I was for some time unresolved of a Subject to write upon but seeking to the Lord in Prayer God set the sence of the old Dragons and the Whore of Babylons long-continued Tyranny over the Saints much upon my soul and I judged it was now a time seasonable and a Work necessary afresh to take a view of this old World under Monarchical Tyranny in States and under mystical Babylons usurpations over the Church of Christ. In the time of the Jewish church-Church-state and for some time after the new-testament-church-New-Testament-church-state was begun Daniels four parted terrible Image and his four monstrous Beasts had all their answerable times and terms that with Christs Incarnation Johns Serpent or Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns the Heathen Roman Empire was entered the stage of this World and acted like himself But as this Beast grew weak and fell in power the great Whore Mystery Babylon took her opportunity to get up and rides that Scarlet-coloured Beast to this day Since the Pope or Papacy hath ridden the Dragon or earthly Monarchy the Whore hath made great use of the Kings of the Earth to exercise her bloudy cruelty upon the Saints that have owned and sought those priviledges where-with the Lord Jesus Christ hath made them free What the Dragons and the Whores time and Tyranny hath been is not unknown to many Saints and light will break forth more and more to the perfect day Large and vast are those Volumes which have been written upon these four great Empires of the World and the Papacy of Rome but these for the greatest part have been written in strange Tongues and are in the studies of great Scholars to little Spiritual use When Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jerusalem and setled the Empire of Babylon in himself his desires were to know what after should come to passe in the latter daies His mind being thus busied he had a Vision of a great and terrible Image whose head was of Gold his brest and arms of Silver his belly and his thighes of Brasse his leggs of Iron his feet part of Iron and part of Clay a stone cut out without hands smote the Image upon his feet and brake them to peeces that no place was found for them and the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole earth This Vision was revealed from the Lord to Daniel and by Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar wherein is presented the future state of the world from that time to the Kingdom of Christ or Kingdom of the Stone and end of this old World From that time the world was to bee under the successive government of four Kingdoms of which Babylon was the first And in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever The Lords revealing this dream and the interpretation of it to Nebuchadnezzar caused that Heathen King to give glory to God as God of gods and greatly honoured Daniel as honoured of the Lord to reveal the secret I may hence infer it s now a work becoming the Lords people to be inquiring after light in this Prophecie and be saying to the Lords Watch-men as those of Sier Watch-man what of the night watch-man what of the night that is how much of the time of these four Kingdoms are run out or what remains yet to be fulfilled of them when the fifth Kingdom is to begin and the watch-men may answer The morning cometh also the night that is the morning for Saints and the night for sinners It was a mercy that the Lord should have this Prophecie as a ground for faith and prayer to his people but God hath abundantly fore-told the suffering state of his Church under these four Kingdoms hath by his Prophets and Apostles which are now so plain that Saints doe run and â—ead them God Omniscient fore-seeing the need saints would have of support under so long â—â—me of sufferings gives a further discovery of these four Kingdoms to the Prophet Daniel in the first year of Belshazzer King of Babylon In this Vision these â—â—ur Kings or Kingdoms are represented â—nder four monstrous Beasts and these â—â—eat Beasts which are four are interâ—â—eted of four Kings which should arise â—â—t of the earth and for a support to the â—â—rds people the Angel also further adds â—â—at the Saints of the most High shall â—â—ke the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever The Babylonian Monarchy the Median and Persian Monarchy and the Grecian Monarchy are three of these four Kingdoms expresly sonamed by and to Daniel And the fourth Beast which was dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly can be no other than the Empire of Rome Time hath now interpreted who the fourth Beast is but Daniels fourth Beast and the Apostle Johns Dragon arâ— one and the same and generally understood to represent the Roman Monarchy Earth and Sea Corruption and Confusion was the original of these Kingdoms and I may as truly say Pride and Contention are the support of earthly Kings and Crowns For the sake of Saints I have gathered this Compendium of these four Kingdoms of Babylon Media and Persia Greece and Rome out of large anâ— vast Volumes to give light into Daniel Visions and Johns Revelations They that with serious thoughts shall read these few pages and run down the line of Monarchy in the several Beasts reigns do noâ— need Spiritual light to discover what implacable enmity hath at all times run the veins of Kings against King Jesuâ— and his Saints The Popes and Prelacy had the same original with earthly Monarchy and no less an enemy to the intrest of Christ and his Saints the Papacy is a Beast arising out of the earth as well as Monarchy yet hath Horns like a Lamb but speaks as a Dragon This Whore hath not only drunk but hath been drunken with the bloud of Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus as well as Monarchy and the time is now near that the Saints shall have commission from the Lord Jesus Christ King of Kings and Lord of Lords not only to give Babylon bloud to drink but to reward her double according to her works in the Cup which she hath filled fill to her double I say this time is near in the whole and in part begun in England I say again and again this is my faith That the hour of Gods Judgements is come to turn the waters of his indignation upon his Churches enemies Beleevers have the Word Covenant and Oath of the erernal God for all this they have the ingagement of the faithful Almighty God that cannot Iye and why should we not expect it Surely the work is upon the wheel that turns fast and nothing but Voyces and Thunders and Earth-quakes nothing but shakings
A LITTLE VIEW OF THIS OLD VVORLD IN TVVO BOOKS I. A Map of Monarchy Wherein the state of the World is represented under Kings with their entrance Reign and Ends from King Saul to King Charls II. An Epitomy of Papacy VVherein is discovered the rise of Anti-christ with the Entrance Reign and Ends of the Popes of Rome for 740 years till the Pope was fully declared to be the Anti-christ A Work fitted for the Press Five years agone and now published by Tho. Palmer Pastor of a Church of Christ in Nottingham LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman and are to bee sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1659. To the Council of State of the Common-Wealth of England Honourable Worthies THe Lord God Almighty is the original of all Created beings and his glory is the great end he is carrying on both in Earth and Heaven Wisdome Grace and Power are the Essence of God and from himself he made and governs the whole Creation independently and none can say Why hast thou done thus There is some parity between a Saints Soul-state and the true Church-state Darkness and bondage precedes light and comfort sufferings goe before rest Abrahams true Seed are in AEgypt they pass the red Sea and wander in a houling Wilderness before they can possess the promised Land of Canaan and all these former dealings of God with his people in Covenant were written for examples and types for us upon whom the ends of the world are come Jehovab hath not usually made great promises to his people and inriched them with his Free Grace but he hath brought them to live upon him by faith for the performance of the word that went out of his mouth yet as God saw the state of future times he was pleased still to discover and fore-tell to his suffering Saints the enemies fall and the Churches advance and glory in this world The state both of the Jewish and Christian Church as to their sufferings union and glory were fully represented in Daniels Visions and Johns Revelations When Jesus Christ was in the Flesh hee was frequently Preaching and in Parables representing the Churches suffering and raised estate and after him the Apostles taught the same things The Prophets and Apostles spake not only of the Churches future sufferings under the Beasts false Prophet the Dragon and the Whore but God was pleased also to compute and measure the time of Saints sufferings to their promised Redemption In Christs fore-telling the events of time after his Resurrection hee gives not his Disciples the number of years but leaves with them several fore-going signs of their promised Redemption that both by computation of time and by signs the Saints might the better finde the time of the Beasts reigns and the appearing and Kingdome of Jesus Christ. Indeed Chronologies are imperfect and I judge the very year of the Beasts fall and Churches deliverance cannot be asserted by man yet I humbly conceive that both from computations and signs God hath begun his Churches deliverance in these Nations The Churches Restoration is as fully promised as her afflicted state fore-told and when the Dragon and the Whore have had their time of tyranny over the Saints why should we not certainly beleeve and look for promised rest If you please here to take a view of the Kings of the Earth and examine Antichrists plots and practices they have fulfilled the Word of God by the mouthes of his Prophets and answer them exactly as face answers face in a Glasse Great Senators I may be bold to say God hath honoured England above all the Nations of the earth and you above many Sons of men in making use of you to begin and prosess your resolutions for the establishment of Truth and Holiness in these Lands it was only the Lords free mercy that brought and hath continued the Gospel in England above any Country and Kingdom in Europe and may we not upon that ground beleeve that appearing and kingdom of the Son of Man promised shall here begin and from hence run from Nation to Nation till all the Vials of Gods Wrath be poured out upon the Churches enemies that great voyce out of the Temple in Heaven be fulfilled saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Truely the night is not yet past and the Lords work in your hands is attended with great difficulty yet you shall ever have a Pillar and a Cloud to guide and defend if you keep your eye upon them I think I may say God now calls you to an unwonted work the bringing in of the New Heavens and New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness which is the Kingdom of Saints in this World Carnal Counsellours and worldly Politicians know little of the Lords designs at this day and will doe as little in his work God is now staining worldly glory God is now fulfilling promises to his Son and his Saints and none but the Spiritual-wise understand the work before you I beseech you look much to God hearken after the teaching and light of the Spirit in the Churches of Christ and so act that you may render up your account with joy not with fear This is the end and all of my desires in this little peice I humbly present you with who shall rejoyce to bee found serviceable in his generation to promote the great design of Jesus Christ and shall abide Your Honours real and faithful Servant in my Lords Work Tho. Palmer From my Lodging upon London Bridge the 4th Mon. 1659. To all that beleeve and look for the Kingdom of Christ and glory of the New-Testamen-Church in this World Precious souls IT was the providence of my dear Father when he took me from more rough imployment in the Warrs of England to call me to preach the Gospel of Light in a dark corner which was not without success and comfort to my soul and refreshing to many at home and abroad but after a little time Satan raised so great opposition against some few painful Servants of the Lord who with my self joyned freely to preach the Gospel on week-days from Town to Town where we were invited by any of the Lords people that after the continuance of this course for about two years and some light especially in the order of the Gospel brake forth the Parish Ministers shut the doors of the Comman Meeting-places against us and by degrees put an end to those fruitful and blessed exercises My more publick Ministration of the Gospel being so prevented and my preaching in my Parish-relation by the same spirit of Antichrist made very ineffectual that young Converts were staggered about Church-order and many Christians drew back It was upon my heart to imploy my spare hours to prepare something for the Presse and preach in Print when I could not preach in other mens Pulpits
hath been fulfill'd in it and upon it that there is little to be accomplished I shall wholly pass over the State of Rome under all these former Governments and onely speak to the Imperial When the Romans had ended their War in France Civil War arose amongst themselves between Julius Caesar and En. Pompey his kinsman Pompey and Caesar were both Roman Generals and had great interest in the people But Pompey laying his design to get into sole power would have Caesar put out of his Consulship unlesse he would disband his Army Caesar could not think himself safe to dismiss his Souldiers yet did offer that he would do it if Pompey would do the like Yet this equal motion not being accepted Caesar presently speeded to his Army in France marched into Italy and there possessed himself of divers strong Holds This news being brought to Pompey he rallied his Army and gave Battel to Caesar. But in this Fight Pompey's Army was routed and Pompey himself fled into Egypt But where Pompey looked for requital of former kindness his low estate was now despised and Ptolomy King of Egypt fearing uprores in his Country by harbouring Pompey he caused Pompey to be treacherously slain and so Caesar came to sole power In the 5. year of this Civil War Julius Caesar returned to Rome and now enemies being vanquished abroad and the people pacisied at home Julius Caesar had the honour of Dictator but having the power of the sword he assumed Supreme Authority to himself chose Senators of his own party and conferred honours and Offices of the Weale-publike upon whom he pleased By this usurpation Caesar was lost much in the affections of the people in general and hated by divers So that conspiracies were made against him and at last he was murdered in the Senate the 15. of March the 5. moneth after he came to Rome by those he had shewn great kindness to The Roman Monarchy here took beginning and from hence I intend to trace the Emperours so long as the Roman Empire lasted and give a view to the world what beastly Monsters most of them were according to the Visions of them to Daniel After the death of Julius Caesar Octavius Augustus Caesars sisters son drew the Souldiers after him and pretended to put himself into Arms for the Wealepu like At this time the Government of Triumviri were established and the Rule given to Augustus and two of his friends But the greedy ambition of sole Authority ingendred strife amongst the three Governours M. Lepidus was soon deposed for conspiring against Augustus And not long after Augustus made War upon Antonius who had married the sister of Augustus for putting her away and marrying the Queen of Egypt In this War Augustus overcame and made Antonius and Cleopatra his new wife to kill themselves And thus Augustus came to the Empire of Rome Historians say Our Saviour Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin in the 42. year of the reign of Augustus That Christ was born in the reign of Augustus the Scripture assures us but to finde out the particular year of his reign we must consult Chronologers John Sleidan saith It was the 29. year of Augustus c. Yet these may be thus reconciled accounting 13. years of Augustus his reign as Triumviri and 29. in sole Government as Emperour the birth of Christ falls in the 42. year of Augustus after which he reigned 14. years and in all 56. and died Anno Christ. 15. After Augustus Tiberius his son in law took the Empire At first he seemed hard to be perswaded to accept the Crown and for some time did nothing of moment without the Senate But when he was well setled in the Throne he did what he pleased In the 15. year of Tiberius Jesus Christ was Baptized and entered upon his publike Ministry and suffered death in the 18. or beginning of the 19. of the reign of Tiberius Cytreus upon the 21. of Mat. hath it thus Our Saviour Christ Jesus when he had lived here on earth 33. years and something more suffered death for the Salvation of mankinde the 25. day of March in the 18. year of the reign of Tiberius In his reign also Steven was stoned John Baptist beheaded and Paul called In all Tiberius reigned 22. years and odd moneths An. Christ. 37. Caius Caligula now took the Imperial Scepter This Emperour abounded in cruelty Idolatty and pride forgetting he was but dust he claimed to himself the honour of God causing the people to pray to him and dedicated the Lords holy Temple in Jerusalem never before so defiled to new Caius as a famous God In the time of Caius Pilate who past Sentence of death upon Christ fell into a tormenting disease and to end his misery kill'd himself Also Herod that beheaded John was put down and banished Caius himself was also slain by his own Guard when he had reigned 3. years and 10 moneths An. 42. Claudius Uncle to Caius came next to the Throne He was a great Warrior and reduced many Countries to obedience to the Roman Scepter amongst others this Nation of England and married his daughter to Arviragus the King and in memory of that great solemnity he built Kaerlow now Glocester An. 44. When Claudius had borne the Crown 13. years 8. moneths and 20. daies he died An. 56. Nero took the next turn He past the former part of his reign quietly But after he was setled he fell into abominable wickedness his malice carried him beyond the bounds of humanity that he tormented to death his own mother his brethren and his wife Nero to all other evils raised the first persecution against the Christians In this persecution Peter and Paul the Apostles suffered Martyrdom and by this means the Gospel was much spread at which time it 's said The Gospel was brought into England by Joseph of Arimathea Upon the cruelty of Nero divers Countries rebelled and great troubles were raised in the Roman State but to prevent a deserved death by the sentence of the Senate Nero became his own executioner when he had reigned 13. years and 8. daies An. 69. The Empire at the death of Nero was in great disorder and the Sword bare the greatest sway By this means Galba was set upon the Throne yet he kept it but 7. moneths and 7. daies but was beheaded Otho succeeded Galba yet he continued his honour but for 3. moneths and he was slain Vitellius took the next turn who was Emperour but 8. moneths and he was dispatched Vespatian being now General of the Roman Armies sent against the Jewes the Army proclaimed Vespatian Emperour of Rome Hereupon the Emperour left the Government of the Army to his son Titus and himself returned to Rome At this time the Lord fulfilled the word of Prophesie in a great measure upon
his reign An. 383. Gratian now came to the Throne The Roman State was now greatly weakened and the barbarous people strengthened so Gratian took into Government to him Theodosius a Spaniard But Maximus a Captain under Gratian conspired the death of Gratian who was murdered when he had reigned 15. years Theodosius being established in the Government with Gratian set himself to suppress this bloudy Tyrant and therefore drew his Army neer to Maximus But when the Souldiers of Maximus understood that the Emperour Theodosius came against them with a mighty Army they soon took Maximus bound him and brought him to Theodosius who as soon caused the Tyrant to be executed Theodosius was very laborious and in his time called several Councils to finde out the truth and to advance the purity of Religion This Emperour had two sons Arcadius and Honorius whom he took into Government when they were both young Theodosius being at Millain and finding bodily sickness increase he sent for his son Honorius who came to his father forthwith but he departed this life the 17. of January the 60. year of his age when he had reigned 16. years An. 414. Arcadius and Honorius after the death of their Father divided the Roman Empire Arcadius went to the East and Honorius rul'd tâ—e West At this time Christian Religion began greatly to flourish and spread so that the greatest troubles did arise from the ambition of Bishops which after I shall speak more to In the reign of Honorius by the treachery of Stilicus the Goths took Rome but stay'd not long I finde no certain account given of Honorius his death or the time of his reign Valentinian had the Empire of Rome and desired in Marriage his Couzen Endoxia daughter to Theodosius the second Emperour of the East The motion being accepted Valentinian went to Constantinople where the Marriage was solemnized Long it was not but Valentinian was slain by the treason of Maximus and to revenge this treason Endoxia call'd in Genzericus King of the Vandals but by him Rome was burnt and the Western Empire brought to great desolation After the death of Maximus Avitus took the Imperial power but was taken away by the Plague when he had reigned 8. moneths The Empire now was vacant for some time but in the year following Majorinus took the Government upon him but was soon murdered by Severus Severus now come to the Imperial Diadem and Rome lying in her ashes he made Ravenna the chief seat Woful confusions now wasted the Western Empire yet Severus kept the Crown 4. years In the distractions and distresses of the Roman State between Genzericus and others Ambassadours were sent to Leo the second Emperour of the East to desire him to send an Emperour to Rome Hereupon Leo sent Anthemius and with him a great Army to settle him in the Roman Empire But Anthemius was slain when he had governed 5. years Olimbrius then ascended the Imperial Throne and was dispatched in seven moneths Glicerius next succeeded in the Roman Empire but after 5. years was deposed by Nepos Nepos took the Crown but had it taken again from him by Orestes when he had worn it but 56. daies Orestes possest the Empire but gave it to his son Augustulus Augustulus was the last Emperour of Rome and reigned but one year It is said that Odoazer succeeded Augustulus but so low was the Roman State that he refused the title of Emperour and took only the stile of King Thus this Roman Empire which had been the glory and terror of the World for the space of 500. years was now through sedition pride and cruelty brought to woful ruine In these distractions several Provinces of the Empire fell off and set up Kings amongst themselves and here the Roman Empire ceased The Monarchy of England IT is agreed by Writers that England was a Province of the Roman Empire Some suppose it was first subjected by the Emperour Severus who in the 18. year of his reign was slain at York Ann. Christ. 213. But it 's granted that Constantine the great upon the division of the Empire to his three sons France Spain England and Ireland were sub-Kingdoms given to his eldest son Constantinus about An. 343. Our Chronologers acknowledge Brittain continued a Roman Province until the time of Theodosius the second At this time the Emperour had drawn the strength of this Nation over into France and in those Wars were much wasted so that Brittain was very weak of men and upon this advantage the Picts and Scots made Inroads into England and invaded some Countries and did great hurt Hereupon the Brittains required aid of the Romans But the Roman Empire was now brought very low and they having at that time Wars in Italy and in France they neglected poor Brattain who were forced to provide for themselves as well as they could and so Brittain cast off the Roman Government about the 16. year of Theodosius the 2. about Anno Christi 441. The Brittains when left to themselves continued in doubtful Wars with the Picts and Scots about 6. years and then with one consent they Elected Vortiger to be their King An. Christi 447. Vortiger was the first Brittish King In whole time the Land was greatly wasted by a destroying Plague that the living could scarcely bury the dead This woful mortality gave the cruel Picts and Scots advantage again to enter England who did make great spoil while there was no strength to resist them Hereupon Vortiger sent for aid into Germany from whence came Hingest and Horsus with some Saxons When Vortiger had beat back the Picts and Scots He gave the Isle of Thanet in Kent to the Captains and their Companies to inhabit as the reward of their good service Captain Hingest grew into great favour and King Vortiger married to him his daughter Rowan who was a very beautiful creature Upon this match the Saxons did come into the Land abundantly and carryed so high that the Brittish people complained to the King fearing they might invade the Land But by the Queens interest the peoples complaints were slighted and the Saxons encouraged Whereupon the people deposed Vortiger from the Crown and made Vortimer their King in his fathers stead when Vortiger had reigned 7. years An. 454. Vortimer hotly pursued the growing Saxons who as stifly stood it out But he got the better of them in divers battels yet in revenge Rowan his Stepmother poysoned him when he had reigned 6 years An. 460. Vortiger the father of Vortimer once again obtained the Crown and shortly after Hingest entred the Land again with an Army of Saxons Hingest finding a great preparation of the Brittains against him desired a Treaty for peace and while they were treating he treacherously slew 440. Earles and Barons upon