the beast Daniell hath omitted St. John doth describe them more fully He saith that he came out of the Sea he saith he hath 7. Heads and 10. Hornes and upon his heads the Names of Blasphemy This ugly Monster he describes in the 2. Verse to be like a Leopard his Feet as the feet of a Beare and his Mouth as the mouth of a Lyon his Power and his great Authority was given to him by the Dragon And the Dragon is described before in the 12. Chap. and 3. verse to be Red and to have seven Heads and ten Hornes and Crownes upon their heads And J find in the 11. verse of the 13. chap. another Beast described To come out of the Earth having hornes like a Lambe but a terrible speech like a Dragon These two Beasts described by St. Joqn doth exercise their Power to advance each other vers 1â— he saith He exercised all the power of the first Beast and caused all that was on the earth to worship the first beast These two beasts be so joyned together in the exercise of their Power and having their power from the Dragon that they are sometimes said to be one But Daniell sets forth this Second beast unto us in the similitude of a horne that hath a Mouth and Eyes chap. 7. verse 8. Now before these terrible beasts appeare in the Earth and exercise their power I find in the 12. chap. and 1. verse A wonder seene in Heaven a most glorious Woman cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feet and Crowned with 12 Starres Shee is also described to be with Child and in paine to be delivered But being in danger to be devoured by the Dragon and his Instruments these ugly beasts God Almighty provides a place for her and takes her Child unto himselfe vers 5. and 6. Now by this most glorious Woman and her Son is most certainly set forth unto us the Estate of the Church of Chrâ—st and the Sonnes of the Church When these monstrouâ— Beasts shall appeare for some of the Sonnes of the Church shall lay downe their Lives for the Truth and so is taken unto God Also in the 11. th Chap from verse the 1 till verse the 7. th is most certainly set forth unto us the pure Preaching of God's Word for the Worship and Service of GOD that shall be in the Church of Christ in that place when and where these Monsters shall appeare John is there commanded to measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worshâ—p therein But is prohibited to measure the Court and holy City seeing it was to be troden under foot by the wicked and prophane 42. Moneths that is 1260. dayes xxx dayes to the Moneth the same time the vertuous and glorious Woman lyeth hid in the place God provided for Her the 12. th Chap. and 6. verse But for his two Witnesses they should prophesie in Sackcloth 1260. dayes these are the two Olive-trees and two Candlestick standing before the God of the whole Earth Spoken of by Zachary the Prophet the 4. th Chap. and 3. verse and the 11. th and 14. verses By these two Olive-trees two Candlestâ—cks and two Witnesses is set forth unto us the Kâ—ngly and Priestly Officers As also the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles the Old Testament and the New all which shall be in Power and had in Estimation and the Word faithfully taught unto us by his Apostolicall Ministers When and where these monstrous Beasts appeares And it is most certaine that these Monstrous Beasts shall be Enemies to God his Worship and those that feare his Name That is manifest in the 7. th of Daniell the 25. verse for it is said there he shall speake great words against the Most High And in the 13. th Chap. of Revelations the 6. verse and he opened his Mouth with blasphemy to blaspheme his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven Now for the cruelty of this Beast how this Beast shall prosper and what he shall doe and how long he shall continue that is necessary to be shown But of that hereafter But first of all what is meant by the Sea and great Waters from whence this Beast shall come it is expressed Chap. 17. th and 15. verse to be People and Multitudes Tongues and Nations it is also necessary to know where they shall appeare He shall certainly appeare in that place where the most pure preaching of the Gospell of GOD and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is taught and upholden Both in Doctrine and Discipline by Christ's Regall and Sacerdotall Officers And he shall oppose himselfe against all lawfull Authority This great Beast is certainly the Man of Sinne the Antichrist the Son of Perdition spoken of by the holy Prophets and Apostles But now for the Description of this Man of Sinne the Son of Perdition set forth by the similitude of these Monsters it is necessary to shew Therefore first of the body oâ— this Beast It is Multitudes of men in the World in Seven severall Nations who will either voluntarily or by force comply to the Man of Sinne. Secondly the Heads of this Beast is Princes and great men in those Nations and sometimes it is taken for the head City where they meet to consult Called the Royall City Thirdly by the Hornes of this Beast is meant the Kings of those Nations whereof one of them hath foure Dominions belonging to him So these foure and the other six maketh seven Heads and ten Hornes Revâ—lations the 13. th and 1. verse Daniell 7. th and 7. verse Then Daniell expresseth that he saw another little Horne come up after them Before whom three fell And that Horne is said to be the 8. th Dominion and yet one of the Seven Rev. 17 ch and 11 verse that lâ—ttle Horne is the Antichristian Horne which by Daniel is said to have Eyes and a Mouth that shall speake high things Now it is to be understood that when this Man of Sinne shall appeare all the seven Nations shall be Christians But he shall arise and make his Seat in one only Nation and in that Nation where the most pure Preachings of the Gospel are both in Doctrine and Discipline and in that Nation whose Head hath foure Hornes that is foure Dominions belonging to it though he doe but exercise the power of Three But upon the appearance of the little Horne the three Dominions which the former King had shall fall to him and the former King shall be pluckt up Dan. the 7. th and 8. verse but of that hereafter Now that Antichrist is set out unto us by this little Horne in Daniell and the Beast out of the Earth in John It shall be apparant by what he shall doe answerable to that which is written of him Also by the Description of his Name and Marke and the first Beast by his Name and the number of his Name Therefore to make it plaine I will shew it more
A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST And his false Prophet WHEREIN Is plainly shewed that Oliver Cromwell was ANTICHRIST and John Presbiter or John Covenanter his false Prophet Written in the Yeare MDCLIV By ABRAHAM NELSON And now Published with an Epistle to the Kings most Excellent Majestie LONDON Printed by T. F. and are to be sold at Westminster-Hall Fleetstreet and the old Exchange 1660. TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE CHARLES the Second Of England Scotland France and Jreland KING Defender of the Ancient Catholicke and Apostolicall Faith DRead SOVERAIGNE NOw after your Majesties most happie Returne to your Kingdome your poore Subject hath nothing to present to Your MAIESTY save onely in testimony of my loyaltie to your Grace and true affection which I bore to him which was made so like his Lord and Master But onely a few Observations collected out of holy Scripture Prophetically and by Vision layd downe therein which hath been hid since the world began But now most dreadfully Acted in your dayes the which Observations I drew up in the yeare 1654. and reading it over to two especiall Friends and Royalists * Mr. BRYAN NELSGN and Mr. WIL EDVVARDS of Norwich By their perswasion and mine owne Inclination I resolved to put them in Print and with a Resolution to send your Grace a Copie thereof But considering that in the last Chapter of Daniel the Angell commands him to goe his way Seeing the words are closed and Sealed till the time of the end In Obedience thereunto I have reserved it till this present But most gracious Prince I humbly Beg of Your MAIESTY so much time as to Read it over and your Majesties pardon in that I cannot give that is Eloquence with wisdome of words most proper for such a Propheticall subject and due to such a Prince But that which is your Majesties due and can give I present to Your Grace that is my Service together with this unburnished Piece proceeding from a man of little Learning yet from a true and faithfull heart and whereas I have been loyall and alwayes ayding to him whose fame is made glorious without clogging my Conscience with Protestations Covenants Judgments or Oathes of any kind which brought utter Ruine upon my estate and great affliction upon me my Wife and Children Yet I chused rather in my allegiance to expose my selfe to any sufferings the same I shall be to Your Grace till by Gods ayd I shall finish my Course Your Majesties Loyall and obedient Subject ABRAHAM NELSON To the Reader FRiendly and Impartiall READER J doe here present to your view a perfect Description of Antichrist and his false Prophet collected out of holy Scriptures which I writ in the yeare 1654. You shall find upon serious Consideration in reading hereof that the transactions that hath past since the yeare 1639. till the yeare 1660. to be the time of Antichrist his false Prophet their Increase and Reigne and their particuler actions perfectly to fulfill their whole Description set forth in holy Scriptures together with their Names Marke and Number of his Name you shall also find Antichrist's false Prophet perfectly set forth in opposition to CHRIST's true Prophet that came before him You shall also find the Antichrist himselfe in opposition to CHRIST our Lord perfectly paralleld But though that the acknowledgement thereof seeme to crosse the generall Opinion of many Grave and learned Divines which I honour who have writ heretofore and to offend some others which have too much adhered to their late actions My earnest request is that they would suspend their Iudgments till they have read it over And in so doing then parallell that which they have seen known and understood in these times to the Texts of holy Scripture quoted which deciphers him out and then they may be satisfied of the truth of what is inserted And though in my own person either for Learning or publique Esteeme can give no Lustre thereunto therefore in this I crave your favourable Construction Neither did I undertake this so great a businesse of concernment in it selfe so considerable Which hath troubled both Church and State to this day neither for any private Satisfaction to my selfe or particuler Interest But being brought into great affliction and sadnesse of heart not only for my selfe my Wife and Children through our great sufferings to the losse of all But more a great deale for the horrid Apostacy from so excellent a Government both in Church and State in the dayes of CHARLES the first the great Martyr of Iesus So that I could not be delivered from such Meditations as brought these Observations into my mind And having made it knowne to two especiall Friends in Norwitch they perswaded me to put them in Writing the which I did and hath reserved it till this present Not that I was doubtfull of the accomplishment thereof for God's Glory and our Good at the time specified But in obedience to the Angels command to Daniell to goe his way seeing the words was sealed up till the time of the End For I had gone into Flanders this last Winter in February but that I wanted Money and there to have presented my Service to my Soveraigne with these Observations knowing that the time was to be accomplished in 1660. But so it is now with me that in writing of this poore Epistle to you I cannot doe it without teares Considering Gods miraculous Goodnesse to us so wretched Sinners as to accomplish his Worke in such Mercy and Gentlenesse and goodnesse to all As that all faults may be buried in oblivion in a little time and all the loyall Party which was wronged prevented of bringing a great Sinne upon themselves in their own Vindication O this great Mercy of God! Our King restored to us our Lawes executed Gods worship revived to the admiration of all the World all fulfilled according to his Word Let us walk worthy of his Mercy in love to one another This shall be the Prayers of your Servant as one of the Sons of the Church of England praying God that I may be found faithfull before him and acceptable to you Yours ABRAHAM NELSON A DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST REading in the holy Scripture of truth the Vision which the holy Prophet Daniell saw in the dayes of Balshazar King of Babilon I find in the 7. th Chap. the 7. verse a description of a most dreadfull and terrible Beast First hee describes him by his Strength to be exceeding strong Secondly by his Teeth to be of Iron Thirdly by his Hornes to be in number Ten and also in the 8. th verse he speaks of a little Horne that came up before whom three fell Fourthly he describes this Beast to have Nailes of Brasse in the 9. verse This monstrous Beast being described by his Shape he also tells us what he shall doe But of that hereafter Also reading in the 13. Chapter of St. Johns Revelation I find the same Beast described and looke what Markes of
being of Brasle to Plunder and Scrape the very Flesh of the bones of Gods people Daniel the 7. th chap. and 19. verse But when men seeth these things come to passe which is Collected out of the word of GOD let them lift up their hands which hang downe and their feeble knees and make streight steps upon their feet as Paul saith Lest that which is halting be turned out of the way It shall informe weake Consciences and confirme them in the truth It shall be a Caviat for many to take Salomons counsell that is If thou hast stricken hands and been snared with the words of thy mouth make hast deliver thy selfe But more especially to doe as our Lord Saviour CHRIST coÌ„mands that is Agree with thy adversary quickly whilest hee is in the way with thee least he deliver thee to the Iudge and the Iudge deliver thee to the Iaylor It shall be a meanes to Convert the Jewes when they see Antichrist play his Pagents on the earth and God fulfill his judgment upon him Being so perfectly Marked out by his Prophets and Apostles and foretold so many hundred of yeares before he come It shall also Reconcile the great differences amongst the Christians But especially betwixt the Papists and Protestants which hath so long time contended about this thing unto Blood It shall Increase the torments and anguish of those that are still obstinate Enemies of GOD and doth not Repent And finally It shall cause all both great and small things in Heaven and things on Earth and under the Earth to bow the Knee at the Name of JESVS even so AMEN This sad Tragedy being past and gone the Saints shall live at peace and ease at home Till Gog shall make them to be sore dismay'd his wicked Pagents then that he hath play'd But Consolation great to th' Saints will come after he hath had his dreadfull Doome For finall Sentence shall not long be driven till th' Saints shall all for ever be in Heaven J will further adde this That the false Prophet when he shall first appeare shall be by Profession in his Religion a false Dependant Puritanicall who by his rigid Curiositie and Scrupulous non-Conformity Shall make way for a Toleration of Antichristian Independancy Further you may observe in 1639 That from their Covenanting and first Entrance into the Field in open force and publique Hostility against their lawfull King and Priests the Lords Deputies till the time of their Subversion shall be that is in 1660. One and twenty yeares Answerable to the time that Christ our Lord disputed in the Temple with the Puritanicall hypochriticall Pharisees till he ascended into Heaven as afore-mentioned But more for particuler Distinction of Time As neare as may be it may be observed that for the first Ten yeares and six Moneths which is three times 42. Moneths the Antichristian false Prophet shall most popularly carry on his wicked designes deceiving the People by Lies pretending to be for the King and Priests till they may utterly destroy Both And consequently Gods holy Worship and so out them as Antichristian by Lies and Scandals But for the later ten yeares and six Moneths the Antichrist himselfe by the assistance of his bloody Crew shall advance his Dominion For the first 42. Moneths of the later Ten yeares and an halfe the Antichrist shall be made Generall and give a Toleration to all his Antichristian Impes And for the second 42. Moneths Antichrist shall take upon him to be the peoples Saviour and Protector And his false Prophet shall comply with him and be protected by Him And for the last 42. Moneths he shall actually be confirmed in his Jesus-ship And his false Prophet with all their deluded Spirits shall give Honour unto him as lawfully installed in his Jesus-ship for ever both for Him and His. Yet before the 42. Moneths be expired a great darknesse of Confusion shall be in his Kingdome that they shall knaw their Tongues for paine Revelations the 16. th and 10. verse And also before the last 42. Moneths be out The right Heire shall come to possesse his Kingdome as is afore-mentioned This they shall see All those that lives in the Dayes of Antichrist the 42. Moneths of Antichrist's Dominion And his false Prophet spoken of by the Angeâ—l to John And the Time Times and the dividing of Time spoken of by the Angell to Daniell Really fulfilled to the Sight and perfect Knowledge of all the Observers thereof If they will but count And if Pharoah's Dreame was doubled twise much more shall Antichrist's 42. Moneths be doubled thrice for the Ratification thereof before all the World But courteous Reader looke what thou hast here read is none of Mine only collected by me out of holy Scripture therefore give God the Glory But it is so briefe that it is far short of what may be observed by the judicious Reader out of holy Writ Though it be promiscuously laid downe therein as we may observe in all Prophesies that Men as naturall may see and not perceive and heare and not understand for if it were by way of History then it were no Prophesie as we may observe in the 24. th of Mathew and such like Propheticall places they be Mysteriously laid downe But I would have you to observe that every Spirit that pretends to stand for Christ and doth oppose his Dominion here upon Earth by his Deputies Kings and Episcopall Priests doth therewith deny the true Doctrine and Discipline of Christ's Church The same must undoubtedly be the Antichrist Antichristian Spirits there was from the beginning by the Enemy of Mankind in opposition to the promised Seed Christ But they never prevailed to set up a Dominion as aforesaid to fill up the whole Latitude of his Description Read for your Satâ—sfaction the 26. of Numbers what became of Core and his accompliceâ— And read the Epistle of Jude his Prophesie of Antichrist whereof Cores Rebellion against Moses their King and Aaron their Priest was a Type of Antichrist's Rebellion under the Gospell Read also the 10. th of Leviticus The History of Nadab and Abihu offering stâ—ange Fire to the Lord A Type of the abominable Worship and Sectaries tollerated by Antichrist in the time of the Gospell But though these did not prevaile to set up a Dominion yet Antichrist the Typified shall prosper prevaile and set up his Dominion as aforesaid And all his evill Spirits shall prosper with him all that ever were or shall be and shall doe what is written of Him But the antichristian Spirits that shall assay to set up a Dominion before the Time of the Antichrist the Son of Perdition cannot For Paul saith to the Thessalonians 2. Epistle and 2 Chapter only he who letteth shall let till he be taken out of the Way and in the 8. verse Then shall the Wicked be revealed And it is to be understood that He who hath let and doth let is the Angell of the Church And the King Christ's Deputy where this Man of Sinne shall arise who is appointed by GOD to protect his Church from such Malignant Spirits according to his Promise made to his People as to the Patriarchs and to Moses to aid them That for their and the Churches safety his Angell should goe before them The like assistance doth attend Christian Kings under the Gospell but when Gods Angell is restrained from ayding the King in protecting of Christ's Church then shall Antichrist appear and prevaile * The King and Bishop and the two great Witnesses of GOD shall be murthered in the Street and lye A Bishop may be Antichristian being against Monarchy slaine in that City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt Revel the 11. chap. and 8 and 9. A Monarch may be Antichristian being against Episcopacy But he that is the Antichrist must be above and against both verses For be assured Christian Reader he shall be against Christ when he commeth and against Christ's annointed Ones Such as are commissionated consecrated and set apart for his most especiall Service under the Gospell And will presume to be above Christ as he is a Saviour administring his Power here upon Earth till his second Comming by his lawfull JESVSES his Deputies here And so he will set himselfe in Christ's Dominion or above Him Absolutely to take away the Regall and Sacerdotall Officers of CHRIST And to suppresse the true Professors Till the Antient of Dayes sit and Judgment be given to the Saints of the Most High as aforesaid All which for the Glory of our God and of his Son our Lord and Saviour in the right understanding hereof for our availes I referre unto God And for the Performance of his most Sacred Word wee ought not to doubt Therefore as I said before let us all both great and small bow the Knee at the Name of JESVS Even so AMEN Now I doubt not but I shall have the favorable Construction of all the Sons of the Church of England herein But for such as hath not knowne it through want of yeares and those that through weaknesse have been seduced from it My Desire is that they should returne and professe the Catholick Faith established in England and professed in the Dayes of Charles the first the Great Martyr of JESVS This shall be the Prayers of him that wisheth Grace and Peace till the finishing of his Dayes Your Servant ABRAHAM NELSON of Garsdale in Yorkshire FINIS