is shewed in the wilderness the judgement of the great whore by one of the ange's which had the seven vials Rev. 17. 1 3. this may be gathered That neer or about the time of the womans coming out of the wilderness John carrying the type of the Church in that present state the destruction of Babylon as to the set time shall be made known unto some of the Lords faithful servants by whom others shall have it revealed to them and whom he will employ to pour out vials of wrath upon the kingdom of the Beast CONSID. X. The time being known when the three years and half shall end that which follows next and immediately upon the expiration of the foresaid time will be to do what the Lord commands his sanctisied ones Liâ—t ye a banner upon the high mountains exalt the voice unto them shake the hand that ye may go into the gates of the nobles Isa 13. 2. So Jer. 50. 2. Declare ye among the nations and publish and set up a standard publish and conceal not that Babylon is taken The publishing of this war against Babylon will be I conceive by the angels Rev. 14. 6 8 9. and that voice from heaven Rev. 18. 4. These shall gather the Saints together Psal 50. 5. the hundred fourty and four thousand Rev. 14. 1. the called chosen and faithful Rev. 17. 4. at their rendevouz to the Lamb on mount Sion where the Lord of hosts will muster the host of the battel Isai 13. 4. So that the Lords people shall not go forth in haste nor conceal their work or do things covertly but come out in the light and boldly as Israel did out of Egypt They shall have Gods presence so visibly and powerfully with them that the enemies through a dreadful fear shall not know what to do for their own safety nor how to oppose the work of God in the hands of his mighty ones As it is said of Barak Gideon Samson c. that the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and in that Spirit they went forth conquering and to conquer so now the time being come and known the like Spirit will be in the Lambs followers a faith to which all things are possible And in this Spirit and faith I believe those who are now waiting for to see that day of the Son of man shall rise up in the places where they are and joyn together against Babylon and all her helpers Hence the present worldly powers may take notice how plainly that Scripture is fulfilled upon them THEY IMAGINE A VAIN THING Psal 2. 1. Ah poor wretches ye do so indeed in taking counsel against the fifth kingdom For 1. These men which are for that Kingdom will not stir till the set time be come and known Then 2. They will publikely proclaim war against Babylon and say The day of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion is come 3. As it is the Lords cause and work so they are sure whosoever resisteth shall be broken to pieces and become as the chaff of the Summer-threshing-floor Did not the first Monarchy fall before the second so that before the third so again the third before the fourth when their times ended and must not this fourth fall likewise before the fifth in the appointed time The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this But it seems they have no Gamaliel now in their Councels I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God Acts. 5. 38 39. CONSID. XI Though I shall here but speak over what hath been hinted before yet because the Consideration is weighty and much to our purpose I will adde a little Howsoever it be true as I am perswaded that the Visions and Prophecies of the Scriptures concerning the period of the Beasts dominion will not certainly be known till the three years and half begin and probably the greater part expir'd As Daniel knew not the deliverance of Gods people to be so nigh till the very year or less in which they were delivered see Dan. 9. 1 2. with Ezra 6. 1. nevertheless when this time comes before it expires the knowledge of it shall be given in to some as they are seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer and searching the Prophecies 2 Chron. 20 13 14. This appears First by Dan. 12. 10. The wise shall understand If the series and scope of the place be noted two great Truths are there set down 1. The holy Ghost speaks not of understanding in a large sense but restrains it to a special and proper understanding that is they shall know the end of these wonders vers 6. As Noah knew the time when the sloud would come before it came of which the world was ignorant so the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days before it is finished shall be revealed to the wise but none of the wicked shall understand 2. The wise shall not understand this till the time of the end so much likewise is held forth in the place The three years and half must begin and to know that such a time is come there will be a little Horn an Apostacie and Beast whereby the wise shall have such understanding 2. That the time will be known before the fourty and two months expire I think so much is manifest by comparing Dan. 12. 9. with Rev. 10. 6. The first tells us that the words are to be opened at the time of the end now this must be before the fourty and two months are expired for the other tells us After that there shall be time no longer Besides if the two texts be observed they belong to one matter time The one saith the opening of the Mystery of God is left to the three years and half the other that it shall be opened before that time goes out 3. I finde that one of the four living creatures gives unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God Rev. 15. 7. but these angels are not bid by him to pour them out that is done afterwards by a voice out of the temple Rev. 16. 1. The giving of the vials I conceive is the opening of the mystery of them as to the time when and the work how to be done so to prepare the angels for the execution of the wrath and all this before the end But their call to it seems to be after the fourty and two months are expired He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen Psal 111. 6. CONSID. XII Seeing according to the determinate purpose and counsel of God to the little Horn the later Apostacie and Beast three years and an half are allowed this I would gather
their Protector to the Beggar Rev. 14 10. woe unto you rich who have laid up treasures for the last days for you have your consolation Jam. 5. 1. yea woe unto you Souldier that fightest under the Beasts Banner because the want of a good conscience will eat out thy valouâ— Jer. 50. â—3 woe unto you that seek great things for your selves Jer. 45. and make not God the Patron of your preferment you might as in the Jewish fields have pluckt and eat what you would but not have pocketted up as ye have done the Kings Deans and Chapâ—eâ—s lands or the accursed thing c. yea woe to you that have deceived others for that ye shall find by your long dissembling ye have most deceived your selves at last Isai 33. 1. and not to you that have been both the Archer and Maâ—k in all your actions shooting at your own Praise and Profit because an Arrow shall come from the Kings hands Psal 45. which must shoot you thorow the very heart Isai 1. 31. Woe woe to you Lyers Dissemblers and False witnesses who believe your own lyes to be true whiles ye turn the truth into a lye for the time will come when few will believe you though you speak true seeing you have set your wits to work on tenter-hooks for artificial Evasions from natural Obligations besides Army-declarations and God will frustrate the tokens of the lyars Isai 44. 45. yea woe to those Foxes who with fire brands at their â—ayles have set us into a flame for they shall burn up themselves in their own mischief and he that teacheth lyes is the tayl saith the Prophet Isai 9. 15. woe to them that are serving themselves oâ— the times for their own ends because yet a little while and they will see the Times to be served upon them for Gods ends And woe woe to the Statists who are now the Centre wherein all the lines of Intelligence meet from forrein parts because the time will come quickly wherein all the lines of most notable intelligence shall run from you and be reported of you into forrein parts woe to you Tyrants and Nimrods of the earth that do now rule over the Saints and make them to howl Isai 52. 5. because the time of the end doth come wherein you shall howl and the Saints shall rejoyce and rule over you Isai 14. 2. and there was written therein lamentation mourning and wo Ezekâ— to even so Amen Dan. 7. 18. but the Saints of the most High shall take Vikabbâ—lun undertakâ— the Kingdom JOHN ROGERS The time of the End Wherein is shewed that until the three years and half begin which are the last of the 1260 days Gods people will not understand the period of the Fourth Monarchy and the Beasts dominion But when that Time shall come they shall have before its expiration the certain knowledge of it by the appearing of a Little Horn the later Apostacie and a Beast The particular Characters of which little Horn Apostacie and Beast as the holy Ghost in Scripture sets them down are here opened and so left for the Wise to understand by application THe great Business of Christs Little Flock at this time is about the understanding of the Times to know what Israel ought to do when Daniel and John's Numbers shall end the Spoiler cease to spoil and the STONE begins to smite the Image Many of the Lords Worthies have spent their studie and much time in the search thereof And no marvel considering how necessary it is that the SET-TIME be understood before any Action can safely be undertaken by the Saints of the most High against Babylon Among others I who am one of the least of the flock according to the measure of grace given me have with a broken and humble spirit sought the Lord and searched diligently the Prophecies to finde out the end of these Wonders Now after much seeking and long waiting upon the great Revealer of Secrets what I finde upon my heart as given in I hope from God to be Truth I shall willingly make it known unto my brethren and companions in tribulation And because the way which I shall take hath not been I think observed before I shall therefore endeavour to express my minde and meditations of my heart the more plainly and will first lay down certain General Considerations to the end what I shall say afterward as more home and proper to the TIME may the better be understood CONSID. I. To understand the Times it is of great use that the Prophetical Numbers be distinguished and rightly applied that is to know what Numbers are proper to the Gentile-Christians and what to the Jews These Viz. Until a time times and the dividing of time Dan. 7. 25. So Chap. 12. 7. It shall be for a time times and half Again the fourty and two months Rev. 11. 2. and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days v. 3. and the Witnesses lying dead three days and an half v. 9. So again the 1260 days Rev. 12. 6. and the time and times and half a time V. 14. these Numbers I conceive concern the Gentiles as proper to their work and time But the two thousand and three hundred days Dan. 8. 14. and the one thousand two hundred and ninety days Dan. 12. 11. and one thousand three hundred thirty and five days vers 12. are to be understood of the Jews onely Again as these Numbers are to be distinguished so they must be kept apart For the Gentiles account and the Jews do not as I take it contemporize The Gentile-Saints will be upon their work how long I shall not say but before there will be any life or visible stirring amongst the dry bones This to me is evident by the order of the Vials if well considered five of the seven are to be poured out by the Christian Gentiles before the Jews awake under the sixth Vial. And as for these Vials or seven last plagues I humbly conceive though many good men are otherwise minded that none of them are yet poured our Besides I take it Moses words Deut. 32. 21. have this meaning that the Jews shall be provoked to rise and seek their own enlargement and liberty partly by the example of the Gentile-Saints when they shall see the Lords work prosper in their hands against the Western Beast and partly by the assistance and help which they shall have from the Gentiles many ways Isat 60. 9. CONSID. II. It will not be known when the fourty and two months and one thousand two hundred and sixty days shall end the Time of the Beasts reign and the womans abiding in the wilderness until the three years and half are come For howsoever these three years and half are to be reckoned in the number of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years yet must this last time begin yea I think well-nigh expire before the Wise will understand that the set and appointed Time is come This to
me seems very clear by the Angel's words to Daniel But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the book even unto the Time of the end Chap. 12. 4. Again Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Chap. 12. 9. Three things are here observable 1. The opening and understanding of the Vision is referr'd to a certain and prefixt time and not to be reveal'd till then 2. In both places it is called The time of the End which methinks must needs be the three years and half for I know no other time but this that periods the number of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years 3. He faith not times but time intimating howsoever the whole account should have several times or periods in respect of the divers actions of the Beast Civil and Ecclesiastical and the various changes and condition of the Witnesses and Woman all the time of his Tyranny yet the unsealing of the Book should not be till the last time of all the several periods So Habak 2. 3. The vision is yet for an appointed time at the end it shall speak and not lye What can we understand by the end and the appointed time but as Daniel hath it the time of the end that is the three years and half then is the vision to speak and not before So Rev. 1. 3. For the time is at hand And Chap. 22. 10. Seal not up the sayings of the prophecie of this book for the time is at hand For my part I cannot conceive what time may be taken as distinct from other times and proper to the places if not the three years and half But that in Daniel seems yet to be more full It shall be for a time times and an half Chap. 12. 7. What shall be for a time times and an half till the end of these wonders that is before they shall be opened As if he should say So far forth as the Christian Gentiles are concerued in these wonders the manifestation of them is reserved till the three years and half and then the wise shall understand Here observe 1. It should be no cause of stumbling unto any person that many good men have miss'd of the time in their accounts seeing in their time the words were closed up and sealed 2. The cause of their mistake was not as some think of an impossibility as if the time of the end were not to be known but because the appointed time or end was not then come in which the vision was to speak 3. Such as are now enquiring into the numbers of Daniel and John to know when the Beasts dominion shall end ought to minde whether they are come to the time of the end in which and not before that great Mystery is to be known CONSID. III. The way which some good men have taken to finde out the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years viz. by beginning at the head of the account is not in my opinion the best nor surest For here we must credit and depend on humane Histories and Records of Nations things so uncertain and disagreeing among themselves as nothing but conjectures and ghesses can be concluded and gathered from them And hence it is that many have been misled concerning the times whereby others have taken advantage to condemn all which search the times and the Prophetical Numbers of the Scripture as medling with things too high and secret If any should ask Why are these Numbers mentioned as fourty and two months and one thousand two hundred and sixty days I answer The Lord would have it known how long the Beast should reign and the woman continue in the wilderness that his people might wait with the more faith and patience till their enlargement came Not that when the time of the end should come he would carry them back to enquire what was done some thousands of years before or search uncertain Stories for the rise of the Beast I take it he hath a neerer and better way to lead them in more free from doubts and mistakes then the other and easier to be found out and known by babes and sucklings The way-faring men though fools shall not erre therein Isa 35. 8. CONSID. IV. So for the Signes of the times which are much spoken of and matter of singular joy amongst Saints everywhere These shew us without doubt that the kingdom of God is nigh and that the great work of the Lord is approaching upon us but as to the set time they come not home And therefore we must have more light then these to order our motions by For example be it granted that the Lord hath a people enquiring after the Numbers in Daniel and John much enlightned in the work of their generation take pleasure in Zion's stones and favour her dust are a willing people and a praying people and such as have their hearts raised up against Babylon to take vengeance on her I say grant all this as blessed be Jehovah it is all true and more too yet it will not follow that the one thousand two hundred and sixty years the time of Antichrists tyranny and the Womans persecution must therefore end this year or the next I confess these are blessed Signes and tidings of great joy and do evidently declare like the tender branches and leaves of the fig-tree that Summer is nigh that the Lord will arise and have mercy upon Zion and that the breaking work of the Stone is not far off But yet they do not tell us how nigh the time is this must be known some other way When the Dove brought to Noah in her mouth an Olive-leaf he knew that the waters were abated from off the earth yet he went not forth of the Ark till the Lord did call him Gen 8. 11 15. Indeed these signes like the olive-leaf do plainly demonstrate that the Antichristian deluge which hath so long covered the face of the earth is towards an end nevertheless we must abide where we are till we hear that great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth Rev. 16. 1. CONSID. V. So again howsoever Providence is to be observed and followed when people are called forth to their work yet we must take heed that we make noâ— Providence alone our call Moses Gedeon David and others improved providences but it was after they were confirmed that the time was come wherein they were to serve their generation so and so and in such cases we are still to follow Providence When we know the fourty and two months are expired and so the time come in which the Lord God of heaven and earth will set up his kingdom take away the dominion of the little Horn and execute vengeance upon Babylon Here we must in the prosecution of the judgement written eye and follow the leadings
as my own apprehension That the Lord of hosts will not make his worm Jacob a new sharp threshing-instrument having teeth nor Israel his battle-ax and weapons of war with which he will thresh the mountains and break in pieces Nations destroy Kingdoms c. until the foresaid time that is the three years and half are accomplished The saws came not forth from Babylon by the Proclamation of Cyrus till the seventy years were fulfilled Neither were their fathers before them â— brought ouâ— of Egypt till the whole time was run out which the Lord had fore-appointed for their sojourning there And it came to pass saith the text at the end of the four hundred and thirty years EVEN THE SAME DAY it came to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt Exod. 12. 41. So now in the spirit of meekness be it spoken it is not the Lord's minde I verily think that the Stone should be smiting the Image or the little Horn to take away his dominion and to consume and destroy it until the times time and dividing of time be out which by divine counsel they are to have Now whereas some may object that saying of Christ For the elects sake these days shall be shortned Matth. 24. 22. Mar. 13. 19 20. as if this might be gathered from it That the set time mentioned in Scripture viz. the fourty and two months and the three years and half may be shortned and so Gods people go forth before it be expired I answer There is I conceive a great mistake in the understanding of that place For Christ speaks not of any shortning of the set and fixed time allowed the little Horn or Babylon or the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth or their lying slain but the meaning is There would be such calamities and miseries in the world that unless the Lord should shorten the time no flesh could be saved But of what time speaks he not of the fixed time that is he means not the one thousand two hundred and sixty days or fourty and two months or the three days and half but speaks of Time largely as if he should say If the Lord should permit these calamities to continue many thousand generations there would be a consumption and end of all mankinde but for the love he bears to his chosen he hath shortned the time that is in his holy counsel determined the woman in the wilderness and the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth shall not exceed such a time So the little Horn the Beast and Babylon c. So that by shortning the time he means not any set time of years mentioned in Scripture but shortned that is it shall not exceed the years so and so appointed CONSID. XIII But that I may not be mistaken in some things I said before as first Beginning at the head of the account thus I would be understood Howsoever I think it is very uncertain to know exactly the period of the Beasts dominion beginning at the head of the account neither doth the Spirit of God intend to lead his people in such a way viz. through the confusion and contradiction of humane Histories to finde out CERTAINLY the time of the end but in the way here mentioned Notwithstanding if it come to pass that some good men by their labours and studie beginning at the head do period their account with our three years and half or miss not much the blessed truth by this is the more confirmed and the Lords good hand and wonderful providence greatly seen in it Again heretofore both others and my self too have sought to finde out the end of the Numbers by searching the rise of the Beast because then we understood no other way and in that respect following the light we had the Lord no doubt was well pleased with our upright endeavours yea and gave a blessing to it witness the fruit and advantage which many precious souls in this Nation have had thereby So that I am so far from seeking to have the blessed memory of our former Worthies any way darkned as I profess in the fear of God I judge my self to come short of many of them and if any thing delivered by me be clearer in respect of the time it is because THE TIME OF THE END is now neerer then when they wrote So for the Signes of the Times I am for them rightly improv'd as much as any man When these things begin to come to pass then look up saith Christ and list up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh Luk. 21. 28. Indeed these Signes by Saints in all places ought much to be minded Christ blamed the Jews for their neglect of this thing Matth. 16. 3. And I must confess from the Signes of the times I have had much light and encouragement in this present Undertaking Onely my opinion is To know when the set-time is come for the Stone to begin to smite and the last plagues to be poured out we have no Scripture-light to be guided by but the three years and aâ— half And when this time is come it will be as easie to know the beginning and ending of it as to discern the Little Horn the later Apostacie and Beast CONSID. XIV To conclude with an humble and brotherly word â—o all in all places who are for the Kingdom-work and desire to follow the Truth in love and light I have no designe O ye precious ones to weaken your hearts or hands in the work of your Generation and your appearing for your KING and mine but rather to strengthen and encourage you in whatsoever is from him and for him These CONSIDER ATIONS I shall leave with you as a Manuduction to the other Part. All which gathered together speak thus 1. It seems to me as grounded on Scripture until the three years and half begin and are well-nigh expir'd which are the last of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years Gods people will not understand the period of the Time Neither 〈◊〉 may we say that such a time is come unless we see the Little Horn in Daniel the Apostacie foretold of Paul and the Beast slaying the Witnesses all these must appear together with all the Characters specified in the places and contemporize 3. When such a time is come Saints shall certainly know it before it doth expire 4. By all the search and enquiry I have made I do not see any way but this to finde out the time of the End if we take the Word of God for our light and guide 5. Until these three years and half are finished the rod of the Lords strength will not go out of Zion So that to begin war against Babylon or any of the Powers of this world upon the account of the fifth kingdom is not I humbly conceive to follow the Lamb but to go before him I say if the aforesaid three years and an half be not come and ended Lastly seeing we are not
had but one Ahitophel with him this Horn will have many suttle and crafty foxes But I wish them a better end So then by this giving is signified that he will plead Right to his Dominion and Government as appointed thereto by God and man no Intruder or Usurper neither in attempting to change times and Laws doth he more then he hath warrant and ground for it I would have this likewise to be heeded whosoever this Horn is hee will plead hard for the lawfulnesse of his power as Given by God and man into his hand Howsoever in truth hee receives it from Gods only permissively As a Theif may take a purse from men by force and fraud Thus I have done with the Little Horn as to his Action That which follows is his suffering Thus the Spirit of God gives us a full history of his life and death In his end and punishment wee may consider 1 The Time 2 The Author 3 The Instrument 4 The Judgement it self And lastly How and in what manner Some thing I will speak though briefly to each particular For the Time It will be immediately upon the expiration of the three years and half Though the Lord did not shorten the term of his peoples abode in Egypt viz. four hundred and thirty years Fxod 12. 41. nor their seventy years captivity in Babylon but let it run out to a day yet being out hee presently delivered them according to his promise So the little Horn shall have his full time of three years and half bearing date from the day he was constituted a Horn but no more may hee expect for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Bee silent O all flesh before the Lord for hee is raised up out of his holy habitation Zach. 2. 13. This Time contemporises with the womans second comming out of the wildernesse Rev. 12. 14. and the rising of the witnesses Rev. 11. 11. and with that set Time in the Prophet Psal 102. 13. So likewise Rev. 16. 1. And I heard a great voice out of the Temple saying to the seven Angels go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth c. It is an Allusion to Souldiers who are ready to charge and fight the enemy but do it not till they have the word of Command So Gods people will bee prepared for the work before the years bee expired But as no word of Command will bee given them to go out till then so they will wait as a people prepared for the Lord untill that time shall come But howsoever by the Scriptures we may know the beginning of this judgement yet how long the time will bee in the execution that is not certain but probably a very short time yet so as gradually First A dawning and afterwards the light more and more appearing 2 For the Time The Little Horn is to bee destroyed before the other ten I beheld till the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame As concerning the rest of the Beasts they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season and Time Dan. 7. 11. 12. The meaning I take to bee thus The Term of the ten Horns do expire with the little Horn and in that respect their Dominion is said to bee taken away yet their lives were prolonged that is their Power and Government is not to bee broken to pieces till the little Horn bee first consumed Hence it is that the little Horn or State-Apostacy for I tak it to bee all one is the subject of the first vial as I have shewed and provedelsewhere see the Book Truth with Time Quest But why is the little Horn to be destroyed before the other ten Answ 1 As the Israelites overthrew Moah and Ammon Lots posterity and neer of kin to them because they sought to hinder them from going into the good Land to fight the Lords Battles against the Kings of Canaan So this Horn by profession a brother in that hee will hinder the Saints of the most high from going forth against Babylon and the Kings of the earth it is a righteous thing with God that hee should fall first by the hands of the mighty Oâ—es Isa 63. 1 2 3 6. I take the meaning thus The Lord will smite Edom first that is false brethren and Apostates and afterward tread down other people in his anger 2 This Horn and latter Apostacy is a luke warm State neither hot nor cold and therefore the Lord will spue it out of his mouth not cold because it hath a form of godlinesse not hot because it denies the power of it A thing offensive to the Stomack cannot bee born but a man will bee rid of it as soon as may bee When the forty two months are ended the Horn will bee destroyed first And no marvel for hee is more offensive and odious to God than the rest I would thou wert cold or hot and therefore the Lord will ease himself of this Enemy as one that hee cannot bear nor suffer to have his life prolonged as the other Ten. And here Gods order in pouring out the last Vials is to bee noted he will not begin with Spain France Germany c. But with the little Horn Neither may wee reckon any warre past or to come to bee the war of the Lamb against the ten Kings Rev. 17. 14. or the smiting of the Image Dan. 2. or rewarding Babylon Rev. 18. 5 6. till this Horns Dominion bee taken away and utterly consumed Not observing this great mistakes have been about former warres in bringing them under the Vials as the Sweden English Holland to the second third and fourth vials Whereas to mee it seems clear by Scripture the first thing which will bee done in fulfilling the Prophecys of the last times I speak of warre is the cutting off of this Horn and nothing will bee done against Babylon and the ten Kings as the proper work which the hundred forty and four thousand and the called chosen and faithful shall bee put upon till this thing be done 2 For the Author of his judgement It is God and Christ as appears Dan. 7. 9 10 11 and afterward more briefly vers 26. But the judgement shall sit That this Horn by a divine judicatory is to have his dominion taken from him and his body given to the burning flame there are many memorable things in it 1 Here is shewed that the Lord will give him no more time nor bee patient any longer neither suffer him to proceed any further in his Tyranny and Hypocrisy but set all his former sins before his face and tear him in peeces and there shall bee none to deliver him He thought to have gone beyond his time yea and God too but now vengeance hath reached him notwithstanding all his former cunning shifts in hope to have prevented it Lo this is
ordinary I will not say directly what it is nor declare at present my own thoughts yet this I shall say it being a truth I think when this Horn shall reign whosoever shall be the Inventers and setters up of his Power and Government they will not dye the death of all men not bee slain or dismembred as the former were but some extraordinary punishment will bee inflicted upon them If these men dye the common death of all men or if they bee visued after the visitation of all men then the Lord hath not sent mee Numb 16. 29. And so much the word signifies And they shall take away his dominion As the former respecteth persons so this doth things that is the State and Government it self The meaning I conceive to bee thus After the Army is destroyed and many put to death by a Judicatory for justifying the Horn in his unlawful actions and himself and his MAKERS given to the burning flame Such a stink will that HORN leave behind him as some speedy course shall bee taken to have the very remembrance of him blotted out under the whole heaven It remains now to shew how and in what manner it shall bee done To take the Scripture for our light It seems thus When the three years and half are fully expired the wise shall understand that hee is the Little Horn foretold in Daniel and to bee destroyed and this light shall spread it self among the Saints of the Most High yea so clear and certain will the thing bee they having the word of God and his spirit for it providence likewise leading the way that they shall publikely declare what they intend to do The work beginnes with an Earthquake Rev. 11. 13. And it shall bee such an Earth-quake as will shake the Horn to purpose in his Councel Guards Army and relations every where Insomuch as hee will bee miserably forsaken and left by most people Few abiding with him unlesse desperate men and such who are so deeply ingaged with him as have no hope to save themselves from bodily punishment by Repentance The Saints knowing the set Time is come that the Lord will have mercy upon Zion and being called out of the Temple to pour out the Vial upon the Earth-Apostacy being ready go forth in the Name and strength of the Lord. And though they may have some opposition at first yet I think they will be Conquerors at last without much losse I say fighting for the Lamb For so wonderfull will the presence of God bee with them and so dreadful to the enemy that this warre will bee short and none of them after once broken to peices will durst lift up their hands any more in the Horns behalf Thus I have ended with the Little Horn. And in the close this I can truely say what I have written is my Conscience bearing mee Witnesse no otherwise than I understand the Prophesy neither have I said any thing but what I conceive to bee the Truth in Jesus And further I have all along with Sighs and Groans besought the father of Light That I might bee lead by his Spirit into the way of Truth The meek will hee guide in Judgement and the meek will hee teach his way Psal 25. 9. Call unto mee and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Jer. 33. 3. Job 20. v. 4 5 6 7 8 9. Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon earth That the triumphing of the wicked is short and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment though his excellency mount up to the heavens and his head reach unto the clouds Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung they that have seen him shall say where is he He shall flee away like a dream and shall not bee found yea hee shall bee chased away as a vision of the night The eye also which saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more be hold him THE CHARACTERS OF THE Beast Slaying the Witnesses OPENED THAT Generall Head which remaines is The Beast slaying the Witnesses In the opening and handling whereof we shall propound four things 1. What this Beast is 2. Who are the Witnesses and how they are slaine by the Beast 3. How it doth appeare the Witnesses slaine by the Beast lying three dayes and an halfe unburied are the three years and an halfe contemporizing with the latter Apostacie and little horne 4. Whether the Prophesie of the Beast slaying the Witnesses be fulfild in our Time First I would have the Reader take notice Howsoever I handle these things distinctly and a part yet I understand the Ap stacie and the little Horne and the Beast that slayes the witnesses to make up but one Government or State The Apostacie part is the Body Relly out of which comes the other Two The Beast is that Pert by whom the witnesses are kild and it hath the Name of a Horn for its Sovereignty and kinglinesse So that as I said in the beginning it cannot be the three years and halfe unlesse there be all three to make the lâ—st Dominion And when they shall have finished their Testimony Rev. 11. 7. That is Near or about the time of finishing their Testimony And so the words are rendred by many Interpreters It is true some think the three years and a halfe are not to be reckoned with the 1260 years but apart from that account But methinks this cannot be For the 42 months being expired the Saints take the Kingdome And so I understand Rev. 10. 6. There shall be time no longer But when is that When the 1260 years are ended the mysterie of God is finished as to the reign of the little Horne and Tyrannie of the Beast not to scatter the Saints and kill the Witnesses any longer But the Woman comes out of the Wildernesse and the Witnesses ascend up into Heaven and fire comes forth from the Lord to devour the Adversary But whether we take the three years and an halfe in the number of the 1260 dayes or a part it is all one to the matter here Howsoever I think it periods the first account The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse Pit rather depth or gulfe for pit is not in the Text nor in Cha. 17 8. but Chap. 9. 1. it is It is to be observed the Beast here cannot be that Beast Rev. 13. 1. which is said to rise up out of the Sea for he is to continue 43 months that is 1260 years v. 5. But this riseth not till that terme be near expired onely three years and halfe remaining And so much the Text plainly holds forth When they shall have finished their Testimonie a Beast ascendeth out of the depth c. Not the Beast which was risen before but a Beast now comes forth Intimating that purposely and for no other end as it were he ascendeth out of the gulf then to slay the Witnesses
was crucified Answ There is great Reason for it 1. To discover the grosse hypocrisie of the Beast pretending to be against Babilon in all her lies and beastly vanities 2. To aggravate his wickednesse the more There is little said of the Beast as to the Characterizing of Him besides slaying the Witnesses The Reason may be because this was done before in the little Horne and last Apostacy That which the Holy Ghost seems here chiefly to intend is to unmask HIM and to set HIM forth to the life For Example Should he be askt being ascended out of the bottomlesse Pit What he comes for What he means to doe having taken so arbitrary a power to himselfe His answer will be He is for Christ I really against Antichrist For Zion against Babylon as one of the seven Angel I am com out saith he of the Temple note it not the Bottomless Pit to poure out a Viall full of wrath upon the great Whore and as one called chosen and faithfull to be with the Lamb against the ten Kings to overcome them And ask saith he my Chaplaines and new made Doctors if this be not so But what saith the Spirit of God O thou dissembling Hâ— pocrite Does thou War against my Witnesses overcome them and slay them and yet pretend Ex parte altissimi letzad On the part of the Almighty For me and against the great Whore What an impudent face hast thou what a Whores forehead Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee Thy falshood shall not serve the turn For I have a way to make thee known what an hypocrite thou art in spight of all thy inchantments and the wise shall understand though the Prophets will not viz. In slaying so glorious a Testimony to rouse up thy self out of the bottomles pit In this the Saints of the most high shall clearly see that thou art of the great City not in words but actions a main supporter and prop of it Nay more thou hast kept her up as she is Sodom and Egypt in the vilest of her filthinesses and abominations and the greatest of her cruelties and oppressions yea and more as she hath murdered me I say my self in my truth and servants thus thou hast wrapt thy self in all the guilt and blood that hath been shed there and which shall be found in her the blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth Thus the place gives us more light to know the Beast by The Government and state by which the witnesses shall be slaine is without the great City not under the authority of the Church of Rome in profession and words an enemy to Babylon But in practice and works not only a bare defender but a supporter of her in the worst and greatest of her sins as in her whoredomes oppressions blood of martyrs c. Namely by slaying the highest Testimony that ever was upon earth against the whole dominion of the Beast I have done with the Beast and Winesses as to the killing-part It remains that something be spoken of the effects of it And they of the people and kindreds and Tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Here we will consider 1. Who these People are 2. What is meant by putting in graves 3. Why they will not suffer the dead bodies to be put in graves 4. How they keep them out First It is said that Satan shewd Christ being upon an exceeding high mountaine all the Kingdomes of the World Mat. 4. 8. I doe not take it imaginary as deceiving the sence but a reall sight Not that he saw all Kingdomes absolutely but whatsoever were discernable in respect of the place where he stood that is all the adjacent Countryes So here by people Kindreds tongues and Nations all are not meant under the whole Heaven but such as are within the sight of the dead bodyes and have knowledge of their slaying Againe Neither doe all the people and kindreds c. which see the dead bodies oppose their buriall but a part of them They of the people and kindreds c. That is among the people and kindreds c. there are some will not suffer c. Now howsoever we are to understand the place no further then of such as know what the Beast hath done for so much is clearly in the Text They shall see their dead bodies yet the Holy Ghost mentions Peoples kindreds tongues and nations Because this party which will not suffer the dead bodies to be put in graves are not all one People As for Example Some may be English others Welch some Scots others French or Dutch c. So likewise of divers Provinces Countries Shires c. As for this Party I take it not to be cruelty done in despight and disgrace by Enemies to deny them Buriall But courtesie of Friends and Favorers to provide for their rising againe And my opinion is here are meant 1. The Woman who was occasioned by the war of this Beast to fly into the Wildernesse 2. The Remnant of her seed 3. Those whom we named before Common-wealths men For howsoever these doe not fully close with the Witnesses in the Principles of the fift Kingdom yet they are clearly convinc'd that the Power and Goverment of this Beast is unlawfull and that they suffer unjustly under him And this Party I take to be The earth which helped the Woman by opening her mouth and swallowing up the flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth Rev. 12. 16. For howsoever that thing they contend for be but an earthly Intererest as Lawes Liberties Power of the People Priviledges of Parliament c. yet in standing for such things they give the Beast such a Check as Mauger all his venome and wrath he cannot devour the woman standing for the dead witnesses Secondly For the second Point By putting in graves I understand an extirpation of the Testimony of Jesus That is Christs visible Kingdome to be no more asserted the corrupt powers of the world left alone so the Apostates and hypocrites in the last dayes not so much as nam'd briefly for the little Horn and Beast no more to be spoken against But all for conscience sake be subject to his Lust and Will Thus indeed the Beast would have the Witnesses buried but he is not suffered They remaine above ground in spight of him that is kept up for a glorious resurrection Thirdly Knowing the Parties we may the more easily guesse at the Causes 1. As the Woman and her seed are deeply concern'd in the Testimony so they endeavour what they can to maintaine it And the rather because they know whatsoever designe the Enemie hath against it to bury it he shall not let him doe his worst As when Michael the Arch-Angel contending with the Devil about the body of Moses the Angel prevailed