The TIME of the END SHEWING First until the three years and an half are come which are the last of the 1260 dayes the prophecies of the Scripture will not be understood concerning the Duration and Period of the FOURTH MONARCHY and Kingdom of the Beast THEN Secondly When that TIME shall come before the expiration the Knowledge of the End or that there shall be Time no longer will be revealed By the Rise of a little Horn The last Apostacy and the Beast slaying the Witnesses contemporizing The Characters Of which little Horn the last Apostacy and Beast as the Scriptures shew them are here faithfully opened And the Application left to the Wise By John Canne Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3. 7. Think not that I come to send peace on earth I come not to send peace but a sword Mat. 10. 34. London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1657. To the Reader THat enmity which from the beginning Jehovah Elohim the Lord God did put between the Serpent and the Woman and between their seed as always so now doth work with marveilous earnestness in all those who in every age from their proper spirit are engaged by their principals to maintain the combate to the time of the end The Righteous is an abomination to the wicked and the wicked is an abomination to the Righteous from the beginning to the end of this present evil world For as then even in Abrahams time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the spirit even so it is now in these last days and will be so till the old serpent the Divel and Sathan be cast into the bottomless pit and then according to the scope of the Scriptures of Truth the bond-woman and her son will be cast out and the children of the free-woman shall be the heirs And when I say So it is now in these last dayes I desire it may be well weighed for assuredly the Serpent and his brood will muster all their forces will improve all their policies will come forth with utmost inraged malice to do the most mischief they can against the true spiritnal â—eed The fresh Auxiliaries which are used in this service of the Dragon that old Serpent are the Apostates of the last times who are such Christians in a form of Godliness as the Devil is an Angel of Light when he is so transformed retaining his cursed properties and designs under the pretence of such a glorious transformation Therefore saith the Apostle it is no great thing if also his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness Which words are or may be to the more cautelous Christians a great preservative against the poysonous infection of the present Apostacy for multitudes of careless ones have been beguiled by these deceitful or cheating workers into a compliance with the interest of the Kingdom of the Beast But Blessed be the name of our Lord Protector the Patron of Innocency Truth and Righteousness that these deceitful workers resisters of the Truth Patrons of the carnal worldly Church shall not proceed much farther for their folly in its appointed season shall be made manifest to all men as the folly and madness of other of their brethren before them have been made manifest in like manner And which is matter of great rejoycing to the Lords suffering servants the Prince of the Apostates himself hath bin compel'd by the over-ruling Power of our Lord Jesus to defile his own nest to throw dirt in the face of his own Brat to trample upon his own Government with notable contempt in the presence of his cowardly men of war Oh! what joy of heart is it to us to live to see how in that very thing wherein they dealt so proudly so imperiously the Lord is above them and leaves them to such a degree of folly as to set at nought in such notable language in set Speeches the works of their own heads and hands and that in so short a space of time verily it cannot be treason any longer no not in the sence of the Court it self to imagine speak or write against the Instrument or instruments which brought forth that monstrous Government Ye may all speak treason by authority 〈◊〉 ye Inhabitants of these three Isles of the Sea for your Lord Protector himself hath lately set you a Pattern to pour contempt upon the whole Fabrick both Foundation and Superstruction It is to be ascribed to the preventing Grace of God himself and to no other cause that some few of us have been preserved from that dangerous communion and conformity wherewith many professors well meaning souls like the followers of Absalom of old have been unawares surprised and intangled That Scripture in 2 Tim. 3. the first five verses which by the servant of Christ the Author of the insuing Treatise is opened and compared with two other famous Prophesies concerning the little Horn and the Bottomless-pit-Beast was made effectual to my spirit and conscience to deliver me from those snares wherein the feet of others not a few have been taken faith the Apostle in the forementioned place after he had made a catalogue of Characters whereby to describe the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last time from such turn away And the first and last of those Characters lay with most weight upon my spirit Men shall be lovers of themselves covetous proud lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away And what I spake publikely in a great Assembly concerning the little Horn in two general Observations and nine special Characters whereby to discern it from the other Horns amongst whom it came up is remembred by many then present since which others have likewise given their judgements But this Author by what conduct of providence time will shew hath found cause to make those two Prophesies concerning Daniels little Horn and Johns Bottomless-pit-Beast to synchronise and to bring in the Apostacy of these last times to accompany them in their accomplishments It is remarkable what is told Daniel Chap. 12. v. 10. Mary shall be purified and made white and â—â—yed but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Surely the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last times are some of these wicked ones these will do wickedly but they cannot understand Understanding dwelleth not taketh not up her rest in the Assemblies in the Counsels of the last and worst sort of wicked ones The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him the wise shall understand who is a wise man he that fears the Lord for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom He that is become a fool for Christs sake that he may be wise He who from a principle of saith and love which is in Christ
sort what they did I need not mention But when their hearts were merry Then Sampson is cal'd for And what is now the Subject of all their scurrilous Talk and Jests but the short liv'd Parliament Oh this cruell Sampson that had it in his heart not onely to have brought their Craft in danger to be set at nought but the Temple of the great Goddesse Diana And to say the truth the Priests were not much mistaken in it For probable it is had not that glorious Testimony of Jesus been kild They would have seâ—t the Tayle of the Beast after the Head Swept away that other part of Popish dung and trash which the former Parliament had left in the Nation Now if the Holy Ghost meant not these men and their making merry yet I am sure it was fulfilled in them according to the letter of the Text. One part of the Prophesie yet remaines and it is the better part Namely The rising of the Witnesses And here we have the Time the Means and the Manner with the Enemies amazement at it and the like And after three dayes and an halfe the spirit of life from God â—ntred into them and they stâ—od upon their feet and great fear sell upon them that saw them And they heard a great voyce from Heaves saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud And their Enemies bsheld them First Of the Time I have spoken Assoon as the Beast ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit he kills the Witnesses Three years and an halfe they lie unburied The which time being expir'd they immediately Rise and then begins the ruine and fall of the Beast So that I conceive it is not the Lords meaning that any should go forth to take his Dominion from him untill it evidently appear that the Witnesses are Risen the Spirit poured forth the Beast certainly known and the Lord appearing in some visible providence making the way plaine for the Angel of the first â—iâ—ll Secondly By the Spirit of life from God c. I understand and the sending of the Comforter that great promise of the Father to be endued with power from on high Lak 24. 49. As herbes flowers and grasse seem dead and hang the head by reason of drought but rise againe flourish and grow green when raine falls thereon So the Testimony of Jesus which seemed withered and scorch't hath now from the Lord life and Spirit put into it and so that Death is taken off which lay formerly on it And this I take to be the Time in which Saints may expect the returne of their prayers concerning the pouring out of the Spirit and the fullfilling of such Promises In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert Isa 35. 6. I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty and â—louds upon the dry ground I will poure my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine Of-spring And they shall spring up as among the grosse as willows by the water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. I will put my Spirit in you and ye shall live Eze. 37. 14. After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hosea 6. 2. And it shall come to passe afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall Prophesie your old men shall dream dreames your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit Joel 2. 28 29. Howsoever before the rising of the witnesses there will be some sprinkling of the Spirit here and there For the understanding of the Time As a man knows by the dawning that the night is past yet I think till the witnesses are risen the Saints shall not be endued with power from on high neither Generally nor largely For now is The Tabernacle of the Testimony of heaven opened and not till now Rev. 15. 6. I mean in respect of a beginning Thirdly No sooner doth a Spirit of life from God enter into them But they stand upon their feet By which manner of speaking according to the Scripture is signified 1. An open confession and publishing of the Lords wonderfull mercy remembring his truth and Testimony in its low estate 1 Chron. 28. 1. Acts 3. 7 8. and 14 14. As the Sons of Zion are to have a two-edged-sword in their hands so the high praises of God in their mouth It is true they are to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron But what goes before Allelujah sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the Congregation of Saints Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Zion be glad in their King c. Psal 14. 9. So then by this standing upon their feet is meant that New sâ—â—â—Rev 14 3. An high exalting and â—â—ung up the holy Name of God every where among the faithfull Remnant For that life and Spirit which is now given them The Testimony of Jesus it was before flame and born down by the Enemy But now it goes forth conquering and to conquer prevailes and gets victory in every place over them And the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall be no more Isa 35. 10. compare Rev. 15. 3 4. 2. The standing upon their feet signifies not only The Testimony raised up to greater boldnesse against the Beast speaking more freely and plainly against his hypocrisie Apostacie Blasphemy Tiranny c. then before Ezek. 2. 1 2 and 3 24. But likewise the hundred forty and four thousand are preparing to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion Rev 14. 1. Now I think open war begins to be proclaim'd against the Beast and Babilon according to the Prophets Isa 13. 2. Jeâ— 50. 2. Againe It shews with what assurance of victory the warr is undertaken For by faith they see all ready their feet upon the necks of their Enemies and that they shall take the Beasts dominion from him and give his body to the burning flame Josh 10. 24. Zech. 14. 4. Some understand this and their ascending up to heaven of the witnesses not only restored to their places but promoted to more eminent preferment howsoever I take the witnesses as hath been said for the Truth witnessed by them yet no doubt such as suffer under the Beast for their Testimony continuing faithfull the Lord will greatly honour For out of Prison he cometh to Reign Eccles 4. 14. Fourthly For the persons upon whom this great feare fell I take to be they that dwell upon the earth the Apostates and followers of the Beast It seemes to allude to the State and time of Gods people coming out of Egypt when the
can serve two Masters He that acknowledgeth the Government and Power of the Beast to be Lawfull cannot bear a faithfull Testimony to the present Cause and Interest of Christ For to have now the Testimony of Jesus is to bear a witnes against the Beast 2. That he slayes the Testimony of Jesus by preferment in many great Professours such as formerly asserted what they now either deny or are silent in By this means the common people ignorant of the mystery of iniquity working in the last dayes following the others example have their Testimony kil'd likewise Gal. 2. 13. Secondly Another way is by his hypocrisie and dissimulation in religion As David said of Goliahs sword there is none to that give it me So I think there is no weapon or crafty course which this Beast will use like to his hypocrisie in the things of God as his fasting weeping praying honouring Ministers Sermons c The report and noise of this will ring far and neer and by the simple who believe every thing so believ'd and he taken for such a Saint that now he may do what he will For though he have all the Characters of the little Horn and do whatsoever is foretold of the Beast yet his hypocrisie will cover all and hence slaves the Generation Testimony Thirdly When Christ was put to death by the Jewes though they could prove nothing against him neither indeed had any thing to lay justly to his charge yet they pretended great matters and would have men believe what they did in the killing of him they had cause and reason enough for it So will this Beast slay Jesus Christ in his Testimony Hence it is said Where our Lord also was crucified Howsoever he hath nothing against the present Generation Truth born Witnesse to For what can he have Seeing nothing is Asserted by them but what the Scriptures plainly declare nor is he able to resist the Wisdome and the Spirit by which they speak yet will he pretend high things against them As Nero when his Mastives would not destroy the Christians clad them in Bear-skins So will this Beast doe that his Dogs may rent and tear the Testimonie of Jesus He will cloth it with reproachfull names as Blasphemy Errour Madnesse Faction Treason Sedition c. And by this trick the sooner effect his purpose So that howsoever it be the Testimonie of Jesus that he kills yet he will kill it under pretence that it is the doctrine of Devills blasphemie the delusion of Satan c. Fourthly This Testimony is to be slain by War He shall make war against them Howsoever I have shewed my opinion already yet the matter being considerable I would have the Reader observe 1. This Beast whosoever he be shall trust in the arme of slesh by this he will seek to strengthen his Government and Greatnesse and to reach his ends and designes every way 2. His Army will be so corrupt that whatsoever he shall bid them doe against the Testimonie of Jesus they will doe it right or wrong For they will be men not having principles of honesty or conscience And by this meanes likewise he will prevaile very far over the Witnesses viz. by his Soldiers For those men if he command them will banish and imprison any of the Lords faithfull Servants that they may not Witnesse for Christ against the Beast Fifthly No sooner is this Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit but doubtlesse he will enact some Law against the Testimonie of Jesus As for Example That it shall be Treason for men to speak or act any thing against his Person promise to live quietly under his Government not call him the little Horn and Beast And what is the meaning of all this But to require all men upon pain of death to deny Christ before men For if it be the Government of the little Horne and Beast in the three years and halfe Not to Witnesse then against it much more to promise not to Act any thing against it is no other then to deny Christ so far as concernes a Generation-Testimonie But howsoever this be so yet the dread and terrour of such an Edict will so seaze upon people of low and poor spirits as they will chuse rather to have the Witnesse of Christ kild in them then be persecuted by the Beast for bearing any publick Witnesse against him Thus I have shewed Who the Beast is and the Witnesses and how they are kild Our Third Point is How it doth appear their lying three dayes and an halfe unburied contemporizes with the last Apostacie and the little Horn. And after three dayes and an halfe I shall speak the lesse of these three dayes and an halfe because it is not questioned scarce by any one neither indeed rationally can it But here is meant either the last three years and an halfe which close the number 1260. Or so much time following immediately upon it Indeed there are some few whose opinion is the terme here is the same with the 1260 years But 1. This is plainly against the Text. For the Witnesses are not slaine till about the finishing of their Testimony that is when the 1260 years are almost expired 2. To take dayes for years and then againe to reckon so many years by dayes I see no ground for this in Scripture to cast up Prophetical numbers This Point needs no further enlargement 3. The Apostacy is to be in the last days Now if we consider Times and seasons by their appointments and periods No Days can be said to be last but the distinct time closing the 1260 years in which Time is the little Horne and Beast And therefore necessarily they must contemporize But there are some other things which need Explanation First What the Street is in which ly the dead bodies of the Witnesses Answ Where they were slaine there doubtlesse they ly The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is well observed by many signifying a broad and spacious place cannot be taken for any street within the walls of the great City For 1. Our Lord was slaine in no street of Rome or Jerusalem but without the gate in Golgotha 2. Men seldome make war within the City walls but in open fields 3. In Cities are many Streets but this is expressed in the singular number neither is the word properly a street 4. That their dead bodies lie visible and obvious to all Nations kindreds peoples c. it must be without the City and not within the walls By the great City I understand here and so alwayes in this Book the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast not onely the Ecclesiasticall kingdome but all Civill States and Governments under the Sea of Rome acknowledging the Pope head of the Church This is the Great City often mentioned in the Revelation It is said And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell v. 13. Here it is not the great City
Jesus can deny himself can take up his Cross daily and follow his prince and his Saviour through the fire and through the water if need be and the cause of Christ call for it The wicked instead of understanding these Prophecies shall do wickedly against those who watch and pray for the accomplishment of them shall secretly wish that the Lord would delay his coming cannot eccho to the voice of the Spirit and of the Bâ—ide saying Come Lord Jesus shall be found smiting their fellow servants conforming themselves to this old evil world eating and drinking with the gluttons and with the drunken the Kings and the Inhabitants of the earth who are made drunk with the wine of the fornication of the mother of Harlots c. They cannot brook the hand-writing of God in the Scriptures concerning the numbring weighing and finishing of their Kingdoms and Governments so well as that Baby lonish Prince Belshazzar did bear the interpretation of the hand-writing upon the plaster of the wall But in stead of doing them honour who forewarn them of their approaching destruction cannot behold them with a cheerful aspect from the moment of such their faithful admonitions and reproofs but the will of the Lord be done I desire moreover it may be understood and remembred by friends and enemies that we have not by our Testimony ingaged our liberties and lives against the Gen. the Apostatizing part of the Army meerly or indeed principally upon the account of the expiration of the time allotted to the litle Horn the Beast as it may be some have done but upon the account of that good righteous and blessed Cause which He and his Officers seemed formerly to have loved better then their own lives though since they have most unworthily preferred Barabbas before Christ and so gratified the humours and the lusts of the children of Belial throughout the Nations whilst the Lords remnant have been weeping and mourning in this day of trouble rebuke and blasphemy for that abominable back-sliding whereof they are guilty before the Lord Let that counsel of Solomon and Paul rake place among those who have not yet fallen before him because there hath been no opportunity of conversing with him but yet through the power of credulity and simplicity are obnoxious to entanglements When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart Avoid those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple All such upright Christians as are not nor shall be softned by his tears nor intrapped by his spies have cause to reckon those two deliverances in the catalogue of their choice mercies from the Lord the best preservative is to keep out of the sight of the one and out of the reach of the other far enough and safe enough What is written in the few following sheets may be through the Lords blessing of great use to caution many pretious souls for the time to come who having little experience and acquaintance with the spirits and designs of the worldly Powers in their managing the mystery of iniquity the deceivablenes of unrighteousness are very apt to plead their cause and make Apologies on their behalf of whom they will find cause to be ashamed when the hidden things of darkness and of dishonesty shall be brought into the open light The truth is we erre not knowing the Scriptures We erre not being well instructed in the mystery of godliness and in the mystery of iniquity Godliness and ungodliness righteousness and unrighteousness are both of them mysteries they lie very deep they are remote from common understanding We need the candle of the Lord to find out the depths of God and the depths of Satan for each have their deeps as Paul and John have written but those who are light in the Lord are inabled to descend into the depths of God and into the bottomless pit or depth from whence the Beast who slayeth the Witnesses ascendeth and into which the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan shall be cast and deceive the Nations no more Amen Although we in our preachings and writings may to the present age seem audacious men thus to meddle with these dark prophecies yet the succeeding generations shall bless the Lord for raising up some before their times to forewarn them to flee from the wâ—ath that is to come The Lord give forth such a measure of the holy unction to his people in reading these things that being inabled to distinguish betwixt probabilities and certainties they may receive the Truth and inquire further into that which is but probable and so come to make a judgement of things according to the mind of Jesus Christ I shall not add any more at this time save only that through the rich administrations of Free-grace I am still and hope to continue to the end The servant of Jesus Christ and of all the Saints for Jesus sake according to the measure received CHR. FEAâ—E AN Epistolary Perambulation OR A Word to every one round the World IT was a saying of one who read a Comment upon the Patience of Job That poor Job was more miserably tormented with his Comment then with his Condition of botches and boyls and indeed I was the more doubtful of answering my friends desire in publishing my poor Epistolary thoughts upon so pregnant a piece and profitable as this is lest he should suffer more by so deficient and indigent a Comment as mine then by the whole matter or subject of this discourse so feelingly and faithfully since his exile and suffrings presented to the publike judgement Wherefore I fear to adde to what with so much Evidence and Demonstration he hath produced lest I should diminish and do rather wish that men would proportion Meditation to reading that they may prove them staple Truths and Commodities in their own Souls and Consciences For they can best report them who best relish them and dispirit them into their own Spirits or Breasts When I prepend how perplexable and out of order we are in these times I the less wonder at those high Distempers and burning Paroxysms of Opinion Pride lust and Passion among carnal Church-members and worldly professors who like thirsty Travellers are ready to drink of every puddle let the water be wholesom or hurtful and in their heat will have it though they surfeit for it Such must be purged and better dieted if ever they do well Now I do think as to the venome of the times contracted by taking in things untrue and obnoxious to the things and times of the end these Streams which run from the Rock Christ and glide through the valley of this Book or Brook may be of singular use to expel through the Savour Sweetness Sence Simplicity Evidence and Wholesomness of them to all Souls They are slain and so perhaps not such placentia to the Court-palates that
of these things to forsake the the Churches for Heathens Schools the Bride for the Whore the Whore harnessed too in her old filthy adulterous robes too the very same Popish Statutes up and unrepealed at thiâ— day that were in Q Maries dayes and in the thick of Popery however they refine them a little outwardly yet the same idola ocuâ—orum or feminine Idols and Trumperies Hoods Caps Robes Rings Holy-dayes Musicks Commencements and Divinity-Acts are yet uâ— Conradus Pellican upon his death-bed desired he might not be buried a Doctor for he said he must rise a Disciple and poor Creature O Peter Peter Peter sayes Mr. Tyndal thou wast too long a Fisher-man then if this be lawful for thou wert never brought up at the Arches nor wert thou ever master of the Rolls Chancellor of England nor Vice-Chancellor of Oxford c. 4. For that ye are though untruly called the Schools of the Prophets whereas in truth ye are the Schools of the profane Atheists and Heathens infusing Heathenish principles by heathenish Authors into proud bold fantastical graceless youths and for this reason have the Saints all along ingaged against them Wiâ—kliffe Huss Luther Zuinglius Tyndal and a 100 more yea the Brownists at large to King Iames petition'd that they might no longer continue Heathen but Christian Schools and instead of Aristotle and Plato they might study the Scriptures Prophets and Apostles for those that so do will receive the Truth gladly which we communicate as 1 Thes 1. 6. in much affliction 5. Besides you are accounted the Fountain and Nursery of the Ministry that is not of the Church but Secular Clergy not of Christ's but Aristotle's and the States Ministry that buy what they sell and then sell what they so have bought as Simon Magus be they ever such stories trash Anti-christian Errors or dreams of Predicaments Universals second Intentions Quiddities Hecsiâ—ies and Correlatives c. and what not to amuse the Countryignoramus's Now for as much as all these with a 1000. more appertain to the Beast and false Prophet it is time to warn them that are of them to get from amongst them as fast as they can for the time is neer when this Beast and his whole Body whereof you are a Part must be given to the Burning Flame Dan. 7. 11. 3. To the Cities and Corporations that do yet stand by the Beast's Charter it is the Time of the End too and particularly this where every man is as we say Faber suae fortunae seeking himself and hammering out his own honour but not at God's Anvil buying selling building planting c. as in the dayes of Noah but doth not regard the Day of the Lord O London London thou City and Seat of the second Beast next to Rome mayst thou look for the Wrath upon thee for thy bowing down unto the Beast persecuting the Saints and height of all manner of Sins sound in thee at this day Dost thou think that Latimers Ridleys Hoopers and the Martyrs blood wilt not be called for yea wer 't not thou as Gideons Fleece dry when the floor round thee for many years was wet with the blood of the late Wars and shalt not thou be wet when the floor is dry besides retentio excâ—emenâ—orum est parensâ— morborum thou retainest what will ruine thee and standest upon those Popish Charters and Injurctions that must be rent up by the very Roots nor will the dead Saints the Patrons of your Companies be able to protect you from that Day when the living Saints or judgement begins to sit 4. To such as are in Doubts and Suspence or Darkness either for want of light or through too much light upon weak Orgaâ—s which occasions too much wavering unstedfastness mistakes and dissimulations at this day were Paul alive that reproved his brother Peter so openly Gal. 2. what a terrible thundering Oracle would he be at this Day then which will burn up double-dealing and deceit like an Oven and nothing but true faith in the simplicity of the Gospel will abide by it Surely Pauls care would be to put every man upon the proof of 's own work and spirit that he might have a rejoicing in himself and not in another Gal. 6. 4. knowing the subtlety of the Serpent in this last Apostacy is to set up Truth against Truth grace against grace ordinances against ordinances Saints against Saints Spirit against Spirit and not â—o prophane against Professors to fight rend shake tear distract and divide them with that are to break his head and to catch his kingdom Wherefore see to your standing that it be not upon Bogs or quagmires or with staggering 5. To such as are impatient hoâ— and rash tarry till the Time of the End it will be soon enough and get your spirits well prepared seaâ—oned and sweetened with Gâ—â—ce for it will be bitter enough a â—oâ—e sliding will break thy â—oâ—e though a back-sliding would break thy neck and if thou â—â—â—â—â—st to the Kingdom-work before the Time and Season thou will be drawn out or if thou gâ—est out with a wilde field spirit or common anointing and not with the â—arden flowry spirit or double anointing of the Kingdom which is the blessing of the First-born thou art more capable of being out down with the grass then oâ— cutting down the grass though all flesh be grass Ilay 40. as a field-flower rising up in its own single wilde natural spirit It is another straâ—agem of Sathan to deposite too the like for the thing and so to cheat thee with a counterfeit compounding an anointing like to Gods anointing a persume like to his persume which is death by the Law Exod. 30. 33. or else to put that upon the Stranger which belongs to none but the Lord v. 38. or else to take the Lord's persume to smell upon or to please their own senses and desires with and so to raise up their own spirit which then is hard to get down again or not to call the Spirit of the Lord and with that Christian name to run out into disoorders and without rule or else to conclude us in unbelief as to implicite commands under presence of a perâ—mâ—oâ—y obedience to explicite and like Nadab and Abilâ—â— fall in the fire of our own kindling or else instead of the Angels Reed would measure and model us by another Rule and not with the Kings Cubit which was three singers longer then the common nor weighed with the Sanctuary shekels whereon at first was stamped the print of the Lamb which were twice as much as the common But as Noab's Aâ—k was built with the largest Cubit So is this Work to be that will now go forward Lastly if it be the end then woe woe woe to the inhabitants of the Earth for the time of the third woe is within reach woe to the Lawyers Souldiers Citizens Merchants Messengers Goalers and all that are involved with the Beast at this day from Court to Country from
as belong to the Crimes of High-treason The like Act was made March 17 1648. and May 14 1649. Again in July 17 1649. it was Enacted That if any person shall maliciously or adâ—â—â—edly publish by writing painting or open declaring c. that the Commons in Parliament are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation or shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up or raise force c. that every such offence shall be taken deemed and adjudged by the Authority of this Parliament to be High-treason Treason saith our Law is an offence committed against the Security Anâ—plitude and Majesty of the Common-wealth I am so far from taking the word Traitors for single persons or to apply it to things doubtful that I think the Holy Ghost intends a Combination of men and such as shall most eminently betray both Gospel and Law even Christ and their Countrey But I shall not take the Readers work out of his hand Heady or rash inconsiderate unstable fickle or giddy headed such as suffer them selves to be driven this way and that way by their passions and lusts Dutch Note The word as some think is taken from yong birds which venter to fly before their Feathers are grown or from little children who through their headiness fall and get many knocks When thou hast viewed their actions first and last beginning at their Instrument or new model of Government and consider what that was and how hastily done Their clapping up a sudden peace with the Dutch and making war as fast against Spain What loss we had of men and treasure at Hispaniola the manner how and what shame and scandal the English Nation had by it Then pass over to Jamaica and inform thy self truely what hath succeeded since their arrival Besides how many hundred Ships have been taken from us by the Dunkerkers whilst our Fleet were abroad for what I know not Their throwing of Good Men one while into Prison another while releasing them again without shewing any cause either for one or other Their Creating Major Generals like the Image that was made to the Beast preferring some to high Offices and Places whom they had before publickly charged to be Betrayers of their Country Summoning the Countries to chuse Parliament-men and when they came up sent them home again a hundred at a clap It would take up too much time to enumerate all particulars If these things considered prove them not Heady and Rash this then I would add It may be doubted and I do whether the Later Apostacy be fulfilled in them If any wise and sober man not being one of them can see upon any of their publick Actions wherein the good of the Commonwealth is concerned whereon there is not engraven and fairly to be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HEADY RASH AND INCONSIDERATE Either it is so or this is not the last state Apostacy High-minded or puff d up as a Tympany for that sore comes from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat eos qui sibi videntur insignes in re quapiam aut opinione quam de se concipiunt ideo intumescunt The word saith Salmeron signifies men who to their own thinking are famous in their actions and opinion and being thus conceited of themselves are therefore puffed up Some Translators have Câ—eci blinde others Fanatici dementati fanatical and sottish Indeed the word doth signifie one that is blinde and wants his understanding yet conceives that he hath both fight and reason and would have others think so too It is not to be doubted but these men whose Apostacie is here arraign'd for King Craft and Statesmen deem themselves the None-such of the Word and all Ruling men before them Simplicians and laugh at their Commonwealth Notwithstanding if that which they are designing and building be 1. Against God and therefore he shortly will destroy it 2. If that which the Saints are every where praying against 3. If that which was done before by the King against the Priviledges of Parliaments and Liberties of the People 4. If that which the people every day more and more do hate them for 5. If that which may ruine their Families and render their Names odious to posteritie I say Should such be their designe and actions The Question is though highly conceited of their own opinion and doings whether according to the word here they are not in truth BLINDE and FOOLISH STONE BLINDE as the Aethiopick reads it Lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God greedy upon voluptuousness Old Translation The word signifies such as are Friends to pleasures Here Reader consider 1. The Heathenish vanities and sports taken up since this Apostacie was made banished and buried before witness what was done this yeer upon their Lord Majors day though an Independent and Church-member Such lightness and foolery was then as was a scandal to Religion and a grief to the Saints Many poor Christians wanting bread whilst they in wantonness vainly wasted away money see Amos 6. 3 4 5 6 7. 2. Where can we see any of the present Revolters specially if crept up into High Places and Offices whether at Court or in Country but they are voluptuous and given to pleasures yea those which seemed sometimes to be Barzilla's men so mortified to carnal pleasures and risen with Christ as such things were irksom and burdens to them But now who for excess and riot more then they who more then THESE MEN for fine Clothes sumptuous Houses costly Fare and Court-Fashions so that to see them now they are more like Dives then Barzillaâ— In every vanity and foolery as carnal and light as other men Truly I should have wondred to see this great Change among professors how Barzilla's are become Diveses's those who have preached much and printed much against base delights are now the Men addicted to them I say To see this I should have thought it strange but that I know this Prophesie of the Later Apostacy every jot and every tittle of it must be fulfilled Having a form of godliness or formality shew appearance an outward visage Quibus est species reverentiae Dei Junius in whom there is a shew of fear or worship of God Specieminanem sive inane simulacrum Piscator I beseech thee Reader Take notice of the singular Wisdom and Counsel of God who will discover the men of the Later Apostacy in that way which they think to cover their Apostacie How will the Later Apostates being lovers of themselves covetous Covenant-breakers Traytors c. think to hide these Vices so at least to hide them that they may not be thought to be the Apostates foretold in Timothy By having a form of godliness that is by their often praying fasting preaching and practicing Church Ordinances c. And how will the Lord make it known That they are the Apostates there prophesied of By having this form of godliness that is being men so forward for fasting and praying yet living all
had but one Ahitophel with him this Horn will have many suttle and crafty foxes But I wish them a better end So then by this giving is signified that he will plead Right to his Dominion and Government as appointed thereto by God and man no Intruder or Usurper neither in attempting to change times and Laws doth he more then he hath warrant and ground for it I would have this likewise to be heeded whosoever this Horn is hee will plead hard for the lawfulnesse of his power as Given by God and man into his hand Howsoever in truth hee receives it from Gods only permissively As a Theif may take a purse from men by force and fraud Thus I have done with the Little Horn as to his Action That which follows is his suffering Thus the Spirit of God gives us a full history of his life and death In his end and punishment wee may consider 1 The Time 2 The Author 3 The Instrument 4 The Judgement it self And lastly How and in what manner Some thing I will speak though briefly to each particular For the Time It will be immediately upon the expiration of the three years and half Though the Lord did not shorten the term of his peoples abode in Egypt viz. four hundred and thirty years Fxod 12. 41. nor their seventy years captivity in Babylon but let it run out to a day yet being out hee presently delivered them according to his promise So the little Horn shall have his full time of three years and half bearing date from the day he was constituted a Horn but no more may hee expect for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Bee silent O all flesh before the Lord for hee is raised up out of his holy habitation Zach. 2. 13. This Time contemporises with the womans second comming out of the wildernesse Rev. 12. 14. and the rising of the witnesses Rev. 11. 11. and with that set Time in the Prophet Psal 102. 13. So likewise Rev. 16. 1. And I heard a great voice out of the Temple saying to the seven Angels go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth c. It is an Allusion to Souldiers who are ready to charge and fight the enemy but do it not till they have the word of Command So Gods people will bee prepared for the work before the years bee expired But as no word of Command will bee given them to go out till then so they will wait as a people prepared for the Lord untill that time shall come But howsoever by the Scriptures we may know the beginning of this judgement yet how long the time will bee in the execution that is not certain but probably a very short time yet so as gradually First A dawning and afterwards the light more and more appearing 2 For the Time The Little Horn is to bee destroyed before the other ten I beheld till the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame As concerning the rest of the Beasts they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season and Time Dan. 7. 11. 12. The meaning I take to bee thus The Term of the ten Horns do expire with the little Horn and in that respect their Dominion is said to bee taken away yet their lives were prolonged that is their Power and Government is not to bee broken to pieces till the little Horn bee first consumed Hence it is that the little Horn or State-Apostacy for I tak it to bee all one is the subject of the first vial as I have shewed and provedelsewhere see the Book Truth with Time Quest But why is the little Horn to be destroyed before the other ten Answ 1 As the Israelites overthrew Moah and Ammon Lots posterity and neer of kin to them because they sought to hinder them from going into the good Land to fight the Lords Battles against the Kings of Canaan So this Horn by profession a brother in that hee will hinder the Saints of the most high from going forth against Babylon and the Kings of the earth it is a righteous thing with God that hee should fall first by the hands of the mighty Oâ—es Isa 63. 1 2 3 6. I take the meaning thus The Lord will smite Edom first that is false brethren and Apostates and afterward tread down other people in his anger 2 This Horn and latter Apostacy is a luke warm State neither hot nor cold and therefore the Lord will spue it out of his mouth not cold because it hath a form of godlinesse not hot because it denies the power of it A thing offensive to the Stomack cannot bee born but a man will bee rid of it as soon as may bee When the forty two months are ended the Horn will bee destroyed first And no marvel for hee is more offensive and odious to God than the rest I would thou wert cold or hot and therefore the Lord will ease himself of this Enemy as one that hee cannot bear nor suffer to have his life prolonged as the other Ten. And here Gods order in pouring out the last Vials is to bee noted he will not begin with Spain France Germany c. But with the little Horn Neither may wee reckon any warre past or to come to bee the war of the Lamb against the ten Kings Rev. 17. 14. or the smiting of the Image Dan. 2. or rewarding Babylon Rev. 18. 5 6. till this Horns Dominion bee taken away and utterly consumed Not observing this great mistakes have been about former warres in bringing them under the Vials as the Sweden English Holland to the second third and fourth vials Whereas to mee it seems clear by Scripture the first thing which will bee done in fulfilling the Prophecys of the last times I speak of warre is the cutting off of this Horn and nothing will bee done against Babylon and the ten Kings as the proper work which the hundred forty and four thousand and the called chosen and faithful shall bee put upon till this thing be done 2 For the Author of his judgement It is God and Christ as appears Dan. 7. 9 10 11 and afterward more briefly vers 26. But the judgement shall sit That this Horn by a divine judicatory is to have his dominion taken from him and his body given to the burning flame there are many memorable things in it 1 Here is shewed that the Lord will give him no more time nor bee patient any longer neither suffer him to proceed any further in his Tyranny and Hypocrisy but set all his former sins before his face and tear him in peeces and there shall bee none to deliver him He thought to have gone beyond his time yea and God too but now vengeance hath reached him notwithstanding all his former cunning shifts in hope to have prevented it Lo this is
ordinary I will not say directly what it is nor declare at present my own thoughts yet this I shall say it being a truth I think when this Horn shall reign whosoever shall be the Inventers and setters up of his Power and Government they will not dye the death of all men not bee slain or dismembred as the former were but some extraordinary punishment will bee inflicted upon them If these men dye the common death of all men or if they bee visued after the visitation of all men then the Lord hath not sent mee Numb 16. 29. And so much the word signifies And they shall take away his dominion As the former respecteth persons so this doth things that is the State and Government it self The meaning I conceive to bee thus After the Army is destroyed and many put to death by a Judicatory for justifying the Horn in his unlawful actions and himself and his MAKERS given to the burning flame Such a stink will that HORN leave behind him as some speedy course shall bee taken to have the very remembrance of him blotted out under the whole heaven It remains now to shew how and in what manner it shall bee done To take the Scripture for our light It seems thus When the three years and half are fully expired the wise shall understand that hee is the Little Horn foretold in Daniel and to bee destroyed and this light shall spread it self among the Saints of the Most High yea so clear and certain will the thing bee they having the word of God and his spirit for it providence likewise leading the way that they shall publikely declare what they intend to do The work beginnes with an Earthquake Rev. 11. 13. And it shall bee such an Earth-quake as will shake the Horn to purpose in his Councel Guards Army and relations every where Insomuch as hee will bee miserably forsaken and left by most people Few abiding with him unlesse desperate men and such who are so deeply ingaged with him as have no hope to save themselves from bodily punishment by Repentance The Saints knowing the set Time is come that the Lord will have mercy upon Zion and being called out of the Temple to pour out the Vial upon the Earth-Apostacy being ready go forth in the Name and strength of the Lord. And though they may have some opposition at first yet I think they will be Conquerors at last without much losse I say fighting for the Lamb For so wonderfull will the presence of God bee with them and so dreadful to the enemy that this warre will bee short and none of them after once broken to peices will durst lift up their hands any more in the Horns behalf Thus I have ended with the Little Horn. And in the close this I can truely say what I have written is my Conscience bearing mee Witnesse no otherwise than I understand the Prophesy neither have I said any thing but what I conceive to bee the Truth in Jesus And further I have all along with Sighs and Groans besought the father of Light That I might bee lead by his Spirit into the way of Truth The meek will hee guide in Judgement and the meek will hee teach his way Psal 25. 9. Call unto mee and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Jer. 33. 3. Job 20. v. 4 5 6 7 8 9. Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon earth That the triumphing of the wicked is short and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment though his excellency mount up to the heavens and his head reach unto the clouds Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung they that have seen him shall say where is he He shall flee away like a dream and shall not bee found yea hee shall bee chased away as a vision of the night The eye also which saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more be hold him THE CHARACTERS OF THE Beast Slaying the Witnesses OPENED THAT Generall Head which remaines is The Beast slaying the Witnesses In the opening and handling whereof we shall propound four things 1. What this Beast is 2. Who are the Witnesses and how they are slaine by the Beast 3. How it doth appeare the Witnesses slaine by the Beast lying three dayes and an halfe unburied are the three years and an halfe contemporizing with the latter Apostacie and little horne 4. Whether the Prophesie of the Beast slaying the Witnesses be fulfild in our Time First I would have the Reader take notice Howsoever I handle these things distinctly and a part yet I understand the Ap stacie and the little Horne and the Beast that slayes the witnesses to make up but one Government or State The Apostacie part is the Body Relly out of which comes the other Two The Beast is that Pert by whom the witnesses are kild and it hath the Name of a Horn for its Sovereignty and kinglinesse So that as I said in the beginning it cannot be the three years and halfe unlesse there be all three to make the lâ—st Dominion And when they shall have finished their Testimony Rev. 11. 7. That is Near or about the time of finishing their Testimony And so the words are rendred by many Interpreters It is true some think the three years and a halfe are not to be reckoned with the 1260 years but apart from that account But methinks this cannot be For the 42 months being expired the Saints take the Kingdome And so I understand Rev. 10. 6. There shall be time no longer But when is that When the 1260 years are ended the mysterie of God is finished as to the reign of the little Horne and Tyrannie of the Beast not to scatter the Saints and kill the Witnesses any longer But the Woman comes out of the Wildernesse and the Witnesses ascend up into Heaven and fire comes forth from the Lord to devour the Adversary But whether we take the three years and an halfe in the number of the 1260 dayes or a part it is all one to the matter here Howsoever I think it periods the first account The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse Pit rather depth or gulfe for pit is not in the Text nor in Cha. 17 8. but Chap. 9. 1. it is It is to be observed the Beast here cannot be that Beast Rev. 13. 1. which is said to rise up out of the Sea for he is to continue 43 months that is 1260 years v. 5. But this riseth not till that terme be near expired onely three years and halfe remaining And so much the Text plainly holds forth When they shall have finished their Testimonie a Beast ascendeth out of the depth c. Not the Beast which was risen before but a Beast now comes forth Intimating that purposely and for no other end as it were he ascendeth out of the gulf then to slay the Witnesses