchy from the fourth And if we begin the 1290 days at Antiochus Epiphanes they must end about Ann. 1123. where was no suitable event for their expiration some would have it to be the first Revelation of Antichrist But it is an answer to Daniels question which twice was not concerning the beginning or revelation of him but the end of those Wonders v. 6 7. And besides the Revelation of Antichrist was long before Ann. 1123. if not Ann. 606. yet to be sure when Eerengarius and others openly witnessed against him An. 1049. Neither should the 1335 Days then usher in Blessedness as v. 12. but great
Matrons how many Godly Virgins and comely and noble Bodies were Mocking-stocks to those Beasts he speaketh of barbarous Nations The Bishops taken and divers Orders of the Clergy slain c. Ubique lucuts ubique gemitus plurima mortis imago In these People the chief were the Goths and Vandals whereof seeing part were Strangers to Christianity and given to the Superstition of the Gentiles taking some occasion they did not only extreamly persecute Christians but also endeavoured utterly to abolish them but part although in Profession they were numbred among Christians yet because they were Infected with the Poison of Arius they also did no less sharply oftentimes afflict the Church There is every where a meeting of Pagans there are heard Roarings and Blasphemies against the Christian Faith Complaints of the Neglect of the Religion of their Forefathers therefore so great Evils hung over them because omitting the Ancient Rites of sacrificing and rejecting their Father's Gods many imbraced Christ Immediately therefore leaving all things they consult of reiterating their Sacrifices of repairing of Altars and restoring wholly all the Idolatry of the Ancients and devise to abolish Christianity every where Paul Diacon Oros About the same time the Churches also of France sustained great Persecutions for the Vandals over-running destroying France overturned many both Cities and Churches and made many famous godly Men Martyrs c. See also Jerom Epist ad Geront Also the Churches in Spain experienced their Calamities and Afflictions for the Vandals about 16. Honor. occupied Spain and when some of them were Arians and others Gentiles Catholicos more suo afflixerunt c. See more Cent. 5. c. 3. And now Judge whether the Woman was not in Sackcloth and the holy City trodden and persecuted by a revengeful Dragon turned into a Beast with Crowned Horns at that Day and so whether the 42 Months and 1260 Days were not begun 2. The Church also in the East Empire under Arcadius sustained like Persecution about the very same time Cent. 5. c. 3. Gainus a Barbarous Cruel and Military Man of the Nation of the Scythians troubled the Church before An. 400. being by Profession an Arian desired one Temple of the Emperour within the Walls Chrysostom told the Emperour it must not be to Blasphemers Gainus did get an Army he going by Thracia destroyed all as he went Constantinople was in eminent danger A little after Chrysostom saw the most corrupt state and dissolute Discipline of the Churches and began the Correction of these things he was deposed and twice banished and at last died in Banishment presently after he was gone out of the City there was a great Fire which they laid to the Charge of Chrysostom's Followers they take and Imprison many some were carried to Chalcedon Prison and neighbouring places and others carried beyond Sea to divers Islands being first vexed with divers Torments others fled The Governour because a Pagan and out of Hatred of that Religion took great Pleasure in the Misery of Christians many had great Tortures and were tormented unto Death and not only in the City but in other places was Trouble The Friends of Chrysostom could not communicate with his Enemies and therefore a great Persecution was raised against the Churches of God by the instinct of Atticus and there was a Law made for their Banishment lb. Cent. 5. c. 3. out of Sozom. Nicephor And since there hath been a Continuation of the Persecution of the Beast by its Heads or Crowned Horns As The cruel Vandals passing out of Spain into Africk under Genserick their Captain an Arian about An. 427. as Calvis or 430 as others being one of the Crowned Horns raised a sore Persecution against the Christians they wasted and destroyed all before them with Fire and Sword but especially raged against the Churches the Bishops and Ministers they destroyed with many kinds of Torments When he had taken Carthage all the Ministers were thrust into weather-broken Ships and so banished all in the Province were despoiled of all their Substance and turned out of their Churches After Genserick his Son Hunnerick succeeded who also used Tortures and became a great Persecuter he banished into the Wilderness of Bishops Ministers Deacons and other Members of Christ 4976. By an Edict in one day he caused all Christian Churches throughout Africk to be shut up giving to the Arians all the Goods and Churches of the Orthodox and some of them were told that they should be banished into the Wilderness He also sent abroad through all Africk his cruel Tormentors so that no Place no House remained free from Lamentation Screeching and Out-cryes These things and many more are written by Victor Bishop of Utica who lived at the same time and was himself a Sufferer under this Persecution And it is remarkable that the Suffering is once and again expressed by being in the Wilderness which is the very Notion it is under Rev. 12. 6. 14. as if it were literally to be fulfilled Attila King of the Hunns when he wasted both Empires did also not a little trouble the Church 9000 Virgins were made Martyrs and many others Cent. 5. c. 3. So Anastasius Emperour about Ann. 492. raised great Persecutions See Cent. 6. c. 3. It were almost endless to mention the After-Persecutions under Emperours and Crowned Horns But whether any Acts of either aforementioned or some other Acts did give the first Date to the 1260 days I must leave to others to judge I am comfortably perswaded that these days of their Sack-cloth state are come to their Period and end some Years since As a small Act Ishmael's Mocking might be the Epocha of the 400 Years Gen. 15. 13. so some less obvious Act possibly might begin these Prophetical Days CHAP. VII Of what Ensueth after the 1260 Days are at an End IT is confidently concluded by many Writers that exactly and immediately after the Perioding of the 42 Months and 1260 Days there is an end of the Dominion of the Beast and of the Sufferings of the Saints whereas I am confident they are mistaken in both another Event was to be expected It 's true then the Witnesses come out of their sackcloth-Sackcloth-state but soon after they pass into a worse state as will appear under the next Rule Rule 8. That after the Expiration of the 1260 Days and finishing of the Testimony there is a Witness-killing War the Death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and a great Commotion before the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet This appeareth For It 's clear that Daniel's little Horn continueth after the time times and half Dan. 7. 25 26. the Judgment shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and destroy it to the End Therefore his losing his Dominion and his Destruction will be by a Consumption after those times which are the same with 1260 Days are ended Yea he is prevalent thinketh to change Times and Laws How long v. 21 22. until the ancient of days came
and the Saints possessed the Kingdom i. e. until the Seventh Trumpet And further to confirm this after the time times and half it is added Dan. 12. 7. and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the Power of the holy People all these things shall be finished viz. Daniel's People the Jews shall be delivered v. 1. So then the accomplishing to scatter the Power of the holy People is after the time times and half are expired And seeing we read not of any new scattering of the Jews and this belongeth to the Fourth Monarchy and is a Gentile Number it may possibly refer to Gentile Christians and be in part expressive of the way of slaying the Witnesses by a scattering them and their Church-Assemblies after these times or 1260 days are expired Also John in the Revelation clearly placeth what concerneth the Death of the Witnesses after the 1260 days are ended Revel 11. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they have finished their Testimony then and not before doth the Witness-killing War begin I had rather render it so in the time past being in the Aorist than when they are about to finish And their Testimony was not finished till the 1260 days of their Prophesying expired seeing the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. so long as they Prophesie though in Sackcloth it is not finished either for time or work And not only the import of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Nature of the thing maketh that War and Death subsequent For during the 1260 days of their prophesying the Witnesses are Overcomers and their Enemies are killed Rev. 11. 5 6. if any Man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their Mouth and devoureth their Enemies and he must in this manner be killed and this in the days of their Prophesie Whereas the issue of this War is the Witnesses are overcome and killed v. 7. the Beast shall overcome and kill them Rev. 13. 7. Yea the Prophesying state in the very mentioning of it is inconsistent with the Death-state and the Death far worse than the Prophesying though in Sackcloth so long as they Prophesie they are alive not dead Neither do the Witnesses in the time of their lying dead torment the Earth-dwellers as they do in the time of their Prophesying v. 5 6 10. The Conclusion then is that the finishing of the Testimony however the Witness-killing War and the Death of the Witnesses are after the 42 Months and 1260 days are expired and at an end For the further discovering who are the Witnesses and what their Death how where and when they are to be Slain taken Seven Propositions Prop. I. That the Two Witnesses are faithful Ministers and pure Professors or Beast-opposing Churches For they are two Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. which are interpreted Churches Rev. 1. 20 the seven Candlesticks are seven Churches and they are two Olive Trees which is but an Allusion to Zech. 4. 3 11 14. and cannot be confined to Magistrates and Ministers seeing they are never called a Candlestick and pure Professors and Churches are anointed ones Rom. 11. 17 18 19 20. 1 John 2. 20. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Yea these are such as Prophecy 1 Cor. 14. 24 31. Rev. 19. 10. and that 1260 Rev. 11. 3. not only making a Profession at large but bearing and finishing a Testimony for Christ and his Kingdom against the Beast as v. 7. so as he becometh their Enemy and maketh War with them The Two Testaments are their Testimony and so cannot be the Witnesses however it cometh to the same in Effect for if these or Magistrates and Ministers lye dead then so will such pure Professors and Churches also and so are to be deemed Witnesses Prop. II. That the Death of the Witnesses is an Extremity of Suffering Or it consisteth in an unparallell'd Cessation of Testimony and Deprivation of Means and Comforts of Life The various Phrases of overcoming and killing them may intimate its being attended with much Bloodshed but it is not chiefly a corporal Death for then such must be the resurrection or recovery out of it and that under the sixth Trumpet Rev. 11 11. 14. whereas the corporal resurrection is not until the seventh Trumpet v. 18. And their Enemies behold them with pleasure three Prophetical days or years and half which they could not do if it were a corporal Death It must then be a metaphorical Death by the Churches being in a state and condition full of Extremity of Affliction and Suffering which often is called a Death 2 Cor. 1. 10. and 11. v. 23. Psal 71. 20. and 80. 18. Isai 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 10. 35. Rom. 11. 15. It will not only be a civil death by deprivation of Publick Ministration and Employment as to the exercise of office but also a spiritual Death by an unparallelled Cessation of Testimony for they dye not meerly as Men but as Witnesses they lose much of their witnessing Spirit Rev 11. 7. Their state is far worse than in their prophesying time possibly by military Men having Power over v. 9 10. and forcibly disabling of them for former actual witnessing work and thus it will be not only their Sin but their Suffering that there is a failing of their Testimony And although Spiritual Life it self will not utterly fail yet they will in an extraordinary unpresidented way be cut short of external means for the support of it so as they are deemed as dead Corps v. 8 9. and their restauration or recovery is by the Spirit of Life from God entring into them which importeth a precedent want of it As the dead-state of the Jews or Israelites Ezek. 37. importeth not only the ruin of their City destruction of their Temple despoiling of them of outward Comforts Houses Lands Relations Accommodations but the Profaning of the solemn Worship of God the trampling under foot his Ordinances the casting down from Church-state or work and subjecting them to the wills of merciless Men and their own drawing up despairing Conclusions v. 11. our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts and the restoring of them is a recovery out of this condition v. 8. to 15. So the Death of the Witnesses importeth the like an unparallelled unwonted loss of a witnessing Spirit deprivation of the external Worship and Ordinances of Christ and Church-state by scattering loss of Communion and all aggravated with the triumphant Blasphemies of Enemies and Insultations over them Rev. 11. 10. and their own despairing Conclusions from their seeing no visible possibility of coming into a better condition afterward all which will be attended with a variety of other Afflictions and Sufferings rendring their conditions so deplorable as is hardly to be pre-conceived of before experienced Prop. III. That it is by a latter Victorious War of the First Beast that the Witnesses are slain Rev. 11. 7. The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against them and shall overcome and kill
Rev. 11. 13. and so their rising cannot be under the fourth or fifth or seventh Vials for then they repented not but blasphemed God Rev. 16. 9 11 21. Their Resurrection and Ascension then must be under the sixth Vial. It must be before the seventh Vial at Armageddon For at the seventh Vial the whole fourth Kingdom of the Beast falleth whereas at the rising of the Witnesses it is but a tenth part that falleth and that upon an Earth-quake under the sixth Trumpet Rev. 11. 13. after which there is another and the greatest Earthquake under the seventh Trumpet v. 19. Whereas the seventh Vial is the last of the last Plagues and bringeth the greatest Earth-quake Rev. 16. 18. and so cannot be that at the rising of the Witnesses for that is not the last nor greatest And further after the destruction of the Whore there is an interval for the lamentation of some of her friends which survive Rev. 18. 9 10. and for the rejoycing of others her Enemies and making themselves ready Rev. 19. 8 9. when the great supper at Armageddon by the seventh Vial is to come ver 19 20. Only we must distinguish between the destruction of Babylon at Rome which is at the Earth-quake near the rising of the Witnesses under the sixth Vial Rev. 11. 13. and the Perdition of Babylon as extending into the Nations or the whole compass of the Roman Dominion which is not till the Earth-quake at the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 9. and at the seventh Vial when the Cities of the Nations fall Rev. 16. 19. and then great Babylon cometh into remembrance to give her the fiercest wrath but Babylon at Rome was destroyed before Rev. 18. Some not observing this distinction run upon mistakes either to think that Rev. 18. belongeth to the seventh Vial which is the last wrath whereas that Rev. 19. 19 20 cometh after Or else say that the Turks and Constantinople are the Babylon mentioned under the seventh Vial which I dare not think they being no where called Babylon in the Apocalyps but rather belong to the Beast or Dragon And it is untrue for the Ten-Horned Beast carrieth the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17. 3 5 7. whereas the Ten-Horned Beast never carried the Turks nor did the corrupt Church of Rome Ride upon the Turks neither was Constantinople the great City which in the days of John did Reign over the Kings of the Earth v. 18. but Rome was that City and stretching into the Nations so it is the Babylon mentioned in the seventh Vial. And here observe that this slaying or lying dead of the Witnesses three days and half cannot be successively in one Kingdom after another For at their Resurrection or Ascension the tenth part of the City falleth Rev. 11. 13. the sixth Trumpet passeth v. 14. and soon the seventh Trumpet soundeth v. 15. that notion would make divers slaughters resurrections and falls whereas the Scripture maketh but one slaughter one resurrection one Earth-quake one fall of the Tenth part neither can the sixth Trumpet pass or the seventh sound in one Kingdom after another for when that soundeth not onely one Kingdom but the Kingdoms of the World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ v. 15. Prop. VII That the Death of the Witnesses Ann. 1680. was not past but to come There are various thoughts among learned Men whether this black and dismal day of the Witnesses Death be past or yet to come I think it is near approaching not only because the days of their Sackcloth in all probability are finished and the Warring time seemeth near at an end but because the sixth Trumpet hath sounded a long time above 200 years if it began when the Turk obtained Constantinople Ann 1453. therefore the conclusion of it cannot be far off I do not think the Church to be the proper subject which the Trumpets sound judgment against but the Civil State of the Roman Empire and clearly the seventh bloweth good to the Church Rev. 11. 15. I shall refer the Reader to Mr. Mede and others to see how and when the several Trumpets sounded All things concerning the sixth agree to the Turk and if the hour day month and year Rev. 9. 15. notifie the time allotted to the Turkish Tyranny then the end of his work is hastening for the time must be counted not from the time of their being prepared but of their being loosed to do the work of slaying the third part of Men v. 14 15. This loosing of four Angels or Sultans seemeth to be before Ann. 1300. for then they fell into one Ottoman Family however taking a day for a year as elfewhere the time for that Woe will expire within a few years which is after the Witnesses Resurrection and Ascension But my opinion is that the Death of the Witnesses is yet to come 1680 I should be glad herein to be mistaken my grounds are these I. Vntil the 1260 days and the Warring State be at an end their death-state is not come for it is after finishing their Testimony that the Beast maketh War with them and killeth them Rev. 11. 7. So long as their Testimony is not finished and the War not ended so long they are not Dead nor the three days and half begun And therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was yet to come It 's true in the time of their Death there may be Edicts or Acts as after the Death of Christ Sealing the Tomb to hinder the Witnesses Resurrection but till there be a suppression of their Testimony they are not dead II. The Condition of the Witnesses since finishing of their testimony hath not been for three years and half far worse than it was before by a greater suppression of Testimony and other unparallelled sufferings therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was not past but to come The consequence is clear because the Death-state is far worse than the Sack-cloth-state as death is far worse than life though in a mournful condition this hath been proved before Prop. 2. III. Whatever the Death of the Witnesses consisteth in some recovery out of that is the immediate issue of the three days and half For else they must be longer dead whereas Rev. 11. 11. after three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them c. This life standeth in opposition to the Death and no medium between them no moment wherein they are not either dead or alive at the expiration of these days before the fourth day they live If their Death consisteth in an unparallell'd cessation of Testimony then there is some recovering into witnessing work again before four years be expired and so whatever else their Death may be placed in But no such recovery out of that which is their Death or no removal of that wherein it doth consist hath been the immediate issue of three years and half of any supposed time for their death already past and so that is yet to come I see no Scripture
grounds as 1. From the number of Vials already poured out indeed the accomplishments of foregoing Prophesies are indications of what events are next to follow and a sure guiding thread for our direction to discover where we are 2. The state and condition of the Turks when the Turks cease to be a woe to the Roman Idolaters to scourge whom they were raised up Rev. 9. 13. to the end then the second Woe passeth Rev. 11. 14. and then the next revolution will be the Jews will appear and v. 15. the Kingdoms of the World will become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ this must be either by a Peace with the Turk which may delay the work or else by losing much of his Dominion and if Rev. 9. 15. denote his time of prevailing a month in the Revelation being 30 days then if we begin their Empire with Oguzians Ann. 1294. then his time allotted to slay the third part of men expired Ann. 1685. since which time he hath been losing ground and it is hopeful his further fall may be approaching Leonicus Chalcoconditos 3. Especially the death of the Witnesses by the darkness and dreadfulness of it together with their Resurrection and the consequences thereof are the most sure prognosticks and most signal marks of the approaching glorious state Rev. 11. 7. to 16. And if any should inquire whether the death of the Witnesses be yet past I answer if remarkable occurrences since Ann. 1680. by Persecutions in Germany Hungary England Scotland and Ireland and especially in Savoy and in France in the unparallell'd sufferings of the Protestants there did not amount to the Death of the Witnesses then that fatal black and gloomy day is yet to come No preceding time which men have fixed upon can answer the character of it but when I consider the marvelous and almost miraculous return of the Vandois to their places together with the wonderful liberty here established in England by Law and else where with some other matters I have some hopes that it is past and that the Resurrection of the Witnesses is begun until I see to the contrary Neither doth the darkness of some present dispensations altogether dash my hopes for Luke 18. when the Son of Man cometh there will be distress of Nations so as it will be hard to find Faith without fainting on the Earth I have now answered the desire of friends in publishing these sheets and if any will be contentious I think not to reply without great necessity if this may put others upon enquiring further into these prophesies to the encreasing a knowledge of the times and the encouraging the faith of Christians I have my design and they may lift up their heads for the redemption draweth near FINIS ADVERTISEMENT * ⎠* THE Life and Death of that Old Disciple of Jesus Christ and Eminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. HANSERD KNOLLYS Who Died in the Ninety Third year of his Age. Written with his own Hand to the Year 1672. and continued in General in an Epistle by Mr. William Kiffin To which is added his last Legacy to the Church Price Stitcht 6 d. or bound 8 d. Errata Corrigenda IN the Preface Pag. 15. Marg. Lin. 7 8. read P. 103 104. P. 24. l. 7. r. been P. 53. l. 11. r. his P. 60. l. 26. r. Roast P. 62. l. 8. r. Man In the Contents Pag. 5. Lin. 8 9. read Schecinah In the Book Pag. 3. Marg. Lin. 18. dele sine P. 17. l. 4. r. as are not P. 35. Marg. l. 22. r. caviâ— P. 50. l. 25. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 58. l. 3. del of P. 70. l. 20. r. prevails P. 75. Marg. l. 25. r. Baptizari in P. 80. l. 14. r. Harmoniously P. 91. l. 3. del fore and in the same line r. offered for P. 92. â— 27. r. were P. 93. Marg. l. 4 5. r. 48. 53. P. 94. Marg. l. 3. r. 46 47. P. 100. Marg. â— 4. r. 94. P. 120. Marg. l. 16. r. instituto P. â—27 l. ult r. Antipaedobaptistic P. 133 l. 3 4. r. Obstacle P. 136. l. 21. del they P. 138. l. 15. del the