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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09926	An epistle written (dated the 30th of the 11th month 1659,) and sent from London into the countrey. By a friend to the glorious (though at this day despised) cause of Christ, in answer to a letter sent up to him (dated the 16th of the same month) wherein the following things are treated of, (viz.) 1. The fifth kingdom it self, which the God of Heaven sets up in the latter dayes. 2. The kingdom of the beast which is to be destroyed. 3. The instruments that are to be used in destroying the one and erecting the other; with the way or manner how they are to be used. 4. The time of the beginning of this work. [bracket] First, before Christs personal comming. Secondly, before the call of the Jewes. Thirdly, that it is already begun, and hath taken place in this nation and that Cromwel with the army, hath apostatized from it, and that all the powers, or governments that have been set up since that time, have been, and still are upon the foundation of the apostacy. As also, severall of the particular evills which the army, and others abetting the apostacy are guilty of. Together with, some considerations tendered to the favourers of Christ's righteous cause, wherein is laid down, their duty of separation from Babylon, and from all the parts and branches (both in church and state) of the forementioned apostacy.	N. S.	1660 (1660)	Wing S119B; ESTC R183121	59,145	52

to have done according to 2 Tim. 3 4 5. but have had fellowship with the unfruitfull Works of Darkness and not reproved them contrary to Eph. 5.11 and b● all these Scriptures those Churches that have so Turned aside wi h the Apostacy have greatly Sinned against the Lord and as a further A dition to there Evills severall of the Elders and Leading Persons of the Baptized Congregations in London have set forth a Very Evil D claration bearing Date the 12th of the 10th Moneth 1659. which as appeares b● the Title compared with the ●ostscript they would have it be understood to comprehend the Ju gment of the Generality of the Baptized People and although many Things in that Declaration is Manifestly contradictory both to the Judgment and Practise of not only the Generality of the Baptized People but even of Severall of ●hose whose Hands are to it and the Evills of these Persons made Obvious to the World yet the Churches to whom they Relate have not Dealt with them but rather Justified them in those Evills by which they become Partakers with them in those Sins and now those Churches being Guilty of the Evils before mentioned it is the Duty of the Lords Faithfull Remnant whose eyes are open to see these Evils after all due meanes that according to Rule hath been Used for their Recovery to Withdraw their Communion and Seperate from those Churches according to 2 Thes 3.6.14 Withdraw from every Brother that Walks Disorderly It is not the Church or the Greater Number of Persons in that Church if they Walk Disorderly that will exempt them from the Censure due to the Sin When the Church of Israel turned aside from the Lord Jeremiah though a Single Person Seperates from them and Sets alone chap. 15. 17. and the Lord doth so far approve of that Action of his as that in Verse 19. he saith Let them return to thee but return not thou unto them Also in Exod. 32.26 When Israel had sinned and turned aside from the Lord in the Matter of the Molton Calf Moses stood in the Gate of the Camp and said Who is on the Lords side let him come unto me In the forementioned place of 2 Tim. 3.4.5 Timothy though a single person is commanded to turn away from the Evil Doers and no doubt if a Whole Church come under the Guilt of those Evils there mentioned Timothy is not to abide with them because they are a Church there being no such Limitation in the Command but from such he must turn away I have formerly thought that a Particular Member might not Separate from a Church till thorough sin their Candlestick was taken away but after waiting upon the Lord much searching the Scriptures and through many Tryalls bearing my Burden I have seen that according to Rule as there is a difference betwixt the VVithdrawing from and the Cutting off of a Member so there is a difference betwixt the Withdrawing from the Unchurching of a Church and as a Church may Withdraw from a Brother without Cutting him off or Counting him as a Heathen or a Publican but still to admonish him as a Brother 2 Thes 3.15 so a Brother for Sin committed by a Church may withdraw from them and yet not count them as Heathens and Publicans and though VVithdrawing be an Authoritative Act as is alleadged yet the Authority doth not of necessity rest with the Greater Number but with Truth and where Truth is there is the Authority of Christ Math. 16.18 Christ doth not Build his Church upon the Number but upon the Truth which was with Peter when he said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God I know it is objected That in several of the Seven Churches in Asia mentioned Rev. 2. and 3. Chapters though there was a great turning aside yet there were some kept faithful even in those Places where the Churches were turned aside and we do not find that they were commanded to Separate The Answer to this is Twofold First That though in Sardis and Thyatyra which are as I think the only Churches that can be instanced in this Matter there were some kept Faithful even in those Places it will not follow that because they were in Sardis and Thyatira which were the Places in which those Churches were and these Faithful Ones were written to by John that therefore they were in Communion with those that had turned aside from the Lord. And Secondly Though we do not find they are expresly commanded to Withdraw if they were in Communion by the Epistles that were written to them yet it was sufficient that there were such Rules laid down in the Scripture which Rules they ought to look to for there were several Churches that were written to by the Apostles and no mention made in the Epistles either of Baptism Breaking of Bread and several other Ordinances but it will not therefore follow that those Ordinances ought not strictly to be observed by them according to other Scriptures The Last thing that I shall present to those that are Waiting for the Resurrection of the Cause is to be giving up Themselves and their All to the Service of Christ the King accounting it a very great mercy if he shall Accept of and Imbarque them with all their Concernments in the Bottom with that Dear Cause that so they may be Waiting at his Foot till he shall Arise up to the prey and blow the Trumpet giving them the Word of Command to gird on their Swords and Follow him in the Revival of his Work and the further Execution of the Judgements written in which Day they shall undoubtedly Reap the blessed Fruit of all their Labour Service and Tryals that they either have or may yet further undergo for him In due season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6.9 They that sow in Tears shall reap in Joy Psal 126.5 Thine eyes shall see the King in his Beauty Isai 33.17 Let the Children of Zion be joyful in their King Psal 149.2 Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour my Righteteous Cause Psal 35.27 And it shall be said in that day Lo this our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Isai 25.9 And thus I have according to the Measure of Light received Presented unto Thee with the rest of my Friends in Communion with thee that are Waiting for the Coming of Zions King my Understanding in these Matters of the Fifth Kingdom and I desire but so much favour from you as Paul obtained from the Bereans and when you have seriously Weighed the several Things contained in this Epistle in the Ballance of the Sanctuary wherein I may appear to be in the Dark or Mistaken about these Great Matters be Earnest with the Lord for me that my Mistakes may be rectified and my Judgement rightly Informed for I desire I may not through Errour serve the Design of Satan But that I may by the Spirit of the Lord be led into all Truth and so serve my Dear Lord Jesus Christ who Loved me a Vild Wretch and shed his Precious Blood for me and if you receive any Benefit by these Things let Christ my King bear the Glory according to Isai 22.24 Zech. 6.13 And now I shall Commit you with these Things to the Blessing of the Lord and Close with that Word in 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all Things I remain through grace thy B●other and Servant in the Kingdom and Patience of Christ N. S. POSTSCRIPT SEveral Friends having Knowledge of this Epistle and earnestly desiring Copies of it more then could well be Transcribed I have for them and Others of my Friends both in City and Countrey Caused several of them to be Printed But considering my own Weakness and the many Books that have been Published about these Matters I have not been willing to Publish this to the World but only to present it to such of my Acquaintance that Love the Lord Jesus in sincerity some of them being far Remote in the Countrys that I cannot as yet visit them and Others in such Churches where by Reason of my Judgment and Testimony in these Matters of the Fifth Kingdom I am debarred of my Liberty of Preaching to them and the Lord make this Service so far as it shall really appear to be for his Glory and their Good Acceptable and Successful to them The END

not from Heaven as doth the true Church but from Earth or Hell and in his first appearance his Horns or Power are like a Lamb verse 11. or like Christ for so this false Church would be accounted but his words are like the devil he spake as a Dragon verse 11 and this false Church joyning her self to and riding upon the Beast comes to sway or exercise the Civil Power and so is said vers 12. to exercise all the Power of the first Beast not that the first Beast is destroyed for this Whore causeth him to be worshipped and doth great things before him v. 12. 14. Since the false Church hath been mixed with and mounted upon the civil Power for her own ends she cryes up this wicked Beast as the Ordinance of God though in truth it comes from the Devil yea and she can bring Scripture though abused and wrested as the Devil did to Christ and cryes up obedience to it condemning all that will not fall down to the Beast as being those that disobey Magistrates despise Dominion and speak evil of dignities which Scriptures indeed were spoken of and much fulfilled by this false Church till this Beast on which she rides came up Fourthly The mixture of this Antichristian State may further appear by the Beast and the VVhore mentioned Rev. 17. The Beast that was and is not and yet is verse 8. holds forth the Civil Power in its two fold State First In its Pagan State before the visible rise of Antichrist Secondly In its Antichristian State when it carries the VVhore The Beast that was which word was respects him in the glory of the Pagan State in which he was a Beast and like a Beast rather then like a Man he carried it in the ten first Persecutions and this word Is not respects him in his Antichristian State as carrying the VVhore which was not in being in Johns daies who was the Penman of this word And this word and yet is respects the Pagan State which was in being in Johns day And this word shall ascend out of the bottomless pit respects his Antichristian State which comes from Hell and in this State I understand he is called the eighth Head ver 11 The other Seven Heads being brought down for and their Power divolved upon this Beast he is called the eighth and yet is said to be of the Seventh and the ten Horns ver 12. receive Power as Kings one hour with him being all thereby fitted for and engaged to Mount the VVhore The VVhore ver 1. holds forth the false Church that would be counted the spouse of Christ but commits whoredom with Idolls and fornication with the Kings of the earth and is not built upon Christ as the foundation But verse 15. sitteth upon peoples and multitudes and Nations and Tongues that being the strength of the false Church who by her sorceries and VVhoredoms as the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth obtains the Power and Reigneth over the Kings of the earth ver 18. Fithly This mixt State of the Antichrist in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power is further held forth by the Beast and false Prophet Rev. 19.20 21. which place speaks of them in the last and finall stroke that comes upon them for though the fifth Viall Rev. 16.10 is poured out upon the Seat of the Beast and the Judgment and fall of the Whore is set forth in Chap. ●8 and begining of the 19th yet some Reliques of both the Beast and Whore remaining till very near or unto the personal Coming of Christ the Devil having but a short time to reign gathers up all his forces and engageth the Kings of the Earth to come up with him against Christ and his Saints and then the last Viall comes upon them at Christs personal appearing and compleats their ruin and so both these parts of Antichrist by this stroke are destroyed together compare Rev. 19.20 21. with Chap. 16. Ver. 13 14 16 17. Having spoken of this Beast and false Prophet held forth by the two Beasts in Chap. 13. I shall speak no more of them in this place Lastly If we consult the Histories and also what we have seen of the Antichrian State in our day it hath been made up of these two parts viz. Civil and Ecclesiastical which like Twins have gone together in all their wickedness one crying up the other and calling for obedience The false Church and her Ministery being propped up by the false Magistracy calls for and preaches up obedience to it as Gods ordinance and they must be killed that will not worship the Beast Rev. 13.15 The false Magistracy doth the like for the false Church and her Ministery crying them up as the true Church and Ministry of Christ and all that will not fall down to this VVhore in paying of Tythes Church-Rates following her Assemblies and such like abominations must be imprisoned banished or killed and thus the Beast bears yea is said to carry the VVhore Rev. 17.7 and is the Whores drudge or slave to do her wicked service these two have been in conjunction in and are guilty of the blood of the Saints and the several persecutions since Antichrist came to the Throne have been on this wise carryed on the Ecclesiastical Power have adjudged and condemned and so delivered over to the Civil Power who have executed and killed them with much rage and greediness and after a most cruel manner and although the Civil Power would at this day when the Lord is comming to make inquisition for blood slip out their Necks and excuse themselves as if they were free and had done no wrong to nor shed the blood of the Saints and may have many Advocates pleading at a high rate on their behalf and saying that Judgment shall not fall upon them and further to evince this do give them the title of Christian Magistrates and that many of them are good men yet all this will not excuse them from the stroke when the Lord according to Rev. 16.5 6. comes to avenge the blood of his Saints and Prophets and Psal 9.16 shall be known by the judgment which he executeth for no doubt the guilt of much blood will be found in the skirts of the Civil Power and their sin will find them out and though good men be in the place of Power it will not save from the Judgement for Gods controversie is not so much with the Persons as with the Beastly Powers and the title of Christian Magistrates will not excuse but rather condemne them as the Antichristian Power and the Fountaines and Rivers of waters upon which the third Viall comes Rev. 16.4 doth not exclude but include this Civil Power Having thus laid down my understanding of the fifth Kingdom or Kingdom of Christ which should be erected or set up in the latter day of the Kingdom of the Beast which is to be destroyed I shall now come to speak to the third thing which is the

the disciples received from Christ the work that is to be done by the Saints in this last part of the latter dayes Much more might be urged to clear this matter if it were expedient in this place by all which it may appear that there is a two-fold Dispensation in the Gospel-day and that this word of buying a sword must referre to the latter this cannot be a Spiritual sword it being to be bought by selling of a garment It was the errour of Sym●n in Acts the 8th to think that the Gifts of the Spirit might be bought and further this must needs referre to a time when the Saints must use a Material sword because they must rather want their garments though very needful and useful then want a sword The next Sc ipture that doth imply this truth is John 18.36 If my Kingdome were of this world or from hence Then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jewes This must needs be meant a fighting with material weapons which should rescue Christ from the Jewes and Christ speaking of that time saith Now is my Kingdome not from hence which words do imply that there is a time when his Kingdome shall be from hence and though it be a Heavenly and Glorious Kingdom yet it shall be set up in and over the world Dan. 7.27 The dominion under the whole heaven shall be given c. Rev. 11.15 The Kingdomes of this world are become c. and so the Kingdome of Christ may be said to be from hence and when so it shall be His servants will fight The next Scripture that may clear this is Jer. 48.10 Cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood This word relates to a time when Gods judgments are to be executed upon his Enemies and is spoken to the Instruments whom he will use as in the beginning of the verse Now the Instruments that God will use in the Execution of his Judgements in the latter day I understand to be his Saints as I have already shewed and so this word is spoken to them and proves that they must be imployed with material weapons I shall not cite more scriptures to this but speak to some principal objections that are made against this truth of the Saints being used with material weapons in the destruction of Antichrist Obj. 1st The Ten Hornes must hate the Whore and burn her flesh with fire Rev. 17.16 Answ That the Ten Hornes shall be imployed in this work none can deny that own the Authority of Scripture but that the Ten Hornes do first make War with the Lambe and are overcome by Him before they do this Work upon the Whore is also clear from ver 14. It may not be supposed that while the ten Horns do remain upon the Beast that carryeth the Whore as they appear in verse 7. should do this Work for that would be Satan against himself The ten Horns do hold forth the Power or Dominion of the ten Kingdoms or Nations in Europe which had dependence upon the Roman Empire and they are first seen upon the Dragon Rev. 12. without Crowns which do hold forth as hath been shewed the Roman Empire in its Civil Pagan or Heathenish State Secondly The ten Horns are seen in the Roman Antichristian State upon the Beast that carryeth the Whore and that continues fourty and two Months and in that State they have the Crowns upon them having received Power as Kings one hour with the Beast Rev. 13. 1. Chap. 17.12 In this State they make war with the Lamb and being by him and those that are on his side overcome and so broken off from the Beast the ten Horns viz. the Power and Dominion of those Nations is given to the Saints upon the account of Christ and so is divolved into the Kingdom of the Stone that broke them off from the Image and so are brought to their true station to be under the King of Nations who hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS and in this State I understand the ten Horns viz. the Power of those Nations in the hands of the Saints is set against the Whore or false Church to execute the vengeance for the blood of the Prophets and Saints that is found in her thereby to accomplish his destruction and this I understand by the ten Horns hating the Whore and burning her flesh with fire Rev. 17.16 Object 2. That the destroying of Babylon is not work fit for Saints to be imployed in being ravishing of Women dashing children against the Walls c. Isa 13.16 Answ First This is spoken of litterall Babylon the Glory of the Chaldees ver 19. which was to be destroyed by the Medes ver 17. And if we may credit Histories they tell us that such things were fulfilled by the Medes upon Babylon of the Chaldees who had done the like upon Jerusalem which Jeremiah complains of in the Book of Lamentations And though this Babylon did Type out spirituall Babylon yet it may not be expected that every circumstance should be accomplished and that litterally upon spiritual Babylon For if it should be kept to as a Rule that every circumstance must litterally be fulfilled in the Antitype We should run upon many mistakes about Christ and his Work in Gospel dayes Also Ravishing of Women and dashing of Children may agree with other Scriptures to be applyed spiritually upon the whole it may not be gathered that there is any Work to be done in the rewarding of Mystical Babylon which may not become Gods sanctified Ones especially considering that it is the Lords controversie and the execution of his Righteous Judgment and vengeance upon her Object 3. That because the Medes destroyed litterall Babylon the like may be expected for the Nations to destroy Spiritual Babylon and that the Earth shall help the Woman Rev. 12.16 And the Saints being engaged by their Faith and Prayers the Work is sometimes attributed to them Answ First It is clear from Scripture that there is a Babylon which the Saints must destroy as hath been already shewed and it was not litteral Babylon for the Medes destroyed that Therefore it must be the Babylon in the New Testament day Secondly Though the Earth helps the Woman whilst in her suffering State to prevent the Devils destroying her yet it is not said neither will it follow that the Earth must reward Babylon And thirdly as hath been already shewed the Saints shall be used by Faith and Prayer and also in a Hostile way with material weapons and therefore I shall add no more to this Objection There are several other Objections that I meet with at this day As that the VVork must be done by the Spirit only and God needeth not to use Instruments And that this is a bloody work not meet for Gospel Saints And that this was the Munster Principle And those that are of this mind are carnal and neglect Soul work and

yet that doth not excuse the neglects and backwardness of Gods People who ought to be valiant for the Truth These things contained in this third Particular being written at large in the books of Ezra Nehemiah Zechariah and Haggai I shal refer you to the reading and comparing of them and shall come in the next place to cite some Prophesies of Scripture which relate to this Fifth Kingdom and do clearly hold forth that there must be such an Apostacy from and Death upon the Work after it hath taken place The First Scripture is Psal 2.1.2.3.4.5.6 The Heathen rage the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take Councel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us c. By the Bands and cords I understand the Government and Laws of Christ and the breaking in sunder or casting off its Government and Laws must needs hold forth a Rebellion against and a turning from them after they had taken place in the World and then the Lord doth vex them by setting his King c. and after this as in verse 8.9 Christ must have the Heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession and must break them with a Rod of Iron c. The next Scripture is Hab. 3.2 O Lord revive thy Work c. if we consult the Scope of the words they will appear to be a Prayer for or a Prophesie of the Latter day Work and doth clearly hold forth a Death to come upon it after it hath been begun also he saith O Lord remember mercy which shews that the Work and People of God at that time when this Prayer takes place are very low also Psal 94.15 But Judgement shall return unto Righteousness c. This word doth relate to the time of Gods coming forth in the execution of vengeance as the scope of the Psalm doth manifest and to that part of the time when Gods People are low and the enemies high as verse 16. Who will rise up for me against the evil doers c. also verse 20.21 Now Judgement being to be understood of Rule and Government and by its being with Righteousness I understand the Rule and Government to be upon Christs shoulders in whom alone there is true Righteousness and in the possession of the Saints for and under him and by this Rule and Government returning to Christ and his Saints must imply First that it hath already taken place and Secondly that there is a turning or an Apostacy from it There is another Great objection or stumbling block that I find is laid in the Way at this day about the Two VVitnesses mentioned in Rev. 11. which is this Obj. That the VVitnesses are not yet slain and therefore the VVork of the Fifth Kingdom cannot be begun neither hath the Active dispensation taken place but the Saints must be preparing for and in the expectation of sharp sufferings even to Corporal death as the fulfilling of their Staying Answ First If it should be granted that the Slaying of the VVitnesses must be accomplished in this Island yet If there Two following things be considered it will rather confirm the Truth viz. that the Work is begun then prove a Stumbling Block in the way of it And the First thing is what the VVitnesses are and what their Testimony is and The Second what their Slaying is To the first If the Scriptures be weighed the VVitnesses cannot be understood of Two particular Persons as some have supposed because they are to Prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore Dayes or Years for the Dayes must be Prophetical a Day for a Year according to Num. 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 All must grant that the Latter Number to wit the Three Dayes and a Half mentioned in Rev. 11 9. must be Prophetically understood and no doubt the Former must in that agree with the Latter and if they must Prophesie so long they cannot be Two Persons for no such singular extraordinary Persons have yet been found in the world since Johns Dayes and there is much ground from the Scripture to believe that the Beast which in verse the 7. Slaves the VVitnesses when they have finished the 1260. Dayes or Years hath not so much time to come of his Reign Much more might be spoken Both from the VVar that is made with them and from the Time of their Lying Dead to shew that they cannot be Two Persons neither can they be understood of the Church of the Jewes and the Church of the Gentiles as Two distinct Churches First because ever since Johns Dayes the Church of the Jews as a Church have been cut off and not in a capacity of bearing VVitness for Christ Secondly when they shall be Called they are not to Come in as a distinct Church but both Jew and Gentile being all One in Christ makes but one Gospel Church but they must be understood of the Faithful People of God who through his Spirit are kept alive in a Testimony for Christ against Antichrist during the time of the Beasts Reign That the People of God or such of them as are kept alive by him are his VVitnesses see Isai 43.10 Chap. 44.8 And they are here called two First because two according to Scripture is a competent Number for VVitness and Secondly their Testimony is two fold viz. for the Magistracy and the Ministry of Christ against the Civil and Ecclesiastical Part of Babylon or Antichrist these being the great Truths Witnessed too and contended for by those that have been enlightned and kept alive for Christ and also the Truths which Antichrist hath most struck at and endeavoured ever since his Reign to Race out if possible from the Face of the Earth that so Himself might Reign alone and this agrees with the Two Anointed Ones to wit Joshua and Zerubbabel the High-Priest and the Governour Zech. 4.11 To the Second thing viz. the Slaying It must either be a Spiritual or a Corporal Slaying It cannot be a Corporal Slaying First because they were so Slain in the time of their Prophesie in Sackcloth but this Slaying being distinguished and taking place when they have finished their Testimony appears to be such a Slaying as they did not partake of before 2ly It cannot be a Corporall Slaying because their Dead-Bodies lie in the streets three Dayes and a Half which must be Prophetical Dayes a Day for a Year for the Rejoycing and sending of Gifts to one another cannot be Accomplisht in so many natural Dayes and if it must be Years then the Slaying cannot be Corporal for none may suppose that such Dead Bodies should lie so long in the streets 3dly it cannot be a Corporal Slaying If we consider the Resurrection of them for it is not the natural life or spirit that enters into them but the Spirit of life from God and if it be considered that there is a space of Time in which they are