is the true Temple in which we must worship and the holy Altar upon which we must offer and they onely are owned and accepted that make use of him they are onely to be measured and taken notice of Now for all others of what profession or quality soever be their externall formes of worship and service never so glorious or amiable in the sight of men yet it is rejected cast forth and disowned if they worship not in the true Temple if they offer not upon the everlasting Altar that God hath appointed for all his Hence it is the Lord saith take measure of those that worship in the Temple these are they that I owne I take notice of none but these I will accept of no more These are they that serve me in truth and worship me in spirit and I will owne them and acknowledge them for my owne Sixtly and lastly for as much as 6 Observ Temple Altar and worshippers must be measured Observe That the Lord hath alwayes had a people that have been measuring of divine things John here did personate all Saints who in all ages and periods of time under the sury and rage of Antichrist have been ready to give in a testimony for Christ and his truth and have alwayes born witnesse against the man of sin the Son of perdition and against all his superstitious formes of worship alwayes casting off and rejecting his service and inventions Every one according to his measure hath been ready to stand up and give in their Testimonies for the truth of Christ against the falshood of AntiChrist So much for the first verse VERS 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy Citie shall they tread underfoot fortie and two moneths IN the former verse we had John◠call to measure the Temple of God the Altar and the worshippers therein Now here he doth receive a prohibition or a negative command not to measure the outward Court which was without the Temple because it was given as a portion to the Gentiles In this verse we are to take notice First what that is which must not be measured The Court which is without the Temple Secondly the prohibition it selfe Leave it out measure it not Thirdly The reason of this prohibition for it is given to the Gentiles Fourthly The use that the Gentiles make of the outward Court and the holy City They tread them underfoot Fiftly How long Fortie and two moneths First That which must not be measured is the outward Court so called as being distinct from the inward Court which was appropriate to the Priests in which was the Altar where they offered sacrifice which was also adjoyning to the Temple This outward Court is here spoken by an allusion to that mentioned in Ezek. 40. 17. which was far larger and bigger then the inner Court Therefore called The great Court 2 Chron. 4. 9. being wide and large enough to containe multitudes of people This was not hallowed as the inner Court and Temple was but was common for all people By the outward Court is meant all Antichrists worships and worshippers even the whole surface or superficiall part of things as all outward professions all externall formes of worship power order government wisdome art or whatsoever is without the Temple of God all that the Gentiles or carnall professors may take up and be exercised in these be all the outward Court The outward face of the visible Church was given to Antichrist to Gentiles to worldly Christians to use and enjoy while the true servants of the Lord are serving him in the wildernesse as in the inner Court of the Temple They were that inward and secret Temple with whom the Lord was present Secondly The prohibition it selfe Leave it out measure it not The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to cast forth as we use to cast things of no value out of doors As if he had said cast it forth as common and of no use account it not of the Temple nor of any part thereof but rather esteeme it as a portion for the Gentiles which they may enjoy and be exercised in therefore measure it not Now by measuring of the Temple Altar and worshippers he was to take a true dimention of the servants of God who worshipped him in Christ and served him in spirit who were the true invisible and secret Temple of God serving the Lord in the wildernesse Then by not measuring the outward Court is meant thus much That he should not measure or judge the true servants of the Lord by externall things for the outward face of the visible Church was to be given to the Gentiles and that Antichrist was to sit in the Temple of God and should exercise in all externall formes of worship order government he should exercise in all outward ordinances and in the highest acts of Religion as prayer preaching and expounding of the Scriptures and the like and therefore though these Gentiles or Antichristian professors should thus exercise themselves in formes of worship in Church-government in highest externall acts of Religion were called Christians possessing and injoying the outward face of the visible Church yet they were not to be accounted as the Temple of God to be of his structure or building as measured by the true reed or weighed by the ballance of the Sanctuary they were not to be accounted as Gods approved Church or to be the true Temple of the Lord. Thirdly The reason of this prohibition For it is given unto the Gentiles All worldly Christians and Antichristian professors are here called Gentiles by an allusion to those that were enemies unto the Jewes they were called Heathens and Gentiles as appeares in Psal 2. 1. And the Psalmist complaines in Psal 79. 1. saying O God the heathen or the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled they have layd Jerusalem on heaps c. This was the complaint of the Church of the Jewes unto the Lord against the most barbarous tyranny of the Babylonians when they raz'd Jerusalem polluted the Temple and murdered the people So here the sons of spirituall Babylon who most barbarously and cruelly torment the Saints and tread the holy City under foot these also are called Gentiles and heathen Now saith he the outward Court is not to be measured because it is given to the Gentiles it is a Gentiles portion a worldly Christian a carnall professor may take up use and be exercised in any of these externall things he may take up the highest forme of worship he may make the greatest profession of Godlinesse he may be exercised in the most eminent acts of Religion therefore measure not my true servants and Temple by these they are but the outward Court and the portion of Gentiles Fourthly What use doth the Gentiles make of these things They tread them under foot And the holy City
of the Spirit that the Apostle doth intimate saying The spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirits c. Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit doth seale adoption upon our hearts by witnessing to our spirits or with our spirits our spirits being renewed and witnessing to the truth of God his spirit doth concur and agree with our spirits in the same testimony Now the Father Word and Spirit that beare this heavenly record are not said to agree in one but they are one they are one in essence and nature but distinct in operation and discovery The father is the originall and fountaine of blessednesse and therefore called the father of lights Jam. 1. 17. As being the root of all wisdome and knowledge and every other good thing The Son is the very forme and appearance of divine excellency and therefore called the image of the invisible God Col. 1. 15. for in him we behold the glory of God as in a glasse or image which in it selfe is invisible and undiscernable The Spirit is that which doth make an irradiation or discovery of the Father and Son The spirit of truth saith Christ shall testifie of me Joh. 15. 26. Now these three are one in essence and being they goe forth together in one they give a single and pure testimony immediatly and without any medium coming between To this purpose observe a passage spoken by Christ when he saith If any man love me he will keepe my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Joh. 14. 23. But how is it that both the Father and the Son will come to abide and lodge in the cottage of the beleevers heart that is onely by the sending forth the spirit that Christ had promised as a Comsorter which was to be the Chariot of the Son and of the Father in one Here is the Trinity in unity viz. the Father and Son both coming forth in the Spirit and dwelling in the hearts of his people Now this testimony of the Father and the Son and Spirit in One is that divine and heavenly record that gives a sure evidence or evident assurance unto the heart of the riches and glory of God the love and goodnesse of Christ the light and truth of the Spirit whereby the soule of a beleever is made to sit downe in heavenly places with Christ and rejoyce in a pleorophery or full assurance of faith to triumph in the evidence of divine love to be satisfied in the true image of righteousnesse and heavenly life engraven in the heart Now accordingly as the Saints receive in this testimony so they demonstrate the same before the world as being alwayes ready to give forth what ever they receive from the Lord. Such as have received this heavenly witnesse are able to give out a far more glorious testimony of the truth and glory of God then those that have received the former earthly testimony even as the Disciples were more enlarged by the testimony of the Spirit then they wereby their being present with Christ in the flesh Thus we perceive the ground why the Saints are called two Candlesticks First because they consisted of Jewes and Gentiles Secondly because they receive and consequently give forth a twofold testimony the first earthly the second heavenly Now lastly we are to enquire how Christ intimated here by the two olive trees should be joyned with the two Candlesticks and brought in as a witnesse in sackcloth in the severall ages and times of the raigne of Antichrist and seeing that all this hath been done since Christ left the earth Unto which I answer First Christ and his Saints make but one compleat body are joyned as head and members being knit together by one Spirit This the Apostle doth affirme in 1 Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so is Christ for by one spirit we are baptized into one body As it is in the naturall body so it is in the spirituall which consisteth of diverse members and they of different offices and operations yet they make but one body The Church is called the fulnesse of his body that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 23. as Christ is the fulnesse of all spirituall supply unto his Saints so his Saints are the fulness of his body both would be defective and as it were maiâ—â—d if they were seperated or disunited one from the other Now in as much as Christ and his Sâ—iâ—ts make but one and both make up but one body Hence it is that the testimony of the Saints is attributed to Christ he being joyned with them in prophesie even in the dayes of Antichrists â—â—igne Secondly though Christ be absâ—nt in body yet is present in spirit and by his spirit doth abide with his people continually and â—â—â—ble them to prophesie Christ himselfe gave forth nâ— other testimony then that he received from the Father for 〈…〉 â— of my selfe doe 〈…〉 as I 〈…〉 John 5. 30. Even so the Sâ—iâ—ts 〈◊〉 cannot beare witnesse unto the truth bat as they are enabled thereunto by the spirit of truth That which we have seen and heard saith the Apostle declare we unto you c. And this is 〈…〉 which we have heard of him 1 Joh. 1. 3. 5. So that the Saints receive their message and testimony from the spirit of Christ and accordingly they prophesse And in this respect Christ may also be sayd to prophesie in these latter times Thirdly the testimony of Christ and his Saints is one and the same The Saints of old gave forth their testimony in their appointed times and seasons they did beare witnesse to the truth of God against the same spirit of wickednesse that was acted in their dayes even as the witnesses in sackcloth have done under the powerfull raigne of the beast Thus did Mordicay and the Jewes testifie against the pride cruelty of Hammon Thus did Christ himselfe when he was present upon earth testifie against the hypocrisie and wickednesse of the Scribes and Pharisees And thus hath the Saints in all the dayes and ages of the man of sin given forth a faithful testimony for the truth of Christ opposing the falshood and deceit of all the wayes of the man of sin Thus we see that the very testimony of the Saints is the testimony of Christ it 's Christs cause and quarrell they are engaged in well therefore may Christ be brought in and joyned with the witnesses here Fourthly and lastly Christ doth not performe this here spoken of him in his person but in his members 't is not Christ immediatly and by himselfe but mediatly and by his Saints It 's Christ mystically that is alwayes opposing of Antichrist Suitable unto this is that passage in 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. speaking of Christ saith That he went by the spirit and preached unto those spirits now in prison having been disobedient unto the
Worships all the rules and authorities all the orders and services of Antichrist are but dead things and shall be judged as dead having nothing of the light of life of God in them Well may the nations be angry fret and vex and why the Lords wrath is come upon all Religion and glorious formes of worship they are judged but as dead bodies as empty Caâ—kâ—ses without any spirit or life at all and the glory of the worldly and carnall Church is now overturning and all is because it is but a dead Carkass and shall be consumed Thirdly In that these bodies lie unburied three dayes and a halfe observe That the dead bodies of the Witnesses are 3 Observ kept above ground all the time of Antichrists reigne As before their dead bodies viz. their outward formes of worship did lie in all the streets and dominions of Antichrist so also are they kept above ground in every age and period of time in which the beast doth reigne For these bodies have an agreement with the outward Court which is given to the Gentiles for forty two moneths This also is the time of the womans being driven into the wilderness a thousand two hundred and threesore dayes Chap. 12. 6. where she was nourished for a time times and halfe a time Ver. 14. So that these three dayes holds proportion with the forty two moneths the same time that Antichrist doth posses the outward Court so long doth he make make use of the bodies of the Witnesses Then it is not in some particular time or in some short period that the Beast shall rise up against the Witnesses but namely all time of his Raigne he shall make warre with the Saints slay their testimonie and make use of their dead bodies And though he could not endure the spirit truth that the Saints held forth yet hee knows how to make use of their externall forme and image which hee will not part withal so long as he is able to keepe it above ground untill the wrath of the Lamb come and that the dead shall be judged VERS 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth HEre wee have a farther carriage of the Adversaries towards the dead bodies of the Witnesses while they lye in the street of the great Citie and are kept from being interred or put in graves the men of the earth they rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets are tormented c. In the opening of these words observe 1. The persons brought in here acting And they are they that dwell upon the earth 2. Their actions They rejoyce make merry and send gifts one to another 3. The reason of this their acting Because these two Prophets tormented them c. The first of these to be considered is who are meant by the persons that are here stiled the inhabitants of the earth These are meant of worldly Christans such as serve Antichrist they are onely earthly and carnall they are without the Temple of God they live in the synagoguâ— of Satan These are said to dwell upon the earth Rev. 12. 12. And Chap. 13. 8. The Antichristian Church and faction are said to dwell upon the earth because they are earthly and carnall in opposition to the Saints who are said to dwell in heaven The Witnesses are stiled such as dwell in heaven Chap. 18. 20. And those that worship the Beast being their opposites are stiled those that dwell upon the earth The Saints under heavenly enjoyments heavenly discoveries of truth and light these dwell in Heaven in the glorious Temple in the holy tabernacle of God But the Antichristian Church and all the members thereof are cast out of heaven unto the earth there they inhabite and dwell they favour of the earth having earthly enjoyments carnall delights their condition state worship and contentment consisting all of earthly things The earth is their portion and they make their habitation in it Secondly the carriage of these earthly men towards the Witnesses dead bodies they rejoyce over them make merry and send gifts one to another This is an allusion to the practice of the Jewes when they had procured deliverance from the contrivances of Haman they solemnly feasted rejoyced and made merry sending portions one to another Hest 18. 19. So when the Lord had restored unto the Jewes their land their Citie the Temple and worship The people went their way to eate and to drinke and to send portions and to make great mirth Neh. 8. 12. Suitable hereunto is that of the Prodigall who when he came home the Father for joy kils the fatted Calfe and they rejoyce and make merry together Luk. 15. 24. So here the inhabitauts of the earth doe so well resent their killing and overcoming the Witnesses as that they solemnly rejoyce and make merry even as those that have obtained someeminent deliverance or that have received some excellent good thing or as if they had obtained some great and notable victory they set up some Trophies or Ensignes of Conquest And this they expresse in a feastival manner They eate and drinke and are merry and send portions one to another The summe of all is this that when the Adversaries shall think upon the dead bodies of the Witnesses that they maintain and keep them above ground without the true life and spirit they shall excceedingly triumph and make feasts in token of joy as in the old time and if they doe not this literally yet they shall as much and as really rejoyce as they that did such things and not only so but do what they can to make others rejoyce with them 3. Consider the reason why they do thus rejoyce and that is Because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth Wee may read tormented or had tormented not that they rejoyced because they were tormented by these Prophets but because they had overcome and killed these Witnesses of God that had alwayes tormented them now they thought they were rid of them and should not be troubled with them any more therefore it is that they of the earth do so greatly rejoyce The Witnesses torment the earth by inflicting just punishment and reward upon those that worship the Beast Their very witnesse and testimony is a great torment to the world The wine of Gods wrath and the cup of his indignation shall torment the earth and what is all this but the powring forth of the Vials occasioned by the prophesie of the Witnesses As they turned waters into blood and plagued the Earth with all plagues as we heard before so they torment the earth by their witnesse and prophesie Good reason hath the world to rejoyce when they can hinder the course of their testimomonie and keepe their bodies out of graves to their owne advantage and
The outward word is but the clothing of the spirit neither hath it life and power but as the spirit doth goe forth in it Then the spirit is the true measure whereby we may take an equall scantlet or true dimention of heavenly things This is that the Apostle doth plainly tell us in 1 Cor. 2. 10. That the Spirit doth reveale the deep things of God So that the deep and hidden things the most secret mysteries of Gospel-truth are revealed unto us by the Spirit Now what man is it that doth not imagine he hath the true measure and rule of the things of God Every man pretends it and lays claime unto it Therefore before I passe this poynt I shall shew upon what grounds many men are mistaken and also make knowne what are the true foundations and principles of the true knowledge and discernnance of the things of God Concerning the false rules whereby men mistake take notice of these which follow First Fleshly wisdome and carnall reason are the principles that many men thinke to finde out truth by and by these principles of nature they would professe to attaine unto the knowledge of divine things but there is an utter inability in man by all his corrupted principles of nature rightly to judge or discerne of spirituall things Christ tells Nicodemus That which is borne of flesh is flesh Joâ— 3. 6. Now what doth he meane by flesh he doth not meane materiall flesh and bloud but he meaneth the corrupted principles of mans nature the wisdome will and affections of the nâ—turall man which cannot enter into the kingdome of God Againe the Apostle tells us of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an animate sensuall or naturall man and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a spirituall man or one enlightned by the spirit of God Now the naturall man is not able to judge of things above the principles of nature for every truth is discerned by principles of light suitable to it selfe Hence it is that the Apostle saith in 1 Cor. 2. 11. No man knoweth the things of man but the spirit of man that is in him Now what are the things of man but all created things of whom man is the epitome or compendium of them all they being all comprehended within him as in a Mapp or short abridgement so as for the secret and hidden things of nature or of the creature there is none can fadome or comprehend them but the spirit of man or the reason wisdome or understanding of man So it falls out in the things of God for saith the Apostle Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God Heavenly things are onely judged and discerned by him that is spirituall who judgeth all things by a true light Then it is in vaine for man to grope in the darknesse of his own wisdome and reason after the knowledge of heavenly truth Mans knowledge is a weak and dimme light as the light of a Candle to the light of the day or like the shine of the Moon unto the glory of the Sun it is a low fleshly and most unperfect light and altogether insufficient to measure divine things by Secondly Many there be that ground their knowledge of divine things upon some barren notion or fruitlesse opinion or meer speculation and when they have got some jejune and dry Maximes of Divinity or some poor lean and saplesse syllogisticall reasonings that then thinke they have attained to a most compleat knowledge of the things of God and that they are well seen in the mystery of truth when alas all these things are not sufficient to present unto the soul the least glimpse of true and saving light Thirdly Others thinke that the whole mystery of truth is bound up or comprehened within some circle or forme of Religion Such as these are apt to say Lo here and lo there as Christ speaks in Luke 17. 21. that is Lo here is Christ in this way of worship in this form of Religion in this opinion and doctrine but saith Christ The kingdome of God is within you That is The kingdome of God is not so much of forme but of power of righteousnesse and peace of light and joy of love and life and all these are best manifested within us for Christ is best knowne where he lives It hath been the practice of Antichrist to cry up the Temple of the Lord while they cry downe the Lord of the Temple and to take up the forme of Religion as a meanes to persecute the power thereof Then t is not an empty and barren forme of Religion that can furnish us with the true light of the kingdome of Christ or the knowledge of his will Fourthly and lastly the most of men thinke that if they have some historicall knowledge of Christ and some literall knowledge of the Scriptures and are trained up as Parrets to speake over such things as they read in books and Treatises and are well versed in the Systems and body of Divinity that then they are sufficiently instructed in the mysteries of the Gospel when alas the truths of God are hidden from their eyes and every word and letter they read are written with an unknowne character which cannot be deciphered without the Spirit of God The most learned Scribe the greatest Rabbie that shall understand the Originall language in which the Text of Scripture was first written as the Hebrew and the Greeke but yet shall want the language of the Spirit cannot give a true interpretation of the hidden and secret truths contained in the Scripture There is not onely a history but also a mystery of Christ there is not onely letter but also Spirit in the Scriptures which the most learned in the world cannot finde out without the Spirit of Christ The Apostle gives in a full testimony unto this in citing of that place which saith I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made foolishnesse the wisdome of this world 1 Cor. 1. 19 20. Then t is not carnall reason or fleshly wisdome t is not a barren notion or meer speculation t is not a round circle or empty forme t is not a literall knowledge or historicall relation of Christ and the Scriptures that are sound principles of saving light or the true measures or rules by which we may discerne spirituall things Thus having shewen rules and principles whereby men are mistaken in their judgement of divine things Now it followeth in the second place that wee make a discovery of those principles of light and truth whereby we may come to a true sight and knowledge of the things of God First Divine truths are knowne by the Spirit The Apostle tells us in 1 Joh. 5. 6. The spirit is truth The spirit is the fullest the highest the most absolute and the most comprehensive truth it 's
word of God and despised his long-suffering in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was preparing Here that which Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse did is attributed unto Christ because Noah was but instrumentall in the businesse it was Christ in the spirit that put himselfe forth in and through Noah In like manner it was sayd that whatsoever the prisoners did in the prison Joseph was the doer of it Gen. 39. 22. because they did it by warrant leave from him or by his dictation commandement Just so Christ is sayd to prophesie all the dayes of Antichrist because his people receive their commission and power from him as managing of his cause and quarrell It is sayd in vers 8. that Christ was crucified in Egypt and in Sodome which cannot be meant of Christ's person because he was crucified at Jerusalem but it 's meant of Christ in his people his Saints being overcome and killed in spirituall Egypt and Sodome So that we sâ—e plainly that the testimony that these witnesses give forth is Christ's testimony it 's Christ in his Saints it 's the power of the most high one in his people In these respects Christ is brought in as having a share in this prophesie under the powerfull raigne of the beast From this whole verse thus opened take this one observation That all and Observ every one of the Saints are Gods witnesses The witnesses here meant cannot be onely appropriated to Magistrates and Ministers or to any two eminent persons neither are they to be restrained to those onely that suffered martyrdome in their bodies but of all Saints of evâ—ry individuall Saint of what quality or degree soever that gives forth a testimony of the truth of Christ all that doe according to their measures and abilities continually oppose the wayes and devices of Antichrist Christ the great and faithfull witnesse as the olive treâ— doth powre out his oyle of divine spirit into the Câ—ndlesticks of his people whereby they are enabled to shine as lights in the middest oâ— all the perverse generations of men and among ali the gain sayers of the truth The Propheâ— testifieth that the Lord will sinite the earth with the â—oâ— of his mouth and with the breath of his lips will destroy the wicked Esa 11. 4. The Saints of the most high have the everlasting word of God abiding and dwelling in their hears and as they hold forth the testimony thereof they are the very lips and breath of the Lord whereby â—e bruiseth his enemies and bâ—eaks â—hâ—n in pieces The Apostle doth affiâ—â—e that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christs coming 2 Thâ—s 2. 8. Now what is the brightnesse of Christâ— coming but his gloâ—â—ion rayes and bright bâ—â—mâ—s of heavenly diâ—coveries of light and truth that he shine forth withall through his people The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to consume by degrees to wast a thing by little and little untill it be consumed and come to nothing So shall the dissolution of Antichrist be by degrees by little and little even as the Lord shall be pleased to encrease and double his Spirit upon his people whereby they are enabled to testifie against the beast his image against the false Prophet and the deceiver and thus by degrees shall the man of sin be destroyed Now we perceive that it 's not onely for the wise and learned neither for the great and mighty ones to testifie of Christ or that they are those by whom Antichrist should be destroyed but it s for Saints of all degrees for every member how poore how meane soever that have received of that holy oyle from Christ the true olive tree that shines forth with the glorious testimony of Christ I say every such one is a Prophet and witnesse of the Lord. Then all those poor low and despised ones that have according to their measures and attainments given forth their testimony for Christ his truth against Antichrist and his falshood all the times of persecution as it were in the wildernesse and in sackcloth these I say are the witnesses here spoken of these are the two Candlesticks who receive a full supply from the two olive branches these stand before the Lord of the whole earth holding forth the word of truth and the testimony of Jesus in opposition to the man of sin that wicked one that son of perdition Such honour have all his Saints though in the wildernesse and clothed with sackcloth though under much persecution and trouble yet these are the Candlesticks of the Lord set by the true olive tree Jesus Christ receive of his oyle into themselves they together with Christ stand before the Lord of the whole earth and shine as lights in the world So much for the discovery of whom is meant by the two witnesses It followeth VERS 5. And if any man hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed HAving made a large description of the witnesses declaring who they are and what their businesse Now we come to shew how they are impowered to deale with their adversaries whereby we perceive the powerfull effects of their prophesie If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. In this verse consider first the haâ—mful carriage of the adversaries towards the witnesses If any man hurt them Secondly the means of defence or opposition made by the witnesses towards their adversaries fire proceedeth out of their mouths c. First the deportment of the adversary and that is expressed hypothetically or conditionally If any man c. whereby a certainty is affirmed This indefinite speech doth not imply that it should be a rare thing for men thus to doe but rather a certainty of punishment should be inflicted upon all those that should any way oppose these two faithfull witnesses If any man hurt them c. It cannot be meant as though few should hurt or injure them but rather that there should be no exception of persons amongst any that should hurt them none should goe unpunished for any exterior adjuncts or qualities whatsoever let them be of any kinde ranke or degree they should suffer for their violence offered to them The certainty of the enemies opposing the witnesses is held forth by the doubling of the phrase So Joseph tells Pharaoh that by the doubling of his dream the thing was established Gen. 41. 32. But how are these witnesses hurt by their enemies First by restraining of their persons by persecution imprisonment banishment and the like It hath been the practice of the beast continually to make war with the Saints with those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Revel 11 17. Secondly by rejecting their testimony the enemy doth not onely go about to hinder the course of their testimony but also to turne the truth they hold forth into a
5. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not put for the true forme or essence of godliness but for an externall profession and conformity thereunto by a meer resemblance vizard or shew of holinesse So all the formality of Antichrist doth consist in externall gestures behaviours rites and ceremonies without the pure efficacious powerfull inward worship of God in spirit and truth so all their formal profession is but as a dead body a Carkase without the life or spirit of Christ Secondly observe That it is not so 2 Observ much the outward forme or figures of worship that Antichrist seeks to suppresse as it is the spirit and testimonies of the Witnesses The world doth patch up their whole Religion from the externall formes or bodies of the witnesses these lye in every street of the great Citie in all the Territories and Dominions of the Antichristian Church There is not one street or part of the worldly church but hath store of these Monuments and Images of the worship and service of God that they have taken up from the Witnesses laying of them down when the Saints worship God in the inward Temple in the Wilderness then these Gentiles possesse themselves of the outward Court take it as their portion and use it at their pleasures As Mahomet tooke part of the Jewish customes and part of the Christians practice and so patch'd up his forme of worship So Antichrist hath taken the externall formes that the Witnesses had before exercised in and adding his own inventions makes up a formall R ligion that he sets up in all the streeâ—s and territories of the great Citie viz. the whole Antichristian Church So that there is no Church no State part or Dominion where Antichrist hath to do but there we may see the bodies of the Witnesses the forms and images of the worship that they have been exercised in and have layd aside Thirdly from the resemblance observ 3 Obser That Antichrist is full of spirituall uncleannesse and cursed cruelty All the pride gluttony fulnesse of bread and abundance of idlenesse and filthinesse of Sodome all the wick dnesse idolatry rage envie and malice of Aegypt doth but set forth the sinfulnesse of the man of sin the sonne of perdition yea all that abominable wickedness heightned spi itualized and grown more vile and mysterious as it is acted by Antichrist Here is the silthiness of Sodome the idolatry of Aegypt the oppression of Babylon in a mysterie all under the preteâ—ce of piety and godliness This Citie is called the greatwhore Rev. 17. 1. because of the multitudes of her spirituall fornications And the mother of harlots vers 5. being a teacher and nourisher of others in her silthy whoredoms bringing up children of whoredoms Also she hath in her hands the cup ful of abominations a glorious cup to allure others to drink the wine of her fornicatior and to partake with her in cursed idolatrous practices Besides the enmity rage and cruelty of the Beast is alwayes vexing and tormenting the Israel of God Here is the filthinesse of Sodome and the enmity of Aegypt practiced by Antichrist in the mystery of iniquity drawn up to the greatest pitch heightâ—ed to the utmost extreamity deposing Christ and his truths advancing flesh and sinne into Christs throne and so becomes beastly and most abominable Fourthly and lastly observe It is 4 Obser the very life spirit and image of Christ that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose in slaying the Witnesses It is not so much the persons or bodies of these Witnesses they of the world do so much oppose but the appearance and life of Christ in them it 's the same wickedness that put Christ to death in his person and it 's still the same wickedness that slayeth Christ in his Saints and truth The very name of Antichrist signifies one that opposes Christ if this were not his worke and aime he could not be Antichrist who indeed is one that fights against Christ under the very forme of Christ And as it 's Christ he aimes at so it 's Christ that is slain and crucified it 's our Lord his truth his image that 's slain in spiritual Sodome Aegypt And in as much as ' its Christ he crucifieth killeth great shall be the judgment of Babylon as wee may see in Chap. 17. when God shall recompence upon the man of fin the blood of the Prophets and the blood of the Saints and of all that were slame upon the earth vers 24. And last of all the Lord will reckon with Antichrist for the blood of Christ for crucifying the Lord af glorie Christ tels the Jewes that upon that generation should be brought all the blood of the Prophets and righteous men slain in former times because they succeded the former Persecutors finished their work and so became guilty of all the blood shed before so here Antichrist doth contract all the guilt of Sodome Aegypt and Babylon and of those that crucified Christ therefore upon him shall be recompenced the blood of all that were slain upon the earth So great shall be the fall and ruine of Antichrist that a mighty Angell of great force and power shall take a great milstone and cast iâ— into the sea and it shall be found no more Rev. 18. 21. A great milstone is very ponderous and weighty of it selfe and falleth with great force but much more if it be cast down with a strong hand and being in the bottom of the Sea it cannot be found any more neither will it rise again All which sheweth the exceeding violent and perpetuall destruction of Antichrist being guilty of the blood of all Saints yea and of crucifying the Lord himself VERS 9. And they of the people kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves IN the former verse we heard of the place where the dead bodies lay now here we come to see what is the carriage of their Adversaries towards their dead bodies wherein we may consider these particulars First the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are the people and Kindred and Tongues and Nations Secondly their carriages or actions towards these dead bodies and they are two First they shall see them Secondly they shall not suffer them to be put in graves Thirdly the time how long they shall thus behold these dead bodies and hinder their buriall and that is for three dayes and a halfe First concerning the persons exercised about these dead bodies and they are People Kindreds Tongues and Nations We may read the words partively thus Some of all people and kindreds c. which implies some principall ones viz. those of power strength wisdome authority rule These principall men of all Nations Kindreds and Tongues the most learned and wise the most eminent and honourable of all Nations the most choisest of men of the greatest of gifts and