Selected quad for the lemma: woman_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
woman_n	church_n	time_n	wilderness_n	1,494	5	9.8942	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66683	The breaking of the day of God wherein, four things are manifested : I. That the two witnesses are not in ki[ll]ing, but in rising from death, II. The three dayes and half, or 42. months of the saints captivity under the beast, very near expired, III. Christ hath begun to reign in his saints, and to tread their corrupt flesh under his feet, IIII. Christs dominion over the nations of the world, near the approach / by Gerrard VVinstanley.	Winstanley, Gerrard, b. 1609.	1649 (1649)	Wing W3042; ESTC R40126	79,141	154

he was the Son of God when he was supposed to be about 30 years of age as Luke speaks we read not of any thing that he did till this time that he was baptized and the Spirit descended upon him And from that time till he was crucified as I have gathered by books it was supposed to be about three years a half which is about this account which the Spirit calls 1260 days according to the days of a week it is but about 17 dayes difference The like number of dayes is spoken of Rev. 12. And the woman fled into the Wildernesse where she hath a place prepared of God 1260 dyes This I conceive was the same tearm of dayes according to the number of the dayes in a week that one Saviour did prophesie here in the world among men And this points out unto us the time of the battell that was fought between Michael our Prince the seed of the woman and the Dragon or the power of darknesse ruling in the corrupt posterity of Adam For if the Serpent and his seed could have made Jesus Christ to have sinned by their temptations then the Serpent had conquered him and had broken Gods head But Jesus Christ held out to the end and sinned not as he that saw it bore witnesse and his witnesse is true therefore he broke the Serpents head and became a faithfull witnesse to his Fathers counsell Now all the time of this bettell the church was kept by the power of God at a stand and there Were no voyces heard but silent for the space of halfe an houre that little time of 1260 dayes and God and Angels Saints and Men were spectators of this great battell between the Serpent and Christ But when Christ had finished his testimony he laid down his life and the Serpent and his seed thought they had conquered him and began to rejoyce and make merry as Revel. 11. 10. And then was made manifest in heaven that is in and to the Church by the Father the Spirit of truth That Christ by death had overcome him that had the power of death which was the Devill Then there was heard a loud voyce in heaven in the Kingdome and victory of Christ Now is come Salvation and Strength an● 〈◊〉 Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our Brethren is cast down which accused them before God day and night And they the Church overcame him the Serpent by the blood of the Lamb● the death 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ and by the word of their testimony the Fathers promise That the seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head And they loved not their lives unto death They would rather dye as the Martyrs did then they would deny this testimony of Jesus One thing note here That as the silence in heaven for the space of halfe an houre points out the time of tine battell between the Serpent and Christ in the flesh so likewise it points out the spirituall combat between the Spirit of Christ and the flesh or the Serpents power in every beleever For so long as the Flesh and Serpent accuses their consciences before God day and night and every disobedient action that will breake their peace is laid before them they cannot sing praises but mourn bitterly for as yet God hath given them no testimony of his love in pardoning of them and of receiving them into his enjoyment this is the writing time or the halfe houres silence till God give deliverance But when the Anointing sets the poor souls free from these accusations by a satisfying discovery of his love then there arise voices of ●raises and thundrings-forth of thankesgiving ●o God day and night even as the accusation formerly was day and night And truly here is great comfort to every particular member of Zion to know that the wisdome and power of their corrupt flesh which fights against the Anointing and accuses their consciences day and night before God presenting God to be an angry God to them when as indeed he is loving yea and love it selfe to poore sinners I say for them to know that it is conquered and the life and power of it is taken away by Christ the Anoiuted it is comfort And when Christ who is the Lord our righteousnesse is pleased to cast the Serpent out of your flesh and to take possession and dwell in you himselfe then you shall be freed from all those accusations and from the malice of the accuser and be made able to sing by experience Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ to my soule for the Prince of Darknesse and powers of my flesh that fought in me against the Anointing or Spirit of truth is now cast out For God hath pardoned all my disobediences and taken me into his own rest Therefore honour and glory be to him that sits upon the Throne and to 〈◊〉 Lamb for evermore And now the Dragon being vexed and 〈◊〉 of wrath because he is conquered and c●st out of heaven even every particular member of Zion he rules strongly still in the children of disobedience or in the Serpents 〈◊〉 in whom he dwels and raises all cruell per●●cutions against the church out of whom he is cast and in whom the Anointing rules And of whom according to the flesh the Lamb Jesus Christ was born And as Paul spake of Isaac and Ismael that he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that Was born after the Sprit even so it is now he or they in whom the Serpent rules persecutes him or them out of whom the Serpent is cast and in whom the Anointing rules who is the Lord our Righteousnesse But saith John unto the woman or church was given two wings of a great Eagle that she might flie into the wildernesse into her prepared place where she is nourished for a time times and halfe a time from the face of the Serpent I conceive that the soule by the wisdome and love of God is carried into a condition of sensible barrennesse both in it selfe and in others in which condition the soule is under Gods protection from the face of the Serpent so that this Wildernesse spoke of is a very safe condition or hiding-place from the Serpent wherein the soul is fed and nourished by God and not by any creature for a lime times and halfe a time that is the Church and every particular member is fed and protected by God all the severall degrees of the dayes of The Beast as hath been shewed And here I shall mind two things First what this Wildernesse is not Secondly what it is First ☞ when men are in a good conceir of their own Wisdome Learning and Strength as the Jewes were that thought they had all knowledge to discerne Truth from Errour and therefore when Christ

God and give glory to him The second is Babylon is faln is flan that great City Babylon is faln And the third is Haleluja for the Lord God omnipotent reigns Now brethren you I speak to in whom the Serpent ● subdued you see and feel that God your teacher your comfort your life your strength your liberty you are set free by him and it is a sweet satisfying freedom Now speak plainly do not your hearts love God and glory in him do you not acknowledge God all in all in pardoning healing teaching saving and manifesting love and life to you and that your selves men and creatures can do nothing herein but must let that alone to God for ever now you give glory to him and you love him and I beleeve that Scripture that is interpreted Fear God should rather be Love God for the frame of spirit thus set at liberty in whom Babylon is faln and in whom the Lord God omnipotent reigns is rather full of the embracings and breathings of love and delight to give God all the glory rather then fear which 〈…〉 of bondage which perfect love casts out Well all that I have 〈…〉 the midst of this cloud of 〈…〉 your Redemption drawes near God is working out an inward and an outward peace and liberty for you all What I have writ in this following discourse I could not but write I was carried by a strong hand I believe of God in writing of it through much bodily weakness and yet with abundance of delight that gave strength to my spirit I leave it with you But the Crown of Glory I chearfully set upon his head that sits upon the Throne and upon the Lamb for evermore May 20. 1648. Your Brother and Companion in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ Gerrard Winstanley the Particulars insisted upon in the following Discourse CHAPTER I. THe great Mystery of God is this He will cast the Serpent out of man and subdue that ●orrupt flesh under his feet dwell in man himself pag. 1. The Promises and Types of the old Testament point out God manrfested in the flesh which is Gods Kingdom God by his Prophets fore-told the captivity of Gentile Saints under the little horn The Beast The Prophets saw not in the depth of those Prophesies God gave them to write God manifested in the flesh makes known his own mystery to men Seven particular heads to be minded about Gods two Witnesses CHAP. II. What the testimony of the two witnesses is p. 9. Jesus Christ and his Saints make one perfect man The Anointing that dwelt in Jesus and in his Saints is that only power that bruises the Serpents head The world ever hated the appearance of God in the flesh CHAP. III. Who these two witnesses are that God speaks of to whom he will give power to prophesie in sack-cloth 1260. dayes p. 15. What is meant by three that bear witness in Heaven and by three that bear witness on earth The excellency of Christs spirit in his sufferings Christ was not compelled by humane authority to bear testimony of his Fathers Councell but he did it willingly The Saints are not compelled they bear testimony of the Father willingly by the power of the same Anointing Gentile Saints are Gods Witnesses that prophesie in sackcloth 42. months What is meant by two Candlesticks And by one golden Candlestick and two Olive-Trees of each side of it And by two Olive-branches Jesus Christ was the first that went under the Captivity of mystery Babylon and the first that came out Christ laid the foundation of Sion and his hand shall finish the building The two witnesses kill enemies by fire that proceeds out of their mouth and how What it is to hurt the two witnesses What Antichrist is What is meant by Heaven The witnesses have power to shut Heaven that it rain not and how What is meant by rain The witnesses have power over waters to turn them into blood and how CHAP. IV. What is meant by 1260. dayes which is the time given to the 2. witnesses to prophesie in cloathed in sack-cloth p 42. What is meant by prophesie and to prophesie in sack-cloth And by 1260. dayes in a literall sence And by silence in heaven for the space of half an hour And by wilderness into which the woman fled The wilderness is a safe hiding place in Gods hand from the face of the Serpent The earth helped the woman What is meant by 1260. dayes in a mystical sense And by 3. dayes and half by 42. months or by time times and dividing of time that the Saints are to lie under the captivity of mystery Babylon What is meant by Dragon by Leopard by the Beast with 2 horns like a Lamb And by the Image of the Beast The proud Beast or whorish spirit will not suffer Christ to reign ●ing Priest and Prophet but he will reign in his stead What it is to speak like the Dragon The Saints rejoyce when Christ reigns What the seaventh day or Sabbath is The Saints greatly rejoyce when they feel and see the Serpent cast out of them and the Anointing appears to rule and dwell in them CHAP. V The Witnesses were to be slain when they had finished their Testimony p. 63. The witnesses finish their testimony and prove the word of the Father true That the seed of the woman should bruise the Serpents head by their own experience not by hear-say What the bottomles pit is What the Beast is that rose out of the bottomless pit What the smoak is that ascended out of the bottomless pit What the King of this bottomless pit is What is the ayre wherein the Beast lives S. John speaks that the two witnesses must prophesie in sack-cloth but 1260. dayes And Daniel saith that the Sanctuary and Hoast shall be trod under foot 2300. dayes how these are reconciled The Beast kills the two Witnesses and how Three dispositions in the Beast whereby he kils Gods two witnesses The Ecclesiastical Lawes of the Beast kill Gods 2 witnesses but give liberty to Gods enemies The Whore kils the two witnesses by that Authority which she got from the Kings of the earth when she and they committed fornication together What the mystery of iniquity is Wh●● the Kingdom or mystery of God is The killing of the two Witnesses is not a killing of the bodies of their flesh only but 〈◊〉 killing of their testimony and how The Rea●●● and whorish spirit snubs and thwarts Jesus Christ in 8. particulars CHAP. VI The Witnesses were slain long agoe have lain dead in the street of the great City three dayes and almost the half and are now upon their rising p. 85. We in these dayes are under the found of the sixth Angel or second woe Four Angels are loosed that were bound up in the great River Euphrates and what they do What the great River Euphrates signifies What is meant by Kings of the East whose way is prepared

sackcloth-profession of Saints in the dayes of the little horne the Beast and whorish spirit or as I may say Judas spirit of self-love and hypocrisie that must reign in the world for a time Thus we see it is Jesus Christ after the flesh and his spirit ruling in the flesh of Saints which are Gods two Witnesses The spirit of Christ sent down into Saints or rather the Saints taken up into fellowship with that spirit according to the Fathers promise and love to his Sons and Daughters in the latter dayes which must prophesie in sack-cloth one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and it can be no other but these in whom the power of God dwels and rules And there are divers discoveries of this truth laid down by God himself as a testimony from him that these two are his Witnesses in the four five and six verses of that seventh chapter of the Revelations In the fourth verse These two witnesses are ●aid to be the two Olive Trees and the two Candle-sticks standing before the God of the whole Earth Now I conceive that these two Olive-trees and two Candlesticks can be ap●lyed to no other but to the two appearances of the Anointing First In the body or flesh of Christ Secondly In the flesh of Saints that is to say Christ and his spirit And marvel not that I say Christ and his spirit are the two Candle-sticks because the Scriptures in other places call Christ and his spirit the lights of God as indeed they are and by Candlesticks are properly meant the Churches or particular societies of Saints as St. John writes But in this place the light that is held forth is this eternal councel of God That Jesus Christ is this Son by whom he will bruise the Serpents head and reconcile sinners to himself and by no other name or power whatsoever So that when Christ was visibly seen upon the earth in the day and hour of his sufferings or time of his sack-cloth prophesying he and his spirit in one person were the Candle-stick in whom this mystery of God and truth of his councel did burn and shine forth to the world and therein they were a certain witnes of the Father But set that day and houre aside and then properly the Churches are called Candlesticks in whom Christ and his Spirit burnes bright and shines gloriously Men or Women Magistrates or Ministers or churches cannot be called these two Candlesticks because the churches ate taken up and moved by Christ and such as were un-willing are made willing to beare the testimony of God by the almighty working of Christ in them that beleeve But now christ and his spirit was never unwilling to bear witness to this purpose of the Father for as soon as ever the Father had declared his will Loe I come saith Christ to doe thy will O God And therefore the Father glories in Christ and makes proclamation to all the World That he will have all men honour the Son as they honour the Father Then again they are called two Olive-Trees and these cannot be Men and Women Magistrates or Ministers but onely Christ and his Spirit If you looke into the fourth chapter of Zechariah there is mention of one Golden Candlestick which I conceive is the generall Church of Christ or the great Congregation as David speaks the mysticall body of Christ the Saints or City Sion And then there is mention of two Olive Trees by the Candlestick one upon the right side of the Bowle and the other upon the left side thereof Now these two Olive-Trees are Iesus Christ ☜ and his Spirit the one being under the other over the Church which are the two Armes of God imbracing the Church in love For first God sent the humane Body of Christ to testifie his love to the Church and to comfort her in all her asslictions Because he was afflicted for them and with them and therofore in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted and this is the Olive-Tree upon the left side of the Candlestick Then secondly God sent his Spirit the comforter to testifie his unchangeable love to the Church and to lead her into all truth because he is the Spirit of truth And so in the bodily absence of Christ the Spirit which is the Lord our Righteousnesse ruling as a King in love in them doth counsell comfort sanctifie and remaines with the Church for ever and so doth establish the covenant of Grace to them to be an everlasting Covenant And this is the Olive Tree upon the right side of the Candlestick And further Zechariah goeth on making mention of two Olive Branches which through the two golden p●pes empty the golden Oyle out of themselves And the Angel said to Zechariah Knowest thou not what these be And he said No my Lord Then he said These are two Anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth Now these two Olive Trees and these two Branches that thus empty themselves with constant running and so feed the Church with life and light which is that golden Oyle that they empty out of themselves and which the Angel likewise called the two Anointed ones they cannot be meant of any other but Iesus Christ in his own particular person in the flesh and he spiritually in his Saints For there is none that hath the seven pipes the seven Lamps and the seven eyes which are the seven spiritual power of God in his hand but onely Iesus Christ for the Spirit descended and rested upon him And in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily And then secondly because none stands by the Lord of the whole earth as the Angel told Zechariah but onely Jesus Christ and his eternall Spirit who is both the outward and the inward Lord and King of Saints And this is cleared by Gods own word to Daniel when God shewed to him what was written in the Scriptures of truth There is none saith God holdeth or standeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince that is Iesus Christ in his two-fold discoveries in the flesh of the Man Iesus and in the flesh of Saints by the same Spirit and the great promise of the Gospel for the exalting of Iesus Christ the Anointed and the Anointing is this Sit thou saith God on my right hand or stand by me untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stool Now brethren you know that the Church and Sainrs doe not receive light life grace from any other but from Christ Of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Therefore these two Olive-trees these two Candlestickes which John speakes of and these two Witnesses which God glories in and calleth His Witnesses must needs be meant Christ and his Spirit or the two appearances of God in Iesus and in his Saints There is one phrase mose in that fourth verse which is this These