Jesus Christ chap. 1. vers 1 2. doth import to mee somthing more then what is in the outward visible events which everie rational man who can read Histories and understand Symbolical speeches is able to take notice of and discern to bee fulfilled as they were foretold therefore although to manifest the Truth of God the events are very useful if not necessarie to bee look't after yet I am cleer that they are neither useful to us nor necessarie to bee known but as they are subordinate unto this Mysterie of the Kingdom and Testimonie of Christ the knowledg and keeping of which doth give us a right unto the tree of life and an entrie thorow the Gates into the Citie This then is the Mysterie which I look after viz. to finde the Manifestation of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ in the Nature of man and in humane societies so advanced that the works of the Devil are destroied therein and that the salvation of Israël doth thereby effectually com out of Sion to bring back the captivitie of the people of the Lord and to make the whole Creâtion partaker of the glorious libertie of the Sons of God for to shew unto the eie of our Faith by what means and waies this is to bee brought to pass in the Regenerate souls of men and by the state of Regeneration in the outward societies and professions of believers I conceiv the visions were mainly sent unto the Prophet and that it was his principal aim by describing of them to declare this unto us if then by the representation of bare outward events wee are not made capable of partaking this Mysterie whereby Christ beeing apprehended in his testimonie doth becom in us the hope of glorie all our discoveries will bee of no great advantage unto our happiness nor shall wee reach the aim which the Holie Ghost had in sending this Prophesie unto us wee must therefore consider what the keie is whereby the secret of that dispensation which bring 's with it felicitie doth stand is opened I shall now briefly till God grant a fitter opportunitie to bee larger touch this matter onely to let you know that as the keie of the Historical Mysterie of the visions is the discoverie of Paralel events by Syncronisms and the understanding of the Symbolical speeches of the Scripture wherein the harmonie between the great and little world is expressed So the keie of the spiritual Mysterie of the visions must bee the discoverie of the paralel perfections which are found to bee between Christ as the head and the Church as the Bodie which is the fulness of him that filleth all in all and the understanding of the harmonical properties of things visible and invisible wherein the correspondencie between the outward and inward man the temporarie and eternal natures of things and the state of true life as it is present in the first fruits and as it is to com in the full harvest are expressed Now to finde these keies as they are properly fitted to open the locks of this Prophesie as it should bee our studie so when wee have found them our care must bee to use them discreetly This Prophesie is not shut in respect of the matter but yet that matter is not obvious to the capacitie of everie one in respect of the manner of the dispensation for it is certain that all the counsel of God whereby wee are made partakers of the Divine nature if weelook upon the substance of the Truth it is made manifest by the Gospel without vail and with much plainness of speech as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3. vers 6. till the end of the chapter but here the wonderful waie and manner of dispensing of that nature to the Church and working out the counsel of God in all the world as this world is to bee made subordinate to Christ and his Saints is laid open in the Apocalyptical visions which although they are not covered with anie vail which doth hide the glorie of God's work as Moses's face was yet they represent it onely to us as in a glass with Images wherein the face of Christ doth appear by waie of reflexion and through a medium till wee com to behold directly his glorie face to face without a medium and to apprehend him in it so as wee are apprehended by him wee may not then call those visions dark Mysteries without injurie to the Spirit of Christ but they are livelie figures of the truth of God's presence in his Saints and over the world to represent it to those that have eies to see it and to help our weak eie-sight which may bee dazled at the resplendencie of the glorie thereof wee should make use of the prospective waies which are offered unto us in the word elswhere which are applyable to these visions either as keies to unlock the dispensation of the Mysterie conteined therein or rather as directing and multiplying glasses through which our understanding may bee led and enlarged to reflect upon the spiritual objects properly so called which concern the state of the Kingdom which is inwardly everlasting in it self and to the Reasonings of men invisible and incomprehensible Now the prospective waies to bee made use of for the discoverie of this Mysterie are of two sorts som relate unto the Matter it self conteined in the visions som to the dispensation of that matter by waie of vision the waies relating to the matter it self are the cleer and universal Rules of Scriptural and Prophetical interpretation and the waies relating to the dispensation of the Mysterie by waie of vision are the special rules of Interpretation leading us to take notice of the peculiar characters and circumstances of each vision as they are subordinate unto the Mysterie of the Kingdom which is administred by Jesus Christ unto the end and in the end of this world If I should enter upon these Subiects at large you may perceiv that I would bee obliged to write not a brief epistolical discours as now my purpose is but a whole Treatise therefore I shall onely give you the summarie heads of that which might and somtime must bee more largely spoken to that by the hints which shall God willing bee suggested you may exercise your thoughts to dive into the Mysterie by your self as the Lord shall guid you for none of us can profit in these things any further then God's Spirit doth lead us forth to meditate through faith upon Christ and to improve practically our talents about the work of the Mysterie of our union with him Thus then in reference to the matter the universal Rules of Prophetical Interpretation are generally known to bee these The first that wee must prophesie according to the Analogie of Faith Rom. 12. v. 6. The second that wee must keep the form of sound words delivered in the Scriptures 2. Tim. 1. 13. The third that wee must analyse that is resolv and divide the text aright 2 Tim. 2. 15. and to the
like The Cup which is in her hand whereby shee causeth all Nations to drink and swallow down these abominations is her pretended Autoritie as the unerring Church having power to binde and loose all things in Heaven and on Earth in order to men's Consciences and to manage all the reasons of State and publick affairs of the world with supreme Jurisdiction in ordine ad spiritualia And the Fornication which the Kings of the Earth have committed with her hath been their compliance and correspondence with her to make use of her power and influence towards their neighbors and Subjects to gain credit thereby unto themselvs together with the studie of her Policies to learn from her the maximes of deceit which are the reasons of State-advantages to get power by which means shee hath intelligence of all the Counsels of Princes becaus they are brought to drink them out of her Cup and make use of her embraces and favors to bring them to pass and her whorish studie is onely to keep them all at variance one with another and to make them severally depend on her Love that shee may alwayes arbitrate their affairs and their interests may bee subject onely to her favor and so far as anie Hierarchie on Earth or Church-constitution doth make it self by these waies considerable in a State or by waies like unto these seek's to bee respected by the meaner or higher sort of people they all drink of the same Cup of her fornications Let not therefore anie form of outward worship recommend it self to the followers of the Lamb by anie interests of State nor let anie sort of men who pretend to Religious administrations applie themselvs to the practices of this natrue nor anie true Christian Magistrates intend the compliances and correspondencies of this kinde and for such ends with anie Masters of formalities who go a whoring after the appearances of outward things in matters of worship and of State which take either onely or most with sensual imaginations who may bee rid upon like beasts As for the Bride wee exspect her from Heaven for it is apparent that as yet wee have no permanent Citie here on Earth such as the Apostle hath described the Lamb's wife to bee in Revelation Chap. 22. vers 10. till the end wee therefore seek this Citie which hath foundations and if wee walk by faith to get an entrance into her Let us wait through the Spirit for the Hope of Righteousness which is promised to the Saints and walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh so far as wee are advanced in the new Creature so far are wee fitted and prepared for the Bridegroom 's comming to enter with him into his wedding-Chamber How far anie Societies of Churches or single Church-Congregations have received the favor to bee arraied in fine linnen clean and white which is the righteousness of Saints is to mee as yet not apparent for I must confess that I have not seen anie perfection in anie of them and I know that I have made it a good part of my work to visit them all and to consider them in their waies aswel abroad as at home in respect of their several associations and truly the Laodicean temper is over us all and if wee repent not and becom zealous in the waie of Righteousness and of holie Communion without partialitie and without Hypocrisie no-doubt Christ will spue us all out of his mouth and call unto him another people which shall bee made readie for the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb and although this seem's to bee a sad sentence over the Churches which are now counted wise Virgins yet there is neither want of Charitie in it towards them as if I did not wish them well nor want of Hope for them as if I did not exspect their Reformation but in both these respects I do bear witness that none of them all are the Bride whose comming out of the wilderness is exspected but that all their visible estates are the outward Court which is given to the Gentiles wherein to this daie they tread the Holie Citie under foot and are in the wilderness of spiritual desolation and confusion but that out of their invisible state which is the inner Court and Temple wherein they have Communion with God and one with another a Citie at last will rise up and appear is my confident exspectation and that this may com to pass speedily it shall bee my constant praier but to bring this to pass I finde by the Revelation that not onely Babylon is to bee destroied with mightie Judgments from Heaven and that the Beast is to bee plagued and punished but that the armies of Saints under Christ's conduct shall from Heaven com in Battel-array and war against the Beast and fals Prophet and the Kings of the earth now how far this battel is carried on in these our daies and to what parties wee are engaged and in what waie wee put forth our strength to fight and what interest wee fight for whether for Christ's purely or for our own also as it is mixed with that of the King 's of the earth and in them with the beast's will bee our wisedom seriously to consider and I wish that my Countrie-men in Scotland who have fixed so strong an interest upon the terms of the Covenant and are counted a wise Nation in the world might bee made so spiritually wise as to discern their own station and what help they give unto the Beast by their present proceedings and it is my heartie desire that the Brethren here who for the sake of Scotland in reference to the Covenant keep themselvs at a distance from the main work and obstruct by their non-concurrence in things good and lawful the progress of our Reformation might bee wakened to see the posture wherein they stand in this their warfare and if this plain discoverie of the state of the Quarrel between the Beast and the Lamb between the fals Prophet and the two Witnesses and between the Whore and the Bride that is now comming out of the Wilderness may bee a means to open the eies and undeceiv anie of them I should rejoice at it however I have herein discharged my Conscience and born witness without partialitie to the Truth so far as it is reveled unto mee which I hope I shall never refuse to seal with my death if need bee and this I conceiv is the onely waie of our warfare who pretend to bee followers of the Lamb in the work of the Ministerie that was should have none other weapons of our warfare but one Sword amongst us all which is that which proceedeth out of his mouth and that our waie to fight with this weapon against our adversaries should bee none other but to follow Christ in our lawful Calling which is our white hors and with an holie blameless personal conversation towards all men which is our fine linnen white and clean for herein doth lie our whole strength
administration which is revealed In the first as a Man in dealing with men in the second as a Lamb offered up to God in dealing with God and in the third as a mightie Angel in dealing with Satan and his Angels and with the powers of darkness in the world Secondly for the opening of the matter of this vision I observ that the summe of all is to shew when and how the Mysterie of God which hee hath spoken by the Prophets should bee finished and to shew this First two means are used to lead John to the knowledg thereof then secondly the thing it self is summarily related by word of mouth unto him and afterward thirdly it is represented in several visions The means leading to the knowledg of the finishing of the Mysterie are two First an open little Book inable's him to prophesie Chap. 10. Secondly a Reed given him like unto a Rod to measure the Temple the Altar and those that worship therein The summarie relation of the whole business by word of mouth doth concern the time of the treading of the utter court under foot the power of prophesiing given to the two Witnesses during that time the war which the Beast shall make with them while 's they prophesie and the issue of that war set forth in the circumstances of their death and resurrection and that which immediately doth follow thereupon both in earth and in Heaven In earth there was an earthquake which made the tenth part of the Citie to fall and killed seven thousand men and frighted the rest The second wo doth pass and the seventh Angel doth sound his Trumpet In Heaven there is great joie and and thanksgiving offered unto God becaus hee hath taken the Kingdom to himself and doth reign over the Kingdoms of the world to give rewards unto his servants chap. 11. Hitherto the whole Series of matters concerning the Mysterie of God hath been related in plain terms to shew the things by which it should bee accomplished now followeth the description of the visions by which the particulars of the things summarily mentioned in this Narrative are more at large reveled whereby the Prophet is made to understand concerning the Mysterie of God which is Christ in the Church Ephes 5. 32. or which is all one Christ in us the hope of glorie Colos 1. 27. what the state of the Church was in Heaven at that time and what it should afterward bee on earth during the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness during the time of her comming out of the wilderness and during the time of her Reign over the earth as the Spous of the Lamb with her bridegroom At that time the temple of God in Heaven beeing opened and the Ark of the Testament therein beeing seen the Church as shee was constituted by the Apostles appeared and brought forth a Man-child against whom the Dragon did set himself to devour it but the child was to bee caught up to Heaven and the Dragon to bee cast out of Heaven upon the earth where hee set's himself to persecute the woman which fled into the Wilderness and to make war with the remnant of her seed chap. 12. During the time of the Churche's abode in the Wilderness the mysterie of iniquitie is set up and come's to it's perfection in the earth God send 's his judgments upon it when it is com to it's height c. 13 till 19 This Mysterie of Iniquitie hath two parts the Mysterie of the Beast and the Mysterie of the Woman riding upon the Beast The Mysterie of the Beast ruling over the earth is seen in one Beast coming out of the Sea with ten horns and another coming out of the earth with two horns Chap. 13. during the time of the rising and reigning of these Beasts over the earth the state of the Church upon Mount Sion and God's administrations for the knowledg of his will thereby unto the world concerning the everlasting Gospel concerning the future fall of Babylon and concerning the punishment of those that adhere unto the Beast and for the waie of gathering up the harvest and vintage of the earth are revealed chap. 14. God's Judgments upon the Beast are poured out in the Phials of his last wrath whereunto seven Angels are appointed and prepared Chap. 15. and commanded to put the Judgments in execution Chap. 16. The Mysterie of the Whore of Babylon riding upon the Beast is shewed to the Prophet chap. 17. and the Judgment which befalleth unto her for her destruction is described chap. 18. The state of the Church in her comming out of the Wilderness is described in the congratulatorie acclamations given to God in Heaven at the destruction of Babylon and at the preparations of the wife of the Lamb for the Marriage-Supper and in the war which the Armies of Heaven under Christ's conduct do make against the Beast the fals Prophet and the Kings of the Earth For by this means the power of all her adversaries beeing destroied shee is fitted to appear visibly upon the stage of the world Chap. 19. The state of the Church during her Reign with Christ on earth is before the last Judgment a thousand years and after the universal Resurrection both in Heaven and earth for ever and ever Chap. 20. 21. and 22. till vers 6. Thus wee see the contexture and coherence of the matter and parts of the whole Book if then wee should consider how these particulars relate unto the main scope of the Prophesie which is to reveal Jesus Christ unto us in the Mysterie of his Kingdom wee see that everie thing is most directly subordinate thereunto and that the whole doth most completely reach a full discoverie of the accomplishment of the Mysterie whereof the brief summe is this That the professors of the name of Jesus Christ by their sufferings for his sake by their testimonie of him in opposition to the Dragon to the Beasts and to the Whore by the Judgments of God against all these to destroie their power by the war of the Saints against them by the setling of the Kingdom of Christ in the hands of his Saints and by the Manifestation of the Glorie of the heavenlie Jerusalem comming unto them from Heaven to earth whereinto the Kings of the earth shall bring their glorie shall get the full victorie over the world and with the purchase of the Inheritance of all things in the New Heavens and the New earth they shall have the enjoiment of the presence of God for ever In all which at this time as to our present condition the opposition which the Beast hath to the Lamb the fals Prophet to the two Witnesses and the Whore to the Bride and the manner of their warfare is most considerable for in the opposite properties of their Natures and waies the Mysteries of Iniquitie and of Godliness are most completely revealed and by the manner of the war which is between them and the issue thereof the state and
it bee matter of theorie or of affection or of Practice that the all-sufficiencie of the anointing of Christ in his Saints may appear and bee found alone effectual without the tricks of Humane Philosophie of Policie and of power to slaie the wicked and to direct the Spirit of man to all the secrets of Divine and Humane wisedom which shall bee found nothing but meer fallacies further then it hath a direct relation and subordination to manifest the life and glorie of Christ Jesus when I saie this Sword shall bee thus made use of and applied then and not till then shall I exspect that the Beast and the fals Prophet shall bee taken alive and destroied and till this bee don Satan cannot bee bound up from seducing the Nations of the Earth Thus you see the grounds of the Hopes of Your friend in Christ John Durie At my Chamber Novemb. 28. 1650. Clavis Apocalyptica OR A Prophetical KEY BY WHICH The Great Mysteries in the Revelation of St John and in the Prophet Daniel are opened It beeing made apparent That the Prophetical Numbers com to an end With the year of our Lord 1655. Judicious Reader I Doubt not but there bee manie especially those who have anie Interest in the condition of Common-wealths that are desirous to know what at length may bee the end and issue of this present Combustion and Continuance of Wars that are spread over the face of Europe Whereof the Revelation of St John doth give information But in respect it is commonly held and reputed a Mysterious and dark book I offer here a Key Whosoëver doth well applie the same and observeth the Method and Harmonie of the Revelation and also diligently pondereth and considereth the second and seventh chapter of the Prophet Daniel hee will finde his desire satisfied and easily discover the Event of these wars Farewel Wel-meaning Reader and bee patient for a short time thou shalt see the end of these distractions in great Revolutions both in Church and State within and without Europe Clavis Apocalyptica THe eternal and true God to manifest his Fatherlie and faithful Providence which hee without intermission dispenseth to his People hath severally in the Old Testament for the comfort of the godlie and warning of the wicked set and prefixed certain times how long hee would connive at the distresses and persecutions of his own and when hee would deliver and punish the wicked 1. Before the Flood hee gave to them who would not anie more hearken to the reproof of his Spirit a hundred and twentie years respite Genes 6. v. 3. When this time was exspired God came with the punishment of the Flood and destroied all that was living upon the face of the Earth except Noah and what was with him under God's protection in the Ark. Gen. 7. v. 23. 2. God did declare to the Patriark Abraham that his seed should bee a stranger in a Land that was not theirs and should serv them and they should afflict them for four hundred years But that Nation whom they should serv hee would judg and afterwards they should com out with great substance Genes 15. ver 13 14. Which promise God did faithfully perform and after the time was exspired hee brought forth his people by a strong and mightie hand out of the Egyptian bondage and drowned Pharach with his Host in the Red Sea Exod 12. v. 13 14. 3. To the Captivitie of Babylon was set a period of seventie years Ierem. 29. 10. When the time was accomplished the Lord stirred up the Spirit of Cyrus King of Persia to the end that hee might let his people go up again to Ierusalem 2 Chronic. 36. v. 22 23. 4. To Daniel shewed God that seventie weeks which are annual or yearlie weeks or four hundred nintie years were determined upon the Iewish people in which time the Messiah should com and bee cut off and at length the Citie of Ierusalem bee destroied Daniel c. 9. v. 24 25 26 27. How truly all these things were accomplished is sufficiently evident In like manner there is a certain time set and determined upon the Church of God in the New Testament how long shee shall bee subject and exposed to persecution and when shee shall bee delivered from it as it doth appear by the Prophet Daniel and by the Revelation of St Iohn Whereof these Positions or Aphorisms may bee collected 1. This determined time is expressed in these following places of the Holie Scripture Daniel 7. v. 25. They the Saints shall bee given into his the fourth beast's hand until a time and times and the dividing of time And in the 12. Chapt. v. 7. An Angel doth ask the question How long shall it bee to the end of these wonders Another returneth this answer That it shall bee for a time times and a half Revelat. 12. v. 14. The Woman which is the Church of God shall bee in the wilderness for a time times and half a time which is to saie as it is expressed in the sixth vers of the same Chapter a thousand two hundred and threescore daies Chapter 11. v. 3. The two witnesses shall bee clothed with Sackcloth one thousand two hundred sixtie daies Chapter 11. v. 2. The Gentiles shall tread under foot the holie Citie fourtie two moneths Chap. 13. vers 5. The blasphemies of the beast shall continue fourtie two moneths 2. These three sorts of numbers and times as a time times and half a time one thousand two hundred sixtie daies and fortie two moneths are of one and the same kinde and correspondent one to another None would bee able to understand what a time times and half a time is which are determined for the fourth beast Dan. 7. vers 15. For the wonders Dan. 12. vers 7. And for the woman in the wilderness Revelat. 12. vers 14. unless it had been said also of the Woman that shee shall bee nourished there one thousand two hundred sixtie daies which doth explain the other So that the Woman's 3 ½ times are equivalent to one thousand two hundred sixtie daies Likewise because the 3 ½ times of the Beast mentioned in the Prophet Daniel are declared by fortie two moneths in the Revelation of St Iohn 13. vers 15. it doth of necessitie follow that the fortie two moneths are equivalent to one thousand two hundred sixtie daies which maketh up the accompt thirtie daies beeing computed for a moneth as is usual amongst the Hebrews 360 daies are 1. year or time 12 moneths 720 2. years 24. 180 ½ year 6. 1260 daies 42. moneths 3. These one thousand two hundred sixtie daies do signifie one thousand two hundred sixtie years Manie are of this opinion that here are meant natural daies and consequently but 3 ½ years But experience doth contradict the same in regard the Holie Citie hath been trodden under foot the two witnesses clothed with sackcloth the woman continued in the wilderness and the Beast with ten horns spoken blasphemies and
OF St JOHN DEscribeth the State of the Christian Church in the New Testament and also the things which shall com to pass in the Romane Empire or in the fourth Monarchie under which the Church of God doth subsist This description comprehendeth three periods or three sorts of times The first Period containeth Regnum Draconis Ethnicum the time of the Dragon until the three hundred nintie fifth year of our Lord. This is the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Revelations 12. vers 3. and the Dragon himself under the Heathenish Emperors was publickly adored and worshipped but the Christians persecuted banished and put to death till at last Constantine the Great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the Church prevailed and triumphed until the death of the Emperor Theodosius at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great autoritie unto the Beast with ten horns when it rose up out of the sea Revel 13. vers 2. The second Period comprehendeth vicariatum Draconis Antichristianum or the time from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord in which the Pope at Rome as the Antichrist and installed Lievtenant of the Dragon blasphemeth God and his name and persecuteth his Saints for the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years Revel 13. vers 2. when the Dragon was overcom and cast out of the Church-Heaven hee did cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman Revel 12. vers 15. that is hee stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Romane Empire intending thereby to root out and destroie the Church But the Earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations imbraced the Christian Faith remained in the Romane Empire and erected several Kingdoms in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that hee could not maintain the Heathenism wherein hee openly was worshipped and served hee resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the sea Revelations 13. vers 1. and is ridden and governed by the great Whore of Babylon 17. vers 3. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Romane Empire his power and his seat and great autoritie chapter 13. vers 2. and so make's him his Vicar and Lievtenant by giving over to him his seat and residence the Citie of Rome and the whole Romane Empire Whence it came to pass that about this time the Bishops of Rome begun to oppose the marriage of Priests and to seek to have the Primacie and preeminencie both in Church and State The Dragon doth resigne to his Lievtenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his whole Host for in this sens the LXX Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exodus 14. vers 14. and 15. vers 4. and in other places as Matthew 24. vers 29 30. c. The host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the Heathen These viz. Idols the Antichristian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name and shape of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the text in the words following vers 3. and 4. doth speak The whole Earth did wonder at the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast c. The Dragon doth give also unto him great Autoritie and make's him a Head over great Countries whereof David did prophesie in the Psal 110. vers 6. The time of this Lievtenantship shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years since then it did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord therefore it doth end in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shortly to com Upon this followeth the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum the true peace and quiet condition of the Church here on earth Seeing at the sound of the trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third woe doth com upon the Romane Empire and at the same time the seventh Vial of God's wrath is poured out wherewith the Enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroied yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Revel 20. vers 1 2 3. therefore now nothing but a true and constant peace can ensue Whence it is that the Church of God rejoiceth with a great voice Revel 11. vers 15. saying The Kingdoms of this world are becom the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Church and hee shall reign for ever and ever And in the v. 17. Shee giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almightie because hee hath taken to himself his great power and reigneth Unto these three times all the three parts of the Revelation of St Iohn are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the state of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Romane Empire in a threefold manner as 1. By seven Epistles chap. 2. and 3. 2. By a book sealed chap. 4 5 6 7. 3. By a little book open chap. 10. And following Hee doth appear also to John everie time in an other shape As 1. In the likeness of a son of man chapter 1. who suffereth in the first period 2. As a Beast in the shape of a Lamb having seven horns and seven eies ch 5. which doth fight in the second period 3. As a mightie strong Angel clothed with a cloud chapter 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth 1. In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven Candlesticks c. chapter 1. vers 12 13 14 15 16. Hee declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period the third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second and the promises chap. 2. and 3. to the third 2. As a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eies hee openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden Decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling to the Romane Empire under which the Church is built up and preserved chap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall bee carried In the Political State In the first Period until the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord which by opening of the first six seals is performed chapter 6. where in the first five seals the condition under the heathenish Emperors but in the sixth the fall of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the Great until the death of Theodosius who died the 17. of Ianuarie Anno three hundred ninetie five fifteen prefigured In
of the Woman in the wilderness chap. 12. vers 6. The fortie two moneths of the Beast and of his blasphemies chap. 13. vers 5. The time of the Image of King Nebuchadnezzar Dan. chap. 2. The determined time of the four Monarchies Dan. chapter 17. vers 12. 25. The one thousand two hundred ninetie daies of Dan. chap. 12. vers 11. c. The spirit of life from God entered into them In the chapter 37. vers 14. of Ezekiel God in the behalf of the Jews in the Captivitie of Babylon doth use such an expression saying I will put my spirit in you and yee shall live and I shall place you in your own Land c. The same will befal to the exiled and oppressed Evangelical Professors God will send them an unexspected help by such means which never entred into anie man's thoughts God will revive them again bring them into their own Land re-establish them in their dignities and publick functions and give them greater and higher Privileges and Liberties then they ever had before And they stood upon their feet The Exiled Evangelical Professors do appear again and take possession of their Land and places The oppressed also com forth again and are delivered from their heavie yoak And great fear fell upon them which saw them As now there is great joie and exsultation amongst the Papists about the issue of this war so there will bee great terror when they shall see the Exiled return into the hereditarie Provinces again and the Oppressed take possession of their former dignities and honorable functions Then will bee a livelie example set before us of that which is written in the book of Wisdom chap. 5. Vers 12. And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Com up hither c. By the Heaven the Church is understood By the great voice is signified that after the end of three years and an half a great and chief Instrument an high Potentate amongst the Evangelical Professors shall rise and bee exalted who to the great fear and terror of Papists shall open again a free cours to the Gospel and Call with a great voice upon the exiled and oppressed re-establish them into their publick imployments and possessions and saie unto them Com up hither This is the Divine Diploma or Letters Patents the vocation or calling which is published by that High Potentate The exiled do obeie They ascend up to Heaven that is they enter into their charges again and perform that in the Church which is committed to their trust In a Cloud that is with great autoritie respect power and glorie Isa 14. vers 13. 14. And their enemies beheld them namely those that formerly did rejoice at their afflictions and miseries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie contemplari ludos spectare vel celebrare to see a Comedie or plaie The Papists had hitherto acted as it were a Comedie with the Euangelical Professors and tormented them with all sorts of plagues Now they see the event and issue thereof wherin doth befal unto them what is threatned Jer. 50. vers 10 11 12 13. Vers 13. And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake All the Peace which the Papists do imagine to themselvs is now at an end For immediately the reformation of this Evangelical Potentate causeth an exceeding great insurrection and combustion in the Romane Empire And the tenth part of the Citie fell By the Citie is here meant 1. Either the whole Papacie and thus one of the ten streets hath its fall Namely the Germane Empire which is the street where the dead bodies of the two Witnesses had lien who are now standing again upon their feet 2. Or the Citie of Rome it self which in regard of the old Citie of Rome when shee was in her florishing condition is counted this daie but the tenth part As the same is proved by Lipsius lib. 3. admirand And there were slain That is cut off and destroid In the Earthquake That is in this war Seven thousand That is a great number or multitude Of men That is high and great persons chief heads and noble families And the remnant were affrighted and gave glorie to the God of Heaven The rest of the Papists stand amazed and do acknowledg the just judgments of God which hee poured out over them Vers 14. The second wo is past These words do not import that by the destruction of the Citie of Rome and the other things which have been set down in the aforegoing words the second wo is brought to an end but the overthrow of the Turkish Empire is thereby especially intimated Revelations 8. vers 13. St John beheld and heard an Angel flying thorough the midst of Heaven saying with a loud voice Wo wo wo to the inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound The first Wo hapned by the Saracens and Arabians whereof in Revel 9. vers first till the twelfth The second Wo hapned by the Turks Revelations 9 vers 13. till the 19. Hereunto do agree almost all the Expositors and refer this second Wo unanimously to the Turkish Empire And do infer from thence becaus it is said here the second Wo is past that immediately after the destruction of the Citie of Rome and these Revolutions in the Germane Empire the Turkish Empire shall have it's fall Vers 14. Behold the third Wo cometh quickly All the three Woes are poured over the Popish Romane Empire But the third Wo is the last and beginneth at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words do immediately follow Vers 15. And the seventh Angel sounded Wherewith beginneth the seventh and last plague poured out over Babel And withal is briefly described 1. The great joie which ariseth in the Evangelical Church 1. Becaus they have gotten an Evangelical head Vers 11. 2. Becaus the Citie of Rome is destroied and Germanie is fallen away from the Papal State vers 13. 3. Becaus the Turkish Empire is com to an end Vers 14. 4. Becaus the Son of God hath taken possession of the Kingdoms of this world and useth his great power and reigneth vers 15 16 17. This joie is also described in the 19. chapter vers 17. And upon this joie did David in the spirit reflect In the 93. Psal The Lord reigneth and is cloathed with Majestie c. In the 97. Psal The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice And in the 99. Psal The Lord reigneth bee the people never so impatient 2. The wrath of the Heathen That is the furie and rage of the Papists against these the Lord riseth becaus the daie of his wrath is com utterly cutting them off and destroying them vers 18. This Act is with a double sign confirmed 1. The Temple of God is opened and there was seen in his Temple the ark of his Testament 2. There were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an Earth-quake and great
of God c. 10. v. 7. By which means 1. The Devil is cast and shut up in the bottomless pit chap. 20. v. 1 2 3. 2. The Son of God taketh the possession of the Kingdom and reigneth chap. 11. v. 15. c. 11. v. 6. c. And the Church liveth in peace and tranquillitie FINIS The occasion of this discours and the end thereof Gener meus per duas Hebdomadas abfuit Wratislaviam missus Brigam nihil affert praeter terrores per Pacem quae derelictis à Pace exclusis nihil praeter novas Conscientiae carnificinas allatura metuitur prodromi non absunt Tractatus Germanicos de Periodicis Apocalypticis ad finem decurrentibus en communico tibi faxit Deus ut haec nè pereant neque in alienas veniant manus Sed eâ lege ut Judicium de his expromas hujus enim eliciendi causâ nobis ista communicari voluit autor ut quisquis legeret judicet simul censuram addat Audivi de isto libello jam nuper veram esse Apocalypseâ—n Apocalypsin quod maximè solabitur si rem acu tetigerit quod à termino tam propè absimus Communica quaeso vestris si quos Josephos Medes habetis sed erit in vestratem linguam transferendum Observation of the Providence of God to caus this book to bee published at this time 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 7. For the support of the Bohemian Exiles with comfort For several uses to us also 1. To confirm us in the exspectation of the fulfilling of the Apocalyptical promises Isa 59. 19. 2. To put us in minde of God's waie by which hee will finish his work Isa 54. 15 16 17. 3. To put us in minde of our dutie in order to God's work 4. To warn us not to bee secure but exspect a trial Concerning the Treatise expounding the Revelation what esteem is to bee had of it Mat. 25. 6. Concerning the interpetation of Apocalyptical Mysteries In respect of outward events that to shew their fulfilling is not all which is intended by the Spirit But that there is a manifestation of the Mysterie of the Kingdom of Christ intended thereby above the Historical events Colos 1. 26 27. And what the keie of that Mysterie is in general Ephes 1. 23. And the prospective which may bee had thereof in the Apocalyptical dispensation Which is of two sorts The Rules of Interpretation relating to the Matter as it is a scriptural Prophesie Mat. 2. 15. 23. The right use of these Rules The evils attending the non-observing of them That there is a neerer prospect of the Mysterie of the Kingdom to bee had then by these Rules Colos 2. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 24. Revel 19. 10. Yet not so as not to bee liable to bee tried by these Rules What the grand principle of our Faith is concerning Christ to which all the Interpretation of these visions must bee made proportionate What to bee look't upon in the Prophesie to finde the proportion it hath to that principle How the matter and scope of everie rational discours is to bee observed and found out Concerning the Title of the book shewing the matter and scope thereof Concerning the Preface shewing the same Concerning the Conclusion which doth speak still the same matter and scope Concerning the parâ—s of the matter as they reach the main Scope The division of the book The substance of the first vision The difference of the first and second vision The substance of the second vision Concerning the third vision And wherefore the whole Book is to bee reduced to three visions And what the summe of the third vision is The visions shewing the fulfilling of the Mysterie of God have a respect to four times 1. Before she Church fliâ—'s into the Wilderness 2. Whiles shee is in the wildernes The Mysterie of iniquitie appears which hath two parts One of the Beast another of the Whore And the State of the Church though in the Wilderness yet also upon Sion appear's in like manner The Judgments of God in his last wrath is poured out upon the Beast And the Mysterie of the Whore and her judgment appear's also 3. Whiles shee is coming out of the Wilderness 4. After that shee is com out of the Wilderness during the time of her Reign with Christ The brief summe of the whole Mysterie of God as set forth in the two last visions of the Revelâ—tion And the things which at present are most considerable therein which are The discoverie of the Beast The discoverie of the Lamb. The comparison of the Government of â—he and of the Lamb. The discoverie of the fals Prophet The discoverie of the two witnesses The comparison of the fals Prophet and of the two Witnesses The discoverie of the Whore Vers 5. The discoverie of the Bride Revel 19. vers 8. The manner of the warfare Chap. 19. 12 13. Heb. 4. 4. Revel 19. 20. Hebr. 12. 26. 42 moneths at the rate of 30. daies 1260. daies the two Witnesses