forcible compelling persons into and violent keeping them in its communion and fellowship If you 'l not be one with them then Fines Imprisonment Bonds attend you Penal Laws and Statutes are Enacted for this end and by these are men brought into and kept in the Antichristian-church And were these weapons of its warfare taken away 't would soon become as a garden of Cucumbers or perish with its own weight The attempts of the Papacy to reduce persons into their Communion by Fire and Sword their labours to preserve the Uninity of their Church this way is known Is there any thing like it owned by or to be found amongst the present Churches Do they not with one mouth affirm that 't is a voluntary departure from the worlds way and a spontaneous giving up themselves to the Lord and one another to walk with him in a subjection to his institutions wherein the form of the Churches lies Herein is a most Evident difference betwixt Them and the Antichristian-Church They talk of no compulsions but those of the Spirit and Love that make a people Volunteers in the day of the Lord's Power Lex nova non se vindicat ultore gladio is their Motto as is known 3. The Foundation of the Antichristian-Church is not Jesus Christ but the Sons of men one or other of them their Laws Canons Decretals upon which it is built Is this the case of the present Churches Do they not all of them with full consent proclaim their abhorrency of such a Foundation Is not CHRIST in their account the alone Foundation of all the True Churches in the world and they practise accordingly Their debates touching this matter with the Papelins about Mat. 16.18 from whence these endeavour to prove Peter and consequentially as they 'd have it the Pope to be the Rock upon which the Church is built is known to all that look upon themselves concern'd in these matters 4. The Doctrine of the Anti-christian-Church is a Doctrine of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the doctrines of Daemons so the learned Mede renders it Some carry it thus doctrines which devils are the Authors of There 's a great deal of truth in that all the doctrines of the Anti-christian-church that are peculiarly hers are the doctrines of Devils But I rather think with that learned person that by doctrines of Daemons is meant those doctrines that have the Daemons for their Object Now these Daemons that were worshipped by the Pagans were 1. For their nature and degree supposed by the Gentiles an inferior and middle sort of divine powers between the soveraign and heavenly Gods and mortal Men. 2. For their Office to be as mediators and agents between these soveraign Gods and Men. 3. For their original either Angels or the Deified-souls of Worthy-men after death 4. For the way of Worshipping them to find and receive benefits from them 't was by Consecrated-Images and Pillars 5. Their very Reliques were adored and brought into Temples They that desire to see more touching this matter may at their leasure consult the famous Medes Apostasie of the latter times The Doctrines of Daemons then are the Doctrines of the Apostatick Roman-Antichristian-Synagogue touching the worshipping of Saints and Angels in imitation of the Pagan Daemon Worship But take the words in the largest Sense as comprehensive of all those Doctrines that are not of Christ have the devil for their Author Some whereof are mention'd by the Apostle afterwards v. 3. Forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats the Doctrines of Justification by Works or inherent Sanctification of Purgatory or a state of Purifying after this life any Principles Opinions contrary to sound Doctrine the form of wholesom words or the Doctrine which is according to Godliness which of the Churches can be justly charged with holding maintaining any such Principles 'T is true perhaps amongst some of them there may be found one or other that speak perverse things as there was of old in the Church of Corinth and some other Churches in the Apostolick times but are they countenanc't therein Can their corrupt Doctrines be charged as the Doctrines of the Churches What more evidently notoriously false can be suggested or fixed on 5. The Worship of the Antichristian-Church is a Worship of devils idols of gold silver wood stone the work of men's hands Rev. 9.20 'T is an idolatrous whorish adulterous superstitious Worship Rev. 17.1 2 4 5. whose whole substratum foundation is the Commandments of men Mat. 15.9 Traditions c. 'T is formal sapless lifeless It 's managery in the Spirit is not at all attended to His Assistance is contemned reviled blasphemed as that which is phantastick whimsical heretical schismatical for any to talk of or pretend to Is the Worship of the Churches such a Worship Who hath the forehead to aver it They witness against all such Worship and Worshipper's both in Word and Writing as is known Are studious to walk by Scripture-rule in their Worship both with respect to the matter and manner thereof 6. The nature characters properties of the Antichristian-Church are amply described by the Apostles of our Lord. They are such as receive not the love of the Truth that they might be saved upon whom God hath sent strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. That give heed to seducing Spirits and doctrines of Daemons speaking lies in hypocrisie having their conscience sear'd with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. covetous boasters of themselves blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false Accusers or make-bates incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Such as Worship the Dragon gave power unto the Beast and Worship the Beast Rev. 13.4 5 8. Receiving his mark in their right hand or in their foreheads his Name or the number of his Name which whosoever did not might neither buy nor sell v. 16 17. The great Whore that sits upon many waters with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the wine of her Fornication A Woman sitting upon a scarlet-colour'd Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns The Woman arrayed in Purple and scarlet colour and decked with Gold and precious Stone and Pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of Abominations and filthiness of her Fornication upon whose forhead is a Name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth The Woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the Bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.1 2 3 4 5 6.
They were not the Powers of the world nor the declensions apostacies of the Subjects of that Ministration that put a Period to it but the Act of God himself the Soveraign thereof 5. Whatever the corruptions of the Church-state were as they were very great 't is the commendation of the Lords poor people that they continued in it as Zachary Elizabeth c. because in so doing they testify their subjection to the Lord who Instituted it 6. Nor was it actually removed but by the introduction of a new more spiritual sublime Ministration set on foot by Jesus the Son of God fore-prophesied of as the great Prophet of the Church who was to period that Ministration and set up another to whom we are charged to attend in all things Secondly Gospel-Churches or the Gospel-Church-State are said to be a House built upon a Rock Mat. 7.25 and 16.18 Vpon this Rock I will build my Church 'T is necessary that we Enquire I. What we are to understand by this Rock 1. The Papists tell us that by this Rock we are to understand Peter The vanity of which pretension is evident For 1. 'T is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon This Peter but upon This Rock 2. Peter no where in any of his Epistles asserts himself to be the Rock upon which the Church is Built nor do any of the Apostles in any of their Epistles so affirm of him He accounts himself but as an Apostle of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Co-Elder with the rest of the Presbyters or Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 3. Christ is asserted to be the alone Rock Foundation of his Church 1 Pet. 2.4 5 6 7. 1 Cor. 3.11 in opposition to all others 4. He himself as well as other Believers was built upon the Rock which bare him and not he it or the Church 5. Paul expresly asserts 2 Cor. 11.5 that he was not inferior to the very chiefest Apostles which had been false if Peter had been constituted the Rock upon which the Church was built 6. If he were the Rock when he denied Christ as he did dreadfully and at last fell asleep What became of the Rock Foundation of the Church But this vain pretension is hardly worth our considering nor should it be granted would it at all conduce to the support of the Roman Papal Synagogue to which good service it 's design'd Therefore 2. By the Rock we are to understand the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New-Covenant He is expresly so call'd 1 Cor. 10.4 Upon what account is not to our purpose at present to Enquire II. What we are to understand by the Church 1. Not particular Believers in a scattered dispersed State But 2. Saints gather'd together in the order and fellowship of the Gospel This is evident as if written with the beams of the Sun for to particular Believers as such in their scattee red dispersed State the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven ths Power of binding and loosing doth not appertain But to thi Church congregated it doth v. 19. III. What is signified by the gates of Hell which 't is said-shall not prevail against this Church First The subtlety policy of Satan Over the gates of the City was wont to be the Council-house Let all the Devils in Hell sin in Council against the Lords Church they shall not be able by all their cunning subtlety to prevail against it The subtle attempts of Satan to undermine destroy this Church have been are various To enumerate particulars is not our present design 'T is enough that our Lord assures us whatever they are they shall prove ineffectual Yet perhaps it may not be altogether impertinent to mention some few of his subtleties with respect to this matter He hath then attempted to destroy it in subtlety 1. With respect to Doctrin labouring to undermine destroy the fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel thereby subverting the Faith of some His attempts against the Person of Christ sometimes endeavouring to create a mis-belief with respect to his Eternal Deity to which John opposes himself in his Gospel by impregnable undeniable Arguments at other times to the verity of his Humanity against which the same Apostle advanceth himself in his Epistle 1 Joh. 1. his designs against the Offices of Christ were also early in the Apostle's days particularly against his Priestly Office labouring to introduce a justification by the Works of the Law or as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9.32 viz. partly by Christ and partly by Works or internal Sanctification A design subtilly managed and carried on by the bloody Jesuits and others at this day as is known to which the Apostles in their Epistles and other Worthies since have oppos'd themselves But though he hath hereby drawn off at seasons not a few from the simplicity of the Gospel yet there hath all along been a Testimony born in the Churches against him which he hath not been able to withstand or repel 2. With respect to Worship and that two ways 1. By introducing humane Observances into the service of God and Christ so polluting defiling it that he accounts it not his Worship And hereby for a season he almost totally prevailed upon the body of Professors of Christanity So that the whole world as 't were wondred after this Beast Rev. 13.3 And the whorish Woman or false Church being her self bewitched with this intoxicating Cup of Fornication she held it forth to the Nations with External pomp and grandeur to drink of it and they generally drank of it and were drunk and mad with it Rev. 17.2 3 4 5. Yet all along Christ had his Remnant that witnes'd against these Abominations amongst whom the true Church-State was continued and the purity of Ordinances remained who also Sealed their Testimony with their Blood 2. By reproaching reviling contemning despising the pure Institutions of Christ as poor low and carnal pretending to a more sublime high spiritual Ministration As some even in the Apostles days and since And herein Satan eminently appeared as an Angel of Light withdrawing persons from the fellowship wayes of the Gospel under the pretence of greater Spirituality Heavenliness leaving the Word of the Beginning and pressing after Perfection A brave Pretext wherewith the minds of many have been are not a little taken ensnared But neither this way hath he been able to destroy the Church which hath weather'd this point also with and prevail'd against him Being from its own experience as from the Scripture ascertain'd that the more they are in a conscientious Observance of the Institutions of Christ the more do they grow up into the Spirit Life and Power of divine things Their spiritual progress and growth in Grace depending singly upon Jehovah's Blessing which is promised solely and they meet with it in their conscientious attendment on him in divine Appointments Secondly The force power tyranny oppressive destroying practices of the Wicked One
Holy City so long are the Witnesses to Prophesie A few things must further be enquir'd into 1. Who we are to understand by the Gentiles 2. What by the Holy City 3. What their treading under foot the Holy City means 4. What space of time the fourty-two Months take up in which 't is said the Gentiles shall tread down the Holy City 1. By the Gentiles we are to understand the Antichristians particularly the bloody Papists headed by the Pope That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man of Sin that Son of Perdition that Lawless One 2. Thes 2.3 8. These are call'd Gentiles because 1. Of their Introduction of Idolatrous Worship practised amongst the Gentiles I mean not only the Worship of Statues Idols of Wood Stone Brass Silver Gold but the Worship of Heroes or Saints in imitation of the Gentile-Heroes whom they Worship'd 2. Of their being actuated by the same Spirit of bloody cruelty against the Worshippers within the Temple and Altar or the true Spiritual Worshipers with which the Gentiles before them were actuated against the Primitive Believers and actually murdering the true Servants of the Lord as they did 2. The Court without the Temple and the Holy City which Type out the same thing is the Antichristian Church-state Worship Worshippers Orders Ordinances The Temple of God the Altar and the Worshippers therein v. 1. are the Gospel-Church-state with the Worship and Worshippers thereunto belonging as hath been proved The Court then without the Temple and the Holy City to be left out as a matter of no worth is the false Church-state with its Worship and Worshippers 3. Their treading under foot the Holy City denotes 1. The numerousness of the Antichristian Worshippers 2. Their frequency in their Antichristian Service as the Phrase is taken Isa 1.12 Psal 121.2 q. d. Measure not the Court The false Worship Worshippers are so contemptible vile they deserve not to be taken notice of are so numerous that they cannot well be measured They throng the City as if they would tread it under foot at once 4. The fourty-two Months cannot possibly denote fourty-two ordinary Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty natural Dayes or three years and an half for these Reasons 1. The Papacy represented under the notion of the Gentiles have been already rampant hundreds of Years persecuted murder'd destroyed millions of Saints for not treading together with them the Holy City 2. As was said The forty-two Months and the One thousand two hundred sixty dayes are the same Now a day for a year is the prophetick reckoning See Num. 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 So in the prophesie of Daniel Chap. 8.21 23. and 9.24 and 12.11 12 And for ought I find in all Prophetick Books where any signal time is spoken of 3. That the Gentiles treading down the Holy City and the wild Beast Rev. 13.2 3. are the same hath hitherto been taken for granted and 't is evident they are so as from other considerations so from this that the same term is given to them both ver 5. And Power was given to him forty-two Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes as was before intimated Now t is impossible that what is said to be done by and ascribed to this wild Beast should be shut up in so short a period as three years and an half For 1. He brings the whole world under his subjection is a dread and terror to them grows so considerable that none is able to make War with him ver 4 7. And they Worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make War with him 2. All the World wonders after the Beast ver 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Word is very emphatick denoting honour reverence fear of any one upon the account of some wonderful strange thing done by him 'T is translated Jude 16. The having mens persons in admiration It comes from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 greatly to observe reverence worship to magnify have in great esteem Some read it He was admired in the whole Earth The Arabick translates it The whole Earth wondring followed the Beast Which is indeed the sense of the place q. d. such wonderful things shall be done by the Beast in the sight of the World that with the greatest admiration highest approbation and consent they shall take the Beasts part list themselves under his standard The Aethiopick reads And the whole Earth wondred and followed this Beast to the same purpose 3. He makes War with the Saints and overcomes them v. 7. Acts that must certainly take up more time than three Years and an half for their production III. Antichrist who is the same with the Wild Beast but now mentioned as is granted by all was in the womb in the Apostles dayes wrought then under ground in a mystery labouring to come forth which he at last did Exalting himself above all that is called God or worshipped shewing himself that he is God 2 Thes 2.4 7. He more openly shew'd himself whilst the Apostle John was yet alive than he did in Paul's dayes John 2.22 23. and 4.2 3. So that it 's evident that the Antichrist was in the womb in the Apostles dayes and openly discover'd himself not long after the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which letted call'd the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Letter or he which letteth 2 Thes 2.6 7. was taken out of the way Various are the sentiments of the Learned touching this Letter The Learned Brightman makes him to be the sixth head of the Roman Empire others think him to be the Holy Spirit who by his signal presence power with the Primitive believers kept Antichrist from ascending to that heighth of dignity supremacy he aimed at Some adjudge it to be the apostasie spoken of ver 3. Except there come a falling away first and that man of Sin be revealed the Son of Perdition q. d. The general Apostacy must first be ere the man of Sin or Antichrist openly manifest himself when that is he will quickly appear to head it It s not yet coming is that which lets his Revelation The generality take it for the Roman-Pagan-Empire or Emperour in his full Power and Majesty flourishing and living at his seat in Rome Which I humbly conceive is Paul's intendment For 1. No reason can be given why Paul expresses himself in so dark terms that which letteth this Letter if the Roman-Pagan-Empire be not intended but if so the reason is obvious They had an opinion that this Empire was everlasting to have talk'd of its removal would have stirr'd them up to have persecuted the Saints as the Enemies of it Less occasions they many times took so to do 2. Antichrist's seat was to be Rome Rev. 17.9 The seven heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth i. e. The City built on seven Hills is Antichrists Seat viz. Rome alone famous amongst Historians upon that account Septem urbs alta jugis toti quae
praesidet orbi The Seven-hill'd City that governs the World saith Propertius But take the Letter or that which Letteth in either of the forementioned sences and he hath been actually taken away for above this thousand Years Immediately upon which Antichrist was revealed whose time and the Beast's are the same for they themselves are the same Therefore the fourty-two Months cannot possibly denote fourty-two Ordinary Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty natural dayes viz. Three Years and a half but a much longer tract of time By what hath hitherto in this matter been offered the Judicious Reader will find a plain probation of the main Thesis we are now in the confirmation of viz. that the two Witnesses come before the last of the last dayes For 2. The two Witnesses are expresly said to prophesie One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes i. e. Years according to the Prophetick reckoning as we have proved 3. The Witnesses Prophesying and the rampancy of the Wild-Beast Rev. 13.2 3. take up the same time of fourty two Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes but it hath been demonstrated that the term of the Wild Beast is not so short as three Years and an half therefore the Witnesses Prophesying cannot be thrust into so narrow a compass 4. The time of the Witnesses Prophesying and Antichrists day after his Revelation are the same For Antichrist and the Wild Beast Rev. 13. are the same And the Witnesses Prophesying and the rampancy of the Wild Beast take up the same time as hath been proved That Antichrist hath been reveal'd in the World for hundreds of Years past hath also been demonstrated Therefore the Witnesses Prophesying hath been also thus long so must have their existence as Prophesying Witnesses before the last of the last Dayes Quod erat demonstrandum As touching the third supposition upon which the Objection is built viz. III. That the time of the Witnesses Prophesie is but for One thousand two hundred and sixty natural dayes the contrary hath been from what hath been said touching the second particular abundantly evinc'd to which add The Witnesses are to Prophesie all the time of Antichrist as hath been proved The truth is they are raised up Spirited by the Lord as witnesses to prophesie against him and his incroachments upon the Soveraign Authority of Christ T is true the Papists that they may clear the Pope of the charge hath been by the Protestants laid against him as the Antichrist assert That Antichrist is not yet come that he is not to come till towards the period of time to continue when he comes but three years and an half Thus Bellarmin l. 3 De Pontif. Antichristus debet regnare non nisi tres annos cum medio praecise Antichristi adventus erit paulo ante finem mundi continuo post mortem ejus mundus finetur i. e. Antichrist ought to raign but three years and an half precisely The coming of Antichrist shall be a little before the end of the World By and by after his death the World shall terminate Two things in this matter are easily demonstrated 1. That Antichrist is long since come I. That the Papal Kingdom is the Antichrist spoken of which if plainly from Scripture demonstrated it undeniably follows that the time of the witnesses prophesie cannot be shut up within the limits of one Thousand two Hundred and Sixty natural days 1. That Antichrist is long since come is evident for 1. He is Prophesied of as to come when the Apostacy should break forth 2. Thes 2.3 Except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed So that evidently upon the coming in of the Apostacy the man of sin or Antichrist is to be revealed But the Apostack hath been already for several hundreds of years witness the corruption in doctrine viz. Justification by Works Transubstantiation c. in Worship viz. the veneration of Reliques the invocation of Saints the Worship of the breaden God Images c. 2. The Mystery of Iniquity wrought viz. in Order to the bringing forth of the man of Sin in the Apostles Dayes 2 Thes 2.7 It cannot then be imagin'd but his birth was near What in the Womb then and not to be brought forth for hundreds of years after credat Appella 'T is a figment that the repetition of is refutation sufficient 3. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which letted his Revelation 2 Thes 2.6 was long since removed out of the way as hath been demonstrated Immediately upon which he was to be revealed ver 8. The truth of this will more evidently appear in our discussions of the second particular viz. 2. That the Papal Kingdom is THE ANTICHRIST spoken of in the Scripture Which we shall in a distinct Treatise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fully demonstrate The third Period of time mentioned in the Revelation is III. The time of the last Dragon-War When we have an account also of a Gospel-Church-state Churches Worshipping God according to the appointment of Christ Of this War we have an account Rev. 12.17 And the Dragon was Wroth with the Woman and went about to make War with the remnant of her Seed V.L. And the Dragon was Wroth against the Woman and went to make War with the rest of her seed Ar. Therefore that Serpent was wroth against the Woman and went to wage War with the Seed of the Woman that was left Syr. And that Dragon was wroth against the Woman and went to make War with them who are the residue of her Seed Aeth And this Beast was wroth against this Woman and went that he might oppugn the rest of her Sons Much to the same purpose A few things must be considered 1. Who is meant by the Dragon 2. Who by the Woman 3. Who are the Remnant of her Seed 4. What this War is 5. To what Period of time it hath Relation 6. That in the time of this War there is a Gospel-Church-state of the appointment of Christ to which Saints are found in Conformity I. As touching the first by the Dragon we are to understand the Devil So the Spirit interprets ver 9. And the great Dragon was cast out that Old Serpent call'd the Devil and Satan So also Rev. 20.2 So call'd upon the account of his 1. Sublety 2. Malice Enmity against mankind especially the Saints 3. Cruelty in devouring swallowing them up 4. Strength Power to put in Execution by Divine sufferance his enmity against them But yet the Devil as acting not in the Roman-Pagan-state but in the Antichristian wherein he most evidently displayes his enmity bloody cruelty subtilty and Power Now this seems to be very evident For this Dragon is said to have Seven Heads and Ten Horns and Ten Crowns upon his Heads The Seven Heads are interpreted Rev. 17.9 10. not only to be Seven Mountains but also Seven Kings or seven sorts of Government whereof five were fallen when John writ viz. Kings Consuls Tribunes
Decemvirs Dictators and one then was viz. Pagan-Emperours and the Seventh was not yet come viz. Christian Emperours amongst whom springs Antichrist who is said to be the Eighth and yet of the Seventh ver 11. So then during the time of the Roman-Pagan-Emperors the Dragon had but Six Heads therefore by the Dragon we are not to understanding the Devil as acting in that state but in the Antichristian when he had his Seven Heads compleat The Ten Horns are also interpreted Rev. 17.12 to be Ten Kings which had at that time of Johns writing received no Kingdom They respect a time when the Roman-Empire should be divided into Ten Kingdoms which was not while the Empire was Pagan but under the Seventh Head about the Year Four Hundred fifty six To which add that John doth painly enough intimate that these Ten Horns did not appertain to the Sixth Head that then was or the Roman-Pagan-Empire but to the Seventh which was to come for though he tells us they were Ten Kings yet he adds that they had received no Kingdom at that time i. e. they were Kings not actually but only in the purpose of God to be produced as such under the Seventh Head or Roman-Christian-Empire Besides the Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns is expresly said to carry the Whore or Antichristian-Church Rev. 17.3 From all which its most clear that the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns is to be understood the Devil as acting not in the Roman-Pagan but Christian or rather Antichristian State 2. By the Woman we are to understand the Churches of Christ So call'd upon the account of their visible espousal to him or giving up themselves to him as their Lord and Husband owning his despotick Authority in their profest Subjection to all his Institutions This seems evident Because 1. By Woman in the first verse is meant the Churches of Christ as is generally granted the Primitive Churches say most the Churches of Christ as appearing in a latter-day-glory say others And as the Woman was at first call'd of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ish the Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isha Woman because she was of him So are the Churches of Christ call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hashulammith Shulamitesse or Salomona or she that is peaceable of him who is the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sheloma Cant. 6.12 2. These are frequently as is already proved call'd the Bride the Wife of Christ said to be betrothed espoused to him He is call'd their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ish Lord Husband 3. The Woman as related to Christ is in the Book of the Revelation set in opposition to the Whore or Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. Now she types out the false Churches therefore by the Woman we are to understand the true Churches of Christ 3. By the remnant of the Womans Seed some understand such as were brought forth by her in the Wilderness or particular members of the Church as others who by reason of the iniquity of the times cannot come together to Worship God in the Solemn Assemblies openly as formerly yet seperately and apart they do worship him Now there are several things that I humbly conceive lye in the way of these interpretations I. This War is not in but out of the Wilderness For into the Wilderness the Dragon could not it seems pursue her Therefore he casts a Flood of VVater out of his mouth to swallow her up but with little Success for the Earth helps her opens her mouth and swallows up the Flood Rev. 12.15 16. Besides he would if he could have attaqu't the Mother in the VVilderness as well as the Children brought forth by her there whereas this is a particular VVar against the remnant of her seed Nor 2. Can I see how their Worshipping severally and a part is consistent with the Characters given of the remnant of the Womans seed ver 17. who are expresly said to Keep the Commandments of God and to have the Testimony of Jesus Christ Nor 3. Would Satan have lookt upon them in their divided State to be so considerable as to go about to make so formal a War against them as is intimated could he disunite break dissipate scatter the Disciples of Christ he would think he had done his work at least so far that he might pick them up by degrees as he saw meet and not put himself to the cost and trouble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of raising a War against them Little do some think how much they serve Satan by driving on a design of scattering the Saints and calling them off their Church-Assemblies A work he hath been attempting by various artifices and methods ever since Christ had his Churches in the World but hitherto without success This matter then must farther be considered By the seed of the Woman in the first Scripture-Notion of that expression we are to understand the Messiah Christ Gen. 3.15 Here it hath respect to the Saints begotten by the Word and Spirit of Jesus call'd the seed of the Woman because born in the midst of the Churches of Christ before that their flight into the Wilderness mention'd v. 14. As also because like her of the same nature spirit temper walking in the same footsteps owning the same Principles Doctrine practising the same Worship found in the observation of the same Institutions Ordinances with her By the remnant then of her seed we are to understand such as remain behind her when she flies into the Wilderness go not with her thither The Wilderness points out a state of secrecy retirement and so safety The Woman i. e. the body of the Churches Flies into the Wilderness from the face of the Serpent Worships in holes corners whilest this remnant keep on in their visible owning the Wayes Ordinances Institutions of Christ as formerly Who with submission I speak it I conceive to be most strictly the Witnesses in their last testimony to Jesus 4. As touching the fourth and fifth particular what this War is and to what period of time it hath relation It seems at least to me evident from what hath been already offer'd that 't is the last advance of the Dragon or Devil acting in the papal-antichristian-wilde-Papal-Antichristian-Wilde-Beast ascending out of the bottomless Pit or coming forth in more than ordinary malice fury against the two Witnesses or such of the Womans seed who shall at this time most strictly have the Spirit of Prophesie with them and so bear up for a season in a testimony for Christ against him the issue whereof shall be their slaughter or the driving them off that publick testimony they are bearing into the Wilderness whether the Woman or the body of the Churches was before fled And this seems more than Probable Because 1. Though here 's mention of the Dragons going about to make War with the remnant of the Womans seed yet there 's no intimation of the least execution as to any corporeal slaughter he makes upon them but they seem